‘PRUE, that you mention, as I’ve heard her say, ‘Was, in her younger days, entic’d away; ‘The strong temptation she could not withstand, ‘But yielded up at _Nature_’s high command. ‘Long with a youth in _dalliance_ pass’d her life, ‘Had all the joys of love—tho’ not a wife; ‘And when he left her for a real bride, ‘She did another for herself provide; ‘Another after that, when that was gone, ‘And so, for many years, in joy went on; ‘’Till tir’d of _sporting_ in the am’rous way, ‘She turn’d a _Nun_, at last, to fast and pray. ‘By her example let me then proceed; ‘On joy and pleasure let my wishes feed; ‘And when that I’ve been cloy’d with love like her, ‘Pray’rs, and a Nunnery, I may prefer.’ WAS not the Virgin, tell me sisters pure, Within her mind a =HARLOT=?—Certain sure. SUCH, in our boarding-schools, we often find, Where, to improve their morals, they’re design’d: Yet Lewdness, there, is found among the train, And Virtue faintly does her rights maintain; The Dancing-Master, and the Frizeur too, The _pleasing sports_ of =Venus= bring to view; _Big bellies_ and _elopements_ will take place, And =WHORES= alike be found in ev’ry place. BUT why, by me can never be devis’d, A =WHORE= should be so horridly despis’d; Why, when by all, throughout the world, they’re us’d! Why they should be so cruelly abus’d. THE pulpit-thumper rails against a =WHORE=, And damns the =Prostitute=!—What can he more? Justice pursues her to the very cart, Where, for her folly, she is doom’d to smart. Whips, Gaols, Diseases! all the =WHORE= assail, And yet, I fancy, =WHORES= will never fail. WHAT is the reason =WHORES= are so in vogue? Why, faith, to gain a true one, ask each =Rogue=. The very =Priest=, who dares so much decry, And holds his doctrine up so very high, Will, from the pulpit, cast a side-long glance, To damn the tenets which he dares advance; And e’er, perhaps, he goes to evening pray’r, Will take a bottle with some willing fair; Will to her breasts his saint-like hands apply, And gaze upon her with lascivious eye, In pleasure’s pulpit then will mount, and preach A forceful doctrine, which he dares not teach; Then, sanctify’d, will to his flock amain, Hem, stroke his band—and rail at =WHORES= again.