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Of every penny let her reive them,

For ’tis her loss if aught she leave the m. From poor and needy men should she

Have special care to keep her free;

Ovid or Homer void of cash

Would not be worth a cat’s eyelash.

A traveller should she never give

Her heart to, for as he doth live

Now here, now there, e’en so will he

Affection shift as easily

As he his body doth. If wise

My counsel will she so far prize

As let no guest her fancy take,

But if, while sojourning, he make

Of jewels, gold, or gems fair offer,

Let her secure them, locked in coffer,

And then may she fulfil his pleasure,

Whether in haste or at her leisure.

Above all else should she beware

She set her love on that man ne’er

Who in his beauty taketh pride;

Such imbeciles the Gods deride

And scorn, for thus saith Ptolemy,

A master of all science he:

“Such man hath nought of love in him,

With selfish pride his heart’s abrim,

The love that he to one declares,

In turn he to another swears,

And many a woman treateth ill,

For all he meets he’ll spoil and pill:”

And many a damsel have I heard

Cry shame on such an one’s false word.

VOL. II.