Social Commentaries

Of swearing first betweene the wife and the Husband

by Sir John Harington 1560–1612

From The Most Elegant and Witty Epigrams (1618), Book 2

Social Commentaries

CIs, by that Candle, in my sleepe, I thought,
One told me of thy body thou wert nought:
Good husband, he that told you, lyde, she sed,
And swearing laid her hand vpon the bread.
Then eate the bread (quoth he) that I may deeme
That fancie false, that true to me did seeme.
Nay Sir, said she, the matter well to handle,
Sith you swore first, you first must eate the Candle.

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Book 2, Epigram 80

MLA

Harington, John. “Of swearing first betweene the wife and the Husband.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/130/.

Chicago

Harington, John. “Of swearing first betweene the wife and the Husband.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/harington/130/.

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