Inbed I shall be instantly received,
          And from anxiety be soon relieved. 
          The place of meeting is a room below,
          Most nicely furnished, rich, but void of show. 
          At first I through a passage dark was led,
          Where Sol’s bright rays are ne’er allowed to spread;
          But soon, by my conductress, I was brought,
          ’Mid love’s delights, where all with charms was frought.

          Onthis you may suppose the doctor’s pain;
          But presently he thought a point to gain,
          And take the student’s place by wily art,
          Where, acting in disguise the lover’s part,
          His rib he might entangle in a net,
          And vassalage bestow she’d ne’er forget. 
          Our learned man was clearly in the wrong;
          ’Twere better far to sleep and hold his tongue;
          Unless, with God’s assistance, he could raise
          A remedy that merited full praise. 
          Whenever wives have got a candidate,
          To be admitted to the Cuckold’s state,
          If thence he get scot free ’tis luck indeed;
          But once received, and ornaments decreed,
          A blot the more will surely nothing add,
          To one already in the garment clad. 
          The doctor otherwise however thought;
          Yet still his reason no advantage brought;
          Indeed he fancied, if he could forestall
          The youth who now he might his master call;
          The trick would to his wisdom credit do,
          And show, superior wiles he could pursue.

          Awaythe husband hastened to the place;
          In full belief, that, hiding well his face,
          And favoured by the darkness of the spot,
          The silence marked, and myst’ry of the plot,
          He, undiscovered, safely might be led,
          Where such delicious fruits were ready spread.

          Misfortune, howsoe’er, would so direct
          The aged female nothing to neglect,
          Had with her got a lantern to conduct,
          The light from which at will she could obstruct,
          And, far more cunning than our learned sage,
          Perceived at once with whom she had t’engage;
          But, marking no surprise, she bade him wait,
          While she, his coming, to her dame should state. 
          Said she, unless I tell her first you’re here,
          I dare not let you in her room appear. 
          Besides, you have not got the right attire;
          Undressed, in truth, is what she would desire. 
          My lady, you must know, is gone to bed:—­
          Then, thrusting in a dressing room his head,
          He there beheld the necessary fare,
          Of night-cap, slippers, shirt, and combs for hair,
          With