But buz a fly around his precious spouse,

At once he fancies cuckoldom is brought,

And nothing can eradicate the thought;

In spite of reason he must have a place,

And numbered be, among the horned race;

A cuckold to himself he freely owns,

Though otherwise perhaps in flesh and bones.

GOOD folks, of cuckoldom, pray what's the harm,

To give, from time to time, such dire alarm?

What injury 's received, and what 's the wrong,