1This ugly sow, descended of that boar
2Which Epitragia’s
lover’s entrails tore, 3Whose death the queen of love
did so deplore
: 4This loathsome beast, besmeared with dirt and blood,
5Being newly washed in yonder crystal flood,
6Yet now you see she’s wallowing in the mud.
7So penitence and penance, some no more
8Do value than to sin on a new score
. 9Thus like the dog they to their vomit turn
, 10Licking that filth up which they seemed to spurn;
11But those which loathingly their sins deplore,
12Being cleansed, if possible will sin no more.
13But as the ermine
(which you see pursued 14By those which long to have their chaps imbrued
15In innocent blood) by Nature is endued
16With such a loathing of impurity,
17Rather than o’er a dirty place she’ll fly
, 18She’ll yield unto her cursed foes and die
. 19So she that knows herself to be God’s child
20Will die a thousand deaths ere
be defiled. 21She knows her Savior’s guiltless blood did flow
22To wash her sinful soul as white as snow.
23Then ermine-like let my sad soul expire,
24Whilst others hog-like tumble in the mire
.