“ A BALLAD OF BURDENS ” 
83 
SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL STANZAS FOR “ A BALLAD 
OF BURDENS ” 
 
The burden of caught clap.  How sore it is ! 
A burden of sad shameful suffering, 
The bitter bastard of a bloody kiss, 
The Parthian arrow poisoned from Love’s sling ! 
Lo, sweet Lord Christ, thou knowest how sore a thing 
Is a cock crooked and consumed of fire 
Shooting out venomous sap that hath a sting ! 
This is the end of every man’s desire. 
 
The burden of bought boys.  Behold, dear Lord, 
How plump their buttocks be, lift up Thine eyes, 
See how their cocks stand at an amorous word, 
How their lips suck out life until love dies, 
See, Lord, Thou knowest, how wearily one lies 
Cursing the lusts that fail, the deeds that tire ; 
Shrunk is San Cresce to a sorry size. 
This is the end of every man’s desire.