“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of a black cobra. What five? It’s filthy, stinking, cowardly, frightening, and treacherous. These are the five dangers of a black cobra.

In the same way there are these five drawbacks of a lady. What five? She’s filthy, stinking, cowardly, frightening, and treacherous. These are the five drawbacks of a lady.”

Numbered Discourses 5.230 23. Long Wandering Black Cobras (2nd)

“Mendicants, there are these five drawbacks of a black cobra. What five? It’s irritable, acrimonious, venomous, fork-tongued, and treacherous. These are the five dangers of a black cobra.

In the same way there are these five drawbacks of a lady. What five? She’s irritable, acrimonious, venomous, fork-tongued, and treacherous. This is a lady’s venom: usually she’s very lustful. This is a lady’s forked tongue: usually she backbites. This is a lady’s treachery: usually she’s an adulteress. These are the five drawbacks of a lady.”

Numbered Discourses 5.231