"Rain follows thunder," that was all he said. He read how Arius to his friend complained, A fatal tree was growing in his land, On which three wives successively had twined 395 A sliding noose, and wavered in the wind. Where grows this plant, replied the friend, oh! where? For better fruit did never orchard bear; Give me some slip of this most blissful tree, And, in my garden, planted shall it be. 400 Then, how two wives their lords' destruction prove, Through hatred one, and one through too much love; That for her husband mixed a pois'nous draught, And this, for lust, an am'rous philtre bought: The nimble juice soon seized his giddy head, 405 Frantic at night, and in the morning dead.[38] How some, with swords, their sleeping lords have slain, And some have hammered nails into their brain, And some have drenched them with a deadly potion; All this he read, and read with great devotion. 410 Long time I heard, and swelled, and blushed,[39] and frowned; But when no end of these vile tales I found, When still he read, and laughed, and read again, And half the night was thus consumed in vain; Provoked to vengeance, three large leaves I tore, 415 And, with one buffet, felled him on the floor. With that, my husband in a fury rose, And down he settled me, with hearty blows. I groaned, and lay extended on my side; Oh! thou hast slain me for my wealth, I cried,[40] 420 Yet I forgive thee--take my last embrace-- He wept, kind soul! and stooped to kiss my face; I took him such a box as turned him blue, Then sighed and cried, Adieu, my dear, adieu![41] But, after many a hearty struggle past, 425 I condescended to be pleased at last. Soon as he said, My mistress and my wife, Do what you list, the term of all your life, I took to heart the merits of the cause, And stood content to rule by wholesome laws; 430 Received the reins of absolute command, } With all the government of house and land, } And empire o'er his tongue, and o'er his hand. } As for the volume that reviled the dames, 'Twas torn to fragments, and condemned to flames. 435 Now heav'n, on all my husbands gone, bestow Pleasures above, for tortures felt below: That rest they wished for, grant them in the grave, And bless those souls my conduct helped to save! FOOTNOTES: