278 FABLES. 



demand brides out of the nursery of the peerage, if 

 they should not be ruined by the giddy extrava- 

 gance of their high-born wives, their being despised, 

 or at least treated with neglect, is almost certain. 

 But indeed, much unhappiness follows the want of 

 a sound judgement in the choice of a partner for 

 life, whether it be in high or low, rich or poor. Xo 

 human contract is of so important, as well as deli- 

 cate a nature, as marriage. It is one of the grand 

 epochs in the history of a man. It is an engage- 

 ment which should be voluntary, judicious, and 

 disinterested, and can never be attended with 

 honour, or blessed with happiness, if it has not its 

 origin in mutual affection. If it be either unsuit- 

 able or compulsory, it produces not only individual 

 misery, but consequences universally pernicious. 

 Sordid interest and vile dependence may indeed 

 sometimes act so powerfully, as to set nature and 

 true convenience aside, so as to make the yoke 

 which is jointly borne by the improper union of the 

 high and low, or by age and youth, put on an 

 appearance of regard for each other; but natural 

 affection must needs be wanting on one side or the 

 other. Nature has, however, with a strong hand, 

 pointed out the path to be pursued, and a few pru- 

 dential rules only are necessary to keep us within 

 it. If a man is of an unsound constitution, or if he 

 cannot provide for a family, let him forbear matri- 

 mony: it is the duty of every man who marries, to 

 take a healthy woman for his wife, for the sake of 

 his children, and an amiable one for his own com- 

 fort. The same precaution ought to be taken by 

 the fair sex, unless they can make up their minds 

 to become nurses to tainted worn-out husbands, 

 and their puny nerveless offspring. 



