A Maiden’s Ideal of a Husband
From “The Contrivances”
GENTEEL in personage,
Conduct, and equipage,
Noble by heritage,
Generous and free:
Brave, not romantic;
Learned, not pedantic;
Frolic, not frantic;
This must he be.
Honor maintaining,
Meanness disdaining,
Still entertaining.
Engaging and new.
Neat, but not finical;
Sage, but not cynical;
Never tyrannical,
But ever true.