He who wrote these lively verses
Hath his talents misemployed,
While he marriage ills rehearses —
The conjugal life asperses
Which so many have enjoyed.
And each brown or blue eyed charmer,
Let her rank be high or low,
Must have felt such verses harm her —
Must have felt her cheek grow warmer
With just indignation's glow.
Were he then as bachelor living
He might speak of bachelor life.
But such men need not be giving
Crabbed views of man and wife.
If he were to fair one married
Greater still would be the shame;
It would prove love had miscarried,
He alone perhaps to blame.
Were it shown that he was jesting,
Jests like this with ills are rife;
Poets should be still attesting
This plain truth — Mankind are blest in
Chaste and sweet Conjugal Life.
Marriage is of God's ordaining,
Serving purpose wise and good.
Those who are from it abstaining,
Should be found always refraining
From treating it in jesting mood.
From experience I am speaking,
In protesting I prefer
A wedded life. If you are seeking
To have pockets with no leak in,
From it let naught you deter.
But this thing make up your mind in,
Choice should fall on one of worth.
Love of wealth some men are blind in;
For a wife may be worth finding,
Though she be of humble birth.
If you are a true wife blest in,
Mind you well fulfill your part,
That you may, all cares distressed in,
Prove the warmth of woman's heart.
I have proved it in rich measure,
And with honest brow declare,
Married life for sweetest pleasure
Can with any life compare!