Obrázky stránek
PDF
ePub
[merged small][ocr errors]

fhrinks not on the first attack ; it

will bear many fhoeks before it be entirely vanquifhed. As it contends not for victory, but for the prize, it will not display itself in the vain arts of elocution, but in the more powerful eloquence of action; it will leave nothing undone that can prove its fincerity, but it will not boaft, even to its object, of what it has done; much lefs will it vaunt its merits to any other confidant, or complain to the world of the unkind return it has met with.

THERE

THERE are fuch a variety of circumftances which may difturb

[ocr errors]

the happiness of the marriage. ftate, that it is impoffible to fpecify them all; but as a virtuous woman will confider the lofs of her hufband's affection as the greateft calamity that can befal her, her duty and prudence will, before the evil happens, upon every occafion fupply rules of conduct to herself; and the reliance fhe will neceffarily have upon the tendernefs of his attachment to her, joined to the fincerity of her's to him, will fupport her through every difficulty which

[blocks in formation]

accident, misfortune, or even im

prudence, may have brought upon

them. She will fay, with Prior's Emma,

Thy rife of fortune did I only wed,
From its decline determined to recede;
Did I but purpose to embark with thee,
On the smooth furface of a fummer's fea,
While gentle zephyrs play in profperous
gales,

:And Fortune's favour fills the fwelling

fails,

But would forfake the bark and make the

fhore,

When the winds whiftle, and the tempefts

roar ?

No,

No, Henry, no! one facred oath has

tyed

Our loves, one deftiny our lives fhall

A guide,

Nor wild, nor deep, our common way divide.

THIS is the natural language of conjugal affection, this the fulfilling of the marriage vow, where felf is loft in a ftill dearer object, where tenderness is heightened by diftrefs, and attachment cemented even by the tears of forrow. Such an union of fouls may brave the

power of Time; and I truft, that Death itfelf fhall not be able to

destroy it.

D 2

TEM

TEMPER.

T has been already remarked,

I that a parity of temper is IT

one of the principal requifites in matrimonial happiness; and yet it is poffible that too great a finilarity of difpofition may, in fome cafes, render both parties wretched. For inftance, if two perfons of a gay and careless turn of mind should happen to be united, both will think themfelves entitled to purfue their joint or feparate amufements, without being encumbered with any attention to domestic economy, till

even

« PředchozíPokračovat »