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1The elephant, when radiant
Sol1
doth rise,2Devoutly bows; with elevated eyes
3He offers up his morning sacrifice.
4Some may perhaps this
vain religion2
slight,5But of all
creatures3
, I would worship light.6
Their4
valor too the Orient kingdoms try5
,7For in the field they’ll bravely fighting die;
8And when
the Indians these beasts do hire6
9To launch their ships, when one begins to tire,
10They’ll bring another to lift in his place;
11But rather than he’ll live to know disgrace,
12He’ll draw and shove not only till he tires,
13But straining, bursts; and so his soul expires,
14As rather choosing to
abrupt7
his story8
15Than live and let another take his glory.
16For chastity this
gallant9
creature’s crowned,17For when he hath a lovely female found
18And mutual flames do in their bosoms glow,
19They modestly into the
shades10
do go;20There, free from company that might annoy,
21They innocently each other do enjoy.
22Yet he’s so
tender of11
his reputation23He kills his female if he
doubts scortation12
.24By this the
gallants13
of our age may see,25In being
atheists14
, worse than beasts they be.26
Like them in noble actions15
, strive to exceed27Each other: this
want16
did make us bleed28In
our brave king17
. For had you valiant been,29So sad a change as this we ne’er had seen.
30For had not
lords in noble breeding failed18
,31
Tinkers and cobblers19
never had prevailed.32
But20
we our wants and losses may deplore21
,33But sin alone, that
sets us on the score22
.34Then yet be chaste, and those you choose in youth,
35Love constantly, for
truth23
deserveth truth.36Neglect them not, to
drink, rant, throw the die24
,37For to temptation then
they25
open lie.38In
common meetings26
they fool out their days39At balls and taverns, seeing
wanton27
plays.40To censure you in earnest I am
loath28
,41But sure
you want or valor, wit29
, or both.42Your ladies are so
lavish of their fames30
,43They have quite
outgone our wanton city dames31
.44For honor’s sake look
to’t32
; for shame at least!45You see a
wittol33
is below a beast.