        Ah, frailness of mankind! 
Thou who didst laugh at woman and didst hold 
Thyself superior, now, alas! wilt find, 
Amid thy waning joy and waning gold, 
        Thou learnedst in a sorry school 
        That taught thee to disdain 
The seeming‑tender being whose dread rule 
Shall now wreak on thee horrid pai 
        Too late now wilt thou learn, too late, 
        When thy voice is low and humble thy gait, 
        When thy soul is crushed and thy dress sedate, 
The greatest of all ills the gods on humans rai
IV