Well, I may make my will in peace, and die, For not one word in man's arrears am I. Ev'n tho' the Pope himself had sat at table; 180 But when my point was gain'd, then thus I spoke; "Billy, my dear! how sheepishly you look! "Approach, my spouse! and let me kiss thy cheek; "Thou shouldst be always thus, resign'd and meek. "Of Job's great patience since so oft you preach, 186 "Well should you practice who so well can teach. ""Tis difficult to do, I must allow, 190 "But I, my dearest! will instruct you how. "Great is the blessing of a prudent wife, "Who puts a period to domestic strife. "One of us two must rule, and one obey; "And since in man right reason bears the sway, "Let that frail thing, weak woman, have her way. "The wives of all my family have rul'd 195 "Their tender husbands, and their passions cool'd. 66 Fy! ! 'tis unmanly thus to sigh and groan : "What! would you have me to yourself alone? 66 201 Why, take me, love! take all and ev'ry part! "Here's your revenge! you love it at your heart. "Would I vouchsafe to sell what nature gave, 56 You little think what custom I could have. "But see! I'm all your own....nay, hold....for shame! "What means my dear?....indeed....you are to blame." Thus with my first three lords I pass'd my life, A very woman and a very wife. 206 210 What sums from these old spouses I could raise A liqu'rish mouth must have a lech'rous tail: As all true gamesters by experience know. But oh, good gods! whene'er a thought I cast Still warms me to the bottom of my heart. 220 This wicked world was once my dear delight; 225 My fourth dear spouse was not exceeding true; He kept, 'twas thought, a private miss or two : 230 But all that score I paid....As how? you'll say; But I so dress'd, and danc'd, and drank, and din’d, As stung his heart, and made his marrow fry 235 His soul, I hope, enjoys eternal glory, He put on careless airs, and sat and sung. 240 How sore I gall’d him only heav'n could know, And he that felt, and I that caus'd the woe. He dy'd when last from pilgrimage I came, And now lies bury'd underneath a rood, Fair to be seen, and rear'd of honest wood: 245 250 255 Yet with a knack my heart he could have won, Let men avoid us, and on them we leap: In pure good-will I took this jovial spark, Full well the secrets of my soul she knew, 261 265 270 Oft has he blush'd from ear to ear for shame 275 That e'er he told a secret to his dame. It so befell, in holy time of Lent, That oft a-day I to this gossip went; (My husband, thank my stars, was out of town,) Visits to ev'ry church we daily paid, The wasting moth ne'er spoil'd my best array; 285 291 'Twas when fresh May her early blossoms yields, This clerk and I were walking in the fields. We grew so intimate, I can't tell how, I pawn'd my honour and engag'd my vow, If e'er I laid my husband in his urn, That he, and only he, should serve my turn. 295 We straight struck hands, the bargain was agreed; I still have shifts against a time of need. The mouse that always trusts to one poor hole, 299 I vow'd I scarce could sleep since first I knew him, And durst be sworn he had bewitch'd me to him; If e'er I slept, I dream'd of him alone, And dreams foretell, as learned men have shown. All this I said; but dreams, Sirs, I had none: I follow'd but my crafty crony's lore, Who bid me tell this lie....and twenty more. 305 Thus day by day, and month by month was past; It pleas'd the Lord to take my spouse at last. |