| |
| WOULD 1 I disclose the secrets I have seene | |
| In closets, chambers, bosomes, I haue bene, | |
| And here set downe what erst I haue neglected, | |
| How minds of men and women are affected; | |
| Then should I write of some so strangely base, | 5 |
| Beares diuil’s breast, that weares an angel’s face; | |
| The subtill hammer of whose forge within, | |
| That workes black mischief, shewes not out sinne. | |
| Here’s Vulcan vowing in his grymy breast | |
| His wines and honour shall inrich his chest. | 10 |
| Of some whose meditation is their care, | |
| To father on long daies deceittful ware. | |
| Heere dwels a merchant that hath store of wealth, | |
| A faire young wife, that wants as he wants health: | |
| Within whose breast I see contriu’d and plotted | 15 |
| That which for fatall husband is alotted: | |
| Which though enacted twenty times a day, | |
| The tongue conceales, the face doth not betray. | |
| Within some breasts and bosomes I haue gone | |
| Conscience I find more harder than a stone; | 20 |
| In other some, whose number is not small, | |
| A little remnant: in some none at all. | |
| Heere’s one whose conscience beareth Iudas’ curse, | |
| That vowes damnation, but hee’ll fill the purse. | |
| A wayting mistresse that is poore and proud | 25 |
| Will do what virtue neuer yet alow’d; | |
| For silken trappings and for golden pay | |
| Turnes whoore to-morrow, is resolu’d to-day. | |
| An antient thefe of twenty yeares and more, | |
| Hath vow’d from day to day to steale no more: | 30 |
| Yet now to make his broken summe vp iust | |
| Will uenture once more, and be hang’d, I trust. | |
| Should I go forward through a world of mind, | |
| Kiss euery breast and bosome ill inclin’d, | |
| And shew the purpose therein was intended, | 35 |
| My booke would still draw leaues, not heere be ended. | |
