Thedoubt to solve, our husband took a sup,
          From this famed, formidably, magick cup;
          Nor did he any of the liquor waste:—­
          Well, I am safe, said he, my wife is chaste,
          Though on myself it wholly could depend;
          But from it what have I to apprehend? 
          Make room, good folks, who leafless branches wear;
          If you desire those honours I should share. 
          Thus Damon spoke, and to his precious wife
          A curious sermon preached, it seems, on life.

          Ifcuckoldom, my friends, such torments give;
          ’Tis better far ’mong savages to live!

          Lestworse should happen, Damon settled spies,
          Who, o’er his lady watched with Argus’ eyes. 
          She turned coquette; restraints the fair awake,
          And only prompt more liberties to take. 
          The silly husband secrets tried to know,
          And rather seemed to seek the wily foe,
          Which fear has often rendered fatal round,
          When otherwise the ill had ne’er been found.

          Fourtimes an hour his lips to sip he placed;
          And clearly, for a week was not disgraced. 
          Howe’er, no further went his ease of mind;
          Oh, fatal science! fatally designed! 
          With fury Damon threw the cup away,
          And, in his rage, himself inclined to slay.

          Hiswife he straight shut up within a tower,
          Where, morn and night, he showed a husband’s pow’r,
          Reproach bestowed:  while she bewailed her lot,
          ’Twere better far, if he’d concealed the blot;
          For now, from mouth to mouth, and ear to ear,
          It echoed, and re-echoed far and near.

          MeanwhileCalista led a wretched life;
          No gold nor jewels Damon left his wife,
          Which made the jailer faithful, since ’twere vain
          To hope, unbribed, this Cerberus to gain.

          Atlength, the wife a lucky moment sought,
          When Damon seemed by soft caresses caught. 
          Said she, I’ve guilty been, I freely own;
          But though my crime is great, I’m not alone;
          Alas! how few escape from like mishap;
          ’Mong Hymen’s band so common is the trap;
          And though at you the immaculate may smile,
          What use to fret and all the sex revile?

          WellI’ll console myself, and pardon you,
          Cried Damon, when sufficient I can view,
          Of ornamented foreheads, just like mine,
          To form among themselves a royal line;
          ’Tis only to employ the magick cup,
          From which I learned your secrets by a sup.