A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the englishe tongue compacte in a matter concernyng two maner of mariages, made and set foorth by Iohn̄ Heywood.

¶The sixt chapiter.

YE haue (quoth I) in these conclusions founde Sundry thyngs, that veraie sauerly sounde. And bothe these long cases, being well vewde In one short question, we maie well inclewde Whiche is, whether best or wurst be to be ledde With ryches, without loue or beautie, to wedde: Or with beautee without rychesse for loue. This question (quoth he) inquerth all that I moue. It doth so (sayd I) and is nerely couched. But thanswere wil not so breuely be touched. And your selfe, to length it, taketh direct trade. For to all reasons, that I haue yet made, Ye seme more to seke reasons howe to contende, Than to the counsell of myne to condiscende. And to be playne, as I must with my freende, I perfitly feele euen at my fyngers eende.

So hard is your hand set on your halpeny: That my reasonyng your reason setteth nought by. But reason for reason, ye so styffely ley By prouerbe for prouerbe, that with you do wey, That reason onely shall herein nought moue you To here more than speake. wherfore I wil proue you With reason, assisted by experience. Whiche my selfe sawe, not long sens nor far hence. In a matter so like this fashond in frame, That none can be liker, it semthe euen the same. And in the same, as your selfe shall espy Eche sentence soothed with a prouerbe. welny, And at ende of the same, ye shall cleerely see Howe this short question shortly answerd maie bee. Ye mary (quoth he) now ye shoote ny the pricke. Practise in all, aboue all toucheth the quicke. Profe vpon practise, must take holde more sure, Than any reasonyng by gesse can procure. If ye bryng practise in place, without fablyng, I will banishe bothe haste and busy bablyng. And yet that promise to performe is mickell. For in this case my tong must oft tickell. Ye knowe well it is, as telth vs this olde tale, Meete, that a man be at his owne bridale. If he wyue well (quoth I) meete and good it were. Or els as good for hym an other were there. But for this your bridale I meane not in it, That silence shall suspend your speche euery whit, But in these mariages, whiche ye here meue, Sens this tale conteinth the counsell I can geue,

I wold se your eares attende with your tong, For aduise in bothe these weddyngs olde and yong. In whiche heryng, tyme seene when & what to talke, When your tong tyckleth, at will let it walke. And in these brydales, to the reasons of ours, Marke myne experyence in this case of yours.