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Plate VI.

Vol. II. facing p. 87.

Jam. Wale Delin

C.Mosley Sculp

Old as he was, and void of Eye-sight too,
What cou'd alas! a helpless Husband do.-

Jan : & may.

T

HERE liv'd in Lombardy, as authors write,

In days of old, a wife and worthy knight;

Of gentle manners, as of gen'rous race,

Bleft with much fenfe, more riches, and fome grace.
Yet led aftray by Venus' foft delights,.

He scarce could rule fome idle appetites :
For long ago, let Priests say what they cou'd,
Weak finful laymen were but flesh and blood.

But in due time, when fixty years were o'er, He vow'd to lead this vitious life no more;

Whether pure holiness infpir'd his mind,

Or dotage turn'd his brain, is hard to find;
But his high courage prick'd him forth to wed,
And try the pleasures of a lawful bed.

NOTES.

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IO

JANUARY AND MAY.] This Tranflation was done at fixteen or seventeen years of Age. P.

This was his nightly dream, his daily care,

And to the heav'nly pow'rs his conftant pray'r,
Once, ere he dy'd, to tafte the blissful life
Of a kind husband and a loving wife.

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These thoughts he fortify'd with reasons still, (For none want reasons to confirm their will.) 20 Grave authors fay, and witty poets fing,

That honeft wedlock is a glorious thing:
But depth of judgment most in him appears,
Who wifely weds in his maturer years.
Then let him chufe a damfel young and fair,
To bless his age, and bring a worthy heir;

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To footh his cares, and, free from noise and strife,
Conduct him gently to the verge of life.
Let finful batchelors their woes deplore,

Full well they merit all they feel, and more: 30
Unaw'd by precepts, human or divine,
Like birds and beafts, promifcuously they join:
Nor know to make the prefent bleffing laft,
To hope the future, or esteem the past:
But vainly boast the joys they never try'd,
And find divulg'd the fecrets they would hide.
The marry'd man may bear his yoke with ease,
Secure at once himself and heav'n to please ;

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