32 Montagu, “Epistle from Mrs. Yonge to her Husband”

4.11.4 “Epistle from Mrs. Yonge to Her Husband”

Think not this paper comes with vain pretense

To move your pity, or to mourn th’offense.

Too well I know that hard obdurate heart;

No softening mercy there will take my part,

Nor can a woman’s arguments prevail,

When even your patron’s wise example fails.

But this last privilege I still retain;

Th’oppressed and injured always may complain.

Too, too severely laws of honor bind

The weak submissive sex of womankind.

If sighs have gained or force compelled our hand,

Deceived by art, or urged by stern command,

Whatever motive binds the fatal tie,

The judging world expects our constancy.

Just heaven! (for sure in heaven does justice reign,

Though tricks below that sacred name profane)

To you appealing I submit my cause,

Nor fear a judgment from impartial laws.

All bargains but conditional are made;

The purchase void, the creditor unpaid;

Defrauded servants are from service free; A wounded slave regains his liberty.

For wives ill used no remedy remains,

To daily racks condemned, and to eternal chains.

From whence is this unjust distinction grown?

Are we not formed with passions like your own?

Nature with equal fire our souls endued,

Our minds as haughty, and as warm our blood;

O’er the wide world your pleasures you pursue,

The change is justified by something new;

But we must sigh in silence — and be true.

Our sex’s weakness you expose and blame.

This material is from British Literature: Middle Ages to the Eighteenth Century and Neoclassicism by Bonnie J. Robinson from the University System of Georgia, which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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