Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/72

 of Hell. Now me thinketh I heare ſome ſay vnto me, that I ſhould haue told them this leſſon ſooner, for too late commeth medicine when the patient is dead; euen ſo too late commeth counſell, when it is paſt remedy, but it is better late then neuer, for it may be a warning to make others wiſe.

But why doe I make ſo long harueſt of ſo little Corne? ſeeing the Corne is bad, my harueſt ſhall ceaſe, for ſo long as women doe ill, they muſt not thinke to be well ſpoken of, if you would be well reported of, or kept like the Roſe when it hath loſt the colour, then you ſhould ſmell ſweet in the bud, as the Roſe doth, or if you would be taſted for olde wine, you ſhould be ſweet at the firſt, like a pleaſant Grape, then ſhould you be cheriſhed for your courteſie, and comforted for your honeſty, ſo ſhould you be preſerued like the ſweet Roſe, and eſteemed of as pleaſant Wine. But to what purpoſe do I go about to inſtruct you, knowing that ſuch as counſell the Diuell, can neuer amend him of his euill.

And ſo praying thoſe which haue already made their choyſe, and ſeene the trouble, & felt the torments that are with Women, to take it merrily, and to eſteeme of this Booke only, as the toyes of an idle head.

Nor I would not haue Women mumure againſt me for that I haue not written more bitterly againſt Men, for it is a very hard Winter when one Wolfe eateth another, and it is alſo an ill Bird that defileth her own neſt, and a moſt vnkind part of one Man to ſpeake ill of another.