Ah! heedless girl! why thus disclose <br />What ne'er was meant for other ears: <br />Why thus destroy thine own repose <br />And dig the source of future tears? <br /> <br />Oh, thou wilt weep, imprudent maid, <br />While lurking envious foes will smile, <br />For all the follies thou hast said <br />Of those who spoke but to beguile. <br /> <br />Vain girl! thy ling'ring woes are nigh, <br />If thou believ'st what striplings say: <br />Oh, from the deep temptation fly, <br />Nor fall the specious spoiler's prey. <br /> <br />Dost thou repeat, in childish boast, <br />The words man utters to deceive? <br />Thy peace, thy hope, thy all is lost, <br />If thou canst venture to believe. <br /> <br />While now amongst thy female peers <br />Thou tell'st again the soothing tale, <br />Canst thou not mark the rising sneers <br />Duplicity in vain would veil? <br /> <br />These tales in secret silence hush, <br />Nor make thyself the public gaze: <br />What modest maid without a blush <br />Recounts a flattering coxcomb's praise? <br /> <br />Will not the laughing boy despise <br />Her who relates each fond conceit - <br />Who, thinking Heaven is in her eyes, <br />Yet cannot see the slight deceit? <br /> <br />For she who takes a soft delight <br />These amorous nothings in revealing, <br />Must credit all we say or write, <br />While vanity prevents concealing. <br /> <br />Cease, if you prize your beauty's reign! <br />No jealousy bids me reprove: <br />One, who is thus from nature vain, <br />I pity, but I cannot love. <br /> <br />January 15,1807.<br /><br />George Gordon Byron<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-a-vain-lady/
