Uncircumscrib'd by prudent rules, Or precepts of expensive schools Abus'd at home, abroad despis'd, Unbred, unletter'd, unadvis'd; The headstrong course of youth begun, What comfort from this darling son? PLATE II. _Prosperity_ (with harlot's smiles, Most pleasing when she most beguiles) How soon, sweet foe, can all thy train Of false, gay, frantic, loud, and vain, Enter the unprovided mind, And Memory in fetters bind; Load _Faith_ and _Love_ with golden chain, And sprinkle _Lethe_ o'er the brain! _Pleasure_, in her silver throne, Smiling comes, nor comes alone; _Venus_ comes with her along, And smooth _Lyæus_ ever young; And in their train, to fill the press, Come apish _Dance_, and swol'n _Excess_, Mechanic _Honour_, vicious _Taste_, And _Fashion_ in her changing vest. PLATE III. O vanity of youthful blood, So by misuse to poison _good! Woman_, fram'd for social love, Fairest gift of powers above; Source of every houshold blessing, All charms in innocence possessing-- But turn'd to Vice, all plagues above, Foe to thy Being, foe to Love! Guest divine to outward viewing, Ablest Minister of Ruin! And thou, no less of gift divine, "Sweet poison of misused wine!" With freedom led to every part, And secret chamber of the heart; Dost thou thy friendly host betray, And show thy riotous gang the way To enter in with covert treason, O'erthrow the drowsy guard of reason, To ransack the abandon'd place, And revel there in wild excess? PLATE IV. O vanity of youthful blood, So by misuse to poison _good!_ Reason awakes, and views unbarr'd The sacred gates he watch'd to guard; Approaching sees the harpy, _Law_, And _Poverty_, with icy paw, Ready to seize the poor remains-- That Vice has left of all his gains. Cold _Penitence_, lame _After-thought_, With fears, despair, and horrors fraught, Call back his guilty pleasures dead, Whom he hath wrong'd, and whom betray'd. PLATE V. New to the School of hard _Mishap_, Driven from the ease of Fortune's lap, What schemes will Nature not embrace T' avoid less shame of drear distress! _Gold_ can the charms of youth bestow, And mask deformity with show: Gold can avert the sting of _Shame_, In winter's arms create a flame; Can couple youth with hoary age, And make antipathies engage. PLATE VI. _Gold_, thou bright son of _Phœbus_, source Of universal intercourse; Of weeping Virtue soft redress, And blessing those who live to bless! Yet oft behold this sacred truth, The tool of avaricious Lust: No longer bond of human kind, But bane of every virtuous mind.