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Go to the birds, and be not blindfolded, who build their neſt, lay their eggs before they hatch their young. Be not ſo fooliſh, as to have a child, before you have a wiſe, nor a wife before you have a houſe to hold her in.
4 Stuff thy houſe with all manner of furniture neceſſary for the family, marry thy wife in the pudding month, and thou ſhall have warmneſs all the winter.
5. Beware of running too faſt, leſt you come to fall, for the fair ſex have ſhort heels, and often fall backwards when hearing of the voice of wedlock, ſwooning away, for the joy of a relief long looked for; behold them not when they turn up their ten toes, leſt thou fail into the trap from whence there is no returning without committing great wickedneſs
6. But when thou goeſt to looſe a wiſe, wale her by the mouth as Mungo did his mare; for by her words you may know whether ſhe be a wiſe woman or a fool.
7. If ſhe be poor, proud, and prideful, turn the back of your hand to her, and your face to another for ſhe is the worſt pennyworth ever came into a poor man's pack ſheet, yea happy is he that goes home with the toom halter without her.
8 But if you chance to admire the charms of one who is black and lovely, decent and sweet, honeſt and virtuous, tho' never ſo poor; cleave thou unto her by all means, for ſuch a woman will hold thee as her head and huſband, then ſhalt thou reign as a king over thine own houſe, and all thy family shall be ſubject unto thee.
9 For if thou marry one who thinks herſelf wiſer than myſelf, ſhe will uſurp your authority, countermand thy orders, and hold thee more like her monkey han her huſband or maſter.
10 Keep not private company with a woman that is great ſinger, nor a girl who is game keek, for the rolling of the eye and the ſweetneſs of the voice encourage men to commit wickedneſs.
11. Take not a wife that is tear minded for ſuch
