Classic Poem

I Wonder what should Madam Lesbia meane
To keep young Histrio , and for what scene
So bravely shee maintaines him; that what scene
He please to blesse, 'tis done at her expence!
The play-boy spends secure; he shall have more;
As if both Indies did supply his store.
As if he did in bright Pactolus swim,
Or Tagus yellow waves did water him:
And yet has no revenews to defray
These charges, but the Madam, shee must pay
His prodigall disbursments: Madams are
To such as he, more then a treble share.
Shee payes (which is more then shee needs to doe)
For her owne comming in, and for his too.
This is reward due to the sacred sin;
No charge too much done to the beardlesse chin:
Allthough shee stint her poore old Knight St John ,
To live upon his exhibition,
His hundred marks per Annum , when her Joy
Her sanguine darling, her spruce active boy
May scatter Angels; rub out silks, and shine
In cloths of gold; cry loud the world is mine;
Keepe his Race-nags, and in Hide-parke be seen
Briske as the best (as if the stage had been
Growne the Court's Rivall) can to Brackly goe,
To Lincolne Race, and to New-market too;
At each of these his hundred pounds has vie'd
On Peggabrigs , or Shotten-herrings side;
And looses without swearing. Let them curse
That neither have a Fortunatus purse,
Nor such a Madam; if this world doe hold
(As very likely 'twill) Madams growne old
Will be the best Monopolies; Histrio may
At Maw , or Gleeke , or at Primero play.
Still Madam goes to stake, Histrio knows
Her worth, and therefore dices too; and goes
As deepe, the Caster, as the only Sonne
Of a dead Alderman, come to twenty one
A whole weeke since; you'd know the reason why
Lesbia does this; guesse you as well as I:
Then this I can no better reason tell;
'Tis 'cause he playes the womans part so well.
I see old Madams are not only toyle;
No tilth so fruitfull as a barren soyle.
Ah poore day labourers, how I pitty you
That shrinke, and sweat to live with much adoe!
When had you wit to understand the right,
'Twere better wages to have work'd by night.
Yet some that resting here, doe only thinke
That youth with age is an unequall linke:
Conclude, that Histrio's taske as hard must bee,
As was Mezentius bloody cruelty.
Who made the living to embrace the dead,
And so expire; but I am rather lead
His bargaine of the two the best to call;
He at one game keeps her, shee him at all.