Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Advice to her son on marriage by Mary Barber


Advice to Her Son on Marriage

BY MARY BARBER
from The Conclusion of a Letter to the Rev. Mr C—
When you gain her Affection, take care to preserve it;
Front CoverLest others persuade her, you do not deserve it.
Still study to heighten the Joys of her Life;
Not treat her the worse, for her being your Wife.
If in Judgment she errs, set her right, without Pride:
’Tis the Province of insolent Fools, to deride.
A Husband’s first Praise, is a Friend and Protector:
Then change not these Titles, for Tyrant and Hector.
Let your Person be neat, unaffectedly clean,
Tho’ alone with your wife the whole Day you remain.
Chuse Books, for her study, to fashion her Mind,
To emulate those who excell’d of her Kind.
Be Religion the principal Care of your Life,
As you hope to be blest in your Children and Wife:
So you, in your Marriage, shall gain its true End;
And find, in your Wife, a Companion and Friend.

Good words to keep close to your heart. A link to learn more about 
this poet. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Barber

No comments:

Post a Comment