[4]
THE CROOKED RIB.
WHat need you talk of Hector's deeds,
or Alexander's fame,
Or of proud Nature's cruelty,
for no ſuch thing I'll name;
But liſten and I'll to you deſcribe,
the beſt way that I can,
The proud conceits and deviliſh tricks,
that lie into woman.
For women are like lions bold,
always inventing evil,
They are as proud as Lucifer,
deceitful as the Devil:
They'll dreſs themſelves like Phœbus fair,
and like a Syren ſing,
And when they catch you in a ſnare,
they'll like a ſerpent ſting.
What needs woman be ſo bold,
ſince they are made of men,
And even of a crooked rib,
deny this if ye can;
Made of a crooked rib, I ſay,
when firſt they formed were,
And ſtill all women's nature ſhew,
that women crooked are.
If I ſhould marry one that's black,
my friends will frown on me,
