Arraignment Of The Men

Males perverse, schooled to condemn    Women by your witless laws,    Though forsooth you are prime

Of that which you blame in them:

If with unexampled care    You solicit their disdain,    Will your fair words ease their pain,

When you ruthless set the snare?

Their resistance you impugn,    Then maintain with gravity    That it was mere

Made you dare to importune.

What more elevating sight    Than of man with logic crass,    Who with hot breath fogs the glass,

Then laments it is not bright!

Scorn and favor, favor, scorn,    What you will, result the same,    Treat you ill, and earn your blame,

Love you well, be left forlorn.

Scant regard will she possess    Who with caution wends her way,—    Is held thankless for her “nay,”And as wanton for her “yes.”     What must be the rare caprice    Of the quarry you engage:    If she flees, she wakes your rage,

If she yields, her charms surcease.

Who shall bear the heavier blame,     When remorse the twain enthralls,     She, who for the asking, falls,

He who, asking, brings to shame?

Whose the guilt, where to begin,    Though both yield to passion's sway,     She who weakly sins for pay,

He who, strong, yet pays for Sin?

Then why stare ye, if we prove    That the guilt lies at your gate?    Either love those you create,

Or create those you can love.

To solicitation truce,—     Then, sire, with some show of right    You may mock the hapless

Or the creatures of your use!                 —Peter H.

Goldsmith (translator)