The Bride | Page 8

a pecocke showe:
Though they seeme fooles, so yeelde vnto their wiues,?Some poore men doe it to haue quiet liues.
Fourth dutie is, to loue her owne house best,?And be no gadding gossippe vp and downe,?To heare and carry tales amongst the rest,?That are the newes reporters of the towne:
A modest vvomans home is her delight,?Of businesse there, to haue the ouersight.
At publike playes she neuer will be knowne,?And to be tauerne guest she euer hates,?Shee scornes to be a streete-wife (Idle one,)?Or field vvife ranging vvith her vvalking mates:
She knows how wise men censure of such dames,?And how with blottes they blemish their good names.
And therefore with the doue sheele rather choose,?To make aboade where she hath dwelling place,?Or like the snayle that shelly house doeth vse,?For shelter still, such is good-huswiues case:
Respecting residence where she doth loue,?As those good housholders, the snayle and doue.
Fift dutie of a wife vnto her head,?Is her ohedience to reforme his will,?And neuer with a selfe conceit be led,?That her aduise prooues good, his counsell ill:
In Iudgement being singular alone,?As hauing all the wit, her husband none.
She must not thinke her wisedome to be thus,?(For we alasie are weakelings vnto men)?What singular good thing remaines in vs,?Of wife ones in a thousand, show me ten,
Her stocke of wit, that hath the most (I say,)?Hath scarse enough for spending euery day.
When as the husband bargaines hath to make,?In things that are depending on his trade,?Let not wifes boldnes, power vnto her take,?As though no match were good but what she made
For she that thus hath oare in husbands boate,?Let her take breech, and giue him petti-coate.
Sixt dutie is, to pacific his yre,?although she finde that he empatient be,?For hasty words, like fuell adde to fire,?And more, and more insenceth wraths degree:
When she perceiues his choller in a fit,?Let her forbeare, and that's a signe of wit.
Many occasions vnto men doe fall,?Of aduerse crosses, woemen not conceiue,?To find vs honny, they doe meete with gall,?Their toyle for vs, doe their owne ioyes bereaue:
Great shame it were, that we should ad their woe,?That doe maintaine, and keepe, and loue vs so.
If that a hasty word sometime be spoke,?Let vs not censure therefore they are foes,?Say tis infirmitie that doth prouoke,?Their hearts are sorry for their tongues God knowes:
Since we by proofe each day and hower finde,?For one harsh word, they giue ten thousand kind
The seuenth dutie that she must endeauour,?Is to obserue her husbands disposition,?And thereunto conforme her selfe for euer,?In all obedient sort, with meeke submission:
Resoluing that as his conditions are,?Her rules of life she must according square.
His vertues and good parts which she doth finde,?shee must endeauor for to imitate,?The vices whereunto he is enclin'd,?Shee must in patience beare in milde estate:
So that the meekenesse of her louing carriage,?May be peace-maker, of all strife in marriage.
She must not doe as foolish woemen vse,?When they are met about the gossippes chat,?Their absent husbands with their tongues abuse,?But vtterly abhorre to offer that:
Resoluing that a husbands least disgrace,?Sould cause the wife to haue a blushing face.
The eight last dutie she must take vpon her,?To binde all t'other seauen to be done,?Is loue and chiefe regard to husbands honour,?Which if at true affection it begunne:
Then be he poore, or sicke, or in distresse,?Shee still remaines most firme in faithfulnesse.
Best in aduersitie it will appeare,?What constancy within the heart remaines,?No testimonie can be found more cleare,?Then friend in trouble rhat his loue explaines:
For such a one we may resolue is true,?That changeth not, though fortune turne from yon.
And thus faire virgins, to you all farewell,?What I haue spoken doe proceede from loue,?The ioyes of marriage I want art to tell,?And therefore no more talke, but try and proue:
With wedding rings, be wiues of credit knowne?God send good husbands to you euery one.
FINIS.
? END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE BRIDE ***
This file should be named tbrid10.txt or tbrid10.zip?Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, tbrid11.txt VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, tbrid10a.txt
Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, even years after the official publication date.
Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment and