you with that I have said to you, for all be semblable in malice.”  And he said, “Whosoever will acquire and get science, let him never put him in the governance of a woman.”  And he saw a woman that made her fresh and gay, to whom he said, “Thou resemblest the fire; for the more wood is laid to the fire the more will it burn, and the greater is the heat.”  And on a time one asked him what him semed of women; he answered that the women resemble a tree called Edelfla, which is the fairest tree to behold and see that may be, but within it is full of venom.  And they said to him and demanded wherefore he blamed so women? and that he himself had not come into this world, ne none other men also, without them.  He answered, “The woman is like unto a tree named Chassoygnet, on which tree there be many things sharp and pricking, which hurt and prick them that approach unto it; and yet, nevertheless, that same tree bringeth forth good dates and sweet.”  And they demanded him why he fled from the women?  And he answered, “Forasmuch as I see them flee and eschew the good and commonly do evil.”  And a woman said to him, “Wilt thou have any other woman than me?” And he answered to her, “Art not ashamed to offer thyself to him that demandeth nor desireth thee not?”

So, these be the dictes and sayings of the philosopher Socrates, which he wrote in his book; and certainly he wrote no worse than afore is rehearsed.  And forasmuch as it is accordant that his dictes and sayings should be had as well as others’, therefore I have set it in the end of this book.  And also some persons, peradventure, that have read this book in French would have arette a great default in me that I had not done my devoir in visiting and overseeing of my Lord’s book according to his desire.  And some other also, haply, might have supposed that Socrates had written much more ill of women than here afore is specified, wherefore in satisfying of all parties, and also for excuse of the said Socrates, I have set these said dictes and sayings apart in the end of this book, to the intent that if my said lord or any other person, whatsoever he or she be that shall read or hear it, that if they be not well pleased withal, that they with a pen race it out, or else rend the leaf out of the book.  Humbly requiring and beseeching my said lord to take no displeasure on me so presuming, but to pardon whereas he shall find fault; and that it please him to take the labour of the imprinting in gree and thanks, which gladly have done my diligence in the accomplishing of his desire and commandment; in which I am bounden so to do for the good reward that I have received of his said lordship; whom I beseech Almighty God to increase and to continue in his virtuous disposition in this world, and after this life to live everlastingly in Heaven.  Amen.

GOLDEN LEGEND.

FIRST EDITION (1483).  PROLOGUE