Charles Brockden Brown (1771–1810). Edgar Huntley; or, Memoirs of a Sleep-Walker. 1857.
The Minor PoemsXXI. Appendix: Against Women Unconstant
Balade.
MADAME, for your newe-fangelnesse,Many a servaunt have ye put out of grace,I take my leve of your unstedfastnesse,For wel I wot, whyl ye have lyves space,Ye can not love ful half yeer in a place;To newe thing your lust is ever kene;In stede of blew, thus may ye were al grene.Right as a mirour nothing may enpresse,But, lightly as it cometh, so mot it pace,So fareth your love, your werkes bereth witnesse.Ther is no feith that may your herte enbrace;But, as a wedercok, that turneth his faceWith every wind, ye fare, and that is sene;In stede of blew, thus may ye were al grene.Ye might be shryned, for your brotelnesse,Bet than Dalyda, Creseide or Candace;For ever in chaunging stant your sikernesse,That tache may no wight fro your herte arace;If ye lese oon, ye can wel tweyn purchace;Al light for somer, ye woot wel what I mene,In stede of blew, thus may ye were al grene.
Explicit.