University of Virginia Library

In Answer to a Letter out of Darbyshire, upon Mr Wood's Marrying one Son and two Daughters, all upon the same Day.

A Poem.

Since foreign Fields by the destructive Sword,
Have long with English Purple been manur'd,

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97

And numbers of our Youth are sent afar,
To reap the Glories of a prosp'rous War;
'Twas bravely done at once, O generous Wood,
To wed three Children for the publick Good,
At such a Time when Brittain wants a Breed
For the next Age that does in course succeed,
That by a Wainscot Race, as tough and hard
As sturdy Oak, the Loss may be repair'd,
For sure thy Son that wears the Nuptial Clog,
Altho a Wood, will prove no useless Log,
For if he shou'd, his Wife may justly blame
The Branch and curse the Root from whence he came,
Mourn that she's wed to such a wooden Stick,
And wish him at the Devil's Arse i'th' Peek;
But yet we hope h'as pleas'd the pretty Soul,
And to some purpose pegg'd Love's Auger Hole,
And that he fells his Underwood each Night,
To his own Comfort and his Bride's Delight.

As to thy Daughters, they disdain to prove
Unactive Blocks in the Affairs of Love,

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98

The knotti'sts Sticks the Female Race can shew,
Tho ne'er so crabbed yet they'll buckle too,
Therefore if rightly prun'd there is no fear
But both the tender fertile Plants will bear
Fine Fruit, to your great Comfort e'ery year.
That Chips of the old Block may rise apace,
And all the County boast thy Wooden Race,
Which like the Branches of an Oak shall spread,
When the old Trunk is wither'd and decay'd.