I had the honour the other day of a visit from a gentlewoman (a stranger to me) who seemed to be about thirty.  Her complexion is brown; but the air of her face has an agreeableness, which surpasses the beauties of the fairest women.  There appeared in her look and mien a sprightly health; and her eyes had too much vivacity to become the language of complaint, which she began to enter into.  She seemed sensible of it; and therefore, with downcast looks, said she, “Mr. Bickerstaff, you see before you the unhappiest of women; and therefore, as you are esteemed by all the world both a great civilian, as well as an astrologer, I must desire your advice and assistance, in putting me in a method of obtaining a divorce from a marriage, which I know the law will pronounce void.”  “Madam,” said I, “your grievance is of such a nature, that you must be very ingenuous in representing the causes of your complaint, or I cannot give you the satisfaction you desire.”  “Sir,” she answers, “I believed there would be no need of half your skill in the art of divination, to guess why a woman would part from her husband.”  “It is true,” said I; “but suspicions, or guesses at what you mean, nay certainty of it, except you plainly speak it, are no foundation for a formal suit.”  She clapped her fan before her face; “My husband,” said she, “is no more a husband” (here she burst into tears) “than one of the Italian singers.”

“Madam,” said I, “the affliction you complain of, is to be redressed by law; but at the same time, consider what mortifications you are to go through in bringing it into open court; how you will be able to bear the impertinent whispers of the people present at the trial, the licentious reflections of the pleaders, and the interpretations that will in general be put upon your conduct by all the world:  ‘How little,’ will they say, ‘could that lady command her passions.’  Besides, consider, that curbing our desires is the greatest glory we can arrive at in this world, and will be most rewarded in the next.”  She answered, like a prudent matron, “Sir, if you please to remember the office of matrimony, the first cause of its institution is that of having posterity:  therefore, as to the curbing desires, I am willing to undergo any abstinence from food as you please to enjoin me; but I cannot, with any quiet of mind, live in the neglect of a necessary duty, and an express commandment, Increase and multiply.”  Observing she was learned, and knew so well the duties of life, I turned my arguments rather to dehort her from this public procedure by examples, than precepts.  “Do but consider, madam, what crowds of beauteous women live in nunneries, secluded for ever from the sight and conversation of men, with all the alacrity of spirit imaginable; they spend their time in heavenly raptures, in constant and frequent devotions, and at proper hours in agreeable conversations.”  “Sir,” said she hastily, “tell not me of Papists, or any of their idolatries.”