Note 307 — ACT I., SCENE I.
Reading edition
This is taken from Chaucer—
"But one thing warn I you, my frendis dere, I woll no old wife have in no manere. She shall not passin sixtene yere certeine, Old fish, and yong flesh woll I have full faine."
—"Merchant's Tale," l. 930. Which Mr Pope hath modernised in the following manner—
"One caution yet is needful to be told, To guide our choice; This wife must not be old: There goes a saying, and 'twas shrewdly said, Old fish at table, but young flesh in bed."
—"January and May," l. 99.
"For sondry scholis maketh sotill clarkis, Woman of many scholis half a clark is: But certainly a yong thing may men gye, Right as men may warm wax with hondis plie."
—"Merchant's Tale," l. 943.
"No crafty widow shall approach my bed; Those are too wise for batchelors to wed. As subtle clerks by many schools are made, Twice-married dames are mistresses o' th' trade; But young and tender virgins, rul'd with ease, We form like wax, and mould them as we please."
—"January and May," l. 106.