Classic Poem

Spoken by Mr. B ETTERTON .

I F humble Wives, that drag the Marriage Chain,
With cursed dogged Husbands may complain;
If turn'd at large to starve, as we by you,
They may, at least, for Alimony sue.
Know, we resolve to make the Case our own,
Between the Plantiff Stage, and the Defendant Town.
When first you took us from our Father's House,
And lovingly our Int'rest did espouse,
You kept us fine, caress'd, and lodg'd us here,
And Honey-Moon held out above three Year;
At length, for Pleasures known do seldom last,
Frequent Enjoyment pall'd your sprightly Taste;
And tho' at first you did not quite neglect,
We found your Love was dwindled to Respect.
Sometimes, indeed, as in your Way it fell,
You stopp'd, and call'd to see if we were well.
Now, quite estrang'd, this wretched Place you shun,
Like bad Wine, Bus'ness, Duels, and a Dun.
Have we for this increas'd Apollo 's Race?
Been often pregnant with your Wits Embrace?
And borne you many chopping Babes of Grace?
Some ugly Toads we had, and that's the Curse,
They were so like you, that they far'd the worse;
For this to-night, we are not much in pain,
Look on't, and if you like it, entertain:
If all the Midwife says, of it, be true,
There are some Features too like some of you:
For us, if you think sitting to forsake it,
We mean to run away, and let the Parish take it.