John Trapp on Proverbs 5:4

Verſ. 4. But her end is bitter as wormwood] The pleaſure paſſeth,In amore [illegible: 2 letters]iltum eſt amari. the ſting remaineth; for in the froth of this filthy pleaſure is bred that hell-worm of guilt that never dyeth.

Principium dulce eſt, ſed finis amoris amarus: Laeta venire Venus, triſtis abire ſolet.

Diana of the Epheſians was ſo artificially pourtrayed, that ſhee ſeemed to ſmile moſt pleaſantly upon ſuch as came into her Temple,Dulcis acerbita[illegible: 1 letter] amariſſima voluptas. Tertul. but to frown at thoſe that went out: So doth ſenſual pleaſure. Heus tu ſcholaſtice, dulce & amarum guſtulum carpis, &c. ſaid the Harlot to Apuleius. Hark Scholar, it is but a bitter ſweet that you are ſo fond of. Plus aloes quam mellis habet, knoweſt thou not that there will bee bitterneſs in the end?Speed, Walſing. The Chroniclers have obſerved of our Edward the third, that hee had alwayes 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 poyſon of Aſpes. When an Aſp ſtings a man,Plutarch. it doth firſt tickle him ſo as it makes him laugh, till the poyſon by little and little get to the heart, and then it pains him more than ever before it delighted him. See Luke 6.25. & 16.25. Heb. 12.15, 16. Job 13.26. Eccleſ. 7.27, 28.