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ELEGIA. 4. Quod amet mulieres, cuiuscunque forma sint.

I meane not to defend the scapes of any,
Or iustifie my vices being many.
For I confesse, if that might merite fauour,
Heere I display my lewd and loose behauiour.
I loathe, yet after that I loathe, I runne,
Oh how the burthen irkes, that we should shunne.
I cannot rule my selfe, but where loue please,
Am driuen like a ship vpon rough seas.
No one face likes me best, all faces moue,
A hundred reasons make me euer loue.
If any eye [illeg.] with a modest looke,
I blush, and by that blushfull glance am tooke.
And she thats coy I like for being no clowne,
Me thinkes she would be nimble when shee's down,
Though her sowre lookes a Sabines brow resemble,
I thinke sheele do, but deepely can dissemble.
If she be learn'd, then for her skill I craue her.
If not, because shees simple I would haue her.
Before Callimachus one preferrs me farre,
Seeing she likes my bookes why should we iarre?
Another railes at me and that I write
Yet would I lie with her if that I might.
Trips she, it likes me well, plods she, what than?
She will be nimbler, lying with a man.
And when one sweetly sings, then strait I long
To quauer on her lips euen in her song.
Or if one touch the Lute with art and cunning
Who would not loue those hands for their swift running?
And her I like that with a maiesty
Folds vp her armes and makes low curtesy.
To leaue my selfe, that am in loue with all
Some one of these might make the chastest fall.
If she be tall, shees like an Amazon,
And therefore fills the bed she lyes vpon.
If short, she lyes the rounder to say troth;
Both short and long please me, for I loue both.
I thinke what one vndeckt would be, being drest
Is she attired, then shew her graces best.
A white wench thralls me, so doth golden yellow
And nut-browne girles in doing haue no fellowe.
If her white necke be shadowed with browne haire,
Why so was Lædas, yet was Læda faire.
Amber trest is she, then on the morne thinke I
My loue alludes to euery history:
A young wench pleaseth, and an old is good
This for her lookes and that for her woman-hood.
Nay what is she that any Roman loues
But my ambitious ranging minde approues.