Tho' fortune change, his constant spouse remains, fpare? pure, Some wicked wits have libell'd all the fair. With matchless impudence they style a wife 45 The dear-bought curfe, and lawful plague of life; A bofom-ferpent, a domeftic evil, 50 A night-invasion, and a mid-day-devil. The Maker faw, took pity, and bestow'd 55 60 A Wife! ah gentle deities, can he That has a wife, e'er feel adverfity? 65 wife. Would men but follow what the sex advise, 70 To the wife conduct of a prudent wife : 75 And charm'd with virtuous joys, and fober life, My friends, he cry'd (and cast a mournful look 90 But gracious heav'n has ope'd my eyes at last, But fince by counsel all things should be done, 95 heads are wiser ftill than one; And many Chufe you for me, who beft fhall be content When my defire's approv'd by your confent. 99 One caution yet is needful to be told, To guide your choice; this wife muft not be old: There goes a faying, and 'twas fhrewdly faid, Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed. My foul abhors the tasteless, dry embrace Of a stale virgin with a winter face: bed; In that cold season Love but treats his guest 105 Then should I live in leud adultery, And fink downright to Satan when I die. Think not I doat; 'tis time to take a wife, And fince I speak of wedlock, let me say, (As, thank my stars, in modest truth I may) My limbs are active, still I'm sound at heart, And a new vigour fprings in ev'ry part. 130 Think not my virtue loft, tho' time has shed These rev'rend honours on my hoary head : Thus trees are crown'd with bloffoms white as fnow, The vital fap then rifing from below. 135 Old as I am, my lufty limbs appear Marriage, the theme on which they all declaim'd, Some prais'd with wit, and fome with reason blam'd. Till, what with proofs, objections, and replies, Each wond'rous pofitive, and wond'rous wife, There fell between his brothers a debate, 145 Placebo this was call'd, and Justin that. First to the Knight Placebo thus begun, (Mild were his looks, and pleasing was his tone) Such prudence, Sir, in all your words appears, As plainly proves, experience dwells with years! Yet you pursue fage Solomon's advice, 155. 151 To work by counsel when affairs are nice : But, with the wife man's leave, I must protest, So may my foul arrive at ease and rest, As ftill I hold your own advice the best. Sir, I have liv'd a Courtier all my days, And study'd men, their manners, and their And have obferv'd this useful maxim still, To let my betters always have their will. Nay, if my lord affirm'd that black was white, 160 My word was this, "Your honour's in the right." Th' affuming Wit, who deems himself so wise, As his mistaken patron to advise, ways; |