CANT. XXXVII.
AVISA.
Why then your cōscience doth declare
A guilty mind that shunnes the light,
A spotlesse conscience need not feare,
The tongues of men, nor yet the sight,
Your secret slides doe passe my skill,
In Plato his common wealth all women were common, contrary to the commandement of God. Exod. 20, 14. Leuit 18. 20. 29.
And plainely shewe your workes are ill.
Your words command the lawlesse rite,
Of Platoes lawes that freedome gaue,
That men and women for delight,
Might both in common freely haue,
Yet God doth threaten cruell death,
To them that breake their wedlocke faith.
The Bee beares honie in her mouth,
Strange pleasure seemes sweete at the beginning, but their end is as bitter wormewood Prouer. 5. 3. 4 Prouer. 6. 27. Non tanti cmam pænitcre, Filthy heathen lawes. In Cyprus, their maydens before the time of their mariage were set open to euery man to gaine their dowrie. Iustine. The Babilonians had a custome, that if any were poore, they should procure their daughters and wiues to get mony with their bodies. Herodot. Formosæ, pretio capiuntur auaræ. Imitantur hamos Dona. Fœmina prostituit seseque Munera donat. Femina sovendit quæ data dona capit, Vulteius.
Yet poysoned sting in hinder part,
The spring is sweete where pleasure growth,
The fall of leafe brings storming smart,
Vaine pleasure seemes most sweete at first,
And yet their end is still accurst.
What bosome beares hote burning coles,
And yet consumes not with the same?
What feete tread fire with bared soles,
And are not synged with the flame?
Then stay my friend, make no such hast,
To buy Repentaunce at the last.
I am not of the Cyprian sort,
Nor yet haue learnd the common vse
Of Bable dames, in filthy sport,
For gaine no commers to refuse,
What stormes or troubles euer grow,
I list not seeke my liuing so.
Your gorgious gifts, your golden hookes,
Doe moue but fooles to looke aside,
The wise will shunne such craftie crookes,
That haue such falfe resemblance tride:
But men are sure, that they will lift,
That are content to take a gift.
