na 25} I've had myself full many a merry fit; 30 'Tis but a counsel ---- and we women still 45 Pure let them be, and free from taint or vice; 55 Know Know then, of those five husbands I have had, Three were just tolerable, two were bad. The three were old; but rich, and fond befide, And toil'd most piteously to please their bride : But fince their wealth (the best they had) was mine, The reft, without much lofs, I could refign. 61. Sure to be lov'd, I took no pains to please, Yet had more pleasure far than they had ease. Prefents flow'd in a-pace: with fhow'rs of gold They made their court, like Jupiter of old, If I but fmil'd, a fudden youth they found, And a new palfey feiz'd them when I frown'd. Ye fov'reign wives! give ear, and understand, Thus fhall ye fpeak, and exercise command. For never was it giv'n to mortal man, To lie fo boldly as we women can: 65 70 Forfwear the fact, though feen with both his eyes, And call your maids to witness how he lies. Hark, old Sir Paul; ('twas thus I us'd to fay); Whence is our neighbour's wife fo rich and gay? Treated, carefs'd, where'er fhe's pleas'd to roam--I fit in tatters, and immur'd at home. Why to her house dost thou so oft repair? Lord! how you fwell, and rage like any fiend! 80 85 If t poor, (you fay,) fhe drains her husband's purfe; If rich, the keeps her priest, or something worse; If highly born, intolerably vain, Vapours and pride by turns poffefs her brain, Now Now gaily mad, now fourly fplenetic, 90 Freakish when well, and fretful when the's fick: If fair, then chafte the cannot long abide, By preffing youth attack'd on ev'ry fide; If foul, her wealth the lufty lover lures, Or elfe her wit fome fool-gallant procures, Or elfe the dances with becoming grace, Or fhape excufes the defects of face. There fwims no goofe fo gray, but foon or late She finds fome honeft gander for her mate. 95 Horfes (thou fay'it) and affes, men may try, And ring fufpected veffels ere they buy: But wives a random choice, untry'd they take, They dream in courtship, but in wedlock wake: Then, not till then, the veil's remov'd away, And all the woman glares in open day. 105 You tell me, to preferve your wife's good grace, Your eyes must always languish on my face, Your tongue with conftant flatt'ries feed my ear, And tag each fentence with, My life! my dear! If, by ftrange chance, a modeft blush be rais'd, Be fure my fine complexion must be prais'd. 111 My garments always muft be new and gay, And feafts ftill kept upon my wedding-day. Then must my nurse be pleas'd, and fav'rite maid; And endless treats, and endless viûts paid, To a long train of kindred, friends, allies; All this thou fay'ft, and all thou say'st are lies. On Jenkin too you caft a fquinting eye: What can your 'prentice raife your jealoufy? Fresh are his ruddy cheeks, his forehead fair, 120 And like the burnish'd gold his curling hair. But clear thy wrinkled brow, and quit thy forrow, I'd fcorn your 'prentice, fhould you die to-morrow, 115 Why 1 Why are thy chefts all lock'd? on what defign? Are not thy worldly goods and treasure mine? Sir, I'm no fool: nor fhall you, by St John, 126 Have goods and body to yourfelf alone. One you fhall quit, in fpite of both your eyes---I heed not, I, the bolts, the locks, the fpies. If you had wit, you'd fay, "Go where you will, "Dear fpoufe, I credit not the tales they tell: "Take all the freedoms of a marry'd life; 132 "I know thee for a virtuous, faithful wife." Lord! when you have enough, what need you care How merrily foever others fare? Tho' all the day I give and take delight, To light a taper at a neighbour's fire. 135 array, There's danger too, you think, in rich 150 Lo thus, my friends, I wrought to my defires doors; A 3 155 And 160 165 And fwore, the rambles that I took by night, 170 180 176 Then kifs'd again, and chid and rail'd betwixt. Well, I may make my will in peace, and die, For not one word in man's arrears am I. To drop a dear difpute I was unable, Ev'n tho' the Pope himself had fat at table. But when my point was gain'd, then thus I spoke, "Billy, my dear, how theepishly you look! "Approach, my spouse, and let me kiss thy cheek; "Thou should it be always thus, refign'd and meek! "Of Job's great patience fince fo oft you preach, "Well fhould you practise, who fo well can teach. "'Tis difficult to do, I must allow, "But I, my dearest, will instruct you how. "Great |