country; so that if it seem good unto you, I should prefer for the best
to form some marriage alliance, by which I may be enabled to open myself
a way to higher things." And the father replied, that it would please
him well if his son should be enabled to marry according to his wishes.
He then said to his father, that if he thought he should be able to
manage it, he should be happy to have the only daughter of that good man
given him in marriage. Hearing this, the father was much surprised, and
answered, that as he understood the matter, there was not a single man
whom he knew, how poor soever he might be, who would consent to marry
such a vixen. And his son replied, that he asked it as a particular
favour that he would bring about this marriage, and so far insisted,
that however strange he thought the request, his father gave his
consent. In consequence, he went directly to seek the good man, with
whom he was on the most friendly terms, and having acquainted him with
all that had passed, begged that he would be pleased to bestow his
daughter's hand upon his son, who had courage enough to marry her. Now
when the good man heard this proposal from the lips of his best friend,
he said to him:--"Good God, my friend, if I were to do any such thing, I
should serve you a very bad turn; for you possess an excellent son, and
it would be a great piece of treachery on my part, if I were to consent
to make him so unfortunate, and become accessory to his death. Nay I may
say worse than death, for better would it be for him to be dead than to
be married to my daughter! And you must not think that I say thus much
to oppose your wishes; for as to that matter, I should be well pleased
to give her to your son, or to any body's son, who would be foolish
enough to rid my house of her." To this his friend replied, that he
felt very sensibly the kind motives which led him to speak thus; and
intreated that, as his son seemed so bent upon the match, he would be
pleased to give the lady in marriage. He agreed, and accordingly the
ceremony took place. The bride was brought to her husband's house, and