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Advice to a Friend upon his Marriage.
TO Friend and to Foe, to all that I know
That to Marriage Estate do prepare,
Remember your dayes in several wayes
Are troubled with sorrow and care:
For he that doth look in the Married mans book
And read but his Items all over,
Shall find them to come, at length to a sum
Which shall empty Purse, Pocket and Coffer.
In the pastimes of love, when their labours do prove,
And the fruit beginneth to kick,
For this and for that, and I know not for what,
The woman must have, or be sick:
There's Item set down for a loos-bodyed Gown,
In her longings you must not deceive her;
For a Bodkin a Ring, or the other fine thing,
For a Whisk, a Scarf or a Beaver.
Deliver'd and well, who is't cannot tell
Thus while the Child lyes at Nipple,
There's Item for Wine, and Gossips so fine,
And Sugar to sweeten their Tipple:
There's Item I hope for Water and Sope,
There's Item for Fire and Candle,
For better for worse, There's Item for Nurse
The Baby to dress and to dandle.
When swadled in lap, There's Item for Pap,
And Item for Pot, Pan and Ladle;
A Courel with Bells, which custom compels,
And Item ten Groats for a Cradle:
With twenty odd knacks which the little one lacks,
And thus doth thy pleasure bewray thee:
But this is the sport in Country and Court,
Then let not these pastimes betray thee.