John Fletcher

Hear, ye Ladies

HEAR, ye ladies that despise
    What the mighty Love has done;
Fear examples and be wise:
    Fair Callisto was a nun;
Leda, sailing on the stream
    To deceive the hopes of man,
Love accounting but a dream,
    Doted on a silver swan;
        Danae, in a brazen tower,
        Where no love was, loved a shower.

Hear, ye ladies that are coy,
    What the mighty Love can do;
Fear the fierceness of the boy:
    The chaste Moon he makes to woo;
Vesta, kindling holy fires,
    Circled round about with spies,
Never dreaming loose desires,
    Doting at the altar dies;
        Ilion, in a short hour, higher
        He can build, and once more fire.