Ne’er rouse these sleepers from their downy bed.

No chatt’ring females crowd their social fire,

No dread have they of discord and of strife;

Unknown the names of husband and of sire,

Unfelt the plagues of matrimonial life.

Oft have they bask’d along the sunny walls,

Oft have the benches bow’d beneath their weight;

How jocund are their looks when dinner calls!

How smoke the cutlets on their crowded plate!

O, let not Temp’rance too disdainful hear