Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 11

thee, desiring thy countenance, and have found thee. I have spread my bed with fine hnen, I have spread out carpets from Egypt ; I have sprinkled my bed with saffron and my house with cinnamon. Come, let us enjoy ourselves with kisses till the morning, and wanton in love : for my husband is not in the house ; he is gone on a far journey, taking his bag of gold in his hand, for many days ere he return into the house.' Thus she deceiveth him with many words, and draweth him in with the net of her lips ; and he foUoweth her, in the evil desire of his soul, and in the blindness of his heart." And again he saith, " Look not on the evil woman ; for honey floweth from the lips of the adulterous woman, which for a time is sweet to thy throat, but after- ward thou shalt find that it is more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two- edged sword." And again he saith, " Turn thy way far from her; draw not near to the door of her house ; lest thou give thy life to strangers, and thy substance to them that are without mercy; lest strangers be satisfied with thy strength, and thy labour enter into the house of a stranger. Then shalt thou repent afterwards, when the flesh of thy body faileth, and say. How have I hated instruction, and mine ear hath turned away from reproof, and I have not heard the voice of them that c2 11