SONG OF REPENTANCE What can I say of a play-boy's behavior Have I not courted all over the place Bragging and boasting and coaxing the maidens And strenghtening their love by the strength of my kiss, And duly inditing each versification To extend their young thoughts from the beauties of home, By which they were lead into sad situations The clergy declare they had best leave alone. My time of a time has been time sadly wasted on thimblemen, tipplers and gay girls a score I have sat by a candle and rhymed myself naked With jeers that I made and great oaths that I swore, And day in, day out, all the wealth of my station Away upon master musicians was thrown, And what they played to me I heard with elation Not dreaming that they too were best left alone. But alas it is true that most furious of feature My creditors all with their warrants did come, And swore by their souls they would see me in bondage And now I am poor and ill-clad and undone No honey-mouthed maiden of all that betrayed me Or robbed me pretending that she was my own, But flaunts in my face her outlandish behavior, And tells me too late she were best left alone. Now weakness assails me and old age draws nigh me, and here without wealth or good clothes or red gold I am wakened each morning by tremblings and achings My song is no more the delight of the bold; To speak to a girl would be poor consolation And truly I leave the gay tavern alone, I admit and I swear and I make protestation 'Tis all a dammed trade that is best left alone. Let every proud high-stepping mirth-making hero That hungers for ladies or craves for the drink Take warning from me and act wise and awarely Or fear that his old age in darkness may sink, Let him marry a maiden without hesitation Of prudence and piety, wit and good tone, And leave faction fighting and such recreations For take it from me they are best left alone. Source: Lords and Commons, Cuala Press, 1938 (reprint 1971), pp. 37-38