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Then he unblushingly should say

To all her questions, Nay, nay, nay,

And oath on oath pile up of truth

And constancy, and if forsooth

He can with blandishment and kiss

Entice her on to amorous bliss,

The storm is laid. But if in vain

He plead with her, and she amain

So presses him that he can see

No loophole, then all hardily

Let him avow his crime, but tell

A subtle tale of how he fell

A victim to the rival, who

Assailed him, so that he could do

Nought else but yield to her—and this

Was but his one sad lapse, ywis.

And then a solemn oath he swears,

That ’tis for her alone he cares,

And if he e’er again forsake,

Betray, or dupe her, may she take

Such vengeance on him as she will;

Nor shall her rival see him till

His dying day, and rather drowned

He’d see her than again be found

Her paramour, a creature vile

He nameth her, whose treacherous wile

Drew him aside, and then should he

Enfold his mistress tenderly,

With many a kiss and fond embrace,

And solemn vow, that, once her grace

She deigns to grant, he nevermore

Will vex her heart as heretofore,