ABSTRACT
Your partial judgement may perhaps complain, And think me barbarous for my just disdain; Ill-bred then let me be, but not unchaste, Nor my clear fame with any spot defaced:
1 5 Though in my face there’s no affected frown, Nor in my carriage a feigned niceness shown, I keep my honour still without a stain, Nor has my love made any coxcomb vain. Your boldness I with admiration see;
20 What hope had you to gain a queen like me? Because a hero forced me once away, Am I thought fit to be a second prey? Had I been won, I had deserved your blame, But sure my part was nothing but the shame:
25 Yet the base theft to him no fruit did bear, I scaped unhurt by anything but fear; Rude force might some unwilling kisses gain, But that was all he ever could obtain. You on such terms would ne’er have let me go,
30 Were he like you we had not parted so. Untouched the youth restored me to my friends, And modest usage made me some amends. ’Tis virtue to repent a vicious deed; Did he repent that Paris might succeed?
