Plate VI.

Vol. II. facing p. 87.

Jam. Wale Delin

C.Mosley Sculp

Old as he was, and void of Eye-sight too, What coud alas! a helpless Husband do.

'a

Jan: & May.

JANUARY

T

AND

MA

Y.

HERE liv'd in Lombardy, as authors write,
In days of old, a wife and worthy knight;

Of gentle manners, as of gen'rous race,

Bleft with much fenfe, more riches, and fome grace. Yet led aftray by Venus' foft delights,

He scarce could rule fome idle appetites:

For long ago, let Priests say what they cou'd,
Weak finful laymen were but flesh and blood.

But in due time, when fixty years were o'er, He vow'd to lead this vitious life no more;.

Whether pure holiness infpir'd his mind,

Or dotage turn'd his brain, is hard to find; But his high courage prick'd him forth to wed, the pleasures of a lawful bed.

And try

NOTES.

5

10

JANUARY AND MAY.] This Tranflation was done at fixteen or seventeen years of Age. P.

This was his nightly dream, his daily care,

And to the heav'nly pow'rs his conftant pray'r,
Once, ere he dy'd, to taste the blissful life
Of a kind husband and a loving wife.

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These thoughts he fortify'd with reasons still, (For none want reasons to confirm their will.) 20 Grave authors fay, and witty poets fing,

appears,

That honeft wedlock is a glorious thing:
But depth of judgment most in him
Who wifely weds in his maturer years.
Then let him chufe a damfel young and fair,
To bless his age, and bring a worthy heir;

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To footh his cares, and, free from noise and strife, Conduct him gently to the verge of life.

Let finful batchelors their woes deplore,

Full well they merit all they feel, and more: 30
Unaw'd by precepts, human or divine,
Like birds and beafts, promifcuously they join:
Nor know to make the present bleffing laft,
To hope the future, or esteem the past:
But vainly boast the joys they never try'd,
And find divulg'd the fecrets they would hide.
The marry'd man may bear his yoke with ease,
Secure at once himself and heav'n to please;

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And pass his inoffenfive hours away,

In bliss all night, and innocence all day:

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Tho' fortune change, his conftant spouse remains, Augments his joys, or mitigates his pains.

But what fo pure, which envious tongues will fpare?

Some wicked wits have libell'd all the fair.

With matchless impudence they style a wife

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The dear-bought curfe, and lawful plague of life; A bofom-ferpent, a domestic evil,

A night-invafion, and a mid-day-devil.

Let not the wise these fland'rous words regard,

But curfe the bones of ev'ry lying bard.

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All other goods by fortune's hand are giv'n,

A wife is the peculiar gift of heav'n.

Vain fortune's favours, never at a stay,

Like empty fhadows, pass, and glide away;
One folid comfort, our eternal wife,
Abundantly fupplies us all our life:

This bleffing lafts, (if those who try, fay true)
As long as heart can wish-and longer too.

Our grandfire Adam, ere of Eve poffefs'd,
Alone, and ev'n in Paradife unblefs'd,

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60

ournful looks the blissful scenes furvey'd, e folitary shade:

grow

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wife.

The Maker faw, took pity, and bestow'd
Woman, the laft, the beft referv'd of God.
A Wife! ah gentle deities, can he
That has a wife, e'er feel adverfity?
Would men but follow what the sex advise,
All things would prosper, all the world
'Twas by Rebecca's aid that Jacob won
His father's bleffing from an elder son:
Abufive Nabal ow'd his forfeit life
To the wife conduct of a prudent wife:
Heroic Judith, as old Hebrews show,
Preferv'd the Jews, and flew th' Affyrian foe:
At Hefter's fuit, the perfecuting fword

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Was fheath'd, and Ifrael liv'd to blefs the Lord. These weighty motives, January the fage Maturely ponder'd in his riper age;

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And charm'd with virtuous joys, and sober life,
Would try that chriftian comfort, call'd a wife. 80
His friends were summon'd on a point so nice,
To pass their judgment, and to give advice;
But fix'd before, and well resolv'd was he;
(As men that ask advice are wont to be.)
My friends, he cry'd (and caft a mournful look
Around the room, and figh'd before he spoke :)

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