Classic Poem

ODE L

1

Oh! Doe not warrant Sin, in your Applause!
Indeed: I saw your Heart:
And you abhorred the Face ont; her witt was
Beyond a womans part;
You hardlie had an Art
To keepe backe blushes: Conscious in her Cause.

2

Fye: doe not Say, you love that Spirrit in
The Sex! Your heart Saies noe;
You cannot valu't, as a Common Sin;
It is a monster; though
You would a Vizard throw
Upon such Gestures, as more Masculine.

3

What Man but hates a woman, bold and proud?
The vertues, which beseeme
That Sex, and makes the few good, that are good,
Are Silence, Disesteeme
Of their owne witt, in them,
And Modestie, where All is understoode.

4

Such Petulancies, as you would Contend
Are pittiful: more then
Prais-meriting (alas!) and you discend
Below your Judgement, when
You did applaud it. Men
Sometimes praise ill, where reproofe will not mend.

*****

Oh! Doe not Flatter Her, to her owne Sence;
Custome will make her Errors, Impudence.