16
LE LUTRIN
Canto 2.
What! can'st with dry Eyes view my tears still Dropping?
See how the Stupid Block stands mute, and moping!
If my soft Heart easie to thy Desires
Hath alwayes met with Equal Flames thy fires;
And if to gratifie thy Itch, (my Honey,)
I stood not on th' nice points of Matrimony;
If in my Arms, thou, thou hast had sole part,
Speak not that wounding, killing word, Depart.
Thus spoke our Lover whining, plain and round,
And clos'd her speech with an half-dying swoon;
Upon a Pallet backwards down she fell,
Fortune had plac'd the Couch exceeding well;
Twenty to one she else had broke her Rump,
Up starts amazed John, bestirs his Stump,
'Twixt Zeal and Love, his heart stood long divided,
Till Zeal at last the Question decided;
And thus his smother'd passion got vent,
Smoothing with kind words o're his wild Intent.
Dear Spouse, (said he with voice unkindly kind)
Shall e're thy favours slide out of my mind?
The Rhine shall first his streams mix with the Loire,
E're I forget the sence of my Devoire;
Nay first shall France keep Faith and Oath with Spain,
E're I thy love-sick Agonies disdain:
But never Dream, that when I gave my Troth,
I would become a Slave unto my Oath;
Our Nation knows no such nice Obligation,
The Ancient Faith's now quite worn out of fashion;
Had the Fates trusted me with mine own Lot,
I ne're had rashly knit the Wedlock Knot;
But from those subtle Rites had still been free
To tast the fruit of the forbidden Tree;
But since that matters in this posture stand,
Grudge not my Glory, if I lend a hand
See how the Stupid Block stands mute, and moping!
If my soft Heart easie to thy Desires
Hath alwayes met with Equal Flames thy fires;
And if to gratifie thy Itch, (my Honey,)
I stood not on th' nice points of Matrimony;
If in my Arms, thou, thou hast had sole part,
Speak not that wounding, killing word, Depart.
Thus spoke our Lover whining, plain and round,
And clos'd her speech with an half-dying swoon;
Upon a Pallet backwards down she fell,
Fortune had plac'd the Couch exceeding well;
Twenty to one she else had broke her Rump,
Up starts amazed John, bestirs his Stump,
'Twixt Zeal and Love, his heart stood long divided,
Till Zeal at last the Question decided;
And thus his smother'd passion got vent,
Smoothing with kind words o're his wild Intent.
Dear Spouse, (said he with voice unkindly kind)
Shall e're thy favours slide out of my mind?
The Rhine shall first his streams mix with the Loire,
E're I forget the sence of my Devoire;
Nay first shall France keep Faith and Oath with Spain,
E're I thy love-sick Agonies disdain:
But never Dream, that when I gave my Troth,
I would become a Slave unto my Oath;
Our Nation knows no such nice Obligation,
The Ancient Faith's now quite worn out of fashion;
Had the Fates trusted me with mine own Lot,
I ne're had rashly knit the Wedlock Knot;
But from those subtle Rites had still been free
To tast the fruit of the forbidden Tree;
But since that matters in this posture stand,
Grudge not my Glory, if I lend a hand
To
