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3 The care of ſuch a woman is to clothe ⟨her⟩ antiquity; if her huſband would go naked, ſhe labour with her tongue, not with her hands, deſcribing ⟨the⟩ genealogy of her forefathers, the gentleneſs of her blood, and of her huſband's deſcent, who never came to honour and poverty till he came to her.
4. He that weds for money is a miſer, and he for beauty a fool; but he that for virtue and the other two is wiſer than the weaver who took a wife and would have nothing becauſe he had nothing of his own.
5. And the reaſon was, becauſe his wif might ſay I have made thee rich with my tocher, when thou had nothing at all,
6. He that marries a widow for her pelf, had beter marry a whore, if ſhe be handſome and wholſome; for the widow will be upbraiding him with the wealth and pleaſure ſhe had with her former husband, who is always the beſt, becauſe he is gone.
7. Whereas the whore will be aſhamed to ſpeak of her former pleaſures, becauſe they were ſtolen, ſmuggled and unlawful; but rather ſhe will rejoice, love, and eſteem thee, when ſhe enjoys the ſame without fear, ſcandal, ſhame or reproach.
8. He that marries a widow, let it be with one who had a huſband that gave her blows on every fide for her breakfaſt, and was hanged for ſtealing that ſhe may have to ſay ſhe had got the beſt huſband to her left. And if thou do not ſo, thou art a poor wretch, I'll warrant you.
CHAP. II.
IT is moſt natural for every ſex to have a deſire towards its fellows, and without the company of each other they have no mutual happineſs.
2. Is it not reaſonable for thee, O man! who are reſolved to join thyſelf to a wife, that thou join thy houſe together firſt by a mathematical order, with couples and cumſoiling above, and pleniſh it below.
