Samuel Taylor Coleridge — Progress of Vice

       &nbsp       &nbsp       &nbsp       &nbsp       &nbsp       &nbsp[Nemo repente turpissimus]        &nbsp       &nbspDeep in the gulph of Vice and Woe        &nbsp       &nbspLeaps Man at once with headlong throw?        &nbsp       &nbspHim inborn Truth and Virtue guide,        &nbsp       &nbspWhose guards are Shame and conscious Pride.        &nbspIn some gay hour Vice steals into the breast;        &nbspPerchance she wears some softer Virtue's vest.        &nbspBy unperceiv'd degrees she tempts to stray, Till far from Virtue's path she leads the feet away.        &nbsp       &nbspThen swift the soul to disenthrall        &nbsp       &nbspWill Memory the past recall,        &nbsp       &nbspAnd Fear before the Victim's eyes        &nbsp       &nbspBid future ills and dangers rise.        &nbspBut hark! the Voice, the Lyre, their charms combine—        &nbspGay sparkles in the cup the generous Wine—        &nbspTh' inebriate dance, the fair frail Nymph inspires, And Virtue vanquish'd—scorn'd—with hasty flight retires.        &nbsp       &nbspBut soon to tempt the Pleasures cease;        &nbsp       &nbspYet Shame forbids return to peace,        &nbsp       &nbspAnd stern Necessity will force        &nbsp       &nbspStill to urge on the desperate course.        &nbspThe drear black paths of Vice the wretch must try,        &nbspWhere Conscience flashes horror on each eye,        &nbspWhere Hate—where Murder scowl—where starts Affright! Ah! close the scene—ah! close—for dreadful is the sight.