Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/35

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ſoone won, got with an Apple, and loſt with the paring. Young wits are ſoone corrupted, womens bright beauties breede curious thoughts; and golden gifts eaſily ouercome wanton deſires, with changing modeſtie into paſtimes of vanitie and being once delighted therein, continue in the ſame without repentance: you are onely the peoples wonder, and misfortunes banding ball, toſt vp & downe the world with woe vpon woe; yea, ten thouſand woes will bee galloping hard at your heeles, and purſue you whereſoeuer you goe: for thoſe of ill report cannot long ſtay in one place, but rome and wander about the world, and yet euer vnfortunate, proſpering in nothing, forſaken and caſt out of all ciuill companies, ſtill in feare leſt Authoritie with the ſword of Iuſtice barre them of liberty. Loe thus your liues are deſpiſed walking like night-Owles in miſery, and no comfort ſhall be your friend, but onely Repentance comming too late, and ouer-deare bought. A penance and puniſhment due to all ſuch hated creatures as theſe are.

Therefore beleeue all you vnmarried wantons, and in beleeuing grieue, that you haue thus vnluckily made your ſelues neither Maides, Widdowes, nor Wiues, but more vile then filthy channell-durt, fit to be ſwept out of the heart and ſuburbs of your Countrey. O then ſuffer not this worlds pleaſure to take from you the good thoughts of an honeſt life: But downe, downe vpon your knees you earthly Serpents, and waſh away your blacke ſinne with the chriſtall teares of true ſorrow and repentance, ſo that when you wander from this inticing world, you may be waſhed and cleanſed from this foule leproſie of nature.

Loe