Cursed be the man, the poorest wretch in life, The crouching vassal to the tyrant wife, Who has no will but by her high permission; Who has not sixpence but in her possession; Who must to her his dear friends secret tell; Who dreads a curtain lecture worse than hell. Were such the wife had fallen to my part, Id break her spirit, or Id break her heart. Burns.The Henpecked Husband.