O 'tis cruel to keep me thus long in suspense;
Your mistaking my meaning is all a pretence.
But you women delight so to bother and tease us,
When your study should be to make much of and please us;
Like an angler ere landing his fish plays about
Just for sport, when he knows he might pull him straight out.
But remember, there's many a good fish been lost
By the snap of a line, which a dinner has cost."
"That is meant sure, for me," thought the friar; "no doubt.
How I wish the good dame could have coaxed the chap out!