Cupid and Hymen a Voyage to the Isles of love and matrimony. Containing A most Diverting Account of the Inhabitants of those Two Vast and Populous Countries, their Laws, Customs, and Government. Interspersed With many useful Directions and Cautions how to avoid the dangerous Precipices and Quicksands that these Islands abound with, and wherein so many Thousands, who have undertaken the Voyage, have miserably perished. By the Facetious H. C. [i.e. Henry Carey] and T. B.: To which are added, a map of the Island of Marriage; The Batchelor's Estimate of the Expences attending a Married Life. The Married Man's Answer to it; None but Fools Marry, a Vindication of the Estimate; and a Boulster Lecture, &c. By Simon Single ... The Fourth Edition |
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 | A MAP OF THE ISLAND OF MARRIAGE. |
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 | Cupid and Hymen |  |
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A MAP OF THE ISLAND OF MARRIAGE.
80
[How sweet to warble in a Cage]
How sweet to warble in a Cage,
And with soft Notes our Cares t'asswage!
All's there provided at our Need,
Pure limpid Stream, good wholesome Seed;
A kind She too, with whom to play,
And sing and sport the Hours away:
Thus said a Goldfinch blithe, when he
Incag'd, a Linnet once did see,
(Himself mean while at Liberty)
With chearful Note, and joyous Sound,
Who made his Prison Walls resound.
So Damon when one Day he 'syp'd,
A blooming Virgin, Nature's Pride,
With Extasy and Rapture cry'd:
Thrice happy I beyond Mankind,
Were I but to that Fair One join'd,
In an undissoluble Tye,
With her to live, with her to die.
But neither Cage nor Marriage State,
E'er shew their Evils 'till too late;
Nor Birds, nor Men, find out the Cheat,
'Till they are in, and past Retreat,
O you, who burn with am'rous Fire,
Wou'd you still keep alive Desire,
And add fresh Fuel to the Flame,
Still love, but never wed the Dame.
And with soft Notes our Cares t'asswage!
All's there provided at our Need,
Pure limpid Stream, good wholesome Seed;
A kind She too, with whom to play,
And sing and sport the Hours away:
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Incag'd, a Linnet once did see,
(Himself mean while at Liberty)
With chearful Note, and joyous Sound,
Who made his Prison Walls resound.
So Damon when one Day he 'syp'd,
A blooming Virgin, Nature's Pride,
With Extasy and Rapture cry'd:
Thrice happy I beyond Mankind,
Were I but to that Fair One join'd,
In an undissoluble Tye,
With her to live, with her to die.
But neither Cage nor Marriage State,
E'er shew their Evils 'till too late;
Nor Birds, nor Men, find out the Cheat,
'Till they are in, and past Retreat,
O you, who burn with am'rous Fire,
Wou'd you still keep alive Desire,
And add fresh Fuel to the Flame,
Still love, but never wed the Dame.
83
[To satisfy Love's raging Flames]
To satisfy Love's raging Flames,
We Mussulmans wed twenty Dames;
Although, we own the strongest He,
More than enough, will find one She:
But this with us a Rule we make,
'Tis not too much a Score to take,
So that among them we can find,
One Wife that's gen'rous, just, and kind.
We Mussulmans wed twenty Dames;
Although, we own the strongest He,
More than enough, will find one She:
But this with us a Rule we make,
'Tis not too much a Score to take,
So that among them we can find,
One Wife that's gen'rous, just, and kind.
90
[Ye virtuous Fair, our Island's Pride]
Ye virtuous Fair, our Island's Pride,
Whose sterling Honour often try'd,
Has always made a brave Defence;
Hither without Distrust repair,
Here you may live secure from Fear,
Arm'd Cap-a-pee with Innocence.
What tho' we are in Number few?
We're all intrepid, staunch, and true,
Nor Treachery, nor Ambush dread.
Nor need we 'gainst our Honours's Foes,
Implore the feeble Aid of Those,
Who basely from our Colours fled.
Whose sterling Honour often try'd,
Has always made a brave Defence;
Hither without Distrust repair,
Here you may live secure from Fear,
Arm'd Cap-a-pee with Innocence.
What tho' we are in Number few?
We're all intrepid, staunch, and true,
Nor Treachery, nor Ambush dread.
Nor need we 'gainst our Honours's Foes,
Implore the feeble Aid of Those,
Who basely from our Colours fled.
93
[On equal Hinges turns the Marriage State]
On equal Hinges turns the Marriage State,
No Happiness therein's allowed by Fate,
Too great a Disproportion if there be,
In Fortune, Humour, Age, or Quality.
No Happiness therein's allowed by Fate,
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In Fortune, Humour, Age, or Quality.
96
[Gallants, who study Night and Day]
Gallants, who study Night and Day,
To gain fresh Conquests o'er the Fair,
The coyest she will fall a Prey,
When her own Wants first lay the Snare.
To gain fresh Conquests o'er the Fair,
The coyest she will fall a Prey,
When her own Wants first lay the Snare.
99
[Deceivers, Sly, Gallants, away]
Deceivers, Sly, Gallants, away,
This is no Place for you to stay;
Yourselves who value on base Arts,
To circumvent weak Women's Hearts.
This City is forbidden Ground,
March off, nor in these Parts be found;
You may indeed the Outworks view,
But all within's forbidden you.
This is no Place for you to stay;
Yourselves who value on base Arts,
To circumvent weak Women's Hearts.
This City is forbidden Ground,
March off, nor in these Parts be found;
You may indeed the Outworks view,
But all within's forbidden you.
[When once two Hearts which burn with mutual Fires]
When once two Hearts which burn with mutual Fires,
With prudent Care conceal their fierce Desires,
The subtlest He no easy Task will find,
To part that Pair whom ardent Love has join'd.
In vain a Fool may watch them up and down,
He'll scratch his Horns at last, and sighing own,
When Wife and Spark are firm combin'd to gull you,
Do what you please, you'll find yourself their Cully.
With prudent Care conceal their fierce Desires,
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To part that Pair whom ardent Love has join'd.
In vain a Fool may watch them up and down,
He'll scratch his Horns at last, and sighing own,
When Wife and Spark are firm combin'd to gull you,
Do what you please, you'll find yourself their Cully.
103
[Cease, jealous Fools, your Storming, cease]
Cease, jealous Fools, your Storming, cease,
Which does but yout own Woes increase,
And add fresh Fuel to our Fires,
To teaze your Spouses Night and Day,
Believe me, is the ready Way,
To make them yield to loose Desires.
Your unkind Blows, to tender Wives,
Your causless Brawls, and restless Lives,
In everlasting Discord spent;
Will to yourselves most fatal prove,
Will kindle Hate, instead of Love,
And forward what you'd most prevent.
Which does but yout own Woes increase,
And add fresh Fuel to our Fires,
To teaze your Spouses Night and Day,
Believe me, is the ready Way,
To make them yield to loose Desires.
Your unkind Blows, to tender Wives,
Your causless Brawls, and restless Lives,
In everlasting Discord spent;
Will to yourselves most fatal prove,
Will kindle Hate, instead of Love,
And forward what you'd most prevent.
108
[Whene'er We Lovers sue in vain]
Whene'er We Lovers sue in vain,
And neither Sighs nor Vows avail,
To move the Fair to ease our Pain,
The Golden Key will never fail.
And neither Sighs nor Vows avail,
To move the Fair to ease our Pain,
The Golden Key will never fail.
111
[With us all lead contented Lives]
With us all lead contented Lives,
None e'er conceal their soft Desires;
But Gallants, Husbands, and their Wives,
Burn openly with mutual Fires.
For what does Secresy avail,
To guard a buxom Female's Honour?
The watchfull'st Husband's Care will fail,
When once the loving Fit's upon her.
To yield to Fate is then the best,
And we the wisest Method follow;
We drink, we feast, we take our Rest,
And in Delights and Riches wallow.
Ye jealous Fools, whose empty Pride,
Makes you esteem our Conduct base,
Had you but once the Difference try'd,
Yourselves you'd soon wish in our Place.
With Doubts and Fears, for ever cross'd,
How much less happy Days d'ye pass!
And who lives at another's Cost,
Is not, I'm sure, the greatest Ass.
None e'er conceal their soft Desires;
But Gallants, Husbands, and their Wives,
Burn openly with mutual Fires.
For what does Secresy avail,
To guard a buxom Female's Honour?
The watchfull'st Husband's Care will fail,
When once the loving Fit's upon her.
To yield to Fate is then the best,
And we the wisest Method follow;
We drink, we feast, we take our Rest,
And in Delights and Riches wallow.
Ye jealous Fools, whose empty Pride,
Makes you esteem our Conduct base,
Had you but once the Difference try'd,
Yourselves you'd soon wish in our Place.
With Doubts and Fears, for ever cross'd,
How much less happy Days d'ye pass!
And who lives at another's Cost,
Is not, I'm sure, the greatest Ass.
115
[Pinchwife, the maddest of the horned Train]
Pinchwife, the maddest of the horned Train,
Drunk with the Fumes that cloud his empty Brain,
Consumes in Law the Income of a Lord,
To be allowed a Cuckold on Record.
Yet tell him, He's a Fool, and that the Town,
Laugh at his Clamour, and deride his Moan;
That ev'ry prudent Man in such a Case,
Endeavours to keep secret his Disgrace;
Go preach to such a Wretch! as well you might,
Attempt to wash an Æthiopian white.
Drunk with the Fumes that cloud his empty Brain,
Consumes in Law the Income of a Lord,
To be allowed a Cuckold on Record.
Yet tell him, He's a Fool, and that the Town,
Laugh at his Clamour, and deride his Moan;
That ev'ry prudent Man in such a Case,
Endeavours to keep secret his Disgrace;
Go preach to such a Wretch! as well you might,
Attempt to wash an Æthiopian white.
121
[When real Ills upon us fall]
When real Ills upon us fall,
If not felt, they're no Ills at all;
Nor do they cause much Grief or Pain:
But they whom fancied Ills oppress,
Sworn Foes to their own Happiness,
Are blest with Health and Wealth in vain.
Incurable is their Disease,
In vain one strives to give them Ease,
E'en Remedies themselves offend;
And all the fruitless Pains we take,
On their sick Brain a Cure to make,
T'exasperate them only tend.
If not felt, they're no Ills at all;
Nor do they cause much Grief or Pain:
But they whom fancied Ills oppress,
Sworn Foes to their own Happiness,
Are blest with Health and Wealth in vain.
Incurable is their Disease,
In vain one strives to give them Ease,
E'en Remedies themselves offend;
And all the fruitless Pains we take,
On their sick Brain a Cure to make,
T'exasperate them only tend.
126
[Full happily, tho' something late]
Full happily, tho' something late,
We're freed from the cursed Marriage State,
That Bane and Torment of our Lives;
You who've of late put on those Chains,
And blame our Conduct, count your Gains,
When your new Dears are grown meer Wives.
A little Patience, we beseech,
E're you begin to us to preach,
And you e're long will surely find,
That even they who fare the best,
And envy'd are by all the rest,
Are far from Blest in their own Mind.
We're freed from the cursed Marriage State,
That Bane and Torment of our Lives;
You who've of late put on those Chains,
And blame our Conduct, count your Gains,
When your new Dears are grown meer Wives.
A little Patience, we beseech,
E're you begin to us to preach,
And you e're long will surely find,
That even they who fare the best,
And envy'd are by all the rest,
Are far from Blest in their own Mind.
127
[Whilst th'angry Waves run Mountains high]
Whilst th'angry Waves run Mountains high,
And o'er the shatter'd Vessel break,
Throw over board, the Sailors cry,
Your heaviest Goods, for all's at Stake.
Pleas'd with this Order to comply,
I to the Floods commit my Wife,
For sure I am that never I,
Had heavier Goods in all my Life.
And o'er the shatter'd Vessel break,
Throw over board, the Sailors cry,
Your heaviest Goods, for all's at Stake.
Pleas'd with this Order to comply,
I to the Floods commit my Wife,
For sure I am that never I,
Had heavier Goods in all my Life.
130
[Why will you part with that dear Liberty]
Why will you part with that dear Liberty,
Which you've so sigh'd for, and so dearly bought?
Why run again into that Slavery,
Whence fortunately you by Death was brought?
From shipwrack once escap'd the prudent Man,
When he's arriv'd safe at his wished for Port,
Tempts he the Dangers of the Sea again,
To make himself of Winds and Waves the Sport?
Which you've so sigh'd for, and so dearly bought?
Why run again into that Slavery,
Whence fortunately you by Death was brought?
From shipwrack once escap'd the prudent Man,
When he's arriv'd safe at his wished for Port,
Tempts he the Dangers of the Sea again,
To make himself of Winds and Waves the Sport?
131
[Whoe'er, once freed from Marriage Chain]
Whoe'er, once freed from Marriage Chain,
Hamper themselves therein again,
Incorrigible write them down,
A Title they can't well disown;
And I, with all my Soul, consent,
To doom them to the Punishment,
Those harden'd Culprits must expect,
Whom Mercy shewn will not affect.
Hamper themselves therein again,
Incorrigible write them down,
A Title they can't well disown;
And I, with all my Soul, consent,
To doom them to the Punishment,
Those harden'd Culprits must expect,
Whom Mercy shewn will not affect.
132
[Patience, too soon your Bliss you boast]
Patience, too soon your Bliss you boast,
Perhaps you count without your Host;
Already once the Fool you've play'd,
And may again, you're not yet dead.
Perhaps you count without your Host;
Already once the Fool you've play'd,
And may again, you're not yet dead.
138
[In th'Island which from Marriage takes its Name]
In th'Island which from Marriage takes its Name,
Especially amongst the Jealous Sands,
The watchfull'st, haughtiest, and discreetest Dame,
With Difficulty can escape our Hands:
Yet do we never open War declare,
We are a kind of subtle Privateers;
And when we find a tender hearted Fair,
With all her num'rous Train of Hopes and Fears;
Let Argus all his Hundred Eyes employ,
Still will we be the Masters of the Field,
In Spight of him we'll seize the killing Joy,
And force the coyest, stubborn'st She to yield.
Especially amongst the Jealous Sands,
The watchfull'st, haughtiest, and discreetest Dame,
With Difficulty can escape our Hands:
139
We are a kind of subtle Privateers;
And when we find a tender hearted Fair,
With all her num'rous Train of Hopes and Fears;
Let Argus all his Hundred Eyes employ,
Still will we be the Masters of the Field,
In Spight of him we'll seize the killing Joy,
And force the coyest, stubborn'st She to yield.
| Cupid and Hymen | |