Sonnet 413

Here unabashed by deeds that bring you shame,
When all believe you lured him to your bed;

You rail aloud that he defiled your name,

Demanding redress claim the marriage stead;

Affected tears do more than stain that breast

That has borne pleasure to a rake or two,

So why has not the former been your quest

Where female virtue hails but once to lose?

Is it perchance the others had no means,

No well-fixed purse on which pure love might grow,

No shekels sweet to further nuptial dreams

Or rank of note proud status might bestow?

You gave away your honor for a song

And now demand a kingdom for a wrong.

Loubert S Suddaby poems