Chapter XX

Take heed, my son, and hearken unto the words of Artemas, for there _are_ many that will give thee counsel, yet wisdom _cometh_ only from the few.

2 Depart not from the narrow _path_ of virtue, for he that steppeth _from_ the duck board, assuredly, he getteth him wet feet.

3 Therefore, make thy life wisely, O my son, lest thy neighbour speak ill _concerning_ thee.

4 For the way of the transgressor, _it is_ soft, needing a light tread _and_ without weight. And he that leaveth his footprint behind, his foolishness doth condemn him.

5 But whosoever sinneth with prudence, _that man_ shall be exalted unto heaven, and his name, it shall exhale a perfume very sweet.

6 A damsel blusheth _because_ of thee; verily, she is sick _of_ love. If there be an asp in the house, embrace it; it were better this _than_ that.

7 For the thongs with _which_ thou thinkest to have bound her, fool! _they are_ knotted about thyself.

8 The wages of sin is death, but a wife may be given _even_ unto the righteous.

9 Beware of thy wife _when_ she forgiveth thee. When she sayeth unto thee, What _matter_ the wildness of thy young oats, then shalt thou _take_ care.

10 Verily, she schemeth only that she _may_ draw thee on. And _whatsoever_ thou shalt say, that will she surely have _up_ against thee.

11 Neither will she _cease_ from reminding thee concerning all thy wickedness, digging up thine ill-sown _fields_ continually.

12 For in this manner will she show thee how deep are the _depths_ of thy vileness. And the forgiveness of so _much_, shall it not signify the largeness of her heart?

13 Now _there_ is a way unto the management of a wife, and a manner of bringing her up.

14 For the wise man, he speaketh _with_ his mouth, and he saith unto her, Thou art fair, _my_ love, _my_ spouse; thou art fair.

15 Thou hast ravished my heart _with_ one of thine eyes; with the other also hast thou taken me, and I am _become_ exceedingly thine.

16 And after he has said all these things unto her, and more also, then doth he send her out _for to_ gather him victuals. And, behold, she goeth forth content.

17 But the fool, he worketh the raw skin unto his bones for love of her, neither seeketh he requital because of it. And, lo, _the woman_ complaineth for ever.

18 Remember thy life, _that_ thou livest it, for it was given unto thee _for_ the purpose;

19 And he that counselleth thee in otherwise, _he is_ a fool that doth threaten to rob thee of thy mite.

20 By a damsel's kisses shalt thou know her; and the kiss of thy best beloved, _it shall_ be fraught with disappointment.

21 For if she hath not met the lips of other men, then _shall_ her kisses lack seasoning.

22 But if she knoweth _the way_, assuredly, some other hath been _at her_.

23 The damsel crieth out in her foolishness, _saying_, A little love, and a little love, and a little love. And the young man fleeth _before_ her.

24 But the wise virgin _maketh_ a discreet noise; and she taketh him unawares.