Males perverse, schooled to condemn <br />Women by your witless laws, <br />Though forsooth you are prime cause <br />Of that which you blame in them: <br /> <br />If with unexampled care <br />You solicit their disdain, <br />Will your fair words ease their pain, <br />When you ruthless set the snare? <br /> <br />Their resistance you impugn, <br />Then maintain with gravity <br />That it was mere levity <br />Made you dare to importune. <br /> <br />What more elevating sight <br />Than of man with logic crass, <br />Who with hot breath fogs the glass, <br />Then laments it is not bright! <br /> <br />Scorn and favor, favor, scorn, <br />What you will, result the same, <br />Treat you ill, and earn your blame, <br />Love you well, be left forlorn. <br /> <br />Scant regard will she possess <br />Who with caution wends her way,— <br />Is held thankless for her “nay,” <br />And as wanton for her “yes.” <br /> <br />What must be the rare caprice <br />Of the quarry you engage: <br />If she flees, she wakes your rage, <br />If she yields, her charms surcease. <br /> <br />Who shall bear the heavier blame, <br />When remorse the twain enthralls, <br />She, who for the asking, falls, <br />He who, asking, brings to shame? <br /> <br />Whose the guilt, where to begin, <br />Though both yield to passion's sway, <br />She who weakly sins for pay, <br />He who, strong, yet pays for Sin? <br /> <br />Then why stare ye, if we prove <br />That the guilt lies at your gate? <br />Either love those you create, <br />Or create those you can love. <br /> <br />To solicitation truce,— <br />Then, sire, with some show of right <br />You may mock the hapless plight <br />Or the creatures of your use!<br /><br />Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/arraignment-of-the-men/
