I PRYTHEE softly, wife, the husband said; Come, come, sir, leave the tub, there's naught to dread; When you are out, I'll ev'ry quarter scrape, Then try if water from it can escape; I'll warrant it to be as good as nice, And nothing can be better worth the price. OUT came the lover; in the husband went; Scraped here and there, and tried if any vent; With candle in his hand looked round and round, Not dreaming once that LOVE without was found. But nothing he could see of what was done; And while the cooper sought to overrun The various parts, and by the tub was hid, The gods already noticed thither slid; A job was by the deities proposed, That highly pleased the couple when disclosed; A very diff'rent work from what within The husband had, who scraped with horrid din, And rubbed, and scrubbed, and beat so very well, Fresh courage took our gay gallant and belle; They now resumed the thread so sadly lost, When, by the cooper's coming, all was crossed. THE reader won't require to know the rest; What passed perhaps may easily be guessed. 'Tis quite enough, my thesis I have proved; The artful trick our pair with raptures moved. Nor one nor t'other was a 'prentice new; A lover be:--and wiles you'll soon pursue. THE IMPOSSIBLE THING A DEMON, blacker in his skin than heart, So great a charm was prompted to impart; To one in love, that he the lady gained, And full possession in the end obtained: The bargain was, the lover should enjoy The belle he wished, and who had proved so coy. Said Satan, soon I'll make her lend an ear, In ev'ry thing more complaisant appear; But then, instead of what thou might'st expect, To be obedient and let me direct, The devil, having thus obliged a friend, He'll thy commands obey, thou may'st depend, The very moment; and within the hour Thy humble servant, who has got such pow'r, Will ask for others, which at once thou'lt find; Make no delay, for if thou art so blind, Thou comprehend'st, thy body and thy soul The lovely fair no longer shall control, But Satan then upon them both shall seize, And with them do-whatever he may please: 'Gainst this the spark had not a word to say; 'Twas pleasing to command, though not obey.