SATANINSEARCHOFAWIFE

sataninsearchofawife

_withthewholeprocessofhiscourtshipandmarriage,andwhodancedatthewedding

byaneyewitness_

(1831)

dedication

todelicatebosoms,thathavesighedoverthelovesoftheangels,thispoemiswithtenderestregardconsecrated.itcanbenooffencetoyou,dearladies,thattheauthorhasendeavouredtoextendthedominionofyourdarlingpassion;toshewlovetriumphantinplaces,towhichhisadventhasbeenneveryetsuspected.ifonececiliadrewanangeldown,anothermayhaveleavetoattractaspiritupwards;which,iamsure,wasthemostdesperateadventureofthetwo.wondernotattheinferiorconditionoftheagent;for,ifkingcophetuawooedaarmaid,agreaterkingneednotscorntoconfesstheattractionsofafairtailor'sdaughter.themoredisproportionatetherank,themoresignalisthegloryofyoursex.likethatofhecate,atripleempireisnowconfessedyourown.norheaven,norearth,nordeepesttractsoferebus,asmiltonhathit,havepowertoresistyoursway.icongratulateyourlastvictory.youhavefairlymadeanhonestmanoftheoldone;and,ifyourconquestislate,theessmustbesalutary.thenewbenedicthasemploymentenoughonhishandstodesistfromdabblingwiththeaffairsofpoormortals;hemayfairlyleavehumannaturetoherself;andwemaysleepforonewhileatleastsecurefromtheattacksofthishithertorestlessoldbachelor.itremainstobeseen,whethertheworldwillbemuchbenefitedbythechangeinhiscondition.