 | Poesis Rediviva |  |
95
On Marriage.
Though for my fancy mistresses I chuse,Yet when I marry i'l my judgement use,
When I my body wed, i'le wed my mind:
Give me a love that sees, not lust that's blind.
For lasting pleasure who would take a flower?
Who beauty love; they love but for an hour.
Wed riches, they have wings, love with them flies:
An Ox is gilded thus for sacrifice.
Nor would I poverty nurse to male-content;
The snake ith' bosom iodg'd, with sting paid rent.
Nor while I fear't, for dirt take dunghill race,
How can they not be foul who dirt embrace.
I must have virtues, if not fortunes heir,
Since Parents virtues greatest dowries are.
Nor love I those who boast of generous blood.
But those whose generous actions prove it good.
Or will I wrong the ashes of the dead,
Disturb his bones while I his relick wed.
A widows lust may live whose love is dead,
The Leek hath a green tail with a grey head,
Since Adam first was form'd and then built Eve,
To rotten bones why should my young flesh cleave.
Who us'd to strike a League some blood did draw,
Who gain a maidenhead do renew the Law.
Love thus must enter, grow as we grow in years,
The garment's best long, as we need it wears.
Mexentius-like they dead with living twine,
Who youth and age in marriage do combine.
They who this more then Gordin knot do knit,
Must tie two souls in one by tying it.
Like to Hippocates twins both laugh and cry,
Their hearts by th' same strings tun'd both live and die.
96
VVhile fury enters loves in a retreat.
If drink like Circes Cup transforms to swine,
Then take no cups, a beast made she's not thine.
As Saints to Altars, so to bed repair,
Love hath his Altars, bring chast off'rings there.
He gives not's own gives not flesh's own made due,
Yet love can Temples make where Lust a stew.
That you may freely souls breath in each other,
Quench th' brand in loves fire, love delights may smother
Hels firebrand jealousie send from whence it came,
Loves purer fire to Heav'n sends purer flame.
He who will think his wife an ill can do,
Ill by suspition he'l instruct her to.
Study you virtue, she will study thee,
Children will Copy to posteritie.
So while love souls and arms together twine
In amorous circlings like two wanton Vines;
Like Vines made fertile, you may twist a line
So firm with love knots ages can't untwine.
Knit that Knot wisely ages can't undo,
Peters Keys loose, and Pauls sword cut in two.
VVhere we must see, not hate faults who detects,
A crime in marr'age shews his own defects.
VVhen she is mine should each part turn disease,
Her griefs must trouble not her self displease.
The scarface pock love deeper should engrave,
And not make holes where Love should burying have.
Or should a Leprosie revel through her skin,
To mak't more rich i'de think't embroidred in.
VVho for a case a Jewel would contemn,
A viler shell may lodge a richer Gem.
Though fair and foul i'de make away to Heav'n,
The fair's a picture for devotion giv'n.
And if a fowler piece we can't call Saint,
VVe'l use't as some to fright sin, Devils paint.
Yet know 'tis love or virtue must make fair,
97
'Tis love a multitude of faults can cover,
Who'd know nor see no fault, let him turn lover.
Love doth the body of the Church Cement,
Christs Coat had no seam nor Church must have rent.
Christs Coat and Church of wedlock emblems be,
Can it be marr'age where they disagree?
Sure they renew his Crosse, gall, nalls and spear
His body rend who make divisions there.
Whom God makes one contention can make two,
You with your wife not one, Gods none with you.
While Adam slept, God him an Eve did make,
Passions must sleep while you a wife do take.
God took the rib which circumvolves the heart,
So near ally'd nothing but death should part.
A rib doth soonest break to bend inclin'd,
Wives bend us'd gently, break when you'r unkind.
Marr'age is contract man, there takes his bone,
Bone 'tis by Contract th' word implies be one.
To me imperfect Lord if thou add'st a bone,
Let th' fall from virtue make't no broken one.
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