Ode to Wedlock!

Oh! Hymen, god of Wedlock! thou Companion of the lover’s vow, Thy subjects they are fearful; If thou could nobbut see the strife, There is sometimes ’tween man and wife, I think thou’d be more careful.

Oft has thou bound in durance vile, De fearful frown, and cheerful smile, And doubtless thought it famous; When thou the mind ov fancy sweet, Has knit the knot so nice and neat For some blessed ignoramous.

What nature, truth, and reason too, Has oft declared would never do, Thou’rt fool enough to do it; Thou’s bound for better and for worse, Life’s greatest blessing with a curse, And both were made to rue it.

But luve is blind, and oft deceived, If adage old can be believed, And suffers much abuses; Or never could such matches be, O, mighty Hymen! tied by thee, So thou has thy excuses.