Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, AGAINST MARRIAGE, by JOHN WILMOT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

AGAINST MARRIAGE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Out of mere love and arrant devotion
Last Line: But the hell-fire of marriage none can endure.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of
Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings; Husbands; Wives


Out of mere love and arrant devotion,
Of marriage I'll give you this galloping notion.
It's the bane of all business, the end of all pleasure,
The consumption of wit, youth, virtue, and treasure.
It's the rack of our thoughts, the nightmare of sleep,
That sets us to work before the day peep.
It makes us make brick without stubble or straw,
And a cunt has no sense of conscience or law.
If you needs must have flesh, take the way that is noble:
In a generous wench there is nothing of trouble.
You come on, you come off -- say, do what you please --
And the worst you can fear is but a disease,
And diseases, you know, will admit of a cure,
But the hell-fire of marriage none can endure.





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