And with such _Nauseous Scenes_ affront the _Town_? 990
Why thrive the _Lewd_, their _Wishes_ seldom crost,
And why _Poetic Justice_ often lost?
They plead they copy _Nature_.--Don't abuse
Her _sacred Name_ with such a _vile Excuse_!
She wisely _hides_ what these, like Beasts _display_, }
Ev'n _Vice_ it self, less _impudent_ than they, }
Remote in _Shades_, and far from _conscious_ Day. }
From this _Retrenchment_ by strong _Reason_ beat,
They next to _poor Necessity_ retreat:
The _Murderers, Bawds_ and _Robbers_ last pretence 1000
With equal _Justice_, equal _Innocence_!
So _Crack_, in _pious Fit_, will plead she's _poor_,
'Tis a _hard Choice_, Good Sir, to _starve_ or _whore_!
--Is there no _Third_, or will such _Reas'nings_ pass
In _Bridewel's_ rigid Court, or save the _Lash_?
Where the _stern Judge_, like _Radamanth_, surveys
The _trembling Sinner_, and each Action _weighs_.
A lazy, black, encumber'd _Stream_ rolls by,
Whole thick _sulphureous Vapours_ load the Sky;
Near where, in _Caves_ from _Heav'n's_ sweet _Light_ debar'd, 1010
_Shrieks, Groans_, and _Iron Whips_, and _Clanks of Chains_ are heard.
And can't you _thrash_, or _trail_ a _Pike_ or _Pole_?
Are there no _Jakes_ in Town, or _Kennels_ foul?
No _honester Employment_, that you chuse
With such _vile Drudgery_ t'abase the heav'n born _Muse_?
The num'rous ODE in various _Paths_ delights,
_Love, Friendship, Gods_, and _Heroes, Games_ and _Fights_:
Her _Age_ with _Veneration_ is confess'd
The _first great Mother_ she of all the rest,