| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | Blame Not a Woman | | Anonymous |
| | (From The Percy Folio Manuscript, page 446 of MS.) |
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BLAME not a woman although she be lewd, | |
| And that her faults they have been known. | |
| Although she do offend, yet in time she may amend; | |
| Then blame her not for using of her own, | |
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| But rather give them praise, as they deserve, | 5 |
| When vice is banished quite, and virtue in them grown, | |
| For that’s their only treasure, and for to fly vain pleasure. | |
| Then blame them not for using of their own. | |
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| There is many now a days that women will dispraise: | |
| Out of a dru[n]ken humor when as their wits are flown, | 10 |
| Out of an idle brain, with speeches lewd and vain | |
| They’ll blame them still for using of her own. | |
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| But if woman should not trade, how should the world increase? | |
| If women all were nice, what seed should then be sown? | |
| If women all were coy, they would breed men’s annoy; | 15 |
| Then blame them not for using of their own. | |
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| If any take offence at this my song, | |
| I think that no good manners he hath known. | |
| We all from women came: why should we women blame, | |
| And for a little using of their own? | 20 | | |
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