Christian ethics -- Fiction; Christian fiction; Conduct of life -- Fiction
Wise. Did he! yes, and after a while, went as boldly to her, {71c} and
that under a Vizzard of Religion, as if he had been for Honesty and
Godliness, one of the most sincere and upright-hearted in England. He
observed all his points, and followed the advice of his Counsellers,
and quickly obtained her too; for natural parts he had, he was tall,
and fair, and had plain, but very good Cloaths on his back; and his
Religion was the more easily attained; for he had seen something in the
house of his Father, and first Master, and so could the more readily
put himself into the Form and Shew thereof.
So he appointed his day, and went to her, as that he might easily
do, for she had neither father nor mother to oppose. Well, when he
was come, and had given her a civil Complement, {72a} to let her
understand why he was come, then he began and told her, That he had
found in his heart a great deal of love to her Person; and that, of
all the Damosels in the world he had pitched upon her, if she thought
fit, to make her his beloved wife. The reasons, as he told her, why he
had pitched upon her were, her Religious and personal Excellencies;
and therefore intreated her to take his condition into her tender and
loving consideration. As for the world, quoth he, I have a very good
trade, and can maintain my self and Family well, while my wife sits
still on her seat; I have got thus, and thus much already, and feel
money come in every day, but that is not the thing that I aim at, ’tis
an honest and godly Wife. Then he would present her with a good Book or
two, pretending how much good he had got by them himself. He would also
be often speaking well of godly Ministers, especially of those that he
perceived she liked, and loved most. Besides, he would be often telling
of her, what a godly Father he had, and what a new man he was also
become himself; and thus did this treacherous Dealer, deal with this
honest and good Girl, to her great grief and sorrow, as afterward you
shall hear.
Atten. But had the maid no friend to looke after her?
Wise. Her Father and Mother were dead, and that he knew well enough,
and so she was the more easily overcome by his naughty lying tongue.
But if she had never so many friends, she might have been beguiled by
him. It is too much the custom of young people now, to think themselves
wise enough to make their own Choyce, and that they need not ask
counsel of those that are older and also wiser then they: {72b} but
this is a great fault in them, and many of them have paid dear for it.
Well, to be short, in little time Mr. Badman obtains his desire, {73a}
gets this honest Girl and her money, is married to her, brings her
home, makes a Feast, entertains her royally, but her Portion must pay
for all.
Atten. This was wonderfull deceitfull doings, a man shall seldom hear
of the like.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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