The fatal effects of seduction. A tragedy. Written for the use of the students of Clio Hall, in Bennington, to be acted on their quarter-day, April 28, 1789. : Founded on the story of an unhappy young lady of Boston. / By a friend to literature.

PROLOGUE to the FATAL EF|FECTS of SEDUCTION.

Spoken by MARTIN HARMON.

TO tender sympathy t' awake the soul, To raise the genius and the will controul; To shew the tendency of guilty love And from the face of vice the mask remove; To guide the steps of youth in virtue's way And bar the paths in which they're apt to stray; For this, when poets exercise the pen, They claim the plaudits of the best of men. Virtue resplendent, sheds her brilliant rays. And vice, her hedious native form displays. Long has the stage, in regal pomp array'd, Grand scenes of suffering majesty display'd: The deep distress of royalty made known, Which scarcely bear the likeness of our own; The gazing crowd with admiration view The gaudy trapings of the pompous shew: While scarce a sentiment the scenes impart To raise the genius or amend the heart. Our poet of to-night presents a play, Form'd on the occurrence of a recent day; A scene of sorrow acted in our land, Which scarce a child can fail to understand: He brings the troubles of a youthful maid, Her virtue lost; Her innocence betray'd: A scene ye fair, which for your use is pen'd, By a (perhaps too bold, but) real friend: Whose only aim was simply to pourtray, The sad effects, when artful men betray; To shew whereto such guilty pleasures lead, How strict a guard the inclinations need, And what sad scenes from rashness may proceed.

Critics be dumb; be wishes not applause. He wrote but to subserve fair virtues cause; But should you snarl, he hopes the fair will 〈◊〉〈◊〉, To grace with pearly drops the magic scene. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they must form his shield to ••ight By virtue's power impress; And bid the 〈…〉〈…〉 On poor Sophia's 〈◊〉〈◊〉.