"Encrease and multiply," was heav'n's command, And that's a text I clearly understand. This too, "Let men their sires and mothers leave, And to their dearer wives for ever cleave." 20 More wives than one by Solomon were tried, Or else the wisest of mankind's belied. I've had myself full many a merry fit; And trust in heav'n I may have many yet. For when my transitory spouse, unkind, } 25 Shall die, and leave his woeful wife behind, } I'll take the next good Christian I can find. } Paul, knowing one could never serve our turn, Declared 'twas better far to wed than burn. There's danger in assembling fire and tow; 30 I grant 'em that, and what it means you know. The same apostle too has elsewhere owned, No precept for virginity he found: 'Tis but a counsel, and we women still Take which we like, the counsel, or our will. 35 I envy not their bliss, if he or she Think fit to live in perfect chastity; Pure let them be, and free from taint or vice; I, for a few slight spots, am not so nice. Heav'n calls us diff'rent ways, on these bestows 40 One proper gift, another grants to those: Not ev'ry man's obliged to sell his store, And give up all his substance to the poor; Such as are perfect, may, I can't deny; But, by your leaves, divines, so am not I. 45 Full many a saint, since first the world began, Lived an unspotted maid, in spite of man: Let such (a God's name) with fine wheat be fed, And let us honest wives eat barley bread. For me, I'll keep the post assigned by heav'n, 50 And use the copious talent it has giv'n: Let my good spouse pay tribute, do me right, And keep an equal reck'ning ev'ry night: His proper body is not his, but mine; For so said Paul, and Paul's a sound divine.[4] 55 Know then, of those five husbands I have had, Three were just tolerable, two were bad.[5] The three were old, but rich and fond beside, And toiled most piteously to please their bride: But since their wealth, the best they had, was mine, 60 The rest, without much loss, I could resign. Sure to be loved, I took no pains to please,[6] Yet had more pleasure far than they had ease. Presents flowed in apace: with show'rs of gold, They made their court, like Jupiter of old. 65 If I but smiled, a sudden youth they found, And a new palsy seized them when I frowned. Ye sov'reign wives! give ear, and understand, Thus shall ye speak, and exercise command.[7] For never was it giv'n to mortal man, 70 To lie so boldly as we women can: