imulare_, to be [6206]_Cunarum
emptor_, a buyer of cradles, as the proverb is, than to be too solicitous.
[6207]"A good fellow, when his wife was brought to bed before her time,
bought half a dozen of cradles beforehand for so many children, as if his
wife should continue to bear children every two months." [6208]Pertinax the
Emperor, when one told him a fiddler was too familiar with his empress,
made no reckoning of it. And when that Macedonian Philip was upbraided with
his wife's dishonesty, _cum tot victor regnorum ac populorum esset_, &c., a
conqueror of kingdoms could not tame his wife (for she thrust him out of
doors), he made a jest of it. _Sapientes portant cornua in pectore, stulti
in fronte_, saith Nevisanus, wise men bear their horns in their hearts,
fools on their foreheads. Eumenes, king of Pergamus, was at deadly feud
with Perseus of Macedonia, insomuch that Perseus hearing of a journey he
was to take to Delphos, [6209]set a company of soldiers to intercept him in
his passage; they did it accordingly, and as they supposed left him stoned
to death. The news of this fact was brought instantly to Pergamus; Attalus,
Eumenes' brother, proclaimed himself king forthwith, took possession of the
crown, and married Stratonice the queen. But by-and-by, when contrary news
was brought, that King Eumenes was alive, and now coming to the city, he
laid by his crown, left his wife, as a private man went to meet him, and
congratulate his return. Eumenes, though he knew all particulars passed,
yet dissembling the matter, kindly embraced his brother, and took his wife
into his favour again, as if on such matter had been heard of or done.
Jocundo, in Ariosto, found his wife in bed with a knave, both asleep, went
his ways, and would not so much as wake them, much less reprove them for
it. [6210]An honest fellow finding in like sort his wife had played false
at tables, and borne a man too many, drew his dagger, and swore if he had
not been his very friend, he would have killed him. Another hearing one had
done that for him, which no man desires to be done by a deputy, followed in
a rage with his sword drawn, and having overtaken him, laid adultery to his
charge; the offender hotly pursued, confessed it was true; with which
confession he was satisfied, and so left him, swearing that if he had
denied it, he would not have put it up. How much better is it to do thus,
than to macerate himself, impatiently to rave and rage, to enter an a