Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/43

 not more illuſions to get men into his Net, then women haue deuices and inuentions to allure men into their loue; and if thou ſuffer thy ſelfe once to be led into fooles Paradice, (that is to ſay) the Bed or Cloſet wherein a woman is, (then I ſay) thou art like a Bird ſnared in a Lime-buſh, which the more the ſtriueth, the faſter ſhe is. It is vnpoſſible to fall amongſt ſtones, and not be hurt; or amongſt thornes, and not be prickt; or amongſt Nettles, and not be ſtung: A man cannot carry fire in his boſome, and not burne his cloathing; no more can a man liue in loue, but it is a life as weariſome as Hell: and hee that marryeth a Wife, marcheth himſelfe vnto many troubles. If thou marryeſt a ſtill and quiet woman, it will ſeeme to thee, that thou rideſt but an ambling Horſe to Hell; but if with one that is froward and vnquiet, then thou wert as good ride a trotting Horſe to the Diuell. Heerein I will not be my owne caruer, but I referre you to the iudgement of thoſe which haue ſeene the troubles, and felt the torments: for none are better able to iudge of womens qualities, then thoſe which haue them; none feeles the hardneſſe of the Flint, but he that ſtrikes it; none knowes where the ſhooe pincheth, but he that weares it. It is ſaid, that a man ſhould eate a Buſhell of Salt with one which hee meanes to make his Friend, before hee put any great confidence or truſt in him: And if thou be ſo long in chooſing a Friend, in my minde thou hadſt neede to eate two Buſhels of Salt with a Woman, before thou make her thy Wife; otherwiſe, before thou haſt eaten one Buſhell with her, thou ſhalt taſte of ten quarters of ſorrow, and for euery dram of Pleaſure an Ounce of Paine, and for euery Pint of Honey a Gallon of Gall, and for euery Inch of Mirth an Ell of