Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/292
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The WIFE of BATH.
I still prevail'd, and would be in the right,
Or curtain-lectures made a restless night.
If once my husband's arm was o'er my side,
What? so familiar with your spouse? I cry'd:
I levied first a tax upon his need,
Then let him—'twas a nicety indeed!
Let all mankind this certain maxim hold,
Marry who will, our Sex is to be sold!
With empty hands no tassels you can lure,
But fulsom love for gain we can endure:
For gold we love the impotent and old,
And heave, and pant, and kiss, and cling, for gold.
Yet with embraces, curses oft' I mixt,
Then kiss'd again, and chid and rail'd betwixt.
Well, I may make my will in peace, and die,
For not one word in man's arrears am I.
To drop a dear dispute I was unable,
Ev'n tho' the Pope himself had sate at table.
But when my point was gain'd, then thus I spoke,
"Billy, my dear, how sheepishly you look?
Or curtain-lectures made a restless night.
If once my husband's arm was o'er my side,
What? so familiar with your spouse? I cry'd:
I levied first a tax upon his need,
Then let him—'twas a nicety indeed!
Let all mankind this certain maxim hold,
Marry who will, our Sex is to be sold!
With empty hands no tassels you can lure,
But fulsom love for gain we can endure:
For gold we love the impotent and old,
And heave, and pant, and kiss, and cling, for gold.
Yet with embraces, curses oft' I mixt,
Then kiss'd again, and chid and rail'd betwixt.
Well, I may make my will in peace, and die,
For not one word in man's arrears am I.
To drop a dear dispute I was unable,
Ev'n tho' the Pope himself had sate at table.
But when my point was gain'd, then thus I spoke,
"Billy, my dear, how sheepishly you look?
"Approach