Beware fair maid of musky courtiers' oaths,
Take heed what gifts and favors you receive,
Let no the fading gloss of silken clothes
Dazzle your virtue, or your fame bereave.
For lose but once the hold you have of grace,
Who'll e'er respect your fortune or your face?
Each greedy hand will strive to catch the flower
When none regards the the talk it grows upon,
Each creature seeks the fruit still to devour
But leave the tree to fall or stand alone.
Yet this advice, fair creature, take of me,
Let none take fruit, unless he take the tree.
Believe no oaths, nor much protesting men,
Credit no vows, nor no bewailing songs,
Let courtiers swear, forswear, and swear again;
Their hearts do live ten regions from their tongues.
For when with oaths they make thy heart to tremble
Believe them least, for then they most dissemble.
Beware lest Caesar do corrupt they mind
Or fond ambition sell thy modesty.
Say though a king thou ever courteous find
He cannot garden they virginity.
Begin with king, to subject you will fall,
For lord to lackey, and at last to all.
-Author Unknown