The Rape of Lucrece.
107
No cause, but company of her drops spilling,
Their gentle sex to weepe are often willing,
Grieving themselves to guess at others smarts,
And then they drown their eyes, or break their hearts.
Their gentle sex to weepe are often willing,
Grieving themselves to guess at others smarts,
And then they drown their eyes, or break their hearts.
For men have marble, women waxen minds,
And therefore are they form'd as marble will:
The weak opprest, th'impression of strange kinds,
Is form'd in them by force, by fraud or skill.
Then call them not the Authors of their ill,
No more than wax shall be accounted evil,
Wherein is stampt the semblance of a devil.
And therefore are they form'd as marble will:
The weak opprest, th'impression of strange kinds,
Is form'd in them by force, by fraud or skill.
Then call them not the Authors of their ill,
No more than wax shall be accounted evil,
Wherein is stampt the semblance of a devil.
Their smoothnesse like a champaine plain,
Lays open all the little worms that creep
In men, as in a rough grown grove remain
Cave-keeping evils that obscurely sleep,
Through chrystal walls each little mote will peep:
Tho men can cover crimes with bold stern looks,
Poor womens faces are their own faults books.
Lays open all the little worms that creep
In men, as in a rough grown grove remain
Cave-keeping evils that obscurely sleep,
Through chrystal walls each little mote will peep:
Tho men can cover crimes with bold stern looks,
Poor womens faces are their own faults books.
No man inveighs against the withered flower,
But chides rough winter that the flower hath kill'd.
Not that devour'd, but that which doth devour,
Is worthy blame; O let it not be held
Poor womens faults, that they are so fulfill'd
With mens abuses, those proud Lords to blame,
Make weak-made women tenants to their shame.
But chides rough winter that the flower hath kill'd.
Not that devour'd, but that which doth devour,
Is worthy blame; O let it not be held
Poor womens faults, that they are so fulfill'd
With mens abuses, those proud Lords to blame,
Make weak-made women tenants to their shame.
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