Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/215

 another, and that violently. In the mean time something presented it self with more Fortune, and the Uncle takes upon him to change his Mind, imposing the change too upon his Nephew, and so breaks off the Match; obliging him to go and wait upon a new Mistress, and this without so much as a Pretence of any other Objection, than that of a larger Portion offering in another. The young Gentleman was exceedingly disgusted at the Proposal, and used all possible Arguments with his Uncle, and employed all his Friends to persuade him to let the first Match go forward, as it had been carried on such a length, that he could not go off with Honour or Satisfaction to himself, the young Lady and he being mutually engaged in Affections as well as Interests.

the old Man was inflexible and arbitrary, would not hear of any Reasons, but would be obeyed; and as for Affections, and such trifles as these, he slighted them to the last Degree, as things of no Consequence at all in the Case: Well, the young Gentleman had no Remedy; he was obliged, though with infinite Reluctance, to abandon his Mistress, a Lady of Merit and Beauty, Fortune and good Breeding, and every thing agreeable to him; and turn his Eyes where his Uncle directed, without any regard to all these, or to his own Inclination. But he did not do this without acquainting the Lady with the Force that was put upon him, and letting her know his unhappy Circumstances; offering to relinquish all the hopes of his Uncle's Fortune and Favour, and take her at all Hazards. But her Friends would not agree to that; nor would she consent without her Father, for then they