Chapter XV

Lend thy bounty to me, to my beloved,
Kind Aurelius. I do ask a favour

Fair and lawful; if you did e'er in earnest
Seek some virginal innocence to cherish,
Touch not lewdly the mistress of my passion. 5

Trust the people; avails not aught to fear them,
Such, who hourly within the streets repassing,
Run, good souls, on a busy quest or idle.

You, you only the free, the felon-hearted,
Fright me, prodigal you of every virtue. 10

Well, let luxury run her heady riot,
Love flow over; enough abroad to sate thee:
This one trespass--a tiny boon--presume not.

But should impious heat or humour headstrong
Drive thee wilfully, wretch, to such profaning, 15
In one folly to dare a double outrage:

Ah what misery thine; what angry fortune!
Heels drawn tight to the stretch shall open inward
Lodgment easy to mullet and to radish.