The Ten Pleasures of Marriage: and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple — John Shaqi
The Ten Pleasures of Marriage: and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married CoupleMarsh, A.
General
The Ten Pleasures of Marriage: and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple
Marsh, A.
Marriage
Now for this again you alwaies receive the honour, that when you are
invited with her to any place at a treat, the best that is upon the
Table shall be presented to the big-bellied woman: Yea if she long or
have a desire to any thing; immediately every one that observes it,
are ready to serve her with it; nay, though there were never so little
in the Dish, her longing must be fully satisfied, if no body else
should so much as tast of it. And by this means oftentimes the good
woman is so ill and disturbed, that she is forced to rise from the
Table, and falls from one faintness into another; which for civilities
sake, is then baptized, that she hath sat too high or been throng'd,
or that the room being so full, the breath of the people offended her.
And though she perceives that this very food makes her so ill; yet for
the most part she will be so choice and so dainty, that she seldom
knows her self what she will eat or hath a mind to; but generally it
tends to some thing or other that is delicate: Upon this manner again,
according to the former custom, she tumbles it in till she is sick
with it; and if any one looks but very wishly at her; immediately
another saies to them; she must eat for two, nay perhaps for three.
And not only that in this manner she grows so delicate and gluttonous;
but is thereby so easie and lazy, that she can hardly longer indure
her sowing cushion upon her lap. Also sitting is not good for her, for
fear the child thereby might receive some hindrance and an
heartfullness. Therefore she must often walk abroad; and to that end
an occasion is found to go every day a pratling and gossiping to this
and then to another place; in the mean while leaving her husband
without a wife, and the family without a mistris.
Then in conclusion this falls also burthensom to her, (as it is
generally with all things that are too frequently used) then she will
be for spurring you up to walk abroad with her, that she may get all
sorts of fruits and other fopperies that the season of the year
affords; and at the first baiting-place she's for some Cream with
sugar, stewd prunes, and a bottle of sider or perry; and thus abroad
to spend much, and at home neglect more.
If she have then gone somthing far, she is so excessive weary with it,
that if her life must ly at stake, she cannot set one foot further.
Herewith is the poor man absolutely put to a stand: ride she may not,
or all the fat would be in the fire; and they are so deep in the
Country that there is somtimes neither Coach nor boat to be had.
And if you should happen to be where a River is, there's never a boat
to be had; but if there should be one, then you must be subject to
humour the churlish Ferry man, who seeing the necessity of the
occasion, and that you are able to pay for it, will have what price he
pleases. And somtimes again you are timorous your self to hazard it,
because many women are very fearfull upon the water.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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