A gentle echo on women
Beauties of English Index
A gentle echo on women : In the Doric manner
Shepherd :
Echo, I ween, will in the word reply,
And quaintly answer questions :
Shall I try?
Echo : Try
What must we do our passion to express?
Press
How shall I please her, who ne’er loved before?
Be Fore.
What most moves women when we them dress?
A Dress.
Say, what can keep her chaste whom I adore?
A door.
If music softens rocks, love tunes my lyre.
Liar.
Then teach me echo, how shall I come by her?
Buy Her.
When bought, no question I shall be her dear?
Her Deer.
But dear have horns: how must I keep her under?
Keep her under.
But what can glad me when she’s laid in bier?
Beer.
What must I do when women will be kind?
Be Kind.
What must I do when women will be cross?
Be Cross.
Lord, what is she that can so turn and wind?
Wind.
If she be wind, what stills her when she blows?
Blows.
But if she bang again, still should I bang her?
Bang Her.
Is there no way to moderate her anger?
Hang Her.
Thanks, gentle Echo! Right thy answer tell
What woman is and how to guard her well.
Guard her Well.
By Jonathan Swift
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