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The tactics of the wolf; when she

A sheep would seize with certainty,

That she of one may make her sure

A hundred must her fangs endure.

A woman, likewise, should her net

So spread as many a man to get

Within her toils; but seen she nought

Can tell which ’tis that may be caught,

With view at very least to fix

One man, on all should play her tricks.

It scarce can happen otherwise,

But that among the fools she tries

By thousands, she must find some one

To do all that she would have done.

Nay, many, for ’tis truly said

Art lends to nature potent aid.

And if she several hooketh in,

Who equally her grace would win,

Most carefully should she arrange

The meeting hours to interchange,

For if two happed to come together,

Good chance there were of stormy weather,

And danger is, they seeing through

Her scheme, she fail of both the two,

Shamed and abased, and what e’en worse

She’d count, lose hold on each one’s purse.

But not to any should she give

The chance to keep enough to live,

But unto such condition bring

Her lovers, that of everything

Stripped bare, they’d have no choice but die

In hunger, debt, and misery.