Lesson 17 – Of Marriage and Married Folk

Of Marriage and Married Folk

1. Happy are they that are happily married.
2. Happy is he that hath married a good Wife: and so is he that hath married none at all.
3. There is not a greater treasure than a good Wife; nor a greater evil than to be matched with an evil woman.
4. If a man consider the Truth; truly to marry a Wife is evil: but yet it is a necessary evil.
5. What can be more miserable in a man than to lack a trusty Wife!
6. A Wife is a costly and a troublesome matter; causing that a man cannot live as he would: and yet some good cometh by her. For when her husband is sick, she keeps him diligently. She forsakes him not in his adversity; and when he is dead she buries him honestly. And therefore ought men to weigh one thing with another.
7. The greatest dishonour that a man may have, is to be obedient to a woman.
8. It is meet that men obey such laws as their Governors ordain; and that women obey their Husbands’ ordinances.
9. The Husband and the Wife must think themselves to be but one in all points, except in Sovereignty; which, both by Nature and laws, is the man’s only sole right.
10. Before a woman be suffered to go in gossiping, she ought to be so old that such as know her not may rather ask, Whose Mother, than, Whose Wife, she is?
11. a woman may attire herself at home, in her Husband’s presence, as gorgeously as she can; but whatsoever she doth to walk abroad in, is rather for others’ pleasure than for her Husband’s.
12. Every good woman obeys her Husband: but such as are evil, through lack of wit, despise them.
13. Marriage were a heavenly state; if man would use it as they ought. But as, in many Cities, and in other matters, Riot, and Lust, and other vices are augmented; and have got the mastery: even so have they done also in Marriage; whereby it is made grievous.
14. The only cause why Marriage seems grievous to many is, because they know not how to govern themselves; they be so given to Folly and Pleasure.
15. There is nothing more painful in all the World. I know it by experience. Happy is he that knows it not!
16. Many, both nobly-born and rich,have been dishonoured through their foolish Wives.
17. It is better to bury, than to marry, a Wife.
18. Whosoever is determined to marry a Wife, hath already begun his penance.
19. It is no light matter to get a good Wife.
20. Age and Marriage are things very like. For every man desires them both: but when they have got them, they are very sorry.
21. When a man marries; he does not only take to him a Wife, as it seems: but also a Devil, either good or bad.
22. The chief virtue that a Wife can have is to be obedient and loving to her Husband.
23. Marriage was ordained, both by God and by Nature, for increase of lineage; and for quietness and comfort of Man’s life: and therefore she is no Wife, in whom these properties are lacking.
24. Those married persons cannot choose but agree well; which endeavour themselves to do their duty: the man to rule by love; the woman to obey with quietness.
25. What bliss can be compared to his, that hath married a Wife, obedient, loving and wise? or o hers, that hath a provident and kind Husband?
26. It is necessary that a woman have some man to chasten her. For there is, in her nature, a certain foolish wantonness; which, if it be not daily looked to and assuaged, will make her wax proud and wild: as divers trees do, that are over rank.
27. He is ignorant and unwise that dispraises all women together: for though many be nought; yet some are good and virtuous.
28. The evil which comes to Men by Marriage, God has requited in this, That Wives are partakers of their troublesome labours.
29. Whoso he be that will not marry, because of the charge and troublesomeness of a Wife, shall live wretchedly in his age, lacking children to comfort him; and when he is dead with sorrow, strangers shall divide his goods among them: but he that marries, and hath got a wise and careful Wife, instead of these miseries, shall have continual comfort.
30. They travail in vain, that labour to marry any that are not appointed them by God; but those that are ordained for them, shall happen to them unsought for. For Marriage and Hanging are destiny.
31. It is the part of a wise man to get him kinsfolk and friends by Marriage.
32. They know not what it is to take a Wife; which marry either for Power or Riches. For a lordly Wife will rule the roost, and make her Husband her slave: and as for the Riches that are so got, they are unprofitable and soon wasted.
33. The poor man, that takes a Wife for Riches, does not marry her; but sells himself unto her.
34. Two things ought specially to be considered in a Wife before she be married; either that she have a loving countenance, or else that she be well-mannered: for these things increase love between Man and Wife.
35. Men seek for hounds and horses that are come of a good breed; neither will they bring up any except they be such: but a good man will not slack to marry an evil Wife, that is, an evil man’s daughter; so he may have great riches with her.