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The Works of Mr Abraham Cowley

Consisting of Those which were formerly Printed: And Those which he Design'd for the Press, Now Published out of the Authors Original Copies ... The Text Edited by A. R. Waller

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106

Womens Superstition.

1

Or I'm a very Dunce, or Womankind
Is a most unintelligible thing:
I can no Sense, nor no Contexture find,
Nor their loose parts to Method bring,
I know not what the Learn'd may see,
But they're strange Hebrew things to Me.

2

By Customs and Traditions they live,
And foolish Ceremonies of antique date,
We Lovers, new and better Doctrines give.
Yet they continue obstinate;
Preach we, Loves Prophets, what we will,
Like Jews, they keep their old Law still.

3

Before their Mothers Gods, they fondly fall,
Vain Idol-Gods that have no Sense nor Mind:
Honour's their Ashtaroth, and Pride their Baal,
The Thundring Baal of Woman-kind.
With twenty other Devils more,
Which They, as We do Them, adore.

4

But then, like Men both Covetous and Devout,
Their costly Superstition loth t'omit,
And yet more loth to issue Moneys out,
At their own charge to furnish it.
To these expensive Deities,
The Hearts of Men they Sacrifice.