From 'mongst the herd, the fairest and the best Carefully singled out, and richly dress'd, With grandeur mock'd, for sacrifice decreed, Only in greater pomp at last to bleed. Be warn'd in time, the threaten'd danger shun, To stay a moment is to be undone. 450 What though, temptation proof, thy virtue shine, Nor bribes can move, nor arts can undermine? All other methods failing, one resource Is still behind, and thou must yield to force. Paint to thyself the horrors of a rape, Most strongly paint, and, while thou canst, escape. Mind not his promises--they're made in sport-- Made to be broke--was he not bred at court? Trust not his honour, he's a man of birth: Attend not to his oaths--they're made on earth, 460 Not register'd in heaven--he mocks at Grace, And in his creed God never found a place; Look not for Conscience--for he knows her not, So long a stranger, she is quite forgot; Nor think thyself in law secure and firm, Thy master is a lord, and thou a worm, A poor mean reptile, never meant to think, Who, being well supplied with meat and drink, And suffer'd just to crawl from place to place, Must serve his lusts, and think he does thee grace. 470 Fly then, whilst yet 'tis in thy power to fly; But whither canst thou go? on whom rely For wish'd protection? Virtue's sure to meet An armed host of foes in every street. What boots it, of Apicius fearful grown, Headlong to fly into the arms of Stone? Or why take refuge in the house of prayer If sure to meet with an Apicius there? Trust not old age, which will thy faith betray; Saint Socrates is still a goat, though gray: 480 Trust not green youth; Florio will scarce go down, And, at eighteen, hath surfeited the town: Trust not to rakes--alas! 'tis all pretence-- They take up raking only as a fence 'Gainst common fame--place H---- in thy view, He keeps one whore, as Barrowby kept two: Trust not to marriage--T---- took a wife, Who chaste as Dian might have pass'd her life, Had she not, far more prudent in her aim, (To propagate the honours of his name, 490 And save expiring titles) taken care, Without his knowledge, to provide an heir: Trust not to marriage, in mankind unread; S----'s a married man, and S---- new wed. Wouldst thou be safe? Society forswear, Fly to the desert, and seek shelter there; Herd with the brutes--they follow Nature's plan-- There's not one brute so dangerous as man In Afric's wilds--'mongst them that refuge find Which Lust denies thee here among mankind: 500 Renounce thy name, thy nature, and no more Pique thy vain pride on Manhood: on all four Walk, as you see those honest creatures do, And quite forget that once you walk'd on two. But, if the thoughts of solitude alarm, And social life hath one remaining charm; If still thou art to jeopardy decreed Amongst the monsters of Augusta's[302] breed, Lay by thy sex, thy safety to procure;