THE WORKS OF ARISTOTLE THE FAMOUS PHILOSOPHER Anonymous Author
- nouveau livreISBN: 2940012335838
PART I.--BOOK ITHE MASTERPIECE _On marriage and at what age young men and virgins are capable of it: and why so much desire it. Also, how long men and women are capable of it.… Plus…
PART I.--BOOK ITHE MASTERPIECE _On marriage and at what age young men and virgins are capable of it: and why so much desire it. Also, how long men and women are capable of it._There are very few, except some professional debauchees, who will notreadily agree that Marriage is honourable to all, being ordained byHeaven in Paradise; and without which no man or woman can be in acapacity, honestly, to yield obedience to the first law of the creation,Increase and Multiply. And since it is natural in young people todesire the embraces, proper to the marriage bed, it behoves parents tolook after their children, and when they find them inclinable tomarriage, not violently to restrain their inclinations (which, insteadof allaying them, makes them but the more impetuous) but rather providesuch suitable matches for them, as may make their lives comfortable;lest the crossing of those inclinations should precipitate them tocommit those follies that may bring an indelible stain upon theirfamilies. The inclination of maids to marriage may be known by manysymptoms; for when they arrive at puberty, which is about the fourteenthor fifteenth year of their age, then their natural purgations begin toflow; and the blood, which is no longer to augment their bodies,abounding, stirs up their minds to venery. External causes may alsoincline them to it; for their spirits being brisk and inflamed, whenthey arrive at that age, if they eat hard salt things and spices, thebody becomes more and more heated, whereby the desire to veneralembraces is very great, and sometimes almost insuperable. And the use ofthis so much desired enjoyment being denied to virgins, many times isfollowed by dismal consequences; such as the green weesel colonet,short-breathing, trembling of the heart, etc. But when they are marriedand their veneral desires satisfied by the enjoyment of their husbands,these distempers vanish, and they become more gay and lively thanbefore. Also, their eager staring at men, and affecting their company,shows that nature pushes them upon coition; and their parentsneglecting to provide them with husbands, they break through modesty andsatisfy themselves in unlawful embraces. It is the same with briskwidows, who cannot be satisfied without that benevolence to which theywere accustomed when they had their husbands.At the age of 14, the menses, in virgins, begin to flow; then they arecapable of conceiving, and continue generally until 44, when they ceasebearing, unless their bodies are strong and healthful, which sometimesenables them to bear at 65. But many times the menses proceed from someviolence done to nature, or some morbific matter, which often provesfatal. And, hence, men who are desirous of issue ought to marry a womanwithin the age aforesaid, or blame themselves if they meet withdisappointment; though, if an old man, if not worn out with diseases andincontinency, marry a brisk, lively maiden, there is hope of him havingchildren to 70 or 80 years.Hippocrates says, that a youth of 15, or between that and 17, havingmuch vital strength, is capable of begetting children; and also that theforce of the procreating matter increases till 45, 50, and 55, and thenbegins to flag; the seed, by degrees, becoming unfruitful, the naturalspirits being extinguished, and the humours dried up. Thus, in general,but as to individuals, it often falls out otherwise. Nay, it isreported by a credible author, that in Swedland, a man was married at100 years of age to a girl of 30 years, and had many children by her;but his countenance was so fresh, that those who knew him not, imaginedhim not to exceed 50. And in Campania, where the air is clear andtemperate, men of 80 marry young virgins, and have children by them;which shows that age in them does not hinder procreation, unless they beexhausted in their youths and their yards be shrivelled up.If any would know why a woman is sooner barren than a man, they may beassured that the natural heat, which is the cause of generation, is morepredominant in the man than in the woman; for since a woman is moremoist than a man, as her monthly purgations demonstrate, as also thesoftness of her body; it is also apparent that he does not much exceedher in natural heat, which is the chief thing that concocts the humoursin proper aliment, which the woman wanting grows fat; whereas a man,through his native heat, melts his fat by degrees and his humours aredissolved; and by the benefit thereof are converted into seed. Digital Content>E-books>Philosophy>Philosophy>Philosophy, SAP Digital >16<
