The Pleasures of a Single Life | Page 3

no more desire: }?Fortune, like God and Nature too was kind,?And to these Gifts a copious Sum had joyn'd?Who could the power of such Temptations shun;?What frozen Synick from her Charms could run:?What Cloister'd Monk could see a Face so bright, }?But quit his Beads and follow Beauty's Light, }?And by Its Lustre hope to shun Eternal Night. }?I so bewitch'd, and poyson'd with her Charms,?Believ'd the utmost Heaven was in her Arms,?Methoughts the Goodness, in her Eyes I see,?Spoke her the Off-spring of some Deity.?Now Books and Walks, would no content afford,?She was the only Good to be Ador'd.?In her fair Looks alone delight I found,?Love's raging Storms all other Joys had drown'd.?By Beauty's Ignis fatuus led astray,?Bound for Content, I lost my happy way?Of Reason's faithful Pilot now bereft,?Was amongst Rocks and Shelves in danger left,?There must have perish'd, as I fondly thought,?Lest her kind Usage my Salvation wrought;?Her happy Aid I labour'd to obtain,?Hop'd for Success, yet fear'd her sad Disdain,?Tortur'd like dying Convicts whilst they live,?'Twixt fear of Death, and hopes of a Reprieve.?First for her smallest Favours did I sue,?Crept, Fawn'd and Cring'd, as Lovers us'd to do??Sigh'd e'er I spoke, and when I spoke look'd Pale,?In words confus'd disclos'd my mournful Tale??Unpractised and Amour's fine Speeches coin'd,?But could not utter what I well design'd.?Warm'd by her Charms 'gainst Bashfulness I strove,?And trembling far, and stammer'd out my Love;?Told her how greatly I admir'd and fear'd,?Which she 'twixt Coyness and Compassion heard,?Grutch'd no Expence of Money, or of Time,?And thought that not to adore her was a Crime;?The more each Visit I acquainted grew,?Yet every time found something in her new.?Who was above her Sex so fortunate,?She had a Charm for Man in every State;?Beauty for the Youthful, Prudence for the Old,?Scripture for the Godly, for the Miser Gold;?Wit for the Ingenious, silence for the Grave,?Flatt'ry for the Fool, and Cunning for the Knave:
Compounded thus of such Varieties, }
She had a knack to every Temper please, }
And as her self thought fit was every one of these. }?I lov'd, I sigh'd and vow'd, talk'd, whin'd, and pray'd,?And at her Feet my panting Heart I lay'd;?She smil'd, then frown'd, was now reserv'd, then free,?And as she plaid her part, oft chang'd her Key;?Not through Fantastick Humour but Design,?To try me throughly e'er she should be mine,?Because she wanted in one Man to have,?A Husband, Lover, Cuckold and a Slave.?So Travellers, before a Horse they buy,?His Speed, his Paces, and his Temper try,?Whether he'll answer Whip and Spur, thence Judge,?If the poor Beast will prove a patient Drudge:?When she by wiles had heightned my Desire,?And fain'd Love's sparkles to a raging Fire;?Made now for Wedlock, or for Bedlam fit.?Thus Passion gain'd the upper-hand of Wit,?The Dame by pity, or by Interest mov'd,?Or else by Lust, pretended now she lov'd;
After long-sufferings, her Consent I got. }
To make me happy, as I hop'd and thought, }
But oh, the wretched hour I ty'd the Gordian Knot. }
Thus thro' mistake I rashly plung'd my Life?Into that Gulph of Miseries a Wife.?With joyful Arms I thus embrac'd my Fare,?Believ'd too soon, was undeceiv'd too late;?So hair-brain'd Fools to Indian Climates rove,?With a vain hope their Fortunes to improve;?There spend their slender Cargoes, then become?Worse Slaves abroad than e'er they were at home?When a few Weeks were wasted I compar'd,?With all due moderation and regard,?My former freedom, with my new restraint,?Judging which State afforded most content.?But found a single Life as calm and gay,?As the delightful Month of blooming May,?Not chill'd with Cold, or scorch'd with too much heat. }?Not plagu'd with flying Dust, nor drown'd with wet, }?But pleasing to the Eyes, and to the Nostrils sweet. }
But Wedlock's like the blustring Month of March,?That does the Body's Maims and Bruises search,?Brings by cold nipping Storms unwelcom Pains,?And finds, or breeds, Distempers in our Veins;?Renews old Sores, and hastens on Decay,?And seldom does afford one pleasant Day.?But Clouds dissolve, or raging Tempest blow,?And untile Houses, like the wrangling Shrow;
Thus March and Marriage justly may be said, }
To be alike, then sure the Man is Mad, }
That loves such changling Weather where the best is bad. }
Though I once happy in a single Life,?Yet Shipwrack'd all upon that Rock a Wife.?By Gold and Beauties Powerful Charms betray'd,?To