ction
(as Arnoldus Tilius did in the court of Toulouse, against Martin Guerre his
fellow-soldier, for that he counterfeited his habit, and was too familiar
with his wife), so to divulge his own shame, and to remain for ever a
cuckold on record? how much better be Cornelius Tacitus than Publius
Cornutus, to condemn in such cases, or take no notice of it? _Melius sic
errare, quam Zelotypiae curis_, saith Erasmus, _se conficere_, better be a
wittol and put it up, than to trouble himself to no purpose. And though he
will not _omnibus dormire_, be an ass, as he is an ox, yet to wink at it as
many do is not amiss at some times, in some cases, to some parties, if it
be for his commodity, or some great man's sake, his landlord, patron,
benefactor, (as Calbas the Roman saith [6211]Plutarch did by Maecenas, and
Phayllus of Argos did by King Philip, when he promised him an office on
that condition he might lie with his wife) and so let it pass:

[6212] "pol me haud poenitet,
Scilicet boni dimidium dividere cum Jove,"

"it never troubles me" (saith Amphitrio) "to be cornuted by Jupiter," let
it not molest thee then; be friends with her;

[6213] "Tu cum Alcmena uxore antiquam in gratiam
Redi"------

"Receive Alcmena to your grace again;" let it, I say, make no breach of
love between you. Howsoever the best way is to contemn it, which
[6214]Henry II. king of France advised a courtier of his, jealous of his
wife, and complaining of her unchasteness, to reject it, and comfort
himself; for he that suspects his wife's incontinency, and fears the Pope's
curse, shall never live a merry hour, or sleep a quiet night: no remedy but
patience. When all is done according to that counsel of [6215]Nevisanus,
_si vitium uxoris corrigi non potest, ferendum est_: if it may not be
helped, it must be endured. _Date veniam et sustinete taciti_, 'tis
Sophocles' advice, keep it to thyself, and which Chrysostom calls
_palaestram philosophiae, et domesticum gymnasium_ a school of philosophy,
put it up. There is no other cure but time to wear it out, _Injuriarum
remedium est oblivio_, as if they had drunk a draught of Lethe in
Trophonius' den: to conclude, age will bereave her of it, dies _dolorem
minuit_, time and patience must end it.

[6216] "The mind's affections patience will appease,
It passions kills, and healeth each disease."

SUBSECT. II.--_By prevention before, or after Marriage, Plato's Community,
marry a Courtesa