wise
man's eye and judgment they get by their plainness, and seem fairer than
they that are set out with baubles, as a butcher's meat is with pricks,
puffed up, and adorned like so many jays with variety of colours. It is
reported of Cornelia, that virtuous Roman lady, great Scipio's daughter,
Titus Sempronius' wife, and the mother of the Gracchi, that being by chance
in company with a companion, a strange gentlewoman (some light housewife
belike, that was dressed like a May lady, and, as most of our gentlewomen
are, "was [5037]more solicitous of her head-tire than of her health, that
spent her time between a comb and a glass, and had rather be fair than
honest" (as Cato said), "and have the commonwealth turned topsy-turvy than
her tires marred;" and she did nought but brag of her fine robes and
jewels, and provoked the Roman matron to show hers: Cornelia kept her in
talk till her children came from school, and these, said she, are my
jewels, and so deluded and put off a proud, vain, fantastical, housewife.
How much better were it for our matrons to do as she did, to go civilly and
decently, [5038]_Honestae mulieris instar quae utitur auro pro eo quod est,
ad ea tantum quibus opus est_, to use gold as it is gold, and for that use
it serves, and when they need it, than to consume it in riot, beggar their
husbands, prostitute themselves, inveigle others, and peradventure damn
their own souls? How much more would it be for their honour and credit?
Thus doing, as Hierom said of Blesilla, [5039]"Furius did not so triumph
over the Gauls, Papyrius of the Samnites, Scipio of Numantia, as she did by
her temperance;" _pulla semper veste_, &c., they should insult and domineer
over lust, folly, vainglory, all such inordinate, furious and unruly
passions.

But I am over tedious, I confess, and whilst I stand gaping after fine
clothes, there is another great allurement, (in the world's eye at least)
which had like to have stolen out of sight, and that is money, _veniunt a
dote sagittae_, money makes the match; [5040][Greek: Monon arguron
blepousin]: 'tis like sauce to their meat, _cum carne condimentum_, a good
dowry with a wife. Many men if they do hear but of a great portion, a rich
heir, are more mad than if they had all the beauteous ornaments, and those
good parts art and nature can afford, they [5041]care not for honesty,
bringing up, birth, beauty, person, but for money.

[5042] "Canes et equos (o Cyrne) quaerimus
Nob