MIMO

portrait which the wifeft of men and divineft of poets has given them, of one whom they should endeavour to imitate, if they defire to attain happiness and honour in this life, and everlasting felicity” in that to come :

WHO can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above "rubies.

"THE heart of her husband "doth safely truft in her, fo that "he fhall have no need of fpoil.

SHE layeth her hands to the

"fpindle, and her hands hold the

P

SHE ftretcheth out her hand to

"the poor, yea, fhe ftretcheth forth her hands to the needy.

"STRENGTH and honour are her.

"clothing, and the fhall rejoice in

"SHE оpeneth her mouth with "wisdom, and in her tongue is the "law of kindness.

"SHE looketh well to the ways " of her houfhold, and eateth not

"HER children rife up and call

"her bleffed; her husband also, and

"he praiseth her,

"MANY

MANY daughters have done virtuously, but thou excelleft "them all.

FAVOUR is deceitful, and "beauty is vain, but the woman "that feareth the Lord the fhall

"be praised *."

* Proverbs, chap. xxxi.

CON

CONJUGAL AFFECTION.

"Hail Wedded Love, myfterious law, true fource

"Of human offspring, fole propriety "In Paradise of all things common else! By thee adulterous Luft was driven from

men,

"Among the beftial herds to range; by

thee

"Founded in reason, loyal, juft, and pure, "Relations dear, and all the charities "Of Father, Son, and Brother, first were known."

A

S the union of hearts is univerfally allowed to be the

bond of marriage, fo the entering into fuch a connection without pof

feffing

feffing the effence or firft principle on which it fhould be founded, muft render the ceremony of none effect, and can in reafon and equity only be confidered as a state of legal prostitution. To speak of conjugal felicity to the wretched victims of parental authority, of avarice, or poverty, would be abfurd or cruel, as they must either be incapable of forming an idea of it, or doomed for ever to lament its lofs.

I THEREFORE, in this fection, particularly addrefs myself to the happy few whom Love unites in

Hymen's