The Benefit of Marriage.
OR,
The Married Mans good Fortune, with his Counsel to young Batchelors,
Who having tasted of that sweet content
Which wedlock doth afford, is fully bent
To praise good Women, giving them their due,
Yet speaks no more then what he knowes is true.
Young men draw near, and buy this Song, I pray,
Which being done, then bear it hence away,
And to your Sweet-hearts send it in a Letter,
Twill be a means to make them love you better.
To the Tune of, The Young Mans Advice.
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A Man that had a pretty young Wife,
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who closely unto him did cling, Sir,
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And lovd him as dearly as her life,
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which to him much comfort did bring, Sir:
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They livd in love and true content,
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And oftentimes in merriment,
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he usd this Song for to sing, Sir.
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Once I lay with another Mans Wife,
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and I lay in a great deal of danger,
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But now I have gotten a Wife of my own,
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I scorn for to pick on another mans Bone,
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for I lie at Rack and Manger.
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I would not be unmarried again,
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for all the worlds rich treasurs;
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For whilst I a Batchelor did remain,
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I never enjoyd such pleasure;
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But till such time as I was wed,
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A dumpish heavy life I led,
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with sorrow beyond all measure.
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Once I lay, etc.
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Did men but know the worth of a Wife,
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they would no longer tarry,
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But every one to better his life,
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would quickly make haste and marry:
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Although with creaturs the world doth abound
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Yet for mans use there cannot be found
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a help that is so necessary.
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Once I lay, etc.
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Though Paradice was Adams first seat,
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wherein were great store of blessings;
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Yet his enjoyments were not compleat,
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but still there was one thing missing,
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Till Eve became his loving Wife,
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Who brought much comfort to his life,
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and cheard his heart with kissing.
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Once I lay, etc.
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It was for man that a Woman was made,
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therefore they should not be parted;
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But let each young man chuse a Comrade,
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and be unto her kinde-hearted:
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So from all dangers he shall be free,
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And from those follies delivered be,
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by which many thousands have smarted.
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Once I lay, etc.
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The second Part, to the same Tune.
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DO but consider, pray, what is man,
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till such times as he doth marry;
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Let him take care and do what he can,
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though he be never so wary:
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Yet he for want of a Womans aid,
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To many misfortunes is betrayd:
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and doth very often miscarry.
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O once I lay, etc.
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Whilst men live single they are very apt
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to wander and go astray, Sir;
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By wanton womans wiles they are entrapt,
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and turnd out of the right way, Sir:
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But being wedded to vertuous wives,
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They are converted and live honest lives,
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for with them they freely may play, Sir.
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O once I lay, etc.
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Then let not strumpets whose actions are base
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cheat you with cunning delusions;
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For they will bring you to shame and disgrace,
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and you will finde in conclusion,
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That those vain Objects you doted upon,
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And after which you so greedily run,
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did tend to your utter confusion.
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O once I lay, etc.
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That man is worse then a mad man I think,
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who doth a Whore maintain, Sir:
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For though she helps him away with his chink,
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she will not at all take pains, Sir;
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But live an idle lazie life,
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When as an honest careful Wife,
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doth many a shilling gain, Sir.
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O once I lay, etc.
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O young men take my counsel I pray,
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and if that you fain would be thriving:
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Then know assuredly tis the best way,
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for you all to go a wiving:
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Or else your work can never be done,
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Because so long as you are alone,
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gainst the stream you are striving.
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O once I lay, etc.
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I have not skill enough to set forth,
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a vertuous womans praise, Sir,
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But for to shew their most excellent worth,
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I will endeavour alwayes, Sir:
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And for a truth this I declare,
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That loving, honest, and good women are
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the lengthners of mens dayes, Sir.
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O once I lay, etc.
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A loving Wife will do any thing,
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to make a man merry and jolly;
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Sometimes shel laugh, sometimes shel sing,
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to drive away sad melancholly:
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Therefore to live a single life,
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And lose the benefit of a Wife,
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I count it a point of folly.
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O once I lay, etc.
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And now for to conclude my Song,
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and end my harmless Ditty;
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Let no young Batchelor tarry too long,
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but get him a Wife that is pretty:
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For which he needs not look very far,
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Because pretty Virgins plentiful are,
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in Countrey and also in City.
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O once I lay, etc.
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