Epilogue to "Marriage A-la-Mode"

Thus have my spouse and I inform'd the nation,
And led you all the way to reformation;
Not with dull morals, gravely writ, like those
Which men of easy phlegm with care compose,
(Your poets of stiff words and limber sense,
Born on the confines of indifference;)
But by examples drawn, I dare to say,
From most of you who hear and see the play,
There are more Rhodophils in this theater,
More Palamedes, and some few wives, I fear:
But yet too far our poet would not run;
Tho' 't was well offer'd, there was nothing done.
He would not quite the woman's frailty bare,
But stripp'd 'em to the waist, and left 'em there:
And the men's faults are less severely shown,
For he considers that himself is one.
Some stabbing wits, to bloody satire bent,
Would treat both sexes with less compliment;
Would lay the scene at home; of husbands tell,
For wenches taking up their wives i' th' Mell;
And a brisk bout, which each of them did want,
Made by mistake of mistress and gallant.
Our modest author thought it was enough
To cut you off a sample of the stuff:
He spar'd my shame, which you, I 'm sure, would not,
For you were all for driving on the plot:
You sigh'd when I came in to break the sport,
And set your teeth when each design fell short.
To wives and servants all good wishes lend,
But the poor cuckold seldom finds a friend.
Since, therefore, court and town will take no pity,
I humbly cast myself upon the city.