Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/149

 troubled with Children if she knows not a Man; if she with-holds the Means, Nature will certainly with-hold the End, and if she dies Virtuous, I warrant her she dies Barren.

here is a farther, and yet more fatal Mischief attending, and which, if the Wish is real, as I am to suppose it is, I see no room to forbear suggesting, that she will certainly use some Means to prevent it. The Truth is, there is not much Sense in the Discourse without it, as there is no Honesty with it: For what can a Woman say to her self that lies with a Man every Night, and yet really wishes and desires to have no Children? 'Tis most natural to say, why I must either take some Method or other with, my self, or I shall certainly be with Child.

certain Lady, not a hundred Miles from St. Ann's, and who was one of the merry Club, called. The Assembly of Barren Does, had an unpleasant Dialogue with a Friend of hers, who she thought to be a Privy-Councellor of Hell, but proved not quite wicked enough for her, upon this very Subject; another Lady being present, who protested against the Proposals, though she was not averse to the Thing, for which they were proposed.

Lady. O Cousin, says the first Lady that was newly married, I am glad to see you, for I want sadly to talk with you a little.

Cousin. Well, Child, what is the Matter, are you with Child yet?

Lady. No, thank God, I an't, but I am ready to die with the Thoughts of it.

Cou. Why so frighted, Child; what's the Matter?