University of Virginia Library

A GOOD WIFE.

More precious far than rubies, who can find
A wife embellish'd with a virtuous mind?
In her securely, as his better part,
Her happy husband chearful rests his heart:
With such a lovely partner of his toil
His goods increase without the need of spoil.
Bless'd in the friendship of his faithful wife,
He steers thro' all vicissitudes of life.
Well pleas'd she labours, nor disdains to cull
The textile flax, or weave the twisted wool.
Rich as the merchants ships that crowd the strands,
She reaps the harvest of remotest lands.
Early she rises ere bright Phœbus shines,
And to her damsels separate tasks assigns:
Refresh'd with food her hinds renew their toil,
And chearful haste to cultivate the soil.
If to her farm some field contiguous lies,
With care she views it, and with prudence buys;
And with the gains which heaven to wisdom grants,
A vineyard of delicious grapes she plants.
Inur'd to toils she strength and sweetness joins,
Strength is the graceful girdle of her loins.
With joy her goodly merchandize she views,
And oft till morn her pleasing work pursues.
The spindle twirls obedient to her tread,
Round rolls the wheel, and spins the ductile thread.
Benignant from her ever-open door
She feeds the hungry, and relieves the poor.
Nor frost nor snow her family molest,
For all her houshold are in scarlet drest.
Resplendent robes are by her husband worn,
Her limbs fine purple and rich silks adorn.
For wisdom fam'd, for probity renown'd,
He sits in council with bright honour crown'd.
To weave rich girdles is her softer care,
Which merchants buy, and mighty monarch swear;
With strength and honour she herself arrays,
And joy will bless her in the latter days.
Wise are her words, her sense divinely strong,
For kindness is the tenour of her tongue.
Fair rule and order in her mansion dwell,
She eats with temperance what she earns so well.
Rich in good works her children call her blest,
And thus her husband speaks his inmost breast:
‘To Eve's fair daughters various virtues fall,
‘But thou, lov'd charmer, hast excell'd them all.’
Smiles oft are fraudful, beauty soon decays,
But the good woman shall inherit praise.
To her, O grateful, sweet requital give!
Her name, her honour shall for ever live.