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| Wife and servant are the same, But only differ in the name : For when that fatal knot is ty'd, Which nothing, nothing can divide : When she the word obey has said, And man by law supreme has made, Then all that's kind is laid aside, And nothing left but state and pride : Fierce as an eastern prince he grows, And all his innate rigour shows L Then but to look, to laugh, or speak, Will the nuptial contract break. Like mutes, she signs alone must make, And never any freedom take : But still be govern'd by a nod, And fear her husband as a God : Him still must serve, him still obey, And nothing act, and nothing say, But what her haughtly lord thinks fit, Who with the power, has all the wit. Then shun, oh ! shun that wretched state, And all the fawning flatt'rers hate : Value yourselves, and men despise : You must be proud, if you'll be wise. -Lady Mary Chudleigh 1656-1710, 'To the ladies' (1704) |
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| What light is light, if Silvia be not seen? What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by? Unless it be to think that she is by, And feed upon the shadow of perfection. Except I be by Silvia in the day, There is no day for me to look upon: She is my essence; and I leave to be, If I be not by her fair influence Foster'd, illumined, cherish'd, kept alive. I fly not death, to fly his deadly doom: Tarry I here, I but attend on death; But, fly I hence, I fly away from hence -William Shakespeare 1564-1616, 'The two gentlemen of Verona' (unknown year) |
| Who is Silvia? what is she, That all our swains commend her? Holy, fair, and wise is she; The heaven such grace did lend her, That she might admired be. Is she kind as she is fair,-- For beauty lives with kindness? Love doth to her eyes repair, To help him of his blindness; And, being help'd, inhabits there. Then to Silvia let us sing, That Silvia is excelling; She excels each mortal thing Upon the dull earth dwelling: To her let us garlands bring. -William Shakespeare 1564-1616, 'The two gentlemen of Verona' (unknown year) |