Progress of Vice by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Lyrics

       &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.