To
his
Friend
inclin'd
to
Marry
.
I
would
not
have
you
,
Strephon
,
chuse
a
Mate
From
too
exalted
,
or
too
mean
a
State
:
For
in
both
these
,
we
may
expect
to
find
A
creeping
Spirit
,
or
a
haughty
Mind
.
Who
moves
within
the
Middle
Region
,
shares
The
least
Disquiets
,
and
the
smallest
Cares
.
Let
her
Extraction
with
true
Lustre
shine
,
If
something
brighter
,
not
too
bright
for
thine
.
Her
Education
liberal
,
not
great
,
Neither
Inferiour
,
nor
above
her
State
.
Let
her
have
Wit
,
but
let
that
Wit
be
free
From
Affectation
,
Pride
,
and
Pedantry
:
For
the
effect
of
Woman's
Wit
is
such
,
Too
little
is
as
dangerous
,
as
too
much
.
But
chiefly
let
her
Humour
close
with
thine
,
Unless
where
yours
does
to
a
Fault
incline
.
The
least
Disparity
in
this
destroys
,
Like
sulph'rous
Blasts
,
the
very
Buds
of
Joys
.
Her
Person
amiable
,
strait
,
and
free
From
natural
,
or
chance
Deformity
.
Let
not
her
Years
exceed
,
if
equal
thine
,
For
Women
past
their
Vigour
soon
decline
;
Her
Fortune
competent
,
and
if
thy
Sight
Can
reach
so
far
,
take
care
'tis
gather'd
right
.
If
thine's
enough
,
then
hers
may
be
the
less
,
Do
not
aspire
to
Riches
in
excess
;
For
that
which
makes
our
Lives
delightful
prove
,
Is
a
genteel
Sufficiency
,
and
Love
.