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Poem
March 7, 1771
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
A didactic poem advising men to choose a virtuous, prudent wife for marital happiness, warning against lustful choices that lead to regret. It praises qualities like good conduct, temperance, and complaisance in a spouse.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
No, you will not honey, better for me, sir,
Her Carriage easy, and genteel her Air;
Her Fame unblemish'd, and of Honour nice,
A Friend to Virtue, but a Foe to Vice;
The good Companion, and the generous Friend;
Her Conduct such as Envy must commend;
Skill'd in each Art that's proper for a Wife,
Fit to appear in any Rank of Life;
Not talkative, nor mute, I'd have her be;
Not dull, yet grave, not shy, nor yet too free,
Such and so easy should her Manner be;
Prudent and gentle, virtuous, wise, discreet,
A Husband's Will with Complaisance to meet;
Her Temper calm, in every State serene,
However fickle Fortune change the Scene.
Ye whom blind Love, perchance, has made so fond
To try your Fate in Wedlock's holy Bond,
First find the Fair form'd strictly to this Plan,
Then marry, and you'll be the happy Man.
But, if foul Lust inflames thy youthful Head
To choofe a Partner for the Bridal Bed,
Ah soon, too soon! thou'lt curfe the fatal Day,
And groan in Discontent thy Hours away.
Sure then, in this important Act of Life
(For such it is to choofe thyself a Wife)
A calm, a nice Distinction, should be made
Between the wanton Nymph and modest Maid.
Let not soft Beauty's momentary Joys
Delude the Mind; such Pleasure soonest cloys:
"Good Nature only teaches Charms to last,
"Still makes new Conquests, and maintains the past."
'Tis Virtue, Sense, that truly can adorn,
And make Mankind admire the female Form.
Her Carriage easy, and genteel her Air;
Her Fame unblemish'd, and of Honour nice,
A Friend to Virtue, but a Foe to Vice;
The good Companion, and the generous Friend;
Her Conduct such as Envy must commend;
Skill'd in each Art that's proper for a Wife,
Fit to appear in any Rank of Life;
Not talkative, nor mute, I'd have her be;
Not dull, yet grave, not shy, nor yet too free,
Such and so easy should her Manner be;
Prudent and gentle, virtuous, wise, discreet,
A Husband's Will with Complaisance to meet;
Her Temper calm, in every State serene,
However fickle Fortune change the Scene.
Ye whom blind Love, perchance, has made so fond
To try your Fate in Wedlock's holy Bond,
First find the Fair form'd strictly to this Plan,
Then marry, and you'll be the happy Man.
But, if foul Lust inflames thy youthful Head
To choofe a Partner for the Bridal Bed,
Ah soon, too soon! thou'lt curfe the fatal Day,
And groan in Discontent thy Hours away.
Sure then, in this important Act of Life
(For such it is to choofe thyself a Wife)
A calm, a nice Distinction, should be made
Between the wanton Nymph and modest Maid.
Let not soft Beauty's momentary Joys
Delude the Mind; such Pleasure soonest cloys:
"Good Nature only teaches Charms to last,
"Still makes new Conquests, and maintains the past."
'Tis Virtue, Sense, that truly can adorn,
And make Mankind admire the female Form.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Marriage Celebration
Temperance Moderation
What keywords are associated?
Marriage Advice
Virtuous Wife
Against Lust
Moral Conduct
Wedlock Bond
Female Virtue
Poem Details
Subject
Advice On Choosing A Wife
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Her Carriage Easy, And Genteel Her Air;
Her Fame Unblemish'd, And Of Honour Nice,
A Friend To Virtue, But A Foe To Vice;
First Find The Fair Form'd Strictly To This Plan,
Then Marry, And You'll Be The Happy Man.
But, If Foul Lust Inflames Thy Youthful Head
To Choofe A Partner For The Bridal Bed,
Ah Soon, Too Soon! Thou'lt Curfe The Fatal Day,
"Good Nature Only Teaches Charms To Last,
"Still Makes New Conquests, And Maintains The Past."
'Tis Virtue, Sense, That Truly Can Adorn,
And Make Mankind Admire The Female Form.