Mary, Lady Chudleigh, "To the Ladies"

	Wife and Servant are the same,
	But only differ in the Name:
	For when that fatal Knot is ty’d,
	Which nothing, nothing can divide:
5	When she the word obey has said,
	And Man by Law supreme has made,
	Then all that’s kind is laid aside,
	And nothing left but State and Pride:	state = social rank
	Fierce as an Eastern Prince he grows,
10	And all his innate Rigor shows:
	Then but to look, to laugh, or speak,
	Will the Nuptial Contract break.	nuptial = related to marriage
	Like Mutes she Signs alone must make,
	And never any Freedom take:
15	But still be govern’d by a Nod,
	And fear her Husband as her God:
	Him still must serve, him still obey,	i.e., she still must serve and obey him
	And nothing act, and nothing say,
	But what her haughty Lord thinks fit,	haughty = dignified
20	Who with the Pow’r, has all the Wit.
	Then shun, oh! shun that wretched State,	state = condition, situation
	And all the fawning Flatt’rers hate:
	Value your selves, and Men despise,
	You must be proud, if you’ll be wise.

To the Ladies