The soul may let in "the baneful poison of repeated sin" as the snuff-taker does snuff
— Teft, Elizabeth (fl. 1741-7)
Author
Work Title
Date
1747
Metaphor
The soul may let in "the baneful poison of repeated sin" as the snuff-taker does snuff
Metaphor in Context
On Snuff-Taking
Custom, in this small article I find
What strong ascendency thou hast o'er the mind.
My friend;s advice the first inducements were:
'Take it,' said she, 'it will your spirits cheer.'
All resolute the offered drug to take,
But in the trial sickened with my hate.
By repetition I was brought to bear,
Then rather liked, now love it too, too dear.
Be careful, oh, my soul! how thou let'st in
The baneful poison of repeated sin;
Never be intimate with any crime,
Lest Custom makes it amiable in time.
(p. 219)
Custom, in this small article I find
What strong ascendency thou hast o'er the mind.
My friend;s advice the first inducements were:
'Take it,' said she, 'it will your spirits cheer.'
All resolute the offered drug to take,
But in the trial sickened with my hate.
By repetition I was brought to bear,
Then rather liked, now love it too, too dear.
Be careful, oh, my soul! how thou let'st in
The baneful poison of repeated sin;
Never be intimate with any crime,
Lest Custom makes it amiable in time.
(p. 219)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
Lonsdale, R. Ed. Eighteenth Century Women Poets. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989.
Date of Entry
07/23/2003
