Thus can they cunningly counterfeit, as [6105]Platina describes their customs, “kiss their husbands, whom they had rather see hanging on a gallows, and swear they love him dearer than their own lives, whose soul they would not ransom for their little dog’s,”

------“similis si permutatio detur,
Morte viri cupiunt aniniani servare catellae.”

Many of them seem to be precise and holy forsooth, and will go to such a [6106]church, to hear such a good man by all means, an excellent man, when ’tis for no other intent (as he follows it) than “to see and to be seen, to observe what fashions are in use, to meet some pander, bawd, monk, friar, or to entice some good fellow.”  For they persuade themselves, as [6107] Nevisanus shows, “That it is neither sin nor shame to lie with a lord or parish priest, if he be a proper man;” [6108]"and though she kneel often, and pray devoutly, ’tis” (saith Platina) “not for her husband’s welfare, or children’s good, or any friend, but for her sweetheart’s return, her pander’s health.”  If her husband would have her go, she feigns herself sick, [6109]_Et simulat subito condoluisse caput_:  her head aches, and she cannot stir:  but if her paramour ask as much, she is for him in all seasons, at all hours of the night. [6110]In the kingdom of Malabar, and about Goa in the East Indies, the women are so subtile that, with a certain drink they give them to drive away cares as they say, [6111]"they will make them sleep for twenty-four hours, or so intoxicate them that they can remember nought of that they saw done, or heard, and, by washing of their feet, restore them again, and so make their husbands cuckolds to their faces.”  Some are ill-disposed at all times, to all persons they like, others more wary to some few, at such and such seasons, as Augusta, Livia, non nisi plena navi vectorem tollebat.  But as he said,

[6112] “No pen could write, no tongue attain to tell,
        By force of eloquence, or help of art,
        Of women’s treacheries the hundredth part.”

Both, to say truth, are often faulty; men and women give just occasions in this humour of discontent, aggravate and yield matter of suspicion:  but most part of the chief causes proceed from other adventitious accidents and circumstances, though the parties be free, and both well given themselves.  The indiscreet carriage of some lascivious gallant (et e contra of some light woman) by his often frequenting of a house, bold unseemly gestures, may make a breach, and by his over-familiarity, if he be inclined to yellowness, colour him quite out.  If he be poor, basely born, saith Beneditto Varchi, and otherwise unhandsome, he suspects him the less; but if a proper man, such as was Alcibiades in Greece, and Castruccius Castrucanus in Italy, well descended, commendable for his good parts, he taketh on the more, and watcheth his doings. [6113]Theodosius the emperor gave his wife Eudoxia a golden apple when he was a suitor to