To brush and sweep the mud,—a weary wife,—

But that the dread of some one’s sneering breath,—

That unforgiven sarcasm from whose spurn

The maiden e’er recoils,—puzzles the will;

And makes us rather wear the dress we have

Than change for others that we know not of?

Thus custom does make cowards of us all;

And thus the very name of resolution

Is passed o’er by the frail cant of the law,

And novel dresses of great use and beauty