Flatterers are of all to be reiected,
As well of wiues as you that are but maydes,
We praise not faults wherewith men are infected,
Nor yeeld applause to euery one perswades:
Our praysing men thus vnderstand you must,
Tis meant of those are honest, louing, iust.
Why there are men doe erre in what you hold,
Chast batchelers that neuer meane to match,
Who for the siugle life smooth tales haue told,
And yet the fleshly knaues will haue a snatch:
Ile ne're trust those that of themselues doe boast,
The great'st presisians will deceiue you most.
I knew a prating fellow would maintaine,
A married man had but two merry dayes,
His wedding day the ioyfull first of twaine,
For then God giue you ioy, euen all men sayes:
The second merry day of married life,
Is that whereon he burieth his wife.
And woemen vnto shippes he would compare,
Saying as they continually lacke mending,
So wiues still out of repairations are,
And vrge their husbands daily vnto spending:
Yea worse disgrace, he would presume to speake:
Which I will spare, least I offend the weake.
But note the badnesse of this wretches life,
That counted woemen abiect things forsaken,
He raune away at last with's neighbours wife,
Worthy of hanging were the rascall taken:
Such odious actes haue such dishonest mates,
that against marriage, rude and senceles prates.
But you most wilfull wenches that oppose,
Against the state that you are borne to honour,
A prophesie vnto you Ile disclose,
And she that here doth take most nice vpon her:
Pray note it well, for there is matter in it,
And for to doe you good thus I beginne it.
When fish with fowle change elements together,
The one forsaking aire, the other water,
And they that woare the finne, to weare the feather,
Remaining changelings all the worlds time after:
The course of nature will be so beguilde,
One maide shall get another maide with childe.
When euery Crow shall turne to be a Parret,
And euery Starre out-shine the glorious Sunne,
And the new water works runne white and clarret,
That come to towne by way of Islington,
Woemen and men shall quite renounce each other.
And maides shall bee with childe, like Merlins mother.
Grace.
Like Merlins mother, how was that I pray,
For I haue heard he was a cunning man,
There lines not snch another at this day,
Nor euer was, since Brittans first began:
Tell vs the story, and we well will minde it.
Because they say, In written bookes we finde it.