Horses (thou say'st) and asses men may try, 100 105 110 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 sentence with My life! my dear! If by strange chance a modest blush be rais'd, Be sure my fine complexion must be prais❜d. My garments always must be new and gay, And feasts still kept upon my wedding-day; Then must my nurse be pleas'd, and fav'rite maid; And endless treats and endless visits paid To a long train of kindred, friends, allies: All this thou say'st, and all thou says't are lies. On Jenkin, too, you cast a squinting eye : What! can your 'prentice raise your jealousy? Fresh are his ruddy cheeks, his forehead fair, And like the burnish'd gold his curling hair; But clear thy wrinkled brow, and quit thy sorrow, I'd scorn your 'prentice should you die to-morrow. 115 120 Why are thy chests all lock'd? on what design? Are not thy worldly goods and treasures mine? 125 Sir, I'm no fool; nor shall you, by St. John, If you had wit, you'd say, "Go where you will, 130 Lord! when you have enough what need you care How merrily soever others fare? Tho' all the day I give and take delight, Doubt not sufficient will be left at night. "Tis but a just and rational desire To light a taper at a neighbour's fire. 135 There's danger too, you think, in rich array, 140 And none can long be modest that are gay. The cat, if you but singe her tabby skin, Sport with her tail, and wanton in the sun : 145 Lo thus, my friends, I wrought to my desires 150 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 scarce dragg'd them out of doors; And swore the rambles that I took by night Were all to spy what damsels they bedight: Let all mankind this certain maxim hold, And heave, and pant, and kiss, and cling, for gold. Then kiss'd again, and chid, and rail'd betwixt. 156 160 165 170 176 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, "Well should you practice who so well can teach. ""Tis difficult to do, I must allow, 186 190 } 195 "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 "Their tender husbands, and their passions cool'd. "Fy! 'tis unmanly thus to sigh and groan : "What! would you have me to yourself alone? "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, "You little think what custom I could have. 200 "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, What sums from these old spouses I could raise Tho' past my bloom, yet not decay'd was I, 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. 206 210 216 220 This wicked world was once my dear delight; 22,5 Now all my conquests, all my charms, good night! The flour consum'd, the best that now I can, Is e'en to make my market of the bran. My fourth dear spouse was not exceeding true; He kept, 'twas thought, a private miss or two: 230 |