General Defense of the Honorable Women's Craft

sweat, sometimes with thunder itself, which is caused by burdensome birth-pains in the earth of your house, so that the true fruits of love can show themselves.

You speak of a hindrance of loneliness! In my opinion, you have spoken as a prophet in this case: It is not good (says God the Lord himself) that man should be alone; we must make him a helper who is equal to him. Indeed, the wise Sirach says: Woe to the man who is alone, for if he falls, he has no one to help him up. God does indeed lead Eve to Adam, so that she should be one with him in one flesh. And could a happier union be found? For if you must earn your bread in the sweat of your brow, how happy are you if you have a helper who dries it for you. Do you have chil-