The Ten Pleasures of Marriage: and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married CoupleMarsh, A.
General
The Ten Pleasures of Marriage: and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple
Marsh, A.
Marriage
At this all the jesting-wags burst out into a laughter. But having
toss'd up their cups bravely about again, Peggy comes in with a fresh
Kan, and Master _Winetast_ begins to relate how that he used to be
familiarly acquainted with a certain brave Judge, who had a bucksom
bouncing Lady to his wife. The Judge feigns a Letter, which at noon,
as he was sitting at Table with his Lady, was brought him very
cleaverly by his man. He seemingly unknowing of it, opens and reads,
that he must immediately, without further delay, go upon a journy;
having read that, prepares himself with his man forthwith to be going.
But whilest the Judge was gone into his Closet, as seeming to take
some important writings along with him; the Lady calls his man
privately into the Parler, and forces him by threats of her
displeasure to tell her, who delivered him that Letter; with a promise
of her favour if he spoke the truth. Whereupon the fellow trembling,
answered, Madam, I have received it from my Lord the Judge; but he
hath strictly commanded me to keep it secret, so that if he come to
know that I have mentioned any thing of it to your Ladiship, he will
have the greatest displeasure of the World against me. Do not you fear
anything, said her Ladiship, but be faithfull in what you do.
A pretty while after, the Judge having been some time at home, and
walking with his Lady towards their Garden, they met with a drove of
Sheep, having but one Ram amongst them: Whereupon her Ladiship askt,
Sweetheart, how comes it, that that one Sheep hath such horns, and the
t'others none at all? My Dear, said he, that is the Ram, the He-Sheep.
What, said she, are the others then all She's? O yes, my Love,
answered he. How! replied she, but one Ram among so many Sheep. Yes
Hony, saies the Judge, that is alwaies so, then (sighingly she said)
alas poor Creature, how must you long then to walk some other Road!
There had been more related; for Master _Carouser_ was entred upon a
new subject; but because the Doctor came in, they were constrained to
break of.
But _Ellen_ the starchster, being busie in the Kitchin with the
Mistriss about ordering the Linnen, having let the Doctor in; saith,
Mistriss, the Doctor is come there, and is gone into the Chamber; by
my truly Mistriss, I hear say that my Master hath got a fever. O Nel,
saith the Mistriss, this is clear another thing, this sickness is not
without great danger; and it would be no such wonder, if my husband
hapned to dy of it; and where should we then find the Pleasures of
Marriage that some arch Jesters so commonly talk of.
But kind Mistriss be not so hasty, it is impossible to express all the
Pleasures so fully in one breath: you must note, that they are all as
it were for the present hid behind the Curtains; neither must you
expect to sail alwaies before wind and tide; and beleeve me there are
yet other Nuts to be krackt.
THE THIRD PLEASURE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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