Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/304
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268
The WIFE of BATH.
Then how two wives their lord's destruction prove,
Thro' hatred one, and one thro' too much love;
That for her husband mix'd a pois'nous draught;
And this for lust an am'rous philtre bought,
The nimble juice soon seiz'd his giddy head,
Frantic at night, and in the morning dead.
How some with swords their sleeping lords have slain,
And some have hammer'd nails into their brain,
And some have drench'd them with a deadly potion;
All this he read, and read with great devotion.
Long time I heard, and swell'd, and blush'd, and frown'd,
But when no end of these vile tales I found,
When still he read, and laugh'd, and read again,
And half the night was thus consum'd in vain;
Provok'd to vengeance, three large leaves I tore,
And with one buffet fell'd him on the floor.
With that my husband in a fury rose,
And down he settled me with hearty blows:
I groan'd, and lay extended on my side;
Oh! thou hast slain me for my wealth (I cry'd)
Thro' hatred one, and one thro' too much love;
That for her husband mix'd a pois'nous draught;
And this for lust an am'rous philtre bought,
The nimble juice soon seiz'd his giddy head,
Frantic at night, and in the morning dead.
How some with swords their sleeping lords have slain,
And some have hammer'd nails into their brain,
And some have drench'd them with a deadly potion;
All this he read, and read with great devotion.
Long time I heard, and swell'd, and blush'd, and frown'd,
But when no end of these vile tales I found,
When still he read, and laugh'd, and read again,
And half the night was thus consum'd in vain;
Provok'd to vengeance, three large leaves I tore,
And with one buffet fell'd him on the floor.
With that my husband in a fury rose,
And down he settled me with hearty blows:
I groan'd, and lay extended on my side;
Oh! thou hast slain me for my wealth (I cry'd)
Yet