Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/297

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Father with it, or perhaps do the same, and justify it by his Father's Example.

4. Again, to speak of it as to the Woman's Part. How rash, how inconsiderate? To expose her self to the Reproach of being a Whore, whereas, in a few Days, she might have gratify'd both her self, and her Husband too, without any Scandal to her Character. Now she exposes her self, not only to the Reproach of all her Neighbours, but to the Contempt of the Virtuous, and to the Jest of the Mob; and, which is more than all the rest, 'tis ten to one but her Husband himself comes to upbraid her with it, and, perhaps, hate her for it; at least he will be always telling her, how honest he was to perform such a Promise, which no Body but himself would have made good, and no Body but a Fool, that is to say, no Body but her, would have trusted to; and indeed, though 'tis ungenerous and unjust in him to treat her in that Manner, yet 'tis what she has a great deal of Reason to expect, and what the really deserves by her Conduct.

R—— H——, is a North Country Laird, which is a Title there not beneath a Man of Quality; the Lady had, it seems, made a Slip in his favour before Marriage, of what kind you may guess: However, he healed up the sore, and married her afterwards; so his Character, as an honest Man, was saved also. But how far'd it with the Lady?

In the first Place, as he carried it but very indifferently to her as to Kindness, so he never failed to upbraid her with his extraordinary Honesty in taking her; how just he was, and how infinitely obliged she ought to think she was to him;that