Silent and sad the wife beheld her doom,

And sat her down to see the ruin come, 510

And meet the ills that rise where money fails—

Debts, threats and duns, bills, bailiffs, writs and jails.

These was she spared; ere yet by want oppress’d,

Came one more fierce than bailiff in arrest:

Amid a scene where Pleasure never came,

Though never ceased the mention of his name,

The husband’s heated blood received the breath

Of strong disease, that bore him to his death.