“I take not that to
be my dowry, which
The vulgar sort do wealth
and honour call;
That all my wishes terminate
in this:——
I’ll obey my husband
and be chaste withall;
To have God’s fear,
and beauty in my mind,
To do those good who are virtuously
inclined.”
And I think she was in the right, for such a wife
is more precious than rubies.
It is certainly the duty of parents to bring up their
children in the ways of virtue, and to have regard
to their honour and reputation; and especially to
virgins, when grown to be marriageable. For, as
has been noted, if through the too great severity
of parents, they may be crossed in their love, many
of them throw themselves into the unchaste arms of
the first alluring tempter that comes in the way, being,
through the softness and flexibility of their nature,
and the strong desire they have after what nature
strongly incites them to, easily induced to believe
men’s false vows of promised marriage, to cover
their shame: and then too late, their parents
repent of their severity which has brought an indelible
stain upon their families.
[Illustration:
Conception
First Month
Second Month
Third Month
Fourth Month]
[Illustration:
Fifth Month
Sixth Month
Seventh Month
Eighth Month
Ninth Month]
Another error in marriage is, the inequality of years
in the parties married; such as for a young man, who,
to advance his fortune, marries a woman old enough
to be his grandmother: between whom, for the most
part, strife, jealousies, and dissatisfaction are
all the blessings which crown the genial bed, is being
impossible for such to have any children. The
like may be said, though with a little excuse, when
an old doting widower marries a virgin in the prime
of her youth and her vigour, who, while he vainly
tries to please her, is thereby wedded to his grave.
For, as in green youth, it is unfit and unseasonable
to think of marriage, so to marry in old age is just
the same; for they that enter upon it too soon are
soon exhausted, and fall into consumptions and divers
other diseases; and those who procrastinate and marry
unseemingly, fall into the like troubles; on the other
side having only this honour, if old men, they become
young cuckolds, especially if their wives have not
been trained up in the paths of virtue, and lie too
much open to the importunity and temptation of lewd
and debauched men. And thus much for the errors
of rash and inconsiderate marriages.
* * * *
*
The Opinion of the Learned concerning
Children conceived and born within Seven Months;
with Arguments upon the Subject to prevent Suspicion
of Incontinency, and bitter Contest on that Account.
To which are added Rules to Know the Disposition
of Man’s Body by the Genital Parts.
Many bitter quarrels happen between men and their
wives upon the man’s supposition that the child
comes too soon, and by consequence, that he could
not be the father; whereas, it is the want of understanding
the secrets of nature which brings the man into that
error; and which, had he known, might have cured him
of his suspicion and jealousy.
