Who has a book of all that monarchs do,
He's more secure to keep it shut than shown;
For vice repeated is like the wand'ring wind,
Blows dust in others' eye, to spread itself;
And yet the end of all is bought thus dear,
The breath is gone, and the sore eyes see clear
To stop the air would hurt them.
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Saint Augustine! well hast thou said,
That of our vices we can frame
A ladder, if we read more
Saint Augustine! well hast thou said,
That of our vices we can frame
A ladder, if we will but tread
Beneath our feet each deed of shame.
What maintains one vice would bring up two children.
What maintains one vice would bring up two children.
A vice is a failure of desire.
A vice is a failure of desire.
There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts.
There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts.
The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.
The worst vice of a fanatic is his sincerity.
Vice gets more in this vicious world
Than piety.
Vice gets more in this vicious world
Than piety.
It is but a step from companionship to slavery when one associates with vice.
It is but a step from companionship to slavery when one associates with vice.
To sanction Vice, and hunt Decorum down.
To sanction Vice, and hunt Decorum down.
The vices we scoff at in others, laugh at us within ourselves.
The vices we scoff at in others, laugh at us within ourselves.
