Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/54

 hath a ſpider-fingered hand, or ſhe which on her tip-toes ſtill doth ſtand, and neuer reades but in a golden booke, nor will not be caught but with a golden hooke; or ſuch a one as can ſtroke a beard, or looke a head, and of euery Flea make her ſelfe afraide; if one had a ſpring, ſuch a wench would make him a begger, if he were halfe a king: then this is no bargaine for thee. But harke a little further: the beſt time for a yong man to marry, is at the age of twenty and fiue, and then to take a wife of the age of ſeuenteene yeeres, or thereabout, rather a Maide then a widdow; for a widdow is framed to the conditions of another man, and can hardly be altered, ſo that thy paines will be double: for thou muſt vnlearne a widdow, and make her forget and forgoe her former corrupt and diſordered behauiour, the which is hardly to be done: but a young woman of tender yeeres is flexible and bending, obedient and ſubiect to doe any thing, according to the will and pleaſure of her husband.

And if thy ſtate be good, marry neere home, and at leiſure; but if thy ſyate be weake and poore, then to better thy ſelfe, after inquiry made of her wealth and conditions, goe farre off, and diſpatch it quickely, for doubt of tailing ſpeeches, which commonly in theſe cafes runne betwixt party and party, and breake it off, euen then when it is come to the vp ſhot: but as I haue already ſayd, before thou put thy foote out of doores, make diligent inquiry of her behauiour; for by the Market-folke thou ſhalt heare how the marker goeth: for by inquiry thou ſhalt heare whether ſhe he wiſe, vertuous and kinde, wearing but her owne proper haire, and ſuch garments as her friends eſtate will affoord; or whether ſhe loue to keepe within