Religion blushing, veils her sacred fires,

And unawares Morality expires.

Nor public flame nor private dares to shine;

Nor human spark is left, nor glimpse divine!

Lo! thy dread empire Chaos is restor'd,

Light dies before thy uncreating word;

Thy hand, great Anarch, lets the curtain fall,

And universal darkness buries all.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744): The Dunciad. Book iv. Line 649.

The maid who modestly conceals

Her beauties, while she hides, reveals;

Give but a glimpse, and fancy draws

Whate'er the Grecian Venus was.

Edward Moore (1712-1757): The Spider and the Bee. Fable x.