made
him a cornuto. Menelaus gave good welcome to Paris a stranger, his whole
house and family were at his command, but he ungently stole away his best
beloved wife. The like measure was offered to Agis king of Lacedaemon, by
[6293] Alcibiades an exile, for his good entertainment, he was too familiar
with Timea his wife, begetting a child of her, called Leotichides: and
bragging moreover when he came home to Athens, that he had a son should be
king of the Lacedaemonians. If such objects were removed, no doubt but the
parties might easily be satisfied, or that they could use them gently and
entreat them well, not to revile them, scoff at, hate them, as in such
cases commonly they do, 'tis a human infirmity, a miserable vexation, and
they should not add grief to grief, nor aggravate their misery, but seek to
please, and by all means give them content, by good counsel, removing such
offensive objects, or by mediation of some discreet friends. In old Rome
there was a temple erected by the matrons to that [6294]_Viriplaca Dea_,
another to Venus _verticorda, quae maritos uxoribus reddebat benevolos_,
whither (if any difference happened between man and wife) they did
instantly resort: there they did offer sacrifice, a white hart, Plutarch
records, _sine felle_, without the gall, (some say the like of Juno's
temple) and make their prayers for conjugal peace; before some [6295]
indifferent arbitrators and friends, the matter was heard between man and
wife, and commonly composed. In our times we want no sacred churches, or
good men to end such controversies, if use were made, of them. Some say
that precious stone called [6296]beryllus, others a diamond, hath excellent
virtue, _contra hostium injurias, et conjugatos invicem conciliare_, to
reconcile men and wives, to maintain unity and love; you may try this when
you will, and as you see cause. If none of all these means and cautions
will take place, I know not what remedy to prescribe, or whither such
persons may go for ease, except they can get into the same [6297]Turkey
paradise, "Where they shall have as many fair wives as they will
themselves, with clear eyes, and such as look on none but their own
husbands," no fear, no danger of being cuckolds; or else I would have them
observe that strict rule of [6298]Alphonsus, to marry a deaf and dumb man
to a blind woman. If this will not help, let them, to prevent the worst,
consult with an [6299]astrologer, and see whether the signific