Plate VII.

Vol. II. facing p. 125

J.Wale delin

CMosley Soulp

Ye sovereign Wives! give ear and understand,

l ye speed and exercise Command.

Thus shall
Eye.

Wife of Bath.

THE

WIFE of BATH.

FROM

CHAUCER.

BE

you true.

EHOLD the woes of matrimonial life, And hear with rev'rence an experienc'd wife! To dear-bought wisdom give the credit due, And think, for once, a woman tells In all these trials I have borne a part, I was myself the scourge that caus'd the smart; For, fince fifteen, in triumph have I led Five captive husbands from the church to bed.

5

Christ saw a wedding once, the fcripture fays, And saw but one, 'tis thought, in all his days; 10 Whence fome infer, whofe confcience is too nice, No pious Christian ought to marry twice.

But let them read, and folve me, if they can, The words addrefs'd to the Samaritan:

Five times in lawful wedlock she was join'd; 15 And fure the certain ftint was ne'er defin'd.

Encrease and multiply, was heav'n's command, And that's a text I clearly understand

20

This too,
"Let men their fires and mothers leave,
"And to their dearer wives for ever cleave."
More wives than one by Solomon were try'd,
Or elfe the wifeft of mankind's bely'd.
I've had myself full many a merry fit;
And truft in heav'n I may have many yet.
For when my tranfitory fpouse, unkind,
Shall die, and leave his woeful wife behind,
I'll take the next good Chriftian I can find.
Paul, knowing one could never ferve our turn,
Declar'd 'twas better far to wed than burn.
There's danger in affembling fire and tow;

30

I grant 'em that, and what it means you know.

The fame Apostle too has elsewhere own'd,

No precept for Virginity he found:

'Tis but a counfel-and we women ftill

Take which we like, the counfel, or our will. 35 I envy not their blifs, if he or she

Think fit to live in perfect chastity;