Classic Poem

Of innocence relentless woe,
The virgin's ruin, parent's woe,
Prone to devote to guilt and shame
Th' unhappy objects of your flame.
Her charms how oft you said and swore,
You still would cherish and adore;
You only wish'd her to believe,
That you more safely might deceive.
Ah! why so cruel, to undo
Her, all whose fault was love of you?
Her heart she fondly gave away,
And you but took it to betray.
One hapless moment, love o'ercame
The sense of guilt, the fear of shame;
You seiz'd the moment; — fraud began,
Force finish'd the unhallow'd plan;
You strongly swore, and closely prest,
And she no longer could resist;
By innocence, and love, she fell,
Believ'd too much, and lov'd too well.
To her, alas! our pity's due,
The crime and blame belong to you;
But, ah unjust! though yours the blame,
Yet hers the punishment and shame.
Boast in her fall, proclaim the art,
By which you triumph'd o'er her heart;
You will not be the worse receiv'd,
You will not be the less believ'd.
Insulted on account of you,
By you deserted quickly too,
Parents, relations, all disclaim,
And leave her to remorse and shame;
Nor finds she in her sex a friend,
While all attack, and none defend;
No tears can wash away her stain,
No time her ruin'd peace regain,
No comfort, no relief is nigh,
Her only refuge is, — to die!
Though none there are, who at thy hand
The vengeance due may here demand,
Yet know, and dread, there is a day,
Whose sentence shall thy crime repay,
When injur'd innocence its cause shall plead,
And punishment deserv'd o'ertake the guilty deed.