Ma. That indeed is but a short Song, but it has a long Chorus.

Pa. What signifies it how long it is, so it be a merry one.

Ma. I have that Respect for you, I would not have you do what you should repent of when done.

Pa. Leave off teasing me.

Ma. Perhaps I shall not appear so amiable in your Eye, when Age or Sickness have spoil’d my Beauty.

Pa. No more, my Dear, shall I myself be always so young and lusty.  I don’t only look at that blooming, lovely Body of yours, but it is your Guest within it I am most in Love with.

Ma. What Guest do you mean?

Pa. This Soul of yours, whose Beauty will grow as Years increase.

Ma. In Truth you have a very penetrating Sight, if you can see that through so many Coverings.

Pa. It is with the Eyes of my Mind that I see your Mind, and then besides we shall be ever and anon renewing our Age by our Children.

Ma. But then I shall lose my Maidenhead.

Pa. Right enough; but prithee tell me, if you had a fine Orchard, would you rather chuse never to have nothing but Blossoms on the Trees; or would you rather, that the Blossoms should fall off, and see the Boughs laden with ripe Apples?

Ma. Oh, how cunningly you can argue!

Pa. Answer me but this one Question, which is the finest Sight, a Vine lying along upon the Ground and rotting, or twining round a Stake or an Elm-Tree, loaden with ripe Grapes of a curious purple Colour?

Ma. And pray do you answer me this Question; which is the most pleasant Sight, a Rose fresh and fair upon the Tree, or one gathered and withering in the Hand?

Pa. I look upon that the happier Rose that dies in a Man’s Hand; there delighting the Sight and Smell, than that which withers away upon the Bush, for it would die there, if it were let alone.  As that Wine has the most Honour done it; that is drank before it grows dead:  Though this is to be said, that the Flower of a Maid does not presently fade, as soon as she is married:  Nay, I have seen a great many, that before Marriage look’d pale and languid, and just as if they were dropping into the Ground:  but having been in the Embraces of a Husband, they have brightened up, just as if they just then began to bloom.

Ma. But for all that, a Maidenhead is accounted a fine Thing.

Pa. A young Virgin is indeed a pretty Thing:  But what’s more monstrous than an old Maid?  If your Mother had not shed that Blossom, we should never have had this fine Flower, yourself.  And if we don’t make a barren Match, as I hope we shan’t, there will be never a Maid the less for us.

Ma. But they say Chastity is very well pleasing to God.

Pa. And for that Reason I would marry a chaste Maid, that I may live chastly with her.  The Union of Minds will be more than that of Bodies.  We’ll get Subjects for the King, and Servants for Christ, and where will the Unchastity of this Matrimony be?  And who can tell but we may live together like Joseph and Mary?  And in the mean Time, we’ll learn to be Virgins, we don’t arrive at Perfection all at once.