daughter, Titus Sempronius’ wife, and the mother of the Gracchi, that being by chance in company with a companion, a strange gentlewoman (some light housewife belike, that was dressed like a May lady, and, as most of our gentlewomen are, “was [5037]more solicitous of her head-tire than of her health, that spent her time between a comb and a glass, and had rather be fair than honest” (as Cato said), “and have the commonwealth turned topsy-turvy than her tires marred;” and she did nought but brag of her fine robes and jewels, and provoked the Roman matron to show hers:  Cornelia kept her in talk till her children came from school, and these, said she, are my jewels, and so deluded and put off a proud, vain, fantastical, housewife.  How much better were it for our matrons to do as she did, to go civilly and decently, [5038]_Honestae mulieris instar quae utitur auro pro eo quod est, ad ea tantum quibus opus est_, to use gold as it is gold, and for that use it serves, and when they need it, than to consume it in riot, beggar their husbands, prostitute themselves, inveigle others, and peradventure damn their own souls?  How much more would it be for their honour and credit?  Thus doing, as Hierom said of Blesilla, [5039]"Furius did not so triumph over the Gauls, Papyrius of the Samnites, Scipio of Numantia, as she did by her temperance;” pulla semper veste, &c., they should insult and domineer over lust, folly, vainglory, all such inordinate, furious and unruly passions.

But I am over tedious, I confess, and whilst I stand gaping after fine clothes, there is another great allurement, (in the world’s eye at least) which had like to have stolen out of sight, and that is money, veniunt a dote sagittae, money makes the match; [5040][Greek:  Monon arguron blepousin]:  ’tis like sauce to their meat, cum carne condimentum, a good dowry with a wife.  Many men if they do hear but of a great portion, a rich heir, are more mad than if they had all the beauteous ornaments, and those good parts art and nature can afford, they [5041]care not for honesty, bringing up, birth, beauty, person, but for money.

[5042] “Canes et equos (o Cyrne) quaerimus
        Nobiles, et a bona progenie;
        Malam vero uxorem, malique patris filiam
        Ducere non curat vir bonus,
        Modo ei magnam dotem afferat,”

       “Our dogs and horses still from the best breed
        We carefully seek, and well may they speed: 
        But for our wives, so they prove wealthy,
        Fair or foul, we care not what they be.”

If she be rich, then she is fair, fine, absolute and perfect, then they burn like fire, they love her dearly, like pig and pie, and are ready to hang themselves if they may not have her.  Nothing so familiar in these days, as for a young man to marry an old wife, as they say, for a piece of gold; asinum auro onustum; and though she be an old crone, and have never a tooth in her head, neither good conditions, nor a good face, a natural fool, but only rich, she shall have twenty young gallants to be suitors in an instant.  As she said in Suetonius, non me, sed mea ambiunt, ’tis not for her sake, but for her lands or money; and an excellent match it were (as he added) if she were away.  So on the other side, many a young lovely maid will cast away herself upon an old, doting, decrepit dizzard,