None comprehend, but all are pleas’d to find That each may act as he is most inclin’d; That, as so little it concerns us where We pray, of what Importance is our Prayer? Maxims like these, that lead to free Discourse, The Master furnish’d and the Grooms enforce. He wed a Cousin, to the worthy End 490 That none should spoil a breed that none could mend; For his Opinions she had not a Care, Nor meant his fancies or his faith to share; Him she would wed, but was not so refin’d Or so romantic as to wed his Mind. She had been told, that her admiring Swain Had impious notions she could not restrain, And that he spoke with Insult and Delight What only sin and Satan could indite. To this she answer’d, that her husband’s Soul 500 Was not design’d to be at her Controul; That, if he kept the Vow between them made, She should no Secrets of [his] Heart invade; These points concern’d not a reflecting Wife, Whose Contract ended with the present Life; She could no Evil in such points discern, And, if [’twere] there, it was his own Concern. She in their Bargain took especial Care, With prudent forsight of the Widow’s Share; Nor was she in her wedded State so fond 510 As not to look upon the State beyond. So Swimmers, plunging in the river’s tide, Look to the Landing on the farther Side; And some on purpose, doubtless, to command An easy Station where again they land. This Man and Wife had nature well allied; For both were positive, and both had pride; And all the Love that in the bosom glow’d Was on the person tenderly bestow’d; As weeds, cut down and burn’d upon the field, 520 To their own place their little value yield. Both lov’d a Life expensive, but they still A something found to counteract the Will: He was by press of Indolence restrain’d, And she from knowledge of the Cost refrain’d. They were not wealthy, and they needed Care To keep Affairs as buoyant as they were. In this good Lady it was strange to see How ignorant a knowing Wife can be. Learning she held, if not a very Crime, 530 A needless burden and a Loss of Time. Of all the world above and this below She knew as much as she desir’d to know; And that is more, with all their Search and Care, Than Locke and Newton fairly could declare. That the Moon shone on the Assembly night, Was all she thought or car’d about her Light. The Seasons came, and she explain’d with Ease What was in Season both on Land and Seas; She play’d at Whist with such surprising Skill, 540 That many censur’d her for playing ill; But this was error; she disdain’d to cheat, When she could lawfully and fairly beat; Beside, she felt a Scruple to the Deed, Except in Times of the extremest Need. Rebells she scorn’d, and wish’d, with all her Soul, That Ropes might choak whom Laws could not controul, And a Staunch Patriot was to her a word