And where there's Subftance, for its Ground
Cannot but be more firm, and found,
Than that which has the flighter Bafis
Of Aiery Vertue, Wit and Graces:
VVhich is of fuch thin Subtilty,
Ifteals and creeps in at the Eye,
And, as it can't endure to ftay,
Steals out again, as nice a way.
But Love, that its Extraction owns
From folid Gold, and precious Stones;
Muft, like its shining Parents, prove
As Solid, and as Glorious Love.
Hence 'tis, you have no way t' exprefs
Our Charms and Graces, but by these :
For, what are Lips, and Eyes, and Teeth,
VVhich Beauty invades, and conquers with?
But Rubies, Pearls and Diamonds,
VVith which, as Philters, Love Commands?
This is the way all Parents prove,
In managing their Childrens Love;
That force 'em t' inter-marry and wed,
if th' were Buring of the Dead.
Caft Earth to Earth, as in the Grave,
To join in Wedlock all they have;
And when the Settlement's in force,
Take all the rest, for Better, or Worfe;
For Money has a Power above
The Stars and Fate, to manage Love:
Whofe Arrows, Learned Poets hold,
That never miss, are tipp'd with Gold.
And though fome fay, the Parents Claims
To make Love in their Childrens Names
Who many times, at once, provide
The Nurse, the Husband, and the Bride.
Feel Darts and Charms, Attracts and Flames
And wooe, and contract, in their Names;
And as they Chriften, use to marry 'em,
And, like their Goffips, anfwer for 'em ;
Is not to give in Matrimony,
But fell and proftitute for Money.
'Tis better than their own Betrothing,
VVho often do't for worse than nothing.
And when th' are at their own Difpofe,
VVith greater disadvantage chufe.
0 4
All this is right; But for the Course
You take to do't by Fraud, or Force : 'Tis fo ridiculous, as foon
As told, 'tis never to be done.
No more than Setters can betray,
That tell what Tricks they are to play.
Marriage, at beft, is but a Vow;
Which all Men either break, or bow
Then what will thofe forbear to do,
Who perjure, when they do but wooe?
Such as before-hand, fwear and lye,
For Earnest to their Treachery :
And rather than a Crime confefs,
With greater ftrive to make it less:
Like Thieves, who, after Sentence paft,
Maintain their Innocence to th' last ;
And when their Crimes were made appear
As plain as VVitnesses can swear;
Yet, when the VVretches come to die,
Will take upon their Deaths a Lye,
Nor are the Vertues, you confefs'd
T' your Ghoftly Father, as you guefs'd;
So flight, as to be juftifi'd,
By b'ing, as fhamefully deny'd.
As if you thought your VVord would pafs
Point-blank, on both fides of a Cafe;
Or Credit were not to be loft,
B' a Brave Knight-Errant of the Poft,
That eats, perfidiously, his Word,
And fwears his Ears thr a two Inch Board :
Can own the fame thing, and difown;
And perjure Booty, Pro and Con:
Can make the Gospel ferve his turn,
And help him out to be forfworn;
VVhen'tis laid hands upon and kiss'd,
To be betray'd, and fold, like Chrift.
These are the Vertues, in whofe Name,
A Right to all the VVorld you claim:
And boldly challenge a Dominion,
In Grace and Nature o'er all VVomen.
Of whom, no less will fatisfie,
Than all the Sex, your Tyranny.
Although you'll find it a hard Province,
yVith all your crafty Frauds and Covins,
To govern such a num'rous Crew,
Who, one by one, now govern you: .
For if you all were Solomons,
And Wife and Great as he was once ;
You'll find th' are able to fubdue,
(As they did him) and baffle you.
And if you are impos'd upon,
"Tis by your own Temptation done?
That with your Ignorance invite,
And teach us how to use the flight.
For when we find y' are still more taken
With false Attracts of your own making;
Swear that's a Rose, and that a Stone,
Like Sots, to us that laid it on:
And what we did but flightly prime,
Moft ignorantly daub in Rhime :
You force us in our own Defences,
To copy Beams and Influences;
To lay Perfections on the Graces,
And draw Attracts upon our Faces:
And in compliance to your Wit,
Your own false Jewels counterfeit.
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