1This ugly sow, descended of

that boar1

2Which

Epitragia’s2

, lover’s entrails tore,

3Whose death the

queen of love3

did so

deplore4

:

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

score5

.

9Thus

like the dog they to their vomit turn6

,

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 ermine7

(which you see pursued

14By

those which long to have their chaps imbrued8

15In innocent blood) by Nature is

endued9

16With such a loathing of impurity,

17Rather than o’er a dirty place

she’ll fly10

,

18

She’ll yield unto her cursed foes and die11

.

19So she that knows herself to be God’s child

20Will die a thousand deaths

ere12

be defiled.

21She knows

her Savior’s guiltless blood did flow13

22To wash her sinful soul as white as snow.

23Then ermine-like let my sad soul expire,

24Whilst others hog-like tumble in the

mire14

.