Page:The Works of Alexander Pope (1717).djvu/300

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
264
The WIFE of BATH.
A Conjurer once, that deeply could divine,Assur'd me, Mars in Taurus was my sign.As the stars order'd, such my life has been:Alas, alas, that ever love was sin!Fair Venus gave me fire, and sprightly grace,And Mars assurance, and a dauntless face.By virtue of this pow'rful constellation,I follow'd always my own inclination.But to my tale: a month scarce pass'd away,With dance and song we kept the nuptial day.All I possess'd I gave to his command,My goods and chattels, mony, house, and land:But oft' repented, and repent it still;He prov'd a rebel to my sov'reign will:Nay once by heav'n he struck me on the face;Hear but the fact, and judge your selves the case.Stubborn as any lioness was I;And knew full well to raise my voice on high;As true a rambler as I was before,And would be so, in spight of all he swore.

He,

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.