Our Own Sins Unseen.

When once the sin has fully acted been,
Then is the horror of the trespass seen.

See and not see, and if thou chance t'espy
Some aberrations in my poetry,
Wink at small faults; the greater, ne'ertheless,
Hide, and with them their father's nakedness.
Let's do our best, our watch and ward to keep;
Homer himself, in a long work, may sleep.

Look how our foul days do exceed our fair;
And as our bad, more than our good works are,
E'en so those lines, pen'd by my wanton wit,
Treble the number of these good I've writ.
Things precious are least numerous: men are prone
To do ten bad for one good action.

Shame checks our first attempts; but then 'tis prov'd
Sins first dislik'd are after that belov'd.

Some parts may perish, die thou canst not all:
The most of thee shall 'scape the funeral.

A wanton and lascivious eye
Betrays the heart's adultery.