oncubines, as the Swiss soldiers do
now commonly their wives. But, because this course is not generally
approved, but rather contradicted as unlawful and abhorred, [5923]in most
countries they do much encourage them to marriage, give great rewards to
such as have many children, and mulct those that will not marry, _Jus trium
liberorum_, and in Agellius, _lib. 2. cap. 15._ Elian. _lib. 6. cap. 5._
Valerius, _lib. 1. cap. 9._ [5924]We read that three children freed the
father from painful offices, and five from all contribution. "A woman shall
be saved by bearing children." Epictetus would have all marry, and as
[5925]Plato will, _6 de legibus_, he that marrieth not before 35 years of
his age, must be compelled and punished, and the money consecrated to
[5926]Juno's temple, or applied to public uses. They account him, in some
countries, unfortunate that dies without a wife, a most unhappy man, as
[5927]Boethius infers, and if at all happy, yet _infortunio felix_, unhappy
in his supposed happiness. They commonly deplore his estate, and much
lament him for it: O, my sweet son, &c. See Lucian, _de Luctu_, Sands _fol.
83_, &c.

Yet, notwithstanding, many with us are of the opposite part, they are
married themselves, and for others, let them burn, fire and flame, they
care not, so they be not troubled with them. Some are too curious, and some
too covetous, they may marry when they will both for ability and means, but
so nice, that except as Theophilus the emperor was presented, by his mother
Euprosune, with all the rarest beauties of the empire in the great chamber
of his palace at once, and bid to give a golden apple to her he liked best.
If they might so take and choose whom they list out of all the fair maids
their nation affords, they could happily condescend to marry: otherwise,
&c., why should a man marry, saith another epicurean rout, what's matrimony
but a matter of money? why should free nature be entrenched on, confined or
obliged, to this or that man or woman, with these manacles of body and
goods? &c. There are those too that dearly love, admire and follow women
all their lives long, _sponsi Penelopes_, never well but in their company,
wistly gazing on their beauties, observing close, hanging after them,
dallying still with them, and yet dare not, will not marry. Many poor
people, and of the meaner sort, are too distrustful of God's providence,
"they will not, dare not for such worldly respects," fear of want, woes,