Think'st thou, Kate, to put me down

Think'st thou, Kate, to put me down

With a 'No' or with a frown?

Since Love holds my heart in bands

I must do as Love commands.

Love commands the hands to dare

When the tongue of speech is spare,

Chiefest lesson in Love's school, —

Put it in adventure, fool!

Fools are they that fainting flinch

For a squeak, a scratch, a pinch:

Women's words have double sense:

'Stand away!' — a simple fence.

If thy mistress swear she'll cry,

Fear her not, she'll swear and lie:

Such sweet oaths no sorrow bring

Till the prick of conscience sting.