A Good Wife is a Portion every day. OR A Dialogue discovering a good Wife from a bad.  
And happy is that man that hath such a one.  
The Tune is, Pockingtons' pound.  By J. Wade. 
 
 
 

COme young men & listen to what I'll you show  
then William, and Harry, and Robin, & John  
When as you are minded a wooing to go,  
for these Lines do concern you every one:  
And what I declare,  
I'll make it appear,  
From Eve it sprang out, and has last till this year,  

For though she was Man's fall, mark what I say,  
A good Wife is a portion every day.    

For a good wife will be saving and fearful to waste,  
but keep all things together so near as she can,  
When that a Spend: thrift will let fly as fast,  
and seeks by all means to undo her good man:  
Though he carps and doth care,  
She'll not pinch nor spare,  
But junket abroad, and must have her fine cheer,  

She thinks what she brought will never decay,  
When a good Wife is a portion every day.    

A wife that is virtuous and civil beside  
will honour her Husband, his words she'll obey,  
She'll not strive to cross him what ever betid,  
but make all things well when there should be a  
With fair words she'll him draw  
To submit to her Law,  
Though his Beard it be frozen, in time she'll it thaw  

Although he be given to wander and stray.  
A good wife will lead him into the right way.    

But she that takes no care but only for Pride  
how Buckle and Thong together to hold,  
She will have her humour whatever betid,  
or else day and night at him she will scold,  
For let a man starve,  
As I am alive,  
First he must ask his wife is he shall thrive:  

And if she says no, his Estate will decay;  
When a good Wife is a portion every day.    

If a youngman hath but little withal to begin,  
if he lights of a good wife his stock will increase,  
What he gets without doors she'll save it within,  
and if he be froward she'll strive to keep peace:  
When a cross-grained wife  
That's given to strife,  
Will seek to make a man weary on's life:  

What e'er he says to her she'll not him obey,  
When a good wife is a portion every day.    

Therefore young Bachelors wherever you be,  
let not this money your hearts so bewitch,  
For 't 't ant that which makes a good husband you see  
nor Means altogether don't make a man rich:  
The reason i'll show you why,  
You shan't say I lie,  
She that brings a great deal looks to be maintained high  

Her costly Attire an Estate will decay,  
When a good wife etc.    

I heard of two Brothers, the one was the Heir,  
the other had little at all to begin,  
He married a wife that was both rich and fair,  
then for his poor Brother ●e cared not a pin:  
For he did live high,  
And his wife she let fly  
His means, till she brought him to poverty,  

Then to his poor brother he sighed and did say,  
A good wife etc.    

Thus you may see how some are made poor,  
and some that hath but little to fortune doth rise,  
than he that has a good wife make much of her therefore  
and do not against her no mischief devise:  
But some men cannot see  
When as they well be,  
But seeks for to ruin their Family:  
Then all the blame on the poor woman they lay,  
When a good etc.   

He that has a good wife, happy is that man,  
if he does his endeavour his Living to get,  
And not spend it abroad in Pot nor in Can,  
she'll arrive always to keep him out of Debt;  
Good Counsel she'll him give,  
If he'll it receive,  
And set him all times in a way for to live:  

But a wife that is froward his Estate will decay  
But a good etc.    

But young men you'll say how should a man kno●  
how to choose a good wife from a bad,  
In few lines I here will you show,  
and teach you that will make your hearts glad  
Choose one that is civil,  
And strives to shun evil,  
For some are too cunning I think for the Devil,  

But she that means honest will keep the right w●●  
When a good etc.    

Be sure don't take a wife that will swear and lie,  
nor one that is given to flout or to jeer,  
Though she has ne'er so much means, she'll make all fl●  
& spend more in a week then thou'lt get in a ye●●  
Nor do not take one  
That's too fluent in tongue,  
She'll always be tattling of that she knows none  

Though it be nonsense she will have her way,  
when a good etc.    

But if thou art minded for to have a Mate,  
chu●e one that is virtuous and civil beside,  
Although thou art poor she'll live at the same rate.  
and with patience will wait till thou canst bet●● provide  
For content is a thing,  
That comfort doth bring,  
It makes a poorman as well as a Lord to sing:  

Then let the red shank or Dane deny what I say  
If a good wife etc.    

Concluding my ditty of what I have told,  
make much of thy wife though thou'rt never so poor  
And if thou'st got children esteem them as gold,  
than thou'lt find a Salve for to cure thy sore:  
To work do thou strive,  
To keep them alive,  
As thy charge grows up thy stock it will thrive:  

Then young men remember th●●e words that I s●●  
A good Wife is a Portion every day.    
FINIS.   

Printed for P. Brooksby at the golden Ball near t●● Hospital Gate in West Smithfield.