Previous Consideration necessary: yet not too long Delay--Imprudent Marriage of old Kirk and his Servant--Comparison between an ancient and youthful Partner to a young Man--Prudence of Donald the Gardener--Parish Wedding: the compelled Bridegroom; Day of Marriage, how spent--Relation of the Accomplishments of Phoebe Dawson, a rustic Beauty; her Lover: his Courtship; their Marriage--Misery of Precipitation--The wealthy Couple: Reluctance in the Husband; why?--Unusually fair Signatures in the Register: the common Kind--Seduction of Lucy Collins by Footman Daniel: her rustic Lover; her Return to him--An ancient Couple: Comparisons on the Occasion--More pleasant View of Village Matrimony: Farmers celebrating the Day of Marriage; their Wives--Reuben and Rachel, a happy Pair: an Example of prudent Delay--Reflections on their State who were not so prudent, and its Improvement towards the Termination of Life; an old Man so circumstanced--Attempt to seduce a Village Beauty: Persuasion and Reply; the Event. Nubere si quà voles, quamvis properabitis ambo, Differ; habent parvæ commoda magna moræ. _Ovid. Fast._ lib. iii. [vv. 393-4.] "Disposed to wed, e'en while you hasten, stay; There's great advantage in a small delay:"-- Thus Ovid sang, and much the wise approve This prudent maxim of the priest of Love. If poor, delay for future want prepares, And eases humble life of half its cares; If rich, delay shall brace the thoughtful mind, T' endure the ills that e'en the happiest find: Delay shall knowledge yield on either part, And show the value of the vanquished heart; 10 The humours, passions, merits, failings prove, And gently raise the veil that's worn by Love; Love, that impatient guide--too proud to think Of vulgar wants, of clothing, meat and drink-- Urges our amorous swains their joys to seize, And then, at rags and hunger frighten'd, flees.-- Yet not too long in cold debate remain: Till age, refrain not--but if old, refrain.