WhenGasperin returned, our crafty wight,
          Before the wife addressed her spouse at sight;
          Said he the cash I’ve to your lady paid,
          Not having (as I feared) required its aid;
          To save mistakes, pray cross it in your book;
          The lady, thunderstruck, with terror shook;
          Allowed the payment; ’twas a case too clear;
          In truth for character she ’gan to fear. 
          But most howe’er she grudged the surplus joy,
          Bestowed on such a vile, deceitful boy.

          Theloss was doubtless great in ev’ry view
          Around the town the wicked Gulphar flew;
          In all the streets, at every house to tell,
          How nicely he had trick’d the greedy belle.

To blame him useless ’twere you must allow;
The French such frolicks readily avow.

The jealous husband

A certain husband who, from jealous fear,
With one eye slept while t’other watched his dear,
Deprived his wife of every social joy,
(Friends oft the jealous character annoy,)
And made a fine collection in a book,
Of tricks with which the sex their wishes hook. 
Strange fool! as if their wiles, to speak the truth,
Were not a hydra, both in age and youth.

          Hiswife howe’er engaged his constant cares;
          He counted e’en the number of her hairs;
          And kept a hag who followed every hour,
          Where’er she went, each motion to devour;
          Duenna like, true semblance of a shade,
          That never quits, yet moves as if afraid.

          Thisarch collection, like a prayer-book bound;
          Was in the blockhead’s pocket always found,
          The form religious of the work, he thought,
          Would prove a charm ’gainst vice whenever sought!

          Oneholy day, it happened that our dame,
          As from the neighb’ring church she homeward came;
          And passed a house, some wight, concealed from view;
          A basket full of filth upon her threw.

          Withanxious care apologies were made;
          The lady, frightened by the frolick played,
          Quite unsuspicious to the mansion went;
          Her aged friend for other clothes she sent,
          Who hurried home, and ent’ring out of breath;
          Informed old hunks—­what pained him more than death

          Zounds! cried the latter, vainly I may look
          To find a case like this within my book;
          A dupe I’m made, and nothing can be worse:—­
          Hell seize the work—­’tis thoroughly a curse!

          Notwrong he proved, for, truly to confess;
          This throwing dirt upon the lady’s dress
          Was done to get the hag, with Argus’ eyes
          Removed a certain distance from the prize. 
          The gay gallant, who watched the lucky hour,
          Felt doubly blessed to have her in his power.