The
HAPPY
HUSBAND
,
And
The
OLD
BATCHELOR
.
A
Dialogue
.
A
Country
Gentleman
of
late
,
Of
honest
fame
and
good
estate
,
Who
with
a
Sober
virtuous
Wife
,
For
many
Years
had
led
his
life
;
Walk'd
in
the
Fields
to
take
the
Air
,
And
chanc'd
to
meet
his
Neighbour
there
,
A
Gentleman
of
good
degree
,
Polite
,
and
gay
,
of
humour
free
;
Who
long
had
been
to
love
inclin'd
,
But
ne'er
cou'd
fix
his
wav'ring
mind
,
And
being
met
at
his
desire
,
They
to
his
Neighbouring
house
retire
;
A
Rural
Seat
,
which
for
long
Space
Had
gone
in
the
Paternal
race
,
There
in
the
Hall
they
both
regale
With
generous
Wine
and
Nappy
Ale
,
Until
the
Evening
being
come
,
The
Guest
talk'd
of
Returning
home
.
Husband
.
My
Dearest
Wife
will
think
,
said
he
,
That
Some
mishap
has
fall'n
on
me
.
Batchelor
.
His
friend
reply'd
,
with
scornful
air
,
I
thank
my
Stars
I've
no
such
care
;
Long
,
as
I
please
,
abroad
I
stay
,
And
Seldom
ask
what
time
of
day
:
I
game
and
quaff
away
the
Night
,
And
reel
to
Bed
at
Morning
light
;
Thus
I
pursue
my
pleasure
free
,
And
have
no
Wife
to
rail
at
me
:
Such
fatal
Curbs
I
cannot
bear
,
And
therefore
took
a
prudent
care
,
To
Shun
the
Matrimonial
Snare
.
Husband
.
His
friend
reply'd
with
chearful
voice
I
never
did
repent
my
choice
,
I
wou'd
not
have
the
Golden
Chain
,
Of
Hymen
be
unlink'd
again
.
Nor
wou'd
I
leave
my
Dearest
Wife
,
To
gain
the
greatest
good
of
life
:
Long
as
I
please
abroad
I
bide
,
And
do
not
fear
my
Wife
will
chide
,
For
she
is
So
obliging
,
I
Take
pleasure
in
her
company
:
Her
kind
advice
she
doth
impart
,
And
by
her
prudence
gains
my
heart
;
While
you
abroad
unsettled
roam
For
want
of
such
a
Spouse
at
home
;
Tis
an
unhappy
life
you
lead
,
No
faithful
Friend
in
time
of
need
:
Thus
,
Shou'd
you
die
,
you'd
leave
no
Son
,
To
take
your
place
when
you
are
gone
.
Batchelor
.
That's
more
,
my
friend
,
than
you
do
know
I
may
have
Sons
and
Daughters
too
,
Without
the
trouble
of
a
Wife
I
can
enjoy
the
Sweets
of
life
,
To
marry
I
shall
make
no
haste
,
Variety
doth
please
my
taste
,
Your
counsel
doth
not
please
my
mind
,
Because
I
hate
to
be
confin'd
.
Husband
.
It
may
indeed
,
my
friend
,
be
So
,
You
may
have
Sons
and
Daughters
too
,
But
if
you
have
,
you
must
be
blam'd
,
And
of
your
Offspring
be
asham'd
,
While
Sober
men
their
Children
prize
,
Your
Progeny
you
Basterdize
,
Of
such
you
have
no
cause
to
boast
;
Your
race
extinct
,
and
name
quite
lost
;
For
while
you
thus
with
harlots
rove
You
never
know
the
Sweets
of
love
,
Nor
taste
those
comforts
that
attend
A
Virtuous
Wife
,
and
faithful
friend
,
When
I
with
any
crosses
meet
I
to
my
Dearest
Spouse
retreat
,
Whose
prudent
counsel
has
the
Art
To
ease
my
care
,
and
chear
my
heart
,
She
doth
all
ways
and
means
improve
To
rule
the
House
in
Peace
and
love
Her
mild
commands
and
gentle
Sway
Her
Servants
willingly
obey
;
Thus
by
her
prudent
management
,
My
life's
a
Scene
of
true
content
.
Batchelor
.
Indeed
,
my
Friend
,
if
this
be
so
,
You
are
the
happiest
Man
I
know
.
For
you
enjoy
I
plainly
find
,
The
Phoenix
of
the
Female
kind
;
Surely
there
are
but
very
few
Cou'd
justly
boast
as
now
you
do
,
If
I
cou'd
meet
with
such
a
Wife
,
Myself
wou'd
chuse
a
marry'd
life
.
Husband
.
My
Friend
,
if
I
may
speak
my
mind
,
As
Virtuous
Wives
are
hard
to
find
,
I
think
it
equally
as
true
,
That
loving
Husbands
are
so
too
I
wish
that
man
wou'd
know
his
place
,
As
Lord
of
the
created
race
,
Vicegerent
of
this
spacious
ball
,
A
Shining
light
observ'd
by
all
;
Wise
in
his
conduct
he
wou'd
be
,
A
Pattern
to
his
Family
,
And
by
his
own
Example
lead
His
Spouse
the
path
wherein
to
tread
:
Wou'd
he
to
her
himself
approve
,
And
ever
bear
a
constant
love
,
I
am
persuaded
we
shou'd
find
Most
Women
virtuous
,
just
and
kind
.
In
bodies
natural
,
we
see
If
once
the
Head
distemper'd
be
,
The
curious
fabrick
feels
the
Smart
,
And
bears
by
Sympathy
a
part
;
In
bodies
Politick
the
Same
,
Then
can
we
think
our
Wives
to
blame
,
If
they
shou'd
blindly
venture
on
Those
vicious
ways
ourselves
have
gone
;
But
where
strict
virtue
bears
the
Sway
,
That
virtue
cannot
lead
astray
.
When
mild
reproofs
have
little
force
To
check
a
Husband's
vicious
course
,
A
Wife
provok'd
,
with
rage
and
fear
,
May
utter
truth
he
hates
to
hear
.
But
now
before
I
make
an
end
,
Let
me
advise
you
as
a
friend
,
To
chuse
a
Consort
that
may
be
A
blessing
to
your
Family
.
But
let
not
wealth
or
grandeur
move
To
wed
with
one
you
cannot
love
,
No
doubt
but
you
a
Girl
may
find
To
bring
you
Gold
and
please
your
mind
;
But
if
it
otherwise
should
prove
Set
Money
by
and
wed
for
love
,
A
Pleasant
,
chaste
,
and
comely
Dame
,
Of
good
descent
and
honest
fame
;
All
other
Objects
banish
quite
And
fix
on
her
your
whole
delight
;
Let
words
and
actions
still
commend
Yourself
to
be
her
faithful
friend
;
Then
be
assur'd
you'll
not
complain
Of
want
of
due
respect
again
.
Batchelor
.
My
friend
,
shou'd
I
be
rul'd
by
you
,
I
to
all
joys
must
bid
adieu
And
that
which
most
of
all
does
grieve
,
My
old
companions
I
must
leave
,
Those
jovial
Sparks
I
plainly
See
Offensive
to
a
Wife
will
be
,
And
if
they
shou'd
not
,
I
confess
My
trouble
will
be
ne'er
the
less
;
For
when
they
at
my
House
appear
I
of
my
brows
shall
Stand
in
fear
;
Therefore
I
think
I
must
go
on
To
live
as
I've
already
done
.
Husband
.
If
jealousy
your
mind
possess
,
You'll
ne'er
be
happy
I
confess
,
But
Sure
with
care
you
may
prevent
,
The
causes
of
such
discontent
,
If
you
are
constant
in
your
love
,
Your
Wife
will
hardly
ever
rove
,
And
for
your
jovial
Company
,
Whate'er
you
have
been
let
them
See
,
To
virtue's
rules
your
Strict
conformity
.
If
they
their
wicked
courses
hold
,
You
friendship
quickly
will
grow
cold
,
If
they
reform
the
case
is
clear
,
Of
them
you
need
not
stand
in
fear
;
And
thus
you
may
prevent
all
Strife
And
lead
a
Sweet
contented
life
.
Batchelor
.
My
loving
friend
,
I
plainly
See
Good
counsel
you
have
given
me
,
And
now
my
friend
,
I
freely
own
,
My
former
courses
past
and
gone
,
Did
for
a
moment
please
the
mind
,
But
leave
a
bitter
Sting
behind
;
Altho'
my
bloom
of
life
be
past
,
I
hope
I
shall
reform
at
last
.
But
first
my
care
shall
be
apply'd
To
chuse
a
virtuous
loving
Bride
,
And
So
behave
to
her
that
we
May
live
in
love
and
unity
,
So
may
we
find
our
Joys
increase
,
For
Virtue's
ways
are
paths
of
peace
.