%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The Virgins A. B. C./ OR,/ An Alphabet of Vertuous Admonitions, for a Chast, Modest,/ and well-governed Maid. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1681-1684 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 08/29/2007 20236

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

1.500-501 R234202 1 The Young mans A.B.C. Fortune My Foe The Young Man's A.B.C. ALL you faithfull Uirgins,/ to this song give ear, LOok e're you leap,/ the proverb still doth say, Pepys 1.500-501 Wing V637B; Rollins (2) 2817 (Mch. 13, 1656, ii, 37); Rollins (2) 2818 (Mch. 1, 1675, ii, 498). Woodblock 1: under title and tune, above column 1: Woodcut dark and unclear. Possibly a woman, standing in profile?: 54 x 42 Pepys Library The Pepys ballads : facsimile volume Editor W.G. Day D.S. Brewer Cambridge [England] 1987 Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 1: 500 1: 501 The Virgins A. B. C./ OR,/ An Alphabet of Vertuous Admonitions, for a Chast, Modest,/ and well-governed Maid. The Virgins A.B.C. OR, An Alphabet of Vertuous Admonitions, for a Chast, Modest, and well-governed Maid. The Virgin's A.B.C. or, an Alphabet of Virtuous Admonitions, for a Chaste, Modest, and Well-governed Maid. 1/2 sheet folio, originally left part, 270 x 177 1/2 sheet folio, originally right part, 270 x 183 cropped left edge, guard pasted over right edge, uneven inking cropped top and right edges, uneven inking decorative initials decorative initials Printer 1681-1684 Printed for J. Wright, [J]. Clarke W. Thack[e]ray, and T. Passenger J. Wright J.Clarke W.Thackeray T.Passinger Blagden

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 Taxonomy used by Pepys to Organize Ballads in Albums A Small Promiscuous Supplement Devotion & Morality Drinking & Good Fellowship History - True & Fabulous Humour, Frollicks &c Love Pleasant Love Pleasant and Unfortunate Love Unfortunate Marriage Sea State & Times Tragedy Various Subjects Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/health alcohol animals/nature appearance Bible/biblical figures buildings/architecture catastrophe children class clothing/fashion country/nation crime death economics/trade entertainment family/procreation folklore gender historical figures & events holidays/seasons infidelity law London love maritime marriage military/war monstrosity mythology/Classical world news nobility/court politics/government punishment religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/sexuality supernatural/magic The New World travel trickery/deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/crass humor Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 8/29/2007 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America A Small Promiscuous Supplement advice love virtue Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 8/29/2007 Checker Katy Trumbull Transcription Checked, Metadata Updated, XML Created 8/16/2006 Checker Jessica Murphy Transcription Checked 6/15/2006 Transcriber Eric Nebeker Original Transcription Created 7/26/2004 Bibliographer Simone Chess Bibliographic SQL Database Record Created
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LL you faithfull Virgins, to this song give ear, And learn these Lessons, which are taught you here: An Alphabet of Vertues, are here set, Being learn'd will make a Maid compleat. Ear not a scornful mind, although you are Beautious as Hellen, or like Venus fair: It ill becomes a forehead smooth and white, To threaten anger in a Lovers sight. Huse thou a modest carriage, and still be Courteous and not too coy, in company: Their Nature's changing, and too much unkind, Who hath a comely face and scornful mind. Isdainful never seem, nor yet too much Dote on your faces beauty, slighting such As sue for Love, least creeping age come on And then too late, your folly you bemoan.
Xchange no love, but always constant be, Esteem true love a perfect treasury: For where true love and beauty doth unite, It yields both parties both their hearts delight. Eign no affection, but where vows a re past, Fix there your heart, there let your love be plac't For if by feigned wiles, loves knot be ty'd, It breeds dissention 'twixt the Groom and Bride. Row not too proud, though smiling fortune do Great store of wealth, and her best gifts bestow: For Pride the Proverb says must have a fall, And so must Maidens, widdows, wifes, and all. Ast not too much for marriage, nor the thing, Which doth not pleasure, but doth sorrow bring; For hasty lovers often do destroy, Their sweets of Love, e're they their hopes injoy. F you do chuse a man whom you affect, Injure him not, with any disrespect; But wary be, and e're lovers knot you tye, Prove first your own, and then his constancy. Nowledge is gained by experience, and by this, Thou may'st arrive unto the height of bliss First try, then trust. the which when you have prov't You both may love, and be as well belov'd.
Ook e're you leap, the proverb still doth say, Let not smooth tongues your love to Lust betray: In fairest Grass a snake is often found, And smoothest tongues, with falshood much abound. Oan not too much, nor be thou always sad, Mirth sometimes may become a vertuous Maid: Yet use not too much laughter, lest you be Slighted and scorn'd, for your immodesty. Or use uncivil talk, or gesture light, Nor in unseemly wantonness delight: But keep chast behaviour, that you may Have good report, in every kind of way. Ffend not with a foul and slandrous tongue, Of them that do not think thee any wrong; But speak thou well of all, and always do With others as you would have them to do with you. Aint not your beauty when it is decay'd; Prize not that for a jewel that will fade, And when you've done, the best will fade away, And through red Cheeks, a wrinkled brow display. Uench in thy self all lusts inflaming fires, Which may provoke thee to such unchast desires; For though a while pleasure please the mind, Yet sorrow, want, and beggary comes behind. Emember next how like a fading flower, The earths best treasures vanish in an hour: And now the best of things you can enjoy, The Sithe of time shall cut, and death destroy.
Eek therefore richer gifts then he can give, So shalt thou in a state most surely live: For though fair beauty, deck thy outward part, Yet inward vertue best adorns thy heart. Ry that rich jem, which when thou hast attain'd, Thou hast a vertuous Maids chief beauty gain'd: And if fair vertue do thy courses steer, Like loves fair daughter, thou shalt bright appear. Ain beauty's but a triffle, that a while Dame nature lends thee, with a flattering smile: Which lovers gaze at, and with greedy hands, Each one will crop its blossoms as it stands. Hilst in its fullest ripeness it is grown, When 'tis decay'd, theire loves are with it g[one] Let then this be thy care, and chiefest strife, To live a vertuous Maid, and honest Wife. Antippe like the wife of Socrates, Affect thou not thy husband to displease: Nor with a railing tongue, pursue his will, And in humility, obey him still. Ield not to others when you once are wed, The pleasures of your lawfull husbands b[ed] For if you guilty be of such a fact, Thou shalt not escape, unpunisht for that act. Ealous be thou in all these vertues, prove Both constant, chast, and loyal to your love: And if these Lessons well you learn, for thee, 'Tis truly stil'd the Virgins A, B, C.
Printed for J. Wright, J. Clark W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger.