The Ten Pleasures of Marriage: and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married CoupleMarsh, A.
General
The Ten Pleasures of Marriage: and the Second Part, The Confession of the New Married Couple
Marsh, A.
Marriage
And the Wife, perceiving that her husband is so sneaking, and forsooth
so circumspect, with subtilety contrives and practises how to make him
pay out mony for all what she hath any waies a mind to; by that means
making her self Mistriss of the Mony-Chest, beyond his knowledge,
though he hath the name, and carries the keys in his Pocket: for if
she have a mind to new Stays for her self or daughter; away she goes
to a Silk-shop, buies Stuf to her mind, and causeth it to be made as
modish as possible may be; and having tried that it fits and pleases
her fancy fully; then it is brought home by one or other of her trusty
acquaintance, who come at a convenient time appointed, just like some
petty Brokester, proffering it forsooth in sale to the Mistriss, and
tilling her a relation that it was really made for such a Lady, but
that she died whilest it was making; and for that reason it may be had
for a very low price; yea, that it is such a cheap bargain, that
perhaps the like may not be had again this ten years, &c.
Thus the good wife knows rarely well how to play her part, and begins
to reckon how many ells of Stuff, how much for lining, and the making
thereof would come to cost: so that her husband, by reason of the
cheapness is curious of himself to desire her to try it on; and
finally, sees that it fits her, as if it had been made for her. To be
short, after much cheapning and bargaining, the price is concluded on,
though it be against the husbands stomack, or the Cash wel can bear
it; and then the Broker is ordered when she hath such or the like
other good bargain to come again, and let them see it.
In this manner the Wife fetches about by the by as much as she can,
and hoodwinking her husband e'en as she pleases; for at other times
there comes to be sold Table-cloaths, Napkins, and then again Coats,
Sheets, Blankets, and all sorts of necessaries for housekeeping and
habit, from some Gentlewoman or other that its left to, by the decease
of some friend, &c.
Insomuch that the Wife, through the niggardliness of her husband,
imbezles away and buies more, then otherwise she would do; making it
all her delight and sole pleasure, to blind fold her narrow-soul'd
Peep in the Pot, (as she calls him;) although she, by these waies and
means, doth jestingly consume her own self. But this belongs also to
the Pleasures of Marriage. And if it in the conclusion prove to be a
pain, patience is the best remedy.
But be merry, O new married Couple, that you, like unto young _Toby_,
have found out the remedy, how to drive away this Devil-Plaguer of
your Wedlock; by living in love and tranquility, equally confiding in
each other, desiring no superiority; but with a true cordiality,
interchangeably granting, and having each alike freedom of the monies;
the Husband hath the keeping and government of the keys, and the Wife
wants for no mony; nay hath access also her self to it. Who can doubt
but that your family will be blest, and your stock of monies increase.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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