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The Marriage-hater Match'd

A play - incidental music by Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695)

1. As soon as the chaos
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
As soon as the chaos was turn'd into Form,
And the first Race of Men knew a good from a harm,
		 They quickly did joyn,
		 In a knowledge Divine,
That the chiefest of Blessings were Women and Wine;
Since when by example Improving Delights,
Wine Governs our Days, Love and Beauty our Nights.
		 Then Love on and Drink,
		 'Tis a Folly to think
	 Of a Mystery out of our reaches;
		 Be moral in Thought
		 To be Merry's no Fault,
	 Tho' an Elder the contrary Preaches.
For never, my Friends, was an Age of more Vice,
Than when Knaves would seem Pious, and Fools would seem Wise.

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas d'Urfey (1653 - 1723)

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight

2. How vile are the Sordid Intrigues
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
How vile are the Sordid Intrigues o' th'Town,
	 Cheating and Lying perpetually sway;
From Bully and Punk, to the Politick Gown,
	 With Plotting and Sotting, they waste the day;
	 All our Discourse is of Foreign Affairs,
		 The French and the Wars
		 Is always the Cry,
Marriage alas is declining,
	 Nay though a Poor Virgin lye Pining,
Ah curse of this jarring, what luck have I?

I thought a young Trader by Ogling Charms,
	 Into my Conjugal Fetters to bring,
I planted my Snare too for one that lov'd Arms,
	 But found his Design was another thing:
	 From the Court Province, down to the dull Citts,
		 Both Cullies, and Wits
		 of Marriage are shye,
Great are the Sins of the Nation,
	 Ah shame on the wretched Occasion,
Ah Curse of the Monsieur, what Luck have I?

Text Authorship:

  • by Thomas d'Urfey (1653 - 1723)

Go to the general single-text view

Researcher for this page: Virginia Knight
Total word count: 241
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