Obiection.
[8]
It is too much we dailie heare,
To wiue and thriue both in a yeare,[E418]
As touching now to thriue:
I know not herein what to spie,
But that there doth small profite lie,
To fansie for to wiue.
Affirmation.
[9]
In deede the first yeare oft is such,
That [fondly] some bestoweth much,
A let to them to thriue:
Yet other moe may soone be founde,
Which getteth many a faire pounde,
The same day that they wiue.
Obiection.
[10]
I graunt some getteth more that day,
Than they can easily beare away,
Nowe needes then must they thriue:
What gaineth such thinke you by that?
A little burden, you wote what,
Through fondnesse for to wiue.
Affirmation.
[11]
Thou seemest blinde as mo[E419] haue bin,
It is not beautie bringeth in
The thing to make thee thriue:
In womankinde, see that ye do
Require of hir no gift but two,
When ere ye minde to wiue.
Obiection.
[12]
But two, say you? I pray you than
Shew those as briefly as you can,
If that may helpe to thriue:
I [weene] we must conclude anon,
Of those same twaine to want the ton,
When ere we chance to wiue.
Honestie and huswiferie.
Affirmation.
[13]
An honest huswife, trust to mee,
Be those same twaine, I say to thee,
That helpe so much to thriue:
As honestie farre passeth golde,
So huswiferie in yong and olde,
Do pleasure such as wiue.
Obiection.
[14]
The honestie in deede I graunt,
Is one good point the wife should [haunt],
To make hir husband thriue:
But now faine would I haue you show,
How should a man good huswife know,
If once he hap to wiue?
Affirmation.
[15]
A huswife good betimes will rise,
And order things in comelie wise,
Hir minde is set to thriue:
Vpon hir [distaffe] she will spinne,
And with hir needle she will winne,
If such ye hap to wiue.
Obiection.
[16]
It is not idle going about,
Nor all day [pricking] on a [clout],
Can make a man to thriue:
Or if there be no other winning,
But that the wife gets by hir spinning,
Small thrift it is to wiue.