Social Commentaries

Of Leda that plaid at Tables with her Husband

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 1

Social Commentaries

IF tales are told of Leda be not Fables,
Thou with thy Husband do'st play false at Tables.
First, thou so cunningly a Die canst slurre,
To strike an Ace so dead, it cannot sturre.
Then play thou for a pound, or for a pin,
High men are low men, still are foysted in.
Thirdly through, for free entrance is no fearing,
Yet thou dost ouerreach him still at bearing:
If poore Almes-ace, or Sincts, haue beene the cast,
Thou bear'st too many men, thou bear'st too fast.
Well, Leda, heare my counsell, vse it not,
Else your faire game may haue so foule a blot,
That he to lose, or leaue, will first aduenture,
Then in so shamefull open points to enter.

✦ ✦ ✦

Book 1, Epigram 79

MLA

Harington, John. “Of Leda that plaid at Tables with her Husband.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/56/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “Of Leda that plaid at Tables with her Husband.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/56/.

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