A Rat surrendered here 1
A brief career of Cheer
And Fraud and Fear.
Of Ignominy's due 4
Let all addicted to
Beware.
The most obliging Trap 7
Its tendency to snap
Cannot resist－
Temptation is the Friend 10
Repugnantly resigned
At last.
A brief career of Cheer
And Fraud and Fear.
Of Ignominy's due 4
Let all addicted to
Beware.
The most obliging Trap 7
Its tendency to snap
Cannot resist－
Temptation is the Friend 10
Repugnantly resigned
At last.
(F.1377/J.1340)
[1, 3] Rat, Fraud:: a criminal who deceives, an impostor.
[1] surrendered:: being caught.
[2] career of Cheer:: exciting life.
[3, 4] Fraud and Fear:: a life under fraud and fear (of ignominy's due). Every segment's end is connected to next segment's beginning, in line 3 to 4, 6 to 7, and 9 to 10.
[6, 7] Beware:: beware the most obliging trap.
[7] obliging:: a) forcing; b) pleasing. Trap:: a) snare, ambush; b) thief-taker; a detective or policeman (OED trap 6, 1705).
[8] snap:: a) the rat to snap the victim; b) the police to snap the rat.
[10, 11] Temptation, Friend, resigned:: temptation is an impostor's tool, but the imposter also failed in the temptation to deceive.
