'One caution yet is needful to be told, To guide your choice: this wife must not be old: 100 There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly said, Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed. My soul abhors the tasteless dry embrace Of a stale virgin with a winter face: In that cold season Love but treats his guest With beanstraw, and tough forage at the best. No crafty widows shall approach my bed; Those are too wise for bachelors to wed. As subtle clerks by many schools are made, Twice-married dames are mistresses o' th' trade: 110 But young and tender virgins, ruled with ease, We form like wax, and mould them as we please.
'Conceive me, sirs, nor take my sense amiss; 'Tis what concerns my soul's eternal bliss; Since, if I found no pleasure in my spouse, As flesh is frail, and who (God help me) knows? Then should I live in lewd adultery, And sink downright to Satan when I die: Or were I cursed with an unfruitful bed, The righteous end were lost for which I wed; 120 To raise up seed to bless the powers above, And not for pleasure only, or for love. Think not I dote; 'tis time to take a wife, When vigorous blood forbids a chaster life: Those that are bless'd with store of grace divine, May live like saints, by Heaven's consent and mine!
'And since I speak of wedlock, let me say (As, thank my stars, in modest truth I may), My limbs are active, still I'm sound at heart, And a new vigour springs in every part. 130 Think not my virtue lost, though time has shed These reverend honours on my hoary head: Thus trees are crown'd with blossoms white as snow, The vital sap then rising from below. Old as I am, my lusty limbs appear Like winter greens, that flourish all the year. Now, sirs, you know to what I stand inclined, Let every friend with freedom speak his mind.'
He said; the rest in different parts divide; The knotty point was urged on either side: 140 Marriage, the theme on which they all declaim'd, Some praised with wit, and some with reason blamed. Till, what with proofs, objections, and replies, Each wondrous positive and wondrous wise, There fell between his brothers a debate: Placebo this was call'd, and Justin that.
First to the knight Placebo thus begun, (Mild were his looks, and pleasing was his tone): 'Such prudence, sir, in all your words appears, As plainly proves experience dwells with years! 150 Yet you pursue sage Solomon's advice, To work by counsel when affairs are nice: But, with the wise man's leave, I must protest, So may my soul arrive at ease and rest, As still I hold your own advice the best.