Or, the Vanity of this World Dizplayed
3. Go to the birds and be not blindfolded, who build their neſt, lay their eggs before they hatch their young, be not ſo fooliſh, as to have a child before you have a wife, nor a wife before you have a houſe to hold her in.
4. Stuff thy houſe with all manner of furniture neceſſary for the family, marry thy wife in the pudding-month, and thou ſhalt have warmneſs all the winter.
5. Beware of running too faſt, leſt you come to fall, for the fair ſex have ſhort heels, and often fall backwards when bearing of the voice of wedlock, ſwooning away, for the joy of a relief long looked for; behold them not when they turn up their ten toes, left thou fall into the trap from whence there is no returning; without committing great wickedneſs.
6. But when thou goeſt to meet a woman, (illegible text) her by the mouth, as Mungo did his mare; for her words you may know whether ſhe be a wife woman or a fool.
7. If ſhe be poor, proud and prideful turn the back of your hand to her, and your (illegible text) for ſhe is the worſt penny-worth ever came (illegible text) poor man’s pack-ſheet, yea, happy is he that g(illegible text) home with the toom halter in his hand without her.
8. But if you chance to admire the charms of (illegible text) who is black and lovely, decent and diſcreet, ho(illegible text) and virtuous; thou never ſo poor; cleave thou onto her by all means, for ſuch a woman will hold you us her head and huſband, then thou ſhaſt- reign as a king over thine own houſe, and all thy family ſhall be ſubject unto thee.
9. For it you marry one who thinks herſelf wiſer than thee, ſhe will uſurp thy authority, counterman thy orders, and hold thee more like her monkey than her man or maſter.
10. Keep not private company with a woman tha{illegible}} is a great finger, nor a girl who is game-like, so the rolling of the eye and the ſweetneſs of the voice encourage men to commit wickedneſs.
11. Take not a wife that i tear-minded (illegible text)
