Wherefore I wish Ladies of my degree,
And all the rest inferiour sorts of maydes,
To take a warning (for their good) by me,
Yeelding affection when kind men perswades:
And hate disdaine that vile accursed sin,
Least they be plagu'd for pride as I haue bin.
How say you to this warning wenches now,
That Lady Adhan giues vnto you all,
Were you not better marriage to allow,
Then in a manner for a Midwife call:
I thinke you were if I might iudge the cause,
How say you Susan, speake good Doll and Grace.
Grace.
This is a story that seemes very strange,
And for my part, it doth me full perswade,
My Mayden-head with some man to exchange,
I will not liue in danger of a mayde:
The world the flesh, the diuell tempts vs still,
Ile haue a husband, I protest I will.
If I were sure none of you here would blabbe,
I would euen tell you of a dreame most true,
And if I lye, count me the veriest drabbe,
That euer any of you saw or knewe:
When a friend speakes in kindnes do not wrong her:
For I can keepe it (for my life) no longer.
One night (I haue the day of moneth set downe)
Because I will make serious matters sure,
Me thought I went a iourney out of towne,
And with a propper man I was made sure:
As sure as death, me thought we were assured,
And all things for the businesse were procured.
We did agree, and faith and troath did plight,
And he gaue me, and I gaue him a Ring,
To doe as Mistris Bride will doe at night,
And I protest me thought he did the thing:
The thing we stand so much vpon he tooke,
And I vpon the matter bigge did looke.
Forsooth (in sadnes,) I was bigge with childe,
And had a belly, (marry God forbid,)
Then fell a weeping, but he laught and smil'd,
And boldly said, weele stand to what we did:
Fye, fye (quoth I) who euer stands I fall,
Farewell my credit, maydenhead and all.
Thus as I cry'd and wept and wrong my hands,
And said deare maydes and maydenhead adue,
Before my face me thought my mother stands,
And question'd with me how this matter grew:
With that I start awake as we are now,
Yet feard my dreame had bin no dreame I vow.
I could not (for my life) tell how to take it,
For I was stricken in a mightie maze,
Therefore if marriage come Ile not forsake it,
Tis danger to liue virgin diuers wayes,
I would not in such feare againe be found,
Without a husband, for a thousand pound.