conjunction betwixt male and female ought to last, even after
procreation, so long as is necessary to the nourishment and support of
the young ones, who are to be sustained even after procreation, so long
as is necessary to the nourishment and support of the young ones, who are
to be sustained by those that got them, till they are able to shift and
provide for themselves. This rule, which the infinite wise maker hath
set to the works of his hands, we find the inferior creatures steadily
obey. In those viviparous animals which feed on grass, the conjunction
between male and female lasts no longer than the very act of copulation;
because the teat of the dam being sufficient to nourish the young, till
it be able to feed on grass, the male only begets, but concerns not
himself for the female or young, to whose sustenance he can contribute
nothing. But in beasts of prey the conjunction lasts longer: because the
dam not being able well to subsist herself, and nourish her numerous
off-spring by her own prey alone, a more laborious, as well as more
dangerous way of living, than by feeding on grass, the assistance of the
male is necessary to the maintenance of their common family, which cannot
subsist till they are able to prey for themselves, but by the joint care
of male and female. The same is to be observed in all birds, (except
some domestic ones, where plenty of food excuses the cock from feeding,
and taking care of the young brood) whose young needing food in the nest,
the cock and hen continue mates, till the young are able to use their
wing, and provide for themselves.
Sec. 80. And herein I think lies the chief, if not the only reason,
why the male and female in mankind are tied to a longer conjunction than
other creatures, viz. because the female is capable of conceiving, and
de facto is commonly with child again, and brings forth too a new birth,
long before the former is out of a dependency for support on his parents
help, and able to shift for himself, and has all the assistance is due to
him from his parents: whereby the father, who is bound to take care for