But in the conclusion we find it to be both fruitless and miserable, where the good woman goes to seek it by th’Apothecary; even as her husband doth out of the Oister and Eg-shels.

And if this will not do now; where shall the poor man hide his head next?  What shall he do more to please and pacifie her?  He thinks upon all the ways and means possible to entertain her to content.  If she will have costly things, he will buy them for her; and dissimulately saith that all what she practiseth for her content, is his only pleasure and delight:  yea, although her pride and ambition many times in several things flies too high, and oft-times also doth not happen to be very suitable with the constitution of the cash; he dares in no wise contradict her, for he fears that she will presently be at variance with him again:  And thinks in the interim, whilest her mind hangs upon these things, she forgets her maunding and mumbling for a child.  Still hoping that there will come one happy night, that may crown his earnest desires with fructivity; this it is that makes him that he dares not anger her or give her a sour countenance; fearing that if she might have conceived, that would be the means of turning the tide.

To be short, it is his only and greatest delight to see that his wife is well satisfied and receiveth her content and pleasure; which is very hard to be practised, so long as she is not with child.

But O what a joy there will be if he may be but once so happy as to hit that mark!  How will the first day of her reckoning to ly in stand in his Almanack, as if it were printed with a red Letter!  Well young people, be contented; Long look’d for comes at last to the satisfaction of the Master.

* * * * *

THE FIFTH PLEASURE.

The young Woman proves with Child, and longs.

The old Proverb tels us, that after the sour comes the sweet; and I find, jolly couple, that it is so with you also; for I hear finally that your wife is big with child:  Well what a Pleasure is that!  Certainly, now you see that all your Doctoring and medicining hath been to some purpose, and now you feel also that all herbs were made for some good effects.

How happy a thing it is that you have made use of a learned Doctor, and an experienced Midwife.  Now is the only time to be very carefull, for fear the least accident might turn the tide with the young woman, and so she get a mischance, or some other sad mishap; and a mischance is worse for her than a true Child-bearing; for that weakens nature abundantly, and oftentimes brings with it several sad consequences, & Thus the women talk.

[Illustration:  Folio 85. Published by The Navarre Society, London.]