Presents flow'd in apace: with show'rs of gold, They made their court, like Jupiter of old. 65 If I but fmil'd, a fudden youth they found, And a new palfy feiz'd them when I frown'd. 70 Ye fov'reign wives! give ear, and understand, Thus shall ye speak, and exercife command. For never was it giv'n to mortal man, To lye fo boldly as we women can: Forfwear the fact, tho' 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) 74 Whence is our neighbour's wife fo rich and gay? Treated, caress'd, where'er she's pleas'd to roam-I fit in tatters, and immur'd at home. Why to her house doft thou so oft repair? 80 like any Lord! how you fwell, and rage 85 If poor (you fay) she drains her husband's purse; If rich, she keeps her priest, or something worse; If highly born, intolerably vain, Vapours and pride by turns poffefs her brain, Now gayly mad, now fourly fplenetic, 90 Freakish when well, and fretful when she's fick. If fair, then chafte fhe cannot long abide, 95 ΙΟΙ Horfes (thou fay'ft) 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, nor till then, the veil's remov'd away, And all the woman glares in open day. 105 You tell me, to preserve your wife's good grace, Your eyes must always languish on my face, Your tongue with constant flatt'ries feed my ear, And tag each ference with, My life! my dear! If by strange chai, a modest blush be rais'd, Be sure my fine complexion must be prais'd. III My garments always must be new and gay, And feasts still kept upon my wedding-day. VOL. II. K Then must my nurse be pleas'd, and fav'rite maid; On Jenkin too you caft a fquinting eye: Why are thy chefts all lock'd? on what defign? Are not thy worldly goods and treasure mine? 125 Sir, I'm no fool: nor fhall you, by St. John, Have goods and body to yourself alone. One you fhall quit, in fpite of both your eyes--I heed not, I, the bolts, the locks, the spies. If you had wit, you'd fay, "Go where you will,130 "Dear fpoufe, I credit not the tales they tell; "Take all the freedoms of a marry'd life; "I know thee for a virtuous, faithful wife," Lord! when you have enough, what need care How merrily foever others fare? Tho' all the day I give and take delight, you 135 'Tis but a juft and rational defire, To light a taper at a neighbour's fire. There's danger too, you think, in rich array, And none can long be modest that are gay: 141 The Cat, if you but finge her tabby skin, The chimney keeps, and fits content within; But once grown fleek, will from her corner run, Sport with her tail, and wanton in the fun; 145 She licks her fair round face, and frisks abroad, To fhow her furr, and to be catterwaw'd. Lo thus, my friends, I wrought to my defires Thefe three right ancient venerable fires. I told'em, Thus you fay, and thus you do, 150 And told 'em falfe, but Jenkin fwore 'twas true. I, like a dog, could bite as well as whine, And first complain'd, whene'er the guilt was mine. I tax'd them oft with wenching and amours, When their weak legs fcarce dragg'd 'em out of doors; 155 And swore the rambles that I took by night, Were all to spy what damfels they bedight. That colour brought me many hours of mirth; For all this wit is giv'n us from our birth. Heav'n gave to woman the peculiar grace 160 To fpin, to weep, and cully human race. 1 165 By this nice conduct, and this prudent course, With empty hands no taffels you can lure, 174 And heave, and pant, and kiss, and cling, for gold. Then kiss'd again, and chid and rail'd betwixt. To drop a dear dispute I was unable, 1 180 Ev'n tho' the Pope himself had fat at table. "meek! 185 |