The Ten Pleasures of Marriage and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple

A lively, tongue‑in‑cheek guide to married life, this Restoration work turns the everyday rituals of courtship, wedding preparations, and household comforts into a series of witty “pleasures.” From the bustle of a bridegroom’s restless pacing to the sumptuous spread of oysters, asparagus and candied ginger, the narrator revels in the sensory details that framed middle‑class English homes of the 1680s. The humor is generous, peppered with colourful epithets and playful comparisons that highlight both the joys and the absurdities of domestic routine.

In the second part, a newlywed couple confesses their experiences, offering candid, often self‑deprecating reflections on the early months of marriage. Their voices bring the earlier observations to life, turning abstract observations into relatable anecdotes about shared meals, furniture, and the gentle chaos of preparing for a future together. Listeners will be drawn into a world where merriment and modesty coexist, and where the simple pleasures of partnership are celebrated with a distinctly Restoration sparkle.