of the match as her Parents, who perswaded her to it; and as an
Encouragement told her that her old Husband could not live long and when he
dy'd, she wou'd have the Advantage of a good Estate to get her a better
Husband; and tho she had but few Suitors now, for want of a Portion
answerable to her Birth and Beauty, yet when the Case was so alter'd, she
cou'd not be long without very advantagious offers: These Reasons prevail'd
with the young Gentlewoman to accept of the Old Cuff for a Husband; and
they were married accordingly.

But as I have already said, the Old Gentleman had more Desire than Ability;
and the young Lady was fain to accept of his good Wishes instead of that
due Benevolence which she had reason to expect from a Husband; the want of
which made her too soon repent of what she found was now too late to help.

There unhappily happen'd to be not far from their House an Old Bawd that
had been us'd to lend her Charitable Assistance to distressed Ladies in
such Cases; who having observ'd the late Languishing of the young Lady,
rightly judged it proceeded from the Disappointment she met with from her
Old Husband; this Embolden'd the old Bawd to take a convenient time to make
her a Visit; and by such subtile Discourses as she us'd she soon found out
the true Cause of the young Gentlewoman's Discontent; upon which the Bawd
discourses her in this manner:

Madam

_I hope you will excuse the Boldness I take to speak to you, which nothing
cou'd have extorted from me, but the Compassion I have for you, to see so
much Blooming Youth and Beauty cast away upon one that knows not how to
make use of it; I am sensible that one of your Years and Gaity, can't meet
with a greater Affliction than to be thus under a Notion of being Married,
depriv'd of the true ends of Marriage: 'Tis like being married without a
Husband, to be married to such a Husband as can do nothing. You know Madam,
we are commanded to increase and multiply: But let the Soyl be fruitful as
it will, there's no encrease can be expected where no Seed is sown. This,
Madam, makes me bold to tell you, that you are wanting to your self, and to
the end of your Creation, if you don't find out ways to supply that defect
and disability, which through Extremity of Age your Husband labours under.
I am acquainted, with a Gentleman, brisk, young and airy, One that's in the
Flower of his Youth; That I am surely would gladly sacrifice himself and
all he has to serve a Lady