Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Tho' sly at first your Marriage-Knot You ty'd,
A secret Bridegroom and unthought-of Bride;
Lest Military Tunes might shock your ear,
Of Drums hoarse-sounding, or of Trumpets clear,
Musick will come at length, tho' not so soon,
You still shall be saluted with a Tune:
Some Sport at least I'll to your Wedding bring,
And tho' I might not dance, yet shall I sing.

Blest may your Marriage prove! I joy'd at none
With Gladness more intense, except my own.
Of Envy void, your happy State I see;
And may you ne'er have Cause to envy me.
No jarring Discord of domestick Strife
Disturb the well-set Harmony of Life;
By Deeds, not Words, your higher Pow'r defend,
And seldom come so far as to contend:
For Husbands 'gainst their Wives to take the Field
Is the most base of all things—but to yield.
If num'rous Offspring should your Wishes bless,
O may they never break your Houshold Peace!
Never of Nature's Rights their Parents tell,
And free-born plead their Priviledge to rebel.

Some think that Vows were made for Man alone,
And mind his Promise, but neglect their own.
Love, Honour, Worship, perfectly they say,
But treacherous is their Memory—to Obey.
May that curst Vice your Union ne'er divide,
By Fools call'd Spirit, but by Wise-men Pride:

Whence perjur'd Wives rebellious slight their Head,
And Bosom Vipers gnaw the Marriage Bed;
The deadliest Plague that can inflicted be,
Except Adultery, and Jealousy.

Pleas'd with your Lot, contented and resign'd
Let mean Ambition never taint your mind;
Nor seek Preferment's broad but dirty Road,
True to yourself, your Country, and your God.
Would You to rise profess yourself agreed
In each vile Tittle of the Craftsman's Creed;
To murder Kings, if Subjects they displease?
No matter for your Oaths and Homilies.
The sacred Right of Bishops to disown,
No matter for your Gospel or your Gown,
No Freedom to dissent the Tyrants gave,
Who with Pretence of Liberty enslave:
And Moderation's Finger heavier weighs
Than Persecution's Loins in Tory Days.

Prize much each other's Company, 'tis fair
They join in Pleasure, who must join in Care:
While of Your Presence fond she decks the Board,
And pleas'd and smiling caters for her Lord;
Treats him with Wine and Wild-fowl, if he please,
She'll find it cheaper far than Bread and Cheese.
If Friends abroad should once the Man engross,
She'll find the Gain on't will not pay the Loss.
For most from Home will naturally fly,
When forc'd at Home to fast and mortify.

Who spares for Meat and Drink in keeping House,
May save her Substance, but may lose her Spouse.
Then may she rave and pine and fret in vain,
No Art on Earth can bring him back again.

Whoe'er a Conscience void of Guilt can share,
Has cause to laugh and cast away old Care;
May slight the Evil of the future day,
And 'till Misfortune comes,—why let it stay.
A Time for all things is ordain'd on high,
A Time to love and live, to part and die.
In mutual Love th' allotted Season spend,
Pleas'd with the Way, nor mindless of the End.
Let gayest Mirth and strictest Reason meet,
When Old be cheerful, as when Young discreet;
In serious Hours nor Levity betray,
Nor frown precisely, nor be grave at play.
In short, two little common Words comprise,
Your Duty and your Bliss,—Be merry and be wise.

Long since the writing this, the Craftsman has said, Passive Obedience lies skulking in the Homilies: an Expression of great propriety, since Politicians are not used to read such Books.