Womankind

Shame, who overleaps his steed,
Rightly rede and understand;
Love with land goes swift behind,
Weigh the worth of Womankind.

Them may malisons enfold,
Though of old we used to mix,
Youth, their tricks are as the wind —
Ware the wiles of Womankind.

He who early looks abroad
Shall a load of ills discern,
Wouldst thou learn the worst to find,
Watch the heart of Womankind.

Married man with witless wife,
Fails in strife with foreign foe;
Bad for hart is belling hind,
Worse the tongue of Womankind.

Dame who hears but does not heed —
Walled indeed her ears with wax,
See her tax her spouse too blind,
Wont to rouse is Womankind.

Show a stranger, — off she trips,
Wreathes her lips with smiles resigned,
Him beguiles with martyred air —
False as fair is Womankind.

Wedded wife from altar rail,
Pious-pale before the priest,
After feast shows bitter rind —
Best beware of Womankind.

Best beware of Womankind,
Meetly mind, this truth proclaim:
He who fails full soon shall find
Bondage blind and bitter shame.