xantip. with a ryght good wyl.
Eula. This was my chyefe care, to kepe me alwayes in my housbandes
fauoure, that there shulde nothyng angre him I obserued his appetite and
pleasure I marked the tymes bothe whan he woulde be pleased and when he
wold be all byshrwed, as they tameth the Elephantes and Lyons or suche
beastes that can not be wonne by strēgth
xantyppa. Suche a beaste haue I at home.
Eula. Thei that goth vnto the Elephantes weare no white garmentes,
nor they that tame wylde bulles, weare no blasynge reedes, for experience
teacheth, that suche beastes bee madde with those colours, like as the
Tygers by the sound of tumbrels be made so wode, that thei plucke
theymself in peces. Also thei yt breake horses haue their
termes and theyr soundes theyr hadlynges, and other knackes to breake
their wyldnes, wyth all. Howe much more then is it oure duetyes that ye
wyues to use suche craftes toward our husbandes with whō all our lyfe
tyme wil we, nyl we is one house, and one bed.
xantip. furthwith your tale.
Eula, whē I had ones marked there thynges. I applied my selfe
unto hym, well ware not to displease him.
xantip. How could thou do that.
Eulalya. Fyrste in the ouerseynge my householde, which is the very
charge and cure of wyues, I wayted euer, not onely gyuynge hede that
nothing shoulde be forgotten or undoone, but that althynges should be as
he woulde haue it, wer it euer so small a trifle.
xā. wherin.
Eulalia. As thus. Yf mi good man had a fantasye to this thynge, or
to that thyng, or if he would haue his meate dressed on this fashion, or
that fashion.
xan. But howe couldest thou fashyon thye selfe after hys wyll and
mynde, that eyther woulde not be at home or elles be as freshe as a saulte
heryng.
Elali. Abyde a while. I come not at that yet, yf my husband wer
very sad at anye tyme, no time to speake to him. I laughed not nor tryfled
him as many a woman doth but I looked rufully and heauyly, for as a glasse
(if it be a true stone) representeth euer ye physnamy of hym
that loketh in it, so lykewyse it becommeth a wedded woman alway to agre
vnto the appetite of her husbande, that she be not mery whē he
murneth, nor dysposed to play whē he is sad. And if that at any time
he be waiward shrewshaken, either I pacyfye hym with faire wordes, or I
let hym alone, vntyll the wynd be ouerblowen gyuing him neuer a word at
al, vntil the time come that I may eyther excuse my faute, or tell hym of
hys. In lyke wyse when he commeth home wel whitled, I gyue hym gentyll and
fayre woordes, so with fayre entreatynge I gette hym to bed.
xantyppa, O careful state of wyues, whē they muste be gladde
and fayne to followe their husbandes mindes, be thei eluyshe, dronken, or
doying what myschiefe they liste.
Eula. As whoe saieth this gentill dealynge serueth not for bothe
partyes, for they spyte of theyr berdes muste suffre many thynges in our
demeanor, yet a time ther is, whē in a weighty matter it is laufull
that the wyfe tell the good mā his faute, if that it be matter of
substaunce, for at lyght trifles, it is best to play byll under wynge.
xantyp. what tune is that
Eula. when he is ydle, neither angry, pensife, nor ouersen, then
betwixt you two secretly he must be told his faute gētly, or rather
intreated, that in this thynge or that he play the better husbande to loke
better to his good name and fame and to his helth and this tellyng must be
myxt with mery conceites and pleasaunt wordes many times I make a meane to
tel my tale after this fashyon, that he shall promise me, he shal take no
displeasure wyth my thynge, that I a foolyshe woman shall breake vnto hym,
that pertayneth eyther to hys helthe worshyppe or welth. When I haue sayde
that I woulde, I chop cleane from that communication and falle into some
other pastime, for this is all our fautes, neyghbour Xantippa, that whē
we begyn ones to chat our tounges neuer lie.