Page:The Art of Preserving Health - A Poem in Four Books.djvu/89

B. III. (As much it does) to health, were greatly worth Your daily pains. 'Tis this adorns the rich; The want of this is poverty's worst woe: With this external virtue, age maintains A decent grace; without it, youth and charms Are loathsome. This the skilful virgin knows: So doubtless do your wives. For married fires, As well as lovers, still pretend to taste; Nor is it less (all prudent wives can tell) To lose a husband's, than a lover's heart.


 * But now the hours and seasons when to toil,

From foreign themes recall my wandering song. Some labour fasting, or but slightly fed, To lull the grinding stomach's hungry rage: Where nature feeds too corpulent a frame 'Tis wifely done.For while the thrifty veins, Impatient of lean penury, devour Rh