as strong as his." [6202]Tigranes and Armena his lady were invited to
supper by King Cyrus: when they came home, Tigranes asked his wife, how she
liked Cyrus, and what she did especially commend in him? "she swore she did
not observe him; when he replied again, what then she did observe, whom she
looked on? She made answer, her husband, that said he would die for her
sake." Such are the properties and conditions of good women: and if she be
well given, she will so carry herself; if otherwise she be naught, use all
the means thou canst, she will be naught, _Non deest animus sed corruptor_,
she hath so many lies, excuses, as a hare hath muses, tricks, panders,
bawds, shifts, to deceive, 'tis to no purpose to keep her up, or to reclaim
her by hard usage. "Fair means peradventure may do somewhat." [6203]
_Obsequio vinces aptius ipse tuo._ Men and women are both in a predicament
in this behalf, no sooner won, and better pacified. _Duci volunt, non
cogi_: though she be as arrant a scold as Xanthippe, as cruel as Medea, as
clamorous as Hecuba, as lustful as Messalina, by such means (if at all) she
may be reformed. Many patient [6204]Grizels, by their obsequiousness in
this kind, have reclaimed their husbands from their wandering lusts. In
Nova Francia and Turkey (as Leah, Rachel, and Sarah did to Abraham and
Jacob) they bring their fairest damsels to their husbands' beds; Livia
seconded the lustful appetites of Augustus: Stratonice, wife to King
Diotarus, did not only bring Electra, a fair maid, to her good man's bed,
but brought up the children begot on her, as carefully as if they had been
her own. Tertius Emilius' wife, Cornelia's mother, perceiving her husband's
intemperance, _rem dissimulavit_, made much of the maid, and would take no
notice of it. A new-married man, when a pickthank friend of his, to curry
favour, had showed him his wife familiar in private with a young gallant,
courting and dallying, &c. Tush, said he, let him do his worst, I dare
trust my wife, though I dare not trust him. The best remedy then is by fair
means; if that will not take place, to dissemble it as I say, or turn it
off with a jest: hear Guexerra's advice in this case, _vel joco excipies,
vel silentio eludes_; for if you take exceptions at everything your wife
doth, Solomon's wisdom, Hercules' valour, Homer's learning, Socrates'
patience, Argus' vigilance, will not serve turn. Therefore _Minus malum_,
[6205]a less mischief, Nevisanus holds, _diss