object of his Mistress clos'd Like Multitudes that gather in a Ring To view some curious or some wondrous thing Or like a devout Congregation met Will strive about the Altar near to set So did his Thoughts near her Idea get Which as a Goddess in his Soul did set Then he an Altar built of Marble white And Waxen Tapers round about did light Her Picture on this Altar plac'd was high There to be seen with an up-lifted Eye She was his Saint and he there every day Did offer Tears and Sighs to her did pray And her implore she would the Gods request To take his Soul his Body lay to rest In th' mean time his Mistress's made believe That he was kill'd for which she much did grieve For when she at the first the news did hear Her Face turn'd pale like Death it did appear Then gently sinking she fell to the ground Grief seiz'd her heart and put her in a swound At last life got the better and then wept And wisht to Heaven that she in death had slept But Melancholy her whole Soul possest And of all pleasing Thoughts it self divest All objects shuns that pleasing were and fair And all such sounds as were of a leight air The splendrous Light and glorious Sun shut out And all her Chamber hung with black about No other light but blinking Lamps would have Some Earth and Turf therein like to a Grave The which she often view'd or sate close by Imagining the Prince therein did lye And on that Grave her Tears like show'rs of rain Keep fresh the Turf on the green Grass remain As pearled dew before the Sun doth rise Or as refreshing show'rs from Cloudy Skies And often this supposed Grave doth dress With such significant Flow'rs as did express His Virtues and his Dispositions sweet More than those Flowers when in Posies meet His various Virtues known to all so well More fragrant than those Flowers were for smell But first she set a Lawrel-Garland green To shew that he a Victor once had been And in the midst a copious Branch did place For to express he dyed in the chace Of his fierce Enemies his Courage was so true That after a long fight away they flew Thus Melancholy past her time away Besides sad solemn Musick ' twice a day For ev'ry Sense with Melancholy fill'd And always dropping-tears from thence distill'd With which her Melancholy Soul did feed And Melancholy Thoughts her Mind did breed Then on the ground her Head aside-ways hung Would lye along whilst these sad Songs were sung A SONG TITAN I banish all thy joys of Light Turning thy glorious Rays to darker Night Clothing my Chamber with sad Black each part Thus suitable unto my mournful heart Only a dimn Wax Taper there shall wait On me to shew my sad unhappy Fate With mournful Thoughts my Head shall furnisht be And all my Breath sad Sighs for love of thee My Groans to sadder Notes be set with skill And sung in Tears and Melancholy still Languishing-Musick to fill up each Voice With Palsied trembling Strings is all my choice A SONG SInce he is gone Oh then Salt Tears Drown both mine Eyes and stop mine Ears With Grief my Grief it is so much It locks my Smell up Taste and Touch. In me remains but little breath Which quickly take away Oh Death A SONG WHY should I live But who doth know The way to him or where to go Death's ignorant the Dead they have No sense of Grief when in the Grave Forgetful and Unthankful Death Hast thou no love when gone's our Breath No Gratitude but there dost lye In dark Oblivion for to dye No sense of Love or Honour there Then Death I prethee me forbear Thousands of years in sorrow I Would live in Grief and never dye A SONG MY Bed of Sorrow 's made since no relief And all my Pillows shall be stuff'd with Grief My Winding-sheets are those whereon I lye My Curtains drawn with sad Melancholy Watching shall be my Food Weeping my Drink Sighing my Breath and Groaning what I think Trembling and shaking all my Exercise Disquiet and disorder'd Thoughts now rise Wringing of hands with folded arms lamenting Is all the joy is left me of contenting For he is gone that was my joy my life I 'm left his Widow who ne'er was his Wife But all the while the Queen was angry bent Against the Prince because away he went And left the Army without a General For which she Rebel Traytor him did call But she another General did make Which of the Army all the Charge did take Yet his Success in Warrs proved but bad For afterward the Queen great Losses had And all the Soldiers they were discontent Whereat the Queen another General sent But he no better Fortune there could meet The Enemy did force him to retreat Then did the Enemy so pow'rful grow The Forces of the Queen they overthrow In every Fight and Skirmish which they had For which the Queen and Kingdom did grow sad At last the Queen the Prince did flatter and Entreated him again for to Command But he deny'd the Queen would not obey Said Earthly Power to Gods they must give way At last she sent him word she would not spare His life and therefore bid him to prepare Himself for death for dye he should For Disobedience and Revenge she would Have on him Then his Father to him went For to perswade him and there did present Show'rs of Tears which sadly pouring fell Upon his only Son his grief to tell He round about his Neck one arm did wind The other arm embrac'd his Body kind His Cheeks his Son did joyn to his And often he his Lips did kiss O pity me my Son and thy Life spare Thou art my only Child and only Heir Th' art my sole Joy in thee I pleasure take And wish to live but only for thy sake The Prince his Father answer'd and said he I am not worth those Tears you shed for me But why do you thus weep and thus lament For my death now When to the Warrs I went You did encourage me to fight in field For Victory or else my Life to yeeld I willingly obey'd and joy'd to find My Father's Sympathy unto my Mind Besides it shew'd a greater love to me Than Parents self-lov'd fondness us'd to be For to prefer my Honour and my Fame Before the perpetu'ty of your Name And as you priz'd my Honour and Renown So I a Heavenly not an Earthly Crown And give me leave the better choice to make To quit all troubles and sweet Peace to take I ne'er more willing nor more fit can dye For Heaven and the Gods pure company For had I dy'd in Warrs my Soul had been Stained with Blood and spotted o're with Sin But now my Mistress is a Saint in Heaven Hath intercession made my sins forgiven And since she 's gone all Joys with her are fled And I shall never happy be till
tell you said the Mind Nature builds some Minds like a curious and stately Palace and furnishes them so richly that it needs neither Time nor the Senses laying Reason as the Foundation and Judgment for the Building wherein are firm and straight Pillars of Fortitude Justice Prudence and Temperance is paved with Understanding which is solid and hard walled with Faith which is roofed with Love and bows like an Arch to embrace all towards a round Compass is Leaded with Discretion which sticks close keeping out watry Errors and windy Vanities it hath passages of Memory and Remembrance to let Objects in and Doors of Forgetfulness to shut them out likewise it hath Windows of Hopes that let in the Light of Joy and Shutts of Doubts to keep it out also it hath large Stairs of Desire which arise by steps or windings up by degrees to the Towers of Ambition Besides in Architecture of the Mind there are wide Rooms of Conception furnish'd richly with Invention and long Galleries of Contemplation which are carved and wrought with Imaginations and hung with the Pictures of Fancy Likewise there are large Gardens of Varieties wherein flow Rivers of Poetry with full Streams of Numbers making a purling Noise with Rhymes on each side are Banks of Oratory whereon grow Flowers of Rhetorick and high Trees of Perswasion upon which a Credulous Fool helped by the Senses will climb and from the top falls on the Ground of Repentance from whence old Father Time takes him up and puts him into the Arms of Expence who carries him in to the Chyrurgeon of Expence and is healed with the Plaster of Warning or else dyes of the Apoplexical Disease called Stupidity But Wisdom will only look up to the top viewing the growth and observing what kind they are of but never adventures to climb she will sit sometimes under the Branches for Pleasure but never hang on the Boughs of Insinuation While they were disputing in comes grim Death whose terrible Aspect did so affright the Mind that the very fear put out its Light and quenched out its Flame and the Body being struck by Death became sensless and dissolved into Dust. But old Father Time run away from Death as nimbly as a light-heel'd Boy or like those that slide upon the Ice but never turned to see whether Death followed or no Death called him but he made himself as it were deaf with Age and would not hear A Tripartite Government of Nature Education and Experience NATURE Education and Experience did agree to make a Juncto to govern the Monarchy of Man's Life every one ruling by turns or rather in parts being a Tripartite Government The Soul the Senses and the Brain where Nature creates Reason as the chief Magistrate to govern the Soul Education creates Virtue to govern the Appetites for Virtue is bred not born in Man And Experience creates Wit to govern the Brain for Wit though native without Experience is defective As for the Soul which Natural Reason governs it hath large Territories of Capacity and Understanding and many Nobles living therein as Heroick Passions and Generous Affections Subtil Enquiries Strong Arguments and Plain Proofs The Senses which Virtuous Education governs are five great Cities and the various Appetites are the several Citizens dwelling therein which Citizens are apt to rebel and turn Traitors if Virtue the Governess be not severe and strict in executing Justice with Courage cutting off the Heads of Curiosity Nicety Variety Luxury and Excess and though Temperance must weigh measure and set Limits yet Prudence must distribute to Necessity and Conveniency the several Gifts of Nature Fortune and Art The third is the Brain wherein Experienc'd Wit governs which is the pleasantest part and hath the larrgest Compass wherein are built many Towers of Conceptions and Castles of Imaginations Grounds ploughed with Numbers and sowed with Fancies Gardens planted with Study set with Practice from whence Flowers of Rhetorick grow and Rivers of Elegancy flow through it This part of the Kingdom hath the greatest Traffick and Commerce of any of the three parts and flourishes most being populated with the Graces and Muses Wit being popular hath great power on the Passions and Affections and in the Senses makes Civil Entertainments of Pleasure and Delight feeding the Appetites with delicious Banquets NATURE's HOUSE THE whole Globe is Nature's House and the several Planets are Nature's several Rooms the Earth is her Bed Chamber the Floor is Gold and Silver and the Walls Marble and Porphyrie the Portals and Doors are Lapis-Lazarus instead of Tapistry Hangings it is hung with all sorts of Plants her Bed is of several precious Stone the Bed-posts are of Rocks of Diamonds the Bed's-head of Rubies Saphires Topasses and Emeralds Instead of a Feather-bed there is a Bed of sweet Flowers and the Sheets are fresh Air her Table is of Agats and the like yet the Roof of the Chamber is Earth but so curiously Vaulted and so finely wrought that no Dust falls down it is built much like unto a Martin's Nest the Windows are the Pores of the Earth Saturn is her Gallery a long but a dark Room and stands at the highest Story of her House Sol is her Dining-Room which is a round Room built with Heat and lined with Light Venus is her Dressing-Room Cynthia is her Supping-Room which is divided into four Quarters wherein stand four Tables one being round at which she sits being furnished with all Plenty the other are Side-board Tables Mercury is her Room of Entertainment The Rational Creatures are her Nobles The Sensitive Creatures are her Gentry The Insensible Creatures are her Commons Life is her Gentleman-Usher Time is her Steward And Death is her Treasurer A DISPUTE THE Soul caused Reason and Love to dispute with the Senses and Appetites Reason brought Religion for whatsoever Reason could not make good Faith did Love brought Will for whatsoever Love said Will confirmed The Senses brought Pleasure and Pain which were as two Witnesses Pleasure was false Witness but Pain would not nor could not be bribed Appetite brought Opinion which in somethings would be obstinate in others very facil But they had not disputed long but they were so entangled in their Arguments and so invective in their Words as most Disputers are that they began to quarrel as most Disputers do Whereupon the Soul dismist them although with much difficulty for Disputers are Captains or Colonels of ragged Regiments of Arguments and when a Multitude are gathered together in a Rout they seldom disperse until some Mischief is done and then they are well pleased and fully satisfied The Preaching-Lady Dearly Beloved Brethren IHAVE called you together to Instruct Exhort and Admonish you My Text I take out of Nature the third Chapter in Nature at the beginning of the fourth Verse mark it dearly Beloved the third Chapter beginning at the fourth Verse The Text In the Land of Poetry there stands a steep high Mount named Parnassus at the top
his Brother and withall left her a great Estate for he was very rich After the Ceremonies of the Funeral his Brother carried the Child home which was nursed up very carefully by his VVife and being all that was likely to succeed in their Family the Unkle grew extream fond and tender of his Neece insomuch that she was all the comfort and delight of his life A great Duke which commanded that Province would often come and eat a Breakfast with this Gentleman as he rid a Hunting and so often they met after this manner that there grew a great Friendship betwixt them for this Gentleman was well bred knowing the VVorld by his Travels in his younger days and though he had served in the warrs and fought many Battels yet was he not ignorant of Courtly Entertainments Besides he was of a very good conversation for he had a voluble Tongue and a ready Understanding and in his retired life was a great Student whereby he became an excellent Scholar so that the Duke took great delight in his company Besides the Duke had a desire to match the Neece of this Gentleman his Friend to his younger Son having only two Sons and knowing this Child had a great Estate left by her Father and was likely to have her Unkle's Estate joined thereto he was earnest upon it but her Unkle was unwilling to marry her to a younger Brother although he was of a great Family but with much perswasion he agreed and gave his consent when she was old enough to marry for she was then not seven years old But the Duke fell very sick and when the Physicians told him he could not live he sent for the Gentleman and his Neece to take his last Farewell and when they came the Duke desired his Friend that he would agree to join his Neece and his Son in Marriage He answered That he was very willing if she were of years to consent Said the Duke I desire we may do our parts which is to join them as fast as we can for Youth is wild various and unconstant and when I am dead I know not how my Son may dispose of himself when he is left to his own choice for he privately found his Son very unwilling being a Man grown to marry a Child The Gentleman seeing him so desirous to marry agreed to what he desired The Duke called his Son privately to him and told him His intentions were to see him bestowed in Marriage before he dyed His Son desired him Not to marry him against his mind to a Child His Father told him She had a great Estate and it was like to be greater by reason all the Revenue was laid up to encrease it and besides she was likely to be Heir to her Unkle who loved her as his own Child and her Riches may draw so many Suiters when she is a Woman said he that you may be refused He told his Father Her Riches could not make him happy if he could not affect her Whereupon the Duke grew so angry that he said His Disobedience would disturb his Death leaving the World with an unsatisfied Mind Whereupon he seemed to consent to please his Father Then were they as firmly contracted as the Priest could make them and two or three Witnesses to avow it But after his Father was dead he being discontented went to the Warrs and in short time was called from thence by reason his Elder Brother dyed and so the Dukedom and all the Estate came to him being then the only Heir But he never came near the young Lady nor so much as sent to her for he was at that time extreamly in love with a great Lady who was young and Handsome being Wife to a Grandee which was very rich but was very old whose Age made her more facil to young Lovers especially to this young Duke who was favoured by Nature Fortune and Breeding for he was very handsom and of a ready Wit Active Valiant full of Generosity Affable well-fashion'd and had he not been fullied with some Debaucheries he had been the compleatest Man in that Age. The old Gentleman perceiving his neglect towards his Neece and hearing of his Affection to that Lady strove by all the Care and Industry he could to give her such Breeding as might win his Love Not that he was negligent before she was contracted to him for from the time of four years old she was taught all that her Age was capable of as to Sing and to Dance for he would have that Artificial Motion become as Natural and so to grow in Perfections as she grew in years When she was Seven years of age he chose her such Books to read as might make her Wise not Amorous for he never suffered her to read in Romances nor such leight Books but Moral Philosophy was the first of her Studies to lay a Ground and Foundation of Virtue and to teach her to moderate her Passions and to rule her Affections The next study was History to learn her Experience by the second hand reading the Good Fortunes and Misfortunes of former times the Errors that were committed the Advantages that were lost the Humours and Dispositions of Men the Laws and Customs of Nations their rise and their fallings of their Warrs and Agreements and the like The next study to that was the best of Poets to delight in their Fancies and in their Wit and this she did not only read but repeat what she had read every Evening before she went to Bed Besides he taught her to understand what she read by explaining that which was hard and obscure Thus she was always busily employed for she had little time allowed her for Childish Recreations Thus did he make her Breeding his only Business and Employment for he lived obscurely and privately keeping but a little Family and having little or no Acquaintance but lived a kind of a Monastical Life But when the Neece was about Thirteen years of age he heard the Duke was married to the Lady with which he was enamoured for being by the death of her Husband left a rich Widow she claimed from him a Promise that he made her whilst her Husband was living That when he dyed being an old man and not likely to live long to marry her which he was loth to do for Men that love the Pleasures of the world care not to be encumbred and obstructed with a VVife and so did not at all reflect neither upon his Contract with the young Lady for after his Father dyed he resolved not to take her to Wife for she being so young he thought the Contract of no validity But the VVidow seeming more coy than in her Husband's time seeking thereby to draw him to marry her and being overcome by several ways of subtilty he married her VVhereupon the Unkle was mightily troubled and very melancholy which his Neece perceived and desired of him to know the cause which he told her Is this the
not to quench but rather to burn though smutheredly and no perswasions could reform him but rather make him worse as Cordials in hot Fevers she parted from him after that they had been and as she thought happily married many years and so resigned that part of the Command and Government of his Family that was left her for the Maid had encroach'd by her Master's favour and had ingross'd the chiefest Power of Rule in the Houshold-affairs as well as in the Affection of the Heart Thus his Wife left him and his Dotage but Death in a short time did come and revenge her Quarrel and that Tinder-fire Cupid had made Death put out By this we see there is no Certainty of Constancy nor no Cure in Time nor no Settlement in life The Three WOOERS THERE were three Knights went a wooing A Covetous Knight An Amorous Knight and A Judicious Knight The Covetous Knight sought a Rich Wife not caring for her Birth Breeding or Beauty The Amorous sought for a Beautiful Wife not caring for her Wealth or Birth The Judicious sought for a Wife Virtuous well bred and honourably born not caring for the Wealth or Beauty And having all three good Estates every Man that had Daughters invited and feasted them So they went to visit all Noble Hospitable House-keepers such as Gentlemen are and Honourable Persons that live in the Countrey The Amorous Knight made love to all those Ladies and Gentlewomen that were Handsome but as soon as he was to treat with their Parents or Friends about Marriage or to appoint a Wedding-day he would find some excuse or other to break off The Covetous Knight would be so far from Wooing that he would not speak to any of the young Ladies nor look on them oftenl for fear they should claim Marriage but he still would treat with their Parents or Friends to know what Portions they had or what Estates were likely to befall them by the death of their Friends The Judicious Knight would neither woo the Ladies nor treat with their Parents or Friends but discoursed with them civilly observing strictly what Capacities Wits and Behaviours the Women had also employing Agents secretly to enquire of their Servants Neighbours and Acquaintance of what Natures Dispositions and Humours they were not trusting to their sober outsides and formalities they use to Strangers After they had visited all Noble Entertainers they went to the City For said the Covetous Knight I will not chuse a Wife in these Families for these Daughters Sisters and Neeces are too prodigally bred to make Thrifty Wives So they went to visit the City But the Amorous Knight said He would not chuse a Wife out of the City because said he I shall never love my Wife but on Holy-days or Sundays for they then appear indifferent Handsom when they have their best Clothes but on VVorking days they smell of the Shop and appear like their Father 's faded mouldy withered VVares Besides said he they discoursing to none but their Journey-men and ' Prentice-boys cannot tell how to entertain a Gentleman or a Lover with Romancical Speeches or pieces of Plays or Copies of Verses or the like The Covetous Knight said You condemn that I shall commend and dislike that which I shall like and love that which I shall hate for I hate whining-Love and I shall be unwilling to marry a Woman although she should bring me a great Portion that would be reading Romances and the like and be entertaining with repeating Verses and singing Love-Sonnets when she should be looking to my Servants ordering my Family and giving directions Or such a one that would be half the day dress'd so fine she cannot stir about her House or will not for fear of dirtying or crumpling her Clothes besides the infinite Expence their Bravery will put me to But when they dress fine but on Sundays and Holy-days I mean only at such Good-times as Christmas Easter Whitsuntide or so a Silk-Gown will last some Seven years He is a good Husband that will or can love his Wife sometimes as on Holy-days although I shall love my VVife best those days she is most in her Huswifry which is in her Sluttery and not on Holy-days when she is in her Bravery But he that loves his Wife every day and at all times is Luxurious and ought to be banished a Commonwealth for Fond Husbands make Proud Vain Idle and Expensive Wives who spoil Servants kill Industry and all good Huswifry which is the ruin to Noble and Ancient Families But after they had traversed the City they went to the Court. And when the Covetous Man saw the Bravery of the Court he would by any means be gone from thence The other two asked him the reason He said He was afraid that they would cheat him or bring some false Witness to accuse him of Treason to get his Estate or at least to bring him into some Court of Justice to get a Fine for said he I verily believe they have no Money having no Lands but what they get by such shifting sharking flattery bribery betraying and accusing for said he poor Courtiers are like starved Prisoners devour all they can get and sometimes they devour one another But the Amorous Knight was ravished with the glistering Shews and was more enamoured with the gay Clothes than with the fair Ladies and did long to embrace their Silver-Lace which made him use all his Rhetorick to the Covetous Knight to stay As for the Judicious Knight he was neither moved with fear as the Covetous nor struck with admiration as the Amorous Knight said little but observed much and was willing to go or stay as the others could agree But when the Covetous Knight heard them to talk of nothing but Fashions Gowns Gorgets Fanns Feathers and Love-Servants he fell into a Cold-sweat for fear he should be forced by the King and Queen to marry one of those Maids of Honour And when he heard them talk of Love Justice and justifying loving-Friendships he was forced to go out of the room or otherwise he should have swooned with an Apoplexy or Lethargie or the like sudden Disease for he did imagine himself married to one of them and all his Estate spent and he only left with a pair of Horns and like a Horned-Beast in the wild Forest of Poverty But these sorts of Discourse did enslave the Amorous Knight binding him in Love's Fetters insomuch as he became a Servant to them all but then finding it was impossible to please them all he only applied and at last yeelded himself to one to whom after a short time he was married The Covetous Knight being afraid of being forced to marry a Courtier took a Wife out of the City The Judicious Knight seeing his Wooing-Travellers married thought it would shew an unconstant Humour not to marry since he travelled about with them to get a Wife or else it would seem as if he thought no Woman Virtuous or at least Discreet
into Factions Sores and great Spots of Rebellion which causeth Death and Destruction But one of the former Doctors was about contradicting him but the Mind forbid him Then one said Melancholy was the Stone caused by a cold congealment of the Spirit Another said Cruelty was the Stone caused by hot Revenge or covetous Contractings which bakes all the tender and softer Humours into a hard confirmed Body the Stone Then one said That Rage and Fury were Convulsions No said another Inconstancies are Convulsions Then one said Pity was a Consumption pining and wasting by degrees Nay by your favour said a second Forgetfulness is a Consumption which fades as Light and Colours or moulders as Dust. Then another said Desire was a Dropsie which was always dry Nay said a second Desire is that Disease which is called a Dog-like-Appetite which causes the Appetite of the Mind to be always hungry and the Stomack of the Mind seeming always empty which makes the Thoughts hunt after Food But a Dropsie said he is a Reluctancy which always swells out with Aversions O said a third a Dropsie in the Mind is Voluptuousness Nay said a fourth a Dropsie is Pride that swells out with Vain-glory. But they disputed so much whether a Dropsie or a Dog-like-Appetite or a Reluctancy or Voluptuousness or Pride that they fell together by the Ears And the Mind was well content to let them fight But for fear the Mind should be disturbed his Friends parted them and pray'd the Doctors that they would prescribe the Mind something to take Then they began their Prescriptions For the Lethargie of Grief said one you must take some Crumbs of Comfort mix'd with the Juice of Patience the Spirits of Grace and Sprigs of Time and lay it to the Heart of the Mind and it will prove a perfect Cure Another said A Lethargie is Stupidity and therefore you must take hot and reviving Drinks as the Vapour of Wine or the like Drinks variety of Objects pleasant Conversation mix these together then put this Liquor into a Syringe of Musick and squirt it into the Ears of the Mind and this will bring a perfect Cure The Doctor who said an Apoplexy was Hate said The Mind must take a few Obligations and mix them with a mollifying-Oyl of Good-nature and Spirits of Gratitude and bind them upon the grieved part and that would cure it No said the Doctor that said Apoplexies were Love you must take the Drug of Misfortunes and the Sirrup of Misery and when you have mix'd them together you must set them a stewing on the Fire of Trial then drink it off warm and although it will make the Mind sick with Unkindness for the present yet it will purge all the doting Humours out of the Mind But he that said Hate was a Dead-Palsie prescribed the same Medicine as he that said it was an Apoplexy for he said an Apoplexy is a kind of a Dead-Palsie He that said Ignorance was a Dead-Palsie said The Mind must take some good Books whose Authors were Learned Persons and squeeze them hard through a Strainer of Study and mix some practised Experience thereto and make a Salve of Industry then spread it upon a strong Canvase of Time and lay it upon the Malady and it will be a perfect Cure And he that said Spight and Envy were Cancers bid the Mind take the Honey of Self-conceit once in two or three hours and it would abate that sharp or salt Humour The other that said that Spight and Envy were Fistula's bid the Mind get some of the Powder of Inferiors or the Tears of the Distressed and mix them well together and lay it to the Sore and it will be a perfect Cure He that said that Envy was the Scurvy bid him bathe in Solitariness and drink of the Water of Meditation wherein run Thoughts of Death like Mineral-Veins and it will cure him And the Doctor that said Anger was a Fever bid the Mind drink cold Julips of Patience He that said Anger was an Epilepsie bid the Mind take the Powder of Discretion And the Doctor that said An Ague was Doubts and Hopes bid him take the Powder of Watchfulness and mix it with a Draught of Courage and drink it in his Cold Fit and take the Powder of Industry in the Liquor of Judgment in his hot Fit and it will cure him He that said An Ague in the Mind was Fear gave the same Prescription of the former Medicine for the Cold Fit But he that said Jealousie was an Ague bid the Mind take some of the Spirits of Confidence And he that said Jealousie was a Consumption bid the Mind take Nourishing-Broths of Variety and bathe in the River of Oblivion which would cool the Fever of Suspition But he who said That Jealousie was the Gout in the Mind bid the Mind lay a Plaster of Absence spread on the Canvase of Time and it would cure him As for the Wind-Cholick he that said it was the overflow of the Imaginations and Conceptions bid the Mind take some several Noises both Instrumental and Vocal and mix them with much Company and lay them to the Ears of the Mind and it will cure Probatum est And those that said That Wind-cholick was strange Opinions or wild Fancies bid the Mind take some Pills of Employment to purge out those crude flatulent and undigested Humours But he that said It was caused by a dilatation of the Thoughts bid him take the Eyes of Dice and the Spots of Cards and the Chequers of Chess-boards and the Points of Table-men and put them together and when they are throughly mix'd and dissolved into an Oil annoint the Fingers-ends the Palms of the Hands the Wrist the Elbows and the Eyes of the Mind this says he will contract the Thoughts to the compass of a Single-penny which will cure that Disease As for the Disease called the Spotted-Fever which is Slander they bid the Mind take a good quantity of Repentance and distil it from whence will drop Tears and take a Draught of that distilled Water every morning fasting But he that said That Malice was the Spotted Fever bid the Mind distil Merits from whence will drop Praises and bid the Mind take a draught of that Water every Evening He that said Discontent was the Plague being a part of all the Diseases bid the Mind take Humility Magnanimity Obedience Loyalty Fidelity and Temper and put all these together and make a Pultis and lay it upon the Swelling it will keep it from breaking asswage the Pain and cure the Patient But if they come out in Spots of Rebellion there is no Remedy to avoid Death As for Melancholy he that said it was the Stone in the Mind caused by a cold congealment in the Spirits which stupifies the Senses of the Mind into Stone bid him take Beauty Wit fine Landskips Prospects Musick fresh Air put this into the Liquor of Mirth and drink of it every day it would prove a perfect
on high above the Clouds appear The Woodcock said When we are up on high We rather swim like Fishes and not flye The Air is like the Ocean liquid plain The Clouds are Water and the Roof is Rain Where like a Ship our Bodies swift do glide Our Wings as Sails are spread on either side Our Head 's the Card our Eyes the Needles be For to direct us in our Airy Sea Our Tail 's the Rudder moves from side to side And by that motion we our Bodies guide Our Feet's the Anchors when to ground them set We mend our Sails that 's prune our Feathers wet And every Bush like several Ports they be But a large Haven is a broad-spread Tree O said the Cow this Voyage to the Skie I fain would see whilst on the Ground I lie To satisfie you said the Woodcock I Will mount so rose and shak'd his Wings to flie But the Woodcock had not flown above a Cast high but a Faulcon who had soared above for a Prey seeing the Woodcock underneath him came down with such force that he knocked him on the head with his Pounces Which when the Cow saw she lowed out with sorrow and made a most lamentable Voice bewailing the Woodcock 's misfortune and out of a sad melancholy and discontented grief for the Woodcock his death and for the unfortunate counsel she gave him she mourned and lamented putting on a black Hide which Hide she wore to her dying-day and all her Posterity after her and not only her Posterity but many of her Acquaintance The MORAL Some are so busily-good that they will perswade and counsel not only all those they have relation to or all they know and have acquaintance with but all they meet although they be meer strangers to them But although some do it out of a meer busie nature and intermedling humour and disposition yet questionless some do it out of a desire and natural inclination they have for a general fruition of Happiness putting themselves in the last place But these sort of men have more Good-nature than Judgment for their Counsel oft-times brings Ruin at least Sorrow both to those that take it and those that give it through a blind ignorance of both Parties But those that are prudently wise never give Counsel but when it 's asked and then not without great Caution chusing the safest ways and the likeliest means joining their own Reputation with the Party 's Good fearing to lose the one or hurt the other by a rash Advice Of a Butcher and a Fly IN Shamble-Row a Butcher walking in his Shop where Meat was lying upon his Shop-board and being in the heat of Summer a number of Flies were busily working thereupon which the Butcher seeing was very angry and said That Flies were good for nothing but to corrupt Dead Flesh. At which words the Flies murmured against the Butcher making a humming-noise to express their Passion But one of the ancientest and gravest Flyes amongst them which Fly living long and observing much had studied Natural and Moral Philosophy having observed the Humours and Actions of all Creatures especially of Man and more especially of Butchers by reason they most commonly frequent the Shambles she answered the Butcher thus Why said the Fly do you rail and exclaim against us when we do nothing against Nature but do good service to the Countrey for we create living Creatures out of that you destroy whereby we keep Nature from ruin and those only that destroy Life are Nature's Enemies but those that maintain or create Life are Nature's Friends Thus we are Friends and you are Enemies to Nature for you are cruel striving to destroy Nature not only by taking the Life of barren Creatures that are past producing but of young Creatures that would encrease had they been suffered to live in not killing them before their natural time to dye Besides said the Fly to the Butcher you are a Cheat and a Robber as well as a Murtherer for you cozen and rob Time of the Goods he is intrusted to keep until such time as Nature requires them to whom he carefully easily peaceably delivers them to the right Owner Also you do not only rob him of those Goods he hath in charge but you maliciously or covetously spoil his Work for those Creatures that he hath but newly made and shaped and some before they are quite finished nay some which he hath but moulded in a lump together you destroy which not only spoils old Father Time's Labours but defaces his Architecture disgracing his Skill Likewise you do not only endeavour to destroy Nature and rob and disgrace Time but you take away Divine Worship from the Gods who receive their Worship from Life which you destroy for which they may justly punish you to Death After the Fly had made an end of this Discourse Now saith the Butcher to the Fly you think you have spoke wisely honestly and piously but your Speeches shew you to be a formal prating Coxcomb For first Nature creates more Creatures from Death than from Life from the Grave than from the Womb for those Creatures she creates from the Womb she creates for the most part by single ones or couples as Mankind and most sorts of Beasts but those that she creates from Death and the Grave as from dead Carkasses and Corruption she produceth by numbers as Maggots Worms and the like and most commonly your impertinent Worships are created in that manner And if the Gods are only served by Life we serve the Gods best for we by killing of single Creatures are the cause of creating millions of living Creatures Neither have you reason to brag for it is not you that are the only cause that those Creatures are produced from those Carkasses but Corruption which is the Mother of Life and which by your Bloth you hasten whereby you take Time's Work out of his hands and so you do usurp on Time's Prerogative for which I will whisk you out of my Shop as a Company of busie prating idle foolish Creatures you are Whereat they being frighted flew away Of a Man and a Spider A MAN whose Thoughts were not busily employed upon potent Affairs but lazily sitting in his Chair leaning his Head on his Hand with his Face towards the Window viewing a crafty Spider and marking what pains she took in spinning a Web to entangle the innocent Flyes saw that her Work was no sooner done but a Fly was catch'd therein He seeing this poor Fly dragg'd along and ready to be murthered by the cruel Spider who had watched her coming thither thus spake Mischievous Spider says he who art only industrious to an Evil Design spinning out thy own Bowels only to entrap a Creature that never did nor meant thee harm Hadst thou spun out of a charitable intention to clothe the Naked thou hadst been worthy of my Commendation but now thy Malice falls justly under my Wrath and taking the Tongs intended to kill
had thus spoke to them they began the Onset Long was the Dispute but at last by the Prince's Courage which animated the rest by his Example and by his wise Conduct and diligent Care in rectifying the disordered Ranks and supplying their broken Files by fresh Men he got the day and put the Enemy to a rout killing many and taking store of Prisoners The Prince when he saw that Fortune was his Friend at that time though at other times she had frown'd yet now he thought to make his advantage whilst she was in a good Humour wherefore he called to the Soldiers to follow their pursuit but they were so busie in the dividing of the Spoils as they were deaf to all Commands or Entreaties giving their Enemies leave to rally their scattered Forces and so to march away and by that means they got so far before them as they had time to get up their Spirits and strengthen their Towns by Fortification to Man their Forts and to entrench themselves whereas if they had followed their Victory they might have taken a great part of the Countrey for all Towns Forts and the like seldom stand out but yeeld to a Victorious Army yet it must be whilst the terror and fright of their Losses hath wholly possest their Minds leaving no place for Hope But when the Prince thought they had lost their opportunity through the Covetousness of the Soldiers he sent a Messenger to the King of the Victory and with the Reasons why he could not follow the same but if his Majesty would give permission he would march on and try out his Fortune In the mean time the Queen hearing of the loss of her Army was much perplexed Then musing with her self what way she were best to take she straight went to Travelia who was indifferently well recovered to him she related the sad News then asked his Counsel what she were best to do He told her His Opinion was for her to call a Council of the Gravest and Noblest of her Subjects and those whose Age had brought Experience for if Worldly Wisdom dwells any where it is in Aged Brains which have been ploughed by various Accidents and sowed with the Seed of Observation which Time hath ripened to a perfection these are most likely said he to produce a plentiful and good Crop of Advice but young Brains said he want both Manuring and Maturity which makes their Counsels green and unwholsome Whereupon they called a Council where after they had disputed long at last they all agree in one consent That the best was For her to go her self in Person to animate her Soldiers and to give a new Life to their dejected Spirits Whereat she was much troubled by reason Travelia was not so well as to travel with her and to leave him seemed worse to her than Death But after her Council was broken up she returned to him and told him what her Council had decreed And this said she angerly to him was by your Advice For had I not called a Council but had sent a General of my own choice it would not have been put to a Vote for me to have gone in Person But had you had that love for me as I have for you I should have had better Advice and with that wept Heaven knows said she the greatest Blow Fortune can give me is to go and leave you behind me He seeing her weep thus spake BEAUTY of your Sex and Nature's rarest Piece Why should you cast your Love so low upon a Slave so poor as I when Kings hazzard their Kingdoms for your sake And if your People knew or did suspect your Love to me they would rebel and turn unto your Enemy and besides Conquerors are feared and followed whereas Losing is a way to be despised and trod into the Earth with scorn Alas I am a Creature mean and poor not worthy such a Queen as you and 't were not wise to hazzard all for me Wherefore go on great Queen and may you shine as glorious in your Victories as the brightest Starrs in Heaven May Pallas be your Guide and Mars the God of Warr fight your Battels out May Cupid give you ease and Venus give delight May Hymen give such Nuptials as best befits your Dignity May Fortune always smile and Peace dwell in your Kingdom And in each Heart such Loyal Love may grow No Disobedience may this Kingdom know Age Crown your Life and Honour close your Days Fame's Trumpet loud may blow about your Praise She weeping said No Sound will pierce my Ear or please my Mind Like to those Words you utter when they 're kind But at last by his Perswasions more than by her Councellor's Advice she consented to go upon that condion he would take upon him the Government of her Kingdom until such time as she returned again and said she if I dye be you Heir to my Crown and Ruler of my People And may the Gods keep you from all Opposers The People knowing her Commands and Pleasure by her Proclamation fell a murmuring not only in that she left a Stranger but a poor Slave who was taken Prisoner and sold and a Person who was of no higher Birth than a Ship-Master's Son to govern the Kingdom and rule the People Whereupon they began to design his death which was thought best to be put in execution when she was gone But he behaved himself with such an affable demeanour accompanied with such smooth civil and pleasing words expressing also the sweetness of his Nature by his Actions of Clemency distributing Justice with such even Weights ordering every thing with that Prudence governing with that Wisdom that it begot such Love in every Heart that their Mouths ran over with Praises ringing out the Sound with the Clappers of their Tongues into every Ear and by their Obedience shewed their Duty and Zeal to all his Commands or rather to his Perswasions so gently did he govern Thus whilst he ruled in Peace at home the Armies met abroad and being set ready to fight the Trumpets sounded to Charge and every one prepared to encounter his Enemy striving for the honour of Reputation which is got by the ruin of one Side So equally hath Nature distributed her Gifts that every one would have a just Proportion did not Fortune disorder and misplace her Works by its several Accidents But the terror of the former Blow was not quite extinguished in the Queen's Army nor the insulting Spirits of the other Army laid but rather a new Courage added to their old Victory which did help them now to win that day and with such victorious Fortune that they took the Queen a Prisoner and did destroy the whole Army The Prince thinking the Kingdom won in having the Queen's Person made him divide his Army into two parts the one half he sent to take possession of the Towns Castles and Forts the other part he led himself to conduct the Queen being much pleased that
be dead So in two or three days all Contracts were confirmed and the Match was concluded with the approbation of all Friends of either side married they were and in a short time after he carried her to his House there made her Mistress of his Estate and whilst he governed his outward Affairs she governed the Family at home where they lived plentifully pleasantly and peaceably not extravagantly vain-gloriously and luxuriously they lived neat and cleanly they loved passionately thrived moderately and happily they lived and piously dyed The She-Anchoret THERE was a Widower who had but one Child and she a Daughter which Daughter he bred with Pious Devotions Moral Instructions and Wise Advertisements but he falling sick to death called his Daugher unto him and thus spake to her Farewell my dearest Child for dye I must My Soul must flye my Body turn to dust My only care is that I leave thee young To wander in the World Mankind among Few of them charitable are or kind Nor bear they in their Breast a Noble Mind To help the Fatherless or pity Youth Protect the Innocent maintain the Truth But all their time 's spent with laborious toil For to pervert to ruin and to spoil Flatter thy Beauty and thy Youth betray To give thy Heart and Virgin-flower away They will profess love vow to be thy Friend Marriage will promise yet they will pretend Their Friends will angry be or else they 'l say Their Land 's engag'd they first their Debts must pay Or else that they during some time of life Have made a Vow Not yet to take a Wife And twenty such Excuses they will find For to deceive the simple Female-Kind And if you marry Troubles you will find Pains Griefs and Cares to vex a quiet Mind But here I charge you lying in Death's Arms That you do stop your Ears against their Charms Live chast and holy serve the Gods above They will protect thee for thy zealous Love Daughter I will obey whatever you command Although you dye your will shall fixed stand Father Next I do charge thee Not to grieve nor mourn Since no redress will from the Grave return Daughter O do not so said she But give Grief leave to flow out of my Eyes For if it be supprest the Body dyes Whilst now you live great wrong y'uld think you have If I should sit and laugh upon your Grave Or with neglect should I your Grave pass by And ne're take notice where your Ashes lye Father You cannot hinder Destiny's Decree Daughter O no! but Nature Nature still will be Nature created Love within the Mind The Object dead the Passion still is kind Had I as many Lives as Nature make I 'de lay them on Death's Altar for your sake That single one I have O Heavens me hear Exchange it for my Father's Life so dear But when her Father found that Death drew on He bid her lay her Hand his Eyes upon Father Close up my Eyes said he and then receive Upon thy Lips my last Breath let me breathe When he was dead sh' amaz'd long time sate still At last bethought her of her Father's Will Then up she rose his Body did entomb And how she spent her Life rehearse I 'le soon The Description of her Life in Prose AFTER she had interred her Father's Corps although she had rich honourable and importunate Suiters yet she resolved to live like a kind of an Anchoret's Life living encloistered by her self alone vowing Chastity and a Single-life but gave leave for any to speak to her through a Grate When she went first into her solitary Habitation she thus spake Virtues are several Pathes which lead to Heaven And they which tread these Pathes have Graces given Repentant tears allay the Dust of Pride And pious Sighs doth blow vain Thoughts aside Sorrow and Grief which in the Heart doth lye Doth cloud the Mind as Thunder doth the Skie But when in Thundring-groans it breaketh out The Mind grows clear the Sun of Joy peeps out This pious Life I now resolve to lead Will in my Soul both Joy and Comfort breed She had not been long enclosed but she grew as famous as Diogenes in his Tub all sorts of people resorted to her to hear her speak and not only to hear her speak but to get knowledg and to learn wisdom for she argued rationally instructed judiciously admonished prudently and perswaded piously applying and directing her Discourse according to the several Studies Professions Grandeurs Ages and Humours of her Auditory The first that came to her were Natural Philosophers who asked her Opinion of Man's Soul of which she discoursed in this manner She said Man hath three different Natures or Faculties A Sensitive Body Animal Spirits and a Soul This Soul is a kind of Deity in it self to direct and guide those things that are far above it and to create by Invention and though it hath not an absolute Power over it self yet it is an harmonious and absolute thing in it self and though the Sensitive Body hath a relation to it yet no other ways than Jove's Mansion hath unto Jove for the Body is only the residing-place and the Animal Spirits are as the Angels of the Soul which are Messengers and Intelligencers All Animal Creatures have not this Soul but only Man for Beasts have none nor every Man for most Men are Beasts and have only a Sensitive Body and Animal Spirits as Beasts have but none know when this Soul is out or in the Body but the Gods and not only other Bodies and Spirits cannot know but the Body where it resides and the attending-spirits are ignorant thereof for this Soul is as invisible to the Body and the Animal Spirits as the Gods to Men for though this kind of Soul knows and hath intelligence by the Senses and by the Animal Spirits yet the Senses nor Animal Spirits have none from the Soul for as Gods know Men but Men know not Gods so this Soul knows the Senses and Animal Spirits but the Senses nor Animal Spirits know not this Soul Then they asked her Whether Souls were Immortal She answered That only the Life was Immortal from whence all Souls are derived Then they asked her What Deities she thought there were She answered She thought but one which was the Father of all Creatures and Nature the Mother he being the Life and Nature the only Matter which Life and Matter produceth Motion and Figure various Successions Creations and Dissolutions Then they asked her What she thought Time was She said Time was only the Variation and Alteration of Nature for Time is only in respect to Creations Alterations and Dissolutions Then they asked her What Eternal was She answered An endless Succession Then they asked her What Infinite was She said A Numberless Succession but said she Eternal is in respect to Infinite as Infinite to Eternal Then they asked her Whether she thought there were fixt Decrees or all were governed by
middle nature as betwixt Water and Air for by the rarifaction it is not so gross nor so wet as Water nor rarified so much as to be as thin and dry as Air. Then they asked her What she thought of those that were of the opinion That under the Line it was uninhabitable through an extream heat She said She thought they were like those that were blind of one eye which saw perfectly on the one side but not on the other for their Reason discovered there was a great Heat but it did not discover the refreshing-Winds and moistning-Dews which are constantly in that place which Winds and Dews quench the fiery heat which makes it temperate for Heat and Cold make an equal temper when they are equal in degrees and because there is twelve hours night and twelve day there is as much Cold as Heat for the Dews and the Winds join'd with the Night makes it temperate but if it were not for the equal hours and those Dews and Winds it would be as they thought it was insufferably hot but they wanted information concerning the Dews and the Wind and did not throughly consider when they miss'd the Night Then they asked her the reason of the light of Clow-worms Tails She answered That it was probable the purest thinnest and oilest extracted parts of the Body were in the Tail which the radical Fire enflamed which Flame was Light and said she the Worm having no solid Bones tough Sinews firm Flesh gross Blood or thick Skin in that part to obstruct or eclipse the light it visibly shines in the Night when the Sun is gone whose greatest light drowns all other lesser lights and the reason it shines some times and not others may be some outward cause that eclipses it from our sight as a little Cloud will do the Sun whereas a much smaller Vapour or the like cause will serve to obscure the light of the Glow-worms Tail and certainly said she if we could see through the Bodies of Animals and likewise throught their Skull as easily as the Glow-worms Tail we should see said she a much brighter flame in the Heart and the Brain which flame is the light of Knowledg and the several Objects that the Senses bring in are there visibly perceived these Lights Sickness eclipses and Death puts out Then they asked her What the Moon was She answered A Body of Water and the several Changes said she is the ebbing and flowing thereof which makes it fuller sometimes in one part of the Circle than in the other and when it is High-tide we say it is Full Moon and when it is Low-tide it is in the Wane and as it encreases or decreases we say it is in the First Second or Third Quarter Then they asked her What made it give light She said The Sun's Reflexion thereon for you may observe said she that as the Water shines with the Reflexions or Beams of the Sun so doth the Moon as we say with a Watrish light and said she it is more or less light as that side next to the Sun is swelled fuller or ebbed lower Then they asked her of the rest of the Planets She said She believed that Venus Starr was a Body of Water as the Moon was but for the other Planets said she I take them to be Earthly Bodies but not such as our Globe is but much finer and of as great a difference said she as between Porceline and Clay which makes them shine so bright the substance being so pure that it is as it were transparent Then they asked What the fix'd Starrs were She answered Suns Then they asked her What was the reason that the Breath was hot and cold all at one time as it were for when a Man breathed upon his hand it would feel hot and when he blows upon it it would feel cold She said There was a reason for that for said she a Dilatation causeth heat and a Contraction causeth cold and said she if one breathes on the hand they open the Mouth and Lips wide by which the Breath dilatates like a steam or a vapour which is hot and when one blows upon the hand then the Mouth and Lips are drawn into a narrow compass and that contracts the Breath into a cold wind These several Motions make one and the same thing from one and same manner or passages to work two several effects and surely those Winds that are coldest from whence soever they issue out their passage is narrow and those Winds that feel warm as many times Winds will do their passage is wider and are rather a breathing Vapour than a perfect Wind. There is nothing shews that VVind is made cold by Contraction so much as to blow upon the hand which shews that VVind is contracted Air. Then they asked her VVhat was the reason wind could blow out flame and in a flame it could kindle and put out fire She said That wind did strive to dissipate all things it did encounter and where it hath not so much power to dissipate it only dilatates and when fire is set to any combustible Matter as wood or the like the wind having not a forcible power to dissipate it into dust or ashes it beats the heat of the fire into it and fire having a nature to catch hold and to dilatate and so to feed it self upon all things or at least upon most when the Matter is too hard for the siery-points to enter or at least to enter suddenly the wind like a Hammer strikes them in and so lends the fire force and helping the fire to extend by its dissipating-power dilatates the Heat into the smoak or vapour of the Matter and so into a flame but when it puts out fire or flame it is when it hath so much force as to dissipate the Matter the fire works on and if the wind destroys or disperses the Matter it must needs put out the fire having nothing to work on for fire dyes when it hath no Fuel to work or feed on This is the reason a Man with his Breath can blow out the flame of a Candle and with his Breath blow the flame in again if the snuff of the Candle be full and throughly fired or else he cannot but if it be full and throughly fired he may blow so hard as to dissipate the flame yet not so hard as to dissipate the fiery snuff or wieck of the Candle so that the flame by the dissipating goeth out being dilatated to a dissipation and when the flame is out and the fire remaining with a gentle wind he may dilatate the fire into a flame again and so many times as long as the body of fire remains but if they should blow so hard or strongly as to dissipate the body of fire they put out both fire and flame Then they asked her VVhat Snow Hail Ice and Frost was She answered That Snow was curded VVater like curded Milk for saith she cold doth curdle
apt to sigh She said Sighs were the Minds Pulse and when the Mind was sick the Pulse beats strong fast and unevenly which made Lovers sigh softly smutheringly and sometimes deeply and strongly Then they asked her VVhat made Lovers groan She said Groans were the Mind's Voice and when it felt pains it complained as finding no ease Then they asked her VVhat made Lovers extravagant She said That Extravagantness was a distemper in the Mind which distemper was caused by the Pain it felt Then they asked her If there were no Cure She said Yes Time was a good Physician and Change the only Remedy unless said she the Object of Love be unalterable and then it is dangerous But said she the Mind would be well and free from such pains if it were not for the Appetites which are never pleased but are restless run after Excess and hunt after Variety for they are always in pain either in desiring and not enjoying or else with surfeiting of what they have fed upon for the period of the Appetites is Excess and Excess is Surfeit and Surfeit is Sickness and Desire is Travelling and Travelling is Restless and Restlesness is Wearisome and Wearisomness is Painful insomuch as before we get to our desired End we are tired or dead Seldom do Lovers weep sigh groan or tremble But to make love or rather to dissemble For some can forge those Passions by the dozen And act them all poor Women for to cozen The sixteenth sort of Visiters were Poets Who asked her Why Poets were most commonly Poor She said Poets are employed with Contemplations that they have no time for Fruition for Poets said she had rather have Fancies in their Heads than Money in their Purse and take more pleasure in expressing the one than in spending the other which makes their Imaginations their chiefest Possessions being careless of Fortune's Goods despising her Service regarding neither her Frowns nor her Favours being entertained by Nature whom they most industriously serve and diligently attend Then they asked her Who were most in Nature's favour Poets or Philosophers She answered There was no doubt to be made but that she esteemed and loved Poets the best for said she Natural Philosophers tire Nature with Enquiries trouble her with searching and seeking about anger her with their Erroneous Opinions tedious Disputations and sensless Arguments and make her outragious with their cruel Extractions Substractions and Dissections As for Moral Philosophers said she they restrain enclose and tye Nature as one that is mad tormenting her beyond all reason but sometimes said she with strugling and striving she breaks out but cannot get so far but they straight get hold of her again which makes them always at variance But Poets saith she never cross nor anger her nor torment her they please her all they can and humour her every way they sooth her Passions feed her Appetites delight her Senses praise her Wit admire her Beauty adorn her Person and advance her Fame Then they asked her What the Muses were She said That the Muses were Nature's Dressers and Poet's Mistresses to whom they made Love and several Courtships Then they asked her What Poets were She said Poets were Nature's Painters which drew her to the life yet some do flatter her said she and some do her wrong but those that flatter her she favours most as all great Ladies do Then they asked her What was the ground of Poetry She said Distinguishing and Similizing which is said she Judgment and Fancy as for Numbers Rhyme and Rhetorick they are but the several Accoutrements but no part of the Body of Poetry Then they asked her What was the Effect of Poetry She said To move Passions to describe Humours to express Actions to correct Errors to condemn Follies to persecute Vice to crown Virtue to adorn the Graces to entertain Time to animate Youth to refresh Age to encourage Noble Endeavours to quicken the Spirits to please the Senses to delight the Mind to recreate the Thoughts to encrease Knowledg to instruct the Understanding to preserve the Memory to refine Language to praise Heaven to enflame Zeal to register Life to in-urn Death to pencil Nature and raise Fame Then the Poets asked her If Wit might not be gotten by Industry She said Yes for though it is Nature's Work to make a Brain strong and well-temper'd or put it in tune yet it is Learned Practice and Skill that must play therewith like a Lute although it should be well strung and justly tuned yet if there were no hands or other things to set it in motion it would become useless and unless it were tried it would not be known whether it could sound or no and one that was not practised and learnt in the Art of that Instrument might jangle but hardly play a composed Tune or make any Harmony therewith So a Brain becomes dull for want of use stupid for want of subject and barren for want of learning unless Nature doth play on the Instruments she makes without the help of Art which she can do and doth sometimes but so seldom that it is a wonder But although she doth not always make use of Art she never but doth make use of Time for Time is her chief Instrument with which she works and produceth all things I perceive said she that few profit by reading over or repeating of their own Wit for it is like the Breath of Water-Divers who have two Bags one filled with Air the other to put in Breath that issues out and that Breath that goes out can never be drawn back for use for the life of the Body must be fed with fresh Air or else it is smuthered out so the life of Wit must be fed with new Subjects or else it becomes idle or panting dyes The Seventh sort that visited her were Aged Persons They asked her What made Age so dull She said That most commonly Aged Bodies had Melancholy Minds their Thoughts as their Bodies were always travelling towards death unless said she it be the Irrational sort who live only to their Appetites and dye like Beasts for although old Father Time preches Death to them every minute they sensually or being accustomed to his Doctrine regard him not but follow their Senses as long as they can until they become as insensible as before irrational Then they asked her What made Mankind afraid to dye She said Pain and Oblivion but said she all Creatures are afraid of the one but none but Mankind are afraid of the other Then they asked her What Age endured the most violent Pangs of Death She said Middle-age and perfect growth as being strongest Bodies for perfect growth with middle-age is like a well-built House throughly seasoned and strongly setled which makes Death take the greater pains to pull it down But Infacy and Age said she are like to Houses newly wrought or rotten with long time which the least puff of Wind lays level with the ground Then