Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/26

 There are three wayes to know a Whore: by her wanton lookes, by her ſpeech, and by her gate, Eccleſiaſticus 26. and in the ſame chapter he ſaith, that we muſt not giue our ſtrength vnto Harlots: for Whores are the euil of all euils, and the vanitie of all vanities; they weaken the ſtrength of a man, and deprive the body of his beauty; it ſurroweth the browes, and maketh the eyes dimme: and a whoriſh woman cauſeth the Feauer and the Gout; and at a word, they are a great ſhortening to a mans life. For although they ſeeme to be ſo daintie as ſweet meat, yet in triall they are not ſo wholeſome as ſowre ſawce: They haue wit, but it is all in craft; if they loue, it is vehement; but if they hate, it is deadly.

Plato ſaith, That women are either Angels or Diuels, and that they either loue dearely, or hate bitterly; for a woman hath no meane in her loue, nor mercy in her hate; no pitty in reuenge, nor patience in her anger: therefore it is ſaid, that there is nothing in the world which both pleaſeth and diſpleaſeth a man more then a woman; for a woman moſt delighteth a man, and yet moſt deceiueth him: for as there is nothing more ſweet vnto a man, then a woman when ſhe ſmileth; euen ſo, there is nothing more odious, then the fierce and angry countenance of a woman.

Salomon in his 20. of Eccleſiaſtes ſaith, that an angry woman will fome at the mouth like a Bore: if all this be true, as moſt true it is, why ſhouldeſt thou ſpend one houre in the praiſe of a woman, as ſome fooles doe? for ſome will brag of the beauty of ſuch a maid; another will vaunt of the bravery of ſuch a woman, that ſhe goeth beyond all the women in the Pariſh: againe, ſome ſtudy their fine wits,