Sothegoodladyreasoned, andperadventuremorethanonce; andthen, castingabouthowshemightprivilycompassherend, shemadefriendswithanoldbeldam, thatshewedasaveritableSantaVerdiana,foster-motherofvipers, whowasevertobeseengoingtopardoningswithaparcelofpaternostersinherhand,andtalkedofnothingbutthelivesoftheholyFathers,, andwasgenerallyreputedasaint; towhominduetimesheopenedherwholemind."Mydaughter," repliedthebeldam, "God,whoknowsallthings, knowsthatthouwiltdoveryrightlyindeed: wereitfornootherreason, 'twouldbemeetfortheeandeveryotheryoungwomansotodo,thattheheydayofyouthbenotwasted; ?Thewhichifanyknow, andmayattestit, 'tisI, who,nowthatIamold, calltomindthetimethatIletslipfromme, notwithoutmostsoreandbitterandfruitlessregret: andalbeit 'twasnotallwasted, forIwouldnothavetheethinkthatIwasentirelywithoutsense,yetIdidnotmakethebestuseofit: whereofwhenIbethinkme, andthatIamnow, evenasthouseestme,suchahagthatneverasparkoffiremayIhopetogetfromany, 'tisotherwise: theyarebornmeetforathousanduses, notforthisalone; andthemorepartofthemareofmuchgreaterconsequenceinoldagethaninyouth: butwomenarefitfornoughtbutthis, and ',ifnototherwise, thoumaystassurethyself, ifthoudobutconsiderthatweareeverreadyforit; whichisnotthecasewithmen; besideswhich, 'tisforthisweareborn, Itelltheeagainthatthouwiltdoveryrightlytogivethyhusbandthyloafforhiscake, : andthisisespeciallytrueofwomen, whomthereforeitbehoves, muchmorethanmen, toseizethemomentasitflies: indeed, asthoumaystseeforthyself, whenwegrowoldneitherhusband, noranyothermanwillspareusaglance; but, onthecontrary, theybanishustothekitchen, theretotellstoriestothecat, andtocountthepotsandpans; or, worse, theymakerhymesaboutus:—'Tothedamseldaintybits; tothebeldamague-fits;' , Itelltheeatoncethatthereisnopersonintheworldtowhomthoucouldstopenthymindwithmoreadvantagethantome; forthereisnogentlemansofinebutIdarespeakmymindtohim, , andleavetheresttome: butonewordmore: Ipraytheetohavemeinkindlyremembrance, forthatIampoor; andthoushalthenceforthgoshareswithmeinallmyindulgencesandeverypaternosterthatIsay, thatGodmaymakethereoflightandtapersforthydead:" wherewithsheended.
