"Think'st Thou to Seduce Me Then"
byThomas Campion
1 Think'st thou to seduce me then with words that have no meaning?
our speech by pieces gleaning: i.e., picking up bits and pieces of what they hear us say.
2 Parrots so can learn to prate, our speech by pieces gleaning:
3 Nurses teach their children so about the time of weaning.
4 Learn to speak first, then to woo: to wooing much pertaineth:
5 He that courts us, wanting art, soon falters when he feigneth,
Looks ... complaineth: i.e., takes a side glance at his script and smiles apologetically while he is describing the pains of his unrequited love.
6 Looks asquint on his discourse and smiles when he complaineth.
7 Skilful anglers hide their hooks, fit baits for every season;
8 But with crooked pins fish thou, as babes do that want reason:
Gudgeons: small fish used as bait to catch better fish.
9 Gudgeons only can be caught with such poor tricks of treason.
Ruth ... compassion: Pity forgive me if I strayed from the compassion that should be in every human heart.
10 Ruth forgive me if I erred from human heart's compassion,
11 When I laughed sometimes too much to see thy foolish fashion:
12 But alas, who less could do that found so good occasion?