He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune;
for they are impediments to great enterprises, read more

He that hath a wife and children hath given hostages to fortune;
for they are impediments to great enterprises, either of virtue
or mischief.

Marriage and hanging go by destiny; matches are made in heaven.

Marriage and hanging go by destiny; matches are made in heaven.

(Matrimony) is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or
lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in
read more

(Matrimony) is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or
lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in
the fear of God.

Man and wife,
Coupled together for the sake of strife.

Man and wife,
Coupled together for the sake of strife.

He that said it was not good for man to be alone, placed the
celibate amongst the inferior states read more

He that said it was not good for man to be alone, placed the
celibate amongst the inferior states of perfection.

'Cause grace and virtue are within
Prohibited degrees of kin;
And therefore no true saint allows,
read more

'Cause grace and virtue are within
Prohibited degrees of kin;
And therefore no true saint allows,
They shall be suffer'd to espouse.

To sit, happy married lovers; Phillis trifling with a plover's
Egg, while Corydon uncovers with a grace the Sally read more

To sit, happy married lovers; Phillis trifling with a plover's
Egg, while Corydon uncovers with a grace the Sally Lunn,
Or dissects the luck pheasant--that, I think, were passing
pleasant
As I sit along at present, dreaming darkly of a dun.

We've been together now for forty years,
An' it don't seem a day too much;
There ain't read more

We've been together now for forty years,
An' it don't seem a day too much;
There ain't a lady livin' in the land
As I'd swop for my dear old Dutch.

For years [my wedding ring] has done its job. It has led me not
into temptation. It has reminded read more

For years [my wedding ring] has done its job. It has led me not
into temptation. It has reminded my husband numerous times at
parties that it's time to go home. It has been a source of
relief to a dinner companion. It has been a status symbol in the
maternity ward.