The petticoat is full of guile and maketh even the strong go astray, while the weak she considereth as her’s always.
It smileth and smileth when it weepeth not, and in both tears and smiles it bodeth no good to man.
It leadeth thee along the stoney path and jeereth at thee if thou remark thy bleeding feet.
It looketh toward darkness and declareth that there is the light of Hope and seeth darkness where there is only light.
It believeth in signs and omens and would hand thee bound hand and foot into the hands of the Church.
It beguileth thee into discounting the future and revileth thee when its counsels have brought thee to harm.
It inviteth thee to Vanity and the ways of the boastful; it falleth down and worshipeth at the shrine of the Golden Calf, and constraineth thee to do likewise.
It selleth what should be given and giveth what should be sold.
It beareth thee children as is its nature to do, and then boasteth thereof; it refuseth to bear and boasteth of that also.
It beareth thy successes with smiling equanimity, and tearfully upbraideth thee with thy failures.