'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, 201 '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 What sums from these old spouses I could raise, Procur'd young husbands in my riper days. Though past my bloom, not yet decay'd was I ; Wanton and wild, and chatter'd like a pie. In country dances still I bore the bell, And sung as sweet as ev'ning Philomel. 210 To clear my quail pipe, and refresh my soul, A liqu'rish mouth must have a lech'rous tail; As all true gamesters by experience know. 220 But oh, good Gods! whene'er a thought I cast On all the joys of youth and beauty past,' To find in pleasures I have had my part, Still warms me to the bottom of my heart. This wicked world was once my dear delight; 225 Now all my conquests, all my charms good night; The flour consum'd, the best that now I can, My fourth dear spouse was not exceeding true s He kept, 'twas thought, a private miss or two: 230 But all that score I pay'd.-As how? you'll say; Not with my body in a filthy way; 240 But I so dress'd, and danc'd, and drank, and din'd, 245 250 Now for my fifth lov'd lord, the last and best; (Kind Heav'n afford him everlasting rest!) Full hearty was his love, and I can shew The tokens on my ribs, in black and blue; ̈ 255 Yet with a knack my heart he could have won, 261 265 In pure good-will I took this jovial spark, Of Oxford he, a most egregious clerk. He boarded with a widow of the town, A trusty gossip, one Dame Allison; Full well the secrets of my soul she knew, Better than e'er our parish priest could do. To her I told whatever could befal : Had but my husband piss'd against a wall; Or done a thing that might have cost his life, She-and my niece-and one more worthy wife, Had known it all: what most he would conceal To these I made no scruple to reveal. 270 Oft has he blush'd from ear to ear for shame, 275 (My husband, thank my stars, was out of town) 285 At sermons, too, I shone in scarlet gay; 291 : 'Twas when fresh May her early blossoms yields, That he, and only he, should serve my turn. 295 I vow'd I scarce could sleep since first I knew 305 him, 300 And durst be sworn he had bewitch'd me to him; If e'er I slept, I dream'd of him alone; And dreams foretel, 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. Thus day by day, and month by month we past; I pleas'd the Lord to take my spouse at last. I tore my gown, I soil'd my locks with dust, And beat my breasts, as wretched widows-must. Before my face my handkerchief I spread, 311 To hide the flood of tears I did not shed. But as he march'd, good Gods! he show'd a pair I (to say truth) was twenty more than he ; Fair Venus gave me fire and sprightly grace, 325 But to my tale. A month scarce pass'd away, With dance and song we kept the nuptial day. 330 All I possess'd I gave to his command, My goods and chattels, money, house, and land; But oft repented, and repent it still : 334 He prov'd a rebel to my sov'reign will; And knew full well to raise my voice on high; And would be so in spite of all he swore. 340 |