Women, what are they?

Women, what are they? changing weather-cocks,

That smallest puffs of lust have power to turn;

Women, what are they? virtue's stumbling blocks,

Whereat weak fools do fall, the wiser spurn;

We men, what are we? fools and idle boys,

To spend our time in sporting with such toys.

Women, what are they? trees whose outward rind

Makes shew for fair when inward heart is hollow:

Women, what are they? beasts of heinous kind,

That speak those fair'st, whom most they mean to swallow:

We men, what are we? fools and idle boys,

To spend our time in sporting with such toys.

Women, what are they? rocks upon the coast,

Whereon we suffer shipwreck at our landings:

Women, what are they? patient creatures most,

That rather yield than strive 'gainst aught withstanding.

We men, what are we? fools and idle boys,

To spend our time in sporting with such toys.