Haec forsan veniet non satis apta tibi. [5796]If young, she is likely wanton and untaught; if lusty, too lascivious; and if she be not satisfied, you know where and when, nil nisi jurgia, all is in an uproar, and there is little quietness to be had; If an old maid, ’tis a hazard she dies in childbed; if a [5797]rich widow, induces te in laqueum, thou dost halter thyself, she will make all away beforehand, to her other children, &c.—­[5798]_dominam quis possit ferre tonantem_? she will hit thee still in the teeth with her first husband; if a young widow, she is often insatiable and immodest.  If she be rich, well descended, bring a great dowry, or be nobly allied, thy wife’s friends will eat thee out of house and home, dives ruinam aedibus inducit, she will be so proud, so high-minded, so imperious.  For—­nihil est magis intolerabile dite, “there’s nothing so intolerable,” thou shalt be as the tassel of a goshawk, [5799]"she will ride upon thee, domineer as she list,” wear the breeches in her oligarchical government, and beggar thee besides. Uxores divites servitutem exigunt (as Seneca hits them, declam. lib. 2. declam. 6.)—­Dotem accepi imperium perdidi.  They will have sovereignty, pro conjuge dominam arcessis, they will have attendance, they will do what they list. [5800]In taking a dowry thou losest thy liberty, dos intrat, libertas exit, hazardest thine estate.

       “Hae sunt atque aliae multae in magnis dotibus
        Incommoditates, sumptusque intolerabiles,” &c.

“with many such inconveniences:”  say the best, she is a commanding servant; thou hadst better have taken a good housewife maid in her smock.  Since then there is such hazard, if thou be wise keep thyself as thou art, ’tis good to match, much better to be free.

[5801] “—­procreare liberos lepidissimum. 
        Hercle vero liberum esse, id multo est lepidius.”

[5802]Art thou young? then match not yet; if old, match not at all.

       “Vis juvenis nubere? nondum venit tempus. 
        Ingravescente aetate jam tempus praeteriit.”

And therefore, with that philosopher, still make answer to thy friends that importune thee to marry, adhuc intempestivum, ’tis yet unseasonable, and ever will be.

Consider withal how free, how happy, how secure, how heavenly, in respect, a single man is, [5803]as he said in the comedy, Et isti quod fortunatum esse autumant, uxorem nunquam habui, and that which all my neighbours admire and applaud me for, account so great a happiness, I never had a wife; consider how contentedly, quietly, neatly, plentifully, sweetly, and how merrily he lives! he hath no man to care for but himself, none to please, no charge, none to control him, is tied to no residence, no cure to serve, may go and come, when, whither, live where he will, his own master, and do what he list himself.  Consider the excellency of virgins, [5804] Virgo coelum meruit, marriage replenisheth the earth, but virginity Paradise; Elias, Eliseus, John Baptist, were bachelors:  virginity is a precious jewel, a fair garland, a never-fading flower; [5805]for why was Daphne turned to a green bay-tree, but to show that virginity is immortal?