Classic Poem

If that the Favours greatest are which we
Confer most voluntary, frank, and free;
And if that Benefit we value most,
Which comes the easiest, or in Toil, or Cost,
That courteous Virgin most our Thanks demands,
Who on no Wedlock-Terms precisely stands:
And she who soonest, cheapest, grants her Love,
Does the most honourable Mistress prove:
Who nobly does on her Friend's Faith rely,
Without a Bargain, Bond, or previous Tye.

But Marriage makes the Mode of bart'ring Love
Less generous, as more distrustful prove;
Since Love is not dishonourable made,
When a free Gift, but mercenary Trade.

What gen'rous Mind can condescend to owe
His dearest Pleasure to a paultry Vow?
And be content the Rights of Love to hold
By a dull Tenure that the Church has fold?
'Tis Priestcraft all, the Trick of cous'ning Law,
(For both the Gown-men here together draw:)
To load the Laiety with hard Excise,
And rigid Payment for the Bliss they prize.

Then cease, if you wou'd make the Gift compleat,
To take Advantage from this pious Cheat.
Give me thy Love, but let thy Love be free,
Nor aim to rob me of my Liberty.
Is Love so brittle, or thy Charms so weak,
That They cannot detain, and He must break,
Unless a previous Institution bind
To keep Thee fair, and force Him to be kind?

Less Passion mercenary Wives confess,
Than free, uncraving, willing Mistresses.
These with a Grace their dearest Charms impart,
And look but for the Tribute of a Heart.
Unlike to these the Treatment of our Wives!
Each She, in Wedlock, whorishly contrives
To fix her self for Life at Bed and Board,
And make a Keeper of her pinion'd Lord:
Nay, makes him, (more injurious is the Force!)
To keep her too, for better and for worse .

Passion alone shall make me True and Just,
All Obligations else bespeak Distrust.
And that forc'd Bond, which Diffidence implies,
Does Breach of Faith, and Falsehood authorize.
Let Marriage, and forc'd Contracts only joyn
Those that exchange not Hearts, but truck for Coin:
Slaves that make Settlements, and can for Gain
Submit to drag for Life a golden Chain.
Dissembling Wretches that caress a-bed
The Wife, who heartily they wish were dead.
Not so the Lover, who to change is free,
Serves unconstrain'd, and counts it Liberty.
He calls the Favours of the Nymph to Mind,
And in that dear Remembrance still is kind.