George Crabbe

Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead,
To find such numbers who will serve instead:
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Oh! 'tis a precious thing, when wives are dead,
To find such numbers who will serve instead:
And in whatever state a man be thrown,
'Tis that precisely they would wish their own.

But 'twas a maxim he had often tried,
That right was right, and there he would abide.

But 'twas a maxim he had often tried,
That right was right, and there he would abide.

'Twas good advice, and meant,
"My son, be good."

'Twas good advice, and meant,
"My son, be good."

The wife was pretty, trifling, childish, weak;
She could not think, but would not cease to speak.

The wife was pretty, trifling, childish, weak;
She could not think, but would not cease to speak.

In her experience all her friends relied,
Heaven was her help and nature was her guide.

In her experience all her friends relied,
Heaven was her help and nature was her guide.