If she was witty she would never
Give me a chance to scintillate;
But cap my humorous endeavour
And make me seem as addle-pate.’
Said Smith: ‘I’m glad my wife’s no beauty,
For if a siren’s charm she had,
And stinted her domestic duty,
I fear that she would drive me mad:
For I am one of those sad fellows
Who are unreasonably jealous.’
Said Brown: ”I know my wife’s not witty,
Nor is she very long on looks;
She’s neither humorous nor pretty,
But oh how she divinely cooks!
You guys must come some night to dinner –
You’ll see my little girl’s a winner.’
So it’s important in our lives,
(Exaggerating more or less),
To be content with our wives,
And prize the virtues they possess;
And with dispraise to turn one’s back
On all the qualities they lack.