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George Gordon Byron - To A Vain Lady
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Ah! heedless girl! why thus disclose
   What ne`er was meant for other ears:
Why thus destroy thine own repose
   And dig the source of future tears?

Oh, thou wilt weep, imprudent maid,
   While lurking envious foes will smile,
For all the follies thou hast said
   Of those who spoke but to beguile.

Vain girl! thy ling`ring woes are nigh,
   If thou believ`st what striplings say:
Oh, from the deep temptation fly,
   Nor fall the specious spoiler`s prey.

Dost thou repeat, in childish boast,
   The words man utters to deceive?
Thy peace, thy hope, thy all is lost,
   If thou canst venture to believe.

While now amongst thy female peers
   Thou tell`st again the soothing tale,
Canst thou not mark the rising sneers
   Duplicity in vain would veil? 

These tales in secret silence hush,
   Nor make thyself the public gaze:
What modest maid without a blush
   Recounts a flattering coxcomb`s praise?

Will not the laughing boy despise
   Her who relates each fond conceit -
Who, thinking Heaven is in her eyes,
   Yet cannot see the slight deceit?

For she who takes a soft delight
   These amorous nothings in revealing,
Must credit all we say or write, 
   While vanity prevents concealing.

Cease, if you prize your beauty`s reign!
   No jealousy bids me reprove:
One, who is thus from nature vain,
   I pity, but I cannot love.

January 15,1807.
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