Prince's sonnet: Wanton Youth -

In Cyprus sat fair Venus by a fount,

Wanton Adonis toying on her knee.

She kiss'd the wag, her darling of account;

The boy 'gan blush, which, when his lover see,

She smil'd and told him love might challenge debt,

And he was young and might be wanton yet.

The boy wax'd bold, fired by fond desire,

That woo he could and court her with conceit,

Reason spied this and sought to quench the fire

With cold disdain; but wily Adon straight

Cheer'd up the flame and said, " Good sir, what let?

I am but young and may be wanton yet. "

Reason replied that beauty was a bane

To such as feed their fancy with fond love,

That when sweet youth with lust is overta'en

It rues in age. This could not Adon move,

For Venus taught him still this rest to set,

That he was young and might be wanton yet.

Where Venus strikes with beauty to the quick,

It little 'vails sage Reason to reply;

Few are the cures for such as are love-sick

But love. Then, though I wanton it awry

And play the wag, from Adon this I get,

I am but young and may be wanton yet.