Of those who wear the veil—have changed their mind;

Their fingers bite, and often do much worse:

Those convent vows, full soon, become a curse;

Such things at least have sometimes reached my ear

(For doubtless I must speak from others here);

Of his Boccace a merry tale has told,

Which into rhyme I've put, as you'll behold.

WITHIN a nunnery, in days of yore,

A good old man supplied the garden-store;

The nuns, in general, were smart and gay,