I sayn; Her faconde eke full womanly and plain, No counterfeited termës haddë she To seemë wise; but after her degree She spake, and all her wordës more and less Sounding in virtue and in gentleness. Shamefast she was in maiden’s shamefastness, Constant in heart, and ever in business To drive her out of idle sluggardy: Bacchus had of her mouth right no mast’rý. For wine and slothë do Venús increase, As men in fire will casten oil and grease. And of her owen virtue, unconstrain’d, She had herself full often sick y-feign’d, For that she wouldë flee the company, Where likely was to treaten of follý, As is at feasts, at revels, and at dances, That be occasións of dalliánces. Such thingës makë children for to be Too soonë ripe and bold, as men may see, Which is full perilous, and hath been yore; For all too soonë may she learnë lore Of boldëness, when that she is a wife.
And ye mistrésses, in your oldë life That lordës’ daughters have in governánce, Takë not of my wordës displeasánce: Thinkë that ye be set in governings Of lordës’ daughters only for two things; Either for ye have kept your honesty, Or else for ye have fallen in frailtý And knowë well enough the oldë dance, And have forsaken fully such meschance For evermore; therefore, for Christë’s sake, To teach them virtue look that ye not slake. A thief of venison, that hath forlaft His lik’rousness, and all his oldë craft, Can keep a forest best of any man; Now keep them well, for if ye will ye can. Look well, that ye unto no vice assent, Lest ye be damned for your wick’ intent, For whoso doth, a traitor is certáin; And takë keep of that I shall you sayn; Of allë treason, sov’reign pestilence Is when a wight betrayeth innocence. Ye fathers, and ye mothers eke also, Though ye have children, be it one or mo’, Yours is the charge of all their surveyance, While that they be under your governance. Beware, that by example of your livíng, Or by your negligence in chastisíng, That they not perish for I dare well say, If that they do, ye shall it dear abeye. Under a shepherd soft and negligent The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to-rent. Sufficë this example now as here, For I must turn again to my mattére.