Classic Poem

One Night I was awak'd from Sleep,
By many People's Screams;
I thought that I should quickly see
Some neighb'ring House in Flames,

But t'was the flame of Anger burnt
A man did beat his Wife;
So did she for Assistance call,
Lest he should take her Life.

I wonder Men can be such Brutes
Their Anger to fullfil;
You Wives, how dare you disobey
Your lordly Sovereign's Will.

Ye Maidens do you think of this,
When in your Lover's Arms?
And they do for your Favor sue,
And gaze upon your Charms.

You'll think 'tis very hard if thus,
You soon should be caress'd;
Ye Men, how can you turn so vile,
That have great Love profess'd?

In Marriage you do take a Wife
For better or for worse;
Why do you turn your Blessing then,
So oft into a Curse?

When one does fall, the other is
To give a helping Hand;
Why do you push your Partner down,
That you alone may stand?

A Woman should be kindly led,
When she becomes a Wife;
Or, sure it must be better far
To lead a single Life.

Yet Marriage is not to be blam'd,
For all the Fools we see;
I know that there are Men of Sense,
And that good Husbands be.

Our Saviour honoured that State,
His presence was divine,
Which he confirm'd at Galilee,
By making Water Wine.

And he is to his Spouse the Church
Like to a Husband kind;
This sure must be a pleasing Thought
If we this Union find.