Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/117

 Prostitutes: Political Views may make a Marriage, but, in the Sense of and Nature, 'tis my Opinion they make no Matrimony.

does all this outside, skin-deep Affection, which such Matches at first appear with, protect them against the Deficiencies of their own Tempers, and the Eruptions of their Passion; it fortifies none against Family-Breaches, supplies no Forces against the Attacks of the Passions, and the Unkindnesses which innumerable Circumstances introduce in the subsequent Conduct of both Parties.

Matches indeed generally produce a great show of Affection, and the Fondness of the Honey-Moon hangs about them a great while, on some more, some less. This I call the Pageantry of Matrimony, and the Cavalcade of Love. But the Strife breaks out insensibly; the Contention, the Contradiction, and all the little Thwartings and Waspishnesses, which lay the Foundation of eternal Discord; these all, like Weeds, grow and spread under the decaying Plant called Love, till at last they check and smother it entirely, and leave the Family a kind of Hell in Miniature.

A late Poet expresses himself upon this Subject with great Elegancy and Affluence of Wit; whether he spake feelingly or not, I cannot say:

Thus a seeming happy Pair, Who Hymen's early Fetters wear; In Publick fond as Turtles are.

The unwed with Envy their Caresses view, ''But, Oh! what would the amaz'd Beholders do?  If as they see their open Loves, their private'' Feuds they knew,