Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/21

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hedge, and blacke in the hand: in the greeneſt Graſſe lyeth hid the greateſt Serpents; painted Pots commonly hold deadly poyſon; and in the cleareſt water the vglieſt Toad; and the faireſt woman hath ſome filthineſſe in her. All is not Gold that gliſtereth: a ſmiling countenance is no certaine teſtimoniall of a merry heart, nor coſtly garments of a rich Purſe. Men doe not commend a Iudge for that he weareth a Scarlet Gowne, but for his iuſt dealing; no more are women to be eſteemed of by the ornament of their brauerie, but for their good behauiour: yet there is no Riuer ſo cleare, but there is ſome durt in the bottome. But many a man in this Land, we need not goe any further for examples, but here we may ſee many fooles in euery place ſnared in womens Nets, after a little familiaritie and acquaintance with them: I thinke if they were numbred, the number would paſſe infinit, if it were poſſible, which for the loue of wantons haue loſt their Voyages at Sea, to their great hinderances; and many other haue neuer regarded the farre diſtance which they haue beene from their Countrey and Friends, vntill they had conſumed their ſubſtance: and then being aſhamed to returne home againe in ſuch bad ſort, I meane by Weeping-Croſſe & Pennyleſſe Bench; many of them rather chuſe to deſerue New-gate, and ſo come to Tiburne; farre contrary to the expectation of their Friends and Parents, which had otherwiſe prouided for them, if they had had grace, or would haue been ruled.

CHAP.