University of Virginia Library

An vnkind man, kills the heart of a Woman.

Hvsband, I sigh to thinke of your vnkindnesse,
That shew your selfe to haue a willfull blindnesse:
You know my nature, how your wife is queasie,
And you may cure my discontentments easie:
For tweene vs two (heer's no man to confront)
Did you not vow, and sweare, and kisse vpon't,
When first you came (as cogging men will do)
To flatter, Promise, and Desembling woe?
That whatsoere my longing's did require,
I should obtaine my very hearts desire:
When sayd you euer, Loue, I vnderstand
Ther's a braue shew by water or by land,
And weele take Bote or Coach to see the same?
No Richard no, I speake it to your shame,
We neare had bit of Lambe at Christ-tid yet,
Greene Pease, or Cherries, I could neuer get;
Codling, or Filbert, Peare, or Artichocke:
Strawberries, Grapes, or daynty Apricocke:
Till they were common, and not worth intreating,
For euery Oyster-wife, and Fish-wiues eating.
Can I regard this vnrespectlesse dealing,
If one be longing sicke, is this call'd healing?
No, no, except I speake to one loue deafe,
You must with speede turne ouer a new leafe:
And when you see your Wife lookes sad toward Bed,
Offer burnt Wine to mende her aking head:
Night slept away, in morning thinke of this,
A Cup of White with Sugar's, not amisse:
Then question how her humor is inclin'd,
Whether that day shee meane to howse her minde?
Or take Field ayre, or walke to view the streete?
And what her Choyse is made, say you So bee't:
Mony her Purse, if she abrode do goe,
For pretty toyes come daylie out you know:
And if a woman fancy with her eye,
Tis death to her, she want coyne to buy:
Note one thing well, for it is worth the hearing;
Marke what your wife commends of others wearing,
For ornament or habit which they haue,
And vnderstand, in praysing she doth craue;
Preuent her with the same before shee aske,
For euer that's a faythfull louers taske:
What comes by sute, drawne out by meere perswasion,
Neuer proceeds from faythfull loues occasion:
But he whose voluntary guiftes doth grace him,
That man's true valour, and I do embrace him:
Husband, few words will serue vnto the wife,
To mend what is amisse, in your hand lyes.