The Ladies Defence: (Chap. 4) Lyrics
Parson. Love and respect, are, I must own, your due, but not till there's obedience paid by you submission, and a studious care to please, May give a right to favors great as these, but if subjection is by you denied, You'll fall the impunity victims of your pride we then all Husband justly may appear, and talk, and frown, 'till we have taught you Fear. Sir John. Yes, as we please, we may our Wives chastise, 'Tis the Prerogative of being Wise They are but Fools, and must as such be used. Heaven! How I blush to see our Power abusedTo see Men doat upon a Female Face, And all the Manly Roughness of their Sex disgrace!
Melissa. Not thus you talked when you Lenera loved, By softer Passion, sure, your Soul was moved, then at her Feet, false Man, you flattering lay, And prayed, and vowed, and sighed your Hours away admired her face, her shape, her mein, her air, and swore that none was so divinely fair none had such charms, none else the wondrous art to gain the entire possession of your heart. Having expended your whole stock of sense, and quite exhausted all your eloquence,When not one Phrase was left of all your Store, ashamed to have it known you were so poor, You made your Silence want of words supply, and looked, as if your Love would make you die Shew'd all your Art, your Native Guile displayed,And gazed till you had won the thoughtless Maid.
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Sir John. I loved her, 'till to her I was confined:But who can long to what's his own be kind? Plagues seize the Wretch who tied the cursed Knot, let him be damned Eternally forgot.
Melissa. There spoke the Husband; all the fiend revealed your Passion utters what's by most concealed. O that my Sex safe Infidels would live, and no more Credit to your Flatteries give.
