The English Dance of Death :: :: University of Virginia Library

“You all of you have sought to prove
“That I'm an object of your Love.
“The Colonel, by his am'rous story,
“Loves me far more than martial Glory;
“And, call'd to witness all the Stars,
“That Cupid oft has vanquish'd Mars.
“—The Lawyer, in more formal way,
“With this I swear, and this I say,

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“I who ne'er yet have made a flaw
“In any Instrument of Law—
“I, who from my earliest youth
“Ne'er sinn'd against the rigid truth,
“Declare 'tis not for house or land,
“That thus I ask your wedded hand;—
“'Tis honest Love makes the demand.
“—The Rector, with uplifted eyes
“Offer'd of Love the sacrifice:
“With chaste desire and passion pure
“Which should for evermore endure.
“—The Knight said, I was sweeter far
“Than roses or than vi'lets are,
“Then told the passion I inspir'd,
“And flames with which his heart was fir'd.
“—The Quaker said, the Spirit mov'd him,
“And that he spoke as it behov'd him,
“To tell me he was nothing loth
“To love a Maid of comely growth;
“That he believ'd my inward Grace
“Equal'd the bloom upon my Face,

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“And that he no more wish'd to say
“Than Yea was Yea—and Nay was Nay.
“—The Doctor made me a Petition
“That I would prove his kind Physician.
“He said his Med'cines fruitless prove
“To cure him of the pains of Love.
“And then with sighs the learned Elf,
“Implor'd me to prescribe Himself.
“—But this same thing, which you call Love,
“Is what I wholly disapprove;
“And thus my purpose I reveal:—
“The Man who doth this passion feel,
“Shall never with Belinda wed,
“Or share with her the Marriage Bed.
“Poets and graver Prosemen tell us,
“'Tis apt to make a Husband jealous;
“Warms a fond Lover to be bold,
“And in a married man grows cold.
“—I, as a Wife, hope to possess
“That tranquil, temp'rate Happiness,
“Whose current may serenely flow,
“Nor rise too high, nor sink too low.

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“In Nuptial bands, my wishes tend
“To meet a kind and faithful friend,
“Regard that glows, his heart may move,
“But he must never think of Love.”