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And when she finds her fallen a-down,

Straightway both cheer and broidered gown

Are changed, and all at once of dress

She finds herself an orphaness;

And all her pride of state subdued,

There stands she, as a blind-worm nude;

All she possessed hath vanishèd,

And now doth nought her need bestead.

Then seeing her estate so low,

All shameless seeketh she to go

Beneath the bordel’s roof to hide

Her head, for sorrow humbleth pride.

Then mourneth she, with floods of tears,

The splendours now no longers hers—

The worldly pleasures past and gone.

The gorgeous robes she woned to don.

Alas, for Fortune! jade perverse!

Full many a noble man shall curse

Her hand which cast him in the mire,

A prey to woe and misery dire,

While vilest men she sets on high,

Bestowing on them lavishly

Honour, and dignity, and power,

Only that when their little hour

Is past, she suddenly away

May snatch the gifts of yesterday.

O were not then the ancients wise,

Who Fortune drew with blindfold eyes.”