Читать книгу The Female Physician - John Maubray - Страница 25

CHAP. V. Of COPULATION.

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THIS Conjunction of both Sexes, is the Consummation of Love, and the Pinnacle of the Lover’s natural Felicity. It is the Sum and superlative Degree of their terrene Happiness; above which the Lovers cannot aspire, naturally speaking, in Human Society.

THIS is also the utmost Height of their eager Desires, and the greatest Extent of their languishing Wishes. It is the Abatement, as well as the Completion of their unbounded Passions, and the Tranquillity of their restless Minds. However yet——

THIS Act is Two-fold; Fæcund and successful, or Sterile and unsuccessful in the Event.

I. AS to the First, some most famous Authors have written their Minds freely and copiously upon it, and have given certain pertinent Instructions, touching the Time, and Manner, as well as Conduct of the Parties concern’d, both before and after the Act: Particularly Avicenna^[37] (no Proletarian Writer, but a most Illustrious and most Learned Prince) has insisted at large upon every Case belonging to this Head, together with the Way and Manner, as well as the proper Time of begetting either Sex; “Ubi, inquit, menses defluxerint, sitq; abstersus Uterus, quod quinto ferè die usu venit, aut septimo; Si Vir Mulieri congrediatur, à primo quàm est purgata die ad quintum, MAREM produci: à quinto verò ad octavum, FÆMELLAM: rursus ab octavo ad duodecimum denuo, MASCULUM, &c.”

WHICH excellent Opinion is fully proved by Levinus Lemnius (another great Master of Nature): According to whose authentick Judgment also, there are likewise many things^[38] of an occult specifick Quality, and secret Effect, for answering the same Ends, as well as Fecundity itself: which both common Reason and daily Experience confirm for Truth.

BUT because I lie under the Disadvantage (at present) of writing in our vernacular Tongue, it may be proper to pass by, what (otherways) might be plentifully said on this Head: However I shall observe, that the Generality of Rules are most commonly calculated for Persons of a discording Constitution of natural Temperaments and Faculties; which Difference of Constitution brings often false and ungrounded Reproaches upon the Reputation of fruitful Women. From whence it is justly to be remarked, that, tho’ few or no Children are got meerly by Art; yet if a little Dexterity or ingenious Subtilty was used with some Women, there would not (perhaps) One in Three of those, who are rashly accounted so, be found BARREN.

II. AS to the unsuccessful Act of Coition, I shall refer what may be offer’d on that Point, until I come to treat of Sterility, in Section viii: And therefore I shall only farther observe Here, that the Parties ought not to encounter with full Stomachs, Bellies, or Bladders; much less when Both, or Either, are weary, fatigu’d, depriv’d of Sleep, angry, troubled in Mind, or in any other real respect out of Order. For in these Cases, it is very detrimental to the Health^[39] of such imprudent Parents; and (if Conception follows) it infallibly intails some respective Evil upon the Innocent Production: Because all the Affections or Disturbances of their Minds, virtually devolve upon the Embryo. And besides, as (by such perverse Means) the Conception becomes irregular; so also does the Maturation, Nutrition, and Birth carry the same Impression: For from the least Perturbation of SPIRIT, the Infant may contract various Blemishes of Body, as well as Errors of Mind.

WHEREFORE, in fine, as this Affair is to be undertaken with a serene and contented Mind, a chearful and undisturbed Heart, so it ought to be perform’d with Moderation and Decency: Not in any brutal Manner or Posture; but according to the rational Law and proper Instinct of Nature.