Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/300

 be gratified at the Woman's Expence, and that at an Expence so very great, that nothing can make amends for it?

I knew a Disaster happen on the very same Case as this, when Mortality interpos'd; Death snatch'd away the Man, in the very critical Moment.

Case was thus: A young Man courted a neighbouring Maid; the Girl had a very good Character, was not a Servant, liv'd with her Mother, and liv'd tolerably well; but his Circumstances were the better of the two; so that it was thought to be a very good Match for her.

Marriage was agreed on; and the young Woman, at his Request, took a Lodging in the Town where he liv'd; several Things for a time prevented their marrying, and particularly the want of a Licence; but he being, after some time, obliged to go to London, on some particular Occasion, he promis'd his Mistress to bring a Licence down with him to marry her.

, in this Interval it unhappily appeared that he had prevailed with her to let him Lie with her, and the Girl proved with Child. He was so just to her, that when he came back from London, where he had staid some time, he brought the Licence with him, and twice they went together to a neighbouring Minister to be married; but still one Thing or other intervened; as once they came too late, the Canonical Hour being past, the scrupulous Gentleman refused, and would not; and the next time the Minister was really very ill, and could not, but appointed them to come the next Thursday, that being Tuesday, and