BUT truce to moral; let's our tale resume; The daughter scared; the father in a fume; What could be done the evil to repair, And hide the sad misfortune of the fair? What method seek?--They married her in haste; But not to him who had the belle debased, For reasons I've sufficiently detailed; To gain her hand a certain wight prevailed, Who store of riches relished far above The charms of beauty, warmed with fondest love. Save this the man might well enough be thought: In family and wealth just what was sought; But whether fool or not, I cannot trace, Since he was unacquainted with the case; And if he'd known it, was the bargain bad? Full twenty thousand pounds he with her had A sprightly youthful wife to ease his care, And with him ev'ry luxury to share. HOW many tempted by the golden ore, Have taken wives whose slips they know before; And this good man the lady chaste believed, So truly well she managed and deceived. But when four months had passed, the fair-one showed. How very much she to her lessons owed; A little girl arrived: the husband stared Cried he, what father of a child declared! The time's too short: four months! I'm taken in! A family should not so soon begin. AWAY he to the lady's father flew, And of his shame a horrid picture drew; Proposed to be divorced: much rage disclosed; The parent smiled and said, pray be composed; Speak not so loud: we may be overheard, And privacy is much to be preferred. A son-in-law, like you, I once appeared, And similar misfortune justly feared; Complaint I made, and mentioned a divorce; Of heat and rage the ordinary course.