Sociable Letters 235 



citizens, magistrates, nor commanders, but rather fit 

 to be set in the fore-fronts of battels to be destroyed, 

 or to fill up breaches, being but rubbish; but then 

 you will say, this were the way to destroy most men 

 in the world, the truth is, if it were not for such men 

 and ravenous beasts, the world would be rather a 

 heaven than a world. But leaving them and beasts, 



I rest. Madam, 

 Your faithful friend and servant. 



ON SIR W. C.'S WIFE AND HER SINGULAR 



DISCRETION 



Madam, — Sir W. C.'s wife you know hath a con- 

 versable and ingenious wit, yet not being very hand- 

 som, her husband hath got him a mistress, who is 

 very beautiful and handsom, but yet she is a fool; 

 a friend of his asked him why he chose a fool for his 

 mistress ? He said, he did not court her for her wit, 

 but for her beauty; for, said he, now I have a mistress 

 for delight, and a wife for conversation, I have a 

 mistress to look on, and admire, and a wife to listen 

 to and discourse with, and both to embrace at mv 

 pleasure. But, said his friend, if your wife should 

 come to know you have a mistress you will not take 

 much pleasure in her conversation, unless you account 

 mourning complaints of, or to you, exclamations and 

 curses against you, cross speeches, opposite actions, 

 and hideous noise, to be conversable and delightful; 

 for the truth is, said he, your wife's words will be so 

 salt, sharp, and bitter, as they will corrode your mind, 

 leaven up your thoughts, and make your life unpleas- 

 ant. My wife, said Sir W. C, shall not know I have a 

 mistress; his friend replied, your often absence will 



