To the Reader. 161 
69. 
"| 7o the Reader. 
I OW listen, good huswiues, what dooings are here 
set foorth for a daie, as it should for a yere. 
Both easie to follow, and soone to atchiue, 
for such as by huswiferie looketh to thriue. 
2 The forenoone affaires, till dinner (with some, ) 
then after noone dooings, till supper time come. 
With breakfast and dinner time, sup, and to bed, 
standes orderlie placed, to quiet thine hed. 
3 The meaning is this, for a daie what ye see, 
that monthlie and yeerlie continued must bee. 
And hereby to gather (as prooue I intend), 
that huswiuelie matters haue neuer an end. 
4 I haue not, by heare say, nor reading in booke, 
set out (peraduenture) that some cannot brooke, 
Nor yet of a spite, to be dooing with enie, 
but such as haue skared me many a penie. 
5 If widow, both huswife and husband may be, 
what cause hath a widower lesser than she ? 
Tis needfull that both of them looke well about: 
too careles within, and too lasie without. 
6 Now therefore, if well ye consider of this, 
what losses and crosses comes dailie amis. 
Then beare with a widowers pen as ye may: 
though husband of huswiferie somewhat doth say. 
1 “¢ First introduced in the edition of 1580” (M.). 
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