and for no other Reason, but because we are Theirs.
    Our next Progression is, we exercise our Spirits, when brought home, to the
Torment and Regret of our Parents themselves, and torture their Hearts by our
undutiful and perverse Behaviour to them; which, however ingrateful in us, is
but the natural Consequence of their culpable Indulgence to us, from Infancy
upwards.
    And then, next, after we have, perhaps, half broken their Hearts, a Wife is
look'd out for: Convenience, or Birth and Fortune, are the first Motives,
Affection the last (if it is at all consulted): And two People thus educated,
thus trained up in a Course of unnatural Ingratitude, and who have been
headstrong Torments to every one who has had a Share in their Education, as well
as to those to whom they owe their Being, are brought together; and what can be
expected, but that they should pursue, and carry on, the same comfortable
Conduct, in Matrimony, and join most heartily to plague one another? And, in
some measure, indeed, this is right, because hereby they revenge the Cause of
all those who have been aggrieved and insulted by them, upon one another.
    The Gentleman has never been controuled: The Lady has never been
contradicted.
    He cannot bear it from one whose new Relation, he thinks, should oblige her
to shew a quite contrary Conduct.
    She thinks it very barbarous, now, for the first time, to be opposed by a
Man, from whom she expected nothing but Tenderness.
    So great is the Difference, between what they both expect from one another,
and what they both find in each other, that no wonder Misunderstandings happen;
that these ripen to Quarrels; that Acts of Unkindness pass, which, even had the
first Motive to their Union been Affection, as usually it is not, would have
effaced all manner of tender Impressions on both sides.
    Appeals to Parents or Guardians often ensue: If, by Mediation of Friends, a
Reconciliation takes place, it hardly ever holds; for why? The Fault is in the
Minds of both, and neither of them will think so; so that the Wound (not
permitted to be probed) is but skinn'd over, and rankles still at the Bottom,
and at last breaks out with more Pain and Anguish than before. Separate Beds are
often the Consequence; perhaps Elopements; if not, an unconquerable
Indifference, possibly Aversion. And whenever, for Appearance-sake, they are
obliged to be together, every one sees, that the