said This Tale I will requite To vindicate our Sex which you did slight A Man in love was with a Lady fair And for her sake would curl perfume his Hair Professions thousands unto her did make And swore for her a Pilgrimage would take I swear said he Truth shall for me be bound Constant to be whilst Life in me is found With all his Rivals he would Quarrels make In Duels fought he often for her sake It chanc'd this Lady sick was like to dye Of the Small Pox Beauty's great Enemy When she was well her Beauty decay'd quite He did forsake her and her Friendship slight Excuses made her did not often see Then asked leave a Traveller to be And thus poor Lady when her Beauty 's gone Without her Lover she may sit alone Then was the third Man's turn his Tale to tell Which to his Company he fitted well A Description of Constancy THere was a Noble Man that had a VVife Young Fair and Virtuous yet of so short life That after she had married been a year A Daughter 's born which Daughter cost her deer No sooner born the Mother laid in bed Before her Lord could come his VVife was dead Where at the sight he did not tear his Hair Nor beat his Breast nor sigh nor shed a Tear Nor buried her in state as many do And with that Funeral-Charge a new Wife wo But silently he laid her in a Tomb Where by her side he meant to have a Room For by no other side he meant to lye In Life and Death to keep her company The whilst he of his Daughter care did take And fond he was ev'n for his dear VVife's sake But Grief upon his Spirits had got hold Consum'd him more than Age that makes Men old His Flesh did waste his Manly Strength grew weak His Face grew pale and faintly did he speak As most that in a deep Consumption are Where Hectick-Fevers do with Life make warr And though he joy'd he had not long to live Yet for to leave his Daughter young did grieve For he no Kindred had to take a care Of his young Child and Strangers he did fear They would neglect their Charge not see her bred According to her Birth when he was dead Or rob her of her Wealth or else would sell Her to a Husband might not use her well Or else by Servants brib'd might her betray With some mean Man and so to run away These cares of his his Mind did much torment And her Ill Fortune to his Thoughts present At last he did conclude If any be True Just and full of Generosity They 're such as are like to the Gods on high As Powerful Princes and Dread Majesty The Soveraign was dead but left to reign His Widowed-Queen whose Prudence did maintain The Government though Forreign Warrs she had Which was a Charge and oft-times made her sad This Noble-man sent to the Queen to crave That she upon his Child would pity have To take her to the Court there to be bred That none might wrong her after he was dead The Queen most willingly his Suit did sign And so in Peace his Soul he did resign This Lady soon did to the Court repair Where she was bred with tender Love and Care And Youth that 's bred in Courts may wisest be Because they more do hear and more do see Than other Children that are bred obscure Because the Senses are best Tutors sure But Nature in this Maid had done her part And in her frame had shew'd her curious Art Compos'd her every way Body and Mind Of best Extracts that were to form Mankind All which she gave to Time for to distill And of the subtil'st Spirits the Soul to fill As Reason Wit and Judgment and to take The solid'st part the Body for to make For though that Nature all her works shapes out Yet Time doth give strength length and breadth about And as her Person grew in stature tall And that her Beauty did encrease withall So did affection in her Heart grow high Which there was planted in her Infancy There was a Subject Prince within the Land Although but young the Army did command He being chose for Birth Wealth Valour Wit And Prudence for to lead and martial it The whilst his Father did the Queen assist To manage State-affairs as knowing best The Kingdom 's Constitutions Natures bad Of Common-People who are sometimes mad And wildly in Distempers Ruins bring For most Rebellions from the Commons spring But he so just and loyally did serve His Queen and Countrey as he did preserve Himself within her Favour and her Love As great Respect and honour'd Praise did prove And in the Warrs his Son such Fame did get That in Fame's Chariot he triumphant set For he was Valiant and of Nature free Courteous and full of Generosity His VVit was quick yet so as to delight Not for to cross or in Disputes to fight For gallant Sword-men that do fight in warr Do never use with Tongues to brawl and jarr He was exact in Body and in Mind For no Defects in either could you find The Queen that had a Neece both young and fair Did strive to match her to this Prince and Heir Of all his Father's VVealth who had such store As all the Nobles else did seem but poor And the young Princess lik'd so well the choice That thoughts of marrying him did her rejoice And through her Eyes such Messages Love sent On smiling-rays and posting-glances went The other Lady did hear the Report For every one did talk of it in Court Besides she saw his Person still attend Upon the Princess and did Presents send And every day to visit her did go As being commanded by his Father so At which she sad and melancholy grew Yet her Disease not thorowly she knew Like as a Plant that from the Earth doth spring Sprouts high before a full-blown Flower it bring So did her Love in Bud obscurely lye Not any one as yet did it descry Nor did the Prince the least affection find She being reserv'd in action and in mind Sober she was and of a bashful look Of but few words yet she good notice took And much observ'd for Love hath a quick Eye And often by her Countenance doth spy The hidden Thoughts that the Tongue dare not tell For in the Mind obscurity doth dwell But yet she did espy something lay cross To his Desires but guess'd not what it was But griev'd that any thing should him displease For those that love do wish their Lov'd much ease Nay so much ease they Torments would endure If these for those they love might good procure But she grew restless and her Thoughts did run About him as about the VVorld the Sun For he was her sole VVorld and wish'd her Love Had influence as Planets from above To order his affections and to bring From several Causes one Effect to spring And the Effect that he might
love her so As love her best or at least he might know How well she lov'd him for she wish'd no more Than love for love as Saints which do adore The Gods in Heaven whose love is wholly pure And nothing can of drossy flesh endure At last she and her Thoughts in Councel sate What was best to be done or this or that They all agree that she her Love should own Since innocent and pure and make it known By her Epistles and her Pen to write What her pure Heart did dictate and indite No forfeit of her Modesty because She had no Ends but only Virtuous Laws Then took she Pen and Paper and her Wit Did tell her Love the truth and thus she writ Sir You may wonder much that I do send This Letter which by Love doth recommend It self and suit unto your judging-ear And that it was not stopt by bashful fear But let me tell you This pure Love of mine Is built on Virtue not on base Design It hath no dross nor proudly doth aspire A Flame inkindled by immac'late Fire Which I to th' Altar of your Merits bring From whence the Flame to Heaven high may spring Your glorious Fame within my Heart though young Did plant a Slip of Honour from whence sprung Pure Love and Chast Desires for I do crave Only within your Heart a place to have I do not plead hoping to be your Wife Nor 'twixt you and your Mistress to breed strife Or wish I that her Love you should forsake Or unto me a Courtly Friendship make But only when I 'm dead you would inshrine Within your Memory this Love of mine Which Love to all the World I may proclame Without a blush or check or spotted-fame 'T is not your Person I do so admire Nor yet your Wealth or Titles I desire But your Heroick Soul and Generous Mind Your Affability and Nature kind Your honest Heart where Justice still doth raign Your prudent Thoughts and a well-temper'd Brain Your helping Hand and your industrious Life Not to make broils but to decide all strife And to advance all those are in distress To help the weak and those are powerless For which my Heart and Life to Love is bound And every thought of you with Honour crown'd These are not feigning Lines that here I write But Truths as clear and pure as Heaven's Light Nor is it Impudence to let you know Love of your Virtues in my Soul doth grow Her Love thus innocent she did enroll Which was the pure Platonick of her Soul Though in black Characters the Envious may Call the sense clear as is the Morning's day And every word appear unto the sight To make her smoother Paper yet more white Thus she infolded Honour and more Truth Than ever yet was known in Female-youth Blush-colour'd Silk her Letter then did bind For to express how modest was her Mind And Virgins Wax did close it with her Seal Yet did that Letter all her Love reveal Then to her Nurse's Husband she did trust These loving Lines knowing him faithful just To all her Family he obey'd her will And would have done no doubt though 't had been ill For his Obedience never ask'd the cause Nor was he Casuist in Divine Laws But faithful and most trusty so was sent With this most Sacred Letter then he went In the mean time that she her Letter sent The Prince to her a Letter did present By a Servant in whom he put much trust As finding him both dextrous prudent just In all Employments he this Letter brought Which'mongst this Lady's Thoughts much wonder wrought Even so much as she could not believe But thought he did mistake and did conceive She was the Princess Whereupon said she I doubt this Letter was not writ to me But he confirm'd to her that it was writ She to her Closet went and open'd it With trembling hands the VVaxen Seal she broke And what he writ with a faint Voice thus spoke Fairest of all your Sex for so you are Unto all others as a Blazing-Starr VVhich shews it self and to the VVorld appears As a great VVonder once in many years And never comes but doth portend on Earth Either the fall of Princes or their Birth O let your influence only at me aim Not for to work my Overthrow or Fame But Love to make me happy all my life Then yeeld your self to be my Virtuous VVife But if you this Request to me deny The Gods I hope will grant me soon to dye She when she this had read was in a maze And senslesly did on the Letter gaze By which her Spirits discomposed were In quarrelling-disputes 'twixt Hope and Fear At last Hope got the better then did they Triumph with joy and in her Heart did play For when the Spirits mutually agree Both in the Eyes and Heart they dancing be Then to the Gentleman that came she went And told him civilly that she had sent Unto the Prince and that she could not fit So well an Answer to return as yet The Prince as Melancholy sate alone But all the while his Mistress thought upon Staid for the Messenger's return for he Till answer came refus'd all Company At last one of his Pages to him ran To tell him Without was an ancient Man That would not be deny'd for speak he must Unto the Prince or else must break his trust He was in charge with and rather than so Would venture life before he back would go And not his Message to the Prince to tell Whereat the Prince liking his Courage well Sent for him who came with Humility The Letter gave upon his bended knee The Prince the Letter read and pleased so As by his smiling-countenance did show Which made all Cloudy Thoughts disperse clears His Mind as in dark days when Sun appears Sure said the Prince the Gods our Loves decree And in our Unions they do all agree They joyn our Hearts in one our Souls so mix As if eternally in Heaven would fix Then soon he all delays for to prevent Another Letter writ which to her sent In answer of her own this Letter gave Unto her Foster-Nurse who was as grave As old bald Father Time of Courage stout A Rustick plainness and not eas'ly out Of countenance trusty to be employ'd And in her Lady's service would have dy'd The Prince commended her Fidelity And pleas'd he was at her blunt Quality But with the Letter quickly did return For she though old yet every step did run And then the Letter which the Prince had sent She to her Lady did in mirth present Who then the Letter broke with joyful speed And to her Foster-Nurse she did it read Sweetest You have exprest your Love to me With so much plainness and sincerity And yet your stile severely have you writ And rul'd your Lines with a Commanding-wit Heroick Flourishes your Pen doth draw Or executes as in a Martial-Law Then solemnly doth march in Mourning-trail And
So he went to a Noble Gentleman who had a fair well-bred virtuous Lady to his Daughter although but a small Portion and having the Father's consent and the Lady's affection at least her good-will married When these three Knights were married each carried his Wife to his Dwelling-House Where the Covetous Knight did spare from his Back and Belly rise early and go to bed late yet his Wife and Servants did agree at least did wink at each other to cozen him let him do what he could to spare they outwitted him with craft to get The Amorous Knight when he had lived at home a little while to himself and his Wive's gay Clothes were faded and she appeared in her natural Complexion and became like her Neighbours he courted others and despised his Wife then she strives to spruce up and to get others to court her which Courtships did cause Expences in Dancing Meetings Revelling and Feasting The Judicious Knight and his Lady lived happily loved dearly governed orderly thrived moderately and became very rich when the other two were Bankrupts the one being cozen'd by his Wife and Servants he not allowing them sufficiently the other being impoverished with Mistresses and Vanities Ambition preferr'd before Love THERE was a Noble Gallant Man made love to a Virtuous Fair Lady and after he had express'd his affection and desired a return and so agree to marry she told him If she would marry and had her liberty to chuse a Husband through all the VVorld it should be him for said she the same of your Worth and praise of your Merits hath planted a Root of Affection in my Infant-years which hath grown up with time but said she there was another Root also planted therein by Encouragement which is Ambition which Ambition says she hath out-grown that so that the Tree of Love is like an Oak to a Cedar for though it may be more lasting yet it will never be so high On this high Tree of Ambition said she my Life is industrious to climb to Fame's high Tower for the top reaches to it which if I marry I shall never do Why said her Lover Marriage can be no hindrance O yes said the Lady Husbands will never suffer their VVives to climb but keep them fast lock'd in their Arms or tye them to Houshold-Employments or through a foolish-obstinacy barr up their Liberty but did they not only give them Liberty but assist them all they could yet the unavoidable Troubles of Marriage would be like great storms which would shake them off or throw them down before they had climbed half the way VVherefore said she I will never marry unless you can assure me that Marriage shall not hinder my climbing nor cause me to fall Her Lover said I will give you all the assurance I can but said he You cannot be ignorant but know That Fortune Fates and Destiny have power in the ways to Fame as much as in the ways to Death and Fates said he do spin the Thread of Fame as unevenly as they do Threads of Life Yes said she but there is a Destiny belongs to Industry and Prudence is a good Decree in Nature VVherefore said she I will be so prudent as not to marry and so industrious that all the actions of my life and studious contemplations shall be busily employed to my Ambitious Designs for I will omit nothing towards the life of my Memory The Matrimonial Agreement A Handsome young Man fell in love with a fair young Lady insomuch that if he had her not he was resolved to dye for live without her he could not So wooing her long at last although she had no great nor good opinion of a married life being afraid to enter into so strict bonds observing the discords therein that trouble a married life being raised by a disagreement of Humours and jealousie of Rivals But considering withall that Marriage gave a respect to Women although Beauty were gone and seeing the Man personable and knowing him to have a good Fortune which would help to counterpoise the Inconveniences and Troubles that go along with Marriage she was resolved to consent to his request The Gentleman coming as he used to do and perswading her to chuse him for her Husband she told him she would but that she found her self of that Humour that she could not endure a Rival in Wedlock and the fear of having one would cause Jealousie which would make her very unhappy and the more because she must be bound to live with her Enemy for so she should account of her Husband when he had broken his Faith and Promise to her He smiling told her She need not fear and that Death was not more certain to Man than he would be constant to her sealing it with many Oaths and solemn Protestations nay said he When I am false I wish you may be so which is the worst of Ills. She told him Words would not serve her turn but that he should be bound in a Bond That not only whensoever she could give a proof but when she had cause of suspition she might depart from him with such an allowance out of his Estate as she thought fit to maintain her He told her He was so confident and knew himself so well that he would unmaster himself of all his Estate and make her only Mistris She answered A part should serve her turn So the Agreement was made and sealed they married and lived together as if they had but one soul for whatsoever the one did or said the other disliked not nor had they reason for their study was only to please each other After two years the Wife had a great Fit of Sickness which made her pale and wan and not so full of lively spirits as she was wont to be but yet as kind and loving to her Husband as she was afore and her Husband at her first sickness wept watched and tormented himself beyond all measure but the continuance made him so dull and heavy that he could take no delight in himself nor in any thing else His occasions calling him abroad he found himself so refreshed that his spirits revived again but returning home and finding not that mirth in the sick as was in the healthy Wife it grew wearisome to him insomuch that he always would have occasions to be abroad and thought Home his only Prison His Wife mourning for his absence complained to him at his return and said she was not only unhappy for her Sickness but miserable in that his occasions were more urgent to call him from her when she had most need of his company to comfort her in the loss of her Health than in all the time they had been married And therefore pray Husband said she what is this unfortunate business that employs you so much and makes me see you so seldom He told her The Worldly Affairs of Men Women did not understand and therefore it were a folly to recite them besides said
Betting and the like Ill-natur'd Arts are Bull-baiting Cock-fighting Dog fighting Cudgel-playing Exercising Arts are Bowling Shooting Hunting Wrestling Pitching the Barr and Tennis-Court Play Vain-glorious Arts are Oratory Pleading Disputing Proposing Objecting Magnisicent Entertainments great Revenues Sumptuous Palaces and Costly Furnitures Covetous Arts are Bribery Monopolies Taxes Excises and Compositions Ambitious Arts are Time-serving Observing Insinuating Malicious Arts are Impeachings Back-bitings and Libels Superstitious Arts are Interpretations false Visions Impostures Imprecations Ceremonies Postures Garbs Countenances and Paces and particular Customs Habits and Diets Idolatrous Arts are Groves Altars Images and Sacrifices Dangerous Arts though necessary for the safety of Honour are Fencing Riding Tilting Vaulting Wrestling and Swimming Murthering Arts are Swords Knives Hatchets Saws Sythes Pick-axes Pikes Darts Granadoes Guns Bullets Shot Powder Arts of Safety are Trenches Moats Bridges Walls Arms and Chyrurgery Profitable Arts are Geometry Cosmography Arithmetick Navigation Fortification Architecture Fire-works Water-works Wind-works Cultivating Manuring Distilling Extracting Pounding Mixing Sifting Grinding as Malting Brewing Baking Cooking Granging Carding Spinning Weaving Colouring Tanning Writing Printing Wit Why Learned Sister all these Arts and innumerbale more are produced from the Forge of the Brain being all invented by Wit and the Inventer is to be more valued than the Art the Cause more than the Effect for as without a Cause there would be no Effect so without an Inventive Brain there could be no Ingenuous Art Wis. Dear Witty Sister do not engross more than what is justly your own for there are more Arts produced from Accidents and Experiments than from Ingenious Wit Learn Some Learned Men hold That the Motion of the Sun makes the Heat others that Heat makes Motion Wit Then it is like the Brain for a hot Brain makes a quick Wit and a quick Wit makes the Brain hot Wis. We ought not to spend our time in studying of the Motions and Heat of the Sun but of the Motions and Passions of the Heart Learn Some are of opinion That Light hath no Body others That it hath a Body and that the Light of the Sun enlightens the Air as one Candle doth another Wit Light is like Imagination an Incorporeal thing or an Accidental Proceeding from a Substance and as one Candle doth light another so one Fancy produceth another VVis Pray discourse of Virtues which is the Light of the Soul and Generosity an Effect thereof which distributes to Necessity producing comfortable Relicfs therewith Learn And some say Colours are no Colours in the dark being produced by Light on such and such Bodies Wit VVe may as well say VVit is no Wit or Thoughts no Thoughts in the Brain being produced by such and such Objects nor Passion is no Passion in the Heart being raised by such and such Causes VVis I pray dispute not how Colours are produced whether from the Light or from their own Natures or Natural Substances but consider that Good VVorks are produced from a Soul that is pure and bright Learn The Learned say That Sounds are Numbers and Opticks are Lines of Light VVit VVit sets the Number and Motion draws the Lines VVis There is no Musick so harmonious as Honest Professions nor no Light so pure as Truth Learn And they say Discord in Musick well applied makes the Harmony the delightfuller VVit So Satyr in VVit makes it more quick and pleasant VVis So Truths mix'd with Falshood make Flattery more plausible and acceptable Learn Time which is the Dissolver of all Corporeal Things yet it is the Mother Midwife and Nurse to Knowledg whereby we find all Modern Romancy-VVriters although they seem to laugh and make a scorn of Amadis de Gall yet make him the Original-Table or Ground from whence they draw their Draughts and take out covertly their Copies from thence Indeed Amadis de Gall is the Homer of Romancy-writers Wit Although Wit is not a Dissolver yet 't is a Creator Wit doth descry and divulge more Knowledg than Time for that which Time could never find out Wit will discover Wit is like a Goddess in Nature for though it cannot dissolve yet it can produce not only something out of something but something out of nothing I mean from the Imaginations which are nothing and Wit needs no other Table or Ground to draw its Draughts or take Copy from but it s own Brain which creates and invents similizes and distinguisheth Wis. But Time and Wit would soon produce a Chaos of Disorder if it were not for Wisdom which is composed of Judgment Justice Prudence Fortitude and Temperance for Judgment distinguishes Times and Wits Justice governs Times and Wits Prudence orders Times and Wits Fortitude marshals Times and Wits and Temperance measures Times and Wits Learn Scholars say That one Man can see higher and further when he is set upon another Man's Shoulders than when he stands or sits on the Ground by himself so when one is raised by another Man's Opinion he can descry more in hidden Mysteries Wit But if a Man see a Lark tow'r in the Sky which another Man doth not having weaker Eyes yet he is no wiser than the other that only saw the Lark picking Corn on the Ground But he that sees her not in the Sky knows she is in the Sky as well as the other because he saw from whence she took her flight But if the other that is raised can see a Bird in the Sky that was never seen before it were something to add to his Knowledg Besides a sharp quick Eye will see further on his own Legs than on the Shoulder of another for most grow dizzy if set on high which casts a Mist on the Eyes of the Understanding Wis. Leave the Shoulders of your Neighbours and let your Eye of Faith reach to Heaven As some Meats nourish the Body and some destroy the Body so some Thoughts nourish the Soul and some destroy it The Senses are the working-Labourers to bring Life's Materials in As Nature is the best Tutor to instruct the Mind so the Mind is the best Tutor to instruct the Senses And my Mind instructs my Senses to leave you There are learned Arts and Sciences a Poetical and Satyrical Wit a Comical and Tragical Wit an Historical and Romancical Wit an Ingenious and Inventive Wit a Scholastical Wit a Philosophical Wit There is Moral Human and Divine Wisdom The CONTRACT A NOBLE Gentleman that had been married many years but his Wife being barren did bear him no Children at last she dyed and his Friends did advise him to marry again because his Brother's Children were dead and his Wife was likely to have no more So he took to VVife a virtuous young Lady and after one year she conceived with Child and great Joy there was of all sides but in her Child-bed she dyed leaving only one Daughter to her sorrowful Husband who in a short time oppressed with Melancholy dyed and left his Daughter who was not a year old to the care and breeding of
five years for as the years of Twenty by his Parents Perswasion being a younger Brother at that time although afterwards he was lest the first of his Family by the death of his Eldest Brother he married a Widow being Noble and Rich but well stricken in years never bearing Child And thus being wedded more to Interest than Love was the cause of his seeking those Societies which best pleased him But after long Conflicts and Doubts Fears Hopes and Jealousies he resolved to remove her from that House and to try to win her by Gifts and Perswasions And sending for a reverent Lady his Aunt whom he knew loved him he told her the passage of all that had hapned and also his affection praying her to take her privately from that place and to conceal her secretly until he was well recovered entreating her also to use her with all the Civility and Respect that could be Going from him she did all that he had desired her removing her to a House of hers a Mile from the City and there kept her The young Lady in the mean time expecting nothing less than Death was resolved to suffer as valiantly as she had acted So casting off all care she was only troubled she lived so idly But the old Lady coming to see her she prayed her to give her something to employ her time on for said she my Brain hath not a sufficient stock to work upon it self Whereupon the old Lady asked her If she would have some Books to read in She answered Yes if they were good ones or else said she they are like impertinent persons that displease more by their vain talk than they delight with their Company Will you have Romances said the old Lady She answered No for they extol Virtue so much as begets an Envy in those that have it not and know they cannot attain unto that perfection and they beat Infirmities so cruelly as it begets pity and by that a kind of love Besides their Impossibilities makes them ridiculous to Reason and in Youth they beget Wanton Desires and Amorous Affections What say you to Natural Philosophy said she She answered They were meer Opinions and if there be any Truths said she they are so buried under Falshood as they cannot be found out Will you have Moral Philosophy No said she for they divide the Passions so nicely and command with such severity as it is against Nature to follow them and impossible to perform them What think you of Logick She answered It is nothing but Sophistry making Factious Disputes but concludes nothing Will you have History No said she for they are seldom writ in the time of Action but a long time after when Truth is forgotten but if they be writ at present Partiality Ambition or Fear bears too much sway Will you have Divine Books No said she they raise up such Controversies that cannot be allayed again tormenting the Mind about that they cannot know whilst they live and frights their Consciences so that it makes men afraid to dye But said the young Lady Pray give me Play-Books or Mathematical ones the first said she discovers and expresses the Humours and Manners of Men by which I shall know my self and others the better and in shorter time than Experience can teach me And in the latter said she I shall learn to demonstrate Truth by Reason and to measure out my Life by the Rule of good Actions to set Marks and Figures on those Persons to whom I ought to be grateful to number my days by Pious Devotions that I may be found weighty when I am put in the Scales of God's Justice Besides said she I may learn all Arts useful and pleasant for the Life of Man as Musick Architecture Navigation Fortification Water-works Fire-works all Engines Instruments Wheels and many such like which are useful besides I shall learn to measure the Earth to reach the Heavens to number the Starrs to know the Motions of the Planets to divide Time and to compass the whole World The Mathematicks is a Candle of Truth whereby I may peep into the Works of Nature to imitate her in little It comprises all that Truth can challenge All other Books disturb the Life of Man this only settles it and composes it in sweet Delight The old Lady said By your Beauty and Discourse you seem to be of greater Birth and better Breeding than usually ordinary young Maids have and if it may not be offensive to you pray give me leave to ask you From whence you came and What you are and How you came here She sighing said I was by an unfortunate Warr sent out of my Countrey with my Mother for safety being very young and the only Child my Parents had My Father who was one of the Greatest and Noblest Subjects in the Kingdom and being employed in the Chief Command in that Warr sent my Mother not knowing what the Issue would be to the Kingdom of Security where he had been formerly sent Embassador So my Mother and I went to remain there until the troubles were over But my Father being killed in the Warrs my Mother dyed for grief and left me destitute of Friends in a strange Countrey only with some few Servants I hearing a Peace was concluded in the Kingdom was resolved to return to my own Native Soil to seek after the Estate which my Father left me as his only Heir When I embarked I only took two Servants a Maid and a Man but by an unfortunate Storm I was cast upon a Shore belonging to this Kingdom where after I was landed my two Servants most treacherously robb'd me of all my Jewels and those Moneys I had and then most barbarously left me alone where afterwards my Host sold me to an old Bawd and she to one of her Customers who sought to force me whereas I to defend my self shot him but whether he be dead or alive I know not afterwards I was brought hither but by whose directions you I suppose can give a better account to your self than I yet I cannot say but that since I came hither I have been civilly used and courteously entertained by your self who seem to be a Person of Worth which makes my fears less for I hope you will secure me from Injuries though not from Death And since you are pleased to enquire what I am and from whence I came I shall entreat the same return to instruct me in the knowledg of your self and why I was brought hither and by whose Order The old Lady said She was Sister to the Prince's Mother and a tender lover of her Nephew and to comply with his desires she was brought there to be kept until he should dispose of her Then she told her what he was but never mentioned the affection he had for her but rather spoke as if her Life were in danger So taking her leave she left her telling her She would send her such Books as she desired Thus passing
he had such a Gift to present to the King which Present he knew his Royal Master would prize above all the World which made him chuse to go with it for had the Spoils been less he had sent them with some Messengers but being so Rich he durst trust none to guard it but himself The King hearing of their coming made all the Preparations of State that could be sending the Prince a Triumphant Chariot and his own Robes to wear which Chariot coming as they were ready to enter the City the Prince sets the Queen thereon and walks on foot by the Chariot-side as being Mistress to the King his Master And the King being attended by all his Nobles of the Kingdom met the Queen and with great respect led her to his Palace where when she came the King kissed her Hand and smiling said The Gods had brought her thither for certainly said he the Gods by their Fates have decreed and destin'd you to be my Queen in which Gift the Gods have made me like themselves to enjoy all Felicity She with a Face clothed in a sad Countenance answered Fortune was his Goddess and if he were like her he might prove unconstant and then said she you may change from Love to Dislike if so I may chance to have liberty either by Death or to be sent into my own Kingdom again If you will accept of me said he you shall not only have your own Kingdom but mine wherein you shall be adored and worshipped as the only She in the World She answered I had rather have what I adore than to be adored my self Then was she conducted to a strong and safe but a pleasant place to be kept in where the King visited her often treated her civilly courted her earnestly loving her with an extraordinary Passion The Prince in the mean time was in high favour with the King who asked and took his Counsel in every thing And sending for him one day when he came hung about his Neck as was his Custom so to do saying to him O my Friend for that was his usual Name he gave him my Cruel Prisoner said he you brought me despises my Affection slights my Addresses condemns my Suit scorns my Proffers hates my Person What shall I do to gain her Love Alas said the Prince I have had so ill success in Love that what I doted on most did hate me worst which is the cause I have left my Countrey Friends and Estate and lost the peace of Mind the joy of Mirth the sweets of Pleasures the comfort of Life hating my self because she doth not like nor love me Jealous I am of Light Darkness Heat Cold because they come so near as to touch her I wish her dead because none should enjoy her but my self yet I cannot live without her and loath I am to dye and leave her here behind Thus hang I on a tortur'd Life and bear my Hell about me Whilst they were thus lamenting their hard Fortunes in Love a Messenger brought News that their Forces were beaten that were sent into Amity How can that be said the Prince Most of the Nobles being here and none but Peasants left behind who have no skill in Warrs and only fight like Beasts But the Alarms came so thick one after another to tell that they had not only beat their Forces but were entred into their Kingdom With that the King in haste dispatched the Prince with a fresh Supply added to those Forces he brought the Queen with so march'd out to meet the Enemy For Travelia hearing the Queen was taken Prisoner was highly enraged which Choler begot a Masculine and Couragious Spirit in her for though she could not have those Affections in her for the Queen as a Man yet she admired her Heroick Virtues and loved her as a kind and gracious Princess to her which Obligations made her impatient of Revenge Then calling all the chief of the Kingdom together thus spake unto them Honourable and most Noble You have heard the sad News of the Queen's being taken Prisoner which cannot chuse but strike your Hearts through your Ears and make them burn in flames of high Revenge and may those Flames be never quenched until you fetch her back and set her in her Throne again She went to keep you safe and nothing can be more ungrateful than to let her live amongst her Enemies Nor can you here be free whilst she is made a Slave your Wives and Children will be bought and sold and you be forced to do their Servile Work What Goods you now possess your Enemies will enjoy Then let your Hands and Strength redeem your Countrey 's Loss or sacrifice your Lives in the Service After she had spoke they proclaimed her with one Voice General raising new Forces making Vows they would never forsake their Queen but dye or be Conquerors Then sitting themselves in order thereunto Travelia as their General and chief Governour caused a solemn Fast and Procession sacrificing to the Gods for good Success After that she took a view of her Arms and Ammunition selecting out the ablest and youngest Men to fight making the better sort Commanders that Envy might not breed Disobedience The Aged she chose for her Councellors her old Father being made one the most Mechanicks as Smiths Farriers Pioneers Cannoneers Sumpter-men Wagoners Cooks Women and the like went with the Bag and Baggage Neither did she omit to take good Chyrurgeons Doctors Apothecaries and Druggists to help the Sick and Wounded At the Army 's going out she caused a Proclamation to be read That all the Women and Children and infirm persons which were left behind not being fit to go should pray incessantly to the Gods for Victory and safe return for said she Women and Children and the Infirm are the best Advocates even to the Gods themselves being the most shiftless Creatures they have made wherefore the most aptest to move Compassion Thus setling the Kingdom in a devout and orderly posture they marched on re-taking their Towns Forts and Castles lost beating the Enemy out of every place insomuch as they did not only clear their own Kingdom of their Enemies but entred into theirs And being gone some days journey their Scouts brought them word there was an Army coming to meet them and after a short time the Armies were in view of each other Whereupon she drew up her Forces the right and left Wings she gave to be commanded by two of the Valiantest and Experienced Commanders the Rear unto another the Van she led her self the Reserve she gave her old Father in charge to bring in as he saw occasion praying him he would not stand with it so far off but that he might come soon enough to their aid nor yet to stand so near as to be annoy'd with their present Fight Father said she I give you this part to command because I dare trust your Faith as well as your Judgment Courage and Skill Then
Chance She answered That doubtless there were fixt Decrees as Light Darkness Growth Decay as Youth Age Pain Pleasure Life Death and so in every thing else for ought my Reason can perceive For said she as Nature creates by Dissolution and dissolves by Creation so the Diattical Life says she decrees Rules and ruleth by Decrees Then they asked her What was Chance and Fortune Chances said she are visible Effects from hidden Causes and Fortune a conjunction of many sufficient Causes to produce such an Effect since that Effect could not be produced did there want any one of those Causes by reason all of them together were but sufficient to produce but that one Effect many times produces many Effects upon several Subjects and that one Effect like the Sun streams out into several rays darting upon several Subjects and again as the Sun scorches and burns some things and warms and comforts others so this Effect advances some and casts down others cures some and kills others and when the Causes vary and the Effects alter it is called Change of Fortune Then they asked her Whether she thought Faith could naturally produce any Effect She answered That in her opinion it might for said she why may not Faith which is an undoubted Belief joined to such a subject produce or beget an Effect as well as a Seed sown or set in the Earth produceth a Flower a Tree or the like or as one Creature begets another especially if the Faith and Subject whereon it is placed have a sympathy but by reason said she Faith is not so customary a way of producing as other ways are it causeth many Doubts which Doubts are like cold Northern Winds or sharp biting Frosts which nip and kill the Buds of Faith which seldom or never lets the Effects come to perfection Then they asked VVhat the Sun was She answered A Body of Fire Then they askedher VVhat Light was She answered Light was enflamed Air. They said That if Light was enflamed Air it would burn all things and so consume the World She answered That in thin Bodies Fire had but little power to burn for the thinness of the Matter weakens the power of the Strength which causeth Flame said she to be of no great Heat for the hot Flames do rather sindg than burn and the thinner the substance is that is set on fire the purer the Flame is and the purer the Flame is the less Heat it gives as the Flame of Aqua-vitae that may be eaten with Sops Then they asked her What Air was She answered That Air was the Smoak produced from Heat and Moisture For Air said she is a thin Oyl which is set on fire by the fiery Sun or is like a fiery Substance and fiery Motions whose Flame is light Then they asked her what Darkness was She answered Darkness was the absence of Light And then they asked why it was dark immediately when the passage of Light was stopped and that if it were inflamed Air it would burn and give Light as long as that inflamed Air lasted She answered that when the fiery Rays that issued from the Sun were cut off the flame went out for said she it is not the Air that feeds the Flame but the fire that is in the Flame and when that Fire is spent or taken away the Flame dyes this is the reason said she that as soon as the Rays of the Fire is cut off or shut out or taken away it is dark and when they are eclipsed the Light is dull and dim but as I said before Light is only Air set on flame by the fiery Sun and the Blewest Sky is the thinnest Flame being the purest Air and just as if we should carry a Candle away we carry the light also which is the Flame so doth the Sun and as we bring a Candle or the like into a Room we bring in the light so doth the Sun Where the Fire is there is the greatest light and when a Screen is set before it the light is eclipsed and when kindled Fire as a Candle or the like is carried quite from the place it leaves as great a darkness as if it were put out just so doth the Sun which is the World's Candle when it goeth down draweth away the light which is the Flame and as it riseth it bringeth in the Fire which causeth the Flame and when it is high-Noon then is the brightest light as casting no shadows if nought Eclipses it and when Clouds get before it it is Eclipsed as with a Screen and when it is quite removed to another part of the World it doth as if it went into another Room or Chamber leaving no light behind it for twi-light is caused from the Rays of the Sun for though the Body of the Sun is gone from off such a part of the Earth yet the Rays which are the spreading-part of Fire are not quite drawn away as soon as the Sun for as those Rays usher the Sun-rising so they follow the Sun-setting and though these Rays of Fire which are the Beams of the Sun enflame the Air yet not so bright as the Body of the Sun doth and where the Sun is gone so far as the Beams cannot reach that part of it becomes dark It is not the gross Clouds as some think make twi-light for we see a cloudy day makes the twi-light seem shorter though it be not and it is by reason they eclipse the enflamed Air for Clouds are rather Vapour than Air and though Vapour and Air have some relation the like hath Vapour and Water and Vapour when it is gathered into the Clouds doth rather eclipse than prolong light They said That if the Light was Flame the Vapoury Clouds might quench it out She answered That although Vapour could eclipse the Light it could not put out the light of the Sun 't is true said she it may and doth often allay the fiery heat in the Rays for some days will be cooler than other days although the Sun be higher and some will be cooler than others although in the same degree of the Sun by reason of low Marish Grounds or near great Rivers from whence Vapours arise But though the Vapour may abate the heat in the Rays as the enflamed Air and eclipse the light either of Mists or Fogs or when they are gathered into Clouds yet they can neither put out the light nor quench out the heat of the Sun which is the Fountain of both no more than a drop of Water can quench a House on fire The Sun is a World of bright shining Fire from which other Worlds receive both light and heat 'T is true if there could be such a quantity of Water as could equal the Sun's power it might quench the Sun unless the Sun be an eternal Fire But as for Vapour were there a greater quantity than what arises from the Earth it could not change the natural property of the Sun besides Vapour is of a
The second sort that were to visit her were PHYSICIANS And after a short time they asked her what made a good Physician She answered Practise and Observation Then they asked her What made the difference between Pain and Sickness She said Pain was caused by cross perturbed Motions and Sickness by distempered Matter and the overflow of Humours Then they asked her Whether the Mind could be in pain or be sick She answered No but said she the Mind is like the fire it can put the Body to pain but can feel none it self likewise the Motion is like fire for the more Matter it hath to work on the quicker it moves and when the Mind is as it were empty it grows dull and the Head is filled with nothing but smoaky Vapours Then they asked her What difference there is between the Soul and the Mind She answered As much difference as there is betwixt Flame and the grosser part of Fire for said she the Soul is only the pure part of the Mind Then they asked her the difference if any was betwixt the Soul the Mind and the Thoughts She answered As the Mind was the Fire the Soul the Flame so the Thoughts were as the Smoak that issues from the several Subjects that the Mind works on and as Smoak so the several Thoughts many times vanish away and are no more remembred and sometimes they gather together as Clouds do and as one Cloud lies above another so the Thoughts many times lye in rows one above another as from the first to the second and third Region Then they asked her What was the best Medicine to prolong Life She answered Temperance and good Diet. Then they asked her What Diet As for Diet said she to Healthful Bodies Meats must be well and wisely matched but to Diseased Bodies such Diets must be prescribed as are proper to cure each several Disease As for the mixing and matching Meats said she they must be after this description following All Flesh-meats are apt to breed Salt Rheums and being roast breeds Cholerick Humours which Salt Rheums and Cholerick Humours causeth many times Hectick Fevers enflaming the Arterial Blood and Vital Spirits and drinking out the Radical Moisture and Salt Rheums penetrating into the Vital parts cause excoriations and ulcerations As for white Meats as Milk-meats and the like they are apt to breed sharp Humours also the gross parts cause many times obstructions of the Noble parts and the sharpness is apt to corrode especially the Uretaries Guts and Stomack producing Bloody-waters from the one and Cholicks in the other Also sharp Humours cause Cankers Fistula's and the like eating through several parts of the Body making several holes passages or wounds to pass through and Obstructions cause ill digestion ill digestion causes corruptions corruptions cause several Diseases as Feavers Small-Pox Imposthumes Boils Scabs and Leprosies if the Corruption is salt or sowr As for Fish and also all sorts of Pults they breed Slime and Slime in hot Bodies causeth the Stone and Gout in cold Bodies and all sorts of white Swellings as the Kings-Evil Wens and the like also the Brains Feet or any Sinewy part of any Meat doth the like as also Sweet-meats As for all sorts of Fruits Roots Herbs they breed thin crude Humours which causes Wind Wind causes Cholicks Cramps and Convulsions by griping and twisting the Guts Nerves and Veins as also all swimming and dizzy Diseases in the Head likewise Head-akes caused by a Vapour arising from the crude and raw Humours also in hot Bodies it causeth the Sciatica the heat over-rarifying the sharp Humours caused by Fruit makes it so subtil and searching that it doth not only extend to the outmost parts of the Body as betwixt the skin and flesh but gets into the small Thread-Veins As for all Sweet-meats and Comfits they are in some Bodies very obstructive and in all Bodies they breed both sharp and hot Rheums and I have heard said she that Sugar makes the most sharp and acid Vitriol As for the matching of several Meats Fish-meats do well agree with Roots Herbs and Fruits if they be stewed roasted boiled baked or the like otherwise the rawness hinders the concoction of the Meat but if they be drest as aforesaid they temper the saltness and quench out the heat which the over-nourishing strength doth produce Also Fish may be mix'd with Flesh-meat although all Physicians are against it for certainly the natural freshness and coldness of Fish doth temper and allay the natural heat and saltness that is in Flesh-meat mixing it into a good Chyle and tempering it into a Juicy-Gravy which encreases the radical moisture and nourisheth the radical heat also it supplies the Arteries fills the Veins plumps the Flesh smooths the skin whenas strong drinks mix'd with strong meats over-heats the Body enflames the Spirits evaporates the radical moisture burns the radical heat scorches the Arteries drinks up the Blood sears the Veins shrinks up the Nerves dries the Flesh and shrivels the Skin White Meats and Pults agree best as being of one and the same degree as it were of heat for all strong Meats curdle all sorts of Milk which causes obstructions and corruptions and turns it sowr being of a nature so to do which makes such sharpness in the blood and body as causes Tertians Quartans Quotidians and the like Diseases Pults and all sorts of Milk-meat being of a spungy substance digest as it were together when Meats that are solid mix'd with Meats that are more porous and spungy do hinder each other Small drink is best with white Meat but when Pults is eaten without Milk it may agree better with stronger Liquor Roots and Milk-meats agree as being both easily dissolv'd from the first forms into Chyle Nor do Fruits and Pults disagree for the sharpness of the Fruits doth divide the clamming of the Pults and the sliminess of the Pults doth temper the sharpness of the Fruits but Fruits and Milk-meats are enemies which when they meet they do exasperate one another So that Fruits and Pults and Milk and Roots do best together Roots having no sharpness in them but there is of all sorts of Flesh Fish Milk Roots and Herbs some being hotter than others and grosser as the most watrish Fruits are the hottest as having most Spirits in their acute Juices Likewise all Roots or Herbs that bite as it were the tongue or are bitter to the tast are hot although Druggists Herbalists and Physicians are many times of the other opinion but certainly all that is sharp salt or bitter proceeds from a hot nature and most commonly produces hot effects having a fiery figure and motion but because they find many things that are sharp or bitter to qualifie Feavers or the like hot Diseases they think it is the natural temper of the Drugs Herbs Roots Fruits or the like but a hot Cause may produce a cold Effect as for example Obstructions cause heat in the Body but sharp things do
divide and dissolve those gross and tough Humours and open Obstructions Likewise those that are salt and bitter do purifie and cleanse the corruption in the Body and when the cause of the Disease is taken or removed away the Body becomes equally temper'd for as the Disease doth waste the Body doth cool Thus it is the sharpness saltness and bitterness that cures the Disease and not a cold nature in the Simples for when the Disease as I said is gone the Body is well-temper'd and cooled Then they asked her which was the best way to make the best temperament for Health She said that way that was best towards Mediocrity as neither to eat too gross meats nor too watrish nor to drink too strong drink nor such as was very small that is neither too hot nor too cold either virtually or actually As for gross Meats they fill the Body with too much Melancholy Humours and the Head with Malignant Vapours Very fine and tender Meat makes the Stomack weak by reason the substance is not sufficiently solid for as very gross meat over-powers the Stomack by the laborious working thereon so very fine and tender meat makes it lazy and weak for want of exercise Very small Drinks being very watrish quench the natural heat and those that are very strong burn it out but said she Meats and Drinks must be wisely match'd and not only Meats and Drinks but the Nourishment and the Nourished for although in general hot Constitutions should use cooling drinks and meats for their diets and cold hot diets and moist dry diets and dry moist diets yet if the Body be any ways diseased or distempered they must order such a Body according to the Cause and not to the Effects of their Disease As for example To all Hydropical Bodies must not be applied drying Medicines nor Diets for if the Dropsie proceeds from a dry cause dry Diets or Medicines are as bad as poyson for though the Effect be watrish in such Diseases yet the Cause was dry So for heat or cold And this example may serve for all other Diseases wherefore Physicians must search out and know the original cause before they can cure the Disease for those that prescribe according to the Effect may cure by chance but kill with ignorance Then they asked her If the Spirits were always affected with the Distemper of the Body or the Body with the Distemper of the Spirits She answered Not always for sometimes the Spirits will be ill-affected and the Body in health other times the Body sick and the Spirits lively and well-temper'd But said she this is to be observed that the Body may be cold and the Spirits enflamed and the Body heated and the Spirits quenchched or stupified for the Spirits are the thinnest and subtillest substances of the Creature now this thinnest and subtillest substance in the Creature may be enflamed when the solid'st is be-numb'd with cold for a cold melancholy Body may have enflamed and distracted Spirits Likewise a cold diseased Body may have Hectick Spirits and thus both the Animal and Vital Spirits may be hot and the more solid Parts or Humours of the Body cold Also the heat of the Spirits may be quenched and the Body burning-hot as the Stomack Liver or other parts may be parched with heat when both the Animal and Vital Spirits have not a sufficient heat to give them lively motions And it is to be observed said she that the Animal and Vital Spirits as they are the thinnest and subtilest part of a Creature so they are nourished by the thinnest substances or parts of Food which dilate to the Spirits for though the Spirits can and do work upon the solid'st parts of the Body or Nourishment yet they only receive benefit by the thinnest As also the great annoyance for it is the Vapour of Meats and Drinks that feeds the Spirits and not the Substance for Vapour will choak smuther burn or quench them out But the Vapours from Liquors work more suddenly upon the Spirits either to good effect or bad than Vapours from a solid Substance by reason all Liquors have a dilatating nature which spreads it self amongst the Spirits with more facility Also the Vapour of Liquid Bodies is more facil than the Vapour of Solid Bodies and said she some burn their Stomacks with Drugs and some quench their Spirits with Julips others burn their Spirits with Cordials and flat or dead the Stomack with Meats virtually cold For it is to be observed that there is a general Error amongst Mankind about Rules concerning Health some practising with a belief that Drinks virtually cooling temper hot Meats and virtually cooling Meats hot Drinks In which they are deceived for though they may mix so and temper yet for the most part it is only as Water and Meal makes Dough or as Earth and Water makes Mud or as Sugar and Water makes Syrrup but doth not temper that virtual heat or cold that works upon the substantial or the spiritual parts for that which works upon the Spirits hath a more sudden operation than that which works upon the solid parts of the Body and that from the solider parts has a flower operation so that the Stomack may be parched and the heat of the Spirits quenched and the Spirits burnt and the Stomack weak by a heavy or dull coldness But those Bodies that are in health have not such defects as to fear such a sudden operation for as defects are easily inveterated so Health is not suddenly annoyed wherefore they may temper their Meat and Drink by cooling and heating yet not to a high degree for all Extreams are naught Then they asked her What was the reason that all Creatures look fuller and fatter in Summer than in Winter She answered The reason was Because then the Blood extends to the extream parts which swells out the flesh and puffs out the skin and in the Winter the blood falls back as the sap of Plants doth to the Roots which causeth the flesh and skin to look withered and dry as Branches and Leaves do sear'd faded wither'd and dry The like reason is when Men have Pimples Scabs Swellings Pocks and the like which is the fruit of corrupted blood Then they asked her opinion of Mineral Waters What Virtues and Vices they have being drunk She answered That all Mineral-waters were of a kind of a Brine but not so much a salt Brine as a sharp Brine if I may call that which is sharp Brine said she but whether it hath the effects upon the body as Brine hath upon dead flesh as to preserve or keep it from putrefaction I cannot say but certainly it drinks up the natural moisture in healthful bodies more often than it purifies the corrupted Humours in diseased bodies The Effects of Sharp and Salt are oft-times alike as a sharp Pickle will preserve from putrefaction as well as Brine But howsoever the Mineral-waters have much salt in them the Effects are hot and
to the creation of the Mind or Soul the Sensitive to the Body But said she Opinion creates one way and Nature another way which Opinions except there be sense and reason in them are the false Conceptions in Nature But the learned Students study so much the Parts that they never consider the Parties that work therein The Authoress of these Opinions of the Rational and Sensitive spirits says she brings Sense and Reason to dispute for their truth which no other Opinions do and they that will not believe Sense and Reason will believe nothing but express by their incredulity that they have but a small quantity of that innated Matter in their Brains Whatsoever treats of innated Matter as the Sensitive and Rational spirits is to be compared to my Philosophical Opinions Then they asked her Whether she thought there could be Repetitions in Nature She said Yes for said she if anything in Nature cannot be so dissolved as to be annihilated it may be repeated for if the same Matter and same Motions are in being the same Figures may be repeated and if there can be in Creations said she a repetition it is probable there are repetitions of one and the same Creature only the time and changes of time makes a difference and obscurity in which obscurity the Creature is ignorant of it self and its former Being whereby one and the same Creature may come to envy his own Renown which was kept alive by Records from Age to Age as if Homer should be created again and envy his own Works or at least strive to out-work them or that Alexander and Caesar should be created again and should envy their own Actions Victories and Powers or at least grieve and repine they cannot do the like for if they were created again they might miss of the same Occasions Opportunities or Powers Birth or Fortunes for though the Body and Soul may be the same as also the Appetites and the Desires yet the outward concurrence may not be the same that was in the former Being for though the Concurrents as well as the Creature may be repeated yet perchance not repeated in one and the same Age or Time but if they should fall out to be repeated in one Age the same Actions would fall out to be as Caesar's or Alexander's were to conquer the World again as they did before and there would be the same Warr betwixt the Grecians and Trojans if the same Occasions were but Homer would not write the same Poems if they were on record for though it be an honour to conquer what was conquered although after the same manner yet it is no honour to Wit to write what was writ before upon the same Subject nor indeed upon any other Subject for both the Wit and the Subject must be new at least the Wit to gain as great and lasting Renown Then they asked her What Fire was She said That Fire was not only the quickest motion but it is a perpetual quick motion that hath no intermission by which it hath a strange power over every thing so that it hath a stronger power by the continuance than by the quickness The Third sort that visited her were Moral Philosophers The Moral Philosophers asked her If it were possible to alter or abate the Passions No said she you may pacifie or imprison them and enforce them to conceal themselves in the heart not only from outward appearance but from the very understanding in the head but never alter or change their natures to weaken their natural strength or abate their natural vigour for Passions said she are like the Sun they may be eclipsed or clouded but never can be alter'd and as the Sun saith she draws forth Vapour from the Earth so do the Imaginations draw forth Passions from the Heart and as a Bucket draws up Water from the bottom of a Well so do outward Objects draw up Passions from the Heart Then they asked What was the difference betwixt the Passions and the Appetites She said The Appetites were the Passions of the Body and the Passions the Appetites of the Mind and the Mind is as apt to surfeit of the one as the Body of the other Likewise saith she the Mind is as seldom pleased as the Body is seldom at ease being both restless and never satisfied for the height of sensitive Pleasure is the beginning of Pain and the height of Passion is the beginning of Desire and Desire hath no Period no Pleasure no Center Then they asked her What sort of Love was the perfectest She said That Love that descended for Love that descends is more solid than that which ascends and draws more towards perfection as being most contracted for that which ascends is airy and disperses soon like smoak but that which descends is like falling showers of Rain that join into a River or Sea of Love running with force to perfection This is the reason Parents love their Children better than Children can love their Parents This is the reason Nature loves her Creatures better than the Creatures can love Nature This is the reason The Gods love Mankind better and more perfectly than Mankind loves the Gods Thus the perfectest Love is from the Gods to Men for the greater the descent is the more force there is The like said she is Hate for that Hate which descends is more inveterate and malignant than that which ascends for we are easily perswaded to pardon the Injuries or Wrongs we receive from our Superiors but seldom are pacified without a high revenge for the Wrongs we have received from Inferiors I mean not only the Inferiors of Birth or Fortunes but Merit This is the reason Noah could not forgive his Son Cham for the disgrace which he received for no Hate is like to that of Dishonour This is the reason that Heaven hates Hell more than Hell can hate Heaven Then they asked her Why the Passions forced the Body to weep to sigh to groan to laugh to sing to complain to rail to curse to commend to extoll to implore to profess to protest to look pale to look red to shake to tremble to strike to embrace She said That the causes in the mind did work their Effects upon the Bodies as the Causes in Jove did work their Effects upon Nature Or in a lower Comparison said she the Mind is as the Sun and the Body like the Earth the Sun having several Faculties as the Mind several Passions it gives life and light strength and growth it comforts and warms it weakens corrupts withers and decays it burns and destroys it dilatates and contracts it doth digest and expel it sucks it draws and confirms so doth the Mind it gives the Light of Knowledg and the Life of Understanding it comforteth and warmeth by Invention it strengthens by Judicious Advice it encreases by Temperance it weakens withers and decayes by unsatiable Intemperance it drys and parches it by grief inflames it by anger burns it