XXI + 

As there are fifty different ends (counting all ends inвБ†вЄЇвБ†as well civil as religious) for which a woman takes a husband, she first sets about and carefully weighs, then separates and distinguishes in her mind, which of all that number of ends is hers: then by discourse, enquiry, argumentation, and inference, she investigates and finds out whether she has got hold of the right oneвБ†вЄЇвБ†and if she hasвБ†вЄЇвБ†then, by pulling it gently this way and that way, she further forms a judgment, whether it will not break in the drawing. + 

The imagery under which Slawkenbergius impresses this upon the readerвАЩs fancy, in the beginning of his third Decad, is so ludicrous, that the honour I bear the sex, will not suffer me to quote itвБ†вЄЇвБ†otherwise it is not destitute of humour. + 

вАЬShe first, saith Slawkenbergius, stops the asse, and holding his halter in her left hand (lest he should get away) she thrusts her right hand into the very bottom of his pannier to search for itвБ†вАФFor what?вБ†вАФyouвАЩll not know the sooner, quoth Slawkenbergius, for interrupting meвБ†вЄЇвБ† + 

вАЬI have nothing, good Lady, but empty bottles;вАЭ says the asse. + 

вАЬIвАЩm loaded with tripes;вАЭ says the second. + 

вЄЇвБ†And thou art little better, quoth she to the third; for nothing is there in thy panniers but trunk-hose and pantoflesвБ†вАФand so to the fourth and fifth, going on one by one through the whole string, till coming to the asse which carries it, she turns the pannier upside down, looks at itвБ†вАФconsiders itвБ†вАФsamples itвБ†вАФmeasures itвБ†вАФstretches itвБ†вАФwets itвБ†вАФdries itвБ†вАФthen takes her teeth both to the warp and weft of it. + 

вЄЇвБ†Of what? for the love of Christ! + 

I am determined, answered Slawkenbergius, that all the powers upon earth shall never wring that secret from my breast. + 