Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/292

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The WIFE of BATH.
I still prevail'd, and would be in the right,Or curtain-lectures made a restless night.If once my husband's arm was o'er my side,What? so familiar with your spouse? I cry'd:I levied first a tax upon his need,Then let him—'twas a nicety indeed!Let all mankind this certain maxim hold,Marry who will, our Sex is to be sold!With empty hands no tassels you can lure,But fulsom love for gain we can endure:For gold we love the impotent and old,And heave, and pant, and kiss, and cling, for gold.Yet with embraces, curses oft' I mixt,Then kiss'd again, and chid and rail'd betwixt.Well, I may make my will in peace, and die,For not one word in man's arrears am I.To drop a dear dispute I was unable,Ev'n tho' the Pope himself had sate at table.But when my point was gain'd, then thus I spoke,"Billy, my dear, how sheepishly you look?

"Approach

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