That never shall be done (quoth she)
To one that wants a tail, by me
For tails by nature sure were meant,
As well as beards, for ornament: 
And though the vulgar count them homely, 745
In men or beast they are so comely,
So gentee, alamode, and handsome,
I’ll never marry man that wants one;
And till you can demonstrate plain,
You have one equal to your mane, 750
I’ll be torn piece-meal by a horse,
Ere I’ll take you for better or worse. 
The Prince of CAMBAY’s daily food
Is asp, and basilisk, and toad;
Which makes him have so strong a breath, 755
Each night he stinks a queen to death;
Yet I shall rather lie in’s arms
Than yours, on any other terms.

Quoth he, What nature can afford,
I shall produce, upon my word; 760
And if she ever gave that boon
To man, I’ll prove that I have one
I mean by postulate illation,
When you shall offer just occasion: 
But since y’ have yet deny’d to give 765
My heart, your pris’ner, a reprieve,
But made it sink down to my heel,
Let that at least your pity feel;
And, for the sufferings of your martyr,
Give its poor entertainer quarter; 770
And, by discharge or main-prize, grant
Deliv’ry from this base restraint.

Quoth she, I grieve to see your leg
Stuck in a hole here like a peg;
And if I knew which way to do’t 775
(Your honour safe) I’d let you out. 
That Dames by jail-delivery
Of Errant-Knights have been set free,
When by enchantment they have been,
And sometimes for it too, laid in, 780
Is that which Knights are bound to do
By order, oath, and honour too: 
For what are they renown’d, and famous else,
But aiding of distressed damosels? 
But for a Lady no ways errant, 785
To free a Knight, we have no warrant
In any authentical romance,
Or classic author, yet of France;
And I’d be loth to have you break
An ancient custom for a freak, 790
Or innovation introduce
In place of things of antique use;
To free your heels by any course,
That might b’ unwholesome to your spurs;
Which, if I should consent unto, 795
It is not in my pow’r to do;
For ’tis a service must be done ye
With solemn previous ceremony;
Which always has been us’d t’ untie
The charms of those who here do lie 800
For as the ancients heretofore
To Honour’s Temple had no door,
But that which thorough Virtue’s lay,
So from this dungeon there’s no way
To honour’d freedom, but by passing 805
That other virtuous school of lashing,
Where Knights are kept in narrow lists,