on his back.  What with shoe-ties, hangers, points, caps and feathers, scarves, bands, curls, &c., in a short space their whole patrimonies are consumed.  Heliogabalus is taxed by Lampridius, and admired in his age for wearing jewels in his shoes, a common thing in our times, not for emperors and princes, but almost for serving men and tailors; all the flowers, stars, constellations, gold and precious stones do condescend to set out their shoes.  To repress the luxury of those Roman matrons, there was [5031]Lex Valeria and Oppia, and a Cato to contradict; but no laws will serve to repress the pride and insolency of our days, the prodigious riot in this kind.  Lucullus’s wardrobe is put down by our ordinary citizens; and a cobbler’s wife in Venice, a courtesan in Florence, is no whit inferior to a queen, if our geographers say true:  and why is all this?  “Why do they glory in their jewels” (as [5032]he saith) “or exult and triumph in the beauty of clothes? why is all this cost? to incite men the sooner to burning lust.”  They pretend decency and ornament; but let them take heed, that while they set out their bodies they do not damn their souls; ’tis [5033]Bernard’s counsel:  “shine in jewels, stink in conditions; have purple robes, and a torn conscience.”  Let them take heed of Isaiah’s prophecy, that their slippers and attires be not taken from them, sweet balls, bracelets, earrings, veils, wimples, crisping-pins, glasses, fine linen, hoods, lawns, and sweet savours, they become not bald, burned, and stink upon a sudden.  And let maids beware, as [5034]Cyprian adviseth, “that while they wander too loosely abroad, they lose not their virginities:”  and like Egyptian temples, seem fair without, but prove rotten carcases within.  How much better were it for them to follow that good counsel of Tertullian? [5035]"To have their eyes painted with chastity, the Word of God inserted into their ears, Christ’s yoke tied to the hair, to subject themselves to their husbands.  If they would do so, they should be comely enough, clothe themselves with the silk of sanctity, damask of devotion, purple of piety and chastity, and so painted, they shall have God himself to be a suitor:  let whores and queans prank up themselves, [5036]let them paint their faces with minion and ceruse, they are but fuels of lust, and signs of a corrupt soul:  if ye be good, honest, virtuous, and religious matrons, let sobriety, modesty and chastity be your honour, and God himself your love and desire.” Mulier recte olet, ubi nihil olet, then a woman smells best, when she hath no perfume at all; no crown, chain, or jewel (Guivarra adds) is such an ornament to a virgin, or virtuous woman, quam virgini pudor, as chastity is:  more credit in a wise man’s eye and judgment they get by their plainness, and seem fairer than they that are set out with baubles, as a butcher’s meat is with pricks, puffed up, and adorned like so many jays with variety of colours.  It is reported of Cornelia, that virtuous Roman lady, great Scipio’s