Thus have my spouse and I informed the nation, And led you all the way to reformation; Not with dull morals, gravely writ, like those, Which men of easy phlegm with care compose,-- Your poets, of stiff words and limber sense, Born on the confines of indifference; But by examples drawn, I dare to say, From most of you who hear and see the play. There are more Rhodophils in this theatre, More Palamedes, and some few wives, I fear: But yet too far our poet would not run; Though 'twas well offered, there was nothing done. He would not quite the women's frailty bare, But stript them to the waist, and left them there: And the men's faults are less severely shown, For he considers that himself is one.-- Some stabbing wits, to bloody satire bent, Would treat both sexes with less compliment; Would lay the scene at home; of husbands tell, For wenches, taking up their wives i' the Mall; And a brisk bout, which each of them did want, Made by mistake of mistress and gallant. Our modest author thought it was enough To cut you off a sample of the stuff: He spared my shame, which you, I'm sure, would not, For you were all for driving on the plot: You sighed when I came in to break the sport, And set your teeth when each design fell short. To wives and servants all good wishes lend, But the poor cuckold seldom finds a friend. Since, therefore, court and town will take no pity, I humbly cast myself upon the city. Footnotes: 1. _He mocks himself of me_.] Melantha, like some modern coxcombs, uses the idiom as well as the words of the French language. 2. _Dangerfield._] A dramatic bully, whose sword and habit became proverbial. "This gentleman, appearing with his mustaccios, according to the Turkish manner, Cordubee hat, and strange out-of-the-way clothes, just as if one had been dressed up to act Captain Dangerfield in the play, &c." _Life of Sir Dudley North._ * * * * * THE ASSIGNATION; OR, LOVE IN A NUNNERY. A COMEDY. _Successum dea dira negat_ VIRG. THE ASSIGNATION.