But lovely woman with her witching wiles

Far better acts her part than awkward man;

With clever, ready wit she takes her cues,

Adapts herself to each and every rôle,

Is sad or merry, grave or gay, at will;

Enacts with equal ease the pert soubrette,

Or blushing ingénue, or tragic queen,

And in her time plays many various parts,

Her acts being seven ages.

At first the infant,