| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910. | | | | A Lady to a Young Courtier | | By Dr. Henry Hughes (c. 1602–c. 1652) |
| | | LOVE 1 thee! good sooth, not I! | |
| I’ve somewhat else to do; | |
| Alas, you must go learn to talk, | |
| Before you learn to woo. | |
| Nay, fie! stand off, go to! | 5 |
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| Because you’re in the fashion, | |
| And newly come to Court; | |
| D’ye think, your clothes are orators | |
| T’ invite us to the sport? | |
| Ha, Ha! Who will not jeer thee for’t. | 10 |
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| Ne’er look so sweetly, youth, | |
| Nor fiddle with your band; | |
| We know, you trim your borrowed curls | |
| To show your pretty hand. | |
| But ’tis too young for to command. | 15 |
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| Go, practise how to jeer; | |
| And think each word a jest; | |
| That’s the Court wit. Alas, you’re out, | |
| To think when finely drest, | |
| You please me, or the ladies, best. | 20 |
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| Mark, how Sir Whacham fools; | |
| Aye, marry, there’s a wit! | |
| Who cares not what he says, or swears; | |
| So ladies laugh at it; | |
| Who can deny such blades a bit! | 25 |
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