The Marryed Mans Lesson

You men who are marri'd come hearken to mée,
I'le teach you a Lesson if wise you will bée,
Then take my advice that's intended for good,
and so 'tis if it bee but well understood:
'T will cause you to shun all contention and spléene,
that daily betwixt man and woman are séene,
I speake against iealousie that monster fierce.
and wish I could conquer the Fiend with my verse,
O Be not thou jealous I prethee deere Lad,
for jelousie makes many good women bad.

If thou have a good wife then I shée advise
to cherish her well for shée is a rare prize,
If shee bee indifferent betweene good and bad,
good meanes to reforme her may easily be had:
If shee vee so evill that there is few worse,
imagin thy sinnes have deserved that curse,
Then beare with true patience thy crosse as 'tis fit,
and thou to a blessing thereby maist turne it.
But be not, &c.

Betwéene these 3. winds the good, bad, & the meane,
I ground the whole argument of this my Theme,
For in them a mans humane blisse, or his woe,
doth chiefly consist as experience doth show:
Thus is it not counsell that's worthy regard,
which teacheth to soften a thing that is hard,
And what I intend is in every mans will,
to turne to a vertue what séemeth most ill.
Then be, &c.

A wife that is good béeing beautifull, may
perhapps raise suspition that shée'l goe astray,
O note the fond humours that most men possesse,
they'r neither content with the more nor the lesse,
For if shée bée homely, then her hée will slight,
to such neither faire, nor foule, can yéeld delight,
If once héele bée jealous the other hée scornes,
there's no greater plagues then imagined hornes.
Then be not, &c.

A wife that's indifferent betwéene good and ill,
is shée that in huswifery shewes her good will,
Yet sometimes her voyce shée too much elevates,
is that the occasion for which her hée hates:
A soveraigne remedy for this disease,
is to hold thy tongue let her say what shée please:
Iudge, is not this better then to fight and scratch,
for silence will soonest a Shrew over match.
However I pray thee shun jealousie Lad,
for jealousie makes many good women bad.

A wife that's all bad if thy lucke bée to have,
seeke not to reclaime her by making her slave,
If shée bee as bad as ever frod one ground,
not fighting nor jealousie will heale that wound:
For marke when a River is stopt in its course,
it oreflowes the bankes then the danger is worse.
Thy owne good example and patience with all,
may her from her vices much rather recall.
Then be not, &c.

A Wife that is vertuous in every respect,
who doth her vow'd duety at no time neglect,
Shaes not free from censure, for fooles their bolts shoote
as oft at the head as they doe at the foote:
A kisse, or a smile, or a Iest, or a dance,
familior discourse or an amarous glance,
All these as her witnesse envy doth bring,
the credit of innocent women to sting.
But be not thou jealous I pray thee deare Lad,
for jealousie makes many good women bad.

A wife that's indifferent if curb'd over much,
will grow worse & worse for their nature is such,
The more thou with rigor dost séeke her to mend,
the more they'l persist and grow desperat i'th end,
And thus from indifferency wanting good meanes,
Some wel meaning women turn impudiet queans,
if goodnesse by beating thou séek'st to infuse,
For breaking her flesh thou all goodnesse dost bruse.
Then be not, &c.

A wife at the worst (as I told you before)
a drunkard, a swearer, a scold, théefe, or whore,
By gentle perswasions, reclaimed may bee,
my selfe by experience, but lately did sée:
A man that with jealousie plagued had béene,
when hée the last labour and trouble had séene,
Hée cast off his care, and referd all to's wife,
who soone left her vices and led a new life.
Then be not, &c.

I also have knowne a wife handsome and neate,
of whom her fond husband did take a conceate,
That other men lov'd her because shée was faire,
though on the contrary, to him shée did sweare:
Hée watcht her, hée ey'd her, hée noted her wayes,
and once hée in's drink, he a scandall would raise,
This usage irregular set her on fier,
& so from thence foreward shée provd him no lyer,
Then be not, &c.

Consider each circumstance with good regard,
how oft cause lesse jelousie wins due reward,
And likewise I wish thée to beare in thy brest,
that patience and quietnes still is the best.
For if she benought she'le grow worse with restraint
but patience may make of a harlot, a Saint,
If faire meanes prevaile not, thou'lt ne're do't by foule
for méekenesse (if any thing) must win a soule
Then be not, &c.

Now lastly to both men and women I speake,
from this foolish fancy their humors to breake,
Bée loving and tractable each unto other,
and what is amisse let affection still smother:
So shall man and wife in a simpathy swéet,
at boorde, and at bed (as they ought to doe) méete,
All fighting and scratching, and scolding shall cease,
where jelousies harbord there can bée no peace.
Then be not thou jaelous I pray thee deare Lad,
for jealousie makes many good women bad.