At Hester's suit, the persecuting sword

75

Was sheathed, and Israel lived to bless the Lord.

These weighty motives, January the sage Maturely pondered in his riper age;

And charmed with virtuous joys, and sober life, Would try that Christian comfort called a

wife.

80

His friends were summoned on a point so nice,
To pass their judgment, and to give advice;
But fixed before, and well resolved was he,
(As men that ask advice are wont to be).

"My friends," he cried, (and cast a mournful look

85 Around the room, and sighed before he spoke), "Beneath the weight of threescore years I bend, And, worn with cares, am hastening to my end; How I have lived, alas! you know too well, In worldly follies, which I blush to tell; But gracious Heaven has oped my eyes at last, With due regret I view my vices past, And, as the precept of the church decrees, Will take a wife, and live in holy ease. But since by counsel all things should be

done,

And many heads are wiser still than one, Choose you for me, who best shall be content When my desire's approved by your consent.

90

95

"One caution yet is needful to be told, To guide your choice; this wife must not be

ICO

old: There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly said, 'Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed.' My soul abhors the tasteless, dry embrace, Of a stale virgin with a winter face:

In that cold season Love but treats his guest 105 With bean-straw, and tough forage at the best.

No crafty widows shall approach my bed;
Those are too wise for bachelors to wed.
As subtle clerks by many schools are made,
Twice married dames are mistresses o' th'
trade:

But young and tender virgins, ruled with ease, We form like wax, and mould them as we please.

"Conceive me, sirs, nor take my sense amiss; 'Tis what concerns my soul's eternal bliss ; Since if I found no pleasure in my spouse, 115 As flesh is frail, and who (God help me) knows?

Then should I live in lewd adultery,

And sink downright to Satan when I die.
Or were I cursed with an unfruitful bed,
The righteous end were lost for which I wed; 120
To raise up seed to bless the powers above,
And not for pleasure only, or for love.
Think not I dote; 'tis time to take a wife,
When vigorous blood forbids a chaster life:
Those that are blessed with store of grace

divine,

125

May live like saints, by Heaven's consent and mine.

"And since I speak of wedlock, let me say, (As, thank my stars, in modest truth I may), My limbs are active, still I'm sound at heart, And a new vigour springs in every part. Think not my virtue lost, though time has

shed

130

These reverend honours on my hoary head: Thus trees are crowned with blossoms white as

snow,

The vital sap then rising from below.

Old as I am, my lusty limbs appear

135

Like winter greens, that flourish all the year.

Now, sirs, you know to what I stand inclined, Let every friend with freedom speak his mind." He said; the rest in different parts divide; The knotty point was urged on either side: 140 Marriage, the theme on which they all declaimed,

Some praised with wit, and some with reason blamed.

Till, what with proofs, objections, and replies, Each wondrous positive, and wondrous wise, There fell between his brothers a debate, Placebo this was called, and Justin that.

145

First to the knight Placebo thus begun, (Mild were his looks, and pleasing was his tone): "Such prudence, sir, in all your words appears, As plainly proves, experience dwells with years! Yet you pursue sage Solomon's advice,

151 To work by counsel when affairs are nice : But, with the wise man's leave, I must protest, So may my soul arrive at ease and rest, As still I hold your old advice the best.

155

"Sir, I have lived a courtier all my days, And studied men, their manners, and their

ways;

And have observed this useful maxim still, To let my betters always have their will. Nay, if my lord affirmed that black was white, My word was this, 'Your honour's in the right.'

161

The assuming wit, who deems himself so wise, As his mistaken patron to advise,

165

Let him not dare to vent his dangerous thought,
A noble fool was never in a fault.
This, sir, affects not you, whose every word
Is weighed with judgment, and befits a lord:
Your will is mine; and is, I will maintain,
Pleasing to God, and should be so to man;

171

At least, your courage all the world must praise,
Who dare to wed in your declining days.
Indulge the vigour of your mounting blood,
And let grey fools be indolently good,
Who, past all pleasure, damn the joys of sense,
With reverend dulness and grave impotence."
Justin, who silent sat, and heard the man, 176
Thus, with a philosophic frown, began:

180

"A heathen author, of the first degree, Who, though not faith, had sense as well as we, Bids us be certain our concerns to trust To those of generous principles, and just. The venture's greater, I'll presume to say, To give your person, than your goods away : And therefore, sir, as you regard your rest, First learn your lady's qualities, at least; 185 Whether she's chaste or rampant, proud or civil, Meek as a saint, or haughty as the devil; Whether an easy, fond, familiar fool,

Or such a wit as no man e'er can rule. 'Tis true, perfection none must hope to find 199 In all this world, much less in woman-l -kind; But if her virtues prove the larger share, Bless the kind fates, and think your fortune

rare.

Ah, gentle sir, take warning of a friend,
Who knows too well the state you thus com-

mend;

195

And, spite of all his praises, must declare,
All he can find is bondage, cost, and care.
Heaven knows, I shed full many a private

tear,

And sigh in silence, lest the world should hear; While all my friends applaud my blissful life, And swear no mortal's happier in a wife; Demure and chaste as any vestal nun,

The meekest creature that beholds the sun!

201

But, by the immortal powers, I feel the pain,
And he that smarts has reason to complain. 205
Do what you list, for me; you must be sage,
And cautious sure; for wisdom is in age:
But at these years to venture on the fair!
By him, who made the ocean, earth, and air,
To please a wife, when her occasions call,
Would busy the most vigorous of us all.
And trust me, sir, the chastest you can choose
Will ask observance, and exact her dues.
If what I speak my noble lord offend,
My tedious sermon here is at an end.”

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215

"Tis well, 'tis wondrous well, (the knight replies,)

Most worthy kinsman, 'faith you're mighty wise!

We, sirs, are fools; and must resign the cause To heathenish authors, proverbs, and old saws. (He spoke with scorn, and turned another way,)

220

What does my friend, my dear Placebo, say?" "I say, (quoth he,) by Heaven the man's to

blame,

225

To slander wives, and wedlock's holy name."
At this the council rose without delay :
Each, in his own opinion, went his way;
With full consent, that, all disputes appeased,
The knight should marry, when and where he
pleased.

Who now but January exults with joy?
The charms of wedlock all his soul employ :
Each nymph by turns his wavering mind pos-
sessed,

230

And reigned the short-lived tyrant of his breast;
While fancy pictured every lively part,
And each bright image wandered o'er his heart.
Thus, in some public forum fixed on high,