therefore, in their behalf:

--[Coste translates this: "on the part of philosophy and theology,"

observing that but few wives would think themselves obliged to

Montaigne for any such lesson to their husbands.]--

teach the husbands, that is, such as are too vehement in the exercise of

the matrimonial duty--if such there still be--this lesson, that the very

pleasures they enjoy in the society of their wives are reproachable if

immoderate, and that a licentious and riotous abuse of them is a fault as

reprovable here as in illicit connections. Those immodest and debauched

tricks and postures, that the first ardour suggests to us in this affair,

are not only indecently but detrimentally practised upon our wives. Let

them at least learn impudence from another hand; they are ever ready

enough for our business, and I for my part always went the plain way to

Marriage is a solemn and religious tie, and therefore the pleasure we

extract from it should be a sober and serious delight, and mixed with a

certain kind of gravity; it should be a sort of discreet and

conscientious pleasure. And seeing that the chief end of it is

generation, some make a question, whether when men are out of hopes as

when they are superannuated or already with child, it be lawful to

embrace our wives. 'Tis homicide, according to Plato.--[Laws, 8.]--

Certain nations (the Mohammedan, amongst others) abominate all conjunction

with women with child, others also, with those who are in their courses.

Zenobia would never admit her husband for more than one encounter, after

which she left him to his own swing for the whole time of her conception,

and not till after that would again receive him:--[Trebellius Pollio,

Triginta Tyran., c. 30.]--a brave and generous example of conjugal

continence. It was doubtless from some lascivious poet,--[The lascivious

poet is Homer; see his Iliad, xiv. 294.]--and one that himself was in

great distress for a little of this sport, that Plato borrowed this

story; that Jupiter was one day so hot upon his wife, that not having so

much patience as till she could get to the couch, he threw her upon the

floor, where the vehemence of pleasure made him forget the great and

important resolutions he had but newly taken with the rest of the gods in

his celestial council, and to brag that he had had as good a bout, as

when he got her maidenhead, unknown to their parents.

The kings of Persia were wont to invite their wives to the beginning of

their festivals; but when the wine began to work in good earnest, and

that they were to give the reins to pleasure, they sent them back to

their private apartments, that they might not participate in their

immoderate lust, sending for other women in their stead, with whom they

were not obliged to so great a decorum of respect.--[Plutarch, Precepts

of Marriage, c. 14.]--All pleasures and all sorts of gratifications

are not properly and fitly conferred upon all sorts of persons.

Epaminondas had committed to prison a young man for certain debauches;

for whom Pelopidas mediated, that at his request he might be set at