No wonder then men to such pleasures must yield. To take a gay lass and make her your wife, To guard off the baliffs or ward off keen strife. He ought to have more then five hundred a year, As a dowry at least with the delicate fair, Some items I will in this page just put down: Two pounds for a cap and five pounds for a gown. Brussels lace he must purchase his wife for to please Or else I am sure she her husband would tease. Perhaps when he wishes to take a snug nap, He must take her a ride to purchase a cap; For one to her fancy she’s seen at the play, To have one just like it she cannot delay. I mention these things, each lover to guard, Least he after marriage find times go hard, The worst of all troubles in this fleeting life, Is what many know, an extravagant wife. Too many are ruined by allowing I say Extravagant ladies too much for to sway; Curb her desires—if to folly is prone; If prudent, give way, and let her alone. To please and be pleas’d take pains and delight, A delicate converse the ladies invite; They’ll listen with pleasure to what you may say; If rough and uncouth go from you away. Lord Chesterfield well the young farmer should read If he means with the ladies at times to succeed. He may flatter a little, yet always take care It do not like flattery ever appear. A compliment paid with judgement and ease, No doubt with the ladies is sure for to please. Immodest discourse will ever offend A man of good sense if he is prudent’s friend A lady of sense disgusted will be With the fop that is vain or maketh too free. This maxim I give to a youth of nineteen; In society low he should never be seen. If he is inclin’d to gain honour and wealth, He must sort out those youths who equal himself. If he e’er descend to converse with the low, It’s sure his low breeding at all times to show, A hint I’ll now give to the talkative maid, To pay due attention to whatever is said: I mean if sweet prudence the subject maintain; When that is the case she attends not in vain. If a lover speaks lightly of religions sweet guide, Such a man she should scorn with contempt & pride; He wants her chaste thoughts to be taking away, And only intend to induce her to stray From such wholesome advice as parents may give, ’Twould divest her of pleasure as long as she live. Religion at all times true modesty grace, A sweet modest blush enlivens her face, For virtue will ever obtain her respect, And cause real friendship her not to neglect. But now to return to young men once again; Their forward discourse oft’s attended with pain. To answer such gugaws is wasting the day, Or only I say throwing good time away. Public meetings at all times improveth the mind, In them we may often good orators find; To prove my assertion it clearly appear,