IV Of the conduct of husbands and wives
The causes of re-marrying during the lifetime of the wife are as follows: the folly or ill temper of the wife; her husband’s dislike of her; the want of offspring; the continual birth of daughters; the incontinence of the husband.
From the very beginning, a wife should endeavor to attract the heart of her husband by showing to him continually her devotion, her good temper, and her wisdom. If however, she bears him no children, she should herself tell her husband to marry another woman. And when the second wife is married, and brought to the house, the wife should give her a position superior to her own, and look upon her as a sister. In the morning, the elder wife should forcibly make the younger one decorate herself in the presence of their husband, and should not mind all the husband’s favor being given to her. If the younger wife does anything to displease her husband, the elder one should not neglect her, but should always be ready to give her most careful advice, and should teach her to do various things in the presence of her husband. Her children she should treat as her own, her attendants she should cherish with love and kindness, and her relations with great honor.