Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/156

 Lady. Oh! I can't bear the Thoughts of Children.

Cou. Then you should not have married, Child. Why, did ever any Woman marry, and not wish for Children?

Lady. Yes, yes; I know several that married, and resolved to have none, if they could help it.

Cou. Why then you know several Monsters of Women? why 'tis preposterous.

Lady. Well, I know two in particular, and they took Things to prevent it, as I would fain do.

Cou. Then they should have taken them before Marriage, and honestly told the Man so, and see if any honest Man would have meddled with them.

Lady. But, dear Cousin, go on with your Discourse: Why may I not take something to prevent my being with Child now, when, as I tell you, I am sure I am not with Child, except for a Night only? And why should I be with Child just now more than all this while?

the Discourse stopt a-while; and the Cousin, though she had said it was against her Conscience and Judgment, was prevailed with to tell her of a Medicine, and a devilish one it was, if she had set down all the Particulars. N. B. You are to note, that it was a Medicine indeed for the wicked Purpose; but the other Lady that gave it her kept out the main and most dangerous Ingredients, and gave her, as appeared afterwards, nothing but what, if she had been with Child, she might have taken with the greatest Safety in the World. However, the other having believed she had taken