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let the Parties answer it, if they can, without Breach of Decency. I dare say they will find it difficult; and yet there may be more Modesty in the Answer, than there is in the Thing it self too.
Suppose the Lady to be about Five and fifty; and the Question is first put to her. Whether she has any room to expect Children, or whether she thinks it possible, in the ordinary Usage or Course of Nature, that she should have any Children? And this Lady marries, whether a younger Person than her self, or not, tho' that is ordinarily the Case; but suppose, for the present, not a young Man, because I shall speak of that Part by it self. Now what can be a lawful or modest Reason for this Matrimony? or if we should say to this Lady, Pray, Madam, why did you marry? what could she say.
To say she married in hopes of Children, that could not be; 'tis foreclosed in the Beginning of the Question.
To say she married for one to look after her Affairs, that could not be; that's foreclosed too, by supposing her to be in good Circumstances, and to have her Estate all settled and firm.
To say she does it to avoid Fornication, Modesty, if she is Mistress of any, will forbid her talking in that manner.
She has, indeed, nothing to say, but to Blush and look down; to acknowledge that she did it to gratify (as the Poet expresses it modestly) a frailer Part; in short, she ought to say, that she married meerly to lie with a MAN. And is not this Matrimonial Whoredom? If not, what then must it be called, and by what Words, that will not be Criminal in themselves, can we express it?
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