Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/22

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CHAP. II.

The ſecond Chapter ſheweth the manner of ſuch Women as liue pon euill report: It alſo ſheweth, that the beauty of Women hath beene the bane of many a man, for it hath ouercome valiant and ſtrong men, eloquent and ſubtile men; and in a word, it hath ouercome all men, as by examples following ſhall appeare.

irſt that of Salomon, vnto whom God gaue ſingular wit and wiſedomes; yet hee loued ſo many women, that hee quite forgot his God, which alwayes did guide his ſteps, ſo long as hee liued godly, and ruled iuſtly: but after he had glutted himſelfe with women, then he could ſay, Vanitie of vanities, all is but vanitie. He alſo, in many places of his Booke of Prouerbs exclaimes moſt bitterly againſt lewd women, calling them all that naught is and alſo diſplayeth their properties. And yet I cannot let men goe blameleſſe, although women goe ſhameleſſe; but I will couch them both: for if there were not receiuers, then there would not be ſo many ſtealers; if there were not ſo many Knaues, there would not be ſo many Whores; for they both hold together, to boulſter each others villany: for alwayes birds of a feather will flocke together, hand in hand, to boulſter each others villany. Men I ſay may liue without women, but women cannot liue without men: For Venus, whoſe beauty was excellent faire, yet when ſhee needed a mans helpe, ſhee tooke Vulcan, a club-footed Smith. And therefore,

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