by Mary Lee, Lady Chudleigh (1656 - 1710)
To the ladies
Language: English
Wife and servant are the same, But only differ in the name : For when that fatal knot is ty'd, Which nothing, nothing can divide : When she the word obey has said, And man by law supreme has made, Then all that's kind is laid aside, And nothing left but state and pride : Fierce as an eastern prince he grows, And all his innate rigour shows : Then but to look, to laugh, or speak, Will the nuptial contract break. Like mutes, she signs alone must make, And never any freedom take : But still be govern'd by a nod, And fear her husband as a God : Him still must serve, him still obey, And nothing act, and nothing say, But what her haughty lord thinks fit, Who with the power, has all the wit. Then shun, oh ! shun that wretched state, And all the fawning flatt'rers hate : Value yourselves, and men despise : You must be proud, if you'll be wise.
Authorship:
- by Mary Lee, Lady Chudleigh (1656 - 1710), "To the ladies" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Ned Rorem (1923 - 2022), "To the ladies", published 1979 [ soprano and piano ], from Women's Voices, no. 4 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-09-18
Line count: 24
Word count: 167