The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony: Responses From Women

Name: The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony: Responses From Women
Author: Various

Various

English literature -- 18th century; Erotic literature, English

A Maid of honest, but mean Parents Born,
          These Times is only made the rich Man's scorn,
          Howe'er her Beauty tempting some young Spark
          He takes her to the Playhouse and the Park,
          Where he with many Imprecations vows,
          His Fortune and his Life to her he owes;
          But finding his Temptations are in vain,
          Her Company in Wrath he do's refrain;
          Which at the first may touch her tender Heart,
          And make her feel the force of _Cupid_'s Dart;
          But Time and Absence Having made a Cure
          Of that same Plague she could not first endure.
          She says, as now I'm well, recite not then
          The Falshood and Deceit of Perjur'd Men,
          Virtue retain'd, that Man I'll ever slight,
          Whom I cannot by Marriage claim my Right.


            _The Fifth P----, in a Dialogue betwixt_ Cloris
                          _and_ Parthenisea.

          _Clo._ Why dost thou all Address deny?
          Hard-hearted _Parthenisea_, why?
          See how the trembling Lovers come,
          That from thy Lips expect their Doom.

          _Par._ _Cloris!_ I hate them all, they know,
          Nay I have often told them so;
          Their silly Politicks abhorr'd:
          I scorn to make my Slave my Lord.

          _Clo._ But _Strephon_'s Eyes proclaim His Love
          Too brave, Tyrannical to prove.

          _Par._ Ah _Cloris!_ when we lost our Power?
          We must obey the Conqueror.

          _Clo._ Yet when a gentle Prince bears sway,
          It is no Bondage to Obey.

          _Par._ But if like _Nero_, for a while,
          With Arts of Kindness he beguile,
          How shall the Tyrant be withstood,
          When he has writ his Laws in Blood?

          _Clo._ Love (_Parthenisea_) all commands,
          it fetters Kings in charming Bands;
          _Mars_ yields his Arms to _Cupid_'s Darts,
          And Beauty softens Savage Hearts.

          _Par._ Well may you choose to be a Wife,
          I'll still retain a Single Life.


                          _The Sixth P----._

          Rid of a Coxcomb, next a Siege is laid
          Against the weak Repulses of a Maid,
          By one that keeps a Coach and Lackies too,
          And that he might his wicked Plots pursue,
          In gawdy Dress he would her Heart surprize,
          with Gold to dazle her too watchful Eyes;
          But Vertue cherishing her Virtuous Breast,
          With so much Innocence which made her blest,
          Her Innocence as hitherto ne'er knew
          What Mischief _Venus_ or her Son cou'd do,


                         _The Seventh P----._

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony: Responses From Women

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