Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, "AN IMITATION OF MARTIAL, BOOK 11 EP. 104", by CAPTAIN" "H.[PSEUD.]


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

"AN IMITATION OF MARTIAL, BOOK 11 EP. 104", by                    
First Line: "sweet spouse, you must presently troop and be gone"
Last Line: "move, wriggle, heave, pant, clip round like a ring: / in short, be as lewd as a strumpet"
Alternate Author Name(s): "h., Captain;
Subject(s): Marriage; Weddings;husbands;wives


SWEET spouse, you must presently troop and be gone,
Or fairly submit to your betters;
Unless for the faults that are past you atone,
I must knock off my conjugal fetters.

When at night I am paying the tribute of love—
You know well enough what's my meaning—
You scorn to assist my devotions, or move,
As if all the while you were dreaming.

At cribbage and put and all-fours I have seen
A porter more passion expressing
Than thou, wicked Kate, in the rapturous scene,
And the height of the amorous blessing.

Then say I to myself, 'Is my wife made of stone,
Or does the old serpent possess her?'
Better motion and vigour by far might be shown
By dull spouse of a German professor.

So, Kate, take advice and reform in good time,
And while I'm performing my duty,
Come in for your club, and repent of the crime
Of paying all scores with your beauty.

All day thou may'st cant, and look grave as a nun,
And run after Burgess the surly;
Or see that the family business be done,
And chide all thy servants demurely.

But when you're in bed with your master and king,
That tales out of school ne'er does trumpet,
Move, wriggle, heave, pant, clip round like a ring:
In short, be as lewd as a strumpet.





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