And thus it needs must be: For Seed conjoin'd
Lets into Nature's Work th' imperfect Kind:
But Fire, th' Enliv'ner of the general Frame,
Is one, its Operation ftill the fame.
Its Principle is in it felf: While ours
Works,asConfederates War, with mingled Pow'rs;
Or Man, or Woman, whichfoever fails:
And, oft, the Vigour of the Worfe prevails.
Æther with Sulphur blended alters Hue,
And cafts a dusky Gleam of Sodom blue.
Thus in a Brute, their ancient Honour ends,
And the fair Mermaid in a Fish defcends:
The Line is gone; no longer Duke or Earl;
But, by himself degraded, turns a Churl.
Nobility of Blood is but Renown
Of thy great Fathers by their Virtue known,
And a long trail ofLight,to thee defcending down.
If in thy Smoke it ends: Their Glories fhine
But Infamy and Villanage are thine.
Then what I faid before is plainly show'd,
That true Nobility proceeds from God:
Not left us by Inheritance, but giv'n
By Bounty of our Stars, and Grace of Heav'n.
Thus from a Captive Servius Tullus rofe, Whom for his Virtues the first Romans chose: Fabritius from their Walls repell'd the Foe, Whofe noble Hands had exercis'd the Plough. From hence, my Lord, and Love, Ithus conclude, That tho' my homely Ancestors were rude, Mean as I am, yet I may have the Grace To make you Father of a generous Race: And Noble then am I, when I begin, In Virtue cloath'd, to caft the Rags of Sin: If Poverty be my upbraided Crime, And you believe in Heav'n, there was a time When He, the great Controller of our Fate, Deign'd to be Man, and liv'd in low Eftate: Which he who had the World at his dispose, If Poverty were Vice, wou'd never chufe. Philofophers have faid, and Poets fing,
That a glad Poverty's an honest Thing.
Content is Wealth, the Riches of the Mind;
And happy He who can that Treasure find.
But the bafe Mifer ftarves amidst his Store,
Broods on his Gold, and griping ftill at more,
Sits fadly pining, and believes he's Poor.
The ragged Beggar, tho' he wants Relief,
Has not to lose, and sings before the Thief.
Want is a bitter and a hateful Good,
Because its Virtues are not understood:
Yet many Things, impossible to Thought,
Have been by Need to full Perfection brought:
The daring of the Soul proceeds from thence,
Sharpness of Wit, and active Diligence:
Prudence at once, and Fortitude, it gives,
And, if in Patience taken, mends our Lives;
For ev’n that Indigence that brings me low,
Makes, me my self, and Him above, to know.
A Good which none would challenge, few wou'd
A fair Possession, which Mankind refuse. (chuse,
If we from Wealth to Poverty descend,
Want gives to know the Flatt'rer from the Friend.
If I am Old and Ugly, well for you,
No leud Adult'rer will my Love pursue.
Nor Jealousie, the Bane of Marry'd Life,
Shall haunt you, for a wither'd homely Wife:
For Age, and Ugliness, as all agree,
Are the best Guards of Female Chastity.
Yet fince I fee your Mind is Worldly bent,
I'll do my best to further your Content.
And therefore of two Gifts in my Dispose,
Think ere you fpeak, I grant you leave to chufe :
Wou'd you I should be still Deform'd, and Old,
Naufeous to Touch, and Loathfome to Behold;
On this Condition, to remain for Life
A careful, tender and obedient Wife,
In all I can contribute to your Ease,
And not in Deed, or Word, or Thought, displease?
Or would you rather have me Young and Fair,
And take the Chance that happens to your Share?
Temptations are in Beauty, and in Youth,
And how can you depend upon my Truth?
Now weigh the Danger, with the doubtful Blifs,
And thank your felf, if ought should fall amiss.
Sóre figh'd the Knight, who this long Sermon
heard:
At length, confidering all, his Heart he chear'd; And thus reply'd: My Lady, and my Wife,
your wife Conduct I resign my Life: Chufe you for me, for well you understand
The future Good and Ill, on either Hand:
But if an humble Husband may request,
Provide, and order all Things for the beft;
Your's be the Care to profit, and to please:
And let your Subject-Servant take his Eafe.
Then thus in Peace, quoth the,concludes the Strife,
Since I am turn'd the Husband, you the Wife:
The Matrimonial Victory is mine,
Which, having fairly gain'd, I will refign;
Forgive, if I have faid, or done amiss,
And feal the Bargain with a Friendly Kifs:
I promis'd you but one Content to share,
But now I will become both Good, and Fair.
No Nuptial Quarrel fhall disturb your Ease,
The Business of my Life fhall be to please:
And for my Beauty that, as Time shall try ;
But draw the Curtain firft, and caft your Eye.
He look'd, and faw a Creature heav'nly Fair,
In bloom of Youth, and of a charming Air.
With Joy he turn'd, and feiz'd her Iv'ry Arm;
And, like Pygmalion, found the Statue warm.
Small Arguments there needed to prevail,
A Storm of Kiffes pour'd as thick as Hail.
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