18
Whenasthineeyehathchosethedame,Andstalledthedeerthatthoushouldststrike,Letreasonrulethingsworthyblame,Aswellasfancy,partialmight;
Takecounselofsomewiserhead,Neithertooyoungnoryetunwed。
Andwhenthoucom\'stthytaletotell,Smoothnotthytonguewithfiledtalk,Lestshesomesubtlepracticesmell-
Acripplesooncanfindahalt-
Butplainlysaythoulov\'stherwell,Andsetthypersonforthtosell。
Andtoherwillframeallthyways;
Sparenottospend,andchieflythereWherethydesertmaymeritpraise,Byringinginthylady\'sear:
Thestrongestcastle,towerandtown,Thegoldenbulletbeatsitdown。
Servealwayswithassuredtrust,Andinthysuitbehumbletrue;
Unlessthyladyproveunjust,Pressneverthoutochooseanew:
Whentimeshallserve,bethounotslackToproffer,thoughsheputtheeback。
Whatthoughherfrowningbrowsbebent,Hercloudylookswillcalmerenight,AndthentoolateshewillrepentThatthusdissembledherdelight;
Andtwicedesire,ereitbeday,Thatwhichwithscornsheputaway。
Whatthoughshestrivetotryherstrength,Andbanandbrawl,andsaytheenay,Herfeebleforcewillyieldatlength,Whencrafthathtaughtherthustosay:
\'Hadwomenbeensostrongasmen,Infaith,youhadnothaditthen,\'
Thewilesandguilesthatwomenwork,Dissembledwithanoutwardshow,Thetricksandtoysthatinthemlurk,Thecockthattreadsthemshallnotknow。
Haveyounothearditsaidfulloft,Awoman\'snaydothstandfornought?
Thinkwomenstilltostrivewithmen,Tosinandneverfortosaint:
Thereisnoheaven,byholythen,Whentimewithageshallthemattaint。
Werekissesallthejoysinbed,Onewomanwouldanotherwed。
But,soft,enough,toomuchIfear,Lestthatmymistresshearmysong;
Shewillnotsticktoroundmeonth\'ear,Toteachmytonguetobesolong,Yetwillsheblush,herebeitsaid,Tohearhersecretssobewrayed。
19
Livewithme,andbemylove,AndwewillallthepleasuresproveThathillsandvalleys,dalesandfields,Andallthecraggymountainsyield。
Therewillwesitupontherocks,Andseetheshepherdsfeedtheirflocks,Byshallowrivers,bywhosefallsMelodiousbirdssingmadrigals。
TherewillImaketheeabedofroses,Withathousandfragrantposies,Acapofflowers,andakirtleEmbroider\'dallwithleavesofmyrtle。
Abeltofstrawandivybuds,Withcoralclaspsandamberstuds;
Andifthesepleasuresmaytheemove,Thenlivewithmeandbemylove。
LOVE\'SANSWER
Ifthattheworldandlovewereyoung,Andtruthineveryshepherd\'stongue,TheseprettypleasuresmightmemoveTolivewiththeeandbethylove。
20
AsitfelluponadayInthemerrymonthofMay,SittinginapleasantshadeWhichagroveofmyrtlesmade,Beastsdidleapandbirdsdidsing,Treesdidgrowandplantsdidspring;
Everythingdidbanishmoan,Savethenightingalealone:
She,poorbird,asallforlorn,Leanedherbreastup-tillathorn,Andtheresungthedolefull\'stditty,Thattohearitwasgreatpity:
\'Fie,fie,fie\',nowwouldshecry;
\'Tereu,Tereu!\'byandby;
Thattohearhersocomplain,ScarceIcouldfromtearsrefrain;
ForhergriefssolivelyshownMademethinkuponmineown。
Ah,thoughtI,thoumourn\'stinvain!
Nonetakespityonthypain:
Senselesstreestheycannothearthee;
Ruthlessbeaststheywillnotcheerthee:
KingPandionheisdead;
Allthyfriendsarelappedinlead;
Allthyfellowbirdsdosing,Carelessofthysorrowing。
WhilstasfickleFortunesmiled,ThouandIwerebothbeguiled。
EveryonethatflatterstheeIsnofriendinmisery。
Wordsareeasy,likethewind;
Faithfulfriendsarehardtofind:
EverymanwillbethyfriendWhilstthouhastwherewithtospend;
Butifstoreofcrownsbescant,Nomanwillsupplythywant。
Ifthatonebeprodigal,Bountifultheywillhimcall,Andwithsuch-likeflattering,\'Pitybuthewereaking\';
Ifhebeaddicttovice,Quicklyhimtheywillentice;
Iftowomenhebebent,Theyhaveatcommandment。
ButifFortuneoncedofrown,Thenfarewellhisgreatrenown;
TheythatfawnedonhimbeforeUsehiscompanynomore。
Hethatisthyfriendindeed,Hewillhelptheeinthyneed:
Ifthousorrow,hewillweep;
Ifthouwake,hecannotsleep;
ThusofeverygriefinheartHewiththeedothbearapart。
ThesearecertainsignstoknowFaithfulfriendfromflatt\'ringfoe。