A Modest Defence of Public Stews, by Bernard Mandeville

Address To the Most Valuable Good-for-nothing FEMALE Living

MUST Interest to Honour be preferred?
To save my Credit, shall I break my Word?
I know not how to steer in such a Storm:
Rashly I spoke, more rashly still perform.
My Zeal to Truth, at least, you will approve,
Though Truth weighs little in the Scales of Love.
Still upon that alone 'tis I depend
So bold a Gamester rarely gains his End:
I stake the Lover down to win the Friend.