Social Commentaries

Ad Pessimos Conjuges

by Francis Davison c. 1575–c. 1619

From A Poetical Rhapsody (1602), ed. A. H. Bullen (1890–91)

Social Commentaries

Why do your wife and you so ill agree,
Since you in manners so well matched be?
Thou brazen-faced; she impudently bold;
Thou still dost brawl; she evermore doth scold.
Thou seldom sober art; she often drunk;
Thou a whore-hunting knave; she a known punk.
Both of you filch, both swear, and damn, and lie;
And both take pawns, and Jewish usury.
Not manners like, make man and wife agree;
Their manners must both like and virtuous be.

✦ ✦ ✦

Translated from Martial.

MLA

Davison, Francis. “Ad Pessimos Conjuges.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/davison/32/.

Chicago

Davison, Francis. “Ad Pessimos Conjuges.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/davison/32/.

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