The Married Man's Lesson: OR, Adisswasion from jealousy.  
To the tune of, All you that will wore a wench.  
 

YOu men who are married come hearken to me,  
I'll teach you a Lesson if wise you will been,  
Then take my advice that's intended for good,  
and so 'tis if it be but well understood:  
'T will cause you to shun all contention and spleen,  
that daily betwixt man and woman are seen,  
I speak against jealousy that monster fierce.  
and wish I could conquer the Fiend with my verse,  
O Be not thou jealous I prithee dear Lad,  
for jealousy makes many good women bad.   

If thou have a good wife than I she advise  
to cherish her well for she is a rare prize,  
If she be indifferent between good and bad,  
good means to reform her may easily be had:  
If she ye so evil that there is few worse,  
imagine thy sins have deserved that curse,  
Then bear with true patience thy cross as 'tis fit,  
and thou to a blessing thereby mayst turn it.  
But be not, etc.   

Between these 3. winds the good, bad, & the mean,  
I ground the whole argument of this my Theme,  
For in them a man's humane bliss, or his woe,  
doth chiefly consist as experience doth show:  
Thus is it not counsel that's worthy regard,  
which teacheth to soften a thing that is hard,  
And what I intent is in every man's will,  
to turn to a virtue what seemeth most ill.  
Then be, etc.   

A wife that is good being beautiful, may  
perhaps raise suspicion that she'll go astray,  
O note the fond humours that most men possess,  
they're neither content with the more nor the less,  
For if she been homely, then her he will slight,  
to such neither fair, nor foul, can yield delight,  
If once he'll been jealous the other he scorns,  
there's no greater plagues than imagined horns.  
Then be not, etc.   

A wife that's indifferent between good and ill,  
is she that in housewifery shows her good will,  
Yet sometimes her voice she too much elevates,  
is that the occasion for which her he hates:  
A sovereign remedy for this disease,  
is to hold thy tongue let her say what she please:  
judge, is not this better than to fight and scratch,  
for silence will soon a Shrew over match.  
However I pray thee shun jealousy Lad,  
for jealousy makes many good women bad.   

A wife that's all bad if thy luck been to have,  
seek not to reclaim her by making her slave,  
If she be as bad as ever frod one ground,  
not fight nor jealousy will heal that wound:  
For mark when a River is stopped in its course,  
it oreflowes the banks than the danger is worse.  
Thy own good example and patience with all,  
may her from her vices much rather recall.  
Then be not, etc.   

The second part.  
To the same tune.  
 

A Wife that is virtuous in every respect,  
who doth her vowed duty at no time neglect,  
Shaes' not free from censure, for fools their bolts shoot  
as oft at the head as they do at the foot:  
A kiss, or a smile, or a jest, or a dance,  
familior discourse or an amorous glance,  
All these as her witness envy doth bring,  
the credit of innocent women to sting.  
But be not thou jealous I pray thee dear Lad,  
for jealousy makes many good women bad.   

A wife that's indifferent if curbed over much,  
will grow worse & worse for their nature is such,  
The more thou with rigour dost seek her to mend,  
the more they'll persist and grow desperate i'th' end,  
And thus from indifferency wanting good means,  
Some well meaning women turn impudient queans,  
if goodness by beating thou séek'st to infuse,  
For breaking her flesh thou all goodness dost bruise.  
Then be not, etc.   

A wife at the worst (as I told you before)  
a drunkard, a swearer, a scold, thief, or whore,  
By gentle persuasions, reclaimed may be,  
myself by experience, but lately did see:  
A man that with jealousy plagued had been,  
when he the last labour and trouble had seen,  
He cast off his care, and referred all to's wife,  
who soon left her vices and led a new life.  
Then be not, etc.   

I also have known a wife handsome and neat,  
of whom her fond husband did take a conceit,  
That other men loved her because she was fair,  
though on the contrary, to him she did swear:  
He watched her, he eyed her, he noted her ways,  
and once he in's drink, he a scandal would raise,  
This usage irregular set her on fire,  
& so from thence forward she proud him no liar,  
Then be not, etc.   

Consider each circumstance with good regard,  
how oft cause less jealousy wins due reward,  
And likewise I wish thee to bear in thy breast,  
that patience and quietness still is the best.  
For if she benought she'll grow worse with restraint  
but patience may make of a harlot, a Saint,  
If fair means prevail not, thou'lt ne'er do't by foul  
for meekness (if any thing) must win a soul  
Then be not, etc.   

Now lastly to both men and women I speak,  
from this foolish fancy their humours to break,  
Been loves and tractable each unto other,  
and what is amiss let affection still smother:  
So shall man and wife in a sympathy sweet,  
at board, and at bed (as they ought to do) meet,  
All fight and scratching, and scolding shall cease,  
where jealousies harboured there can been no peace.  
Then be not thou jaelous I pray thee dear Lad,  
for jealousy makes many good women bad.    
FINIS.  
M. P.   

Printed at LONDON for john Wright, the younger, dwelling at the Sign of the Sun, at the lower end of Snow-hill, near unto Holborn Conduit.