Perchance, my words be thought uncredible to you; Because I say this Treatise is both false and also true. The matter of itself is true, as many know: And in the same, some feignèd tales the Author doth bestow. Therefore buy this same book of him that here doth dwell; And you, I know, will say you have bestowed your money well. Farewell. Is. W. _To her unconstant Lover._ AS close as you your wedding kept, yet now the truth I hear: Which you, ere now, might me have told. What need you "Nay!" to swear? You know I always wished you well; so will I during life! But sith you shall a Husband be; GOD send you a good Wife! And this, whereso you shall become, full boldly may you boast: That once you had as true a Love as dwelt in any coast. Whose constantness had never quailed, if you had not begun: And yet it is not so far past, but might again be won. If you so would, yea and not change so long as life should last: But if that needs you marry must; then Farewell! Hope is past! And if you cannot be content to lead a single life, Although the same right quiet be: then take me to your Wife! So shall the promises be kept that you so firmly made: Now choose, Whether ye will be true, or be of SINON's trade? Whose trade if that you long shall use, it shall your kindred stain! Example take by many a one, whose falsehood now is plain. As by ENEAS, first of all, who did poor DIDO leave; Causing the Queen by his untruth, with sword her heart to cleave. Also I find that THESEUS did his faithful Love forsake; Stealing away within the night, before she did awake. JASON, that came of noble race two Ladies did beguile: I muse how he durst show his face to them that knew his wile. For when he, by MEDEA's art, had got the Fleece of Gold; And also had of her, that time, all kinds of things he would: He took his ship, and fled away; regarding not the vows That he did make so faithfully unto his loving Spouse. How durst he trust the surging seas, knowing himself forsworn? Why did he 'scape safe to land before the ship was torn? I think King ÆOLUS stayed the winds, and NEPTUNE ruled the sea; Then might he boldly pass the waves: no perils could him slay. But if his falsehood had to them been manifest before; They would have rent the ship as soon as he had gone from shore. Now may you hear how falseness is made manifest in time; Although they that commit the same think it a venial crime. For they, for their unfaithfulness, did get perpetual fame. Fame! Wherefore did I term it so? I should have called it shame.