Satyrical essayes characters and others. Or Accurate and quick descriptions, fitted to the life of their subiects. Iohn Stephens

CHARACTER. III. A good Husband

IS the second part of a good man: hee chalenges no more nor lesse from Art or Nature, then doth become his facultie, and giue comfort to his wife; so he doth not (by striuing to please) seeme low minded; nor by ouer-valuing his proper∣ties, proue a tyrant. His behaui∣our and discourse promise no more then he meanes, and may very well iustifie. Hee is not al∣together to bee chosen by the common weight, or standard; for his best parts be invisible. A good wife shal know him quick∣ly to bee worth her taking: for h••e enquires out her worthi∣nesse first. He is not therefore

put to much trouble of being denied twice: for if hee thinkes he can prevaile amisse, prevaile too soone, or not prevaile, be∣cause hee is too good; hee hath the modesty to refuse first: but otherwise, if opinion dares sus∣spect, and so refuse him first, hee may account it happinesse, be∣cause he was refused so soone: hauing (by that meanes) escaped one who could not discerne him. The honor of a good wife makes him no more vnpractised in the patience of a bad, then if hee conversed with her: so his ver∣tues be habituall, not enforced. The misery of a bad wife like∣wise hath no more ••nraged him to discredit all, then the worthi∣nesse of a good one hath moued him to bee an Idolater: So his blessing is, not to augment his curse, or curse his blessing. The

highest end of his marriage pre∣meditated, is to resolue how he may desire it without end. Hee feeles not the absence of youth by a decay in lust; but measures the approach of a crooked body by his entire affection. Hee nei∣ther deceiues himselfe with a foolish confidence, nor drawes a disadvantage to himselfe, by being distrustfull: for he may bee acquainted with those, to whom hee cannot safely com∣mit his wealth, much lesse his wiues honesty; but hee never suspects, before he be past suspi∣tion, and every thing be appa∣rant. Hee hath (notwithstan∣ding) no friend whom hee dares make his deputie. Hee seekes ra∣ther to bee well knowne, then commonly noted: for beeing knowne, hee cannot bee mista∣ken; but otherwise it is very

doubtfull. Hee hates not her, but hers; and that with a hope to make her detest herselfe, not bee divorced from him: for hee couets rather to bee daily amending her, then make a new hazard, or want resolution. Hee may dislike therefore his wiues humour, and loue her in the same quantitie. Hee cannot bee chosen, because a better is absent: for hee is himselfe, the president & the paterne. He can∣not therefore be refused, if he be well known: For being good, hee proues the best, and beeing so, the best Husband.