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that in one House too; he kept them indeed separate Apartments, and different Servants, but they carried it very well to one another, and lived easy, there being a plentiful Fortune among them.
But even in this best Side of the Story, what a Complication of Mischiefs was here? Here was Matrimonial Whoredom in the very Letter of it, and all introduced by a force upon Affection, (1.) By the Father unjustly forcing his Son to marry a Woman he did not love. (2.) By the Son wickedly cheating his Father in a seeming scandalous Compliance to get the Estate. (3.) By the Son again, basely and injuriously marrying a virtuous Lady, imposing himself upon her as a single Man, when he was already married to another Woman. And, lastly, by living in open Adultery, and keeping them both.
I could, as I have said, load you with Stories of this kind, I mean, of the forcing young People to marry against Inclination, and contrary to secret Obligation, and especially contrary to pre-ingaged Affections: But I must give you this Observation upon them, which, in effect, is equal to the repeating them, (viz.) that they would be almost every one of them tragical; especially if you will allow to have the destroying all the Comforts of Life, and all the Enjoyment that could be expected in the State of Marriage, be reckoned tragical; which indeed I do allow, and every whit as tragical as cutting of Throats.
To cross the Affections of young People in Marriage, especially where the proposed Object is not scandalous or extreamly despicable, is, I think, a little synonimous toMurther;
