But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
Ver. 4. But her end is bitter as wormwood.] The pleasure passeth, the sting remaineth; for in the froth of this filthy pleasure is bred that hell worm of guilt that never dieth. a
“ Principium dulce est, sed finis amoris amarus:
Laeta venire Venus, tristis abire solet. ”
Diana of the Ephesians was so artificially portrayed, that she seemed to smile most pleasantly upon such as came into her temple, but to frown at those that went out. So doth sensual pleasure. Heus tu scholastiae, dulce et amarum gustulum carpis, &c., said the harlot to Apuleius; hark, scholar, it is but a bitter sweet that you are so fond of. b Plus aloes quam mellis habet; c knowest thou not that there will be bitterness in the end? The chroniclers d have observed of our Edward III that he had always fair weather at his passage into France, and foul upon his return. Such is the way of the harlot; the sin committed with her is as the poison of asps. When an asp stings a man, it doth first tickle him so as it makes him laugh, till the poison by little and little get to the heart, and then it pains him more than ever before it delighted him. See Luke 6:25; Luk 16:25 Heb 12:15-16 Job 13:26 Ecclesiastes 7:27,28 .
a In amore multum est amari.
b Dulcis acerbitas amarissima voluptas. - Tertul.
c Plutarch.
d Speed, Walsing.