"Thus, a strange kind of cursed necessity / Brings down the sterling temper of his soul, / By base alloy, to bear the current stamp, / Below call'd Wisdom; sinks him into safety; / And brands him into credit with the world; / Where specious titles dignify disgrace, / And Nature's injuries are arts of life; / Where brighter Reason prompts to bolder crimes, / And heavenly talents make infernal hearts,-- / That unsurmountable extreme of guilt!"
The Complaint. Or, Night Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality. Night the Eighth
Uniform title published in 9 volumes, from 1742 to 1745. At least 133 reprintings after 1745 in ESTC (1747, 1748, 1749, 1750, 1751, 1752, 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1760, 1761, 1762, 1764, 1765, 1766, 1767, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1782, 1783, 1785, 1786, 1787,  1788, 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1800).<br>
<br>
Edward Young, <u>The Complaint. Or, Night Thoughts on Life, Death, and Immortality. Night the Eighth. Virtue's Apology: Or, The Man of the World Answer'd.</u> (London: Printed for G. Hawkins, 1745). <br>
<br>
Text from <u>The Complete Works, Poetry and Prose, of the Rev. Edward Young, LL.D.</u>, 2 vols. (London: William Tegg, 1854). &lt;<a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=ixYUAAAAQAAJ">Link to Google Books</a>&gt;<br>
<br>
Reading Edward Young, <u>Night Thoughts</u>, ed. Stephen Cornford (New York: Cambridge UP, 1989).