Of An Heroical Answer Of A Great Roman Lady To Her Husband
A grave wise man that had a great rich lady,
Such as perhaps in these days found there may be,
Did think she played him false and more than think,
Save that in wisdom he thereat did wink.
Howbeit one time disposed to sport and play
Thus to his wife he pleasantly did say,
'Since strangers lodge their arrows in thy quiver,
Dear dame, I pray you yet the cause deliver,
If you can tell the cause and not dissemble,
How all our children me so much resemble?'
The lady blushed but yet this answer made
'Though I have used some traffic in the trade,
And must confess, as you have touched before,
My bark was sometimes sterred with your foreign oar,
Yet stowed I no man's stuff but first persuaded
The bottom with your ballast full was laded.'
The Author To His Wife, Of A Woman's Eloquence
My Mall, I mark that when you reach to prove me
To buy a velvet gown, or some rich border,
Thou call'st me good sweet heart, thou swear'st to love me,
Thy locks, thy lips, thy looks, speak all in order,
Thou think'st, and right thou think'st, that these do move me,
That all these severally thy suit do further:
But shall I tell thee what most thy suit advances?
Thy fair smooth words? no, no, the fair smooth haunches.
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