Martha, my ward, would make an easy wife: On easy terms I'll make her yours for life; And then the creature is so weak and mild. She may be soothed and threaten'd as a child." "Yet not obey," said Fulham, "for your fools, Female and male, are obstinate as mules." Some points adjusted, these new friends agreed, Proposed the day, and hurried on the deed. "'Tis a vile act," said Conscience. "It will prove," Replied the bolder man, "an act of love: Her wicked guardian might the girl have sold To endless misery for a tyrant's gold; Now may her life be happy--for I mean To keep my temper even and serene." "I cannot thus compound," the spirit cried, "Nor have my laws thus broken and defied: This is a fraud, a bargain for a wife; Expect my vengeance, or amend your life." The Wife was pretty, trifling, childish, weak; She could not think, but would not cease to speak. This he forbade--she took the caution ill, And boldly rose against his sovereign will; With idiot-cunning she would watch the hour, When friends were present, to dispute his power: With tyrant-craft, he then was still and calm, But raised in private terror and alarm: By many trials, she perceived how far To vex and tease, without an open war; And he discovered that so weak a mind No art could lead, and no compulsion bind; The rudest force would fail such mind to tame, And she was callous to rebuke and shame; Proud of her wealth, the power of law she knew, And would assist him in the spending too: His threat'ning words with insult she defied, To all his reasoning with a stare replied; And when he begg'd her to attend, would say, "Attend I will--but let me have my way." Nor rest had Conscience: "While you merit pain From me," she cried, "you seek redress in vain." His thoughts were grievous: "All that I possess From this vile bargain adds to my distress; To pass a life with one who will not mend, Who cannot love, nor save, nor wisely spend, Is a vile prospect, and I see no end: For if we part, I must of course restore Much of her money, and must wed no more. "Is there no way?"--Here Conscience rose in power, - "Oh! fly the danger of this fatal hour; I am thy Conscience, faithful, fond, and true: Ah, fly this thought, or evil must ensue; Fall on thy knees, and pray with all thy soul, Thy purpose banish, thy design control: Let every hope of such advantage cease, Or never more expect a moment's peace." Th' affrighten'd man a due attention paid, Felt the rebuke, and the command obey'd. Again the wife rebell'd, again express'd A love for pleasure--a contempt of rest; "She whom she pleased would visit, would receive Those who pleased her, nor deign to ask for leave." "One way there is," said he; "I might contrive Into a trap this foolish thing to drive: Who pleased her, said she?--I'll be certain who." "Take heed," said Conscience "what thou mean'st to do; Ensnare thy wife?"--"Why, yes," he must confess, "It might be wrong, but there was no redress;