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 make

9To sit where he doth haunt, him to allure;

10For in her lap he’ll lie and sleep secure.

11Thus he that scorned his

potentest4

enemy

12Is 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

.