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1The lion roars; his
vassals1
fear and tremble.2But if he comes where they do all assemble,
3They stand
examinated2
, as they say.4Thus, tyrant-like, he chooseth out his prey;
5Yet though his subjects at his mercy lies,
6Yet he’s a slave unto his love’s bright eyes,
7Being most indulgent to his
lioness3
;8Yet kills her if he knows she doth amiss.
9For when he smells
the panther’s strong perfumes4
,10That she hath broke her faith he then presumes.
11But if she wash her in some crystal streams,
12That she is false to him he never dreams.
13Such noble jealousy all must commend.
14In this, the elephant doth
so5
transcend.15But the wild, hare-brained, and
lascivious ass6
16All creatures else in jealousy doth pass;
17For he doth watch his young ones
when they fall7
;18Then,
to prevent all fear, he bites off all8
.19He’s surely proud
of’s9
ears, and fears the horn10
,20When ’tis the
wittol11
is the people’s scorn.21Then by these stories you may plainly see
22The noblest mind is from suspicion free;
23And by like consequence it comes to pass
24None is so jealous as the mad-brained ass.