Many occasions vnto men doe fall,
Of aduerse crosses, woemen not conceiue,
To find vs honny, they doe meete with gall,
Their toyle for vs, doe their owne ioyes bereaue:
Great shame it were, that we should ad their woe,
That doe maintaine, and keepe, and loue vs so.
If that a hasty word sometime be spoke,
Let vs not censure therefore they are foes,
Say tis infirmitie that doth prouoke,
Their hearts are sorry for their tongues God knowes:
Since we by proofe each day and hower finde,
For one harsh word, they giue ten thousand kind
The seuenth dutie that she must endeauour,
Is to obserue her husbands disposition,
And thereunto conforme her selfe for euer,
In all obedient sort, with meeke submission:
Resoluing that as his conditions are,
Her rules of life she must according square.
His vertues and good parts which she doth finde,
shee must endeauor for to imitate,
The vices whereunto he is enclin'd,
Shee must in patience beare in milde estate:
So that the meekenesse of her louing carriage,
May be peace-maker, of all strife in marriage.
She must not doe as foolish woemen vse,
When they are met about the gossippes chat,
Their absent husbands with their tongues abuse,
But vtterly abhorre to offer that:
Resoluing that a husbands least disgrace,
Sould cause the wife to haue a blushing face.
The eight last dutie she must take vpon her,
To binde all t'other seauen to be done,
Is loue and chiefe regard to husbands honour,
Which if at true affection it begunne:
Then be he poore, or sicke, or in distresse,
Shee still remaines most firme in faithfulnesse.
Best in aduersitie it will appeare,
What constancy within the heart remaines,
No testimonie can be found more cleare,
Then friend in trouble rhat his loue explaines:
For such a one we may resolue is true,
That changeth not, though fortune turne from yon.
And thus faire virgins, to you all farewell,
What I haue spoken doe proceede from loue,
The ioyes of marriage I want art to tell,
And therefore no more talke, but try and proue:
With wedding rings, be wiues of credit knowne
God send good husbands to you euery one.