Thus
seeming Prudence, when ’tis ill apply’d,
It
makes the Breach more dangerous and wide.
For
tho’ it may at first appear more bright,
And
something dazling to a weaker light.
Yet
being view’d with more discerning thought,
What
seem’d real good, is found to be stark nought.
For
this base Woman grows from bad to worse,
And
proves her Husband’s Plague, as well as Curse;
Consumes
his Stock, on some sad Lustful Knave,
And
makes her Spouse a Cuckold and a Slave.
The Tenth Comfort.
The
Sport’s still carry’d on, but under-hand,
She
seems the Chastest Wife in all the Land,
Oh!
how she blames her self for former Deeds,
And
says her Heart within with Sorrow bleeds.
Which
he believes, because she sheds some Tears,
And
frees his Mind from Sorrow grief and Cares.
She
Apes the Saint, by framing Modest Look,
Tho’
perfect Devil in a Private Nook.
Deceives
her Husband with her cunning Wiles,
And
Cheats his Scenses with her feigned Smiles.
The Eleventh Comfort.
Extreamly
fond the Cuckold hugs his Choice,
Well
pleas’d to think the Whore has left her Vice,
Gives
her fine Cloaths, and Money what she craves,
Which
she as freely spends on Rogues and Knaves.
Her
private Stallion now will not suffice,
Her
Lust encreases as her Favours rise,
New
Faces Charm the roving Brimstone Jilt,
And
with each Beau she acts new fancy’d Guilt.
When
time and place her wickedness denies,
She
feeds her thoughts with her lascivious eyes.
The Twelfth Comfort.
Yet
all this while the Husband thinks his Wife
Is
Penitent, and leads a Virtuous Life.
Because
she fawns and flatters Night and Day,
He
can’t believe she’ll ever go astray.
No
Cost he spares to satisfie her Pride, }
But
makes her equal with the loftiest Bride, }
While
Watch of Gold hangs dangling by her side. }
He
strains his Pocket to maintain her high,
And
freely let’s his Gold and Silver fly.
Nay,
sells his Lands, her Honour to defend,
And
thus is ruin’d by his Bosom Friend.
The Thirteenth Comfort.
She thus goes on and spends his Wealth so fast,
That he begins to think of what is past.
Takes notice of her Visits out of Town,
And wonders where she’s Coach’d so up and down,
Enquires of John (who now seems Jealous too)
And asks him what he thinks his Wife will do.
The Servant’s vext, but dares not yet disclose,
Not half the Truth of what he really knows.
Yet being willing something to impart,
Declares he’s very sorry at his Heart.
To think how much she daily spends in Waste,
And adds, he doubts, she is not over Chaste.
But shak’d his Head, as if ’twas spoke in jest.
And left his Master to find out the rest.