The Vow-Breaker. Nahum Tate Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Tate, Nahum, c. 1652-1715. Poems by N. Tate. London Printed by T.M. for Benj. Tooke ... 1677 pp. 48-50. [15],133p.

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The Vow-Breaker . CLose by a Mossie Fountains side , A spacious Marble Bason stands ; Passing that way , Ardelia there I spy'd ; Oft-times , and oft , she washt and dry'd her Hands . Bless me ! I cou'd not choose but smile At her Impertinent Toil ; For from her Arms the Waters purer fell , Than when she took them from the Well ! So Vapours change their muddy Blew ( When rais'd aloft ) to fairer Hue ; They Rise in Mists and fall in Dew . II . Ah ! I'm Undone ; the fear was just That checkt me when I gave my Heart To this fair Nymph , who storm'd at my Mistrust , And Swore from the dear Pledge she'd never part , A while she lodg'd it in her Breast , Where like a Turtle in its Nest It slept , till she ( wou'd you believe she cou'd ? ) Imbru'd her hands in its warm Blood ! Then , washing Here , design'd to stain The Innocent Fount , but strove in Vain , Her Hands the Conscious Die Retain . III . Hence-forth let none your Beauty prize , But such as can be False as You ; You who admit no Hearts your Votaries , Save what you make ( like Mine ) your Victims too , 'Tis evident what you design You'd be in Earnest thought Divine . Then , Goddess , know your Rites amiss proceed , Your Victims Burn before they Bleed ; But you Enjoyn your own odd way To Exercise your Absolute sway , And try how Blindly wee'l obey .