1 What is it all that men possesse, among themselues conuersing ?
Wealth or fame, or some such boast, scarce worthy the rehearsing.
Women onely are mens good with them in loue conuersing.
2 If weary, they prepare vs rest ; if sicke, their hand attends vs.
When with griefe our hearts are prest, their comfort best befriends vs :
Sweet or sowre, they willing goe to share what fortune sends vs.
3 What pretty babes with paine they beare, our name and form presenting ?
What we get, how wise they keepe, by sparing, wants preuenting ;
Sorting all their houshold cares to our obseru'd contenting.
4 All this of whose large vse I sing, in two words is expressed ;
Good wife is the good I praise, if by good men possessed ;
Bad with bad in ill sute well, but good with good liue blessed.
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www.harald-lillmeyer.kulturserver.de