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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO THE LADIES, by MARY LEE CHUDLEIGH Poem Explanation Poet's Biography First Line: Wife and servant are the same Last Line: You must be proud, if you'll be wise. Subject(s): Marriage; Women's Rights; Weddings; Husbands; Wives; Feminism | |||
Wife and servant are the same,, But only differ in the name: For when that fatal knot is tied, Which nothing, nothing, can divide, When she the word obey has said, And man by supreme has made, Then all that's kind is laid aside, And nothing left but state and pride: Fierce as an Eastern prince he grows, And all his innate rigour shows: Then but to look, to laugh, or speak, With the nuptial contract break. Like mutes, she signs alone must make, And never any freedom take; But still be govern'd by a nod, And fear her husband as her god; Him still must serve, him still obey, And nothing act and nothing say, But when her haughty lord thinks fit, Who with the power has all the writ. Then shun, oh! shun that wretched state, And all the fawning flatterers hate: Value yourselves, and men despise: You must be proud, if you'll be wise. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE RIGHTS OF WOMAN by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD HEMATITE HEIRLOOM LIVES ON (MAYBE DECEMBER 1980) by ALICE NOTLEY ON THE BEACH by CLARIBEL ALEGRIA FEMINIST POEM NUMBER ONE by ELIZABETH ALEXANDER HYPOCRITE SWIFT by LOUISE BOGAN FOR A GODCHILD, REGINA, ON THE OCCASION OF HER FIRST LOVE by TOI DERRICOTTE HESTER'S SONG by TOI DERRICOTTE THE RESOLVE by MARY LEE CHUDLEIGH |
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