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There is no woman but either ſhe hath a long tongue, or a longing tooth, and they ar etwo ill neighbours, if they dwell together: for the one will lighten the purſe, if it be ſtill pleaſed, and the other will waken thee from thy ſleepe, if it be not charmed. Is it not ſtrange of what kinde of mettall a womans tongue is made, that neither correction can chaſten, nor faire meanes quiet? for there is a kinde of venome in it, that neither by faire meanes nor foule they are to bee ruled. All beaſts by men are made tame, but a womans tongue will neuer bee tame; it is but a ſmall thing and ſeldome ſeene, but it is often heard, to the terrour and vtter confuſion of many a man.
Therefore as a ſharpe bit curbes a froward horſe, euen ſo a curſt woman muſt be roughly vſed: but if women could hold their tongues, then many times men would hold their hands. As the beſt metled blade is mixt with iron, euen ſo the beſt woman that is, is not free from faults: the goodlieſt gardens are not free from weedes, ne more is the beſt, nor faireſt woman from ill deedes.
Hee that vſeth troth to tell,
May blamed be, though he ſay well.
If thou be young marry not yet;
If thon be old thou wilt haue more wit:
For young mens wiues will not be taught,
And old mens wiues are good for nought.
And be that for a womans ſtriues by law,
Shall ſtriue like a cox-combe, and prone but a Daw:
Then buy thou not with ouer-much coſt,
The thing which yeelds but labour loſt.
Diuers beaſts and fowles by nature have more ſtrength in one part of the body then in another; as the Eagle is
