Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/13

 they can with the Satyre, out of one mouth, blow both hot and cold.

And what of all this? Why nothing, but to tell thee, that a Woman is better loſt then found, better forſaken then taken. Saint Paul ſayth, That they which marry, doe well; but he alſo ſayth, That they which marry not, doe better: and hee (no doubt) was well aduiſed what hee ſpake. Then, if thou be wiſe, keepe thy head out of the halter, and take heed before thou haue cauſe to curſe thy hard pennyworth, or wiſh the Prieſt ſpeechleſſe which knit the Knot.

The Philoſophers which liued in the olde time, their opinions were ſo hard of Marriage, that they neuer delighted therein: for one of them being asked, why hee marryed not? hee anſwered, that it was too ſoone: and afterwards, when hee was old, hee was asked the ſame queſtion, and he ſaid then, that it was too late. And further hee ſayd, That a marryed man hath but two good dayes to be looked for, that is, the Marriage day, & the day of his Wiues death; for a Woman will feed thee with Honey, and poyſon thee with Gall. Diogenes was ſo dogged, that he abhorred all Women; and Auguſtus wiſhed, that he had liued wifeleſſe, and died childleſſe.

On a time one asked Socrates, Whether he were better to marry, or to liue ſingle? and he made anſwer; Which ſoeuer thou doeſt, it wil repent thee: for if thou marryeſt not, then thou wilt liue diſcontented, and die without iſſue, and ſo perhaps a ſtranger ſhall poſſeſſe thy goods: and if thou doeſt marry, thou ſhalt haue continuall vexations; her Dowry will be often caſt in thy diſh, if ſhe do bring Wealth with her. Againe, if ſhe complaine, then her Kinsfolke will bend the browes, and her Mother wil ſpeake