Married, poor soul! your empire's over;
Adieu the duteous kneeling lover;
Farewell, eternally farewell,
The glory of the stately belle;
The plumèd head, the trailing gown,
The crowded ball, the busy town,
For one short month are yours, and then
Must never be resumed again;
No more attentive Strephon flies,
Awed by the lightning of your eyes;
No longer, ‘Madam, hear my vows,’
But ‘Mend this ragged wristband, spouse;
I mean to call upon a friend,
Do you your household cares attend.’
‘Mayn't I go too, my dear?’—‘Oh, Lord!
What, married women go abroad!
Your horse is lame, the roads are rough,
Besides, at home you've work enough.’
Off goes the husband, brisk and airy;
The wife in a profound quandary,
Whilst he of wit or scandal chatters,
Remains mumchance, and darns old tatters.
I almost think the nuptial hour
Possessed of talismanic power;
For in a little time, how strange,
We grow enamoured of the change.
Our tables and our chairs, in fact,
Possess perfections which attract,
Till, like the snail, we gladly bear
The constant weight of household care;
The things are trifles which we leave,
For trifles none but triflers grieve.
Like insects of the summer sky,
Were we but born to sport and die,
Then might we spread our gilded plumes,
And court the flower that sweetest blooms;
But heaven, which gave us nobler powers,
With ample duties filled our hours;
These shrink from solitary life
To grace the faithful active wife;
Her breast each social virtue warms,
Her mind each useful science charms;
Pleased, when she walks abroad, to hear
The orphan's thanks, the poor man's prayer;
Whene'er she makes the social call,
Her neighbour meets her in the hall,
And cries, ‘I'm glad to see you come,
You really grow too fond of home’:
That home, well ordered, proves her merit,
She is its animating spirit.
Each servant, at the task assigned,
Proclaims a regulating mind.
Pleased she surveys her infant charge,
Beholds the mental powers enlarge,
And as the young ideas rise,
Directs their issues to the skies.
Thus whilst performing Martha's part,
To serve the master of her heart,
How sweet the thought, that he approves,
Silent esteems, and deeply loves!
Joy then, my Sally, since I see
The path of wedlock trod by thee;
Thy virtues shall secure the palm,
Hymeneal friendship's placid calm,
And show to a too polished nation
Example worthy imitation.
Adieu the duteous kneeling lover;
Farewell, eternally farewell,
The glory of the stately belle;
The plumèd head, the trailing gown,
The crowded ball, the busy town,
For one short month are yours, and then
Must never be resumed again;
No more attentive Strephon flies,
Awed by the lightning of your eyes;
No longer, ‘Madam, hear my vows,’
But ‘Mend this ragged wristband, spouse;
I mean to call upon a friend,
Do you your household cares attend.’
‘Mayn't I go too, my dear?’—‘Oh, Lord!
What, married women go abroad!
Your horse is lame, the roads are rough,
Besides, at home you've work enough.’
Off goes the husband, brisk and airy;
The wife in a profound quandary,
Whilst he of wit or scandal chatters,
Remains mumchance, and darns old tatters.
I almost think the nuptial hour
Possessed of talismanic power;
For in a little time, how strange,
We grow enamoured of the change.
Our tables and our chairs, in fact,
Possess perfections which attract,
Till, like the snail, we gladly bear
The constant weight of household care;
The things are trifles which we leave,
For trifles none but triflers grieve.
Like insects of the summer sky,
Were we but born to sport and die,
Then might we spread our gilded plumes,
And court the flower that sweetest blooms;
But heaven, which gave us nobler powers,
With ample duties filled our hours;
These shrink from solitary life
To grace the faithful active wife;
Her breast each social virtue warms,
Her mind each useful science charms;
Pleased, when she walks abroad, to hear
The orphan's thanks, the poor man's prayer;
Whene'er she makes the social call,
Her neighbour meets her in the hall,
And cries, ‘I'm glad to see you come,
You really grow too fond of home’:
That home, well ordered, proves her merit,
She is its animating spirit.
Each servant, at the task assigned,
Proclaims a regulating mind.
Pleased she surveys her infant charge,
Beholds the mental powers enlarge,
And as the young ideas rise,
Directs their issues to the skies.
Thus whilst performing Martha's part,
To serve the master of her heart,
How sweet the thought, that he approves,
Silent esteems, and deeply loves!
Joy then, my Sally, since I see
The path of wedlock trod by thee;
Thy virtues shall secure the palm,
Hymeneal friendship's placid calm,
And show to a too polished nation
Example worthy imitation.