Social Commentaries

The penitent Prodigall, to his loose-bodied Mistresses

by Thomas Bancroft fl. 1633–1658

From Two Bookes of Epigrammes, and Epitaphs (1639), Book I

Social Commentaries

Hence tempting trifles, hence, I here defie
Your sighs and teares, your smiles and flattery.
Your vertues are but vizards, and your wits
But wandering flames, that lead men into pits.
Be Fooles your play-fellows; I'le trust no more
Women than waves, that flow to every shore,
Offering their forward boldnesse unto all,
Yet when they are at proudest, backward fall.

MLA

Bancroft, Thomas. “The penitent Prodigall, to his loose-bodied Mistresses.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/bancroft/165/.

Chicago

Bancroft, Thomas. “The penitent Prodigall, to his loose-bodied Mistresses.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/bancroft/165/.

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