96
Tales.
Which all Love's chronicles agree
She wore just turn'd of twenty-three:
For an old sot she call'd her mate, 25
For jewels, pin-money, and plate.
The dame, possess'd of wealth and ease,
Had no more appetites to please:
That which provokes wild girls to wed,
Fie!—it ne'er enter'd in her head. 30
Yet some prolific planet smil'd,
And gave the pair a chopping child,
Entitled by the law to claim.
Her husband's chattels and his name;
But was so like his mother! she 35
The queen of Love, her Cupid he.
This matron fair for spouse deceas'd
Had sorrow'd sore a week at least,
And seem'd to grudge the worms that prey
Which had lain dead full many a day. 40
From plays and balls she now refrain'd,
To a dark room by custom chain'd,
And not a male for love or gold,
But the dear hopes of two years old.
The maids, so long in prison pent, 45
Ask leave to air; she gives consent;
(For health is riches to the poor)
But Tom must stay to guard the door.
In reading Sherlock she'd employ
Her solitude, and tend the boy. 50
She wore just turn'd of twenty-three:
For an old sot she call'd her mate, 25
For jewels, pin-money, and plate.
The dame, possess'd of wealth and ease,
Had no more appetites to please:
That which provokes wild girls to wed,
Fie!—it ne'er enter'd in her head. 30
Yet some prolific planet smil'd,
And gave the pair a chopping child,
Entitled by the law to claim.
Her husband's chattels and his name;
But was so like his mother! she 35
The queen of Love, her Cupid he.
This matron fair for spouse deceas'd
Had sorrow'd sore a week at least,
And seem'd to grudge the worms that prey
Which had lain dead full many a day. 40
From plays and balls she now refrain'd,
To a dark room by custom chain'd,
And not a male for love or gold,
But the dear hopes of two years old.
The maids, so long in prison pent, 45
Ask leave to air; she gives consent;
(For health is riches to the poor)
But Tom must stay to guard the door.
In reading Sherlock she'd employ
Her solitude, and tend the boy. 50
