The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and OdditiesThackeray, William Makepeace
Philosophy
The Comic Almanack, Volume 2: An Ephemeris in Jest and Earnest, Containing Merry Tales, Humerous Poetry, Quips, and Oddities
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Almanacs, English -- England -- London; English wit and humor
How do the Gentlemen do after marriage?—
Oh, then nothing pleases 'em,
But everything teases 'em;
Then they're grumbling and snarling—
You're a "fool" not a "darling;"
Though they're rich as the _Ingies_,
They're the stingiest of stingies;
And what is _so_ funny,
They've _never_ got money;
Only ask them for any
And they haven't a penny;
But what passes all bounds,
On themselves they'll spend pounds—
Give guineas for lunch
Off real turtle and punch;
Each week a noise brings about, when they pitch all the things about;
Now bowing in mockery, now smashing the crockery;
Scolding and swearing, their bald heads tearing;
Storming and raging past all assuaging.
Heaven preserve us! it makes one so nervous,
To hear the door slam to, be called simple Ma'am too:
(I wonder if Adam called Mrs. Eve Madam;)
As a matter of course they'll have a divorce;
Or "my Lord Duke" intends to send you home to your friends:
Allow ten pounds a quarter for yourself and your daughter;
Though you strive all your might you can do nothing right;
While the maids—the old song—can do nothing wrong;
"Ev'ry shirt wants a button!" Every day they've cold mutton;
They're always a-flurrying one, or else they're a-hurrying one, or else
they're a-worrying one;
Threatening to smother your dear sainted Mother, or kick your big
Brother;
After all your fine doings, your strugglings and stewings—why, "the
house is in ruins!"
Then the wine goes like winking, and they cannot help thinking you've
taken to drinking;
They're perpetually rows keeping, 'cause out of the house-keeping
they're in bonnets their spouse keeping;
So when they've been meated, if with pies they're not treated, they vow
that they're cheated;
Then against Ascot Races, and all such sweet places, they set their old
faces;
And they'll never leave town, nor to Broadstairs go down, though with
bile you're quite brown;
For their wife they unwilling are, after cooing and billing her, to
stand a cap from a Milliner—e'en a paltry twelve shillinger;
And it gives them the vapours to witness the capers of those bowers and
scrapers the young linendrapers;
Then to add to your woes, they say nobody knows how the money all goes,
but they pay through the nose for the dear children's clothes;
Though you strive and endeavour, they're so mightily clever, that
please them you'll never, till you leave them for ever—yes! the
hundredth time sever—"_for ever_—AND EVER"!!
Now the gentlemen sure I've no wish to disparage,
But this is the way they go on _after_ marriage.
[Illustration:
"I SINK YOU DID SAY, MADAME, YOU SHALL TAKE VON COBBLARE AND A LEETEL
BEESHOFE TO FOLLOW."
]
ANACREONTIC
IN PRAISE OF "SHERRY COBBLERS,"
BY
A LADY OF QUALITY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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