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Brown, William Hill, 1765-1793 [1789], The power of sympathy, or, The triumph of nature (Isaiah Thomas & Co., Boston) [word count] [eaf034v1T].

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LETTER XXV. MYRA to HARRIOT. (Written before &longs; he had received the preceding. ) BOSTON.

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Your &longs;orrowful little hi&longs;tory has
infected me with grief. Surely there is no
human vice of &longs;o black a die—&longs;o fatal in its
confequences—or which cau&longs;es a more general
calamity, than that of &longs;educing a female
from the path of honour. This idea has
been improved by my brother, on the hint
of your favour—as an acknowledgment for
which I inclo&longs;e you his production.

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[The Inclo&longs;ed.]

The Court of Vice.

An APOLOGUE.
VICE “on a &longs;olemn night of &longs;tate,
In all her pomp of terrour &longs;ate,”
Her voice in deep, tremendous tone,
Thus i&longs;&longs;u'd from her ebon throne:
`This night at our infernal court,
`Let all our mini&longs;ters refort;
`Who mo&longs;t annoys the human race,
`At our right hand &longs;hall take his place,
`Rais'd on a throne—advanc'd in fame—
`Ye CRIMES now vindicate your claim.'
Eager for prai&longs;e, the hideous ho&longs;t,
All &longs;pake, a&longs;piring to the po&longs;t.
PRIDE &longs;aid, to gain his private ends,
He &longs;acrific'd his deare&longs;t friends;
Infulted all with manners rude,
And introduc'd ingratitude.
'Twas he infus'd dome&longs;tick hate,
And party &longs;pirit in the &longs;late;

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Hop'd they'd ob&longs;erve his my&longs;tick plan,
De&longs;troy'd all confidence in man;
And ju&longs;tify'd his high pretentions,
By caufing envy and diffentions.
INTEMP'RANCE loud, demands the place,
He'd long deceiv'd the human race;
None could &longs;uch right as he maintain,
Di&longs;ea&longs;e and death were in his train.
THEFT next appears to claim the &longs;tation,
E'er con&longs;tant in his dark vocation;
He thought the place might well repay,
The crime who labeur'd night and day.
FRAUD own'd (tho' loth to &longs;peak his prai&longs;e)
He gain'd his point by &longs;ecret ways;
His voice in cities had been heard,
And oft in &longs;enates been preferr'd!
Yet much deri&longs;ion had he borne,
Treated by hone&longs;t fools with &longs;corn;
His influence on the we&longs;tern &longs;hore
Was not &longs;o great as heretofore:
He own'd each &longs;ide alike a&longs;&longs;ail'd
Complain'd how &longs;adly he was rail'd,
Cur&longs;t by the name in ev'ry &longs;treet,
Of Paper, Tendry, Rogue and Cheat:

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Yet if &longs;ome honour &longs;hould requite
His labour—things might &longs;till go right.
MURDER before the foot&longs;tool &longs;tood,
With tatter'd robe di&longs;tain'd in blood.
`And who,' he cry'd, with daring face,
`Denies my title to the place?
`My watchful eyes mankind furvey,
`And &longs;ingle out the midnight prey;
`Not cowardlike I meet the foe,
With foot&longs;teps infecure and &longs;low,
`Or cau&longs;e his death by languid &longs;trife—
`Boldly this dagger ends his life.
`Give back, ye CRIMES, your claims re&longs;ign
`For I demand the po&longs;t as mine.
AV'RICE declar'd his love of gold;
His nation, or him&longs;elf he fold;
He taught the &longs;in of PRIDE betimes;
Was fo&longs;ter-father of all crimes:
He pawn'd his life; he &longs;tak'd his &longs;oul,
And found employment for the whole:
Acknowledg'd that he gain'd his wealth,
By FRAUD, by MURDER and by STEALTH:
On one &longs;o u&longs;eful in her cau&longs;e,
VICE well might lavi&longs;h due applau&longs;e.

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The hagger'd ho&longs;t bow low the head,
The Mon&longs;ter rofe, and thus &longs;he &longs;aid:
`Ye mini&longs;ters of VICE, draw near,
`For fame no longer per&longs;evere;
`No more your various parts di&longs;clo&longs;e,
`Men &longs;ee, and hate you all as foes.
`One yet remains among your crew,
`Then ri&longs;e, SEDUCTION! claim your due.
`Your baleful pre&longs;ence quickly parts
`The tie that holds the happie&longs;t hearts;
`You rob—what wealth can ne'er repay;
`Like Judas with a ki&longs;s betray:
`Hence come the &longs;tarving, trembling train,
`Who pro&longs;titute them&longs;elves for gain,
`Who&longs;e lanquid vi&longs;ages impart
`A &longs;mile, while angui&longs;h knaws the heart;
`Who&longs;e &longs;teps decoy unwary youth,
`From honour, hone&longs;ty, and truth,
`Which follow'd 'till too late to mend,
`In ruin, and the gallows end—
`Be thine the po&longs;t. Be&longs;ides, who knows
`Where all thy con&longs;equences clo&longs;e?
`With thee, SEDUCTION! are ally'd
`HORROUR, DESPAIR and SUICIDE.
`YOU wound—but the devoted heart
`Feels not alone—the poignant &longs;mart:

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`YOU wound—th' electrick pain extends
`To fathers, mothers, &longs;i&longs;ters, friends.
`MURDER may yet delight in blood,
`And deluge round the crim&longs;on flood;
`But fure his merits rank above,
`Who murders in the ma&longs;k of love.'

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Brown, William Hill, 1765-1793 [1789], The power of sympathy, or, The triumph of nature (Isaiah Thomas & Co., Boston) [word count] [eaf034v1T].