{My husband, thank my stars, was out of town ;) "Twas when fresh May her early blossoms yields, I pawn'd my honour, and engaged my vow, The mouse that always trusts to one poor hole, I vow'd I scarce could sleep since first I knew him And dreams foretell, as learned men have shown; Who bid me tell this lie-and twenty more. Thus day by day, and month by month we pass'd It pleased the Lord to take my spouse at last. Of twenty winters' age he seem'd to be, But to my tale: A month scarce pass'd away My goods and chattels, money, house, and land. He proved a rebel to my sovereign will: And knew full well to raise my voice on high; As true a rambler as I was before, And would be so, in spite of all he swore. My spouse (who was, you know, to learning bred And many more than sure the church approves. Those play the scholars, who can't play the men, It chanced my husband on a winter's night, But what most pleased him was the Cretan Dame, He read, how Arius to his friend complain'd, On which three wives successively had twined 'Where grows this plant,' replied the friend, ‘oh where For better fruit did never orchard bear: Give me some slip of this most blissful tree, And in my garden planted shall it be.' Then how two wives their lords' destruction prove Through hatred one, and one through too much love; Tha: for her husband mix'd a poisonous draught, And this for lust an amorous philtre bought: The nimble juice soon seized his giddy head, Frantic at night, and in the morning dead. How some with swords their sleeping lords have slain, And soine have hammer'd nails into their braip, And some have drench'd them with a deadly potion; All this he read, and read with great devotion. Long time I heard, and swell'd, and blush'd, and frown'd: But when no end to these vile tales I found, I groan'd, and lay extended on my side; Oh! thou hast slain me for my wealth,' I cried. Then sigh'd, and cried, Adieu, my dear, adieu!' I condescended to be pleased at last. Do what you list, the term of all your life; I took to heart the merits of the cause, And stood content to rule by wholesome laws; That rest they wish'd for, grant them in the grave, THE FIRST BOOK OF Translated in the Year 1703. ARGUMENT. Edipus, king of Thebes, having by mistake slain hi father Laius, and married his mother Jocasta, put out his own eyes, and resigned the realm to his sons, Eteocles and Polynices. Being neglected by them, he makes his prayer to the fury Tisiphone, to sow debate betwixt the brothers. They agree at last to reign singly, each a year by turus, and the first lot is obtained by Eteocles. Jupiter, in a council of the gods, declares his resolution of punishing the Thebans, and Argives also, by means of a marriage between Polynices and one of the daughters of Adrastus, king of Argos Juno opposes, but to no effect; and Mercury is sent on a message to the Shades, to the ghost of Laius, who is to appear to Eteocles, and provoke him to break the agreement. Polynices in the mean time departs from Thebes by night, is overtaken by a storm, and arrives at Argos; where he meets with Tydeus, who had fled from Calydon, having killed his brother. Adrastus entertains them, having received an oracle from Apollo that his daughter should be married to a boar and a |