by William Congreve (1670 - 1729)

How happy's the Husband, whose Wife has...
Language: English 
I
How happy's the Husband, whose Wife has been try'd!
Not damn'd to the Bed of an ignorant Bride!
Secure of what's left, he ne'er misses the rest,
But where there's enough, supposes a Feast;
	 So foreknowing the Cheat,
	 He escapes the Deceit,
And in spite of the Curse, resolves to be blest.

II
If Children are Blessings, his Comfort's the more,
Whose Spouse has been known to be fruitful before;
And the Boy that she brings ready made to his Hand,
May stand him instead, for an Heir to his Land,
	 Shou'd his own prove a Sot,
	 When he's lawfully got,
As when e'er 'tis so, if he don't, I'll be hang'd.

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with The dramatic works of John Dryden, Esq., Volume 6, embedded in Love triumphant: Or, Nature will prevail, titled "Song: By Mr. Congreve", London, Printed for J. and R. Tonson in the Strand, 1762, page 469.

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Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 113