 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
274
An EPILOGUE, By Araminta, in the Confederacy.
Our Poet, tho' for Wit and Humor fam'd,
For want of Moral has been sometimes blam'd;
Unjustly sure: The Characters he paints,
I own, resemble Sinners more than Saints:
But Sinners shou'd be brought upon the Stage,
(For such there are, ev'n in this Blessed Age)
Or how shou'd We, so Virtuous and so Good,
Learn to avoid the Snares of Flesh and Blood:
Vice here expos'd, as Vice, is fully shown;
Old Nick, by his Club-Foot is always known.
For want of Moral has been sometimes blam'd;
Unjustly sure: The Characters he paints,
I own, resemble Sinners more than Saints:
But Sinners shou'd be brought upon the Stage,
(For such there are, ev'n in this Blessed Age)
Or how shou'd We, so Virtuous and so Good,
Learn to avoid the Snares of Flesh and Blood:
Vice here expos'd, as Vice, is fully shown;
Old Nick, by his Club-Foot is always known.
Ye naughty Husbands, and ye naughty Wives,
From what ye've seen, learn to amend your Lives;
But chief, ye Gripes and Moneytraps—for You
Our Moral Bard his Moral Lesson drew:
Be Generous; nor abroad for Pleasure roam,
Hunt not for Game which you may start at Home;
Consider—Wives forsaken can with Ease
Repay you—Tit for Tat—whene'er they please;
Whilst You intrigue Abroad, devoid of Grace,
A Cicesbey may fill your vacant Place:
For loving Wives take it extremely ill,
When Husbands smuggle Grist to a strange Mill.
From what ye've seen, learn to amend your Lives;
But chief, ye Gripes and Moneytraps—for You
Our Moral Bard his Moral Lesson drew:
Be Generous; nor abroad for Pleasure roam,
Hunt not for Game which you may start at Home;
Consider—Wives forsaken can with Ease
Repay you—Tit for Tat—whene'er they please;
Whilst You intrigue Abroad, devoid of Grace,
A Cicesbey may fill your vacant Place:
For loving Wives take it extremely ill,
When Husbands smuggle Grist to a strange Mill.
When in the Matrimonial Knot we're bound,
The Obligation Mutual should be found;
For Bills of Rights our Lordly Mates contend,
We too have Rights and Charters to defend;
On slow Petitions They their Hopes may build,
We'll boldly dare our Rulers to the Field;
Where Face to Face, shou'd they our Prowess try,
Poor Souls! we'd cool their Courage presently.—
Let us at least an equal pow'r maintain,
And like King Will and Mary jointly reign.
The Obligation Mutual should be found;
For Bills of Rights our Lordly Mates contend,
We too have Rights and Charters to defend;
275
We'll boldly dare our Rulers to the Field;
Where Face to Face, shou'd they our Prowess try,
Poor Souls! we'd cool their Courage presently.—
Let us at least an equal pow'r maintain,
And like King Will and Mary jointly reign.
Ye mighty Sirs, who aim at sov'reign Sway,
And think poor Wives are born but to Obey,
If you wou'd have us true to Honor's Race,
Be you our Guides—we'll follow in the Chace:
Dare not, yourselves, on Marriage Vows to trample,
We'll do our best—to follow your Example.
And think poor Wives are born but to Obey,
If you wou'd have us true to Honor's Race,
Be you our Guides—we'll follow in the Chace:
Dare not, yourselves, on Marriage Vows to trample,
We'll do our best—to follow your Example.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |