If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy
daughter, or the wife of thy read more

If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy
daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as
thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve
other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers.

Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead,
To find such numbers who will serve instead:
read more

Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead,
To find such numbers who will serve instead:
And in whatever state a man be thrown,
'Tis that precisely they would wish their own.

An undutiful Daughter will prove an unmanageable Wife.

An undutiful Daughter will prove an unmanageable Wife.

My fond affection thou hast seen,
Then judge of my regret
To think more happy thou hadst read more

My fond affection thou hast seen,
Then judge of my regret
To think more happy thou hadst been
If we had never met!
And has that thought been shared by thee?
Ah, no! that smiling cheek
Proves more unchanging love for me
Than labor'd words could speak.

In every mess I find a friend,
In every port a wife.

In every mess I find a friend,
In every port a wife.

She would rather be an old man's darling than a young man's
warling.

She would rather be an old man's darling than a young man's
warling.

When I think of a merry, happy, free young girl -- and look at the ailing, aching state a young read more

When I think of a merry, happy, free young girl -- and look at the ailing, aching state a young wife generally is doomed to -- which you can't deny is the penalty of marriage.

She (his wife) is the wind beneath my wings.

She (his wife) is the wind beneath my wings.

Were such the wife had fallen to my part,
I'd break her spirit, or I'd break her heart.

Were such the wife had fallen to my part,
I'd break her spirit, or I'd break her heart.