From the firſt page my juſt abhorrence ſprings;
For modern anecdotes are monſtrous things:
Yet will I fee what dangerous poiſons lurk,
To taint thy youth in this licentious work.
She ſaid: and rudely from the chamber ruſh'd,
Her pallid cheek with expectation fluſh'd,
With ardent hope her eager ſpirit ſhook,
Vain hope! to banquet on a luſcious book.
So if a prieſt of the Arabian feet,
In Turkiſh hands forbidden wine detect,
The ſacred muſſulman, with pious din,
Arraigns the culprit, and proclaims the ſin,
Curſes with holy zeal th' inflaming juice,
But curſing takes it for his ſecret uſe.
  The gay Serena, with unruffled mind.
The pleaſing novel, thus unread, reſign'd.
The viſion on her foul ſuch virtue left.
She only ſmil'd at the provoking theft;
The teaſing incident ſhe deem'd a jeft.
Nor felt the zone grow tighter on her breaſt.