Social Commentaries

Epigram 44: A Dead dead bargaine is a quicke

by John Taylor 1580–1653

From The Sculler (1612)

Social Commentaries

A Dead dead bargaine is a quicke quicke wife,
A quicke wife lyes ore long vpon ones hands,
But for a dead wife that hath lost her life
A man may sooner vtter then his lands.
This Riddle greatly doth amaze my head,
That dead thinges should be quick, and quick things dead.
Loe then Ile make an outcry wondrous strange,
If death doe any wife of life depriue:
Ile giue her husband coyne to boot and change,
And for his dead wife one that is aliue:
Besides, Ile pay the and the feast,
And take my wife againe when shees dtceast.

MLA

Taylor, John. “Epigram 44: A Dead dead bargaine is a quicke.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/taylor_j/81/.

Chicago

Taylor, John. “Epigram 44: A Dead dead bargaine is a quicke.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/taylor_j/81/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by John Taylor