Imagens das páginas
PDF
ePub

SECTION XXIV.

OF THE FOOL THAT IS JEALOUS OF HIS WIFE WITHOUT A CAUSE.

For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

The jealous fool, though bless'd with prudent wife,

Knows not the value of the gem he wears: Corrosive poison gangrenes all his life,

And each connubial joy is strew'd with cares.

The purest mirth to him seems vicious joy,

The silent sadness speaks unlicens'd love; Fancies-his wife's calm pleasures thus destroy, Though chaste as snow, and gentle as the

dové*.

* The dire effects of this dreadful passion are most inimitably displayed in the well known Tragedy of Othello, where a noble unsuspecting nature is wrought upon by the base arts of an insidious villain, and truly indeed may Iago exclaim:

The kind attention to politeness due,
Though offer'd by the dearest of his friends,
Will rouse the demon till revenge pursue;
Thus love in jealousy's fell hatred ends.

My medicine works! Thus credulous fools are caught; and many worthy and chaste dames, even thus (all guiltless) meet reproach."

[ocr errors]

In vain may beauty and the voice of innocence cry out; jealousy hath no ears but for revenge, no satisfaction but in blood; it is a monster that gluts upon its proper bane, feeding with fancies, the corrosive poison that destroys all peace. For though it dreads the truth it seeks to ascertain, yet will it not give credence to the fact that would afford it consolation: 'tis thus with Othello, speaking to his wife before the murder :

Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin,

For to deny each article with oath

Cannot remove, nor choke the strong conception
That I do groan withal: thou art to die.

In the Tragedy of The Revenge, is also depictured the dire effects of this raging passion, which, like a whirlwind, sweeps every thing away in its destructive course, or as the resistless torrent, that, dashing from some maddening height, bears away in its vortex every thing that would oppose its fury; even so doth vengeful jealousy carry with it universal destruction.

Absent new fears assail, then home like thief, He sneaks to verify the fancy'd ill;

And though all's well, but short-liv'd the relief, A word or look new jealous thoughts instil.

Thus always tortur'd, always fill'd with fear, Nor time, nor long conviction cures thy pain; And though thou hat'st the object once most dear,

Fell jealousy inhabits still thy brain.

L'ENVOY OF THE POET.

With care select from womankind a wife,
For many are the blanks in wedlock's wheel;
Who does not, plants at home eternal strife,
Since death alone his jealous pangs can heal.

THE POET'S CHORUS TO FOOLS.

Come, trim the boat, row on each Rara Avis, Crowds flock to man my Stultifera Navis.

SECTION XXV.

OF FOOLS THAT KNOW AND ARE INSTRUMENTAL TO THEIR WIVES' INCONSTANCY.

-Maritus

Nauseat atque oculis vilem substringit opertis.

WHAT madman is't; what kind of fool,

That thus defies each decent rule,
And makes himself a handle?
Who backs his wife's foul impudence,
And proves to her incontinence,
A wretch to hold the candle * ?

Theophilus Cibber affords a striking instance of human depravity of this species; who purposely connived at the incontinence of his wife with Mr. Sloper, that he might receive his money, and also extort from him heavy damages, by an action of Crim. con. which was instituted, but to little effect, for, on hearing the evidence, the infamy of the Plaintiff was so conspicuous, that the Jury awarded him Ten Pounds damages, and, to increase his punishment, the public were so exasperated at his conduct, that Cibber found it impossible to appear on the

Can such be man, whose soul divine,

Should ev'ry godlike act combine,
That honours virtue's name?
Can human nature thus efface,
Each trait of purity and grace,

And wear the badge of shame.

The beasts of field, the birds of air,
Will guard their mates with jealous care,
Nor own such vice disgusting;

They boast an instinct more refin'd,

Than such foul fools, though blest with mind, For shame impure thus lusting.

Is gold possess'd of charm so rare,
To make a man thus yield his fair,

stage in this country afterwards, in consequence of which he embarked for Ireland, when the vessel was lost, and Cibber drowned; but, that we may not confine ourselves to fools of so late a period, we need only refer to the history of Pasiphæ, queen of Crete, who had a son and heir by her gallant lover, a Bull, which was most condescendingly fathered by her cornuted lord.

« AnteriorContinuar »