The Song and Dances ended, Esop takes Euphronia and Oronces by the Hands, leading them forwards.
Esop. By this Time, my young eager Couple, 'tis probable you wou'd be glad to be alone; perhaps you'll have a Mind to go to Bed, even without your Supper; for Brides and Bridegrooms eat little on their Wedding-Night. But since, if Matrimony were worn as it ought to be, it wou'd, perhaps, sit easier about us than it usually does, I'll give you one Word of Counsel, and so I shall release you. When one is out of Humour, let the other be dumb. Let your Diversions be such, as both may have a Share in 'em. Never let Familiarity exclude Respect. Be clean in your Clothes, but nicely so in your Persons. Eat at one Table, lie in one Room, but sleep in two Beds: I'll tell the Ladies why:
Turning to the Boxes.
In the sprightly Month of May, }
When Males and Females sport and play, }
And kiss and toy away the Day; }
An eager Sparrow and his Mate, }
Chirping on a Tree, were sat, }
Full of Love——and full of Prate. }
They talk'd of nothing but their Fires,
Of raging Heats, and strong Desires,
How true and faithful they wou'd be;
Of eternal Constancy;
Of this and that, and endless Joys,
And a thousand more such Toys:
Only Thing they apprehended,
Was that their Lives wou'd be so short,
They cou'd not finish half their Sport
Before their Days were ended.
But as from Bough to Bough they rove,
They chanc'd at last
In furious haste,
On a Twig with Birdlime spread,
(Want of a more downy Bed)
To act a Scene of Love.
Fatal it proved to both their Fires.
For tho' at length they broke away, }
And baulk'd the School-Boy of his Prey, }
Which made him weep the live-long Day, }
The Bridegroom, in the hasty strife,
Was stuck so fast to his dear Wife,
That tho' he us'd his utmost Art,
He quickly found it was in vain,
To put himself to further Pain,
They never more must part.
A gloomy Shade o'ercast his Brow; }
He found himself——I know not how: }
He look'd as Husbands often do. }
Where-e'er he mov'd, he felt her still,
She kiss'd him oft against his Will:
Abroad, at Home, at Bed and Board,
With favours she o'erwhelm'd her Lord.
Oft he turn'd his Head away, }
And seldom had a Word to say, }
Which absolutely spoil'd her Play, }
For she was better stor'd.
Howe'er, at length, her stock was spent,
(For Female Fires sometimes may be
Subject to Mortality;)
So Back to Back they sit, and sullenly repent.
But the mute Scene was quickly ended,
The Lady, for her share, pretended
The Want of Love lay at his Door; }
For her part, she had still in store }
Enough for him and twenty more, }
Which cou'd not be contended.
He answer'd her in homely Words,
(For Sparrows are but ill-bred Birds)
That he already had enjoy'd
So much, that truly he was cloy'd.
Which so provok'd her Spleen,
That after some good hearty Prayers, }
A Jostle, and some spiteful Tears, }
They fell together by the Ears, }
And ne'er were fond again.
ESOP.
[PART II.]
Enter Players.