Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MAMILLIA: VERSES AGAINST THE GENTLEWOMEN OF SICILIA, by ROBERT GREENE


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MAMILLIA: VERSES AGAINST THE GENTLEWOMEN OF SICILIA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Since lady mild, too base in array, hath liv'd as
Last Line: Fum'd with sweets, as sweet as chaste, no want but abundance.
Subject(s): Sicily; Women


SINCE lady mild, too base in array, hath liv'd as an exile,
None of account but stout; if plain, stale slut, not a courtress:
Dames now-a-days, fie, none, if not new-guisèd in all points:
Fancies fine, sauc'd with conceits, quick wits very wily,
Words of a saint, but deeds guess how, feign'd faith to deceive men;
Courtsies coy, no veil, but a vaunt, trick'd up like a Tuscan,
Pac'd in print, brave lofty looks, not us'd with the vestals;
In hearts, too, glorious, not a glance but fit for an empress:
As minds most valorous, so strange in array, marry, stately;
Up from the waist like a man, new guise to be cas'd in a doublet,
Down to the foot perhaps like a maid, but hos'd to the kneestead,
Some close-breech'd to the crotch for cold, tush, peace, 'tis a shame, sir!
Hairs by birth as black as jet, what! art can amend them,—
A periwig frounc'd fast to the front, or curl'd with a bodkin;
Hats from France, thick-pearl'd for pride and plum'd like a peacock;
Ruffs of a size, stiff-starch'd to the neck, of lawn, marry, lawless;
Gowns of silk, why, those be too bad, side, wide with a witness,
Small and gent i' the waist, but backs as broad as a burgess;
Needless naughts, as crisps and scarfs, worn à la Morisco,
Fum'd with sweets, as sweet as chaste, no want but abundance.





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