Relationships

To Make a Married Life Happy

by Philip Ayres 1638–1712

From Lyric Poems, Made in Imitation of the Italians (1687)

Relationships

A Brisk young Wife, who did a Fortune bring,
Proves to her Husband a vexatious Thing;
Yet these Advantages to him she gives,
By her, in his Posterity, He lives;

She takes of him, when sick, a prudent Care,
In his Misfortunes bears an equal share;
To her, for Ease, he does his Griefs impart,
Her pleasant Converse often chears his Heart;

And when (if she survive) he ends his Life,
She does the Office of a pious Wife
Set these against her Ills, and you will find
Reasons to quiet your uneasy Mind:

But if you'll strive her Temper to reclaim,
Slight these good Things, the bad expose to Shame,
And no Compliance to her Humour lend,
To your Vexations ne'er shall be an End.

✦ ✦ ✦

From Menander the Athenian.

MLA

Ayres, Philip. “To Make a Married Life Happy.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/ayres/74/.

Chicago

Ayres, Philip. “To Make a Married Life Happy.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/ayres/74/.

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