该结束了;因为我给自己定了个规矩，只要孩子从学校回来，我就不写任何东西。他不喜欢我写的东西，说，我最好寄一封他称之为诗意的信。对此，我回答说:你疯了;一首诗的信会使他感到不舒服:他认为女人读书是一种罪过——那么，如果你的劝告成功了，他会说什么呢?我可怜可怜的巴伯，他的妻子太浪漫了:一首押韵的信!——咦，那女人疯了!这篇《读诗》使她神魂颠倒了!我以我的生命起誓，她应该有一个黑暗的房间，和一张稻草床。我常听人说，圣帕特里克很小心，不让有毒的生物在空气中生存。我发现，他只关心尸体。但柏拉图思考是谁毒害了心灵。 Would they'd follow his Precepts, who sit at the Helm, And drive Poetasters from out of the Realm! Her Husband has surely a terrible Life; There's nothing I dread, like a verse--writing Wife: Defend me, ye Powers, from that fatal Curse; Which must heighten the Plagues of for better for worse! May I have a Wife, that will dust her own Floor; And not the fine Minx, recommended by More. (That he was a Dotard, is granted, I hope, Who dy'd for asserting the Rights of the Pope.) If ever I marry, I'll chuse me a Spouse, That shall serve and obey, as she's bound by her Vows; That shall, when I'm dressing, attend like a Valet; Then go to the Kitchen, and study my Palate. She has Wisdom enough, that keeps out of the Dirt, And can make a good Pudding, and cut out a Shirt. What Good's in a Dame, that will pore on a Book? No!--Give me the Wife, that shall save me a Cook. Thus far I had written--Then turn'd to my Son, To give him Advice, ere my Letter was done. My Son, should you marry, look out for a Wife, That's fitted to lighten the Labours of Life. Be sure, wed a Woman you thoroughly know, And shun, above all Things, a housewifely Shrew; That would fly to your Study, with Fire in her Looks, And ask what you got by your poring on Books; Think Dressing of Dinner the Height of all Science, And to Peace, and good Humour bid open Defiance. Avoid the fine Lady, whose Beauty's her Care; Who sets a high Price on her Shape, and her Air; Who in Dress, and in Visits, employs the whole Day; And longs for the Ev'ning, to sit down to play. Chuse a Woman of Wisdom, as well as good Breeding, With a Turn, at least no Aversion, to Reading: In the Care of her Person, exact and refin'd; Yet still, let her principal Care be her Mind: Who can, when her Family Cares give her Leisure, Without the dear Cards, pass an Ev'ning with Pleasure; In forming her Children to Virtue and Knowledge, Nor trust, for that Care, to a School, or a College: By Learning made humble, not thence taking Airs, To despise, or neglect, her domestick Affairs: Nor think her less fitted for doing her Duty, By knowing its Reasons, its Use, and its Beauty. When you gain her Affection, take care to preserve it, Lest others persuade her, you do not deserve it. Still study to heighten the Joys of her Life; Nor treat her the worse, for her being your Wife. If in Judgment she errs, set her right, without Pride: 'Tis the Province of insolent Fools, to deride. A Husband's first praise, is a Friend and Protector: Then change not these Titles, for Tyrant and Hector. Let your Person be neat, unaffectedly clean, Tho' alone with your Wife the whole Day you remain. Chuse Books, for her Study, to fashion her Mind, To emulate those who excell'd of her Kind. Be Religion the principal Care of your Life, As you hope to be blest in your Children and Wife: So you, in your Marriage, shall gain its true End; And find, in your Wife, a Companion and Friend.