The Maids unhappiness OR The Youngmens Unconstancy.  
When Maidens seem for to be kind,  
young men do from them fly:  
But if the Maidens coy they find  
Then they for love can die.  
Tune of Philander.  
 woodcuts of woman with outstretched hand, man walking toward her  


ALas poor Female Sex!  
Nature your ruin meant;  
In vain 'tis to perplex,  
or still for to lament.  
For young men they prove so unkind,  
in these our latter days,  
They'l swear they'l love,  
And true will prove,  
Yet cheat you twenty ways.   

First they'l pretend to dote,  
by power of charming eyes,  
Which if you well do note,  
you'l find them filled with lies.  
Oh! what a prating they will keep,  
and load you with their praise,  
Which if you mind,  
'twill make you weep,  
For they'l cheat you twenty ways.   

Great Portions are the things  
at which they chiefly aim,  
They'l cry that Gold hath wings,  
and its dislike proclaim.  
But rich or poor they will pretend,  
to Crown their loves with bays,  
But yet deceive you  
In the end,  
And cheat you twenty ways.   

If you but kind do seem,  
you're fond they'l quickly say,  
Not worthy of esteem,  
and quickly keep away,  
If you seem coy they'l count you proud,  
and loftiest of these days,  
Do what you will  
I'm sure they still  
Will cheat you twenty ways.   
 3 woodcuts: standing man, Venus and Cupid, young couple  

If you go fine you're proud,  
unless your Portion's great,  
If poor in clothes, they'l flout,  
poor Girls they say they hate.  
And he that ne'er did see five pound  
of his own in all his dayes,  
With vows and Odaths  
Will you confounded,  
And cheat you twenty ways.    

The Fair Maidens Resolutions.  

COme, come be of good cheer,  
let's merry be, and wise,  
For young men they will leer,  
when Maidens them denies.  
When with a prating jack you meet,  
ne'er mind him what he says,  
Though he pretends  
His love is great,  
He cares for no delays.   

Then they will be as sweet,  
and bend unto your bow,  
With Youngsters you may meet,  
if you but serve them so.  
Oh how they'l cringe at your command,  
and you obey always,  
If once they find  
You are inclined  
To hold them in delays.   

just as you used to sigh,  
so they will panting fit,  
You weary were of life,  
now they're bereft of wit.  
And as you used most secretly  
to spend your youthful days,  
So you will spy  
Them sighing lie,  
But hold them in d●lays.   

I by experience proved  
what here I do protest,  
By one that said he loved,  
but I thought 'twas in jest.  
I at a distance kept him still.  
and gained myself great praise;  
He had rather die  
He still did cry,  
Than languish in delays.   

Could he but see my smile,  
His heart to heaven did fly,  
If I but frown d a while  
then was he like to die.  
Thus did I play both fast and loose,  
as the Old Proverb says,  
But now I've got  
Him in my Arms,  
By seeming long delays.     

Printed for J. Wright, J clerk, W. Thackery and T. Passenger.