'Twas always held, and ever will, <br />By sage mankind, discreeter <br />To anticipate a lesser ill <br />Than undergo a greater. <br /> <br />When mortals dread disease, pain, <br />And languishing conditions, <br />Who don't the lesser ills sustain <br />Of physic-and physicians? <br /> <br />Rather than lose his whole estate, <br />He that but little wise is, <br />Full gladly pays four parts in eight, <br />To taxes and excises. <br /> <br />Our merchants Spain has near undone, <br />For lost ships not requiting; <br />This bears our noble King to shun <br />The loss of blood-in fighting! <br /> <br />With numerous ills, in single life, <br />The bachelor's attended; <br />Such to avoid, he takes a wife- <br />And much the case is mended! <br /> <br />Poor Gratia, in her twentieth year, <br />Foreseeing future woe, <br />Chose to attend a monkey here, <br />Before an ape below.<br /><br />William Shenstone<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/stanzas-to-the-memory-of-an-agreeable-lady-buried-in-marriage-to-a-person-undeserving-her/
