_Previous Consideration necessary: yet not too long Delay.--Imprudent Marriage of Old Kirk and his Servant.--Comparison between an antient 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 Phœbe 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 Bridget Dawdle by Footman Daniel: her Rustic Lover: her Return to him.--An Antient Couple; Comparisons on the occasion.--More pleasant View of Village Matrimony: Farmers celebrating the Day of Marriage; their Wives.--Reuben and Rachel an 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._ THE PARISH REGISTER. PART II. Marriages. Nubere si quà voles, quamvis properabitis ambo, Differ; habent parvæ commoda magna moræ. Ovid. Fast. lib. 3. Dispos’d to wed, ev’n 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 ev’n the happiest find: Delay shall Knowledge yield on either part, And shew the Value of the vanquish’d Heart: 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.