Sir John Dillon

“ Which when she'd used in vain she blush'd and cry'd,
And own'd her fault she found she could not hide.
This I forgave, she promis'd to reclaim,
Vow'd future truth if I'd conceal the shame;
But what Strange Adamantine Chain can bind,
Woman corrupted to be just or kind:
Or how can Man to an adultress shew
That Love, which to a faithful Wife is due. ”

“ No haughty Help-mate to my Peace molest,
No treacherous Snake to harbour in my Breast:
No fawning Mistress of the Female Art,
With Judas Kisses to betray my Heart;
No light-tail'd Hypocrite to raise my Fears,
No vile Impert'nence to torment my Ears;
No molted Off spring to disturb my Thought,
In Wedlock born but G——d knows where begot;
No lustful Massalina to require
Whole Troops of Men to feed her Brutal Fire?
No Family Cares my quiet to disturb ”

“ That does the Body's Maims and Bruises search,
Brings by cold nipping Storms unwelcom Pains,
And finds, or breeds, Distempers in our Veins;
Renews old Sores, and hastens on Decay,
And seldom does afford one pleasant Day. ”

“ And are above the stint of single Fate;
The whole Creation, hate's a single Life,
And shall not Man enjoy a loving Wife?
Sure this Wife Hater, lately came from Hell
To teach poor single Mortals to rebel,
Against the sacred Laws of God and Man
From whence the state of Wedlock first began,
To make our Minds diviner charmes to suite,
Which makes the differance 'twixt a Man and Bruite ”

“ And plead's for plagues of single Life and Pox:
He Courts in Print, all others to be Lewd,
Condemns a Wife and swears he will be rude:
He talks of Roving from each Pole, to Pole,
And with fresh lustful pleasures drown his Soul:
He calls that ease, which Christians counts a Sin,
And walks the Road which Thives and Rogues go in:
He plainly tells how he does spend his time
His lazey progress, shewes what is his Crime
His baudy Books, with Calves skin fenced round,
A proof enough, wherein his faults abound. ”

“ As to his Person, 'tis not to advise;
All Women see not with the self-same Eyes.
In that you might your own Opinion use,
Your Heart wou'd teach you; but were I to chuse,
He shou'd not be Effeminate or Proud,
(I hate the Man that is by Pride subdu'd) .
In us I Grant a little Pride may be,
Much less a Crime (and may with Sense agree)
A Gift alone for our own Sex design'd,
To awe the loose Opinions of Mankind;
Who quickly else more Insolent wou'd grow:
'Tis Vertue's Guard, and Aids our Beauties too.
A Gay Appearance shou'd not make me err;
I wou'd the Beauties of the Mind prefer. ”

“ From its Illustrious Pride with ease we may
Foretel the Brightness of the coming Day:
So when true Love the Sacred Tye precedes,
Secure of Happiness that Couple weds;
No Threat'ning Storms do e'er Molest their Joy,
Nor Anxious Quarrels do their Peace destroy;
Their days slide on in the securest ease,
And Circle in Eternal Rounds of Bliss.
Blest in my Wish thus far, my next should be,
(For I Melissa, wou'd live far and free
From the vile Tumults of this viler Town)
To have some little Cottage of my own ”

“ Those whome deserved Slights and losses vex,
Invent new Sins, and throw 'em on that Sex;
Whose thrifty wickedness the Sex forsakes,
He on these beauteous Fields a Sodom _makes:
He ne're assaults but where the Walls are slight,
True Bullies will with none but Cowards fight. ”

“ His Whip and Spur, was too unkindly us'd;
The weaker Vessel must not be abus'd.
If he too strictly held her by the reins,
He must accept the Cuckold for his pains.
Farewel, thou scandal of a married Life,
Thou single Fop, grand Hater of a Wife;
Thou Plague to Churches, and to Women too,
'Tis time for either, to have done with you:
No more attempt, Heavens Laws for to confute,
No more advise Mankind, to be a Bruite ”

“ And richly pays his Pains, with Love and Smiles.
'Tis Woman makes the ravish'd Poet write;
'Tis lovly Woman makes the Souldier Fight:
Should that soft Sex refuse the World to bless,
'Twould soon be turn'd into a Wilderness.
A cursed Crow'd without all civil Rules,
A Herd of Drinking, Cheating, Fighting Fools;
Confusion, Madness would or'e spread the Stage,
And Man would be Destroy'd in one short Age;
Here Man must own, tho scarce without a Blush,
They rather do excel than Equal us ”

“ Are these the arts your lustful thoughts imploy'd;
'Tis plain your roving fancy is far worse,
Than that Blest state which you esteem a Curse;
You make it so by your insatiate mind,
Unbounded lust can never be confin'd.
It is a Riddle which I can't unfould
That any Man, can such base notions hold,
Disgrace all order, Marriage Bed defy
And gives Mankind and God himself the lye,
It is a shame, that any Man of Sense,
Should have so damn'd a_ stock of Impudence ”

“ Whence once they're thro'ly Conquer'd, they'll obey,
'Tis Whip and Spur, Commanding Reign and Bit,
That makes the unruly head-strong Horse submit,
So stubborn faithless Woman must be us'd,
Or Man by Woman basely be abus'd. ”

“ Where, low-grown Willows do recline their head,
And o'er its fall their Meeting Branches spread,
As tho' they were by careful Nature hung, }
To listen and regard its Murm'ring Song, }
Whose Silver current as it glides along; }
Does wash the Bank of some Delightful Grove,
Fragrant beneath, and shaded all above;
Where the fresh Seasons breathe their vital Air,
And pretty Birds with untaught Songs repair;
Where spreading Pines, and taller Poplars grow,
Young Elms that do a pleasing Prospect show. ”

“ With Pox and Plagues, resign thy poisonous Breath,
And may the worst of Torturs be thy Death.
FINIS. THE Ladies Choice:
A POEM.
LONDON Printed, and Sold by J. How, and B. Bragg, at the Blew-Ball in Avemary-Lane, next Ludgate-Street, 1702.
THE LADIES CHOICE. Melissa Belinda.
Melissa.
Prithee, Belinda (for thou know'st I'm Young,
Unskill'd in Arts that to our Sex belong)
Thy wiser Counsels to my Youth impart;
Teach me at once to Love, and Guard my Heart ”

“ Nor wou'd I use what was so kindly giv'n,
To the Dishonour of Indulgent Heav'n.
If any Neighbour came he shou'd be free, }
Us'd with Respect, and not uneasy be, }
In my Retreat, or to himself or me. }
What Freedom, Prudence, and Right Reason give,
All Men may with impunity receive;
But the least swerving from their Rules too much,
For what's forbiden us, 'tis Death to touch.
That Life might be more comfortable yet,
And all my Joys refin'd, sincere and great,
I'd chuse too Friends, whose Company wou'd be
A great Advance to my Felicity. ”

“ Melissa, I am glad you're so Discreet, } For, that to more Experience you'll submit, } Argues your want of Vanity, not Wit. }
And yet, my Dear, 'tis difficult t' Advise, }
Fools are so Plenty, and so Scarce the Wise: }
To judge of Men, we shou'd not Trust our Eyes; }
Outward Appearance may Delude the Sight ”

“ When these strange Tydings, Thunder struck my Ear,
And such Inhumane Wrongs were made appear,
On these just Grounds for a Divorce I su'd, }
At last that head-strong Tyrant wife subdu'd, }
Cancel'd the marriage-bonds, and basterdiz'd her brood. }
Woman, thou worst of all Church-plagues, farewel ”

“ But Vain her Sighs; her Prayers, her Tears are Vain, }
She might as soon her Freedom re-obtain, }
As think to Mollifie th' obdurate Man. }
Who like her Person, slights the fond Advice, }
And when with Love she wou'd his Soul Entice, }
Flies from her Arms, and Revels in his Vice; }
Till she, alas, foreseeing what must come,
Consents, and with the little left he packs her home.
Of such I give thee Caution to beware, }
Fly 'em, Melissa, like a Tim'rous Hare, }
That Strains along the Vales t'avoid the Hunters Snare. }
And from a Soldier too, thy flight direct ”