Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/42

 E not too haſty to marry, for doubtleſſe if thou marry in haſt, thou wilt repent by leaſure. For there are many troubles, which come galloping at the heeles of a woman, which many young men beforehand do not thinke of. The world is not all made of Oate meale; nor all is not Gold that gliſters; nor a ſmiling countenance is no certaine teſtimoniall of a merry heart; nor the way to heauen is not ſtrewed with ruſhes; no more is the cradle of eaſe in a womans lap. If thou wert a ſeruant or in bondage before, yet when thou marryeſt, thy toyle is neuer the nearer ended; but euen then & not before thou changeſt thy golden life which thou didſt leade before, in reſpect of the marryed, for a drop of hony, which quickly turneth to bee as bitter as Worme-wood. And therefore farre better it were to haue two ploughs going, then one cradle, & better a barne filled, then a bed; therefore cut off the occaſion which may any way bring thee into fooles Paradiſe. Then firſt and aboue all ſhun idleneſſe; for idleneſſe is the beginner and maintainer of loue, therefore apply thy ſelfe about ſome affaires, or be occupyed about ſome buſineſſe: for ſo long as thy minde or thy body is in labour, the loue of a woman is not remembred, nor luſt euer thought vpon: but if thou ſpend thy time idly amongſt women, thou art like vnto him which playeth with the Bee, who may ſooner feele of her ſting then taſte of her honey: he that toucheth pitch may be defiled therewith, Roſes vnaduiſedly gathered pricke our fingers, Bees vngently handled, ſting our faces: and yet the one is pleaſant, and the other is profitable. And if thou be in company of women, the Diuell himſelfe hath not