Lesson 21 – Of Women, Wine, and Drunkenness

Lesson 21 – Of Women, Wine, and Drunkenness from the Sages of Old.

1. Drunkenness makes a man unruly.
2. Drunkenness undoes him that delights therein.
3. Much Wine and Wisdom may not agree: for they be two contraries.
4. Wine unmeasurably taken is an enemy to the Soul.
5. Wrath and Wine drown both the Reason and the Senses.
5. Wrath makes a man a beast: but Drunkenness makers a man worse.
6. Drunkenness ought to be eschewed of all men; but chiefly of Rulers, Watchers, and Officers.
7. Drunkenness is an abominable vice in a Teacher.
8. A drunkard is unprofitable for any kind of good service.
9. The Husband can do his Wife no greater wrong, than to have to do with another woman.
10. A woman is a necessary evil.
11. There can be no greater honour for an honest Wife than to have an honest faithful Husband: which cares for her, and for no woman else; thinking her more chaste and faithful than any other.
12. Neither gorgeous apparel, nor excellent beauty, nor plenty of gold and riches, become a woman so well as Soberness, Silence, Faithfulness, and Chastity.
13. The best way for a man to keep his Wife chaste is, not to be jealous, as many fond fools suppose; but to be chaste himself, and faithful unto her.
14. Woman’s company is an evil that cannot be eschewed.
15. Women in mischief are wiser than men.
16. Woman is more pitiful than man, more envious than a Serpent, more malicious than a Tyrant, and more deceitful than the Devil.
17. Woman’s counsel is weak; and a child’s, imperfect.
18. Woe be to that City, where a woman bears rule.
19. It is better to be in company with a serpent, than with a wicked woman.
20. Gay-apparelled women stand forth as baits to catch men that pass by: but they take none, save such as will be poor; or else such as be ignorant fools, which know them not.
21. There is no greater incumbrance that may chance to a man, than Ignorance and Women.
22. There is nothing hotter than a lascivious woman.
23. He is an ignorant Fool, that is governed by women’s counsel.
24. An ignorant man may be known by three points. He cannot rule himself; because he lacks Reason. He cannot resist his lusts; because he lacks Wit: neither can he do what he would; because he is in bondage to a woman.
25. Women, by nature, are born malicious.
26. It is not possible for him to obtain Wisdom and Knowledge that is in bondage to a woman.
27. He that frequents much Woman’s company cannot be strong; neither may he be rich that delights much in wine.
28. Hunger takes away Love; else doth Time: but if none of these prevail, there is no remedy but Death.
29. Desire doubled is Love, and Love doubled is Madness.
30. Lust ought to be quenched before his nails and teeth be grown; for, afterwards, it is scarce possible to avoid it.
31. The teeth of Love is Suspicion; the nails, Jealousy: wherewith it holds and bites our hearts so strongly.