If, then, a wise and honest woman’s superiority be unseemly, and breed great inconvenience, how is he dressed, think you, if he light on a fond, wanton, and malicious dame? Then doubtless he is soundly sped. She will keep a sweetheart under his nose, yet is he so blind that he can perceive nothing. But, for more security, she will many times send him packing beyond sea, about some odd errand that she will buzz in his ears, and he will perform it at her pleasure, though she send him forth at midnight, in hail, rain, and snow, for he must be a man for all weathers. Their children, if they have any, must be brought up, apparelled, taught, and fed according to her pleasure, and one point of their learning is always to make no account of their father. Finally, she orders all things as she thinks best herself, making no more account of him, especially if he be in years, than men do of an old horse that is put to labour. Thus is he mewed up, plunged in a sea of cares; and yet he, kind fool, deems himself most happy in his happiness, wherein he must now perforce remain while life doth last, and pity it were he should want it, since he likes it so well.--_The Bachelor’s Banquet._ Horace is thus amusingly introduced as in the act of concocting an ode: To thee whose forehead swells with roses, Whose most haunted bower Gives life and scent to every flower, Whose most adoréd name encloses Things abstruse, deep and divine; Whose yellow tresses shine Bright as Eoan fire. Oh, me thy priest inspire! For I to thee and thine immortal name, In--in--in golden tunes, For I to thee and thine immortal name-- In--sacred raptures flowing, flowing, swimming, swimming: In sacred raptures swimming, Immortal name, game, dame, tame, lame, lame, lame, [Foh,] hath, shame, proclaim, oh-- In sacred raptures flowing, will proclaim [no!]. Oh, me they priest inspire! For I to thee and thine immortal name, In flowing numbers filled with spright and flame (Good, good!) In flowing numbers filled with spright and flame. John Fletcher is believed to have composed the greater part of the plays by Beaumont and Fletcher. The _Laughing Song_ is attributed to Fletcher alone. _LAUGHING SONG_ (_For several voices_)