Penelopes complaint: or, A mirrour for wanton minions. Taken out of Homers Odissea, and written in English verse, by Peter Colse

Penelope warneth her maides to beware of hot affection.

AH damsels deare, which see the care, Of mistres yours Penelope: And see how fowly I do fare, Be ruld, and take this reede of me: Hast not too soone for wedded charge, Lest that you wish you liu'd at large:

Of hot affection eke take heede, For often I haue heard it told, That hastie liking hath slow speede, And loue soone hot, is quickly cold: And those that woo, ere wise they are, Are won sometime, ere they beware.

The virgins state, I must confesse, Is too too tedious for to beare: But widdowes state exceedes excesse, So fickle and so fraught with feare: Wherefore see that you maides remaine, Of euils take the least of twaine.

For if you (wantons) wedded were, (As yet you farre vnworthie are,) To one that with my wedded pheere, Might euerie way for worth compare: What pleasure of him can you take, If he your companie forsake.

Put case that you (my prettie ones) Should match with such a brainsicke boy: As would not sticke to baste your bones, What then? where were your bridall ioy? Then might you wish, but al in vaine, That you vnwedded were againe.

Thus if you wed a worthie knight, Then of his death you still wil doubt, And if you haue a wretched wight: Then wil you wish, his braines were out: But either ill for to preuent, I wish you vnto none consent.