"Nay, love, attend-why, bless my soul-I say "I will return-there-weep no longer-nay!” "Well! I obey, and to the last am true, "But spirits fail me; I must die; adieu!" "What, madam! must?-'tis wrong-I'm angry -zounds! "Can I remain and lose a thousand pounds?" "Go then, my love! it is a monstrous sum, "Worth twenty wives-go, love! and I am dumb"Nor be displeased-had I the power to live, "You might be angry, now you must forgive; "Alas! I faint-ah! cruel-there's no need "Of wounds or fevers-this has done the deed." The lady fainted, and the husband sent For every aid, for every comfort went; Strong terror seized him; "Oh! she loved so well, "And who th' effect of tenderness could tell?" She now recover'd, and again began For now he saw that those who were obey'd, The morning came, and Clubb prepared to ride With a smart boy, his servant and his guide; When, ere he mounted on the ready steed, Arrived a letter, and he stopp'd to read. "My friend," he read-" our journey I decline, "A heart too tender for such strife is mine; "Yours is the triumph, be you so inclined; "But you are too considerate and kind: "In tender pity to my Juliet's fears "I thus relent, o'ercome by love and tears; "She knows your kindness; I have heard her say, "A man like you 'tis pleasure to obey: "Each faithful wife, like ours, must disapprove "Such dangerous trifling with connubial love; "What has the idle world, my friend, to do "With our affairs? they envy me and you: "What if I could my gentle spouse command"Is that a cause I should her tears withstand? "And what if yoù, a friend of peace, submit "To one you love-is that a theme for wit? ""Twas wrong, and I shall henceforth judge it weak "Both of submission and control to speak: "Be it agreed that all contention cease, "Agreed," said Clubb, " with all my soul agreed"— And to the boy, delighted, gave his steed; "I think my friend has well his mind express'd, "And I assent; such things are not a jest." 66 True," said the wife, no longer he can hide "The truth that pains him by his wounded pride: ❝ Your friend has found it not an easy thing, "Beneath his yoke, this yielding soul to bring; "These weeping willows, though they seem inclined "By every breeze, yet not the strongest wind "Can from their bent divert this weak but stubborn kind; "Drooping they seek your pity to excite, "But 'tis at once their nature and delight; "Such women feel not; while they sigh and weep, ""Tis but their habit-their affections sleep; 66 They are like ice that in the hand we hold, "So very melting, yet so very cold; "On such affection let not man rely, "The husbands suffer, and the ladies sigh: "More just when it resists, and, when it yields, more kind." TALE XIX. THE CONVERT. A tapster is a good trade, and an old cloak makes a new jerkin; a wither'd serving-man, a fresh tapster. Merry Wives of Windsor, Act I. Scene 3. A fellow, sir, that I have known go about with my troll-my-dames. Winter's Tale, Act IV. Scene 2. I myself, sometimes leaving the fear of Heaven on the left hand, and hiding mine honour in my necessity, am forced to shuffle, to hedge, and to lurch. Merry Wives of Windsor, Act II. Scene 2. Yea, and at that very moment, Consideration like an angel came, And whipp'd th' offending Adam out of him. Henry V. Act I. Scene 1. I have lived long enough! my May of life Macbeth, Act V. Scene 3. |