A Woman's Honour
A Woman's Honour
Love bade me hope, and I obeyed;
Phyllis continued still unkind
Then you may e'en despair, he said,
In vain I strive to change her mind.
Honour's got in and keeps her heart
Durst he but venture once abroad
In my own right I'd take your part
And Show myself the mightier god.
This Huffing honour domineers
In breasts alone where he has place
But if true generous Love appears
The hector dares not Show his face.
Let me still languish and complain
Be most unhumanly denied
I have some pleasure in my pain
She can have none with all her pride.
I fall a sacrifice to love
She lives a wretch for honour's sake
Whose tyrant does most cruel prove
The difference is not hard to make.
Consider real honour then
You'll find hers cannot be the same
'Tis noble confidence in men
In women, mean, mistrustful shame.