Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/53

 men are, thou muſt ſtand to thy word, which thou madeſt before the whole Pariſh, which was, to take her for better for worſe, for there is no refuſing: ſhee will ſticke to thee as cloſe as a ſaddle to a horſe backe, and if ſhe be frowardly giuen, then ſhee will vexe thee night and day.

Among the quieteſt couples that are, yet houſhold iars will ariſe, but yet ſuch quarrels which happen in the day, are often qualified with kiſſes in the night; but if it be not ſo ended, their thrift will goe forward like the carriage which is drawne between two horſes, taile to taile, & if ſhe cannot reuenge her ſelfe with her tongue, nor with her hands, nor with conueying thy goods, yet ſhe will pay thee home priuately; for if thou ſtrike with thy ſword, ſhe will ſtrike with the ſcabbard. Chuſe not the rapier by his ringing, nor thy wife by her ſinging; for if thou doeſt, thou mayſt be very well deceiued in both, for thy rapier may proue a Iade, and thy wife bur little better.

Now, if thou ask mee how thou ſhouldeſt chuſe thy wife? I anſwere, that thou haſt the whole world to make choyſe, and yet thou mayeſt be deceiued. An ancient Father being asked by a yong man how he ſhould chuſe a wife, he anſwered him thus: When thou ſeeſt a flocke of Maidens together, hood-winke thy ſelfe faſt, and runne amongſt them, and looke which thou catcheſt, let her be thy wife. The yong man told him, that if hee went blind-folded he might be deceiued: and ſo thou mayeſt (quoth the old man) if thy eyes were open; for in the choyſe of thy wife, thou muſt not truſt thine owne eyes, for they will deceiue thee, and be the cauſe of thy woe: for ſhe may ſeeme good whoſe waſte is likea wand, or ſhe which hath