OF MARRIAGE AND SINGLE LIFE 17 



humanity ; and single men, though they may be many 

 times more charitable, because their means are less exhaust, 

 yet, on the other side, they are more cruel and hardhearted 

 (good to make severe inquisitors), because their tenderness 

 is not so oft called upon. 



Grave natures, led by custom, and therefore constant, 

 are commonly loving husbands ; as was said of Ulysses, 

 vetulam suam praetulit immortalitati. Chaste women are 

 often proud and fro ward, as presuming upon the merit 

 of their chastity. It is one of the best bonds both 

 of chastity and obedience in the wife, if she think her 

 husband wise ; which she will never do if she find him 

 jealous. * Wives are young men's mistresses ; companions 

 for middle age ; and old men's nurses? So as a man 

 may have a quarrel to marry when he will. But yet he 

 was reputed one of the wise men, that made answer to 

 the question, when a man should marry? * A young man 

 not yet, an elder man not at all.' It is often seen that 

 bad husbands have very good wives ; whether it be that it 

 raiseth the price of their husband's kindness when it conies; 

 or that the wives take a pride in their patience. But this 

 never fails, if the bad husbands were of their own choosing, 

 against their friends' consent ; for then they will be sure to 

 make good their own folly. 



IX 



OF ENVY 



THERE be none of the affections which have been noted 

 to fascinate or bewitch, but love and envy. They both 

 have vehement wishes ; they frame themselves readily into 

 imaginations and suggestions ; and they come easily into 

 the eye, especially upon the presence of the objects ; which 

 are the points that conduce to fascination, if any such thing 

 there be. We see likewise the scripture calleth envy an 

 evil eye ; and the astrologers call the evil influences of the 

 stars evil aspects ; so that still there seemeth to be acknow- 



