Front matter
Reading edition
New Edition
GAY AND BIRD LONDON MDCCCXCVI
All rights reserved
TO THE IMPATIENT, WHO WISH TO MARRY TOO SOON; TO THE LIBERTINES, WHO TAKE A WIFE TOO LATE; TO THE TIMID WHO, WAVERING BETWEEN YES AND NO, END BY NOT TAKING ONE AT ALL, This Book is Dedicated BY A MAN WHO HAS ALWAYS BLESSED HIS FIRST MARRIAGE, AND HOPES TO BLESS THE SECOND; BELIEVING THIS SEXUAL CONTRACT TO BE THE LEAST EVIL ONE OF THE TIES WHICH BIND THE MAN TO THE WOMAN, IN SPITE OF ITS MANY DEFECTS AND DANGERS.