2. Feminine Honour.

IN what esteeme did the Gods hold
Faire Innocence, and the chaste bed,
When scandall'd vertue might be bold
Bare-foot, upon sharpe Cultures, spread
O're burning coles to march, yet feele
Nor scor…ing fire, nor piercing sleele?

Why, when the hard edg'd Iron did turne
Soft as a bed of Roses blowne,
When cruell flames forgot to burne
Their chaste pure limbes, should man alone
'Gainst female Innocence conspire,
Harder then steele, fiercer then fire?

Oh haplesse sex! Vnequall sway
Of partiall Honour! Who may know;
Rebels from subjects that obey,
When malice oan on vestal… throw
Disgrace, and Fame fixe high repute
On the close shamelesse Prostitute?

Vaine Honour! thou art but disguise
A cheating voyce, a jugling art,
No judge of vertue, whose pure eyes
Court her owne Image in the heart,
More pleas'd with her true figure there,
Then her false Eccho in the eare.