The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony: Responses From Women

The Maid that's Blessed with a beauteos Face,
A gentile Air, and as genteel a Grace;
On her some am'rous Beau soon casts his Eyes,
And to obtain the much admired Prize;
He fashionably dresses, struts, looks big,
Like John of Gaunt, and in a pond'rous Wig;
A subtle, sly, and cunning Ambuscade,
For her Virginity is quickly laid;
Of Love he tells a Thousand Fictious Tales,
Till over her Discretion Lust prevails,
But modest Maids, whose young and tender Hearts
Unwounded yet, have the scap'd fatal Darts;
Let the sad Fates of wanton Strumpets move,
And learn by them to shun unlawful Love:
Thus Virgins, if you'll Modesty embrace,
By making all Allurements give you place:
Virtue a Sanctuary e'er shall be
Against the Quivers of Iniquity.

The Fourth P–

A Maid of honest, but mean Parents Born,
These Times is only made the rich Man's scorn,
Howe'er her Beauty tempting some young Spark
He takes her to the Playhouse and the Park,
Where he with many Imprecations vows,
His Fortune and his Life to her he owes;
But finding his Temptations are in vain,
Her Company in Wrath he do's refrain;
Which at the first may touch her tender Heart,
And make her feel the force of Cupid's Dart;
But Time and Absence Having made a Cure
Of that same Plague she could not first endure.
She says, as now I'm well, recite not then
The Falshood and Deceit of Perjur'd Men,
Virtue retain'd, that Man I'll ever slight,
Whom I cannot by Marriage claim my Right.

The Fifth P–, in a Dialogue betwixt Cloris

and Parthenisea

Clo. Why dost thou all Address deny?
Hard-hearted Parthenisea, why?
See how the trembling Lovers come,
That from thy Lips expect their Doom.

Par.Cloris! I hate them all, they know,
Nay I have often told them so;
Their silly Politicks abhorr'd:
I scorn to make my Slave my Lord.

Clo. But Strephon's Eyes proclaim His Love
Too brave, Tyrannical to prove.

Par. Ah Cloris! when we lost our Power?
We must obey the Conqueror.

Clo. Yet when a gentle Prince bears sway,
It is no Bondage to Obey.

Par. But if like Nero, for a while,
With Arts of Kindness he beguile,
How shall the Tyrant be withstood,
When he has writ his Laws in Blood?

Clo. Love (Parthenisea) all commands,
it fetters Kings in charming Bands;
Mars yields his Arms to Cupid's Darts,
And Beauty softens Savage Hearts.

Par. Well may you choose to be a Wife,
I'll still retain a Single Life.

The Sixth P–

Rid of a Coxcomb, next a Siege is laid
Against the weak Repulses of a Maid,
By one that keeps a Coach and Lackies too,
And that he might his wicked Plots pursue,
In gawdy Dress he would her Heart surprize,
with Gold to dazle her too watchful Eyes;
But Vertue cherishing her Virtuous Breast,
With so much Innocence which made her blest,
Her Innocence as hitherto ne'er knew
What Mischief Venus or her Son cou'd do,

The Seventh P–

Where blindfold Fortune has been pleas'd to place
A Virgen with a Master void of Grace,
With Foot, with Hand, or Eyes, he'll Tokens speak,
The Signs deny, these Assignations make;
Thinks she shall be as pliant to his Use,
As Strumpets on a Cornival let loose;
But if she's Chast, his Miss she will not be,
Unless she is as Fiend, and Base as he.

The Eighth P–