Page:Advantages and disadvantages of the marriage-state.pdf/11

11 had no hands to adminester any relief; and as she never was capable of yielding him any succour or comfort in his sufferings, neither was she ever capable of partaking of his enjoyments. If he met with any garden of spices, or refreshing springs, by the way, he would offer her to eat and drink with him, but she had no taste; if he found sweet flowers, she had no smell, and could have no delight in them; if he had any delightful prospects, he would endeavour to shew them to his companion, but she had no eyes; if he met with any fellow travellers, he would invite her to enjoy their company, but she was never found with any person who spoke the language of Canaan, for it was a language that she had not learned. Thus, whatever grief befel him, or whatever enjoyment he was favoured with, in all his journey, he never found any sympathy or congratulation from her, nor were her affections otherwise moved than sometimes to despise, and sometimes to shew disgust and disturbance of mind: but as she had no life, capacity, sense, nor activity, to walk in the chosen path, she had so much the more vivacity in things pertaining to her own element; so that, to draw him aside, she would discover such a sprightliness in all her senses, be so pleasant and diverting, and in all her conversations so engaging, that she proved a very great