Commentary and a note on the text TK. Note that this is a reading text, with no pretense to being a critical edition.
| Love a woman? You’re an ass. | ||
| ’Tis a most insipid° passion | bland | |
| To choose out for your happiness | ||
| The idlest part of God’s creation. | ||
| 5 | Let the porter° and the groom,° | carrier — person who tends horses |
| Things designed for dirty slaves, | ||
| Drudge in fair Aurelia’s womb | ||
| To get supplies for age and graves. | ||
| Farewell, woman! I intend | ||
| 10 | Henceforth every night to sit | |
| With my lewd, well-natured friend, | ||
| Drinking to engender° wit. | bring about | |
| Then give me health, wealth, mirth, and wine, | ||
| And if busy Love intrenches, | ||
| 15 | There’s a sweet, soft page° of mine | (male) servant |
| Does the trick worth forty wenches. |