This house is to be let for life or years;
Her rent is sorrow, and her income tears;
Cupid, 't has long stood void; her bills make known.
She must be dearly let, or let alone.
Emblems, Bk. II. 10 F. QUARLES.
Look ere thou leap, see ere thou go.
Of Wiving and Thriving. T. TUSSER.
Thus grief still treads upon the heels of pleasure;
Married in haste, we may repent at leisure.
The Old Bachelor, Act v. Sc. 1. W. CONGREVE.
Men are April when they woo, December when they wed.
As You Like It, Act iv. Sc. 1. SHAKESPEARE.
And oft the careless find it to their cost,
The lover in the husband may be lost.
Advice to a Lady. LORD LYTTELTON.
Wedlock, indeed, hath oft compared been
To public feasts, where meet a public rout,
Where they that are without would fain go in,
And they that are within would fain go out.
Contention betwixt a Wife, etc. SIR J. DAVIES.
O fie upon this single life! forego it.
Duchess of Malfy. J. WEBSTER.
1. That man must lead a happy life 2. Who is directed by a wife; 3. Who's free from matrimonial chains 4. Is sure to suffer for his pains.
5. Adam could find no solid peace
6. Till he beheld a woman's face;
7. When Eve was given for a mate,
8. Adam was in a happy state.
Epigram on Matrimony:
Read alternate lines,—1, 3; 2, 4; 5, 7; 6, 8.
The kindest and the happiest pair
Will find occasion to forbear;
And something every day they live
To pity and perhaps forgive.
Mutual Forbearance. W. COWPER.