Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/182

 Command of the Parent cannot be lawfully obeyed, because it is unlawful for the Child to marry any Person he or she cannot love; nay, the very doing it is destructive of Matrimony, and they must either lie one way or other, or else they cannot obey it, for they cannot be married: For example,

A Father says to his Son, I would have you marry such a young Lady.

! Sir, says the Son, I beg of you don't desire of it me, she is a Woman that of all the Women in the World, I would not marry upon any Account whatever.

tell me you will not marry her, says the Father, I have good Reasons for your having her.

, Sir, says the Son, I hope you won't insist upon it; for I can't do it.

do you mean? You can't do it, says the Father angrily.

, Sir, says the Son, I can't love her.

O, well; you must venture that, says the Father, marry her first, and you'll love her afterwards.

, I can't marry upon that Foot Sir, says the Son, but respectfully, it would be a Sin to marry a Woman I can't love.

I tell you, says the Father, I have singled her out for you, and I expect you should have her.

I am sorry, Sir, you should choose a Wife for me, says the Son, and never let me know it.

I think 'tis your Duty to submit, says the Father, as long as I think she is a suitable Match for you, and for the Family.