Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile In time of his troubles out of sundrie Italians, with the Argument and Lenuoye to eche Tale |
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A farewell to a craftie, deceitfull Dame.
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 | Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile |  |
153
A farewell to a craftie, deceitfull Dame.
As he that lothes the powders smel,must neuer prease where Gunners bee:
So he that hates a double dame,
must neuer haue to do with thee.
For craft I see, is all thy care,
thy smoothest lookes be token guiles:
In womans wombe thou feedst a foxe,
that bites thy friend on whom he smiles.
Had Nature wist thy deep deceits
before thy birth, I thinke that kind,
To saue thy name, and ease thy friends,
had seald thine eies, and kept thee blind.
For what is she that beares a face
of greater trust, and more good will?
Yet who is she that hath a heart
more prone to pay the good with ill?
Thy beautie led me on to loue,
thy lookes allured my looking eyes:
Thy doublenesse now breeds despaire,
thy craft doth cause my wofull cries.
I could requite dissembling loue,
and gloze perhaps as well as you:
But that I take but small delight
to change mine ancient friends for new
Yet will I not be sorted so,
[153]
I better know what mettall is,
than to exchange the gold for drosse.
Good will is euer woorth good will,
if both the ballance egall bee:
But sure too massie is my loue,
to make exchange of loues with thee.
Wherfore I say, vnknit the knot
wherwith thy loue was falsly tide,
Thou lackst a graine to make vp weight,
men say, (good measure neuer lide.)
Go seeke some other to deceiue,
too wel I know thy craftie call:
My mouth is very well in taste,
to iudge the hony from the gall.
That you are gall, I may auow,
for hony hath no bitter tast:
The wine of your good will is spent,
you keep the dregs for me at last.
Wherfore I do renounce the caske,
I leaue the lees for other men:
My hap was ill, my choice was worse,
I yeeld you vp to choose agen.
| Tragicall Tales translated by Tvrbervile | |