weigh’d,
And then brought home a young complying maid;
A tender creature, full of fears as charms,
A beauteous nursling from its mother’s arms;
A soft, sweet blossom, such as men must love,
But to preserve must keep it in the stove: 
She had a mild, subdued, expiring look —
Raise but the voice, and this fair creature shook;
Leave her alone, she felt a thousand fears —
Chide, and she melted into floods of tears;
Fondly she pleaded, and would gently sigh,
For very pity, or she knew not why;
One whom to govern none could be afraid —
Hold up the finger, this meek thing obey’d;
Her happy husband had the easiest task —
Say but his will, no question would she ask;
She sought no reasons, no affairs she knew,
Of business spoke not, and had nought to do. 
   Oft he exclaim’d, “How meek! how mild! how kind! 
With her ’twere cruel but to seem unkind;
Though ever silent when I take my leave,
It pains my heart to think how hers will grieve;
’Tis heaven on earth with such a wife to dwell,
I am in raptures to have sped so well;
But let me not, my friend, your envy raise,
No! on my life, your patience has my praise.” 
   His Friend, though silent, felt the scorn implied —
“What need of patience?” to himself he cried: 
“Better a woman o’er her house to rule,
Than a poor child just hurried from her school;
Who has no care, yet never lives at ease;
Unfit to rule, and indisposed to please. 
What if he govern, there his boast should end;
No husband’s power can make a slave his friend.” 
   It was the custom of these Friends to meet
With a few neighbours in a neighbouring street;
Where Counter ofttimes would occasion seize
To move his silent Friend by words like these: 
“A man,” said he, “if govern’d by his wife,
Gives up his rank and dignity in life;
Now, better fate befalls my Friend and me.” —
He spoke, and look’d th’ approving smile to see. 
   The quiet partner, when he chose to speak,
Desired his friend “another theme to seek;
When thus they met, he judged that state-affairs
And such important subjects should be theirs:” 
But still the partner, in his lighter vein,
Would cause in Clubb affliction or disdain;
It made him anxious to detect the cause
Of all that boasting:  —­“Wants my friend applause? 
This plainly proves him not at perfect ease,
For, felt he pleasure, he would wish to please. 
These triumphs here for some regrets atone —
Men who are bless’d let other men alone.” 
Thus made suspicious, he observed and saw
His friend each night at early hour withdraw;
He sometimes mention’d Juliet’s tender nerves,
And what attention such a wife deserves: 
“In this,” thought Clubb, “full sure some mystery lies —
He laughs at me, yet he with much complies,
And all his vaunts of bliss are proud apologies.” 
   With such ideas treasured in his