BALLAD OF THE WOMEN OF PARIS

Albeit the Venice girls get praise

For their sweet speech and tender air,

And though the old women have wise ways

Of chaffering for amorous ware,

Yet at my peril dare I swear,

Search Rome, where God’s grace mainly tarries,

Florence and Savoy, everywhere,

There’s no good girl’s lip out of Paris.

The Naples women, as folk prattle,