What shall I say to thee? thou scorne of Nature, Blacke spot of sinne, vylde lure of lecherie; Iniurious Blame to euerie faemale creature, Wronger of time, Broker of trecherie, Trap of greene youth, false Womens witcherie, Hand-maid of pride, high-way to wickednesse; Yet path-way to Repentance, nere the lesse. Thou dost entice the minde to dooing euill, Thou setst dissention twixt the man and wife; A Saint in show, and yet indeed a deuill: Thou art the cause of euerie common strife; Thou art the life of Death, the death of Life! Thou doost betray thyselfe to Infamie, When thou art once discernd by the eye. Ah, little knew _Matilda_ of thy being, Those times were pure from all impure complection; Then Loue came at Desert, Desert of seeing, Then Vertue was the mother of Affection, (But Beautie now is vnder no subjection), Then women were the same that men did deeme, But now they are the same they doo not seeme. What fæmale now intreated of a King With gold and iewels, pearles and precious stones, Would willingly refuse so sweete a thing? Onely for a little show of Vertue ones? Women haue kindnes grafted in their bones. Gold is a deepe-perswading Orator, Especially where few the fault abhor. But yet shee rather deadly poyson chose, (Oh cruell Bane of most accursed Clime;) Than staine that milk-white Mayden-virgin Rose, Which shee had kept vnspotted till that time: And not corrupted with this earthly slime Her soule shall liue: inclosd eternally, In that pure shrine of Immortality. This is my Doome: and this shall come to passe, For what are Pleasures but still-vading ioyes? Fading as flowers, brittle as a glasse, Or Potters Clay; crost with the least annoyes; All thinges in this life are but trifling Toyes: But Fame and Vertue neuer shall decay, For Fame is Toomblesse, Vertue liues for aye! _FINIS._ [Illustration] [Illustration] Hellens Rape. _OR_ A light Lanthorne for light Ladies. Written in English Hexameters. [Illustration]