ON THE MARRIAGE ACT by ANONYMOUS

THE fools that are wealthy are sure of a bride;
For riches like raiment their nakedness hide;
The slave that is needy must starve all his life,
In a bachelor's plight, without mistress or wife.

In good days of yore they ne'er troubled their heads
In settling of jointures, or making of deeds;
But Adam and Eve when they first entered course,
E'en took one another for better or worse.

Then prithee, dear Chloe, ne'er aim to be great.
Let love be the jointure, don't mind the estate;
You can never be poor who have all of these charms;
And I shall be rich when I've you in my arms.

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