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1In Africa, about the fountain’s
brink1
2Where beasts assemble, none presumes to drink
3Until they see the stately
unicorn2
,4Who stirs the poisonous waters with his horn;
5Then, with extended jaws, they drink their fill:
6Thus he the forest governeth at his will.
7He scorns all huntsmen, who can never take
8This
gallant3
beast, till they a maiden make9To sit where he doth haunt, him to allure;
10For in her lap he’ll lie and sleep secure.
11Thus he that scorned his
potentest4
enemy12Is now enslavéd by a virgin’s eye.
13So
Samson5
, though enabled from above,14Found death and ruin from his wanton love;
15He that a thousand slaughtered with a jaw,
16Being blind and captive in a mill did
draw6
.17So
Solomon7
, allured by various love8
,18Did leave the true and glorious God above
19To worship those whose fabric is of
dust9
;20The wisest king was thus enslaved by lust.
21The strongest and the wisest thus you see,
22Fooled by their strength and wisdom often be.
23Then let all youthful
gallants10
warning take:24To choose by reason, not
for fancy’s sake11
.