Dear Peggy! since the single state

You've left, and chose yourself a mate;

Since metamorphos'd to a wife,

And bliss or woe's insur'd for life,

A friendly muse the way would shew

To gain the bliss, and miss the woe.

But first of all, I must suppose

You've with mature reflection chose;

And, this premis'd, I think you may

Here find to marry'd bliss the way.

Small is the province of a wife,

And narrow is her sphere in life;

Within that sphere to move aright

Should be her principal delight:

To guide the house with prudent care,

And properly to spend and spare;

To make her husband bless the day

He gave his liberty away;

To form the tender infant mind;

These are the tasks to wives assign'd:

Then never think domestic care

Beneath the notice of the fair;

But matters ev'ry day inspect,

That nought be wasted by neglect.

Be frugal plenty round you seen,

And always keep the golden mean.

Be always clean, but seldom fine,

Let decent neatness round you shine;

If once fair decency be fled,

Love soon deserts the genial bed.

Not nice your house, tho' neat and clean;

In all things there's a proper mean:

Some of our sex mistake in this,

Too anxious some, some too remiss.

The early days of wedded life,

Are oft o'ercast by childish strife;

Then be it your peculiar care,

To keep that season bright and fair;

For then's the time with gentle art

To fix your empire in his heart.

With kind, obliging carriage strive

To keep the lamp of love alive;

For should it thro' neglect expire,

No art again can light the fire.

To charm his reason dress your mind,

'Till love shall be with friendship join'd;

Rais'd on that basis, 'twill endure,

From time, and death itself secure.

Be sure you ne'er for pow'r contend,

Nor try by tears to gain your end;

Sometimes the tears which cloud your eyes

From pride and obstinacy rise.

Heav'n gave to man superior sway,

Let heav'n and him at once obey.

Let sullen frowns your brow ne'er cloud;

Be always chearful, never loud;

Let trifles never discompose

Your features, temper, or repose.

Abroad for happiness ne'er roam;

True happiness resides at home;

Still make your partner easy there,

(Man finds abroad sufficient care.)

If every thing at home be right,

He'll always enter with delight;

Your converse he'll prefer to all

Those cheats the world does pleasure call:

With chearful chat his cares beguile,

And always meet him with a smile.

Should passion e'er his soul deform;

Serenely meet the bursting storm;

Never in wordy war engage,

Nor ever meet his rage with rage.

With all our sex's softning art

Recall lost reason to his heart;

Thus calm the tempest in his breast,

And sweetly soothe his soul to rest.

Be sure you ne'er arraign his sense;

Few husbands pardon that offence;

'Twill discord raise, disgust it breeds;

And hatred certainly succeeds.

Then shun, O shun that fatal shelf,

Still think him wiser than yourself;

And if you otherwise would believe,

Ne'er let him such a thought perceive.

When cares invade your partner's heart,

Bear you a sympathizing part,

And kindly claim your share of pain,

And half his troubles still sustain;

From morn to noon, from noon to night,

To see him pleas'd your chief delight.

But now, methinks, I hear you cry,

Shall she pretend, O vanity!

To lay down rules for wedded life,

Who never was herself a wife?

I own you've ample cause to chide,

And blushing throw the pen aside.