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Poem
October 7, 1785
Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A didactic poem offering humorous advice to husbands and wives on preserving marital harmony by avoiding heated arguments and sharp wit, using musical metaphors to emphasize gentle communication and blissful union.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
On CONJUGAL LIFE.
YE wives and ye husbands, who both wish to see
Your conjugal scenes from all skirmishes free,
In this doth the secret of harmony lie,
Ne'er begin a duet e'en a half note too high.
Ye ladies, though vex'd your mild spirits may be,
Yet, kindly beware of keen repartee;
For peace's soft bosom those arrows must hit,
Which doubly are pointed with anger and wit.
Ye husbands of argument, chiefly beware,
That bane of good humour which frightens the fair,
Where reason's soft tones soon in passions are drown'd
While happiness trembles and flies from the sound.
Oh! both have a care of all hasty replies,
On hearing whose discord the bachelor cries,
(While snugly he smiles on himself and his cat)
The sharp notes of marriage are worse than the flat.
In unison sweet let your voices agree,
While both are maintain'd in the natural key.
Thus love shall beat time with a conjugal kiss,
And your skirmish be only the skirmish of bliss.
YE wives and ye husbands, who both wish to see
Your conjugal scenes from all skirmishes free,
In this doth the secret of harmony lie,
Ne'er begin a duet e'en a half note too high.
Ye ladies, though vex'd your mild spirits may be,
Yet, kindly beware of keen repartee;
For peace's soft bosom those arrows must hit,
Which doubly are pointed with anger and wit.
Ye husbands of argument, chiefly beware,
That bane of good humour which frightens the fair,
Where reason's soft tones soon in passions are drown'd
While happiness trembles and flies from the sound.
Oh! both have a care of all hasty replies,
On hearing whose discord the bachelor cries,
(While snugly he smiles on himself and his cat)
The sharp notes of marriage are worse than the flat.
In unison sweet let your voices agree,
While both are maintain'd in the natural key.
Thus love shall beat time with a conjugal kiss,
And your skirmish be only the skirmish of bliss.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Marriage Celebration
Temperance Moderation
What keywords are associated?
Conjugal Life
Marital Harmony
Husbands Wives
Arguments
Repartee
Bliss
Poem Details
Title
On Conjugal Life.
Subject
Conjugal Harmony
Form / Style
Rhymed Quatrains
Key Lines
Ne'er Begin A Duet E'en A Half Note Too High.
The Sharp Notes Of Marriage Are Worse Than The Flat.
Thus Love Shall Beat Time With A Conjugal Kiss,