How dear is Reputation bought

Title:

Honour. A Song.

Primary Text:

MS Folger, 275.

Secondary Eds:

1903 Reynolds prints Folger text, 134-5; rpt of Reynolds: 1930 Fausset, 63-4.

Comment:

Sharp pungent statement which ten gave rise to a fable, "Reputation, Love and Death". In the song, reputation is bought at the cost of pleasure ("the sweets of Life"); woman act to pacify "the crou'd" and do so not "to be Chast but proud." Honor is the rationale, a concept of safety derived from the viciousness of man. The problem here is she does not take into account how men want women to be this way so they can be sure of the one they possess.
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