There profit and command with pleasure I partake,
Yet do not hawks and dogs my sole companions make;
I rule, but not oppress; end quarrels, not maintain;
See towns, but dwell not there t'abridge my charge or train.

8. THE BACHELOR.

How many things as yet are dear alike to me,
The field, the horse, the dog, love, arms, or liberty!
I have no wife as yet, whom I may call mine own;
I have no children yet, that by my name are known.
Yet if I married were, I would not wish to thrive,
If that I could not tame the veriest shrew alive.

9. THE MARRIED MAN.

I only am the man, among all married men,

That do not wish the priest to be unlink'd again;

And though my shoe did wring, I would not make my

moan,

Nor think my neighbour's chance more happy than mine

own.

Yet court I not my wife, but yield observance due,
Being neither fond, nor cross, nor jealous, nor untrue.

10. THE WIFE.

The first of all our sex came from the side of man;

I thither am return'd, from whence our sex began.

I do not visit oft, nor many when I do;

I tell my mind to few, and that in counsel too.

I seem not sick in health, nor sullen but in sorrow,

I care for somewhat else, than what to wear to-morrow.

11. THE WIDOW.

My dying husband knew, how much his death would grieve

me,

And therefore left me wealth to comfort and relieve me. Though I no more will have, I must not love disdain; Penelope herself did suitors entertain.

And yet to draw on such as are of best esteem,

Nor

younger than I am, nor richer will I seem..

12. THE MAID.

I marriage would forswear, but that I hear men tell,
That she that dies a maid, must lead an ape in hell.
Therefore if Fortune come, I will not mock and play;
Nor drive the bargain on, till it be driven away.
Titles and lands I like, yet rather fancy can,

A man that wanteth gold, than gold that wants a man.

A CONTENTION BETWIXT

A WIFE, A WIDOW, AND A MAID.

Wife. WIDOW,

By John Davies. *

well met; whither go you to-day?

Will you not to this solemn off'ring go?
You know it is ASTREA's holy day,

The saint to whom all hearts devotion owe.

* John Davies 3d, no signature in 4th.

Widow. Marry, what else: I purpos'd so to do;

Do you not mark how all the wives are fine;
And how they have sent presents ready too,
To make their off'rings at ASTREA's shrine?

See then the shrine and tapers burning bright!
Come, friend, and let us first ourselves advance;
We know our place, and if we have our right,
To all the parish we must lead the dance.

But, soft! what means this bold presumptuous maid,
To go before, without respect of us?
Your forwardness (proud girl) must now be staid,
Where learn'd you to neglect your betters thus?

Maid. Elder you are, but not my betters here;
This place to Maids a privilege must give;
The Goddess, being a maid, holds maidens dear,
And grants to them her own prerogative.

Wife.

Besides, on all true virgins, at their birth,
Nature hath set a crown of excellence,
That all the wives and widows of the earth
Should give them place, and do them reverence.

If to be born a Maid be such a grace,

So was I born, and grac'd by Nature too;

But seeking more perfection to embrace,

I did become a Wife as others do.

Sent, 3d and 4th.

Wid.

And if the Maid and Wife such honour have,

I have been both, and hold a third degree:
Most Maids are wards, and every Wife a slave;
I have my livery sued, and I am free.

Maid. That is the fault that you have maidens been,
And were not constant to continue so:
The fall of angels did increase their sin,
In that they did so pure a state forego.

But, Wife and Widow, if your wits can make
Your state and persons of more worth than mine,
Advantage to this place I will not take;

I will both place and privilege resign.

Wife. Why, marriage is an honourable state!
Wid. And widowhood is a reverend degree!
Maid. But maidenhead, that will admit no mate,
Like majesty itself must sacred be.

Wife. The Wife is mistress of her family.

Wid. Much more the Widow, for she rules alone:
Maid. But mistress of mine own desires am I,
When you rule others' wills and not your own.

Wife. Only the Wife enjoys the virtuous pleasure.
Wid. The Widow can abstain from pleasures known.
Maid. But the uncorrupted Maid observes d such measure,
As, being by pleasures wooed, she cares for none.

d Preserves, 3d and 4th.

Wife. The Wife is like a fair supported vine:
Widow. So was the Widow, but now stands alone;

For being grown strong, she needs not to incline. Maid. Maids, like the earth, supported are of none.

Wife. The Wife is as a diamond richly set:
Maid. The Maid unset doth yet more rich appear.
Wid. The Widow a jewel in the cabinet,

Which though not worn is still esteem'd as dear.

Wife.

The Wife doth love, and is belov'd again.
The Widow is awak'd out of that dream.

Wid.

Maid.

The Maid's white mind had never such a stain;
No passion troubles her clear virtue's stream.

Yet if I would be lov'd, lov'd would I be,
Like her, whose virtue in the bay is seen:
Love to Wife fadeth with satiety,

Where love never enjoyed is ever green.

Wid. Then what's a virgin but a fruitless bay?
Maid. And what's a Widow but a rose-less brier?

Wid.

Wife.

And what are Wives but woodbines which decay
The stately oaks by which themselves aspire?

And what is marriage but a tedious yoke?

And what virginity, but sweet self-love?
And what's a Widow but an axle broke,
Whose part, one failing, neither part can move?