Two Pigs, a Cow, and Wethers half a Score, Increas’d his Stock and still he look’d for more; He, for his Acres few, so duly paid, That yet more Acres to his lot were laid; Till our chaste Nymphs no longer felt disdain, And prudent Matrons prais’d the frugal Swain; Who thriving well, through many a fruitful Year, Now cloth’d himself anew, and acted Overseer. Just then poor _Bridget_ from her Friend in Town, Fled in pure fear, and came a beggar down; Trembling at _Roger_’s door, she knock’d for Bread,-- } Was chidden first, next pitied, and then fed; } Then sat at _Roger_’s Board, then shar’d in _Roger_’s Bed:} All Hope of Marriage lost in her Disgrace, He mourns a Flame reviv’d, and she a love of Lace. Now to be wed, a well-match’d Couple came; Twice had old _Lodge_ been tied, and twice the Dame: Tottering they came and toying, (odious scene!) And fond and simple, as they’d always been. Children, from Wedlock we by Laws restrain; Why not prevent them, when they’re such again? Why not forbid the doating Souls, to prove, Th’ indecent Fondling of preposterous Love? In spite of Prudence, uncontroll’d by Shame, The amorous Senior wooes the toothless Dame, Relating idly, at the closing eye, The youthful Follies he disdains to leave; Till youthful Follies wake a transient Fire, When arm in arm, they totter and retire. So a fond Pair of solemn Birds, all day, Blink in their seat and doze the hours away; Then by the Moon awaken’d, forth they move, And fright the Songsters, with their cheerless Love. So two sear Trees, dry, stunted, and unsound, Each other catch, when dropping to the ground; Entwine their wither’d Arms ’gainst wind and weather, And shake their leafless Heads and drop together. So two dead Limbs, touch’d by Galvani’s Wire, Move with new life and feel awaken’d fire; Quivering awhile, their flaccid Forms remain, Then turn to cold torpidity again.