And again he subjoins the like:
"And that the wife should sweetly look sad with her husband,
Should aught evil befall him,
And have in common a share of sorrow and joy."
Then, describing her as gentle and kind even in misfortunes, he adds:
"And I, when you are ill, will, sharing your sickness, bear it;
And I will bear my share in your misfortunes."
And:
"Nothing is bitter to me,
For with friends one ought to be happy,
For what else is friendship but this?"
The marriage, then, that is consummated according to the word, is sanctified, if the union be under subjection to God, and be conducted "with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and the body washed with pure water, and holding the confession of hope; for He is faithful that promised." And the happiness of marriage ought never to be estimated either by wealth or beauty, but by virtue.
"Beauty," says the tragedy,
"Helps no wife with her husband;
But virtue has helped many; for every good wife
Who is attached to her husband knows how to practise sobriety."
Then, as giving admonitions, he says:
"First, then, this is incumbent on her who is endowed with mind,
That even if her husband be ugly, he must appear good-looking;
For it is for the mind, not the eye, to judge."
And so forth.
For with perfect propriety Scripture has said that woman is given by God as "an help" to man. It is evident, then, in my opinion, that she will charge herself with remedying, by good sense and persuasion, each of the annoyances that originate with her husband in domestic economy. And if he do not yield, then she will endeavour, as far as possible for
