As it becometh her to keep home, so it becometh her to keep silence, and alway speak the best of her head. Other seek their honour in triumph, but she must seek her honour in reverence, for 1it becometh not any woman to set light by her husband, nor to publish his infirmities. For they ⟨p. 82⟩say, it is an evil bird that defileth his own nest: and if a Wife use her Husband so, how may the Husband use the Wife? Because this is the quality of that sex, to overthwart, and upbraid, and sue the preeminence of their Husbands, therefore the Philosophers could not tell how to define a Wife, but called her The contrary to a Husband, as though nothing 2were so cross and contrary to a man, as a Wife. This is not Scripture, but no slander to many. As David exalteth the love of women 3above all other loves; so Solomon mounteth the envy of women above all other envies, stubborn, sullen, taunting, gainsaying, outfacing, with such a bitter humour, that one would think they were molten out of the salt pillar into which Lot's Wife was transformed. ⟨p. 83⟩4We say not, all are alike, but this sect hath many Disciples. Doth the rib that is in a mans side fret him, or gall him? no 5more should she which is made of the rib. Though a woman be wise and painful, and have many good parts, yet if she be a shrew, her troublesome jarring in the end will make her honest behaviour unpleasant, as her over pinching at last causeth her good housewifery to be evil spoken off. Therefore although she be a Wife, yet sometime she must observe the servants lesson, Not answering again, & hold 6her peace to keep the peace. Therefore they which keep silence, are well said to hold their peace, because silence oftentimes doth keep the peace, when words would break it.
As it becommeth her to keepe home, so it becommeth her to keep silence, and alway speake the best of her head. Other seeke their honour in triumph, but she must seeke her honour in reuerence, for 1it becommeth not any woman to set light by her husband, nor to publish his infirmities. For they ⟨p. 82⟩say, it is an euill bird that defileth his owne nest: and if a Wife vse her Husband so, how maye the Husband vse the Wife? Because this is the qualitie of that sex, to ouerthwart, and vpbraide, and sue the preheminence of their Husbands, therefore the Philosophers coulde not tell how to define a Wife, but called her The contrarie to a Husband, as though nothing 2were so crosse and contrarie to a man, as a Wife. This is not Scripture, but no slaunder to many. As Dauid exalteth the loue of women 3aboue all other loues; so Salomon mounteth the enuie of women aboue all other enuies, stubborne, sullen, taunting, gainsaying, outfacing, with such a bitter humour, that one would thinke they were molten out of the salt pillar into which Loths Wife was transformed. ⟨p. 83⟩4We say not, all are alike, but this sect hath manie Disciples. Dooth the ribbe that is in a mans side fret him, or gall him? no 5more should she which is made of the ribbe. Though a woman bee wise and painfull, and haue many good parts, yet if she bee a shrewe, her troublesome iarring in the end will make her honest behauiour vnpleasant, as her ouer pinching at last causeth her good huswiferie to be euill spoken off. Therefore although she be a Wife, yet sometime she must obserue the seruants lesson, Not answering againe, & hold 6her peace to keep the peace. Therfore they which keepe silence, are well sayd to holde their peace, because silence oftentimes doth keep the peace, when wordes would breake it.
- 1A wife may not utter her Husbands saults.A wife may not vtter her Husbāds saults.
- 2A Wife the contrary to a Husband.
- 32. Sam. 1. 26. Pro. 21. 19.
- 4Gen. 19. 26.
- 5Gen. 2. 20.
- 6Tit. 2. 9.
