Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TO MAKE THE WIFE KIND, by EDWARD MOORE (1712-1757) Poet's Biography First Line: To make the wife kind, and to keep the house still Last Line: As to make, by your jealousy, horns for yourselves. Subject(s): Jealousy; Marriage; Trust; Weddings; Husbands; Wives | ||||||||
TO make the wife kind, and to keep the house still, You must be of her mind, let her say what she will; In all that she does you must give her her way, For tell her she's wrong, and you lead her astray. CHORUS. Then husbands! take care, of suspicion beware, Your wives may be true if you fancy they are; With confidence trust them, and be not such elves As to make, by your jealousy, horns for yourselves. Abroad all the day if she chooses to roam, Seem pleas'd with her absence, she'll sigh to come home; The man she likes best, and longs most to get at, Be sure to commend, and she'll hate him for that. CHORUS. Then husbands! &c. What virtues she has you may safely oppose; Whatever her follies are, praise her for those: Applaud all her schemes that she lays for a man, For accuse her of vice, and she'll sin if she can. CHORUS. Then husbands! take care, of suspicion beware, Your wives may be true if you fancy they are; With confidence trust them, and be not such elves As to make, by your jealousy, horns for yourselves. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A BLESSING FOR A WEDDING by JANE HIRSHFIELD A SUITE FOR MARRIAGE by DAVID IGNATOW ADVICE TO HER SON ON MARRIAGE by MARY BARBER THE RABBI'S SON-IN-LAW by SABINE BARING-GOULD KISSING AGAIN by DORIANNE LAUX A TIME PAST by DENISE LEVERTOV AS PHILLIS THE GAY by EDWARD MOORE (1712-1757) BE STILL, O YE WINDS! by EDWARD MOORE (1712-1757) ELEGY, WRITTEN AMONG THE RUINS OF A NOBLEMAN'S SEAT IN CORNWALL by EDWARD MOORE (1712-1757) |
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