To
the
Memory
of
an
agreeable
LADY
bury'd
in
Marriage
to
a
Person
undeserving
her
.
'TWAS
always
held
,
and
ever
will
,
By
sage
mankind
,
discreeter
T'
anticipate
a
lesser
ill
Than
undergo
a
greater
,
When
mortals
dread
diseases
,
pain
,
And
languishing
conditions
;
Who
don't
the
lesser
ills
sustain
Of
physic
and
physicians
?
Rather
than
lose
his
whole
estate
,
He
that
but
little
wise
is
,
Full
gladly
pays
four
parts
in
eight
To
taxes
and
excises
.
With
numerous
ills
in
single
life
The
batchelor's
attended
;
Such
to
avoid
,
he
takes
a
wife
—
And
much
the
case
is
mended
.
Poor
Gratia
,
in
her
twentieth
year
,
Foreseeing
future
woe
,
Chose
to
attend
a
monkey
here
,
Before
an
ape
below
.