[ 364 ]
was himself at her Funeral: She was sixty-five when she marry'd him, and liv'd sixty-two Years with him, she indeed made him some Amends for the disparity of Years by this, that she was a most excellent Person, of an inimitable Disposition, preserv'd the Youth of her Temper, and the Strength of her Understanding, Memory and Eye-sight to the last; and, which was particularly remarkable, she bred a whole new Set of Teeth, as white as Ivory, and as even as a Youth, after she was ninety Years old.
Here was a Disparity, 'tis true; but here was none of the corrupt Part, which I have made the Mark of my Reproof, and so justly too. Here was no Vice, no sensual Part, to be so much as thought of; and yet, I say, it could not but be a disappointment to the young Man; and she would often complain to him of the Injury she did him in living so long. But I did not hear that it gave him any Uneasiness; her extraordinary good Temper making him so much amends for it.
There is a Custom of marrying Children one to another by the Compact of their Parents, while the said Children are very young; as has been the Practice abroad, and as we had lately an Example of in the French and Spanish Courts, tho' not very encouraging neither by its Success, or fitted much for an Example.
This has its Inconveniencies in it on many Accounts; but as they do not come within the reach of the criminal Part, I do not say they are concerned in the Reproof of this Satyr; nor am I speaking of such.
But since I am taking notice of the various Sorts of untimely Marriages, and I have men-tioned
