To this fair Creature I’d sometimes retire,
Her Conversation wou’d new Joys inspire. 
Give Life and Edge so keen, no surly Care }
Wou’d venture to assault my Soul, or dare }
Near my Retreat to hide one secret Snare. }
But so Divine, so Noble a Repast. 
I’d seldom, and with Moderation caste. 
For highest Cordials all their Virtue lose,
By a too freequent, and to bold an use;
And what would cheer the Spirits in distress;
Ruins our Health when taken to Excess.

I’d be concern’d in no litigious Jarr,
Belov’d by, all not vainly popular: 
Whate’er Assistance I had power to bring
T’oblige my Country, or to serve my King,
Whene’er they call’d, I’d readily afford,
My Tongue, My Pen, my Counsel, or my Sword. 
Law-suit I’d shun with as much Studious Care;
As I wou’d Dens where hungry Lyons are;
An rather put up injuries than be
A Plague to him, who’d be a plague to me. 
I value Quiet at a Price too great,
To give for my Revenge so dear a Rate: 
For what do we by all our bustle gain,
But counterfeit Delight for real Pain.

If Heav’n a date of many years wou’d give,
Thus I’d in Pleasure, Ease and Plenty live. 
And as I near approach’d the Verge of Life,
Some kind Relation (for I’d have no Wife)
Should take upon him all my Worldly Care,
While I did for a better State prepare. 
Then I’d not be with any trouble vext. 
Nor have the Evening of my Days perplext. 
But by a silent, and a peaceful Death,
Without a Sigh, Resign my Aged Breath: 
And when committed to the Dust, I’d have
Few Tears, but Friendly drop’d into my Grave. 
Then wou’d my Exit so propitious be,
All Men wou’d wish to live and dye like me.

FINIS.

AN ANSWER TO
THE
PLEASURES
OF A
SINGLE LIFE: 
OR,
THE COMFORTS
OF
MARRIAGE
Confirm’d and Vindicated: 
With the Misery of Lying alone, prov’d and asserted.

LONDON, Printed for M.  Goodwin, near Fleet Street, 1701.

AN
ANSWER
To the Pleasure of a Single LIFE, &c.

When from Dark nothing Heaven the World did make
And all was Glorious it did undertake;
Then were in Eden’s Garden freely plac’d,
Each thing that’s pleasant to the Sight and Tast;
’Twas fill’d with Beasts and Birds, Trees hung with Fruite
That might with Man’s Cealestal Humour suite. 
The World being made, both spacious and compleat,
Then Man was form’d most Nobly and Great;
When Heaven survey’d the Works that it had done,
Saw Male and Female, but found Man alone,
A baren Sex, and Insignificant, }
Then God made Woman to supply the want, }
And to make perfect which before was scant. }
The Word no sooner spoke, but it was done;
’Cause ’twas not fit for Man to be alone;
It was not in his power without a Wife,
To reap the happy Fruites of human Life;