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authorRoger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>2025-10-15 04:43:23 -0700
committerRoger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org>2025-10-15 04:43:23 -0700
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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13972 ***
+
+[Transcriber's Note: The following was proofread from what appear to
+be scans of photocopies of a reproduction of the original text. On top
+of the original's battered type-face and archaic spellings, this
+preparer, and the proofreaders before him, have had to contend with
+dirty or faded images and missing margins. We have made our best
+guesses as to the missing letters, but in some cases we were stymied;
+those few places are marked with [*?]. In addition, the most obvious
+printer's mistakes (transposed, missing, obviously incorrect, and even
+upside-down letters) have been corrected.]
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ THE
+
+ Whores and Bawd's
+
+ ANSWER
+
+ TO THE
+
+ Fifteen Comforts
+
+ OF
+
+ WHORING
+
+ [Illustration]
+
+ Printed in the Year, 1706.
+
+
+
+
+ The PREFACE.
+
+
+_Indeed we the Ladies of Pleasures, and those that stile themselves
+Procurers in Love Affairs, highly resent the late Paper put out
+against our Profession and bespattering of us for using only our own;
+but since it is the Way of the World for most Men to be inclinable to
+love Lac'd Mutton, I think it is their Duty to resent the Affront with
+us so much, as to Satyrize the Author of the_ Fifteen Comforts of
+Whoring, _who without is some young bashful Effeminate Fool or
+another, that knows not how to say_ Boh to a Goose; _or some old
+suffocated old Wretch so far pass'd his Labour, that he scolds for
+Madness that he cannot give a buxom young Lass her Benevolence; or
+else he may an hundred to one be one of Captain_ Risby's _Fraternity,
+and so must needs be a Woman Hater by Course. But let him be what he
+will, so long as our Impudence is Case-harden'd we value not his
+Reflections, and therefore will not leave our Vocation tho' Claps and
+Poxes shou'd be our Portion every Day for according to an eminent
+Whore now Deceas'd,_
+
+
+ Clap, clap ye Whores, Clap as Clap can,
+ Some Clap to Women, we'll Clap the Men.
+
+
+
+
+ THE
+ Whores and Bawds, Answer, &c.
+
+
+ _The first Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd._
+
+ No sooner does a Maid arrive to Years,
+ And she the Pleasures of Conjunction hears,
+ But strait her Maidenhead a Tip-toe runs,
+ To get her like, in Daughters or in Sons;
+ Upon some jolly Lad she casts her Eye,
+ And with some am'rous Gestures by the by;
+ She gives him great Encouragement to take
+ His fill of Love, and swears that for his sake
+ She soon shall Die; which makes the Youth so hot
+ To get about the Maiden's Honey-pot,
+ That promising her Marriage and the like,
+ They both a Bargain very quickly Strike;
+ [*?] Rubbers often take till she does prove
+ With Child, then she bids adieu to Love;
+ And e're she's brought to Bed away does Creep,
+ For fear he should the Wenche's Urchin keep.
+
+
+ _The Second Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd._
+
+ Now when a Maid has crackt her Maidenhead,
+ By being once or twice (Sir) brought to Bed,
+ Her Credit then's so broke that all her Wit,
+ And Policy cannot a Husband get;
+ But yet not being out of Heart she Cries,
+ From Marriage keeping I shall be more wise,
+ For if he's not a Fool he soon will find,
+ I had before I'd him to some been kind,
+ Then how he'd call me arrant Bitch and Whore,
+ And Swear some Stallion had been there before;
+ Then leave me, Wherefore I will single Live,
+ And my Invention to decoying give,
+ For as I was by fickle Man betray'd,
+ So Men by me too shall be Bubbles made,
+ Till the dull Sots clandestine Means do take,
+ In robbing Masters,for a Strumpets sake,
+ For which if they shou'd at the Gallows Swing,
+ Their End I'd in some merry Ditty Sing.
+
+
+ _ The Third Comfort of whoring answer'd._
+
+ What tho' of Whoring it is the mishap,
+ Sometimes for him that Ruts to get a Clap,
+ Or an Invetrate Pox which may expose
+ His private Sports by Eating off his Nose;
+ How many by hard Drinking will Roar out
+ With Aches, Rheumatism's or the Gout,
+ When in that gorging, guzling, tipling Sin
+ There is not half the Pleasure, that there's in,
+ The soft Embraces of a Woman who
+ Altho' she is not to one Moral true,
+ Does strive to please your height of amorous Lust,
+ With such a ravishing and pleasing Gust,
+ That wou'd an Eunuch tempt to tast the same,
+ But that he Tools does want to play the Game.
+
+
+ _The fourth Comfort of Whoring answer'd._
+
+ Tho' Buboes, Nodes and Ulcers are the Marks,
+ Of many a wanton Beau and am'rous Sparks
+ And many a lustful Lecher oft complains
+ Of restless Days and damn'd nocturnal Pains,
+ Nays go into a Flux o dozen Weeks,
+ Is't not the Man himself these Sorrow seeks?
+ Besides, how often see you go astride
+ A Miss, as if she was with Packthread ty'd;
+ Who's Poxt and Clapt as much as you can be,
+ And undergoes a deal of Misery,
+ To give your wanton Appetites content,
+ [*?] feeding you with Flesh, altho' in Lent:
+ Therefore as the old Woman very Tart
+ Once said, when against Thunder she did Fart,
+ 'Twas only tit for tat, so if the Men
+ Do clap the Whores, and Whores Claps them agen,
+ Tis only tit for tat; tis very true,
+ What's good for Goose is good for Gander too.
+
+
+ _The fifth Comfort of Whoring answer'd._
+
+ What if a Man is in a marry'd State?
+ Confin'd to one does am'rous Heat abate,
+ Or shew me him (altho' he were in need.)
+ That always wou'd upon one Diet feed
+ When once a Woman's by a Man enjoy'd
+ For good and all, his Appetite is cloy'd.
+ Therefore he fixes on some wanton Miss
+ Whom rather than his Wife behalf he'd Kiss,
+ For as it's oft reported now a days,
+ A Thing that's fresh, fresh Courage, too will raise
+
+
+ _The Sixth Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd_
+
+ What Man wou'd shun the Plagues of Pox and Pills,
+ Or all the ails that are in Doctors Bills,
+ Rather than not be circled in the Arms
+ Of one that tempts you with a thousand Charms,
+ And tho' she long has lost her Maidenhead,
+ Yet such Dexterity she'll shew in Bed,
+ That, Sir, your Mouth wou'd water o're and o're,
+ To feed again upon a skilful Whore.
+
+
+ _The seventh Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ 'Tis true, the Fop that thinketh to secure'd
+ To himself, in private Lodgins some fine Whore
+ He is a Fool, for she'll not be confin'd,
+ To any Man altho' he's are so kind;
+ For being then high Pampered and Fed,
+ In absence of her Cull she takes to Bed
+ Another, that with Gold allures her too,
+ That she may not to her Gallant be true;
+ For thinks she, when her Chap is tir'd quite,
+ And turns her off in others to delight,
+ From all she can she'll privately receive,
+ Which may her great Necessities relieve,
+ When that she bids adieu her Master's Bed,
+ To get by publick jilting Tricks her Bread.
+
+
+ _The eighth Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd._
+
+ If any Man's in Love with any Whore,
+ Why ought he not to lavish all his Store
+ Upon her? Since, to make the Fop admire,
+ Those prety Features which sets him a fire,
+ She's often at the Charge of Velvit Hoods,
+ Silk Stockins, Velvit Scarves and other Goods,
+ Lac'd Shoes, rich Mantoe's, Gloves and Diamond Rings
+ Fine Linnen, Gowns, and other costly things.
+
+
+ _The ninth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd_
+
+ If any has a Jilt some time sustain'd,
+ Who has imperious o're his Pocket reign'd,
+ And he's grown weary of so sweet a Life,
+ Or else being jealous takes to him a Wife;
+ The Whore can do no less than fling and tear,
+ And on th' inconstant Coxcomb Vengeance swaer,
+ For leaving her in this her state of Sin;
+ And let the World know what the Spark has been,
+ Unless a Pension he to her allows,
+ That she may not his Roguery disclose.
+
+
+ _The tenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ T'is true we Harlots work by various means,
+ And act our Parts behind too diff'rent Scenes;
+ Sometimes we do a Bastard lay to those,
+ That never did so much as touch our Cloaths;
+ Perhaps too ne'er were in our Company,
+ So Guineas get by this same Subtilty;
+ And many times a Pocket too we pick,
+ For at no mischief will a Strumpit stick;
+ For once a Woman's bad, there's no relief
+ By being only Whore, but also Thief.
+
+
+ _The Eleventh Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd._
+
+ We'll have you know, of Whores are very few,
+ That will to any Man be ever true;
+ To us all Men for Money are alike,
+ With Skips as soon as Beaus we bargains strike;
+ And gad no sooner is a Cully gone,
+ But quick another in his Room gets on.
+
+
+ _The Twelfth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ Besides great Charges we are at for Cloaths,
+ To tempt the Fancies of our cringing Beaus,
+ We Pimps and Bullies keep to be our Bail,
+ When Sharping Bailiffs nabb us for a Jayl.
+
+
+ _The Thirteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ Again as we to _Bridewel_ oft are sent,
+ To undergo a flauging Punishment,
+ A bribe to him that Whips us then is gi'n,
+ To have Compassion to our tender Skin.
+
+
+ _The Fourteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ With pretty winning ways we do assure,
+ Our selves to bring the Woodcocks to our Lure
+ As ogling wishfully, and having Tongue,
+ Which tho' 'tis false, yet with good Language hung
+ And if we have a Voice that's good, we sing
+ And _Syren_ like our Fops to ruin bring;
+ Then how we Strumpets do rejoyce to see,
+ The wiser Sex undone by Lechery.
+
+
+ _The Fifteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ But now good lack-a-day our Trade's so bad,
+ That truly Customers can scarce be had,
+ Through those sly Whore's that do in privat dwell,
+ So (but a story sad it is to tell)
+ Our common Whores can scarce their Livings get
+ By all the means of an intrieguing Wit.
+ For _Drury Lane_, in _Fleetstreet_ or the _Strand_,
+ Hours we walk e're any by the Hand,
+ Will take us, wherefore as we daggle home,
+ Some prick-louse _Taylor_ strutting up will come,
+ With whom for want we're forced to comply,
+ for one poor two pence wet, and two pence dry.
+
+
+ _FINIS._
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ THE
+
+ Fifteen PLAGUES
+
+ OF A
+
+ Maiden-Head
+
+ Written by Madam B----le.
+
+ [Illustration]
+
+ LONDON:
+
+ Printed by F.P. near _Fleet-street_, 1707.
+
+
+
+
+ THE
+
+ Fifteen Plagues of a
+
+ Maiden-Head, _&c._
+
+
+ _The First Plague._
+
+ The Woman Marry'd is Divinely Blest,
+ But I a Virgin cannot take my Rest;
+ I'm discontented up, as bad a Bed,
+ Because I'm plagued with my Maiden-head;
+ A thing that do's my blooming Years no good,
+ But only serves to freeze my youthful Blood,
+ Which slowly Circulates, do what I can,
+ For want of Bleeding by some skilful Man;
+ Whose tender hand his _Launcet_ so will guide,
+ That I the Name of _Maid_ may lay aside.
+
+
+ _The Second Plague._
+
+ When I've beheld an am'rous Youth make Love,
+ And swearing Truth by all the Gods above,
+ How has it strait inflam'd my sprightly Blood
+ Creating Flames, I scarcely should withstood,
+ But bid him boldly march, not grant me leisure
+ Of Parley, for 'tis Speed augments the Pleasure.
+ Sirrah! tis my Misfortune not to meet
+ With any Man that would my Passion greet,
+ If he with balmy Kisses stop'd my Breath,
+ From which one cannot die a better Death,
+ Or stroke my Breasts, those Mountains of Delight,
+ Your very Touch would fire an Anchorite;
+ Next let your wanton Palm a little stray,
+ And dip thy Fingers in the milky way:
+ Then having raiz'd me, let me gently fall,
+ Love's Trumpets sound, so Mortal have at all.
+ But why wish I this Bliss? I wish in vain,
+ And of my plaguy Burthen do complain;
+ For sooner may I see whole Nations dead,
+ But I find one to get my Maiden-head.
+
+
+ _The Third Plague._
+
+ She that her Maiden-head does keep, runs through
+ More Plagues than all the Land of _Egypt_ knew;
+ A teazing Whore, or a more tedious Wife,
+ Plagues not a Marry'd Man's unhappy Life,
+ As much as it do's me to be a Maid,
+ Of which same Name I am so much afraid,
+ Because I've often heard some People tell,
+ They that die Maids, must all lead Apes in Hell;
+ And so 'twere better I had never been,
+ Than thus to be perplex'd: _God save the Queen._
+
+
+ _The Fourth Plague._
+
+ When trembling Pris'ners all stand round the Bar,
+ A strange suspence about the fatal Verdict,
+ And when the Jury crys they Guilty are,
+ How they astonish'd are when they have heard it.
+ When in mighty Storm a Ship is toss'd,
+ And all do ask, What do's the Captain say?
+ How they (poor Souls) bemoan themselves as lost,
+ When his Advice at last is only, Pray!
+ So as it was one Day my pleasing Chance,
+ To meet a handsome young Man in a Grove,
+ Both time and place conspir'd to advance
+ The innocent Designs of charming Love.
+ I thought my Happiness was then compleat,
+ Because 'twas in his Pow'r to make it so;
+ I ask'd the Spark if he would do the Feat,
+ But the unperforming Blockhead answer'd, _No_.
+ Poor Prisoners may, I see, have Mercy shewn,
+ And Shipwreck'd Men may sometimes have the Luck,
+ To see their dismal Tempests overblown,
+ But I poor Virgin never shall be F----.
+
+
+ _The Fifth Plague._
+
+ All Day poor I do sit Disconsolate,
+ Cursing the grievous Rigor of my Fate,
+ To think how I have seven Years betray'd,
+ To that dull empty Title of a Maid.
+ If that I could my self but Woman write,
+ With what transcendent Pleasure and Delight,
+ Should I for ever, thrice for ever Bless,
+ The Man that led me to such Happiness.
+
+
+ _The Sixth Plague._
+
+ Pox take the thing Folks call a Maiden-head,
+ For soon as e'er I'm sleeping in my Bed,
+ I dream I'm mingling with some Man my Thigh,
+ Till something more than ord'nary does rise;
+ But when I wake and find my Dream's in vain,
+ I turn to Sleep only to Dream again,
+ For Dreams as yet are only kind to me,
+ And at the present quench my Lechery.
+
+
+ _The Seventh Plague._
+
+ Of late I wonder what's with me the Matter,
+ For I look like Death, and am as weak as Water,
+ For several Days I loath the sight of Meat,
+ And every Night I chew the upper Sheet;
+ [*?]e such Obstructions, that I'm almost moap'd,
+ And breath as if my Vitals all were stop'd.
+ I told a Friend how strange with me it was,
+ She, an experienc'd Bawd, soon grop'd the Cause,
+ Saying, _for this Disease, take what you can,
+ You'll ne'er be well, till you have taken Man._
+ Therefore, before with Maiden-heads I'll be
+ Thus plagu'd, and live in daily Misery,
+ Some Spark shall rummage all my Wem about,
+ To find this wonderful Distemper out.
+
+
+ _The Eighth Plague._
+
+ Now I am young, blind _Cupid_ me bewitches,
+ I scratch my Belly, for it always itches,
+ And what it itches for, I've told before,
+ 'Tis either to be Wife, or be a Whore;
+ Nay any thing indeed, would be poor I,
+ N'er Maiden-heads upon my Hands should lie,
+ Which till I lose, I'm sure my watry Eyes
+ Will pay to Love so great a Sacrifice,
+ That my Carcass soon will weep out all its Juice,
+ Till grown so dry, as fit for no Man's use.
+
+
+ _The Ninth Plague._
+
+ By all the pleasant Postures of Delight,
+ By all the Twines and Circles of the Night,
+ By the first Minute of those Nuptial Joys,
+ When Men put fairly for a Brace of Boys,
+ Dying a Virgin once I more do dread,
+ Than ten times losing of a _Maiden head_;
+ For tho' it can't be seen nor understood,
+ Yet is it troublesome to Flesh and Blood.
+
+
+ _The Tenth Plague._
+
+ You heedless Maids, whose young and tender Hearts
+ Unwounded yet, have scop'd the fatal Darts;
+ Let the sad Fate of a poor Virgin move,
+ And learn by me to pay Respect to Love.
+ If one can find a Man fit for Love's Game,
+ To lose one's Maiden-head it is no Shame:
+ 'Tis no Offence, if from his tender Lip
+ I snatch a tonguing Kiss; if my fond Clip
+ With loose Embraces oft his Neck surround,
+ For Love in Debts of Nature's ever bound.
+
+
+ _The Eleventh Plague._
+
+ A _Maiden head_! Pish, in it's no Delight,
+ Nor have I Ease, but when returning Night,
+ With Sleep's soft gentle Spell my Senses charms,
+ Then Fancy some Gallant brings to my Arms:
+ In them I oft the lov'd Shadow seem
+ To grasp, and Joys, yet blush I too in Dream.
+ I wake, and long my Heart in Wonder lies,
+ To think on my late pleasing Extasies:
+ But when I'm waking, and don't yet possess,
+ In Sleep again I wish to enjoy the Bliss:
+ For Sleep do's no malicious Spies admit,
+ Yet yields a lively Semblance of Delight.
+ Gods! what a Scene of Joy was that! how fast
+ I clasp'd the Vision to my panting Breast?
+ With what fierce Bounds I sprung to meet the Bliss,
+ While my wrapt Soul flew out in ev'ry Kiss!
+ Till breathless, faint, and softly sunk away,
+ I all dissolv'd in reaking Pleasures lay.
+
+
+ _The Twelfth Plague._
+
+ Happen what will, I'll make some Lovers know
+ What Pains, what raging Pains I undergo,
+ Till I am really Heart-sick, almost Dead,
+ By keeping that damn'd thing a Maiden-head.
+ Which makes me with Green Sickness almost lost,
+ So pale, so wan, and looking like a Ghost,
+ Eating Chalk, Cindars, or Tobacco-Pipes,
+ Which with a Looseness scowers all my Tripes;
+ But e'er I'll longer this great Pain endure,
+ The Stews I'll search, but that I'll find a Cure.
+
+
+ _The Thirteenth Plague._
+
+ Let doating Age debate of _Law_ and _Right_,
+ And gravely state the Bounds of Just and Fit;
+ Whose Wisdom's but their Envy, to destroy
+ And bar those Pleasures which they can't enjoy.
+ My blooming Years, more sprightly and more gay,
+ By Nature were design'd for Love and Play:
+ Youth knows no Check, but leaps weak Virtue's Fence,
+ And briskly hunts the noble Chace of Sense!
+ Without dull thinking I'll Enjoyment trace,
+ And call that lawful whatsoe'er do's please.
+ Nor will my Crime want Instances alone,
+ 'Tis what the Glorious Gods above have done;
+ For _Saturn_, and his greater Off-spring _Jove_,
+ Both stock'd their Heaven with Incestuous Love.
+
+
+ _The Fourteenth Plague._
+
+ If any Man do's with my Bubbies play,
+ Squeeze my small Hand, as soft as Wax or Clay,
+ Or lays his Hands upon my tender Knees,
+ What strange tumultuous Joys upon me seize!
+ My Breasts do heave, and languish do my Eyes,
+ Panting's my Heart, and trembling are my Thighs;
+ I sigh, I wish, I pray, and seem to die,
+ In one continu'd Fit of Ecstacy;
+ Thus by my Looks may Man know what I mean,
+ And how he easily may get between
+ Those Quarters, where he may surprize a Fort,
+ In which an Emperor may find such Sport,
+ That with a mighty Gust of Love's Alarms,
+ He'd lie dissolving in my circling Arms;
+ But 'tis my Fate to have to do with Fools,
+ Who're very loth and shy to use their Tools,
+ To ease a poor, and fond distressed Maid,
+ Of that same Load, of which I'm not afrad
+ To lose with any Man, tho' I should die,
+ For any Tooth (good Barber) is my Cry.
+
+
+ _The Fifteenth Plague._
+
+ Alas! I care not, Sir, what Force you'd use,
+ So I my Maiden-head could quickly lose:
+ Oft do I wish one skill'd in _Cupid_'s Arts,
+ Would quickly dive into my secret Parts;
+ For as I am, at Home all sorts of Weather,
+ I kit,----as Heaven and Earth would come together,
+ Twirling a Wheel, I sit at home, hum drum,
+ And spit away my Nature on my Thumb;
+ Whilst those that Marry'd are, invited be
+ To Labours, Christnings, where the Jollitry
+ Of Women lies in telling, as some say,
+ When 'twas they did at Hoity-Toity play;
+ Whose Husband's Yard is longest, whilst another
+ Can't in the least her great Misfortune smother,
+ So tells, her Husband's Bauble is so short,
+ That when he Hunts, he never shews her Sport.
+ Now I, because I have my Maiden-head,
+ Mayn't know the Pastimes of the Nuptial Bed;
+ But mayn't I quickly do as Marry'd People may,
+ I'll either kill my self, or shortly run away.
+
+
+ _FINIS._
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ _The_ Maids _Vindication:_
+
+ OR, THE
+
+ Fifteen Comforts of living a Single Life.
+
+
+ Being an _ANSWER_ to the _Fifteen
+ Plagues of a Maiden-head_.
+
+
+ _Written by a Gentlewoman._
+
+ [Illustration]
+
+ _London_, Printed for _J. Rogers_ in _Fleet-Street_, 1707.
+
+
+
+
+ _The_ Maids _Vindication:_
+
+ OR,
+
+
+ The Fifteen Comforts of
+ being a Maid, _&c._
+
+
+ _The First Comfort._
+
+ Ye _British_ Maids with _British_ Beauty blest,
+ Wife as you're Fair, of ev'ry Grace possest,
+ Do not the least degenerate from your Worth,
+ Nor be less Chaste because you're thus set forth;
+ Have Patience then, and I'll revenge your Cause,
+ And all the deep Designs of wicked Men expose,
+ Shew the dear Comforts of a Single Life,
+ With all the Plagues and Ills of Wh----re or Wife.
+
+
+ _The Second Comfort._
+
+ Tell me you Grave Disputers of the Schools,
+ You learned Coxcombs, and you well read Fools;
+ You that have told us, Man must be our Head,
+ And made _Dame Nature_ Pimp to what you've said,
+ Tell me where are the Joys of womans Life,
+ When she consents to be a wedded Wife:
+ Much less if she too kind and easie proves,
+ And grants her Heart to one that swears he loves,
+ I will not call her W----re, because I know
+ 'Twas his false Oaths and Lyes that made her so:
+ But you that would to your own selves be just,
+ Nor Friend nor Husband but with caution trust.
+
+
+ _The Third Comfort._
+
+ And first, the greatest lasting'st Plague of Life,
+ Husband; the Constant Jaylor of a wife,
+ A proud insulting dominering thing,
+ Abroad a subject, but at Home a King,
+ There he in State does Arbitrary Reign,
+ And lordlike pow'r do's o'er his wife maintain.
+ For when she puts the Marriage Garments on, }
+ The pleasures Ended e'er 'tis well begun: }
+ But Plagues increase and hardly e're have done, }
+ The joy he Courted he dispises now,
+ And do's a perfect Married Nausiance grow,
+
+
+ _The Fourth Comfort._
+
+ It's Jealousie that maggot of the pate,
+ Possess the Sot, how violent's his hate,
+ What curst suspitions haunt his tortur'd Mind,
+ And make him look for what he would not find,
+ Nothing but Females must i'th House appear,
+ And not a Dog or Cat, that's Male be there,
+ Nay lest the unhappy wife shou'd have her longings,
+ He cuts out all the Men i'th Tapstry Hangings,
+ And if a harmless Letter's to her sent,
+ He'll make it speak worse sense than e'er it meant.
+
+
+ _The Fifth Comfort._
+
+ In a Curst Chamber, Cloyster'd up for Life,
+ Loves Female Innocence miscall'd a wife,
+ Deny'd those Pleasures are to Virtue granted,
+ Yearly the Devil of a Husband haunted,
+ for a Release she cannot Hope nor Pray,
+ Till milder Death takes him, or her away,
+ If her she's happy, and if him she's bless'd,
+ Till to her arms she takes a second Guest.
+
+
+ _The Sixth Comfort._
+
+ If Beauty, Wit, or Com[*?]aisance would do,
+ There's women that can all these wonders show,
+ Beauty that might new fire to Hermit lend,
+ And wit which serves that Beauty to defend,
+ who courted, cou'd do wonders with those Charms,
+ Till Parson conjur'd her to Husbands Arms,
+ And tho' the same perfections still remain
+ Yet nothing now can the dull Creature gain,
+ No looks can win him, nor no Smiles invite,
+ He now does her, and her Endearments slight,
+ And leaves those Graces which he shou'd adore,
+ To dote upon some Ugly suburb whore,
+ whilst poor neglected Spouse remains at home,
+ with discontent and Sorrow overcome,
+ No prayers, nor tears, nor all the Virtuous arts.
+ which women use to tame Rebellous Hearts.
+ Can the Incorrigible H[*?] move,
+ And make him own his once so promis'd love,
+
+
+ _The Seventh Comfort_
+
+ Oh she a happy, too too happy Bride,
+ That has a Husband snoring by her side,
+ Belching out Fumes of undigested wine,
+ And lies all Night like a good natur'd Swine,
+ whose Snoring serves as Musick to her Ears,
+ And keeps true Confort with her silent Tears,
+ That can himself no more than _Chaos_ move,
+ And still neglects the great affair of love,
+ She may indeed assume the name of wife,
+ But others know she's but a Nurse for life.
+
+
+ _The Eighth Comfort._
+
+ A drunken Husband tho may have good nature,
+ But here's a fullen Matrimonial Creature,
+ will ask, and will not, will ask, and will deny
+ Is Peevish, Cross, and cannot tell for why,
+ Not one kind look he will to Spouse afford,
+ Scarce speake at all, at least not one good word,
+ All the obliging arts that she can use,
+ To reconcile this angry pevish Spouse,
+ Avail no more, than if she took delight,
+ In washing Bricks, or Swarthy _Negroes_ white,
+ Lyons, and Tyger Men have learnt to tame;
+ Retaining nothing frightful but the Name,
+ But Man, unruly man, that Beast of reason,
+ 'Gainst women still continues in his Treason.
+ No Charms his damn'd ill nature can release,
+ _Satan_, must only _Satan_ disposes.
+
+
+ _The Ninth Comfort._
+
+ Nor Marriage is alone the dang'rous shelf,
+ On which a woman may destroy her self,
+ Believe no whineing Fool that Swears he loves,
+ And for your Pity to his Passion moves:
+ with fair decoying words he glids the Cheat,
+ Tells her the Sin, nor Danger are so great,
+ The joy is past the reach of Humane view,
+ And adds it will for ever bind him to be True:
+ But oh! if Maids upon this Quicksand run,
+ They're lost past hope, and are for e'er undone,
+
+
+ _The Tenth Comfort._
+
+ Another swears he'll keep you all your Life,
+ Without the ugly Names, _of Man and Wife_.
+ And to that End what Arts, what Tricks are laid,
+ T' insnare the Virtuous Young unthinking Maid,
+ What rev'rend Bawd's made use of to Entice,
+ The Fair one's liking to that Modish Vice.
+ How she at last is guided to his Arms,
+ Where for a while he Doats upon her Charms.
+ But long she can't the airy Title hold,
+ Her look'd for Joys are scarce a Twelve Month Old,
+ Before _Kind Keeper_ takes another Miss,
+ By sad Experience weary grown of this.
+
+
+ _The Eleventh Comfort._
+
+ Are these the Sov'reigns then that we must own,
+ Must we before their Golden Calves bow down,
+ Forgive us Heav'n, if we renounce the Elves,
+ And make a Common-wealth among our Selves,
+ Whereby the Laws that we shall there Ordain.
+ We'll make it Capital to mention Man,
+ Man! we'll for ever banish from our sight,
+ Not talk by Day, nor think of them by Night,
+ We'll shun their Courtship, as we do the Plague,
+ And loath 'em more than they a Toothless Hagg.
+
+
+ _The Twelfth Comfort._
+
+ 'Tis not their Sighs, Crying, nor Prayers,
+ Their subtile Whinings, nor Treacherous Tears,
+ That shall one kind Return for ever gain,
+ But when t' oblige us they've done all they can,
+ We'll laugh, deride, and scorn the Foppish Sex,
+ And wrank Invention for new ways to vex,
+ Till they to shun us, prompted by Despair,
+ Or Drown themselves, or hung in cleanly Air.
+
+
+ _The Thirteenth Comfort._
+
+ But if amongst us there should chance to be,
+ One silly fond regardless foolish She,
+ That spight of all our Edicts will maintain
+ A League with that detested Creature _Man:_
+ Good Counsels first shall strive to bring her off,
+ But if the Fool will that good Counsel scoff,
+ If she the freedom of her Sex will leave,
+ And love a Wretch she knows that will deceive,
+ From Pity well exempt the _Female_ Sot,
+ That wretched Thing a _Husband_ be her Lot.
+
+
+ _The Fourteenth Comfort._
+
+ Jealous by Day, and Impotent by Night,
+ Have neither Shape nor Mein to please the Sight
+ Diseas'd in Body, and deform'd in Soul,
+ Conceited, Proud, yet all the while a Fool:
+ May she with him spin out a tedious Life,
+ Blest with that much admir'd Title, _Wife_.
+ And may no Female better Fate partake,
+ That prophane the wholsome Laws we make.
+
+
+ _The Fifteenth Comfort._
+
+ And may the silly Maid that is so blind, }
+ To trust Man's Oaths that are as false as Wind, }
+ And only to her Ruin are design'd, }
+ That thinks her Vertue is a Plague of Life,
+ And will to cure it, yield as Whore or Wife.
+ Find all the Ills that have before been said,
+ And lose for endless Plauges her Maiden-head,
+ Who will not bear what they infer a Pain,
+ And laugh at all the base Delights of Men.
+
+
+ _FINIS._
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ THE
+
+ Fifteen PLEASURES
+
+ OF A
+
+ VIRGIN.
+
+ WRITTEN
+
+ By the suppos'd AUTHOR of
+
+ THE
+
+ Fifteen Plagues
+
+ OF A
+
+ Maidenhead.
+
+
+ _Virtus, repulsæ nescia fortidæ,
+ Intimitatis fulget honoribus._ Hor. L. 3. Od. 1.
+
+
+ LONDON: Printed in the Year, 1709.
+
+
+
+
+ AN
+
+ APOLOGY
+
+ FOR
+
+ The Fifteen Plagues of a Maidenhead,
+ by the Imputed Author thereof.
+
+
+ Suppose 'twas I, you thought, had drew my Pen
+ On Virtue, see I fight for her agen;
+ Wherefore, I hope my Foes will all excuse
+ Th' Extravagance of a Repenting Muse;
+ Pardon whate'er she has too boldly said,
+ She only acted then in Masquerade;
+ But now the Vizard's off, She's chang'd her Scene,
+ And turns a Modest, Civil Girl agen;
+ Let some admire the Fops whose Talent lie
+ Inventing dull, insipid Blasphemy;
+ I swear I cannot with those Terms dispence,
+ Nor won't be Damn'd for the Repute of Sense;
+ I cou'd be Bawdy much, and nick the Times,
+ In what they dearly Love; damn'd Placket Rhimes;
+ But that such Naus'ous Lines can reach no higher
+ Than what the Cod-Piece or Buffoons inspire.
+
+ To noble Satyr, I'll direct my Aim,
+ And bite Mankind, and Poetry Reclaim;
+ I'll ever use my Wit another Way,
+ And next the Ugliness of Vice display.
+
+ _Yours, &c._
+
+
+
+
+ THE
+
+ FIFTEEN P----s
+
+ OF A
+
+ VIRGIN.
+
+
+ _The first P----._
+
+ In these unhappy and more wretched Days,
+ Eclipsed with Debauchery and Plays!
+ Virgins can scarce stir out, but some dull Fop,
+ Impertinently kind, her way will stop,
+ And almost force Her to some House of Sin,
+ Her Innocence and Virtue to draw in;
+ And if he can her Modesty invade,
+ Glad with her Spoils and Trophies of a Maid,
+ The Villain is the first that will complain
+ Her foul Dishonour, and polluted Shame.
+
+
+ _The Second P----._
+
+ A Maid dispos'd to take the gentle Air,
+ And to _Grays-Inn_, or _Temple-Walks_ repair;
+ No sooner enters she the Garden Gate,
+ Sits down, and thinks of going e're 'tis late,
+ But some insipid Squire having spy'd her,
+ Takes Heart of Steel, and boldly squats beside her.
+ He thus accosts her,--Madam, _Ah! by Gad
+ You're wond'rous Fair; but Lady, why so sad?_
+ Her Innocence he thinks will soon submit,
+ To all the swagg'ring Tyrants of his Wit;
+ But being strictly taught in Vertue's School,
+ She does not only slight the prating Fool,
+ Contemn'd his Actions, and his feigned Tone,
+ But leaves the Lawyer strait to Curse alone.
+
+
+ _The Third P----._
+
+ The Maid that's Blessed with a beauteos Face,
+ A gentile Air, and as genteel a Grace;
+ On her some am'rous Beau soon casts his Eyes,
+ And to obtain the much admired Prize;
+ He fashionably dresses, struts, looks big,
+ Like _John_ of _Gaunt_, and in a pond'rous Wig;
+ A subtle, sly, and cunning Ambuscade,
+ For her Virginity is quickly laid;
+ Of Love he tells a Thousand Fictious Tales,
+ Till over her Discretion Lust prevails,
+ But modest Maids, whose young and tender Hearts
+ Unwounded yet, have the scap'd fatal Darts;
+ Let the sad Fates of wanton Strumpets move,
+ And learn by them to shun unlawful Love:
+ Thus Virgins, if you'll Modesty embrace,
+ By making all Allurements give you place:
+ Virtue a Sanctuary e'er shall be
+ Against the Quivers of Iniquity.
+
+
+ _The Fourth P----._
+
+ A Maid of honest, but mean Parents Born,
+ These Times is only made the rich Man's scorn,
+ Howe'er her Beauty tempting some young Spark
+ He takes her to the Playhouse and the Park,
+ Where he with many Imprecations vows,
+ His Fortune and his Life to her he owes;
+ But finding his Temptations are in vain,
+ Her Company in Wrath he do's refrain;
+ Which at the first may touch her tender Heart,
+ And make her feel the force of _Cupid_'s Dart;
+ But Time and Absence Having made a Cure
+ Of that same Plague she could not first endure.
+ She says, as now I'm well, recite not then
+ The Falshood and Deceit of Perjur'd Men,
+ Virtue retain'd, that Man I'll ever slight,
+ Whom I cannot by Marriage claim my Right.
+
+
+ _The Fifth P----, in a Dialogue betwixt_ Cloris
+ _and_ Parthenisea.
+
+ _Clo._ Why dost thou all Address deny?
+ Hard-hearted _Parthenisea_, why?
+ See how the trembling Lovers come,
+ That from thy Lips expect their Doom.
+
+ _Par._ _Cloris!_ I hate them all, they know,
+ Nay I have often told them so;
+ Their silly Politicks abhorr'd:
+ I scorn to make my Slave my Lord.
+
+ _Clo._ But _Strephon_'s Eyes proclaim His Love
+ Too brave, Tyrannical to prove.
+
+ _Par._ Ah _Cloris!_ when we lost our Power?
+ We must obey the Conqueror.
+
+ _Clo._ Yet when a gentle Prince bears sway,
+ It is no Bondage to Obey.
+
+ _Par._ But if like _Nero_, for a while,
+ With Arts of Kindness he beguile,
+ How shall the Tyrant be withstood,
+ When he has writ his Laws in Blood?
+
+ _Clo._ Love (_Parthenisea_) all commands,
+ it fetters Kings in charming Bands;
+ _Mars_ yields his Arms to _Cupid_'s Darts,
+ And Beauty softens Savage Hearts.
+
+ _Par._ Well may you choose to be a Wife,
+ I'll still retain a Single Life.
+
+
+ _The Sixth P----._
+
+ Rid of a Coxcomb, next a Siege is laid
+ Against the weak Repulses of a Maid,
+ By one that keeps a Coach and Lackies too,
+ And that he might his wicked Plots pursue,
+ In gawdy Dress he would her Heart surprize,
+ with Gold to dazle her too watchful Eyes;
+ But Vertue cherishing her Virtuous Breast,
+ With so much Innocence which made her blest,
+ Her Innocence as hitherto ne'er knew
+ What Mischief _Venus_ or her Son cou'd do,
+
+
+ _The Seventh P----._
+
+ Where blindfold Fortune has been pleas'd to place
+ A Virgen with a Master void of Grace,
+ With Foot, with Hand, or Eyes, he'll Tokens speak,
+ The Signs deny, these Assignations make;
+ Thinks she shall be as pliant to his Use,
+ As Strumpets on a _Cornival_ let loose;
+ But if she's Chast, his Miss she will not be,
+ Unless she is as Fiend, and Base as he.
+
+
+ _The Eighth P----._
+
+ _A_ Negro _Courting onto a maid,
+ That was most Fair; to him she said,
+ Thy Ink, my Papper, make me guess,
+ Our Nuptial Bed will make a Press,
+ And to our Sports, if any came
+ They'll read a Wanton Epigram,_
+
+
+ _The Ninth P----._
+
+ _How many Sweethearts do these follow me
+ Whose fell Design I know's to Ruine me;
+ but let me banish this forbidden Fire,
+ Or quench it with my Blood, or with't expire;
+ Unstain'd in Honour; and unhurt in Fame,
+ I'll never blast Virginity Shame,_
+
+
+ _The Tenth P----._
+
+ _A Sailor vowing he would all his Life,
+ Be true to me, he took another Wife;
+ whose Folshood (not as e're he did Invade
+ My Honour) made me sick, and, dying, said,
+ Ah now at my last Hour I gasping lie:
+ Let only my kind Murtherer be by,
+ Let him, while I breath out my Soul in Sighs,
+ Or gaz't away, look on with pitying Eyes;
+ Let him (for sure he can't deny me this)
+ Seal my cold Lips with one dear parting Kiss._
+
+
+ _The Eleventh P----._
+
+ _To have a Sweetheart once it was my Fate,
+ Whom much I lov'd, and now as much do hate,
+ Fo going to be coupled for my Life,
+ He was took from me by a former Wife;
+ Henceforwards I shall ever cautious be
+ Of Marrying one, a Stranger unto me._
+
+
+ _The Twelfth P----._
+
+ _A Sweetheart whom I lov'd, and he lov'd me,
+ Intoxicated with Cursed Jealousie,
+ Without a Cause, my Innocence did slight,
+ Which urged soon my Passion thus to write,
+ Kind Health, which you, and only you can grant,
+ Which, if deny'd, I must for ever want;
+ To you your Lover sends; but blushing Shame,
+ In silence bids my Paper hide my Name.
+ Witness what Pains (for you alone can know)
+ Poor helpless I do bear and undergo;
+ A thousand Racks and Martyrdoms, and more
+ Than a weak Virgin can be thought, I bore:
+ You rule alone my Arbitrary Fate,
+ And Life and on your disposal wait.
+ How little more remains for me to crave!
+ How little more for you to give! O save
+ A wretched Maid undone by Love and you,
+ Who does in Tears and dying Accents sue;
+ Who bleeds that Passion she had ne'er reveal'd,
+ If not by Love, Almighty Love compell'd:_
+ No ever let her mournful Tomb complain,
+ Here _Phillis_, kill'd by your cold Disdain;
+ And to her Honour let it e'er be said,
+ She dy'd a faithful Lover, yet a Maid.
+
+
+ _The Thirteenth P----._
+
+ Blessed with Beauty, Money, Youth and Wit,
+ I'm daily plagu'd with some Penurious Cit,
+ But e'er I will to such be forc'd to yield,
+ To a Man of Sense I Will resign the Field,
+ For Men of Breeding more of Love can show,
+ Than dull Mechanicks e'er can learn or know.
+
+
+ _The Fourteenth P----._
+
+ A Maid can scarce into a Service get,
+ But Prentice Boys (void both of Sense and Wit)
+ Will lead the Servant such a tedious Life,
+ To Change the Name of Maid to that of Wife,
+ That she, to shun their solid Impudence,
+ Must leave her Service in her own Defence.
+
+
+ _Fifteenth P----._
+
+ What spiteful Star, when I was Born did Rule,
+ That I'm thus teazed with a whining Fool,
+ Which is the very worst of Fools; for he,
+ Got in a Stran of dull Simplicity,
+ Crys, _Agdes!_ See my looks, my wishing Eyes,
+ My melting Tears and hear my begging Sighs;
+ About your Neck I could have flung my Arms,
+ And been all over Love, all over Charms;
+ Grasp and hang on your K----, and there have dy'd,
+ There breath my gasping Soul out tho' deny'd.
+ My earnest Suits shall never give you rest,
+ While Life and Love more durable shall last;
+ Alive I'll Pray, 'till Breath in Pray'rs be lost,
+ And after come a kind beseeching Ghost.
+ He thought these soft Expressions soon might move
+ My Heart, which was bequeath'd before to Love,
+ No, no, these whiedling Fops I really hate,
+ And since I am resolv'd to change my State,
+ A Man of Wit and Sense I do adore,
+ To him I grant my Favours and my Store,
+ As certain Wedlock with so good a Choice,
+ May make my Judgment, whilst I live rejoice.
+
+
+ _FINIS._
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony:
+Responses From Women, by Various
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13972 ***
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+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13972 ***</div>
+
+<p>[Transcriber's Note: The following was proofread from what appear to
+be scans of photocopies of a reproduction of the original text. On top
+of the original's battered type-face and archaic spellings, this
+preparer, and the proofreaders before him, have had to contend with
+dirty or faded images and missing margins. We have made our best
+guesses as to the missing letters, but in some cases we were stymied;
+those few places are marked with [*?]. In addition, the most obvious
+printer's mistakes (transposed, missing, obviously incorrect, and even
+upside-down letters) have been corrected.]<br /><br /></p>
+
+<hr class="full"/>
+
+<h2>THE</h2>
+<h2>Whores and Bawd's</h2>
+<h1>ANSWER</h1>
+<h2>TO THE</h2>
+<h2>Fifteen Comforts</h2>
+<h2>OF</h2>
+<h1>WHORING</h1>
+<hr />
+<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt="Hand in hand"/></div>
+<hr />
+<p class="center">Printed in the Year, 1706.<br /><br /></p>
+
+
+<h2>The PREFACE.</h2>
+
+<p><i>Indeed we the Ladies of Pleasures, and those that stile themselves
+Procurers in Love Affairs, highly resent the late Paper put out
+against our Profession and bespattering of us for using only our own;
+but since it is the Way of the World for most Men to be inclinable to
+love Lac'd Mutton, I think it is their Duty to resent the Affront with
+us so much, as to Satyrize the Author of the</i> Fifteen Comforts of
+Whoring, <i>who without is some young bashful Effeminate Fool or
+another, that knows not how to say</i> Boh to a Goose; <i>or some old
+suffocated old Wretch so far pass'd his Labour, that he scolds for
+Madness that he cannot give a buxom young Lass her Benevolence; or
+else he may an hundred to one be one of Captain</i> Risby's <i>Fraternity,
+and so must needs be a Woman Hater by Course. But let him be what he
+will, so long as our Impudence is Case-harden'd we value not his
+Reflections, and therefore will not leave our Vocation tho' Claps and
+Poxes shou'd be our Portion every Day for according to an eminent
+Whore now Deceas'd,</i></p>
+
+<p class="poem">Clap, clap ye Whores, Clap as Clap can,<br />
+Some Clap to Women, we'll Clap the Men.<br /><br /></p>
+
+
+<h2>THE</h2>
+<h2>Whores and Bawds, Answer, &amp;c.</h2>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="The Fifteen Comforts of Whoring">
+<tr><td><h3><i>The first Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>No sooner does a Maid arrive to Years,<br />
+And she the Pleasures of Conjunction hears,<br />
+But strait her Maidenhead a Tip-toe runs,<br />
+To get her like, in Daughters or in Sons;<br />
+Upon some jolly Lad she casts her Eye,<br />
+And with some am'rous Gestures by the by;<br />
+She gives him great Encouragement to take<br />
+His fill of Love, and swears that for his sake<br />
+She soon shall Die; which makes the Youth so hot<br />
+To get about the Maiden's Honey-pot,<br />
+That promising her Marriage and the like,<br />
+They both a Bargain very quickly Strike;<br />
+[*?] Rubbers often take till she does prove<br />
+With Child, then she bids adieu to Love;<br />
+And e're she's brought to Bed away does Creep,<br />
+For fear he should the Wenche's Urchin keep.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Second Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Now when a Maid has crackt her Maidenhead,<br />
+By being once or twice (Sir) brought to Bed,<br />
+Her Credit then's so broke that all her Wit,<br />
+And Policy cannot a Husband get;<br />
+But yet not being out of Heart she Cries,<br />
+From Marriage keeping I shall be more wise,<br />
+For if he's not a Fool he soon will find,<br />
+I had before I'd him to some been kind,<br />
+Then how he'd call me arrant Bitch and Whore,<br />
+And Swear some Stallion had been there before;<br />
+Then leave me, Wherefore I will single Live,<br />
+And my Invention to decoying give,<br />
+For as I was by fickle Man betray'd,<br />
+So Men by me too shall be Bubbles made,<br />
+Till the dull Sots clandestine Means do take,<br />
+In robbing Masters,for a Strumpets sake,<br />
+For which if they shou'd at the Gallows Swing,<br />
+Their End I'd in some merry Ditty Sing.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i> The Third Comfort of whoring answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>What tho' of Whoring it is the mishap,<br />
+Sometimes for him that Ruts to get a Clap,<br />
+Or an Invetrate Pox which may expose<br />
+His private Sports by Eating off his Nose;<br />
+How many by hard Drinking will Roar out<br />
+With Aches, Rheumatism's or the Gout,<br />
+When in that gorging, guzling, tipling Sin<br />
+There is not half the Pleasure, that there's in,<br />
+The soft Embraces of a Woman who<br />
+Altho' she is not to one Moral true,<br />
+Does strive to please your height of amorous Lust,<br />
+With such a ravishing and pleasing Gust,<br />
+That wou'd an Eunuch tempt to tast the same,<br />
+But that he Tools does want to play the Game.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The fourth Comfort of Whoring answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Tho' Buboes, Nodes and Ulcers are the Marks,<br />
+Of many a wanton Beau and am'rous Sparks<br />
+And many a lustful Lecher oft complains<br />
+Of restless Days and damn'd nocturnal Pains,<br />
+Nays go into a Flux o dozen Weeks,<br />
+Is't not the Man himself these Sorrow seeks?<br />
+Besides, how often see you go astride<br />
+A Miss, as if she was with Packthread ty'd;<br />
+Who's Poxt and Clapt as much as you can be,<br />
+And undergoes a deal of Misery,<br />
+To give your wanton Appetites content,<br />
+[*?] feeding you with Flesh, altho' in Lent:<br />
+Therefore as the old Woman very Tart<br />
+Once said, when against Thunder she did Fart,<br />
+'Twas only tit for tat, so if the Men<br />
+Do clap the Whores, and Whores Claps them agen,<br />
+Tis only tit for tat; tis very true,<br />
+What's good for Goose is good for Gander too.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The fifth Comfort of Whoring answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>What if a Man is in a marry'd State?<br />
+Confin'd to one does am'rous Heat abate,<br />
+Or shew me him (altho' he were in need.)<br />
+That always wou'd upon one Diet feed<br />
+When once a Woman's by a Man enjoy'd<br />
+For good and all, his Appetite is cloy'd.<br />
+Therefore he fixes on some wanton Miss<br />
+Whom rather than his Wife behalf he'd Kiss,<br />
+For as it's oft reported now a days,<br />
+A Thing that's fresh, fresh Courage, too will raise<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Sixth Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>What Man wou'd shun the Plagues of Pox and Pills,<br />
+Or all the ails that are in Doctors Bills,<br />
+Rather than not be circled in the Arms<br />
+Of one that tempts you with a thousand Charms,<br />
+And tho' she long has lost her Maidenhead,<br />
+Yet such Dexterity she'll shew in Bed,<br />
+That, Sir, your Mouth wou'd water o're and o're,<br />
+To feed again upon a skilful Whore.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The seventh Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>'Tis true, the Fop that thinketh to secure'd<br />
+To himself, in private Lodgins some fine Whore<br />
+He is a Fool, for she'll not be confin'd,<br />
+To any Man altho' he's are so kind;<br />
+For being then high Pampered and Fed,<br />
+In absence of her Cull she takes to Bed<br />
+Another, that with Gold allures her too,<br />
+That she may not to her Gallant be true;<br />
+For thinks she, when her Chap is tir'd quite,<br />
+And turns her off in others to delight,<br />
+From all she can she'll privately receive,<br />
+Which may her great Necessities relieve,<br />
+When that she bids adieu her Master's Bed,<br />
+To get by publick jilting Tricks her Bread.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The eighth Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>If any Man's in Love with any Whore,<br />
+Why ought he not to lavish all his Store<br />
+Upon her? Since, to make the Fop admire,<br />
+Those prety Features which sets him a fire,<br />
+She's often at the Charge of Velvit Hoods,<br />
+Silk Stockins, Velvit Scarves and other Goods,<br />
+Lac'd Shoes, rich Mantoe's, Gloves and Diamond Rings<br />
+Fine Linnen, Gowns, and other costly things.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The ninth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>If any has a Jilt some time sustain'd,<br />
+Who has imperious o're his Pocket reign'd,<br />
+And he's grown weary of so sweet a Life,<br />
+Or else being jealous takes to him a Wife;<br />
+The Whore can do no less than fling and tear,<br />
+And on th' inconstant Coxcomb Vengeance swaer,<br />
+For leaving her in this her state of Sin;<br />
+And let the World know what the Spark has been,<br />
+Unless a Pension he to her allows,<br />
+That she may not his Roguery disclose.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The tenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>T'is true we Harlots work by various means,<br />
+And act our Parts behind too diff'rent Scenes;<br />
+Sometimes we do a Bastard lay to those,<br />
+That never did so much as touch our Cloaths;<br />
+Perhaps too ne'er were in our Company,<br />
+So Guineas get by this same Subtilty;<br />
+And many times a Pocket too we pick,<br />
+For at no mischief will a Strumpit stick;<br />
+For once a Woman's bad, there's no relief<br />
+By being only Whore, but also Thief.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eleventh Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>We'll have you know, of Whores are very few,<br />
+That will to any Man be ever true;<br />
+To us all Men for Money are alike,<br />
+With Skips as soon as Beaus we bargains strike;<br />
+And gad no sooner is a Cully gone,<br />
+But quick another in his Room gets on.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Twelfth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Besides great Charges we are at for Cloaths,<br />
+To tempt the Fancies of our cringing Beaus,<br />
+We Pimps and Bullies keep to be our Bail,<br />
+When Sharping Bailiffs nabb us for a Jayl.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Thirteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Again as we to <i>Bridewel</i> oft are sent,<br />
+To undergo a flauging Punishment,<br />
+A bribe to him that Whips us then is gi'n,<br />
+To have Compassion to our tender Skin.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>With pretty winning ways we do assure,<br />
+Our selves to bring the Woodcocks to our Lure<br />
+As ogling wishfully, and having Tongue,<br />
+Which tho' 'tis false, yet with good Language hung<br />
+And if we have a Voice that's good, we sing<br />
+And <i>Syren</i> like our Fops to ruin bring;<br />
+Then how we Strumpets do rejoyce to see,<br />
+The wiser Sex undone by Lechery.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fifteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>But now good lack-a-day our Trade's so bad,<br />
+That truly Customers can scarce be had,<br />
+Through those sly Whore's that do in privat dwell,<br />
+So (but a story sad it is to tell)<br />
+Our common Whores can scarce their Livings get<br />
+By all the means of an intrieguing Wit.<br />
+For <i>Drury Lane</i>, in <i>Fleetstreet</i> or the <i>Strand</i>,<br />
+Hours we walk e're any by the Hand,<br />
+Will take us, wherefore as we daggle home,<br />
+Some prick-louse <i>Taylor</i> strutting up will come,<br />
+With whom for want we're forced to comply,<br />
+for one poor two pence wet, and two pence dry.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h2><i>FINIS.</i><br /><br /></h2>
+
+<hr class="full" />
+
+<h2>THE</h2>
+<h1>Fifteen PLAGUES</h1>
+<h2>OF A</h2>
+<h1>Maiden-Head</h1>
+<hr />
+<p class="center">Written by Madam B----le.</p>
+<hr />
+<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt="Printer's seal"/></div>
+<hr />
+<p class="center">LONDON:<br />
+Printed by <i>F.P.</i> near <i>Fleet-street</i>, 1707.<br /><br /></p>
+
+<h2>THE</h2>
+<h2>Fifteen Plagues of a</h2>
+<h2>Maiden-Head, <i>&amp;c.</i></h2>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="The Fifteen Plagues of a Maiden-Head">
+<tr><td><h3><i>The First Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;The Woman Marry'd is Divinely Blest,<br />
+But I a Virgin cannot take my Rest;<br />
+I'm discontented up, as bad a Bed,<br />
+Because I'm plagued with my Maiden-head;<br />
+A thing that do's my blooming Years no good,<br />
+But only serves to freeze my youthful Blood,<br />
+Which slowly Circulates, do what I can,<br />
+For want of Bleeding by some skilful Man;<br />
+Whose tender hand his <i>Launcet</i> so will guide,<br />
+That I the Name of <i>Maid</i> may lay aside.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Second Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;When I've beheld an am'rous Youth make Love,<br />
+And swearing Truth by all the Gods above,<br />
+How has it strait inflam'd my sprightly Blood<br />
+Creating Flames, I scarcely should withstood,<br />
+But bid him boldly march, not grant me leisure<br />
+Of Parley, for 'tis Speed augments the Pleasure.<br />
+Sirrah! tis my Misfortune not to meet<br />
+With any Man that would my Passion greet,<br />
+If he with balmy Kisses stop'd my Breath,<br />
+From which one cannot die a better Death,<br />
+Or stroke my Breasts, those Mountains of Delight,<br />
+Your very Touch would fire an Anchorite;<br />
+Next let your wanton Palm a little stray,<br />
+And dip thy Fingers in the milky way:<br />
+Then having raiz'd me, let me gently fall,<br />
+Love's Trumpets sound, so Mortal have at all.<br />
+But why wish I this Bliss? I wish in vain,<br />
+And of my plaguy Burthen do complain;<br />
+For sooner may I see whole Nations dead,<br />
+But I find one to get my Maiden-head.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Third Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;She that her Maiden-head does keep, runs through<br />
+More Plagues than all the Land of <i>Egypt</i> knew;<br />
+A teazing Whore, or a more tedious Wife,<br />
+Plagues not a Marry'd Man's unhappy Life,<br />
+As much as it do's me to be a Maid,<br />
+Of which same Name I am so much afraid,<br />
+Because I've often heard some People tell,<br />
+They that die Maids, must all lead Apes in Hell;<br />
+And so 'twere better I had never been,<br />
+Than thus to be perplex'd: <i>God save the Queen.</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;When trembling Pris'ners all stand round the Bar,<br />
+A strange suspence about the fatal Verdict,<br />
+And when the Jury crys they Guilty are,<br />
+How they astonish'd are when they have heard it.<br />
+When in mighty Storm a Ship is toss'd,<br />
+And all do ask, What do's the Captain say?<br />
+How they (poor Souls) bemoan themselves as lost,<br />
+When his Advice at last is only, Pray!<br />
+So as it was one Day my pleasing Chance,<br />
+To meet a handsome young Man in a Grove,<br />
+Both time and place conspir'd to advance<br />
+The innocent Designs of charming Love.<br />
+I thought my Happiness was then compleat,<br />
+Because 'twas in his Pow'r to make it so;<br />
+I ask'd the Spark if he would do the Feat,<br />
+But the unperforming Blockhead answer'd, <i>No</i>.<br />
+Poor Prisoners may, I see, have Mercy shewn,<br />
+And Shipwreck'd Men may sometimes have the Luck,<br />
+To see their dismal Tempests overblown,<br />
+But I poor Virgin never shall be F----.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fifth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;All Day poor I do sit Disconsolate,<br />
+Cursing the grievous Rigor of my Fate,<br />
+To think how I have seven Years betray'd,<br />
+To that dull empty Title of a Maid.<br />
+If that I could my self but Woman write,<br />
+With what transcendent Pleasure and Delight,<br />
+Should I for ever, thrice for ever Bless,<br />
+The Man that led me to such Happiness.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Sixth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Pox take the thing Folks call a Maiden-head,<br />
+For soon as e'er I'm sleeping in my Bed,<br />
+I dream I'm mingling with some Man my Thigh,<br />
+Till something more than ord'nary does rise;<br />
+But when I wake and find my Dream's in vain,<br />
+I turn to Sleep only to Dream again,<br />
+For Dreams as yet are only kind to me,<br />
+And at the present quench my Lechery.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Seventh Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Of late I wonder what's with me the Matter,<br />
+For I look like Death, and am as weak as Water,<br />
+For several Days I loath the sight of Meat,<br />
+And every Night I chew the upper Sheet;<br />
+[*?]e such Obstructions, that I'm almost moap'd,<br />
+And breath as if my Vitals all were stop'd.<br />
+I told a Friend how strange with me it was,<br />
+She, an experienc'd Bawd, soon grop'd the Cause,<br />
+Saying, <i>for this Disease, take what you can,<br />
+You'll ne'er be well, till you have taken Man.</i><br />
+Therefore, before with Maiden-heads I'll be<br />
+Thus plagu'd, and live in daily Misery,<br />
+Some Spark shall rummage all my Wem about,<br />
+To find this wonderful Distemper out.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eighth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Now I am young, blind <i>Cupid</i> me bewitches,<br />
+I scratch my Belly, for it always itches,<br />
+And what it itches for, I've told before,<br />
+'Tis either to be Wife, or be a Whore;<br />
+Nay any thing indeed, would be poor I,<br />
+N'er Maiden-heads upon my Hands should lie,<br />
+Which till I lose, I'm sure my watry Eyes<br />
+Will pay to Love so great a Sacrifice,<br />
+That my Carcass soon will weep out all its Juice,<br />
+Till grown so dry, as fit for no Man's use.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Ninth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;By all the pleasant Postures of Delight,<br />
+By all the Twines and Circles of the Night,<br />
+By the first Minute of those Nuptial Joys,<br />
+When Men put fairly for a Brace of Boys,<br />
+Dying a Virgin once I more do dread,<br />
+Than ten times losing of a <i>Maiden head</i>;<br />
+For tho' it can't be seen nor understood,<br />
+Yet is it troublesome to Flesh and Blood.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Tenth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;You heedless Maids, whose young and tender Hearts<br />
+Unwounded yet, have scop'd the fatal Darts;<br />
+Let the sad Fate of a poor Virgin move,<br />
+And learn by me to pay Respect to Love.<br />
+If one can find a Man fit for Love's Game,<br />
+To lose one's Maiden-head it is no Shame:<br />
+'Tis no Offence, if from his tender Lip<br />
+I snatch a tonguing Kiss; if my fond Clip<br />
+With loose Embraces oft his Neck surround,<br />
+For Love in Debts of Nature's ever bound.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eleventh Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;A <i>Maiden head</i>! Pish, in it's no Delight,<br />
+Nor have I Ease, but when returning Night,<br />
+With Sleep's soft gentle Spell my Senses charms,<br />
+Then Fancy some Gallant brings to my Arms:<br />
+In them I oft the lov'd Shadow seem<br />
+To grasp, and Joys, yet blush I too in Dream.<br />
+I wake, and long my Heart in Wonder lies,<br />
+To think on my late pleasing Extasies:<br />
+But when I'm waking, and don't yet possess,<br />
+In Sleep again I wish to enjoy the Bliss:<br />
+For Sleep do's no malicious Spies admit,<br />
+Yet yields a lively Semblance of Delight.<br />
+Gods! what a Scene of Joy was that! how fast<br />
+I clasp'd the Vision to my panting Breast?<br />
+With what fierce Bounds I sprung to meet the Bliss,<br />
+While my wrapt Soul flew out in ev'ry Kiss!<br />
+Till breathless, faint, and softly sunk away,<br />
+I all dissolv'd in reaking Pleasures lay.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Twelfth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Happen what will, I'll make some Lovers know<br />
+What Pains, what raging Pains I undergo,<br />
+Till I am really Heart-sick, almost Dead,<br />
+By keeping that damn'd thing a Maiden-head.<br />
+Which makes me with Green Sickness almost lost,<br />
+So pale, so wan, and looking like a Ghost,<br />
+Eating Chalk, Cindars, or Tobacco-Pipes,<br />
+Which with a Looseness scowers all my Tripes;<br />
+But e'er I'll longer this great Pain endure,<br />
+The Stews I'll search, but that I'll find a Cure.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Thirteenth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Let doating Age debate of <i>Law</i> and <i>Right</i>,<br />
+And gravely state the Bounds of Just and Fit;<br />
+Whose Wisdom's but their Envy, to destroy<br />
+And bar those Pleasures which they can't enjoy.<br />
+My blooming Years, more sprightly and more gay,<br />
+By Nature were design'd for Love and Play:<br />
+Youth knows no Check, but leaps weak Virtue's Fence,<br />
+And briskly hunts the noble Chace of Sense!<br />
+Without dull thinking I'll Enjoyment trace,<br />
+And call that lawful whatsoe'er do's please.<br />
+Nor will my Crime want Instances alone,<br />
+'Tis what the Glorious Gods above have done;<br />
+For <i>Saturn</i>, and his greater Off-spring <i>Jove</i>,<br />
+Both stock'd their Heaven with Incestuous Love.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourteenth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;If any Man do's with my Bubbies play,<br />
+Squeeze my small Hand, as soft as Wax or Clay,<br />
+Or lays his Hands upon my tender Knees,<br />
+What strange tumultuous Joys upon me seize!<br />
+My Breasts do heave, and languish do my Eyes,<br />
+Panting's my Heart, and trembling are my Thighs;<br />
+I sigh, I wish, I pray, and seem to die,<br />
+In one continu'd Fit of Ecstacy;<br />
+Thus by my Looks may Man know what I mean,<br />
+And how he easily may get between<br />
+Those Quarters, where he may surprize a Fort,<br />
+In which an Emperor may find such Sport,<br />
+That with a mighty Gust of Love's Alarms,<br />
+He'd lie dissolving in my circling Arms;<br />
+But 'tis my Fate to have to do with Fools,<br />
+Who're very loth and shy to use their Tools,<br />
+To ease a poor, and fond distressed Maid,<br />
+Of that same Load, of which I'm not afrad<br />
+To lose with any Man, tho' I should die,<br />
+For any Tooth (good Barber) is my Cry.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fifteenth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Alas! I care not, Sir, what Force you'd use,<br />
+So I my Maiden-head could quickly lose:<br />
+Oft do I wish one skill'd in <i>Cupid</i>'s Arts,<br />
+Would quickly dive into my secret Parts;<br />
+For as I am, at Home all sorts of Weather,<br />
+I kit,----as Heaven and Earth would come together,<br />
+Twirling a Wheel, I sit at home, hum drum,<br />
+And spit away my Nature on my Thumb;<br />
+Whilst those that Marry'd are, invited be<br />
+To Labours, Christnings, where the Jollitry<br />
+Of Women lies in telling, as some say,<br />
+When 'twas they did at Hoity-Toity play;<br />
+Whose Husband's Yard is longest, whilst another<br />
+Can't in the least her great Misfortune smother,<br />
+So tells, her Husband's Bauble is so short,<br />
+That when he Hunts, he never shews her Sport.<br />
+Now I, because I have my Maiden-head,<br />
+Mayn't know the Pastimes of the Nuptial Bed;<br />
+But mayn't I quickly do as Marry'd People may,<br />
+I'll either kill my self, or shortly run away.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h2><i>FINIS.</i><br /><br /></h2>
+
+<hr class="full" />
+
+<h1><i>The</i> Maids <i>Vindication:</i></h1>
+<h2>OR, THE</h2>
+<h2>Fifteen Comforts of living a Single Life.</h2>
+<h2>Being an <i>ANSWER</i> to the <i>Fifteen<br />
+Plagues of a Maiden-head</i>.</h2>
+<hr />
+<p class="center"><i>Written by a Gentlewoman.</i></p>
+<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt="Woman and man"/></div>
+<p class="center"><i>London</i>, Printed for <i>J. Rogers</i> in <i>Fleet-Street</i>, 1707.<br /><br /></p>
+
+<h3><i>The</i> Maids <i>Vindication:</i></h3>
+<h3>OR,</h3>
+<h2>The Fifteen Comforts of<br />
+being a Maid, <i>&amp;c.</i></h2>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="The Fifteen Plagues of being a Maid">
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The First Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Ye <i>British</i> Maids with <i>British</i> Beauty blest,<br />
+Wife as you're Fair, of ev'ry Grace possest,<br />
+Do not the least degenerate from your Worth,<br />
+Nor be less Chaste because you're thus set forth;<br />
+Have Patience then, and I'll revenge your Cause,<br />
+And all the deep Designs of wicked Men expose,<br />
+Shew the dear Comforts of a Single Life,<br />
+With all the Plagues and Ills of Wh----re or Wife.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Second Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Tell me you Grave Disputers of the Schools,<br />
+You learned Coxcombs, and you well read Fools;<br />
+You that have told us, Man must be our Head,<br />
+And made <i>Dame Nature</i> Pimp to what you've said,<br />
+Tell me where are the Joys of womans Life,<br />
+When she consents to be a wedded Wife:<br />
+Much less if she too kind and easie proves,<br />
+And grants her Heart to one that swears he loves,<br />
+I will not call her W----re, because I know<br />
+'Twas his false Oaths and Lyes that made her so:<br />
+But you that would to your own selves be just,<br />
+Nor Friend nor Husband but with caution trust.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Third Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;And first, the greatest lasting'st Plague of Life,<br />
+Husband; the Constant Jaylor of a wife,<br />
+A proud insulting dominering thing,<br />
+Abroad a subject, but at Home a King,<br />
+There he in State does Arbitrary Reign,<br />
+And lordlike pow'r do's o'er his wife maintain.<br />
+For when she puts the Marriage Garments on,<br />
+The pleasures Ended e'er 'tis well begun:<br />
+But Plagues increase and hardly e're have done,<br />
+The joy he Courted he dispises now,<br />
+And do's a perfect Married Nausiance grow,<br /><br /></td>
+<td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
+}<br />
+}<br />
+}<br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Fourth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;It's Jealousie that maggot of the pate,<br />
+Possess the Sot, how violent's his hate,<br />
+What curst suspitions haunt his tortur'd Mind,<br />
+And make him look for what he would not find,<br />
+Nothing but Females must i'th House appear,<br />
+And not a Dog or Cat, that's Male be there,<br />
+Nay lest the unhappy wife shou'd have her longings,<br />
+He cuts out all the Men i'th Tapstry Hangings,<br />
+And if a harmless Letter's to her sent,<br />
+He'll make it speak worse sense than e'er it meant.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Fifth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;In a Curst Chamber, Cloyster'd up for Life,<br />
+Loves Female Innocence miscall'd a wife,<br />
+Deny'd those Pleasures are to Virtue granted,<br />
+Yearly the Devil of a Husband haunted,<br />
+for a Release she cannot Hope nor Pray,<br />
+Till milder Death takes him, or her away,<br />
+If her she's happy, and if him she's bless'd,<br />
+Till to her arms she takes a second Guest.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Sixth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;If Beauty, Wit, or Com[*?]aisance would do,<br />
+There's women that can all these wonders show,<br />
+Beauty that might new fire to Hermit lend,<br />
+And wit which serves that Beauty to defend,<br />
+who courted, cou'd do wonders with those Charms,<br />
+Till Parson conjur'd her to Husbands Arms,<br />
+And tho' the same perfections still remain<br />
+Yet nothing now can the dull Creature gain,<br />
+No looks can win him, nor no Smiles invite,<br />
+He now does her, and her Endearments slight,<br />
+And leaves those Graces which he shou'd adore,<br />
+To dote upon some Ugly suburb whore,<br />
+whilst poor neglected Spouse remains at home,<br />
+with discontent and Sorrow overcome,<br />
+No prayers, nor tears, nor all the Virtuous arts.<br />
+which women use to tame Rebellous Hearts.<br />
+Can the Incorrigible H[*?] move,<br />
+And make him own his once so promis'd love,<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Seventh Comfort</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh she a happy, too too happy Bride,<br />
+That has a Husband snoring by her side,<br />
+Belching out Fumes of undigested wine,<br />
+And lies all Night like a good natur'd Swine,<br />
+whose Snoring serves as Musick to her Ears,<br />
+And keeps true Confort with her silent Tears,<br />
+That can himself no more than <i>Chaos</i> move,<br />
+And still neglects the great affair of love,<br />
+She may indeed assume the name of wife,<br />
+But others know she's but a Nurse for life.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Eighth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;A drunken Husband tho may have good nature,<br />
+But here's a fullen Matrimonial Creature,<br />
+will ask, and will not, will ask, and will deny<br />
+Is Peevish, Cross, and cannot tell for why,<br />
+Not one kind look he will to Spouse afford,<br />
+Scarce speake at all, at least not one good word,<br />
+All the obliging arts that she can use,<br />
+To reconcile this angry pevish Spouse,<br />
+Avail no more, than if she took delight,<br />
+In washing Bricks, or Swarthy <i>Negroes</i> white,<br />
+Lyons, and Tyger Men have learnt to tame;<br />
+Retaining nothing frightful but the Name,<br />
+But Man, unruly man, that Beast of reason,<br />
+'Gainst women still continues in his Treason.<br />
+No Charms his damn'd ill nature can release,<br />
+<i>Satan</i>, must only <i>Satan</i> disposes.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Ninth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Nor Marriage is alone the dang'rous shelf,<br />
+On which a woman may destroy her self,<br />
+Believe no whineing Fool that Swears he loves,<br />
+And for your Pity to his Passion moves:<br />
+with fair decoying words he glids the Cheat,<br />
+Tells her the Sin, nor Danger are so great,<br />
+The joy is past the reach of Humane view,<br />
+And adds it will for ever bind him to be True:<br />
+But oh! if Maids upon this Quicksand run,<br />
+They're lost past hope, and are for e'er undone,<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Tenth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Another swears he'll keep you all your Life,<br />
+Without the ugly Names, <i>of Man and Wife</i>.<br />
+And to that End what Arts, what Tricks are laid,<br />
+T' insnare the Virtuous Young unthinking Maid,<br />
+What rev'rend Bawd's made use of to Entice,<br />
+The Fair one's liking to that Modish Vice.<br />
+How she at last is guided to his Arms,<br />
+Where for a while he Doats upon her Charms.<br />
+But long she can't the airy Title hold,<br />
+Her look'd for Joys are scarce a Twelve Month Old,<br />
+Before <i>Kind Keeper</i> takes another Miss,<br />
+By sad Experience weary grown of this.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Eleventh Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Are these the Sov'reigns then that we must own,<br />
+Must we before their Golden Calves bow down,<br />
+Forgive us Heav'n, if we renounce the Elves,<br />
+And make a Common-wealth among our Selves,<br />
+Whereby the Laws that we shall there Ordain.<br />
+We'll make it Capital to mention Man,<br />
+Man! we'll for ever banish from our sight,<br />
+Not talk by Day, nor think of them by Night,<br />
+We'll shun their Courtship, as we do the Plague,<br />
+And loath 'em more than they a Toothless Hagg.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Twelfth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;'Tis not their Sighs, Crying, nor Prayers,<br />
+Their subtile Whinings, nor Treacherous Tears,<br />
+That shall one kind Return for ever gain,<br />
+But when t' oblige us they've done all they can,<br />
+We'll laugh, deride, and scorn the Foppish Sex,<br />
+And wrank Invention for new ways to vex,<br />
+Till they to shun us, prompted by Despair,<br />
+Or Drown themselves, or hung in cleanly Air.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Thirteenth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;But if amongst us there should chance to be,<br />
+One silly fond regardless foolish She,<br />
+That spight of all our Edicts will maintain<br />
+A League with that detested Creature <i>Man:</i><br />
+Good Counsels first shall strive to bring her off,<br />
+But if the Fool will that good Counsel scoff,<br />
+If she the freedom of her Sex will leave,<br />
+And love a Wretch she knows that will deceive,<br />
+From Pity well exempt the <i>Female</i> Sot,<br />
+That wretched Thing a <i>Husband</i> be her Lot.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Fourteenth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Jealous by Day, and Impotent by Night,<br />
+Have neither Shape nor Mein to please the Sight<br />
+Diseas'd in Body, and deform'd in Soul,<br />
+Conceited, Proud, yet all the while a Fool:<br />
+May she with him spin out a tedious Life,<br />
+Blest with that much admir'd Title, <i>Wife</i>.<br />
+And may no Female better Fate partake,<br />
+That prophane the wholsome Laws we make.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Fifteenth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;And may the silly Maid that is so blind,<br />
+To trust Man's Oaths that are as false as Wind,<br />
+And only to her Ruin are design'd,<br />
+That thinks her Vertue is a Plague of Life,<br />
+And will to cure it, yield as Whore or Wife.<br />
+Find all the Ills that have before been said,<br />
+And lose for endless Plauges her Maiden-head,<br />
+Who will not bear what they infer a Pain,<br />
+And laugh at all the base Delights of Men.<br /><br /></td>
+<td style="vertical-align: top;">}<br />
+}<br />
+}<br /></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h2><i>FINIS.</i><br /><br /></h2>
+
+<hr class="full" />
+
+<h3>THE</h3>
+<h2>Fifteen PLEASURES</h2>
+<h3>OF A</h3>
+<h1>VIRGIN.</h1>
+<h3>WRITTEN</h3>
+<h3>By the suppos'd AUTHOR of</h3>
+<h3>THE</h3>
+<h1 style="font-family: 'Old English Text MT','EngrvrsOldEng BT',fantasy">Fifteen Plagues</h1>
+<h3>OF A</h3>
+<h1>Maidenhead.</h1>
+<hr />
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" summary="epigram">
+<tr><td><i>Virtus, repuls&aelig; nescia fortid&aelig;,<br />
+Intimitatis fulget honoribus.</i> Hor. L. 3. Od. 1.</td></tr>
+</table>
+<hr />
+<p class="center">LONDON: Printed in the Year, 1709.<br /><br /></p>
+
+<h3>AN</h3>
+<h1>APOLOGY</h1>
+<h3>FOR</h3>
+<h2>The Fifteen Plagues of a Maidenhead,<br />
+by the Imputed Author thereof.</h2>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="Apology">
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Suppose 'twas I, you thought, had drew my Pen<br />
+On Virtue, see I fight for her agen;<br />
+Wherefore, I hope my Foes will all excuse<br />
+Th' Extravagance of a Repenting Muse;<br />
+Pardon whate'er she has too boldly said,<br />
+She only acted then in Masquerade;<br />
+But now the Vizard's off, She's chang'd her Scene,<br />
+And turns a Modest, Civil Girl agen;<br />
+Let some admire the Fops whose Talent lie<br />
+Inventing dull, insipid Blasphemy;<br />
+I swear I cannot with those Terms dispence,<br />
+Nor won't be Damn'd for the Repute of Sense;<br />
+I cou'd be Bawdy much, and nick the Times,<br />
+In what they dearly Love; damn'd Placket Rhimes;<br />
+But that such Naus'ous Lines can reach no higher<br />
+Than what the Cod-Piece or Buffoons inspire.<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;To noble Satyr, I'll direct my Aim,<br />
+And bite Mankind, and Poetry Reclaim;<br />
+I'll ever use my Wit another Way,<br />
+And next the Ugliness of Vice display.<br />
+<br />
+<div style="text-align: right"><i>Yours, &amp;c.</i></div><br />
+</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h3>THE</h3>
+<h2>FIFTEEN P----s</h2>
+<h3>OF A</h3>
+<h1>VIRGIN.</h1>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="The Fifteen Palgues of a Virgin">
+<tr><td><h3><i>The first P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>In these unhappy and more wretched Days,<br />
+Eclipsed with Debauchery and Plays!<br />
+Virgins can scarce stir out, but some dull Fop,<br />
+Impertinently kind, her way will stop,<br />
+And almost force Her to some House of Sin,<br />
+Her Innocence and Virtue to draw in;<br />
+And if he can her Modesty invade,<br />
+Glad with her Spoils and Trophies of a Maid,<br />
+The Villain is the first that will complain<br />
+Her foul Dishonour, and polluted Shame.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Second P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>A Maid dispos'd to take the gentle Air,<br />
+And to <i>Grays-Inn</i>, or <i>Temple-Walks</i> repair;<br />
+No sooner enters she the Garden Gate,<br />
+Sits down, and thinks of going e're 'tis late,<br />
+But some insipid Squire having spy'd her,<br />
+Takes Heart of Steel, and boldly squats beside her.<br />
+He thus accosts her,&mdash;Madam, <i>Ah! by Gad<br />
+You're wond'rous Fair; but Lady, why so sad?</i><br />
+Her Innocence he thinks will soon submit,<br />
+To all the swagg'ring Tyrants of his Wit;<br />
+But being strictly taught in Vertue's School,<br />
+She does not only slight the prating Fool,<br />
+Contemn'd his Actions, and his feigned Tone,<br />
+But leaves the Lawyer strait to Curse alone.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Third P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>The Maid that's Blessed with a beauteos Face,<br />
+A gentile Air, and as genteel a Grace;<br />
+On her some am'rous Beau soon casts his Eyes,<br />
+And to obtain the much admired Prize;<br />
+He fashionably dresses, struts, looks big,<br />
+Like <i>John</i> of <i>Gaunt</i>, and in a pond'rous Wig;<br />
+A subtle, sly, and cunning Ambuscade,<br />
+For her Virginity is quickly laid;<br />
+Of Love he tells a Thousand Fictious Tales,<br />
+Till over her Discretion Lust prevails,<br />
+But modest Maids, whose young and tender Hearts<br />
+Unwounded yet, have the scap'd fatal Darts;<br />
+Let the sad Fates of wanton Strumpets move,<br />
+And learn by them to shun unlawful Love:<br />
+Thus Virgins, if you'll Modesty embrace,<br />
+By making all Allurements give you place:<br />
+Virtue a Sanctuary e'er shall be<br />
+Against the Quivers of Iniquity.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>A Maid of honest, but mean Parents Born,<br />
+These Times is only made the rich Man's scorn,<br />
+Howe'er her Beauty tempting some young Spark<br />
+He takes her to the Playhouse and the Park,<br />
+Where he with many Imprecations vows,<br />
+His Fortune and his Life to her he owes;<br />
+But finding his Temptations are in vain,<br />
+Her Company in Wrath he do's refrain;<br />
+Which at the first may touch her tender Heart,<br />
+And make her feel the force of <i>Cupid</i>'s Dart;<br />
+But Time and Absence Having made a Cure<br />
+Of that same Plague she could not first endure.<br />
+She says, as now I'm well, recite not then<br />
+The Falshood and Deceit of Perjur'd Men,<br />
+Virtue retain'd, that Man I'll ever slight,<br />
+Whom I cannot by Marriage claim my Right.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fifth P----, in a Dialogue betwixt</i> Cloris<br />
+<i>and</i> Parthenisea.</h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i><b>Clo.</b></i> Why dost thou all Address deny?<br />
+Hard-hearted <i>Parthenisea</i>, why?<br />
+See how the trembling Lovers come,<br />
+That from thy Lips expect their Doom.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Par.</b></i> <i>Cloris!</i> I hate them all, they know,<br />
+Nay I have often told them so;<br />
+Their silly Politicks abhorr'd:<br />
+I scorn to make my Slave my Lord.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Clo.</b></i> But <i>Strephon</i>'s Eyes proclaim His Love<br />
+Too brave, Tyrannical to prove.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Par.</b></i> Ah <i>Cloris!</i> when we lost our Power?<br />
+We must obey the Conqueror.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Clo.</b></i> Yet when a gentle Prince bears sway,<br />
+It is no Bondage to Obey.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Par.</b></i> But if like <i>Nero</i>, for a while,<br />
+With Arts of Kindness he beguile,<br />
+How shall the Tyrant be withstood,<br />
+When he has writ his Laws in Blood?<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Clo.</b></i> Love (<i>Parthenisea</i>) all commands,<br />
+it fetters Kings in charming Bands;<br />
+<i>Mars</i> yields his Arms to <i>Cupid</i>'s Darts,<br />
+And Beauty softens Savage Hearts.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Par.</b></i> Well may you choose to be a Wife,<br />
+I'll still retain a Single Life.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Sixth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Rid of a Coxcomb, next a Siege is laid<br />
+Against the weak Repulses of a Maid,<br />
+By one that keeps a Coach and Lackies too,<br />
+And that he might his wicked Plots pursue,<br />
+In gawdy Dress he would her Heart surprize,<br />
+with Gold to dazle her too watchful Eyes;<br />
+But Vertue cherishing her Virtuous Breast,<br />
+With so much Innocence which made her blest,<br />
+Her Innocence as hitherto ne'er knew<br />
+What Mischief <i>Venus</i> or her Son cou'd do,<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Seventh P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Where blindfold Fortune has been pleas'd to place<br />
+A Virgen with a Master void of Grace,<br />
+With Foot, with Hand, or Eyes, he'll Tokens speak,<br />
+The Signs deny, these Assignations make;<br />
+Thinks she shall be as pliant to his Use,<br />
+As Strumpets on a <i>Cornival</i> let loose;<br />
+But if she's Chast, his Miss she will not be,<br />
+Unless she is as Fiend, and Base as he.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eighth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>A</i> Negro <i>Courting onto a maid,<br />
+That was most Fair; to him she said,<br />
+Thy Ink, my Papper, make me guess,<br />
+Our Nuptial Bed will make a Press,<br />
+And to our Sports, if any came<br />
+They'll read a Wanton Epigram,</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Ninth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>How many Sweethearts do these follow me<br />
+Whose fell Design I know's to Ruine me;<br />
+but let me banish this forbidden Fire,<br />
+Or quench it with my Blood, or with't expire;<br />
+Unstain'd in Honour; and unhurt in Fame,<br />
+I'll never blast Virginity Shame,</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Tenth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>A Sailor vowing he would all his Life,<br />
+Be true to me, he took another Wife;<br />
+whose Folshood (not as e're he did Invade<br />
+My Honour) made me sick, and, dying, said,<br />
+Ah now at my last Hour I gasping lie:<br />
+Let only my kind Murtherer be by,<br />
+Let him, while I breath out my Soul in Sighs,<br />
+Or gaz't away, look on with pitying Eyes;<br />
+Let him (for sure he can't deny me this)<br />
+Seal my cold Lips with one dear parting Kiss.</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eleventh P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>To have a Sweetheart once it was my Fate,<br />
+Whom much I lov'd, and now as much do hate,<br />
+Fo going to be coupled for my Life,<br />
+He was took from me by a former Wife;<br />
+Henceforwards I shall ever cautious be<br />
+Of Marrying one, a Stranger unto me.</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Twelfth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>A Sweetheart whom I lov'd, and he lov'd me,<br />
+Intoxicated with Cursed Jealousie,<br />
+Without a Cause, my Innocence did slight,<br />
+Which urged soon my Passion thus to write,<br />
+Kind Health, which you, and only you can grant,<br />
+Which, if deny'd, I must for ever want;<br />
+To you your Lover sends; but blushing Shame,<br />
+In silence bids my Paper hide my Name.<br />
+Witness what Pains (for you alone can know)<br />
+Poor helpless I do bear and undergo;<br />
+A thousand Racks and Martyrdoms, and more<br />
+Than a weak Virgin can be thought, I bore:<br />
+You rule alone my Arbitrary Fate,<br />
+And Life and on your disposal wait.<br />
+How little more remains for me to crave!<br />
+How little more for you to give! O save<br />
+A wretched Maid undone by Love and you,<br />
+Who does in Tears and dying Accents sue;<br />
+Who bleeds that Passion she had ne'er reveal'd,<br />
+If not by Love, Almighty Love compell'd:</i><br />
+No ever let her mournful Tomb complain,<br />
+Here <i>Phillis</i>, kill'd by your cold Disdain;<br />
+And to her Honour let it e'er be said,<br />
+She dy'd a faithful Lover, yet a Maid.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Thirteenth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Blessed with Beauty, Money, Youth and Wit,<br />
+I'm daily plagu'd with some Penurious Cit,<br />
+But e'er I will to such be forc'd to yield,<br />
+To a Man of Sense I Will resign the Field,<br />
+For Men of Breeding more of Love can show,<br />
+Than dull Mechanicks e'er can learn or know.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourteenth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>A Maid can scarce into a Service get,<br />
+But Prentice Boys (void both of Sense and Wit)<br />
+Will lead the Servant such a tedious Life,<br />
+To Change the Name of Maid to that of Wife,<br />
+That she, to shun their solid Impudence,<br />
+Must leave her Service in her own Defence.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>Fifteenth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>What spiteful Star, when I was Born did Rule,<br />
+That I'm thus teazed with a whining Fool,<br />
+Which is the very worst of Fools; for he,<br />
+Got in a Stran of dull Simplicity,<br />
+Crys, <i>Agdes!</i> See my looks, my wishing Eyes,<br />
+My melting Tears and hear my begging Sighs;<br />
+About your Neck I could have flung my Arms,<br />
+And been all over Love, all over Charms;<br />
+Grasp and hang on your K----, and there have dy'd,<br />
+There breath my gasping Soul out tho' deny'd.<br />
+My earnest Suits shall never give you rest,<br />
+While Life and Love more durable shall last;<br />
+Alive I'll Pray, 'till Breath in Pray'rs be lost,<br />
+And after come a kind beseeching Ghost.<br />
+He thought these soft Expressions soon might move<br />
+My Heart, which was bequeath'd before to Love,<br />
+No, no, these whiedling Fops I really hate,<br />
+And since I am resolv'd to change my State,<br />
+A Man of Wit and Sense I do adore,<br />
+To him I grant my Favours and my Store,<br />
+As certain Wedlock with so good a Choice,<br />
+May make my Judgment, whilst I live rejoice.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h2><i>FINIS.</i></h2>
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13972 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony:
+Responses From Women, by Various
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony: Responses From Women
+
+Author: Various
+
+Release Date: November 8, 2004 [EBook #13972]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIFTEEN COMFORTS OF MATRIMONY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Starner, Fred Robinson and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<p>[Transcriber's Note: The following was proofread from what appear to
+be scans of photocopies of a reproduction of the original text. On top
+of the original's battered type-face and archaic spellings, this
+preparer, and the proofreaders before him, have had to contend with
+dirty or faded images and missing margins. We have made our best
+guesses as to the missing letters, but in some cases we were stymied;
+those few places are marked with [*?]. In addition, the most obvious
+printer's mistakes (transposed, missing, obviously incorrect, and even
+upside-down letters) have been corrected.]<br /><br /></p>
+
+<hr class="full"/>
+
+<h2>THE</h2>
+<h2>Whores and Bawd's</h2>
+<h1>ANSWER</h1>
+<h2>TO THE</h2>
+<h2>Fifteen Comforts</h2>
+<h2>OF</h2>
+<h1>WHORING</h1>
+<hr />
+<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/illus1.jpg" alt="Hand in hand"/></div>
+<hr />
+<p class="center">Printed in the Year, 1706.<br /><br /></p>
+
+
+<h2>The PREFACE.</h2>
+
+<p><i>Indeed we the Ladies of Pleasures, and those that stile themselves
+Procurers in Love Affairs, highly resent the late Paper put out
+against our Profession and bespattering of us for using only our own;
+but since it is the Way of the World for most Men to be inclinable to
+love Lac'd Mutton, I think it is their Duty to resent the Affront with
+us so much, as to Satyrize the Author of the</i> Fifteen Comforts of
+Whoring, <i>who without is some young bashful Effeminate Fool or
+another, that knows not how to say</i> Boh to a Goose; <i>or some old
+suffocated old Wretch so far pass'd his Labour, that he scolds for
+Madness that he cannot give a buxom young Lass her Benevolence; or
+else he may an hundred to one be one of Captain</i> Risby's <i>Fraternity,
+and so must needs be a Woman Hater by Course. But let him be what he
+will, so long as our Impudence is Case-harden'd we value not his
+Reflections, and therefore will not leave our Vocation tho' Claps and
+Poxes shou'd be our Portion every Day for according to an eminent
+Whore now Deceas'd,</i></p>
+
+<p class="poem">Clap, clap ye Whores, Clap as Clap can,<br />
+Some Clap to Women, we'll Clap the Men.<br /><br /></p>
+
+
+<h2>THE</h2>
+<h2>Whores and Bawds, Answer, &amp;c.</h2>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="The Fifteen Comforts of Whoring">
+<tr><td><h3><i>The first Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>No sooner does a Maid arrive to Years,<br />
+And she the Pleasures of Conjunction hears,<br />
+But strait her Maidenhead a Tip-toe runs,<br />
+To get her like, in Daughters or in Sons;<br />
+Upon some jolly Lad she casts her Eye,<br />
+And with some am'rous Gestures by the by;<br />
+She gives him great Encouragement to take<br />
+His fill of Love, and swears that for his sake<br />
+She soon shall Die; which makes the Youth so hot<br />
+To get about the Maiden's Honey-pot,<br />
+That promising her Marriage and the like,<br />
+They both a Bargain very quickly Strike;<br />
+[*?] Rubbers often take till she does prove<br />
+With Child, then she bids adieu to Love;<br />
+And e're she's brought to Bed away does Creep,<br />
+For fear he should the Wenche's Urchin keep.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Second Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Now when a Maid has crackt her Maidenhead,<br />
+By being once or twice (Sir) brought to Bed,<br />
+Her Credit then's so broke that all her Wit,<br />
+And Policy cannot a Husband get;<br />
+But yet not being out of Heart she Cries,<br />
+From Marriage keeping I shall be more wise,<br />
+For if he's not a Fool he soon will find,<br />
+I had before I'd him to some been kind,<br />
+Then how he'd call me arrant Bitch and Whore,<br />
+And Swear some Stallion had been there before;<br />
+Then leave me, Wherefore I will single Live,<br />
+And my Invention to decoying give,<br />
+For as I was by fickle Man betray'd,<br />
+So Men by me too shall be Bubbles made,<br />
+Till the dull Sots clandestine Means do take,<br />
+In robbing Masters,for a Strumpets sake,<br />
+For which if they shou'd at the Gallows Swing,<br />
+Their End I'd in some merry Ditty Sing.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i> The Third Comfort of whoring answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>What tho' of Whoring it is the mishap,<br />
+Sometimes for him that Ruts to get a Clap,<br />
+Or an Invetrate Pox which may expose<br />
+His private Sports by Eating off his Nose;<br />
+How many by hard Drinking will Roar out<br />
+With Aches, Rheumatism's or the Gout,<br />
+When in that gorging, guzling, tipling Sin<br />
+There is not half the Pleasure, that there's in,<br />
+The soft Embraces of a Woman who<br />
+Altho' she is not to one Moral true,<br />
+Does strive to please your height of amorous Lust,<br />
+With such a ravishing and pleasing Gust,<br />
+That wou'd an Eunuch tempt to tast the same,<br />
+But that he Tools does want to play the Game.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The fourth Comfort of Whoring answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Tho' Buboes, Nodes and Ulcers are the Marks,<br />
+Of many a wanton Beau and am'rous Sparks<br />
+And many a lustful Lecher oft complains<br />
+Of restless Days and damn'd nocturnal Pains,<br />
+Nays go into a Flux o dozen Weeks,<br />
+Is't not the Man himself these Sorrow seeks?<br />
+Besides, how often see you go astride<br />
+A Miss, as if she was with Packthread ty'd;<br />
+Who's Poxt and Clapt as much as you can be,<br />
+And undergoes a deal of Misery,<br />
+To give your wanton Appetites content,<br />
+[*?] feeding you with Flesh, altho' in Lent:<br />
+Therefore as the old Woman very Tart<br />
+Once said, when against Thunder she did Fart,<br />
+'Twas only tit for tat, so if the Men<br />
+Do clap the Whores, and Whores Claps them agen,<br />
+Tis only tit for tat; tis very true,<br />
+What's good for Goose is good for Gander too.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The fifth Comfort of Whoring answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>What if a Man is in a marry'd State?<br />
+Confin'd to one does am'rous Heat abate,<br />
+Or shew me him (altho' he were in need.)<br />
+That always wou'd upon one Diet feed<br />
+When once a Woman's by a Man enjoy'd<br />
+For good and all, his Appetite is cloy'd.<br />
+Therefore he fixes on some wanton Miss<br />
+Whom rather than his Wife behalf he'd Kiss,<br />
+For as it's oft reported now a days,<br />
+A Thing that's fresh, fresh Courage, too will raise<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Sixth Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>What Man wou'd shun the Plagues of Pox and Pills,<br />
+Or all the ails that are in Doctors Bills,<br />
+Rather than not be circled in the Arms<br />
+Of one that tempts you with a thousand Charms,<br />
+And tho' she long has lost her Maidenhead,<br />
+Yet such Dexterity she'll shew in Bed,<br />
+That, Sir, your Mouth wou'd water o're and o're,<br />
+To feed again upon a skilful Whore.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The seventh Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>'Tis true, the Fop that thinketh to secure'd<br />
+To himself, in private Lodgins some fine Whore<br />
+He is a Fool, for she'll not be confin'd,<br />
+To any Man altho' he's are so kind;<br />
+For being then high Pampered and Fed,<br />
+In absence of her Cull she takes to Bed<br />
+Another, that with Gold allures her too,<br />
+That she may not to her Gallant be true;<br />
+For thinks she, when her Chap is tir'd quite,<br />
+And turns her off in others to delight,<br />
+From all she can she'll privately receive,<br />
+Which may her great Necessities relieve,<br />
+When that she bids adieu her Master's Bed,<br />
+To get by publick jilting Tricks her Bread.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The eighth Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>If any Man's in Love with any Whore,<br />
+Why ought he not to lavish all his Store<br />
+Upon her? Since, to make the Fop admire,<br />
+Those prety Features which sets him a fire,<br />
+She's often at the Charge of Velvit Hoods,<br />
+Silk Stockins, Velvit Scarves and other Goods,<br />
+Lac'd Shoes, rich Mantoe's, Gloves and Diamond Rings<br />
+Fine Linnen, Gowns, and other costly things.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The ninth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>If any has a Jilt some time sustain'd,<br />
+Who has imperious o're his Pocket reign'd,<br />
+And he's grown weary of so sweet a Life,<br />
+Or else being jealous takes to him a Wife;<br />
+The Whore can do no less than fling and tear,<br />
+And on th' inconstant Coxcomb Vengeance swaer,<br />
+For leaving her in this her state of Sin;<br />
+And let the World know what the Spark has been,<br />
+Unless a Pension he to her allows,<br />
+That she may not his Roguery disclose.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The tenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>T'is true we Harlots work by various means,<br />
+And act our Parts behind too diff'rent Scenes;<br />
+Sometimes we do a Bastard lay to those,<br />
+That never did so much as touch our Cloaths;<br />
+Perhaps too ne'er were in our Company,<br />
+So Guineas get by this same Subtilty;<br />
+And many times a Pocket too we pick,<br />
+For at no mischief will a Strumpit stick;<br />
+For once a Woman's bad, there's no relief<br />
+By being only Whore, but also Thief.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eleventh Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>We'll have you know, of Whores are very few,<br />
+That will to any Man be ever true;<br />
+To us all Men for Money are alike,<br />
+With Skips as soon as Beaus we bargains strike;<br />
+And gad no sooner is a Cully gone,<br />
+But quick another in his Room gets on.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Twelfth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Besides great Charges we are at for Cloaths,<br />
+To tempt the Fancies of our cringing Beaus,<br />
+We Pimps and Bullies keep to be our Bail,<br />
+When Sharping Bailiffs nabb us for a Jayl.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Thirteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Again as we to <i>Bridewel</i> oft are sent,<br />
+To undergo a flauging Punishment,<br />
+A bribe to him that Whips us then is gi'n,<br />
+To have Compassion to our tender Skin.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>With pretty winning ways we do assure,<br />
+Our selves to bring the Woodcocks to our Lure<br />
+As ogling wishfully, and having Tongue,<br />
+Which tho' 'tis false, yet with good Language hung<br />
+And if we have a Voice that's good, we sing<br />
+And <i>Syren</i> like our Fops to ruin bring;<br />
+Then how we Strumpets do rejoyce to see,<br />
+The wiser Sex undone by Lechery.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fifteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>But now good lack-a-day our Trade's so bad,<br />
+That truly Customers can scarce be had,<br />
+Through those sly Whore's that do in privat dwell,<br />
+So (but a story sad it is to tell)<br />
+Our common Whores can scarce their Livings get<br />
+By all the means of an intrieguing Wit.<br />
+For <i>Drury Lane</i>, in <i>Fleetstreet</i> or the <i>Strand</i>,<br />
+Hours we walk e're any by the Hand,<br />
+Will take us, wherefore as we daggle home,<br />
+Some prick-louse <i>Taylor</i> strutting up will come,<br />
+With whom for want we're forced to comply,<br />
+for one poor two pence wet, and two pence dry.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h2><i>FINIS.</i><br /><br /></h2>
+
+<hr class="full" />
+
+<h2>THE</h2>
+<h1>Fifteen PLAGUES</h1>
+<h2>OF A</h2>
+<h1>Maiden-Head</h1>
+<hr />
+<p class="center">Written by Madam B----le.</p>
+<hr />
+<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/illus2.jpg" alt="Printer's seal"/></div>
+<hr />
+<p class="center">LONDON:<br />
+Printed by <i>F.P.</i> near <i>Fleet-street</i>, 1707.<br /><br /></p>
+
+<h2>THE</h2>
+<h2>Fifteen Plagues of a</h2>
+<h2>Maiden-Head, <i>&amp;c.</i></h2>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="The Fifteen Plagues of a Maiden-Head">
+<tr><td><h3><i>The First Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;The Woman Marry'd is Divinely Blest,<br />
+But I a Virgin cannot take my Rest;<br />
+I'm discontented up, as bad a Bed,<br />
+Because I'm plagued with my Maiden-head;<br />
+A thing that do's my blooming Years no good,<br />
+But only serves to freeze my youthful Blood,<br />
+Which slowly Circulates, do what I can,<br />
+For want of Bleeding by some skilful Man;<br />
+Whose tender hand his <i>Launcet</i> so will guide,<br />
+That I the Name of <i>Maid</i> may lay aside.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Second Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;When I've beheld an am'rous Youth make Love,<br />
+And swearing Truth by all the Gods above,<br />
+How has it strait inflam'd my sprightly Blood<br />
+Creating Flames, I scarcely should withstood,<br />
+But bid him boldly march, not grant me leisure<br />
+Of Parley, for 'tis Speed augments the Pleasure.<br />
+Sirrah! tis my Misfortune not to meet<br />
+With any Man that would my Passion greet,<br />
+If he with balmy Kisses stop'd my Breath,<br />
+From which one cannot die a better Death,<br />
+Or stroke my Breasts, those Mountains of Delight,<br />
+Your very Touch would fire an Anchorite;<br />
+Next let your wanton Palm a little stray,<br />
+And dip thy Fingers in the milky way:<br />
+Then having raiz'd me, let me gently fall,<br />
+Love's Trumpets sound, so Mortal have at all.<br />
+But why wish I this Bliss? I wish in vain,<br />
+And of my plaguy Burthen do complain;<br />
+For sooner may I see whole Nations dead,<br />
+But I find one to get my Maiden-head.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Third Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;She that her Maiden-head does keep, runs through<br />
+More Plagues than all the Land of <i>Egypt</i> knew;<br />
+A teazing Whore, or a more tedious Wife,<br />
+Plagues not a Marry'd Man's unhappy Life,<br />
+As much as it do's me to be a Maid,<br />
+Of which same Name I am so much afraid,<br />
+Because I've often heard some People tell,<br />
+They that die Maids, must all lead Apes in Hell;<br />
+And so 'twere better I had never been,<br />
+Than thus to be perplex'd: <i>God save the Queen.</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;When trembling Pris'ners all stand round the Bar,<br />
+A strange suspence about the fatal Verdict,<br />
+And when the Jury crys they Guilty are,<br />
+How they astonish'd are when they have heard it.<br />
+When in mighty Storm a Ship is toss'd,<br />
+And all do ask, What do's the Captain say?<br />
+How they (poor Souls) bemoan themselves as lost,<br />
+When his Advice at last is only, Pray!<br />
+So as it was one Day my pleasing Chance,<br />
+To meet a handsome young Man in a Grove,<br />
+Both time and place conspir'd to advance<br />
+The innocent Designs of charming Love.<br />
+I thought my Happiness was then compleat,<br />
+Because 'twas in his Pow'r to make it so;<br />
+I ask'd the Spark if he would do the Feat,<br />
+But the unperforming Blockhead answer'd, <i>No</i>.<br />
+Poor Prisoners may, I see, have Mercy shewn,<br />
+And Shipwreck'd Men may sometimes have the Luck,<br />
+To see their dismal Tempests overblown,<br />
+But I poor Virgin never shall be F----.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fifth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;All Day poor I do sit Disconsolate,<br />
+Cursing the grievous Rigor of my Fate,<br />
+To think how I have seven Years betray'd,<br />
+To that dull empty Title of a Maid.<br />
+If that I could my self but Woman write,<br />
+With what transcendent Pleasure and Delight,<br />
+Should I for ever, thrice for ever Bless,<br />
+The Man that led me to such Happiness.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Sixth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Pox take the thing Folks call a Maiden-head,<br />
+For soon as e'er I'm sleeping in my Bed,<br />
+I dream I'm mingling with some Man my Thigh,<br />
+Till something more than ord'nary does rise;<br />
+But when I wake and find my Dream's in vain,<br />
+I turn to Sleep only to Dream again,<br />
+For Dreams as yet are only kind to me,<br />
+And at the present quench my Lechery.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Seventh Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Of late I wonder what's with me the Matter,<br />
+For I look like Death, and am as weak as Water,<br />
+For several Days I loath the sight of Meat,<br />
+And every Night I chew the upper Sheet;<br />
+[*?]e such Obstructions, that I'm almost moap'd,<br />
+And breath as if my Vitals all were stop'd.<br />
+I told a Friend how strange with me it was,<br />
+She, an experienc'd Bawd, soon grop'd the Cause,<br />
+Saying, <i>for this Disease, take what you can,<br />
+You'll ne'er be well, till you have taken Man.</i><br />
+Therefore, before with Maiden-heads I'll be<br />
+Thus plagu'd, and live in daily Misery,<br />
+Some Spark shall rummage all my Wem about,<br />
+To find this wonderful Distemper out.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eighth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Now I am young, blind <i>Cupid</i> me bewitches,<br />
+I scratch my Belly, for it always itches,<br />
+And what it itches for, I've told before,<br />
+'Tis either to be Wife, or be a Whore;<br />
+Nay any thing indeed, would be poor I,<br />
+N'er Maiden-heads upon my Hands should lie,<br />
+Which till I lose, I'm sure my watry Eyes<br />
+Will pay to Love so great a Sacrifice,<br />
+That my Carcass soon will weep out all its Juice,<br />
+Till grown so dry, as fit for no Man's use.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Ninth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;By all the pleasant Postures of Delight,<br />
+By all the Twines and Circles of the Night,<br />
+By the first Minute of those Nuptial Joys,<br />
+When Men put fairly for a Brace of Boys,<br />
+Dying a Virgin once I more do dread,<br />
+Than ten times losing of a <i>Maiden head</i>;<br />
+For tho' it can't be seen nor understood,<br />
+Yet is it troublesome to Flesh and Blood.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Tenth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;You heedless Maids, whose young and tender Hearts<br />
+Unwounded yet, have scop'd the fatal Darts;<br />
+Let the sad Fate of a poor Virgin move,<br />
+And learn by me to pay Respect to Love.<br />
+If one can find a Man fit for Love's Game,<br />
+To lose one's Maiden-head it is no Shame:<br />
+'Tis no Offence, if from his tender Lip<br />
+I snatch a tonguing Kiss; if my fond Clip<br />
+With loose Embraces oft his Neck surround,<br />
+For Love in Debts of Nature's ever bound.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eleventh Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;A <i>Maiden head</i>! Pish, in it's no Delight,<br />
+Nor have I Ease, but when returning Night,<br />
+With Sleep's soft gentle Spell my Senses charms,<br />
+Then Fancy some Gallant brings to my Arms:<br />
+In them I oft the lov'd Shadow seem<br />
+To grasp, and Joys, yet blush I too in Dream.<br />
+I wake, and long my Heart in Wonder lies,<br />
+To think on my late pleasing Extasies:<br />
+But when I'm waking, and don't yet possess,<br />
+In Sleep again I wish to enjoy the Bliss:<br />
+For Sleep do's no malicious Spies admit,<br />
+Yet yields a lively Semblance of Delight.<br />
+Gods! what a Scene of Joy was that! how fast<br />
+I clasp'd the Vision to my panting Breast?<br />
+With what fierce Bounds I sprung to meet the Bliss,<br />
+While my wrapt Soul flew out in ev'ry Kiss!<br />
+Till breathless, faint, and softly sunk away,<br />
+I all dissolv'd in reaking Pleasures lay.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Twelfth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Happen what will, I'll make some Lovers know<br />
+What Pains, what raging Pains I undergo,<br />
+Till I am really Heart-sick, almost Dead,<br />
+By keeping that damn'd thing a Maiden-head.<br />
+Which makes me with Green Sickness almost lost,<br />
+So pale, so wan, and looking like a Ghost,<br />
+Eating Chalk, Cindars, or Tobacco-Pipes,<br />
+Which with a Looseness scowers all my Tripes;<br />
+But e'er I'll longer this great Pain endure,<br />
+The Stews I'll search, but that I'll find a Cure.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Thirteenth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Let doating Age debate of <i>Law</i> and <i>Right</i>,<br />
+And gravely state the Bounds of Just and Fit;<br />
+Whose Wisdom's but their Envy, to destroy<br />
+And bar those Pleasures which they can't enjoy.<br />
+My blooming Years, more sprightly and more gay,<br />
+By Nature were design'd for Love and Play:<br />
+Youth knows no Check, but leaps weak Virtue's Fence,<br />
+And briskly hunts the noble Chace of Sense!<br />
+Without dull thinking I'll Enjoyment trace,<br />
+And call that lawful whatsoe'er do's please.<br />
+Nor will my Crime want Instances alone,<br />
+'Tis what the Glorious Gods above have done;<br />
+For <i>Saturn</i>, and his greater Off-spring <i>Jove</i>,<br />
+Both stock'd their Heaven with Incestuous Love.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourteenth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;If any Man do's with my Bubbies play,<br />
+Squeeze my small Hand, as soft as Wax or Clay,<br />
+Or lays his Hands upon my tender Knees,<br />
+What strange tumultuous Joys upon me seize!<br />
+My Breasts do heave, and languish do my Eyes,<br />
+Panting's my Heart, and trembling are my Thighs;<br />
+I sigh, I wish, I pray, and seem to die,<br />
+In one continu'd Fit of Ecstacy;<br />
+Thus by my Looks may Man know what I mean,<br />
+And how he easily may get between<br />
+Those Quarters, where he may surprize a Fort,<br />
+In which an Emperor may find such Sport,<br />
+That with a mighty Gust of Love's Alarms,<br />
+He'd lie dissolving in my circling Arms;<br />
+But 'tis my Fate to have to do with Fools,<br />
+Who're very loth and shy to use their Tools,<br />
+To ease a poor, and fond distressed Maid,<br />
+Of that same Load, of which I'm not afrad<br />
+To lose with any Man, tho' I should die,<br />
+For any Tooth (good Barber) is my Cry.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fifteenth Plague.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Alas! I care not, Sir, what Force you'd use,<br />
+So I my Maiden-head could quickly lose:<br />
+Oft do I wish one skill'd in <i>Cupid</i>'s Arts,<br />
+Would quickly dive into my secret Parts;<br />
+For as I am, at Home all sorts of Weather,<br />
+I kit,----as Heaven and Earth would come together,<br />
+Twirling a Wheel, I sit at home, hum drum,<br />
+And spit away my Nature on my Thumb;<br />
+Whilst those that Marry'd are, invited be<br />
+To Labours, Christnings, where the Jollitry<br />
+Of Women lies in telling, as some say,<br />
+When 'twas they did at Hoity-Toity play;<br />
+Whose Husband's Yard is longest, whilst another<br />
+Can't in the least her great Misfortune smother,<br />
+So tells, her Husband's Bauble is so short,<br />
+That when he Hunts, he never shews her Sport.<br />
+Now I, because I have my Maiden-head,<br />
+Mayn't know the Pastimes of the Nuptial Bed;<br />
+But mayn't I quickly do as Marry'd People may,<br />
+I'll either kill my self, or shortly run away.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h2><i>FINIS.</i><br /><br /></h2>
+
+<hr class="full" />
+
+<h1><i>The</i> Maids <i>Vindication:</i></h1>
+<h2>OR, THE</h2>
+<h2>Fifteen Comforts of living a Single Life.</h2>
+<h2>Being an <i>ANSWER</i> to the <i>Fifteen<br />
+Plagues of a Maiden-head</i>.</h2>
+<hr />
+<p class="center"><i>Written by a Gentlewoman.</i></p>
+<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="images/illus3.jpg" alt="Woman and man"/></div>
+<p class="center"><i>London</i>, Printed for <i>J. Rogers</i> in <i>Fleet-Street</i>, 1707.<br /><br /></p>
+
+<h3><i>The</i> Maids <i>Vindication:</i></h3>
+<h3>OR,</h3>
+<h2>The Fifteen Comforts of<br />
+being a Maid, <i>&amp;c.</i></h2>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="The Fifteen Plagues of being a Maid">
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The First Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Ye <i>British</i> Maids with <i>British</i> Beauty blest,<br />
+Wife as you're Fair, of ev'ry Grace possest,<br />
+Do not the least degenerate from your Worth,<br />
+Nor be less Chaste because you're thus set forth;<br />
+Have Patience then, and I'll revenge your Cause,<br />
+And all the deep Designs of wicked Men expose,<br />
+Shew the dear Comforts of a Single Life,<br />
+With all the Plagues and Ills of Wh----re or Wife.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Second Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Tell me you Grave Disputers of the Schools,<br />
+You learned Coxcombs, and you well read Fools;<br />
+You that have told us, Man must be our Head,<br />
+And made <i>Dame Nature</i> Pimp to what you've said,<br />
+Tell me where are the Joys of womans Life,<br />
+When she consents to be a wedded Wife:<br />
+Much less if she too kind and easie proves,<br />
+And grants her Heart to one that swears he loves,<br />
+I will not call her W----re, because I know<br />
+'Twas his false Oaths and Lyes that made her so:<br />
+But you that would to your own selves be just,<br />
+Nor Friend nor Husband but with caution trust.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Third Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;And first, the greatest lasting'st Plague of Life,<br />
+Husband; the Constant Jaylor of a wife,<br />
+A proud insulting dominering thing,<br />
+Abroad a subject, but at Home a King,<br />
+There he in State does Arbitrary Reign,<br />
+And lordlike pow'r do's o'er his wife maintain.<br />
+For when she puts the Marriage Garments on,<br />
+The pleasures Ended e'er 'tis well begun:<br />
+But Plagues increase and hardly e're have done,<br />
+The joy he Courted he dispises now,<br />
+And do's a perfect Married Nausiance grow,<br /><br /></td>
+<td style="vertical-align: top;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
+}<br />
+}<br />
+}<br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Fourth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;It's Jealousie that maggot of the pate,<br />
+Possess the Sot, how violent's his hate,<br />
+What curst suspitions haunt his tortur'd Mind,<br />
+And make him look for what he would not find,<br />
+Nothing but Females must i'th House appear,<br />
+And not a Dog or Cat, that's Male be there,<br />
+Nay lest the unhappy wife shou'd have her longings,<br />
+He cuts out all the Men i'th Tapstry Hangings,<br />
+And if a harmless Letter's to her sent,<br />
+He'll make it speak worse sense than e'er it meant.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Fifth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;In a Curst Chamber, Cloyster'd up for Life,<br />
+Loves Female Innocence miscall'd a wife,<br />
+Deny'd those Pleasures are to Virtue granted,<br />
+Yearly the Devil of a Husband haunted,<br />
+for a Release she cannot Hope nor Pray,<br />
+Till milder Death takes him, or her away,<br />
+If her she's happy, and if him she's bless'd,<br />
+Till to her arms she takes a second Guest.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Sixth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;If Beauty, Wit, or Com[*?]aisance would do,<br />
+There's women that can all these wonders show,<br />
+Beauty that might new fire to Hermit lend,<br />
+And wit which serves that Beauty to defend,<br />
+who courted, cou'd do wonders with those Charms,<br />
+Till Parson conjur'd her to Husbands Arms,<br />
+And tho' the same perfections still remain<br />
+Yet nothing now can the dull Creature gain,<br />
+No looks can win him, nor no Smiles invite,<br />
+He now does her, and her Endearments slight,<br />
+And leaves those Graces which he shou'd adore,<br />
+To dote upon some Ugly suburb whore,<br />
+whilst poor neglected Spouse remains at home,<br />
+with discontent and Sorrow overcome,<br />
+No prayers, nor tears, nor all the Virtuous arts.<br />
+which women use to tame Rebellous Hearts.<br />
+Can the Incorrigible H[*?] move,<br />
+And make him own his once so promis'd love,<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Seventh Comfort</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh she a happy, too too happy Bride,<br />
+That has a Husband snoring by her side,<br />
+Belching out Fumes of undigested wine,<br />
+And lies all Night like a good natur'd Swine,<br />
+whose Snoring serves as Musick to her Ears,<br />
+And keeps true Confort with her silent Tears,<br />
+That can himself no more than <i>Chaos</i> move,<br />
+And still neglects the great affair of love,<br />
+She may indeed assume the name of wife,<br />
+But others know she's but a Nurse for life.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Eighth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;A drunken Husband tho may have good nature,<br />
+But here's a fullen Matrimonial Creature,<br />
+will ask, and will not, will ask, and will deny<br />
+Is Peevish, Cross, and cannot tell for why,<br />
+Not one kind look he will to Spouse afford,<br />
+Scarce speake at all, at least not one good word,<br />
+All the obliging arts that she can use,<br />
+To reconcile this angry pevish Spouse,<br />
+Avail no more, than if she took delight,<br />
+In washing Bricks, or Swarthy <i>Negroes</i> white,<br />
+Lyons, and Tyger Men have learnt to tame;<br />
+Retaining nothing frightful but the Name,<br />
+But Man, unruly man, that Beast of reason,<br />
+'Gainst women still continues in his Treason.<br />
+No Charms his damn'd ill nature can release,<br />
+<i>Satan</i>, must only <i>Satan</i> disposes.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Ninth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Nor Marriage is alone the dang'rous shelf,<br />
+On which a woman may destroy her self,<br />
+Believe no whineing Fool that Swears he loves,<br />
+And for your Pity to his Passion moves:<br />
+with fair decoying words he glids the Cheat,<br />
+Tells her the Sin, nor Danger are so great,<br />
+The joy is past the reach of Humane view,<br />
+And adds it will for ever bind him to be True:<br />
+But oh! if Maids upon this Quicksand run,<br />
+They're lost past hope, and are for e'er undone,<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Tenth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Another swears he'll keep you all your Life,<br />
+Without the ugly Names, <i>of Man and Wife</i>.<br />
+And to that End what Arts, what Tricks are laid,<br />
+T' insnare the Virtuous Young unthinking Maid,<br />
+What rev'rend Bawd's made use of to Entice,<br />
+The Fair one's liking to that Modish Vice.<br />
+How she at last is guided to his Arms,<br />
+Where for a while he Doats upon her Charms.<br />
+But long she can't the airy Title hold,<br />
+Her look'd for Joys are scarce a Twelve Month Old,<br />
+Before <i>Kind Keeper</i> takes another Miss,<br />
+By sad Experience weary grown of this.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Eleventh Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Are these the Sov'reigns then that we must own,<br />
+Must we before their Golden Calves bow down,<br />
+Forgive us Heav'n, if we renounce the Elves,<br />
+And make a Common-wealth among our Selves,<br />
+Whereby the Laws that we shall there Ordain.<br />
+We'll make it Capital to mention Man,<br />
+Man! we'll for ever banish from our sight,<br />
+Not talk by Day, nor think of them by Night,<br />
+We'll shun their Courtship, as we do the Plague,<br />
+And loath 'em more than they a Toothless Hagg.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Twelfth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;'Tis not their Sighs, Crying, nor Prayers,<br />
+Their subtile Whinings, nor Treacherous Tears,<br />
+That shall one kind Return for ever gain,<br />
+But when t' oblige us they've done all they can,<br />
+We'll laugh, deride, and scorn the Foppish Sex,<br />
+And wrank Invention for new ways to vex,<br />
+Till they to shun us, prompted by Despair,<br />
+Or Drown themselves, or hung in cleanly Air.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Thirteenth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;But if amongst us there should chance to be,<br />
+One silly fond regardless foolish She,<br />
+That spight of all our Edicts will maintain<br />
+A League with that detested Creature <i>Man:</i><br />
+Good Counsels first shall strive to bring her off,<br />
+But if the Fool will that good Counsel scoff,<br />
+If she the freedom of her Sex will leave,<br />
+And love a Wretch she knows that will deceive,<br />
+From Pity well exempt the <i>Female</i> Sot,<br />
+That wretched Thing a <i>Husband</i> be her Lot.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Fourteenth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td colspan="2">&nbsp;&nbsp;Jealous by Day, and Impotent by Night,<br />
+Have neither Shape nor Mein to please the Sight<br />
+Diseas'd in Body, and deform'd in Soul,<br />
+Conceited, Proud, yet all the while a Fool:<br />
+May she with him spin out a tedious Life,<br />
+Blest with that much admir'd Title, <i>Wife</i>.<br />
+And may no Female better Fate partake,<br />
+That prophane the wholsome Laws we make.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td colspan="2"><h3><i>The Fifteenth Comfort.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;And may the silly Maid that is so blind,<br />
+To trust Man's Oaths that are as false as Wind,<br />
+And only to her Ruin are design'd,<br />
+That thinks her Vertue is a Plague of Life,<br />
+And will to cure it, yield as Whore or Wife.<br />
+Find all the Ills that have before been said,<br />
+And lose for endless Plauges her Maiden-head,<br />
+Who will not bear what they infer a Pain,<br />
+And laugh at all the base Delights of Men.<br /><br /></td>
+<td style="vertical-align: top;">}<br />
+}<br />
+}<br /></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h2><i>FINIS.</i><br /><br /></h2>
+
+<hr class="full" />
+
+<h3>THE</h3>
+<h2>Fifteen PLEASURES</h2>
+<h3>OF A</h3>
+<h1>VIRGIN.</h1>
+<h3>WRITTEN</h3>
+<h3>By the suppos'd AUTHOR of</h3>
+<h3>THE</h3>
+<h1 style="font-family: 'Old English Text MT','EngrvrsOldEng BT',fantasy">Fifteen Plagues</h1>
+<h3>OF A</h3>
+<h1>Maidenhead.</h1>
+<hr />
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" summary="epigram">
+<tr><td><i>Virtus, repuls&aelig; nescia fortid&aelig;,<br />
+Intimitatis fulget honoribus.</i> Hor. L. 3. Od. 1.</td></tr>
+</table>
+<hr />
+<p class="center">LONDON: Printed in the Year, 1709.<br /><br /></p>
+
+<h3>AN</h3>
+<h1>APOLOGY</h1>
+<h3>FOR</h3>
+<h2>The Fifteen Plagues of a Maidenhead,<br />
+by the Imputed Author thereof.</h2>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="Apology">
+<tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;Suppose 'twas I, you thought, had drew my Pen<br />
+On Virtue, see I fight for her agen;<br />
+Wherefore, I hope my Foes will all excuse<br />
+Th' Extravagance of a Repenting Muse;<br />
+Pardon whate'er she has too boldly said,<br />
+She only acted then in Masquerade;<br />
+But now the Vizard's off, She's chang'd her Scene,<br />
+And turns a Modest, Civil Girl agen;<br />
+Let some admire the Fops whose Talent lie<br />
+Inventing dull, insipid Blasphemy;<br />
+I swear I cannot with those Terms dispence,<br />
+Nor won't be Damn'd for the Repute of Sense;<br />
+I cou'd be Bawdy much, and nick the Times,<br />
+In what they dearly Love; damn'd Placket Rhimes;<br />
+But that such Naus'ous Lines can reach no higher<br />
+Than what the Cod-Piece or Buffoons inspire.<br />
+&nbsp;&nbsp;To noble Satyr, I'll direct my Aim,<br />
+And bite Mankind, and Poetry Reclaim;<br />
+I'll ever use my Wit another Way,<br />
+And next the Ugliness of Vice display.<br />
+<br />
+<div style="text-align: right"><i>Yours, &amp;c.</i></div><br />
+</td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h3>THE</h3>
+<h2>FIFTEEN P----s</h2>
+<h3>OF A</h3>
+<h1>VIRGIN.</h1>
+
+<table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
+summary="The Fifteen Palgues of a Virgin">
+<tr><td><h3><i>The first P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>In these unhappy and more wretched Days,<br />
+Eclipsed with Debauchery and Plays!<br />
+Virgins can scarce stir out, but some dull Fop,<br />
+Impertinently kind, her way will stop,<br />
+And almost force Her to some House of Sin,<br />
+Her Innocence and Virtue to draw in;<br />
+And if he can her Modesty invade,<br />
+Glad with her Spoils and Trophies of a Maid,<br />
+The Villain is the first that will complain<br />
+Her foul Dishonour, and polluted Shame.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Second P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>A Maid dispos'd to take the gentle Air,<br />
+And to <i>Grays-Inn</i>, or <i>Temple-Walks</i> repair;<br />
+No sooner enters she the Garden Gate,<br />
+Sits down, and thinks of going e're 'tis late,<br />
+But some insipid Squire having spy'd her,<br />
+Takes Heart of Steel, and boldly squats beside her.<br />
+He thus accosts her,&mdash;Madam, <i>Ah! by Gad<br />
+You're wond'rous Fair; but Lady, why so sad?</i><br />
+Her Innocence he thinks will soon submit,<br />
+To all the swagg'ring Tyrants of his Wit;<br />
+But being strictly taught in Vertue's School,<br />
+She does not only slight the prating Fool,<br />
+Contemn'd his Actions, and his feigned Tone,<br />
+But leaves the Lawyer strait to Curse alone.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Third P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>The Maid that's Blessed with a beauteos Face,<br />
+A gentile Air, and as genteel a Grace;<br />
+On her some am'rous Beau soon casts his Eyes,<br />
+And to obtain the much admired Prize;<br />
+He fashionably dresses, struts, looks big,<br />
+Like <i>John</i> of <i>Gaunt</i>, and in a pond'rous Wig;<br />
+A subtle, sly, and cunning Ambuscade,<br />
+For her Virginity is quickly laid;<br />
+Of Love he tells a Thousand Fictious Tales,<br />
+Till over her Discretion Lust prevails,<br />
+But modest Maids, whose young and tender Hearts<br />
+Unwounded yet, have the scap'd fatal Darts;<br />
+Let the sad Fates of wanton Strumpets move,<br />
+And learn by them to shun unlawful Love:<br />
+Thus Virgins, if you'll Modesty embrace,<br />
+By making all Allurements give you place:<br />
+Virtue a Sanctuary e'er shall be<br />
+Against the Quivers of Iniquity.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>A Maid of honest, but mean Parents Born,<br />
+These Times is only made the rich Man's scorn,<br />
+Howe'er her Beauty tempting some young Spark<br />
+He takes her to the Playhouse and the Park,<br />
+Where he with many Imprecations vows,<br />
+His Fortune and his Life to her he owes;<br />
+But finding his Temptations are in vain,<br />
+Her Company in Wrath he do's refrain;<br />
+Which at the first may touch her tender Heart,<br />
+And make her feel the force of <i>Cupid</i>'s Dart;<br />
+But Time and Absence Having made a Cure<br />
+Of that same Plague she could not first endure.<br />
+She says, as now I'm well, recite not then<br />
+The Falshood and Deceit of Perjur'd Men,<br />
+Virtue retain'd, that Man I'll ever slight,<br />
+Whom I cannot by Marriage claim my Right.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fifth P----, in a Dialogue betwixt</i> Cloris<br />
+<i>and</i> Parthenisea.</h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i><b>Clo.</b></i> Why dost thou all Address deny?<br />
+Hard-hearted <i>Parthenisea</i>, why?<br />
+See how the trembling Lovers come,<br />
+That from thy Lips expect their Doom.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Par.</b></i> <i>Cloris!</i> I hate them all, they know,<br />
+Nay I have often told them so;<br />
+Their silly Politicks abhorr'd:<br />
+I scorn to make my Slave my Lord.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Clo.</b></i> But <i>Strephon</i>'s Eyes proclaim His Love<br />
+Too brave, Tyrannical to prove.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Par.</b></i> Ah <i>Cloris!</i> when we lost our Power?<br />
+We must obey the Conqueror.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Clo.</b></i> Yet when a gentle Prince bears sway,<br />
+It is no Bondage to Obey.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Par.</b></i> But if like <i>Nero</i>, for a while,<br />
+With Arts of Kindness he beguile,<br />
+How shall the Tyrant be withstood,<br />
+When he has writ his Laws in Blood?<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Clo.</b></i> Love (<i>Parthenisea</i>) all commands,<br />
+it fetters Kings in charming Bands;<br />
+<i>Mars</i> yields his Arms to <i>Cupid</i>'s Darts,<br />
+And Beauty softens Savage Hearts.<br />
+<br />
+<i><b>Par.</b></i> Well may you choose to be a Wife,<br />
+I'll still retain a Single Life.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Sixth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Rid of a Coxcomb, next a Siege is laid<br />
+Against the weak Repulses of a Maid,<br />
+By one that keeps a Coach and Lackies too,<br />
+And that he might his wicked Plots pursue,<br />
+In gawdy Dress he would her Heart surprize,<br />
+with Gold to dazle her too watchful Eyes;<br />
+But Vertue cherishing her Virtuous Breast,<br />
+With so much Innocence which made her blest,<br />
+Her Innocence as hitherto ne'er knew<br />
+What Mischief <i>Venus</i> or her Son cou'd do,<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Seventh P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Where blindfold Fortune has been pleas'd to place<br />
+A Virgen with a Master void of Grace,<br />
+With Foot, with Hand, or Eyes, he'll Tokens speak,<br />
+The Signs deny, these Assignations make;<br />
+Thinks she shall be as pliant to his Use,<br />
+As Strumpets on a <i>Cornival</i> let loose;<br />
+But if she's Chast, his Miss she will not be,<br />
+Unless she is as Fiend, and Base as he.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eighth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>A</i> Negro <i>Courting onto a maid,<br />
+That was most Fair; to him she said,<br />
+Thy Ink, my Papper, make me guess,<br />
+Our Nuptial Bed will make a Press,<br />
+And to our Sports, if any came<br />
+They'll read a Wanton Epigram,</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Ninth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>How many Sweethearts do these follow me<br />
+Whose fell Design I know's to Ruine me;<br />
+but let me banish this forbidden Fire,<br />
+Or quench it with my Blood, or with't expire;<br />
+Unstain'd in Honour; and unhurt in Fame,<br />
+I'll never blast Virginity Shame,</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Tenth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>A Sailor vowing he would all his Life,<br />
+Be true to me, he took another Wife;<br />
+whose Folshood (not as e're he did Invade<br />
+My Honour) made me sick, and, dying, said,<br />
+Ah now at my last Hour I gasping lie:<br />
+Let only my kind Murtherer be by,<br />
+Let him, while I breath out my Soul in Sighs,<br />
+Or gaz't away, look on with pitying Eyes;<br />
+Let him (for sure he can't deny me this)<br />
+Seal my cold Lips with one dear parting Kiss.</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Eleventh P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>To have a Sweetheart once it was my Fate,<br />
+Whom much I lov'd, and now as much do hate,<br />
+Fo going to be coupled for my Life,<br />
+He was took from me by a former Wife;<br />
+Henceforwards I shall ever cautious be<br />
+Of Marrying one, a Stranger unto me.</i><br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Twelfth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td><i>A Sweetheart whom I lov'd, and he lov'd me,<br />
+Intoxicated with Cursed Jealousie,<br />
+Without a Cause, my Innocence did slight,<br />
+Which urged soon my Passion thus to write,<br />
+Kind Health, which you, and only you can grant,<br />
+Which, if deny'd, I must for ever want;<br />
+To you your Lover sends; but blushing Shame,<br />
+In silence bids my Paper hide my Name.<br />
+Witness what Pains (for you alone can know)<br />
+Poor helpless I do bear and undergo;<br />
+A thousand Racks and Martyrdoms, and more<br />
+Than a weak Virgin can be thought, I bore:<br />
+You rule alone my Arbitrary Fate,<br />
+And Life and on your disposal wait.<br />
+How little more remains for me to crave!<br />
+How little more for you to give! O save<br />
+A wretched Maid undone by Love and you,<br />
+Who does in Tears and dying Accents sue;<br />
+Who bleeds that Passion she had ne'er reveal'd,<br />
+If not by Love, Almighty Love compell'd:</i><br />
+No ever let her mournful Tomb complain,<br />
+Here <i>Phillis</i>, kill'd by your cold Disdain;<br />
+And to her Honour let it e'er be said,<br />
+She dy'd a faithful Lover, yet a Maid.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Thirteenth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>Blessed with Beauty, Money, Youth and Wit,<br />
+I'm daily plagu'd with some Penurious Cit,<br />
+But e'er I will to such be forc'd to yield,<br />
+To a Man of Sense I Will resign the Field,<br />
+For Men of Breeding more of Love can show,<br />
+Than dull Mechanicks e'er can learn or know.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>The Fourteenth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>A Maid can scarce into a Service get,<br />
+But Prentice Boys (void both of Sense and Wit)<br />
+Will lead the Servant such a tedious Life,<br />
+To Change the Name of Maid to that of Wife,<br />
+That she, to shun their solid Impudence,<br />
+Must leave her Service in her own Defence.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+
+
+<tr><td><h3><i>Fifteenth P----.</i></h3></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td>What spiteful Star, when I was Born did Rule,<br />
+That I'm thus teazed with a whining Fool,<br />
+Which is the very worst of Fools; for he,<br />
+Got in a Stran of dull Simplicity,<br />
+Crys, <i>Agdes!</i> See my looks, my wishing Eyes,<br />
+My melting Tears and hear my begging Sighs;<br />
+About your Neck I could have flung my Arms,<br />
+And been all over Love, all over Charms;<br />
+Grasp and hang on your K----, and there have dy'd,<br />
+There breath my gasping Soul out tho' deny'd.<br />
+My earnest Suits shall never give you rest,<br />
+While Life and Love more durable shall last;<br />
+Alive I'll Pray, 'till Breath in Pray'rs be lost,<br />
+And after come a kind beseeching Ghost.<br />
+He thought these soft Expressions soon might move<br />
+My Heart, which was bequeath'd before to Love,<br />
+No, no, these whiedling Fops I really hate,<br />
+And since I am resolv'd to change my State,<br />
+A Man of Wit and Sense I do adore,<br />
+To him I grant my Favours and my Store,<br />
+As certain Wedlock with so good a Choice,<br />
+May make my Judgment, whilst I live rejoice.<br /><br /></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<h2><i>FINIS.</i></h2>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony:
+Responses From Women, by Various
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony:
+Responses From Women, by Various
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony: Responses From Women
+
+Author: Various
+
+Release Date: November 8, 2004 [EBook #13972]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FIFTEEN COMFORTS OF MATRIMONY ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by David Starner, Fred Robinson and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Transcriber's Note: The following was proofread from what appear to
+be scans of photocopies of a reproduction of the original text. On top
+of the original's battered type-face and archaic spellings, this
+preparer, and the proofreaders before him, have had to contend with
+dirty or faded images and missing margins. We have made our best
+guesses as to the missing letters, but in some cases we were stymied;
+those few places are marked with [*?]. In addition, the most obvious
+printer's mistakes (transposed, missing, obviously incorrect, and even
+upside-down letters) have been corrected.]
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ THE
+
+ Whores and Bawd's
+
+ ANSWER
+
+ TO THE
+
+ Fifteen Comforts
+
+ OF
+
+ WHORING
+
+ [Illustration]
+
+ Printed in the Year, 1706.
+
+
+
+
+ The PREFACE.
+
+
+_Indeed we the Ladies of Pleasures, and those that stile themselves
+Procurers in Love Affairs, highly resent the late Paper put out
+against our Profession and bespattering of us for using only our own;
+but since it is the Way of the World for most Men to be inclinable to
+love Lac'd Mutton, I think it is their Duty to resent the Affront with
+us so much, as to Satyrize the Author of the_ Fifteen Comforts of
+Whoring, _who without is some young bashful Effeminate Fool or
+another, that knows not how to say_ Boh to a Goose; _or some old
+suffocated old Wretch so far pass'd his Labour, that he scolds for
+Madness that he cannot give a buxom young Lass her Benevolence; or
+else he may an hundred to one be one of Captain_ Risby's _Fraternity,
+and so must needs be a Woman Hater by Course. But let him be what he
+will, so long as our Impudence is Case-harden'd we value not his
+Reflections, and therefore will not leave our Vocation tho' Claps and
+Poxes shou'd be our Portion every Day for according to an eminent
+Whore now Deceas'd,_
+
+
+ Clap, clap ye Whores, Clap as Clap can,
+ Some Clap to Women, we'll Clap the Men.
+
+
+
+
+ THE
+ Whores and Bawds, Answer, &c.
+
+
+ _The first Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd._
+
+ No sooner does a Maid arrive to Years,
+ And she the Pleasures of Conjunction hears,
+ But strait her Maidenhead a Tip-toe runs,
+ To get her like, in Daughters or in Sons;
+ Upon some jolly Lad she casts her Eye,
+ And with some am'rous Gestures by the by;
+ She gives him great Encouragement to take
+ His fill of Love, and swears that for his sake
+ She soon shall Die; which makes the Youth so hot
+ To get about the Maiden's Honey-pot,
+ That promising her Marriage and the like,
+ They both a Bargain very quickly Strike;
+ [*?] Rubbers often take till she does prove
+ With Child, then she bids adieu to Love;
+ And e're she's brought to Bed away does Creep,
+ For fear he should the Wenche's Urchin keep.
+
+
+ _The Second Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd._
+
+ Now when a Maid has crackt her Maidenhead,
+ By being once or twice (Sir) brought to Bed,
+ Her Credit then's so broke that all her Wit,
+ And Policy cannot a Husband get;
+ But yet not being out of Heart she Cries,
+ From Marriage keeping I shall be more wise,
+ For if he's not a Fool he soon will find,
+ I had before I'd him to some been kind,
+ Then how he'd call me arrant Bitch and Whore,
+ And Swear some Stallion had been there before;
+ Then leave me, Wherefore I will single Live,
+ And my Invention to decoying give,
+ For as I was by fickle Man betray'd,
+ So Men by me too shall be Bubbles made,
+ Till the dull Sots clandestine Means do take,
+ In robbing Masters,for a Strumpets sake,
+ For which if they shou'd at the Gallows Swing,
+ Their End I'd in some merry Ditty Sing.
+
+
+ _ The Third Comfort of whoring answer'd._
+
+ What tho' of Whoring it is the mishap,
+ Sometimes for him that Ruts to get a Clap,
+ Or an Invetrate Pox which may expose
+ His private Sports by Eating off his Nose;
+ How many by hard Drinking will Roar out
+ With Aches, Rheumatism's or the Gout,
+ When in that gorging, guzling, tipling Sin
+ There is not half the Pleasure, that there's in,
+ The soft Embraces of a Woman who
+ Altho' she is not to one Moral true,
+ Does strive to please your height of amorous Lust,
+ With such a ravishing and pleasing Gust,
+ That wou'd an Eunuch tempt to tast the same,
+ But that he Tools does want to play the Game.
+
+
+ _The fourth Comfort of Whoring answer'd._
+
+ Tho' Buboes, Nodes and Ulcers are the Marks,
+ Of many a wanton Beau and am'rous Sparks
+ And many a lustful Lecher oft complains
+ Of restless Days and damn'd nocturnal Pains,
+ Nays go into a Flux o dozen Weeks,
+ Is't not the Man himself these Sorrow seeks?
+ Besides, how often see you go astride
+ A Miss, as if she was with Packthread ty'd;
+ Who's Poxt and Clapt as much as you can be,
+ And undergoes a deal of Misery,
+ To give your wanton Appetites content,
+ [*?] feeding you with Flesh, altho' in Lent:
+ Therefore as the old Woman very Tart
+ Once said, when against Thunder she did Fart,
+ 'Twas only tit for tat, so if the Men
+ Do clap the Whores, and Whores Claps them agen,
+ Tis only tit for tat; tis very true,
+ What's good for Goose is good for Gander too.
+
+
+ _The fifth Comfort of Whoring answer'd._
+
+ What if a Man is in a marry'd State?
+ Confin'd to one does am'rous Heat abate,
+ Or shew me him (altho' he were in need.)
+ That always wou'd upon one Diet feed
+ When once a Woman's by a Man enjoy'd
+ For good and all, his Appetite is cloy'd.
+ Therefore he fixes on some wanton Miss
+ Whom rather than his Wife behalf he'd Kiss,
+ For as it's oft reported now a days,
+ A Thing that's fresh, fresh Courage, too will raise
+
+
+ _The Sixth Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd_
+
+ What Man wou'd shun the Plagues of Pox and Pills,
+ Or all the ails that are in Doctors Bills,
+ Rather than not be circled in the Arms
+ Of one that tempts you with a thousand Charms,
+ And tho' she long has lost her Maidenhead,
+ Yet such Dexterity she'll shew in Bed,
+ That, Sir, your Mouth wou'd water o're and o're,
+ To feed again upon a skilful Whore.
+
+
+ _The seventh Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ 'Tis true, the Fop that thinketh to secure'd
+ To himself, in private Lodgins some fine Whore
+ He is a Fool, for she'll not be confin'd,
+ To any Man altho' he's are so kind;
+ For being then high Pampered and Fed,
+ In absence of her Cull she takes to Bed
+ Another, that with Gold allures her too,
+ That she may not to her Gallant be true;
+ For thinks she, when her Chap is tir'd quite,
+ And turns her off in others to delight,
+ From all she can she'll privately receive,
+ Which may her great Necessities relieve,
+ When that she bids adieu her Master's Bed,
+ To get by publick jilting Tricks her Bread.
+
+
+ _The eighth Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd._
+
+ If any Man's in Love with any Whore,
+ Why ought he not to lavish all his Store
+ Upon her? Since, to make the Fop admire,
+ Those prety Features which sets him a fire,
+ She's often at the Charge of Velvit Hoods,
+ Silk Stockins, Velvit Scarves and other Goods,
+ Lac'd Shoes, rich Mantoe's, Gloves and Diamond Rings
+ Fine Linnen, Gowns, and other costly things.
+
+
+ _The ninth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd_
+
+ If any has a Jilt some time sustain'd,
+ Who has imperious o're his Pocket reign'd,
+ And he's grown weary of so sweet a Life,
+ Or else being jealous takes to him a Wife;
+ The Whore can do no less than fling and tear,
+ And on th' inconstant Coxcomb Vengeance swaer,
+ For leaving her in this her state of Sin;
+ And let the World know what the Spark has been,
+ Unless a Pension he to her allows,
+ That she may not his Roguery disclose.
+
+
+ _The tenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ T'is true we Harlots work by various means,
+ And act our Parts behind too diff'rent Scenes;
+ Sometimes we do a Bastard lay to those,
+ That never did so much as touch our Cloaths;
+ Perhaps too ne'er were in our Company,
+ So Guineas get by this same Subtilty;
+ And many times a Pocket too we pick,
+ For at no mischief will a Strumpit stick;
+ For once a Woman's bad, there's no relief
+ By being only Whore, but also Thief.
+
+
+ _The Eleventh Comfort of Whoring, Answer'd._
+
+ We'll have you know, of Whores are very few,
+ That will to any Man be ever true;
+ To us all Men for Money are alike,
+ With Skips as soon as Beaus we bargains strike;
+ And gad no sooner is a Cully gone,
+ But quick another in his Room gets on.
+
+
+ _The Twelfth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ Besides great Charges we are at for Cloaths,
+ To tempt the Fancies of our cringing Beaus,
+ We Pimps and Bullies keep to be our Bail,
+ When Sharping Bailiffs nabb us for a Jayl.
+
+
+ _The Thirteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ Again as we to _Bridewel_ oft are sent,
+ To undergo a flauging Punishment,
+ A bribe to him that Whips us then is gi'n,
+ To have Compassion to our tender Skin.
+
+
+ _The Fourteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ With pretty winning ways we do assure,
+ Our selves to bring the Woodcocks to our Lure
+ As ogling wishfully, and having Tongue,
+ Which tho' 'tis false, yet with good Language hung
+ And if we have a Voice that's good, we sing
+ And _Syren_ like our Fops to ruin bring;
+ Then how we Strumpets do rejoyce to see,
+ The wiser Sex undone by Lechery.
+
+
+ _The Fifteenth Comfort of Whoring Answer'd._
+
+ But now good lack-a-day our Trade's so bad,
+ That truly Customers can scarce be had,
+ Through those sly Whore's that do in privat dwell,
+ So (but a story sad it is to tell)
+ Our common Whores can scarce their Livings get
+ By all the means of an intrieguing Wit.
+ For _Drury Lane_, in _Fleetstreet_ or the _Strand_,
+ Hours we walk e're any by the Hand,
+ Will take us, wherefore as we daggle home,
+ Some prick-louse _Taylor_ strutting up will come,
+ With whom for want we're forced to comply,
+ for one poor two pence wet, and two pence dry.
+
+
+ _FINIS._
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ THE
+
+ Fifteen PLAGUES
+
+ OF A
+
+ Maiden-Head
+
+ Written by Madam B----le.
+
+ [Illustration]
+
+ LONDON:
+
+ Printed by F.P. near _Fleet-street_, 1707.
+
+
+
+
+ THE
+
+ Fifteen Plagues of a
+
+ Maiden-Head, _&c._
+
+
+ _The First Plague._
+
+ The Woman Marry'd is Divinely Blest,
+ But I a Virgin cannot take my Rest;
+ I'm discontented up, as bad a Bed,
+ Because I'm plagued with my Maiden-head;
+ A thing that do's my blooming Years no good,
+ But only serves to freeze my youthful Blood,
+ Which slowly Circulates, do what I can,
+ For want of Bleeding by some skilful Man;
+ Whose tender hand his _Launcet_ so will guide,
+ That I the Name of _Maid_ may lay aside.
+
+
+ _The Second Plague._
+
+ When I've beheld an am'rous Youth make Love,
+ And swearing Truth by all the Gods above,
+ How has it strait inflam'd my sprightly Blood
+ Creating Flames, I scarcely should withstood,
+ But bid him boldly march, not grant me leisure
+ Of Parley, for 'tis Speed augments the Pleasure.
+ Sirrah! tis my Misfortune not to meet
+ With any Man that would my Passion greet,
+ If he with balmy Kisses stop'd my Breath,
+ From which one cannot die a better Death,
+ Or stroke my Breasts, those Mountains of Delight,
+ Your very Touch would fire an Anchorite;
+ Next let your wanton Palm a little stray,
+ And dip thy Fingers in the milky way:
+ Then having raiz'd me, let me gently fall,
+ Love's Trumpets sound, so Mortal have at all.
+ But why wish I this Bliss? I wish in vain,
+ And of my plaguy Burthen do complain;
+ For sooner may I see whole Nations dead,
+ But I find one to get my Maiden-head.
+
+
+ _The Third Plague._
+
+ She that her Maiden-head does keep, runs through
+ More Plagues than all the Land of _Egypt_ knew;
+ A teazing Whore, or a more tedious Wife,
+ Plagues not a Marry'd Man's unhappy Life,
+ As much as it do's me to be a Maid,
+ Of which same Name I am so much afraid,
+ Because I've often heard some People tell,
+ They that die Maids, must all lead Apes in Hell;
+ And so 'twere better I had never been,
+ Than thus to be perplex'd: _God save the Queen._
+
+
+ _The Fourth Plague._
+
+ When trembling Pris'ners all stand round the Bar,
+ A strange suspence about the fatal Verdict,
+ And when the Jury crys they Guilty are,
+ How they astonish'd are when they have heard it.
+ When in mighty Storm a Ship is toss'd,
+ And all do ask, What do's the Captain say?
+ How they (poor Souls) bemoan themselves as lost,
+ When his Advice at last is only, Pray!
+ So as it was one Day my pleasing Chance,
+ To meet a handsome young Man in a Grove,
+ Both time and place conspir'd to advance
+ The innocent Designs of charming Love.
+ I thought my Happiness was then compleat,
+ Because 'twas in his Pow'r to make it so;
+ I ask'd the Spark if he would do the Feat,
+ But the unperforming Blockhead answer'd, _No_.
+ Poor Prisoners may, I see, have Mercy shewn,
+ And Shipwreck'd Men may sometimes have the Luck,
+ To see their dismal Tempests overblown,
+ But I poor Virgin never shall be F----.
+
+
+ _The Fifth Plague._
+
+ All Day poor I do sit Disconsolate,
+ Cursing the grievous Rigor of my Fate,
+ To think how I have seven Years betray'd,
+ To that dull empty Title of a Maid.
+ If that I could my self but Woman write,
+ With what transcendent Pleasure and Delight,
+ Should I for ever, thrice for ever Bless,
+ The Man that led me to such Happiness.
+
+
+ _The Sixth Plague._
+
+ Pox take the thing Folks call a Maiden-head,
+ For soon as e'er I'm sleeping in my Bed,
+ I dream I'm mingling with some Man my Thigh,
+ Till something more than ord'nary does rise;
+ But when I wake and find my Dream's in vain,
+ I turn to Sleep only to Dream again,
+ For Dreams as yet are only kind to me,
+ And at the present quench my Lechery.
+
+
+ _The Seventh Plague._
+
+ Of late I wonder what's with me the Matter,
+ For I look like Death, and am as weak as Water,
+ For several Days I loath the sight of Meat,
+ And every Night I chew the upper Sheet;
+ [*?]e such Obstructions, that I'm almost moap'd,
+ And breath as if my Vitals all were stop'd.
+ I told a Friend how strange with me it was,
+ She, an experienc'd Bawd, soon grop'd the Cause,
+ Saying, _for this Disease, take what you can,
+ You'll ne'er be well, till you have taken Man._
+ Therefore, before with Maiden-heads I'll be
+ Thus plagu'd, and live in daily Misery,
+ Some Spark shall rummage all my Wem about,
+ To find this wonderful Distemper out.
+
+
+ _The Eighth Plague._
+
+ Now I am young, blind _Cupid_ me bewitches,
+ I scratch my Belly, for it always itches,
+ And what it itches for, I've told before,
+ 'Tis either to be Wife, or be a Whore;
+ Nay any thing indeed, would be poor I,
+ N'er Maiden-heads upon my Hands should lie,
+ Which till I lose, I'm sure my watry Eyes
+ Will pay to Love so great a Sacrifice,
+ That my Carcass soon will weep out all its Juice,
+ Till grown so dry, as fit for no Man's use.
+
+
+ _The Ninth Plague._
+
+ By all the pleasant Postures of Delight,
+ By all the Twines and Circles of the Night,
+ By the first Minute of those Nuptial Joys,
+ When Men put fairly for a Brace of Boys,
+ Dying a Virgin once I more do dread,
+ Than ten times losing of a _Maiden head_;
+ For tho' it can't be seen nor understood,
+ Yet is it troublesome to Flesh and Blood.
+
+
+ _The Tenth Plague._
+
+ You heedless Maids, whose young and tender Hearts
+ Unwounded yet, have scop'd the fatal Darts;
+ Let the sad Fate of a poor Virgin move,
+ And learn by me to pay Respect to Love.
+ If one can find a Man fit for Love's Game,
+ To lose one's Maiden-head it is no Shame:
+ 'Tis no Offence, if from his tender Lip
+ I snatch a tonguing Kiss; if my fond Clip
+ With loose Embraces oft his Neck surround,
+ For Love in Debts of Nature's ever bound.
+
+
+ _The Eleventh Plague._
+
+ A _Maiden head_! Pish, in it's no Delight,
+ Nor have I Ease, but when returning Night,
+ With Sleep's soft gentle Spell my Senses charms,
+ Then Fancy some Gallant brings to my Arms:
+ In them I oft the lov'd Shadow seem
+ To grasp, and Joys, yet blush I too in Dream.
+ I wake, and long my Heart in Wonder lies,
+ To think on my late pleasing Extasies:
+ But when I'm waking, and don't yet possess,
+ In Sleep again I wish to enjoy the Bliss:
+ For Sleep do's no malicious Spies admit,
+ Yet yields a lively Semblance of Delight.
+ Gods! what a Scene of Joy was that! how fast
+ I clasp'd the Vision to my panting Breast?
+ With what fierce Bounds I sprung to meet the Bliss,
+ While my wrapt Soul flew out in ev'ry Kiss!
+ Till breathless, faint, and softly sunk away,
+ I all dissolv'd in reaking Pleasures lay.
+
+
+ _The Twelfth Plague._
+
+ Happen what will, I'll make some Lovers know
+ What Pains, what raging Pains I undergo,
+ Till I am really Heart-sick, almost Dead,
+ By keeping that damn'd thing a Maiden-head.
+ Which makes me with Green Sickness almost lost,
+ So pale, so wan, and looking like a Ghost,
+ Eating Chalk, Cindars, or Tobacco-Pipes,
+ Which with a Looseness scowers all my Tripes;
+ But e'er I'll longer this great Pain endure,
+ The Stews I'll search, but that I'll find a Cure.
+
+
+ _The Thirteenth Plague._
+
+ Let doating Age debate of _Law_ and _Right_,
+ And gravely state the Bounds of Just and Fit;
+ Whose Wisdom's but their Envy, to destroy
+ And bar those Pleasures which they can't enjoy.
+ My blooming Years, more sprightly and more gay,
+ By Nature were design'd for Love and Play:
+ Youth knows no Check, but leaps weak Virtue's Fence,
+ And briskly hunts the noble Chace of Sense!
+ Without dull thinking I'll Enjoyment trace,
+ And call that lawful whatsoe'er do's please.
+ Nor will my Crime want Instances alone,
+ 'Tis what the Glorious Gods above have done;
+ For _Saturn_, and his greater Off-spring _Jove_,
+ Both stock'd their Heaven with Incestuous Love.
+
+
+ _The Fourteenth Plague._
+
+ If any Man do's with my Bubbies play,
+ Squeeze my small Hand, as soft as Wax or Clay,
+ Or lays his Hands upon my tender Knees,
+ What strange tumultuous Joys upon me seize!
+ My Breasts do heave, and languish do my Eyes,
+ Panting's my Heart, and trembling are my Thighs;
+ I sigh, I wish, I pray, and seem to die,
+ In one continu'd Fit of Ecstacy;
+ Thus by my Looks may Man know what I mean,
+ And how he easily may get between
+ Those Quarters, where he may surprize a Fort,
+ In which an Emperor may find such Sport,
+ That with a mighty Gust of Love's Alarms,
+ He'd lie dissolving in my circling Arms;
+ But 'tis my Fate to have to do with Fools,
+ Who're very loth and shy to use their Tools,
+ To ease a poor, and fond distressed Maid,
+ Of that same Load, of which I'm not afrad
+ To lose with any Man, tho' I should die,
+ For any Tooth (good Barber) is my Cry.
+
+
+ _The Fifteenth Plague._
+
+ Alas! I care not, Sir, what Force you'd use,
+ So I my Maiden-head could quickly lose:
+ Oft do I wish one skill'd in _Cupid_'s Arts,
+ Would quickly dive into my secret Parts;
+ For as I am, at Home all sorts of Weather,
+ I kit,----as Heaven and Earth would come together,
+ Twirling a Wheel, I sit at home, hum drum,
+ And spit away my Nature on my Thumb;
+ Whilst those that Marry'd are, invited be
+ To Labours, Christnings, where the Jollitry
+ Of Women lies in telling, as some say,
+ When 'twas they did at Hoity-Toity play;
+ Whose Husband's Yard is longest, whilst another
+ Can't in the least her great Misfortune smother,
+ So tells, her Husband's Bauble is so short,
+ That when he Hunts, he never shews her Sport.
+ Now I, because I have my Maiden-head,
+ Mayn't know the Pastimes of the Nuptial Bed;
+ But mayn't I quickly do as Marry'd People may,
+ I'll either kill my self, or shortly run away.
+
+
+ _FINIS._
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ _The_ Maids _Vindication:_
+
+ OR, THE
+
+ Fifteen Comforts of living a Single Life.
+
+
+ Being an _ANSWER_ to the _Fifteen
+ Plagues of a Maiden-head_.
+
+
+ _Written by a Gentlewoman._
+
+ [Illustration]
+
+ _London_, Printed for _J. Rogers_ in _Fleet-Street_, 1707.
+
+
+
+
+ _The_ Maids _Vindication:_
+
+ OR,
+
+
+ The Fifteen Comforts of
+ being a Maid, _&c._
+
+
+ _The First Comfort._
+
+ Ye _British_ Maids with _British_ Beauty blest,
+ Wife as you're Fair, of ev'ry Grace possest,
+ Do not the least degenerate from your Worth,
+ Nor be less Chaste because you're thus set forth;
+ Have Patience then, and I'll revenge your Cause,
+ And all the deep Designs of wicked Men expose,
+ Shew the dear Comforts of a Single Life,
+ With all the Plagues and Ills of Wh----re or Wife.
+
+
+ _The Second Comfort._
+
+ Tell me you Grave Disputers of the Schools,
+ You learned Coxcombs, and you well read Fools;
+ You that have told us, Man must be our Head,
+ And made _Dame Nature_ Pimp to what you've said,
+ Tell me where are the Joys of womans Life,
+ When she consents to be a wedded Wife:
+ Much less if she too kind and easie proves,
+ And grants her Heart to one that swears he loves,
+ I will not call her W----re, because I know
+ 'Twas his false Oaths and Lyes that made her so:
+ But you that would to your own selves be just,
+ Nor Friend nor Husband but with caution trust.
+
+
+ _The Third Comfort._
+
+ And first, the greatest lasting'st Plague of Life,
+ Husband; the Constant Jaylor of a wife,
+ A proud insulting dominering thing,
+ Abroad a subject, but at Home a King,
+ There he in State does Arbitrary Reign,
+ And lordlike pow'r do's o'er his wife maintain.
+ For when she puts the Marriage Garments on, }
+ The pleasures Ended e'er 'tis well begun: }
+ But Plagues increase and hardly e're have done, }
+ The joy he Courted he dispises now,
+ And do's a perfect Married Nausiance grow,
+
+
+ _The Fourth Comfort._
+
+ It's Jealousie that maggot of the pate,
+ Possess the Sot, how violent's his hate,
+ What curst suspitions haunt his tortur'd Mind,
+ And make him look for what he would not find,
+ Nothing but Females must i'th House appear,
+ And not a Dog or Cat, that's Male be there,
+ Nay lest the unhappy wife shou'd have her longings,
+ He cuts out all the Men i'th Tapstry Hangings,
+ And if a harmless Letter's to her sent,
+ He'll make it speak worse sense than e'er it meant.
+
+
+ _The Fifth Comfort._
+
+ In a Curst Chamber, Cloyster'd up for Life,
+ Loves Female Innocence miscall'd a wife,
+ Deny'd those Pleasures are to Virtue granted,
+ Yearly the Devil of a Husband haunted,
+ for a Release she cannot Hope nor Pray,
+ Till milder Death takes him, or her away,
+ If her she's happy, and if him she's bless'd,
+ Till to her arms she takes a second Guest.
+
+
+ _The Sixth Comfort._
+
+ If Beauty, Wit, or Com[*?]aisance would do,
+ There's women that can all these wonders show,
+ Beauty that might new fire to Hermit lend,
+ And wit which serves that Beauty to defend,
+ who courted, cou'd do wonders with those Charms,
+ Till Parson conjur'd her to Husbands Arms,
+ And tho' the same perfections still remain
+ Yet nothing now can the dull Creature gain,
+ No looks can win him, nor no Smiles invite,
+ He now does her, and her Endearments slight,
+ And leaves those Graces which he shou'd adore,
+ To dote upon some Ugly suburb whore,
+ whilst poor neglected Spouse remains at home,
+ with discontent and Sorrow overcome,
+ No prayers, nor tears, nor all the Virtuous arts.
+ which women use to tame Rebellous Hearts.
+ Can the Incorrigible H[*?] move,
+ And make him own his once so promis'd love,
+
+
+ _The Seventh Comfort_
+
+ Oh she a happy, too too happy Bride,
+ That has a Husband snoring by her side,
+ Belching out Fumes of undigested wine,
+ And lies all Night like a good natur'd Swine,
+ whose Snoring serves as Musick to her Ears,
+ And keeps true Confort with her silent Tears,
+ That can himself no more than _Chaos_ move,
+ And still neglects the great affair of love,
+ She may indeed assume the name of wife,
+ But others know she's but a Nurse for life.
+
+
+ _The Eighth Comfort._
+
+ A drunken Husband tho may have good nature,
+ But here's a fullen Matrimonial Creature,
+ will ask, and will not, will ask, and will deny
+ Is Peevish, Cross, and cannot tell for why,
+ Not one kind look he will to Spouse afford,
+ Scarce speake at all, at least not one good word,
+ All the obliging arts that she can use,
+ To reconcile this angry pevish Spouse,
+ Avail no more, than if she took delight,
+ In washing Bricks, or Swarthy _Negroes_ white,
+ Lyons, and Tyger Men have learnt to tame;
+ Retaining nothing frightful but the Name,
+ But Man, unruly man, that Beast of reason,
+ 'Gainst women still continues in his Treason.
+ No Charms his damn'd ill nature can release,
+ _Satan_, must only _Satan_ disposes.
+
+
+ _The Ninth Comfort._
+
+ Nor Marriage is alone the dang'rous shelf,
+ On which a woman may destroy her self,
+ Believe no whineing Fool that Swears he loves,
+ And for your Pity to his Passion moves:
+ with fair decoying words he glids the Cheat,
+ Tells her the Sin, nor Danger are so great,
+ The joy is past the reach of Humane view,
+ And adds it will for ever bind him to be True:
+ But oh! if Maids upon this Quicksand run,
+ They're lost past hope, and are for e'er undone,
+
+
+ _The Tenth Comfort._
+
+ Another swears he'll keep you all your Life,
+ Without the ugly Names, _of Man and Wife_.
+ And to that End what Arts, what Tricks are laid,
+ T' insnare the Virtuous Young unthinking Maid,
+ What rev'rend Bawd's made use of to Entice,
+ The Fair one's liking to that Modish Vice.
+ How she at last is guided to his Arms,
+ Where for a while he Doats upon her Charms.
+ But long she can't the airy Title hold,
+ Her look'd for Joys are scarce a Twelve Month Old,
+ Before _Kind Keeper_ takes another Miss,
+ By sad Experience weary grown of this.
+
+
+ _The Eleventh Comfort._
+
+ Are these the Sov'reigns then that we must own,
+ Must we before their Golden Calves bow down,
+ Forgive us Heav'n, if we renounce the Elves,
+ And make a Common-wealth among our Selves,
+ Whereby the Laws that we shall there Ordain.
+ We'll make it Capital to mention Man,
+ Man! we'll for ever banish from our sight,
+ Not talk by Day, nor think of them by Night,
+ We'll shun their Courtship, as we do the Plague,
+ And loath 'em more than they a Toothless Hagg.
+
+
+ _The Twelfth Comfort._
+
+ 'Tis not their Sighs, Crying, nor Prayers,
+ Their subtile Whinings, nor Treacherous Tears,
+ That shall one kind Return for ever gain,
+ But when t' oblige us they've done all they can,
+ We'll laugh, deride, and scorn the Foppish Sex,
+ And wrank Invention for new ways to vex,
+ Till they to shun us, prompted by Despair,
+ Or Drown themselves, or hung in cleanly Air.
+
+
+ _The Thirteenth Comfort._
+
+ But if amongst us there should chance to be,
+ One silly fond regardless foolish She,
+ That spight of all our Edicts will maintain
+ A League with that detested Creature _Man:_
+ Good Counsels first shall strive to bring her off,
+ But if the Fool will that good Counsel scoff,
+ If she the freedom of her Sex will leave,
+ And love a Wretch she knows that will deceive,
+ From Pity well exempt the _Female_ Sot,
+ That wretched Thing a _Husband_ be her Lot.
+
+
+ _The Fourteenth Comfort._
+
+ Jealous by Day, and Impotent by Night,
+ Have neither Shape nor Mein to please the Sight
+ Diseas'd in Body, and deform'd in Soul,
+ Conceited, Proud, yet all the while a Fool:
+ May she with him spin out a tedious Life,
+ Blest with that much admir'd Title, _Wife_.
+ And may no Female better Fate partake,
+ That prophane the wholsome Laws we make.
+
+
+ _The Fifteenth Comfort._
+
+ And may the silly Maid that is so blind, }
+ To trust Man's Oaths that are as false as Wind, }
+ And only to her Ruin are design'd, }
+ That thinks her Vertue is a Plague of Life,
+ And will to cure it, yield as Whore or Wife.
+ Find all the Ills that have before been said,
+ And lose for endless Plauges her Maiden-head,
+ Who will not bear what they infer a Pain,
+ And laugh at all the base Delights of Men.
+
+
+ _FINIS._
+
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ THE
+
+ Fifteen PLEASURES
+
+ OF A
+
+ VIRGIN.
+
+ WRITTEN
+
+ By the suppos'd AUTHOR of
+
+ THE
+
+ Fifteen Plagues
+
+ OF A
+
+ Maidenhead.
+
+
+ _Virtus, repulsæ nescia fortidæ,
+ Intimitatis fulget honoribus._ Hor. L. 3. Od. 1.
+
+
+ LONDON: Printed in the Year, 1709.
+
+
+
+
+ AN
+
+ APOLOGY
+
+ FOR
+
+ The Fifteen Plagues of a Maidenhead,
+ by the Imputed Author thereof.
+
+
+ Suppose 'twas I, you thought, had drew my Pen
+ On Virtue, see I fight for her agen;
+ Wherefore, I hope my Foes will all excuse
+ Th' Extravagance of a Repenting Muse;
+ Pardon whate'er she has too boldly said,
+ She only acted then in Masquerade;
+ But now the Vizard's off, She's chang'd her Scene,
+ And turns a Modest, Civil Girl agen;
+ Let some admire the Fops whose Talent lie
+ Inventing dull, insipid Blasphemy;
+ I swear I cannot with those Terms dispence,
+ Nor won't be Damn'd for the Repute of Sense;
+ I cou'd be Bawdy much, and nick the Times,
+ In what they dearly Love; damn'd Placket Rhimes;
+ But that such Naus'ous Lines can reach no higher
+ Than what the Cod-Piece or Buffoons inspire.
+
+ To noble Satyr, I'll direct my Aim,
+ And bite Mankind, and Poetry Reclaim;
+ I'll ever use my Wit another Way,
+ And next the Ugliness of Vice display.
+
+ _Yours, &c._
+
+
+
+
+ THE
+
+ FIFTEEN P----s
+
+ OF A
+
+ VIRGIN.
+
+
+ _The first P----._
+
+ In these unhappy and more wretched Days,
+ Eclipsed with Debauchery and Plays!
+ Virgins can scarce stir out, but some dull Fop,
+ Impertinently kind, her way will stop,
+ And almost force Her to some House of Sin,
+ Her Innocence and Virtue to draw in;
+ And if he can her Modesty invade,
+ Glad with her Spoils and Trophies of a Maid,
+ The Villain is the first that will complain
+ Her foul Dishonour, and polluted Shame.
+
+
+ _The Second P----._
+
+ A Maid dispos'd to take the gentle Air,
+ And to _Grays-Inn_, or _Temple-Walks_ repair;
+ No sooner enters she the Garden Gate,
+ Sits down, and thinks of going e're 'tis late,
+ But some insipid Squire having spy'd her,
+ Takes Heart of Steel, and boldly squats beside her.
+ He thus accosts her,--Madam, _Ah! by Gad
+ You're wond'rous Fair; but Lady, why so sad?_
+ Her Innocence he thinks will soon submit,
+ To all the swagg'ring Tyrants of his Wit;
+ But being strictly taught in Vertue's School,
+ She does not only slight the prating Fool,
+ Contemn'd his Actions, and his feigned Tone,
+ But leaves the Lawyer strait to Curse alone.
+
+
+ _The Third P----._
+
+ The Maid that's Blessed with a beauteos Face,
+ A gentile Air, and as genteel a Grace;
+ On her some am'rous Beau soon casts his Eyes,
+ And to obtain the much admired Prize;
+ He fashionably dresses, struts, looks big,
+ Like _John_ of _Gaunt_, and in a pond'rous Wig;
+ A subtle, sly, and cunning Ambuscade,
+ For her Virginity is quickly laid;
+ Of Love he tells a Thousand Fictious Tales,
+ Till over her Discretion Lust prevails,
+ But modest Maids, whose young and tender Hearts
+ Unwounded yet, have the scap'd fatal Darts;
+ Let the sad Fates of wanton Strumpets move,
+ And learn by them to shun unlawful Love:
+ Thus Virgins, if you'll Modesty embrace,
+ By making all Allurements give you place:
+ Virtue a Sanctuary e'er shall be
+ Against the Quivers of Iniquity.
+
+
+ _The Fourth P----._
+
+ A Maid of honest, but mean Parents Born,
+ These Times is only made the rich Man's scorn,
+ Howe'er her Beauty tempting some young Spark
+ He takes her to the Playhouse and the Park,
+ Where he with many Imprecations vows,
+ His Fortune and his Life to her he owes;
+ But finding his Temptations are in vain,
+ Her Company in Wrath he do's refrain;
+ Which at the first may touch her tender Heart,
+ And make her feel the force of _Cupid_'s Dart;
+ But Time and Absence Having made a Cure
+ Of that same Plague she could not first endure.
+ She says, as now I'm well, recite not then
+ The Falshood and Deceit of Perjur'd Men,
+ Virtue retain'd, that Man I'll ever slight,
+ Whom I cannot by Marriage claim my Right.
+
+
+ _The Fifth P----, in a Dialogue betwixt_ Cloris
+ _and_ Parthenisea.
+
+ _Clo._ Why dost thou all Address deny?
+ Hard-hearted _Parthenisea_, why?
+ See how the trembling Lovers come,
+ That from thy Lips expect their Doom.
+
+ _Par._ _Cloris!_ I hate them all, they know,
+ Nay I have often told them so;
+ Their silly Politicks abhorr'd:
+ I scorn to make my Slave my Lord.
+
+ _Clo._ But _Strephon_'s Eyes proclaim His Love
+ Too brave, Tyrannical to prove.
+
+ _Par._ Ah _Cloris!_ when we lost our Power?
+ We must obey the Conqueror.
+
+ _Clo._ Yet when a gentle Prince bears sway,
+ It is no Bondage to Obey.
+
+ _Par._ But if like _Nero_, for a while,
+ With Arts of Kindness he beguile,
+ How shall the Tyrant be withstood,
+ When he has writ his Laws in Blood?
+
+ _Clo._ Love (_Parthenisea_) all commands,
+ it fetters Kings in charming Bands;
+ _Mars_ yields his Arms to _Cupid_'s Darts,
+ And Beauty softens Savage Hearts.
+
+ _Par._ Well may you choose to be a Wife,
+ I'll still retain a Single Life.
+
+
+ _The Sixth P----._
+
+ Rid of a Coxcomb, next a Siege is laid
+ Against the weak Repulses of a Maid,
+ By one that keeps a Coach and Lackies too,
+ And that he might his wicked Plots pursue,
+ In gawdy Dress he would her Heart surprize,
+ with Gold to dazle her too watchful Eyes;
+ But Vertue cherishing her Virtuous Breast,
+ With so much Innocence which made her blest,
+ Her Innocence as hitherto ne'er knew
+ What Mischief _Venus_ or her Son cou'd do,
+
+
+ _The Seventh P----._
+
+ Where blindfold Fortune has been pleas'd to place
+ A Virgen with a Master void of Grace,
+ With Foot, with Hand, or Eyes, he'll Tokens speak,
+ The Signs deny, these Assignations make;
+ Thinks she shall be as pliant to his Use,
+ As Strumpets on a _Cornival_ let loose;
+ But if she's Chast, his Miss she will not be,
+ Unless she is as Fiend, and Base as he.
+
+
+ _The Eighth P----._
+
+ _A_ Negro _Courting onto a maid,
+ That was most Fair; to him she said,
+ Thy Ink, my Papper, make me guess,
+ Our Nuptial Bed will make a Press,
+ And to our Sports, if any came
+ They'll read a Wanton Epigram,_
+
+
+ _The Ninth P----._
+
+ _How many Sweethearts do these follow me
+ Whose fell Design I know's to Ruine me;
+ but let me banish this forbidden Fire,
+ Or quench it with my Blood, or with't expire;
+ Unstain'd in Honour; and unhurt in Fame,
+ I'll never blast Virginity Shame,_
+
+
+ _The Tenth P----._
+
+ _A Sailor vowing he would all his Life,
+ Be true to me, he took another Wife;
+ whose Folshood (not as e're he did Invade
+ My Honour) made me sick, and, dying, said,
+ Ah now at my last Hour I gasping lie:
+ Let only my kind Murtherer be by,
+ Let him, while I breath out my Soul in Sighs,
+ Or gaz't away, look on with pitying Eyes;
+ Let him (for sure he can't deny me this)
+ Seal my cold Lips with one dear parting Kiss._
+
+
+ _The Eleventh P----._
+
+ _To have a Sweetheart once it was my Fate,
+ Whom much I lov'd, and now as much do hate,
+ Fo going to be coupled for my Life,
+ He was took from me by a former Wife;
+ Henceforwards I shall ever cautious be
+ Of Marrying one, a Stranger unto me._
+
+
+ _The Twelfth P----._
+
+ _A Sweetheart whom I lov'd, and he lov'd me,
+ Intoxicated with Cursed Jealousie,
+ Without a Cause, my Innocence did slight,
+ Which urged soon my Passion thus to write,
+ Kind Health, which you, and only you can grant,
+ Which, if deny'd, I must for ever want;
+ To you your Lover sends; but blushing Shame,
+ In silence bids my Paper hide my Name.
+ Witness what Pains (for you alone can know)
+ Poor helpless I do bear and undergo;
+ A thousand Racks and Martyrdoms, and more
+ Than a weak Virgin can be thought, I bore:
+ You rule alone my Arbitrary Fate,
+ And Life and on your disposal wait.
+ How little more remains for me to crave!
+ How little more for you to give! O save
+ A wretched Maid undone by Love and you,
+ Who does in Tears and dying Accents sue;
+ Who bleeds that Passion she had ne'er reveal'd,
+ If not by Love, Almighty Love compell'd:_
+ No ever let her mournful Tomb complain,
+ Here _Phillis_, kill'd by your cold Disdain;
+ And to her Honour let it e'er be said,
+ She dy'd a faithful Lover, yet a Maid.
+
+
+ _The Thirteenth P----._
+
+ Blessed with Beauty, Money, Youth and Wit,
+ I'm daily plagu'd with some Penurious Cit,
+ But e'er I will to such be forc'd to yield,
+ To a Man of Sense I Will resign the Field,
+ For Men of Breeding more of Love can show,
+ Than dull Mechanicks e'er can learn or know.
+
+
+ _The Fourteenth P----._
+
+ A Maid can scarce into a Service get,
+ But Prentice Boys (void both of Sense and Wit)
+ Will lead the Servant such a tedious Life,
+ To Change the Name of Maid to that of Wife,
+ That she, to shun their solid Impudence,
+ Must leave her Service in her own Defence.
+
+
+ _Fifteenth P----._
+
+ What spiteful Star, when I was Born did Rule,
+ That I'm thus teazed with a whining Fool,
+ Which is the very worst of Fools; for he,
+ Got in a Stran of dull Simplicity,
+ Crys, _Agdes!_ See my looks, my wishing Eyes,
+ My melting Tears and hear my begging Sighs;
+ About your Neck I could have flung my Arms,
+ And been all over Love, all over Charms;
+ Grasp and hang on your K----, and there have dy'd,
+ There breath my gasping Soul out tho' deny'd.
+ My earnest Suits shall never give you rest,
+ While Life and Love more durable shall last;
+ Alive I'll Pray, 'till Breath in Pray'rs be lost,
+ And after come a kind beseeching Ghost.
+ He thought these soft Expressions soon might move
+ My Heart, which was bequeath'd before to Love,
+ No, no, these whiedling Fops I really hate,
+ And since I am resolv'd to change my State,
+ A Man of Wit and Sense I do adore,
+ To him I grant my Favours and my Store,
+ As certain Wedlock with so good a Choice,
+ May make my Judgment, whilst I live rejoice.
+
+
+ _FINIS._
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Fifteen Comforts of Matrimony:
+Responses From Women, by Various
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