1The elephant, when radiant

Sol1

doth rise,

2Devoutly bows; with elevated eyes

3He offers up his morning sacrifice.

4Some may perhaps this

vain religion2

slight,

5But of all

creatures3

, I would worship light.

6

Their4

valor too the

Orient kingdoms try5

,

7For in the field they’ll bravely fighting die;

8And when

the Indians these beasts do hire6

9To launch their ships, when one begins to tire,

10They’ll bring another to lift in his place;

11But rather than he’ll live to know disgrace,

12He’ll draw and shove not only till he tires,

13But straining, bursts; and so his soul expires,

14As rather choosing to

abrupt7

his

story8

15Than live and let another take his glory.

16For chastity this

gallant9

creature’s crowned,

17For when he hath a lovely female found

18And mutual flames do in their bosoms glow,

19They modestly into the

shades10

do go;

20There, free from company that might annoy,

21They innocently each other do enjoy.

22Yet he’s so

tender of11

his reputation

23He kills his female if he

doubts scortation12

.

24By this the

gallants13

of our age may see,

25In being

atheists14

, worse than beasts they be.

26

Like them in noble actions15

, strive to exceed

27Each other: this

want16

did make us bleed

28In

our brave king17

. For had you valiant been,

29So sad a change as this we ne’er had seen.

30For had not

lords in noble breeding failed18

,

31

Tinkers and cobblers19

never had prevailed.

32

But20

we our wants and losses may

deplore21

,

33But sin alone, that

sets us on the score22

.

34Then yet be chaste, and those you choose in youth,

35Love constantly, for

truth23

deserveth truth.

36Neglect them not, to

drink, rant, throw the die24

,

37For to temptation then

they25

open lie.

38In

common meetings26

they fool out their days

39At balls and taverns, seeing

wanton27

plays.

40To censure you in earnest I am

loath28

,

41But sure

you want or valor, wit29

, or both.

42Your ladies are so

lavish of their fames30

,

43They have quite

outgone our wanton city dames31

.

44For honor’s sake look

to’t32

; for shame at least!

45You see a

wittol33

is below a beast.