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Should some loud promiser appear,

Whether a trickster or sincere,

And seek to gain her love with great

And solemn vows his life and fate

To link with hers,—so be it; but

Let her be wary not to put

Herself within his power, unless

He doth a well-filled purse possess.

And if love-letters one indite,

Let her weigh closely if he write

With false intention, or his mood

Of heart be honest, pure, and good;

Then let her forward a reply—

After a pause—coy, short, and shy;

Delay but brings a lover on,

Yet that were lightly overdone,

And when a lover’s suit is pressed,

’Tis wise that she awhile protest

Reluctance, not the whole refuse,

But coyly smirk and half excuse,

Now hold him off, now draw him near,

In balance kept ’twixt hope and fear.

As he more vehement doth grow,

More hesitation should she show,

Seeing that she his heart doth hold

Tightly as in a serpent’s fold,

Resisting by all means she can,

Assured reluctance doth but fan

His flame, then by degrees her fear

Subsides, and she should soothe and cheer

His heart with many a tender word,

And so they come to sweet accord.