victorious could not winne her though with him price prayer and power did ioyntly wooe her Well deseru'd such two modest Matrons the choice Embraces of two such heröicke Champions as might equal their coÌ„stant Loues with the tender of their dearest liues And two our Histories afford whom succeeding fame hath recorded eminent because double Conquerours both of Cities and of themselues puisant and continent This noble testimonie we receiue of Scipio that being a young man of twenty foure yeares of age in the taking of a City in Spaine hee repâ—essed the flaming heat of his youthfull desires when a beautifull maid was brought him restoring her to a young man called Allutius to whom shee was espoused with a great reward Right worthy was hee to conquer another who could with such temper subdue himselfe such good successe hath euer attended on these Morall vertues though professed by Pagans The other Heröe was rightly * Cap. Augustus both in name and nature and wherefoe're you looke a victorious CAESAR Cleopatra kneeled at his feet Tit. Liu. lib 4. cap. XI layd baits for his eyes but in vaine her beauties were beneath that Princes chastity Absolute Commanders were these Heröicke Princes of their affections yet a farre more singular argument of his composed disposition and of Morall if not Diuine Mortification shewed that young man SPVTIMIA in Valerius Maximus whose beauty did so incomparably become him as it occasioned many women to lust afâ—er him which this noble youth no sooner prrceiued than hee purposely wounded his face that by the scarre he sustained his beauty might become more blemished and consequently all occasion of lusting after it clearely remoued Now Gentlewomen if you make Estimation your highest prize if you preferre honour before pleasure or what else is deare or tender your fame will find wings to flye with This will gaine you deseruing Suiters Portion may wooe a worldling Proportion a youthfull Wanton but it is Vertue that winnes the heart of discretion Surely I haue seldome knowne any make this esteeme of honour and dye a contemptible begger Such as haue beene prodigall of it haue felt the misery of it whereas a chaste minde hath euer had something to succour and support it Thus you see what this inward beauty is which if you enioy you sit farre aboue the reach of Calumny age cannot taint it nor youth tempt it It is the Estimation within you that so confines you as you hate that place which giues opportunity that person which makes importunity his agent to lay siege to your Chastity Now wee are to descend to the second branch wherein wee are to shew you how this Estimation which is your highest prize may be discerned to be reall which is not gathered by the first appearance but a serious and constant triall IN Philosophy a man begins with experience and then with beleefâ— but in Diuinity wee must first beginne in faith and then proceed to knowledge True it is that the Sunne Moone and Starres become subiect to vanity yet charity bids me beleeue that there are many beauteous and resplendent Stars in this our Firmament many fresh fragrant Roses in this our inclosed Garden of Albion who haue preseru'd their beauty without touch their honour without taint Where if vanity did touch them yet did it not so seize on them as to disfigure or transforme them You noble Gentlewomen are those Starres whose glory can neuer be eclipsed so long as your Estimation liues vnstained you are those fragrant Roses whose beauty cannot be tainted so long as your stalke of honour growes vntouched Now to the end that your lustre may not bee like to that of the Glowâ—rme nor rotten wood which is meerely imaginary compared with that is reall How Estimation may be discerned to be reall you are not to make faire and glorious pretences purposely to gull the world and cast a mist before the eyes of bleered iudgements No you are to be really what you appeare outwardly These that walke in the Clouds though they deceiue others much yet they deceiue themselues most Obserue then this rule of direction it will accomplish you more than any outward Ornament that Art can bestow on you Be indeed what you desire te be thought Are you Virgins dedicate those inward Temples of yours to chastity abstaine from all corrupt society inure your hands to workes of piety your tongues to words of modesty Let not a straid looke taxe you of lightnesse nor a desire of gadding impeach you of wantonnesse The way to winne an husband is not to wooe him but to be woo'd by him Let him come to you not you to him Profferd ware is not worth the buying Your states are too pure to bee set at sale too happy to be weary of them So long as you liue as you are so your mindes bee pure you cannot possibly be poore You haue that within you will enrich you so you conforme your mindes to your meanes In the discourse of vertues and true estimate of them Salust none was euer held more excellent than that which is found in chaste youth You are Conquerours in that wherein the greatest Conquerours haue fail'd Your chaste paths are not trac'd with wandring desires your priuate Chambers arras'd with amorous passions you spinne not out the tedious night in ah mee 's Your repast findes no hinderance in digestion your harmelesse repose no loue-sicke distraction Others you may command by none commanded Others will vow their seruice vnto you while you are from all seruitude freed Liue then worthy the freedome of so noble a Condition for your Virgin state wants nothing that may enlarge her freedome Againe are you wiues you haue attained an honourable state and by it made partakers of that indiuiduate vnion where one soule ruleth two hearts and one heart dwelleth in two bodies You cannot suffer in that wherein you haue not one share Griefe by your Consort is allayed ioy by partaking with him is augmented You haue now taken vpon you to become Secretaries to others as well as your selues but being one and the same with your selues doe not betray their trust to whose trust you haue recommended your selues Imagine now to recall to memory an ancient Custome that you haue broken the axletree of your Coach at your doore you must be no more straglers These walking Burses and moueable Exchanges sort not with the constancie of your Condition You must now intend the growth and proficience of those Oliue branches about your table Like a curious and continuate builder you must euer addresse your selues to one worke or other From their infancy to their youth from their youth to their maturer growth For the first I know well that diâ—tich to bee most true A mother to be Nurse that 's great and faire Is now held base True Mothers they be rare But farre was it from those ancient heröicke Ladies to thinke this to bee either a disgrace to their place or a
Loue conceiu'd at first sight seldome lasts long Deliberatim must lead it or else it is mis-guided Looke before you like is a good rule but to like at first Looke makes an house of mis-rule Is he of hansome personage whom you loue His proportion is a mouing Obiect to your eye but his pertion it may be will not agree with your state Againe admit he haue both these proportion to purchase your esteeme and portion to maintaine your estate his brest is not transparent his disposition may be crookod and that will cast downe all that was before affected Themâ—stocles being demanded by a Nobleman of Grâ—ece whether he had rather marry his daughter to one rich and euill or one poore and good made this answer I had rather â—aue a man without money than mony without a man Whence it was that Portia the younger daughter of Portius Cato being asked when shee would betake her selfe to an husband replyed When I finde one that seekes me not mine Witty was that young Gentlewomans answer to an inconsiderate Suiter who with much instancy sollicited the father for the affection of his daughter whereto hauing at last consented and the Couenants of marriage concluded this indiscreet wooer vnsâ—asonably imparts his minde to the daughter who made strange with it saying She neuer heard of any such matter Yea but replied he I haue made your father hâ—rewith acquainted and he hath already consented and you may marry him too answered shee for you must hold me excused There is no time that exacts more modesty of any woman than in her time of suiting a shamefast red then best commends her and the mouingst Oraâ—or that speakes for her So as Virgil the very Prince of our Latine Poets when he should bring in King Latiâ—us priuately conferring with his wife Amaâ—a and Tâ—râ—us to whom in nuptiall bands he was to espouse his daughter he brings in the young maid weeping blushing and silent Whence is implyed that it becomes not a Maid to speake of marriage in her parents presence for that were small argument of modesty or shamefastnesse There is a pretty pleasing kinde of wooing drawne from a conceiued but concealed Fancy which in my opinion suits well with these amorous younglins they could wish with all their hearts to be euer in the presence of those they loue so they might not be seene by those they loue Might they chuse they would conuerse with them freely conâ—ort with them friendly and impart their truest thoughts fully yet would they not haue their bashfull loues finde discouery They would be seene yet seeme obscured loue but not disclose it see whom they loue but not bee eyed This the Poet in the person of a Shepherdesse neatly displayeth Phillis to willowes like a cunning flyer Flyeâ— yet she feares her Shepheard should not spy her Now in this Subiect of Fancy as there is nothing more dangerous than entertaining it without due and deliberate aduice so there is nothing growes more generally fatall to the indiscreet Louer than by grounding affection on outward respects without relation to that inward faire which onely makes the Obiect of Fancy full of beauty and presents euery day as a Marriage-day to the party Neither affluence of estate potency of friends nor highnesse of descent can attemper the griefe of a loathed bed These may play vpon the Fantasie but neuer giue satisfaction to the Fancy Wherefore Gentlewomen to the end you may shew your selues discreetest in that which requires your discretion most discusse with your selues the purity of loue the quality of your louer euer reflecting on those best deseruing endowments of his which either make him worthy or vnwoâ—thy your loue Affection though it enter in by the narrow cranny of the Eye it shoots at the heart which vnlesse it be seasoned by iudgement it can not deserue so faire a title A discreet eye will not be taken with a smooth skinne it is not the rinde but the minde that is her Adamant Iustinâ— a Roman Maid no lesse nobly descended than noâ—ably accomplished being married to one more rich than wise exclaimed against her fate that folly should hale her to so loathed a bed And good reason had she to repine when his groundlesse iealosie made her a tragick spectacle of misery before her time For seeing her white necke that obiect begot in him presently an argument of suspect which hee seconded with reuenge to vent the fury of his nature and publish to the world the weaknesse of his temper Let deliberation then be the Scale wherin you may weigh Loue in an equall poize There bee many high and consequent Circumstances which a discreet woman will not onely discourse but discusse before shee entertain so mysterious and honorable estate Disparity in descent fortunes friends with other like respects many times beget distraction of mindes Whence it was that Pittacus of Muylene being intreated by a young man to afford him his best aduice in the Choyce of two wiues tendred him whether hee should marry the one whereof was equaâ—l to himselfe both in birth and wealth the other surpassing him in both Wish'd him to goe along the streets of the City where children vse to play and there obserue what they did aduise him Truth is inequality in these procures distaste but where there is a difference in the seazure or disposure of the heart which should be the firmest and strongest Cement to vnite affection there ariseth the greatest hazard Thence is it Suspition workes vpon â—uery light and friuolous subiect while the other party hunts after opportunity to surfet on forbidden fruit and giue her suspitioâ—s Mate iust ground of iealousie Feed hee may his indigested humour in a iealous pasture and vow reuenge when hee shall finde an apt subiect meane time hee becomes inuisibly gull'd while he deludes himselfe with painted shadowes No Iealousie can euer that preuent Whereas two parties once be full content Seuerall Hieron cont Ruffia I know are the effects of loue as are the dispositions of those that loue Liuia made quicke dispatch of her husband because shee lou'd him too little Lucilia of hers because shee loued him too much Phoedra fancied Theseus lesse than shee should but young Hippolytus more than hee would Which effects are vsually produced when either disparity of yeares breed dislike or obscurity of descent begets contempt or inequality of fortunes discontent Deliberate then before you marry and thus expostulate with your selues touching his Condition whom you are to marry Is he young I will beare with his youth till better experience bring him to the knowledge of man My vâ—age shall bee more easie than to weane him from what hee affects by extremity Youth will haue his swinge his owne discretion will bring him home at least time will reclaime him hee shall not finde mee put on a clowdy brow or entertaine his freer course with a scowle I must conforme my selfe to him confirme my loue in him and so demeane
flagge of vanity the more Lures you throw out of loosest liberty the more foments you vse of soule-soyling delicacy the deeper Lodging you bespeake your selues in the Lake of eternall misery To such I onely speake who so they may furnish themselues of a dainty artist to teach them how to dye well make it the least of their care how to liue well These who loue to dye their haire but neuer change the dye of their corrupted heart These will not sticke with frontlesse impudence to boulster their depraued liberty They may be without controule dispensers and disposers of their owne This variety and delicacy wherein they expresse themselues by an especiall marke of distinction from others they deriue it from the affluence of their owne fortunes and not from others which being so iustly enioyed and without iniury admits no exception in all probability Whereto I reply with the words of a Diuine Father Basil. Art not thou whosoere thou bee a Robber who hast receiued goods as a Steward or dispenser and entitlest thy selfe the impropriator or owner for what faire glozes or pretences soeuer thou makest for thy selfe to gilâ— thy shame or mince thy sinne it is the bread of the needy which thou with-holdest the Coat of the naked which in thy Chest thou storest the shooes of the barefoot which with thee lye rotting the coyne of the begger which with thee lyes moulding Away then with these Superfluous dressings you see daily obiects of your charity bring out your wardrobe and cloath the naked That which you so prodigally spent vpon your selues conuert it to the more glorious attiring of your naked soules See that your Kings daughter be all glorious within that the King of Kings may take pleasure in her Let not so precious an Image be defaced so specious a Virgin defiled so glorious a Creature dishonoured Instead of Delicacy decke your selues Modestly instead of Superfluity out of your variety communicate freely to others necessity We are now to descend briefly to the last branch of this first Obseruation declaring how That Apparell is most comely which conferres on the Wearer most natiue beauty and most honour on her Countrey AS that is euer held most generous which is least affected That Apparel most comely which conferres on the Wearer most natiue beauty and most honour on her Countrey most genuine which is least forced so there is nothing which confers more true glory on vs then in displaying our owne Countries garbe by that we weare vpon vs. The Crowe in the fable was sharply taxed for her borrowed feathers The fable though it spoke of a Crowâ— the Morall pointed at a man Habit we say is a Custome why should it be our custome to change our Habit With what constancy some other Nations obserue their natiue attyre Histories both ancient and moderne will sufficiently informe vs. Nothing is held more contemptible with them than apishly to imitate foraign fashions Prescription is their Tayler antiquity their Tutor Amongst the ancient Heathen euen their very habit distinguish'd Widdowes from Matrons Matrons from Virgins So as not onely sexes states conditions yeeres but euen linages races and families were remarkeably discouered We vsually obserue such a fashion to be French such an one Spanish another Italian this Dutch that Poland Meane time where is the English surely some precious Elixir extracted out of all these She will neither relye on her own inueÌ„tion nor compose her selfe to the fashion of any one particular Nation but make her selfe an Epitomized confection of all Thus becomes she not only a stranger to others but to her selfe It were to be wished that as our Countrey is iealous of her owne inuention in contriuing so shee were no lesse cautelous in her choice of wearing Gregory the great thought that Angles did neerely symphonize with Angels not so much in letter as in fauour and feature Were it not pitty that these should darken their beauty with vailes of deformity Truth is there is nothing which conferres more natiue beauty on the wearer than to be least affectiue in whatsoeuer she shall weare Shee asperseth a great blemish on her better part who tyes her selfe to that formality as she dare not put off the least trifle that shee weares nor put on ought more than shee weares lest she should lose the opinion of Compleat There is a natiue modesty euen in attire as well as gesture which better becomes and would more fully accomplish her if fashion were not such a pearle in her eye as it keepes her from the sight of her owne vanity I confesse light heads will bee easily taken with such toyes yea I haue sometimes obserued a phantasticke dressing strike an amorous inconsiderate Gooseling sooner into a passionate ah me with a carelesse loue sicke wreathing of his enfolded armes than some other more attractiue obiect could euer doe But what is the purchase of one of these Green-wits worth what benefit can a yong Gentlewoman reapin enioying him who scarcely euer enioy'd himselfe Meanes he may haue but so meanely are they seconded by inward abilities as his state seemes fiâ—ter to mannage him than hee to marshall it A long Locke he has got and the art to frizle it a Ring in a string and the tricke to haâ—dle it for his discourse to giue him his true Character his silence approues him better for his wit hee may laugh at a conceit and his conceit ne're the wiser for his other parts disclaiming his substance I appeale to his picture Now Gentlewoman tell me doe you trim your selfe vp for this Popiniay Would you haue the foole to weare you after so many follies haue outworne you Let modesty suit you that a discreeter mate may chuse you Be it your prime honour to make ciuility your director This will incomparably more grace you than any phantasticke attire which though it be get admiration it clozeth alwayes with derision You cannot possibly detract more from the renowne of your Country where you receiued birth and education than by too hot a quest or pursuit afer Outlandish fashions BEHAVIOR Play not the Dotterell in this too apish and seruile Imitation let other Countries admire your Constancy and Ciuility while they reflect both on what you weare and what you are Be it your glory to improue your Countryes fame Many eyes are fixed on you and many hearts will be taken with you if they behold those two Ornaments Modesty and Humility euer attending you Discretion will be more taken and enamoured with these than toyes and feathers There is nothing so rough but may be polished nor ought so outwardly faire but may be disfigured Whereas the beauty of these two cannot by adulterate Art be more graced by the aged furrowes of time become defaced or by any outward Occurrent impaired There are many beauteous and sumptuous Cases whose Instruments are out of tune These may please the eye but they neither lend nor leaue a sweet accent in the
Diuine Doctrine counselleth the holy Virgin Demetrias to eschew idlenesse Exhorting her withall that hauing done her prayers shee should take in hand wooll and weauing after the commendable example of Dorcas that by such change or variety of workes the day might seeme lesse tedious and the assaults of Satan lesse grieuous concluding his deuout Exhortation with this definite position I speake generally no rayment ornament or habit whatsoeuer shall seeme precious in Christs sight but that which thou makest thy selfe either for thine owne peculiar vse or example of other Virgins or to giue vnto thy Grand-mother or thy Mother no though thou distribute all thy goods vnto the poore See how strictly this holy Father proceeds with his religious Daughter Yet was this Demetrias to whom he addreâ—â—ed this his exhortation a Noble Lady not one whom pouerty did enforce to actions of such necessity but one honourably descended richly endowed powerfully friended Let this Lady be your Patterne her action your direction her obedience your instruction that you may share with her in a peacefull dissolution Entertaine no time without some deuout taske reflect vpon the Noblenesse of your descent ennoble it with excellence of desert For you must know true honour is not wonne Vntill some honourable deed be done Waste not prodigally the precious Lampe of your life without some vertuous action that may purchase loue Your time is lesse than a minute in respect of eternity employ that minute so as it may eternize your memory Let this bee your highest taske to promote the honour of your Maker esteeming all things else a slauish and seruile labour THere is nothing which requires more discretion AFFECTION than how to behaue or carry our selues while we are enthralled to affection The Louer is euer blinded saith wise Platâ— with affection towards his beloued Reason is laid asleepe while Sense becomes the master Wooer Whence came that vsuall saying One cannot loue and be wise But I wholly oppose my selfe to their assertion who seeme thus farre transported with the sensuall opinion of affection My Tenet is One cannot truely loue and not be wise It is a Beldam frenzy and no fancy which giues way to fury and admits not reason to haue soueraignty Yet in this Subiect Gentlewomen is your temper best tryed your discretion most required and your Patience oft-times most exercised Looke therefore how you plant it lest you bootlesly repent it when it is misplaced It is most certaine there is nothing more impatient of delay than loue nor no wound more incurable while we liue There is no exemption all haue a taste of this Potion though it haue seuerall degrees of operation Looke all about you who so young that loues not Or who so old a comely feature moues not Yet what different passions arise from one and the selfe-same Subiect Heere Gentlewomen you shall see some of your Sexe so surprized with affection as it bursts out into violent extremes BEHAVIOR their discourse is semi-breu'd with sighes their talke with teares they walke desperately forlorne making Launds and desolate Groues their disconsoâ—ate Consorts Their eyes are estrang'd from sleepe their weakened appetite from repast their wearied limbs from repose Melancholly is their sole melody They haue made a Contract with griefe till griefe bring them to their graue And these poore wenches are much to be pittied because their owne tender hearts brought them to this exigent hauing either set their affections where they thought verily they might bee requited and were not or else where they receiued like seeming tender of affection but afterwards reiected what they wished to effect they could not So as in time if continuance of absence reduce them not to a better temper they fall into a poore Maudlins distemper by giuing raines to passion till it estrange them from the soueraignty of reason Whereas others you shall see though not such kind soules nor halfe so passionate yet more discreet in their Choyce and in the passages of loue more temperate These will not deigne to cast a loose looke vpon their beloued but stand so punctually vpon their termes as if they stood indifferent for their choyce albeit constantly resolued neuer to admit of any change These scorne to paint out their passions in plaints or vtter their thoughts in sighes or shed one dispassionate teare for an incompassionate Louer Their Experience hath taught them better Notions they wil seemingly fly to make them follow and so take them by whom they are most taken They can play with the flame and neuer cinge their wings looke loue in the face and preserue their eyes conuerse where they take delight and colour their affection with a seeming disdaine These are they who can walke in the Clouds to their intimatest friends make their eyes strangers to their hearts and conclude nothing more foolish than Loue if discouered nothing more wise if artfully shadowed But I neither approue the violence of the former nor indifference of the latter The one interlayeth affection with too much passion the other with too much dissimulation These were well to bee so allayed or attempered as neither too much eagernesse taxe the discretion nor too much remisnesse argue coolenesse of affection For the former I must tell them they giue great aduantage to an insulting Louer to ' entertaine Loue with such vehement ardour it fares with these as with hot duellists who fight themselues out of breath and so subiect their relenting force to the command of a better tempered enemy For the latter they hold constantly that position in arguments of Loue as well as in other actions of their life She knowes not how to liue nor how to loue that knowes not how to dissemble I must tell these Dissimulation sorts not well with affection Louers seldome read Loues Polliticks Let them appeare what they are with that discreet temper as they may deserue the embraces of a Noble Louer In briefe let such as are too hot in the quest of their desires attemperate that heat with intermissions such violence is best rebated by absence Contrariwise such as are too coole let them quicken that easinesse with their more frequent conference and assiduate presence VVHat a furious and inconsiderate thing is Woman PASSION when Passion distempers her how much is her Behauiour altered as if Iocasta were now to be perâ—onated True it is some with a bite of their lip can snppresse an intended reuenge and like dangerous Politicians pleasingly entertaine time with one they mortally hate till oportunity vsher reuenge which they can act with as much hostility as if that very moment were the Actor of their iniury But this Passion neuer workes more tragicke of fearefull effects than when it streames from Iealousie or Competition in the Subiect where they loue Whereof wee haue variety of instances euen in our owne Iland to omit Italy which is a very Theatre of Tragicke Conclusions in this kinde It is not long since we had
an absolute moderation of our desires in all subiects Come then Gentlewomen loue to be decent and that will teach you the best Complement You haue that in you which diuinely employ'd wil truly ennoble you Your descent may giue you an higher ascent by way of precedency before others but this you cannot appropriate to your owne deserts but that Nobility of blood which is deriued to you by others Labour to haue something of your owne which you may challenge to be yours properly without any helpe of an ancient pedigree How well doth it seeme you to expresse a ciuill decent state in all your actions You are in the eyes of many who precisely obserue you and desire to imitate whatsoeuer they note obseruable in you You may then become excellent patternes vnto others by retaining decency and entertaining her for your follower Shee will make you appeare gracious in their sight whose iudgements are pure and vncorrupted howsoeuer our Corkie censurers traduce you your fame cannot be blemished nor the odour of those vertues which so sweetly chafe and perfume you decayed Decency attended you in your life and the memory of your vertues shall crowne you after death Euen there Aug Soliloq Cap. XXXV Where youth neuer ageth life neuer endeth beauty neuer fadeth loue neuer faileth health neuer vadeth ioy neuer decreaseth griefe is neuer felt groanes are neuer heard no obiect of sorrow to be seene gladnesse euer to be found no euill to be fear'd Yea the King shall take pleasure in your beauty and at your end inuest you with endlesse glory Prize not then the censure of sensuall man for hee is wholly set on vanity but fixe your eyes on him who will cloath you with eternity Let this be your Crowne of comfort that many are improued by your Example Seâ— de vita bâ—aâ—a many weaned from sinne many wonne to Sion By sowing the seed of goodnesse that is by giuing good examples expressed best by the effectuall workes of faith you shall reape a glorious haruest Actions of goodnesse shall liue in you and cause all good men to loue you Whereas those are to be esteemed worst who not onely vse things euilly in themselues but likewise towards others For of so many deaths is euery one worthy as hee hath left examples of naughtinesse vnto posterity Aug. Med. c. 4. Greg. in 〈◊〉 Let vertues then bee the stayres to raise you these will adde vnto your honour seat you aboue the reach of Censure and ioyne you indiuidually to your best Louer THE ENGLISH Gentlevvoman Argument Estimation a Gentlewomans highest prize how it may be discâ—rned to be reall how superficiall how it may be impregnably preserued how irreparably lost The absolute end whereto it chiefly aspires and wherein it cheerefully rests ESTIMATION Estimation ESTIMATION is a good opinion drawne from some probable grounds Estimation a Gentlewomans highest prize An vnualuable gemme which euery wise Merchant who tenders his honor preferres before life The losse of this makes him an irreparable Bankrupt All persons ought to rate it high because it is the value of themselues though none more dearely than those in whom modesty and a more impressiue feare of disgrace vsually lodge These so cautelous are they of suspition as they will not ingage their good names to purchase affection Publike resorts because they may corrupt they auoyd Priuacy they consort with and in it conuerse with their owne thoughts whether they haue in them ought that may betray them They obserue what in others deserues approuement and this they imitate with an vncorrupt eye they note others defects which they make vse of as a â—aueat Pure is their mold but farre purer the temper of their minde Fame they hold the sweetest flower that euer grew neare the border of Time Which lest either it should wither for want of moisture or wanting warmth should lose its vigour they bedew it with gracious affects and renue it with zealous resolues Descent as they draw it from others so would they improue it in themselues Ancient houses now and then stand in need of props and pillars these would they haue supplyed with the Cardinall vertues These are Emblemes of your selues Noble Ladies who so highly tender your honour as Estimation on gaâ—â—es you more than what your bloods gaue you It is a Princely command of your affections which mounts you to this height of goodnesse distinguishing betwixt â—lind loue and discreet affâ—ction Pleasure cannot make you so forgetfull of your honour as to depriue you of that in a moment which you shall neuer recouer Vertue hath taken that seazure of you as no light thought can seize on you or dispossesse her of that claime shee hath in you Treachâ—rous Tarpeia's may be taken with gifts but your honour is of too high an estimate to suffer the â—ast blemish for reward You obserue what staineâ— haue laid do yet lie vpon may ancieÌ„t families by means of attainders in their Progenitors Their bloods say we were corrupted whereby their estates became confiscated their houses from their lineall successours estranged and they to lasting infamy exposed Certainely though not in so high degree for these were Capitall many familiâ—s haue receiued deepe stains from light actions which neither time though neuer so aged could weare out nor the liuing exploits of their noble successors wipe off Vice hath euer beene of a deeper dye than vertue and the memory of the one commonly suruiues the fame of the other Wounds when they are healed leaue their scarres behinde them Paths retaine their prints Your memory shall neither receiue life from that noble blood which sprinkles in you noâ— from any monumentall shrine which may hereafter couer you but from those precious odours of your euerliuing vertues which shall eternize you These are of power to make such as long since dyed and whose vnequall'd beauty is for many ages since to ashes turned retaine a flourishing fame in the gratefull memory of the liuing Penelope for spending chaste her dayes As worthy as Vlysses was of praise A daily siege shee suffered and in her Conquest equall was shee to those victorious Peeres of Greece who made Troy their triumph Estimation was her highest prize Suiters shee got yet amidst these was not her Vlysses forgot Long absence had not estranged her affection youthfull consorts could not moue in her thoughts the least distraction neither could opportunity induce her to giue way to any light action Well might Greece then esteeme her Penelope of more lasting fame than any Pyramid that euer shee erected Her vnblemished esteeme was of farre purer stuffe than any iuory statue that could bee reared Nor was Rome lesse beholden to her Lucrece who set her honour at so high a price as shee held death too light to redeeme such a prize Though force frights foes and furies gaz'd vpon her These were no wounds but wonders to her honour The presence of a Prince no lesse amorous than