These, and his other visible virtues, begot him much love from a
gentleman of a noble fortune, and a near kinsman to his friend the
Earl of Danby; namely, from Mr. Charles Danvers of Bainton, in the
County of Wilts, Esq. This Mr. Danvers, having known him long,
and familiarly, did so much affect him, that he often and publicly
declared a desire, that Mr. Herbert would marry any of his nine
daughters,--for he had so many,--but rather his daughter Jane than any
other, because Jane was his beloved daughter. And he had often said
the same to Mr. Herbert himself; and that if he could like her for a
wife, and she him for a husband, Jane should have a double blessing:
and Mr. Danvers had so often said the like to Jane, and so much
commended Mr. Herbert to her, that Jane became so much a platonic, as
to fall in love with Mr. Herbert unseen.
[Sidenote: His marriage]
This was a fair preparation for a marriage; but, alas! her father died
before Mr. Herbert's retirement to Dauntsey: yet some friends to
both parties procured their meeting; at which time a mutual affection
entered into both their hearts, as a conqueror enters into a surprised
city; and love having got such possession, governed, and made there
such laws and resolutions, as neither party was able to resist;
insomuch, that she changed her name into Herbert the third day after
this first interview.
This haste might in others be thought a love-frenzy, or worse; but
it was not, for they had wooed so like princes, as to have select
proxies; such as were true friends to both parties, such as well
understood Mr. Herbert's and her temper of mind, and also their
estates, so well before this interview, that the suddenness was
justifiable by the strictest rules of prudence; and the more, because
it proved so happy to both parties; for the eternal lover of mankind
made them happy in each other's mutual and equal affections, and
compliance; indeed, so happy, that there never was any opposition
betwixt them, unless it were a contest which should most incline to
a compliance with the other's desires. And though this begot, and
continued in them, such a mutual love, and joy, and content, as was no
way defective; yet this mutual content, and love, and joy, did receive
a daily augmentation, by such daily obligingness to each other, as
still added such new affluences to the former fulness of these divine
souls, as was only improvable in Heaven, where they now enjoy it.
[Sidenote: A presentation]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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