University of Virginia Library


62

Chap. XII.


63

[Who doth desire that chast his Wife should be]

Sir Philip Sidney.
Who doth desire that chast his Wife should be,
First, be he true, for Truth doth Truth deserue.
Then be he such as she his worth may see,
And one man still credit with her preserue.
Not toying kind, nor toyishly unkind:
Not stirring thoughts, nor yet denying right:
Nor spying faults, nor in plaine Errours blind:
Neuer hard hand, nor euer reines too light:
As farre from want, as farre from vaine expence:

64

The one doth force, the latter doth entice.
Allow good Company, but keepe from thence,
All filthy mouthes, that glory in their vice.
This done thou hast no more, but leaue the rest
Vnto thy Fortune, time, and womans brest.

Sir Iohn Harrington.
Concerning wiues take this a certaine Rule,
That if at first you let her haue the rule,
Your selfe at length with her shall beare no rule,
Except you let her euermore to rule.
Yet in the house, as busie as a Bee,
I am content my Wife sting all but me.

Sir Thomas Ouerbery.
O rather let me loue, then be in loue;
So let me chuse as Wife and Friend to find.
Let me forget her Sexe, when I approue.
Beasts liknesse lies in shape, but ours in mind.
Our Soules no Sexes haue. Their Loue is cleane.
No Sexe, both in the better part are men.
Domestick Charge doth best that Sex befit
Contiguous businesse so to fixe the mind.
That leasure space for fancies not admit.
Their leisure tis corrupteth woman-kind
Else being plast from many vices free,
They had to Heau'n a shorter cut then we.
Womens behauiour is a surer barre,
Then is their No. That fairely doth deny
Without denying; thereby kept they are
Safe eu'n from hope. In part too blame is shee
Which hath without Consent beene onely tride.
He comes too neere that comes to be denide.


65

Ariosto.
Like a true Turtle with thine owne Doue stay,
Else others twixt thy sheets may falsly play.
If thou wilt haue her loue and honour thee,
First, let her thine Affections largely see.
What shee doth for thee kindly that respect,
And shew how thou her loue dost well affect.
Remember she is neighbour to thy heart,
And not thy slaue: shee is thy better part.
Thinke tis enough that her thou mighst command:
Whilest she in Marriage bonds doth loyall stand,
Although thy power thou neuer doe approue,
For thats the way to make her leaue to loue.
To goe to Feasts and Weddings 'mongst the Best,
Tis not amisse: for their suspect is least.
Nor is it meet that shee the Church refraine,
Sith there is vertue, and her Noble Traine.


69

[A puling Female Creature, which hath smiles]

A puling Female Creature, which hath smiles
Like Sirens Songs, and teares like Crocodiles.

71

[As Mothers are, so will the Daughters be]

As Mothers are, so will the Daughters be:
Chast was Susannaes Mother, chaste was she.
Baals Miracles she from her Cradle knew,
As how vaines Tombes with Idols to eschew,
She honour'd Abram, Moses, and the Saints;
But vnto God she framed her Complaints.
Bad Company she shunn'd, as Rockie shelues,
And fear'd suspected Suiters worse then Elues.
If Flesh and Bloud in her began to tickle,
She mortified her thoughts, that were so fickle.
She fasted oft, but oftner vs'd to pray;
To which she ioyn'd some labour eu'ry day.
No Day without a Line. She daily wrought,
Somtimes on Needle, when she fitting thought.
Or spunne by Distaffe, or the Wheele she rowld,
Somtimes on Loome, her skil she would vnfold.
At times she stirr'd more busie then the Bee,
And was well pleas'd the Maids to ouer-see.
Tir'd with houshold busines on Harp she playes
Or Violl, which she tunes to Dauids Layes.

72

One while she sings for her recreation.
Of Noahs Arke, and the first Creation.
Another whiles of Ægypts Miracles,
Her Nation blest with Sinaes Oracles;
Their wandring forty yeeres with Manna fed,
And in the Desert by an Angell led.
Now of their Wars she tels with warbling voice,
Anon of Iewries fall with dolefull noyse.
One while she reades, another while she writes;
She writes those rules, which she herself endites.
Some other time, to draw the Countries Aire,
She went abroad, but neuer to a Faire.
Least, Tortoiselike cub'd vp; shee might take harme,
She goes abroad to see her Fathers Farme.
The Fields shee likes, but more the Garden walkes,
To note Gods workes in seedes, herbes, flowres, and stalkes,
Yea, & though seldome, she the Towne suruayes
With her deere Mother witnesse of her wayes.