Fifty Godly and Learned Sermons (The Decades)

And keeps her husbands secrets close, when friends work wily guiles.

And keeps her husbāds secrets cloase, when friends worke wilie guiles.

For like as a man having one hand or one foot, if by any means he get himself an other, may thereby the more easily lay hold on what he listeth, or go whether he will: even so he that hath married a wife, shall more easily enjoy the healthful pleasures and profitable commodities of this present life. For married folks, for two eyes have four, & for two hands as many more, which being joined together, they may the more easily dispatch their handy businesses: again, when the ones two hands are wearied the hands of the other supply their room, & keep their work in a forwardness still. Marriage therefore, which in stead of one member is by increase compact of twain, is better able to pass thorough the course of this world, than the single and unwedded life. Thus much out of Antipater. Hierocles also in his book de Nuptiis saith: To live with a woman is very profitable, even beside the begetting of children. For first she doth welcome us home that are tired abroad with labour and travail, she entertaineth us serviceably, and doth all she may to recreate ou•e weary minds. She maketh us forget all sorrow and sadness. For the troublesome cases of our life, and generally of care and business, while we are occupied in matters abroad, in bargaining in the country, or among our friends, are not easily suffered to be troubled with our domesticall and household affairs: but when we have dispatched them and are once returned to our wives at home, so that our minds are at quiet, & we restored to our ease and liberty, then are our cumbersome businesses well lightened & eased, whereby they cease to trouble us any longer. Neither is a wife troublesome undoubtedly, but lighteneth things that are troublesome to us. For there is nothing so heavy, that man and wife living in concord are not able to bear, especially if they be both willing to do their endeavour. And so forth.

For like as a man hauing one hand or one foote, if by any meanes hee get himselfe an other, may thereby the more easilie lay hold on what hee listeth, or go whether he wil: euen so he that hath married a wife, shall more easilie enioy the healthfull pleasures and profitable commodities of this present life. For married folkes, for two eyes haue foure, & for two hands as many more, which being ioyned together, they maye the more easilie dispatche their handie businesses: againe, when the ones two handes are wearied the handes of the other supplie their roome, & kepe their worke in a forwardnesse still. Mariage therfore, which in steede of one member is by increase cōpact of twaine, is better able to passe thorough the course of this world, than the single and vnwedded life. Thus much out of Antipater. Hierocles also in his booke de Nuptiis saith: To liue with a woman is verie profitable, euen beside the begetting of children. For first she doth welcome vs hoame that are tyred abroad with labour and traueile, shee interteyneth vs seruiceablie, and doth all shee maye to recreate oue wearie mindes. She maketh vs forget all sorrowe and sadnesse. For the troublesom cases of our life, and generallie of care and busines, while wee are occupied in matters abroade, in bargayning in the countrie, or amonge oure friends, are not easilie suffered to bee troubled with oure domesticall and houshold affayres: but when we haue dispatched them and are once retourned to our wiues at home, so that our minds are at quiet, & we restoared to our ease and libertie, then are our cō bersome businesses well lightened & eased, whereby they ceasse to trouble vs any longer. Neither is a wife troublesome vndoubtedly, but lighteneth things that are troublesom to vs. For there is nothing so heauie, that man and wife liuing in concord are not able to beare, especiallie if they bee both willinge to doe their indeuour. And so forth.