p, the Merchants Goods, and his own life, for an inconstant
draggle-tail; that perhaps before he has been three daies at Sea, hath
drawn her affection from him, and given promise to another? Yet
nevertheless, tho the raging Waves run upon the Ship, and fly over his
head, he withstands it all. Nor is the main Ocean, or blustering
_Boreas_, powerfull enough, to cool his raging fire, and drive those
damps out of his brain. The tempestuousness of the weather, having
driven him far out of his course; his only wishes and prayer is, oh,
that he might be so happy, but for a moment to see his Beacon, those
twinkling eys of his dearly beloved Margery Mussel! Then all things
would be well enough! Tho he and all that are with him, were
immediately Shipwrackt, and made a prey for the Fishes. And if,
unexpectedly, fortune so favour him, that he happens to see the Coast,
oh, he cannot tarry for the Pilot! but tho it be misty weather, and he
hoodwink'd by Venus, still he sails forward, running all in danger,
that before was so far preserved.

And if the Shop-keeper once sets foot into this destructive
Wilderness, he doth nothing less then look to his shop, and wait upon
his Customers. Spending most part of his time in finical dressing
himself, to accompany his Mistriss, and with a Coach or Pair of Oars
to do her all manner of caresses. Then his whole discourse is, with
what good custom he is blest above others; but seldom saies, that with
waiting upon his Lady, and by indeavouring to please her above all
things, how miserably he neglects it, by which means, shop's not only
found without a Master, but the servants without government. And at
New-year, the day-book is not written fair over; and if any body
desires their reckoning, the squire is so full of business, that he
can't spare half an hour to write it out: For where he goes, where he
stands, what he thinks, what he does, all his cogitations are imploi'd
to think how delicious it is to press those soft lips of his beloved,
and then out of an unfeigned heart to be lov'd again, sometimes
receiving a kiss. Thus he idles away all his time, and all his
business with his sences runs a wool-gathering.

To be short, let it be what sort of person it will, they no sooner
touch the shell of this Marriage-nut, but before they can come to tast
the kernel they look for; they feel nothing else then thorns and
briars of sorrow and misery. If there be any one that thinks he is
gotten a footstep f