Classic Poem

You Slaves! are now set Free, but on the Score,
Of growing much more Slaves, than e'er before;
Go freely thus, into more Slavery,
Call'd Wedlock, for your Infidelity;
For Want of Faith, in one another, you,
Bond-Slaves for Life, thus one to t'other grow;
By your Church-Bondage, that of Marriage, since
Death only can be your Deliverance;
Each, fondly thinking to get Liberty,
Each other bind more fast in Slavery;
So, but like other Sooty Gipsies, you
Take Hands now, but to cheat each other too;
Each other to the Dev'ls, your selves you give,
Like Witches, that here both may better live;
Giving your selves to one another, you,
But as the Devil, and the Witches, so
Must, by your Pact, Pains mutual undergo;
For, like the Devil, and the Witch, you will,
But to both's Torment, hug each other still,
By your Pact, your Perdition to fulfil;
Yet, neither of you needs a Rival fear,
No Groper, either's Darkness, will come near;
Each other's Hue, keeps both from Jealousie,
As Men gain Peace, by their Obscurity;
For her Face, let thy Wife, Black Bride-groom! show
Her, thou't be sure, that no Man else will know,
Since none, a Favour sure, will from her ask,
Whose very Face is a forbidding Mask;
Yet each, in Wedlock, (growing Christian) will
Grow to each other, more an Infidel;
In Wedlock's Joys, will have the Dev'ls Content,
But one another's Ease, more to prevent,
Out of more Love, each other more Torment;
In vain then, shou'd I give you Devil's Joy,
Which both resolve, by Wedlock, to destroy,
Who, like Black Fiends, agree to disagree,
Each other's Torment, out of Love to be,
More bound to be, with your selves, but more free;
As you'd more Freedom with each other take,
More Slaves, for Life, each other but to make.