Husband

Take to thyself—obeying heav'n—a wife; That comfort, joy and ornament of life: Slight not the blessing, but become— thô late— A prop, support and guardian of the state. But fix not suddenly; consult with care, The genius, manners, temper of the fair: Upon thy present choice—so nature tends— Thy future peace and happiness depends: Not only thine, but—such th' important case— Thine, blended with the welfare of thy race.

If, like the fly in varying colors gay, In dress and ornament she wastes the day; If from her fav'rite glass but seldom seen, She views herself as beauty's matchless queen; If with her charms her soul is warmly fir'd, And, when they're prais'd, with raptures is inspir'd; If always loud, and talkative—her tongue; Or always mirthful, and employ'd in song: If wanton eyes betray her loose desires; And in her bosom flame love's fiercest fires: If passion, caprice, whim—her only guides, She scorns reproof, and all advice derides: Estrang'd from home, if ne'er at home she'll stay; But in a round of visits spend the day: Turn from her charms, in beauty thô they vie With the resplendent glories of the sky: Turn from her charms—her charms, by ev'ry art, Betray th' unwary; and inslave the heart: Let not thy soul, by fancy's choice insnar'd, With such a part'ner be unequal pair'd: To such a part'ner ty'd—so hard the lot— You'll wish to cut the worse than gordian knot: But wish in vain.—domestic comfort fled, Succeeding ills shall circle round your head: Succeeding ills, with ev'ry woe impress'd, Shall seize, with unresisted force, your breast: Domestic comfort fled; abroad you'll roam In search of joys no longer found at home. But vain the search.—each object that you find, Will be discolour'd by your sick'ning mind: Which, far from tasting joys at ev'ry source, Will interrupt them in the common course; Or in the common course as down they flow, Inverting nature, change them all to woe. Then fly her arm's embrace; and, yet unjoin'd, Enjoy a peaceful and a tranquil mind: Forsake her paths, and reason's voice obey: Who tread her paths, their own true good betray.

If in the FAIR ONE virtue always trac'd, With ev'ry female excellence be grac'd: If, full of charms, her manners strike your sight; And more and more, as closer view'd delight: If, join'd with prudence, sense inspires her breast; In ev'ry feature full to view express'd: If beauty's sprightly charms adorn her face, And, scatter'd o'er her, all her person grace: If—heav'n propitious—you should chance to find A woman thus endow'd, and thus refin'd; Worthy to be thy friend, companion, wife; Worthy thy love and confidence thrô life: Take to thyself—therein true wisdom lies— And whilst you may, secure the matchless prize: Like virtue's self she brings her own reward; And justly claims a fixt and warm regard. Regard the fair one, to thy wishes giv'n, As a prime blessing sent thee down from heav'n: Let ev'ry action, and each pleasing art Engage her love, and win her blameless heart: In all thy conduct shew a gen'rous breast. With evry kind affection deep impress'd: In all thy conduct easy, calm and mild; Not soon provok'd;—provok'd, soon reconcil'd: Treat her—by love, as well as int'rest led— As, under thee, the mistress and the head: To her if suitable respect you shew; And do it frequently in public view: Your servants shall a proper def'rence pay; And what she bids, with chearful hearts obey:

By reason's laws are all her wishes bound? And each desire with modest freedom crown'd? Oppose them not; but—partner in thy care— Thy pleasures and amusements let her share: The wish indulg'd, indulg'd each pure desire, Within her breast shall glow love's warmest fire: Love's warmest fire shall beam a bright'ning ray; And all around it's purity display.

If temper, genius, education move To lighter faults; with gentleness reprove: Be not severe: but let an honest breast Remind thee—thou thyself hast oft transgress'd. Thò thine the right to rule with equal Sway; Let not that right a rig'rous Soul betray: But, mindful of her sex, it's weakness bear; And overlook the frailty of the fair.

Commit thy secrets to her faithful breast; Nor let an anxious thought disturb thy rest: Her counsels, like her heart, are all sincere; And, like her heart, all undisguis'd appear.

True to her bed, avoid a strange embrace; Nor be "the father of a nameless race": The baseness of whose blood, deriv'd from thee, Shall on thy name fix lasting infamy.

When pain and grief to pain and grief succeed; Impair her health; and all her pow'rs impede: Thy tender love, ev'n in the deepest woe, Shall cause her heart with joy sincere to flow. One look of thine, one tender look, shall stay The rising grief; and ev'ry pain allay; More lasting health and ease it shall impart, Than all the nostrums of the medic art.

Observe her sex; survey her frame with care; Their strength and weakness with thine own compare: Her frame is tender, and her sex is weak, And less true fortitude than thine bespeak: Her nature's weakness with compassion bear; Nor on her imperfections be severe: But KNOW THY SELF; investigate thy breast: There—weakness, imperfection stand confess'd.