=Ma.= The common sort calleth mariage an halter. =Pam.= Now on my fayth they are well worthie an halter that so termeth it. Tell me I praye you is not your soule bounde vnto your body? =Ma.= I thinke so. =Pam.= Yea surely euen as a bird vnto hir cage, & yet if ye should aske him the question, whether he would bée loosed or no, I suppose he would saye nay. And why so? bicause he is willinglie and gladlie bounde therevnto. =Ma.= We haue little to take to neither of vs both. =Pam.= So much the lesse indaungered to fortune are wee, that little you shall encrease at home wyth sauing, which as they counteruayleth a great reuenue, and I abroad with diligence. =Ma.= An houshold of children bringeth innumerable cares. =Pam.= On the other side agayne, the same children bringeth infinite pleasures, and oftentimes requiteth the parentes naturall paines to the vttermost, with great ouerplusse. =Ma.= Then to lead a barren life in marriage is a great miserie. =Pam.= Why are you not now barraine? tell me whether had ye rather neuer be borne, or borne to die. =Ma.= Certes I had rather be borne to die. =Pam.= So that barrainnesse is yet more miserable which neyther hadde, nor shall haue child, euen as they be more happie which haue alreadie lyued, then they which neuer haue, nor shall hereafter be borne to liue. =Ma.= And what be those, I praye you which neyther are, nor shall be. =Pam.= For he that cannot finde in his hart to suffer and abide the chaunges, & chaunces, whervnto all we indifferently be subiect, as well men of poore estate, as Kings, & Emperours, he is not to dwell here, let him get him out of this worlde. And yet, whatsoeuer shal mischaunce vnto vs two, yours shoulde be but the one halfe thereof, the greater parte I will alwaies take vnto mine owne selfe. So that if anie good thing doe happen vnto vs oure pleasure shall be dubble if anye euill betide vs, you shall haue but the one halfe of the griefe, and I the other. As for my selfe, if God so woulde, it were vnto me a pleasure, euen to ende my life in your armes. =Ma.= Men can better sustaine and beare with y^t which chaunceth according to the common course and rule of nature. For I sée that some parentes are more troubled wyth their childrens euill manners, than with their naturall deathes. =Pam.= To preuent such misfortune, that it happen not vnto vs, it resteth for the most part in our power. =Ma.= How so? =Pam.= For commonly parentes, which bée good and vertuous, haue good & vertuous children, I meane as concerning their natural disposition, for doues do not hatch Puthockes: wherefore we will first indeuour to bée good our selues, and oure next care shall bée, that our children may euen from the mothers brest, be seasoned with vertuous counsails, and right opinions, for it skilleth not a little what licour you poure into a newe vessell at the first. Finallye, we shall prouide that they may haue euen at home in our house a good example of lyfe to followe.