An Address To Calista, Taken From Life
by
Calista, tho’ you waft a smile,
And blithsome still appear;
It does not censure ought beguile,
Or stop the stifled tear.
Its levity your conduct sway,
And tarnish much your name;
Too much her dictates you obey,
The prudent must you blame.
A married woman never can,
Meet in a secret place;
An artful gay and single man,
And not incur disgrace.
Censure you long have borne it’s true,
At that you can’t complain;
That fiend will harass you anew,
If you transgress again.
Ne’er listen to each tale of love,
The Siren fain would tell;
Chaste to your husband ever prove,
Lothario bid farewell.
Tho’ guilt is vanished from the eye,
Of mortals here below;
A God above can all descry,
Our secret thoughts he know.
Sometimes the guilty are set free,
And wears no more the chains;
Yet tho’ he gains his liberty,
The stain on him remains.
Tho’ rich the female that portray,
A wanton’s smile to view;
Or cast her husband’s love away,
Bid chastity adieu.
It is the duty of a wife,
Whene’er the ring she gain;
To lead a virtuous steady life,
From wanton acts refrain.
Calista oft you did retire,
To an appointed place;
To hold a converse with the squire,
It brought on you disgrace.