XV.
Lend thy bounty to me, to my beloved,
Kind Aurelius. I do ask a favour
Fair and lawful; if you did e'er in earnest
Seek some virginal innocence to cherish,
5 Touch not lewdly the mistress of my passion.
Trust the people; avails not aught to fear them,
Such, who hourly within the streets repassing,
Run, good souls, on a busy quest or idle.
You, you only the free, the felon-hearted,
10 Fright me, prodigal you of every virtue.
Well, let luxury run her heady riot,
Love flow over; enough abroad to sate thee:
This one trespass—a tiny boon—presume not.
But should impious heat or humour headstrong
15 Drive thee wilfully, wretch, to such profaning,
In one folly to dare a double outrage:
Ah what misery thine; what angry fortune!
Heels drawn tight to the stretch shall open inward
Lodgment easy to mullet and to radish.