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occaſioned thro' fond love, and forward kindneſs.
14. What can be worſe in a houſe, than a horned goodwife, and a hummil goodman a ſinged cat, and burnt dog, having nothing elſe but diſpeace and a poet's portion, which is perfect poverty.
15. Here the goodwife's tongue is a law, and the tongs the ſceptre of her ſupremacy, the children hunt their father as a cur doth a cow is a kail yard. The wife whiſpers him a cuckold, and all the children may ſay amen, our mother's a whore.
10 This is the ſweeteſt of all muſic in the ears of Old Nick, when the goodwife's paſſion breaks out like a flame again her huſband, and he with vicious blows, in hot rage, gives her a double downcom which is commonly called next to murder, if not ſo.
17. Now are the flames of fleſhy love quenched, and their charity towards each other become as cold as clay; their former love is ſmothered to death in the ſmoke of their wrath, and pride is become their torment and ruin.
FINIS
