[Poems by Barlow in] Life and Letters of Joel Barlow ... ::

[Poems by Barlow in] Life and Letters of Joel Barlow ...

poet, statesman, philosopher

Barlow, Joel (1754-1812)

[section]

To a Young Lady

[While scenes of transport every heart inspire]

[Could youth, could innocence, could virtue save]

[Blest Hymen, hail that memorable day]

[If nineteen years of marriage ties]

[My foolish rhymes on wedding days]

[If seven long years of laboring life]

[The ruffian of England with equal remorse]

[Ah, where's my dear Hubby, whom Fate, in its malice]

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[If seven long years of laboring life]

If seven long years of laboring life
Old Jacob served to gain a wife,
She doubtless must have been the best,
The rarest beauty of the East—
For sure the sire of Jews had strove
To have his pennyworth even in love.
But thrice seven suns have passed the line
Since I have laboring been for mine,
And I'm expert at bargains too—
A Yankee blade, though not a Jew—
Which proves, unless I judge amiss,
My wife is thrice as good as his.
One thing I certainly can tell,
I always love her thrice as well.

University of Virginia Library

[If seven long years of laboring life]