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Never if it be false or true,

No matter what he say or do.

To hold it fast is task as vain

As though an eel from out the Seine

One should ’twixt thumb and finger grip,

Which will not fail to slide and slip

From out the grasp howe’er one try

To hold it, for so slippery

It is of skin, and eke so quick

Of movement, that its every trick

No man can fathom.

Nought I would

Speak thus of all, for some both good

And virtuous are, but deep regret

Is mine to own I ne’er have met

With any such, although from queen

To jade full many a one I’ve seen.

And wise King Solomon declared

That, as through life’s dark maze he found,

No woman e’er by him was found

Faithful and true.

If through the round

Of life you find one, tarry not,

But, joyful for your happy lot,

Give Fortune thanks that you possess

One faithful love your life to bless.

If nought a woman gads about

The street, nor lovers seek her out,

She chaste remains.

Just one word more

To perfect what I’ve said before

Of love’s fair art. Whene’er a maid,

Fair or ill-favoured, you’d invade,