Jan it may,

THE

In days of old, a wife and worthy knight;

Of gentle manners, as of gen'rous race,

Blett with much fenfe, more riches, and fome grace.
Yet, led aitray by Venus' foft delights,
He fcarce could rule fome idle appetites:
For long ago, let Priefts fay what they cou'd,
Weak finful laymen were but flesh and blood.

But in due time, when fixty years werc 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 pleafures of a lawful bed.
This was his nightly dream, his daily care,
And to the heav'nly pow's his conftant pray'r
Once ere he dy'd, to tafte the blissful life
Of a kind hufband and a loving wife.

January and May.) feventeen years of Age.

NOTES.

10

15

This Tranflation was done at fixteen or

P.

Thefe thoughts he fortify'd with reafons ftill, (For none want reafons to confirm their will.) Grave authors fay, and witty poers fing, That honeft wedlock is a glorious thing: But depth of judgment moft in him appears, Who wifely weds in his maturer years. Then let him chufe a damfel yoting and fair, To blefs his age, and bring a worthy heir; To footh his cares, and free from noife and ftrife, Conduct him gently to the verge of life, Let finful batchelors their woes deplore, Full well they merit all they feel, and more; Unaw'd by precepts human or divine, Like birds and beafts promifcuoufly they join: Nor know to make the prefent bleffing laft, To hope the future, or efteem the paft: But vainly boaft 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; And pafs his inoffenfive hours away, In blifs all night, and innocence all day: Tho' fortune change, his conftant spouse remains, Augments his joys, or mitigates his pains,

20

25

35

40

But what fo pure, which envious tongues will spare? Some wicked wits have libell'd all the fair.

With matchless impudence they ftyle a wife

The dear bought curfe, and lawful plague of life; A bofom - ferpent, a domeftic evil,

A night-invasion, and a mid-day devil.

Let not the wife these fland'rous words regard,
But curfe the bones of ev'ry lying bard.

45