The Virgins A. B. C. OR, An Alhpabet of Virtuous Admonitions, for a , Modest, and well-governed Maid.  
The Tune is, The Youngman's A. B. C.  
 

ALL you faithful Virgins,  
to this song give ear,  
And learn these Lessons,  
which are taught you here:  
An Alphabet of Virtues,  
are here set,  
Being learned  
will make a Maid complete   

BEar not a scornful mind,  
although you are  
Beauteous as Helen,  
or like Venus' fair:  
It ill becomes a  
forehead smooth and white,  
To threaten anger  
in a Lover's sight.   

Choose thou a modest  
carriage, and still be  
Courteous and not too coy,  
in company:  
Their nature's changing,  
and too much unkind,  
Who hath a comely face  
and scornful mind.   

DIsdainful never seem,  
nor yet too much  
Dote on your faces beauty,  
slighting such  
As sue for Love,  
least creeping age come on  
And then to late,  
your folly you bemoan.   

EXchange no love  
but always constant be,  
Esteem true Love,  
a perfect treasury:  
For where true love  
and beauty doth unite,  
It yields both parties  
both their heart's delight.   

FEign no affection,  
but where vows are past,  
Fix there your heart,  
there let your love be placed  
For if by feigned wiles,  
loves knot be tied,  
It breeds dissension,  
'twixt the Groom & Bride.   

GRow not too proud,  
though smiling fortune do  
Great store of wealth, and  
her best gifts bestow:  
For pride the Proverb says,  
must have a fall,  
And so must Maidens,  
widows, wives, and all.   

HAst not too much for  
marriage, nor the thing,  
Which doth not pleasure  
but doth sorrow bring:  
For hasty lovers  
often do destroy,  
Their sweets of Love,  
 they their hopes enjoy.   

IF you do choose a man  
whom you affect,  
Injure him not,  
with any disrespect:  
But wary be, and  
e'er loves knot you tie,  
Prove first your own,  
and then his constancy.   

K Knowledge is gained by  
experience, and by this,  
Thou may'st arrive  
unto the height of bliss;  
First try, than tru●●,  
the which when you have proved  
You both may love  
and be as well beloved.   

LOok  you leap,  
the proverb still doth say,  
Let not smooth tongues  
your love to Lust betray:  
In fairest Grass  
a Snake is often found,  
And smoothest tongues,  
with falsehood much abound   

MOan not too much,  
nor be thou always sad,  
Mirth sometimes may  
became a virtuous Maid:  
Yet use not too much  
laughter, lest you be  
Slighted and scorned,  
for your immodesty.   

NOr use uncivil talk,  
or gesture light,  
Nor in unseemly  
wantonness delight:  
But keep chaste behaviour,  
that you may  
Have good report,  
in every kind of way.   

OFfend not with a foul  
and slanderous tongue,  
Of them that do not  
think thee any wrong;  
But speak thou well of all,  
and always do  
With others as you would  
have them to do with you.   

PAint not your beauty  
when it is decayed,  
Prise not that for,  
a jewel that will fade,  
And when 've done,  
the best will fade away,  
And through red Cheeks,  
a wrinkled brow display.   

QVench in thyself  
all lusts inflaming fires,  
Which may provoke thee  
to such unchaste desires:  
For though a while such  
pleasure please thy mind,  
Yet sorrow, want,  
and beggary comes behind.   

REmember next,  
how like a fading flower,  
The earth's best treasures  
vanish in an hour:  
And now the best of things  
you can enjoy,  
The  of tune shall cut,  
and death destroy.   

SEek therefore richer  
gifts than he can give,  
So shalt thou in a state  
most surely live:  
For though fair beauty,  
deck thy outward part,  
Yet inward virtue  
best adorns thy heart.   

TRy that rich gem, which  
when thou hast attained,  
Thou hast a virtuous Maids  
chief beauty gained:  
And if fair Virtue  
do thy courses steer,  
Like loves fair daughter,  
thou shalt bright appear.   

VAin beauties but a trifle,  
that a while  
Dame nature lends thee,  
with a flattering smile:  
Which lovers gaze at,  
and with greedy hands,  
Each one would crop its  
blossoms as it stands.   

WHilst in its fullest ripeness  
it is grown,  
When 'tis decayed,  
their loves are with it gone  
Let then this he thy care,  
and chiefest strife,  
To live a virtuous Maid,  
and honest Wife.   

XAntippe like the wife  
of Socrates,  
Affect thou not  
thy husband to displease:  
Nor with a railing tongue,  
pursue his will,  
And in humility,  
obey him still,   

Yield not to others, when  
you once are wed,  
The pleasures of  
your lawful husband's bed:  
For if you you guilty be  
of such a fact,  
Thou shalt not escape,  
unpunished for that act.   

ZEalous be thou in all  
these virtues, prove  
Both constant, chaste, and  
loyal to your love:  
And if these Lessons  
well you learn, for thee,  
'Tis truly styled  
the Virgins A, B, C.    

Printed for J. Wright, J. Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger.