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
Chance She answered That doubtless there were fixt Decrees as Light Darkness Growth Decay as Youth Age Pain Pleasure Life Death and so in every thing else for ought my Reason can perceive For said she as Nature creates by Dissolution and dissolves by Creation so the Diattical Life says she decrees Rules and ruleth by Decrees Then they asked her What was Chance and Fortune Chances said she are visible Effects from hidden Causes and Fortune a conjunction of many sufficient Causes to produce such an Effect since that Effect could not be produced did there want any one of those Causes by reason all of them together were but sufficient to produce but that one Effect many times produces many Effects upon several Subjects and that one Effect like the Sun streams out into several rays darting upon several Subjects and again as the Sun scorches and burns some things and warms and comforts others so this Effect advances some and casts down others cures some and kills others and when the Causes vary and the Effects alter it is called Change of Fortune Then they asked her Whether she thought Faith could naturally produce any Effect She answered That in her opinion it might for said she why may not Faith which is an undoubted Belief joined to such a subject produce or beget an Effect as well as a Seed sown or set in the Earth produceth a Flower a Tree or the like or as one Creature begets another especially if the Faith and Subject whereon it is placed have a sympathy but by reason said she Faith is not so customary a way of producing as other ways are it causeth many Doubts which Doubts are like cold Northern Winds or sharp biting Frosts which nip and kill the Buds of Faith which seldom or never lets the Effects come to perfection Then they asked VVhat the Sun was She answered A Body of Fire Then they askedher VVhat Light was She answered Light was enflamed Air. They said That if Light was enflamed Air it would burn all things and so consume the World She answered That in thin Bodies Fire had but little power to burn for the thinness of the Matter weakens the power of the Strength which causeth Flame said she to be of no great Heat for the hot Flames do rather sindg than burn and the thinner the substance is that is set on fire the purer the Flame is and the purer the Flame is the less Heat it gives as the Flame of Aqua-vitae that may be eaten with Sops Then they asked her What Air was She answered That Air was the Smoak produced from Heat and Moisture For Air said she is a thin Oyl which is set on fire by the fiery Sun or is like a fiery Substance and fiery Motions whose Flame is light Then they asked her what Darkness was She answered Darkness was the absence of Light And then they asked why it was dark immediately when the passage of Light was stopped and that if it were inflamed Air it would burn and give Light as long as that inflamed Air lasted She answered that when the fiery Rays that issued from the Sun were cut off the flame went out for said she it is not the Air that feeds the Flame but the fire that is in the Flame and when that Fire is spent or taken away the Flame dyes this is the reason said she that as soon as the Rays of the Fire is cut off or shut out or taken away it is dark and when they are eclipsed the Light is dull and dim but as I said before Light is only Air set on flame by the fiery Sun and the Blewest Sky is the thinnest Flame being the purest Air and just as if we should carry a Candle away we carry the light also which is the Flame so doth the Sun and as we bring a Candle or the like into a Room we bring in the light so doth the Sun Where the Fire is there is the greatest light and when a Screen is set before it the light is eclipsed and when kindled Fire as a Candle or the like is carried quite from the place it leaves as great a darkness as if it were put out just so doth the Sun which is the World's Candle when it goeth down draweth away the light which is the Flame and as it riseth it bringeth in the Fire which causeth the Flame and when it is high-Noon then is the brightest light as casting no shadows if nought Eclipses it and when Clouds get before it it is Eclipsed as with a Screen and when it is quite removed to another part of the World it doth as if it went into another Room or Chamber leaving no light behind it for twi-light is caused from the Rays of the Sun for though the Body of the Sun is gone from off such a part of the Earth yet the Rays which are the spreading-part of Fire are not quite drawn away as soon as the Sun for as those Rays usher the Sun-rising so they follow the Sun-setting and though these Rays of Fire which are the Beams of the Sun enflame the Air yet not so bright as the Body of the Sun doth and where the Sun is gone so far as the Beams cannot reach that part of it becomes dark It is not the gross Clouds as some think make twi-light for we see a cloudy day makes the twi-light seem shorter though it be not and it is by reason they eclipse the enflamed Air for Clouds are rather Vapour than Air and though Vapour and Air have some relation the like hath Vapour and Water and Vapour when it is gathered into the Clouds doth rather eclipse than prolong light They said That if the Light was Flame the Vapoury Clouds might quench it out She answered That although Vapour could eclipse the Light it could not put out the light of the Sun 't is true said she it may and doth often allay the fiery heat in the Rays for some days will be cooler than other days although the Sun be higher and some will be cooler than others although in the same degree of the Sun by reason of low Marish Grounds or near great Rivers from whence Vapours arise But though the Vapour may abate the heat in the Rays as the enflamed Air and eclipse the light either of Mists or Fogs or when they are gathered into Clouds yet they can neither put out the light nor quench out the heat of the Sun which is the Fountain of both no more than a drop of Water can quench a House on fire The Sun is a World of bright shining Fire from which other Worlds receive both light and heat 'T is true if there could be such a quantity of Water as could equal the Sun's power it might quench the Sun unless the Sun be an eternal Fire But as for Vapour were there a greater quantity than what arises from the Earth it could not change the natural property of the Sun besides Vapour is of a
they asked her What course of life was best for Age to live She said Piously temperately soberly easily peaceably pleasantly and sagely to be Pious in serving the Gods duly and to be Compassionate and Charitable for the Aged many times seem as if they were tired in the Service of the Gods making their Age a lazy excuse for their omissions And Age having the Experience of the changes of Fortune the accidents of Chance the Miseries and Cruelties in Nature and the Havocks and Spoils Death makes grow hard-hearted for as Time hardens a tender Plant with the growth so Custom hardens a tender Heart with frequency As also having observed the false Natures the malicious Dispositions the subtil Designs the Self-ends the cruel Actions in the generality of Mankind they are apt to censure mistrust and condemn all which makes their Charity cold and Assistance slow They should be Bountiful for Age seeing the many Miserie 's that Poverty brings and the Power that Riches hath become oft-times so covetous and so sparing that they become miserable making their Stores their Prisons their Gold their Shackles lashing themselves with the Rods of Scarcity and Inconveniency and though their Blood streams not through a porous skin yet are their Veins shrunk up and dry within they feed on Thoughts as Lovers do and their Gold is their Mistress admiring it as the fairest of Nature's Works worship it as a Deity believe all happiness lives therein and good is produced thereby But those that have a generous Soul by Nature and have been accustomed to relieve by Practice encrease in Humanity Compassion Charity and Liberality as in years also their Love and Piety is fuller of Fervencies and though the Lamp of their Life is blinking yet the Flames of their Zeal are more clear for as their Oil of Life wasts their Oil of Devotions encreases continually pouring in Glory Praises and Thanksgiving Likewise said she Age should live soberly and temperately As for Temperance said she Age is a Distemper in it self and therefore they should have a greater care in ordering themselves but some are so far from patching the Ruins of Time or propping or upholding a sagging sinking Life that they make the rents greater and pull down the Building sooner than Nature intended disturbing their bodily rest and peaceable mind by their unseasonable Hours and unnecessary Cares as also by their unwholsome Diets and disordered Appetites which weakens Nature and disturbs Health more than otherwise they would be But those that are prudently wise survey themselves and industriously maintain Life in as good Repairations as they can placing shelters before it or laying covers upon it to defend and keep it from boisterous Storms and nipping Colds Likewise they repair it with nourishing Food comfortable Cordials and quiet Rest which makes them appear like a famous Monument or an ancient Palace whose stately Structure cannot be buried in the Ruins They should also live soberly gravely and reservedly for an aged Body with a vain Mind fantastical Humours extravagant Actions apish Behaviours and idle Discourses suit not well together they appear both uncomely undecently and unnaturally for Can there be any thing vainer than for Age to rant and swagger brag and boast or to be vain-glorious or Can there be any thing more phantastical than for Age to be inconstant and various pining and spightful gossipping and thwarting amorous and wanton And can there be more phantasticalness than for Age to be fooling and toying sporting and playing dancing and singing flanting and revelling posting and travelling searching and seeking sharking and fawning crouching and creeping Or Can there be more apishness than to see Age full of imitation as to affect a dancing jetting strutting stragling gait a pruning jointing wreathing rowling posture a simpring fleering jeering mopping mewing Countenance or leering fleering winking gloting Eyes And what can be idler than to hear Age talk lasciviously buffoonly impertinently falsly amorously vain-gloriously maliciously factiously and wickedly But sober Age hath a setled Mind quiet Thoughts well governed Passions temperate Appetites noble Resolutions honest Designs prudent Actions rational Discourses and Majestical Behaviours For an easie life said she Age should shun all troublesome Offices painful Employments tedious Travellings long Speeches impertinent Talkers hard Couches uneasie Garments sharp Colds burning Heats also Surfeits or unpleasant or loathsome Meats or Drinks for it were better to dye than live in pain and the infirmities of Age is pain enough without any addition to encrease them Likewise Age should strive to live a peaceable life as neither to hear Quarrels or make Quarrels or be a Party in Quarrels or quarrelsome business should abate all turbulent Passions restless Cares endless Desires vexing Thoughts It should also avoid all Clamours or mournful Noises cruel dreadful or pitiful Objects they should forgive Injuries freely suffer Injuries patiently submit to Power willingly or at least readily for Life is a torment when Peace is banished and to have an unquiet Life a troubled Mind joined with a weak Body would be as bad as Hell's torments The last is To have a pleasant Life for Age being apt to be melancholy it ought to please it self to divert its saddest Thoughts and raise its drooping Spirits Besides Age hath most reason to please it self having by nature the shortest while to live and they are most unwise that make not the best use or take not the most profit of Time But some may say That Age cannot take pleasure by reason that Pleasure lives in the Senses and the Senses which are the Strings Organs or Pipes of Pleasure are broke or out of tune and the Mind they will say is subject to ruinous Time as much as the Body and Senses for Knowledg which is the Foundation thereof and Understanding the Building thereon and Memory the Doors thereto and Remembrance the Windows therein is apt to decay which forceth the Inhabitant which is Delight to forsake its Mansion But I speak not to those that are so old or so infirm as to be past thinking as it were for those are but breathing-Carcasses not living-Men but I speak to such whose Knowledg is more and Understanding clearet by Time's Experience for though the Body hath a fixt time to arrive to a perfect growth and perfection yet the Mind hath not for the Mind can never know nor understand so much that it might not know and understand more neither hath Time such a Tyrannical Power over the Mind as over the Body Wherefore said she the Mind may have delight when the Body is past Pleasures and the Thoughts which are the Children of the Mind may have more various Pastimes and Recreations to delight them than the Senses can have Varieties of Substance to work Pleasures out of for they can create Delight in themselves which the Senses cannot for they become dull and grow as dead when they have nothing to work on When the Thoughts are like Spiders or Silk-worms that can spin out
Hair hung down and on her Shoulders spread And in a Chair she sate a Table by Leaning theron her Head did side-ways lye Upon her Hand the Palm a Pillow made On which being soft her Rosie Cheeks she laid And from her Eyes the Tears in show'rs did fall Upon her Breast sparkling like Diamonds all At last she fetch'd a sigh Heart break said she Gods take my Life or give me Liberty When those words were exprest she was constrain'd He courage took on what she there complain'd And boldly entring in she seem'd afraid He kneeling down askt pardon and thus said Celestial Creature do not think me rude Or want of Breeding made me thus intrude But Fortune me unto this House did bring Whereby a Curiosity did spring From my desires this House to view throughout Seeing such shady Groves to grow about And when I came near to the Gate not one Was there to ask or make opposition The House seem'd empty not a Creature stirring But every Room I entred still admiring The Architect and Structure of each part Those that design'd were skilful in that Art VVandring about at last Chance favouring me Hath brought me to this place where I do see ABeauty far beyond all Art or any That Nature heretofore hath made though many Of all the Sex creates she sweet and fair Yet never any of your Sex so rare This made me stand and gaze amaz'd to see What wondrous glorious things in Nature be But when I heard your words for to express Some grief of heart and wisht for a redress My Soul flew to your service here I vow To Heaven high my life to give to you Not only give my life but for your sake Suffer all Pains Nature or Hell can make Nor are my Proffers for a base Self-end I 'm to your Sex a Servant and a Friend Pure is my Zeal and my Flame being clear Chuse me your Champion and adopt me here If I cannot your Enemy destroy I 'le do my best no rest I will enjoy Because my Fortune Life and Industry I 'le sacrifaice unto thy Liberty When that the Lady heard him speak so free And with such passion and so honestly I do accept your Favour Sir said she For no Condition can be worse to me Than this I now do live in nor can I My Honour hazzard in worse Company VVherefore to your protection I resign Heaven O Heaven prosper this Design But how will you dispose of me pray tell I will said he convey you to a Cell Which is hard by and there will Counsel take What way is best to make a clear escape With that his Riding-Coat which he did wear He pull'd straight off which she put on her Hair She ty'd up short and covered close her Face And in this posture stole out of that place An old ill-natur'd Bawd that did wait on her Being then asleep did never think upon her But when sleep fled awak'd she up did rise Sitting upon her Bed rubbing her eyes That were seal'd up with Matter and with Rheum When that was done she went into the Room VVherein the Lady us'd alone to be Straight missing her cry'd out most piteously Calling the Servants to search all about But they unto a VVake were all gone out The Peasant's Ball is that we call a VVake VVhen Men Maids do dance and love do make And she that danceth best is crown'd as Queen VVith Garlands made of Flow'rs Laurel green Those Men that dance the best have Ribbans ti'd By every Maid that hopes to be a Bride Youth loves these kind of Sports and to a Fayre 'T will venture life rather than not be there Which made the Servants all although not many To be abroad and leave the house for any To enter in which caused this escape And to the Owner brought so much mishap A Lord came galloping as from his Palace With pleasing thoughts thinking alone to solace Himself with his fair Mistress who admired Her Beauty more than Heaven and desired Her Favour more than Jove's her angry words Did wound him more than could the sharpest swords Her Frowns would torture him as on a Rack Muffling his Spirits in melancholy black But if she chanc'd to smile his joys did rise Much higher than the Sun that lights the Skies But riding on the Castle coming nigh The VVoman running 'bout he did descry His heart misgave him with doubts he alighted Asking the reason she was so affrighted She shak'd so much no answer could she make He being impatient unto her thus spake Devil said he what is my Mistress dead Or sick or stole away or is she fled She kneeling down cry'd out O she is gone And I left to your Mercy all-alone With that he tore his hair his breast did beat And all his body in a cold damp sweat Which made his Nerves to slack his Pulse beat slow His strength to fail so weak he could not go But fell upon the ground seeming as dead Until his Man did bear him to a bed For he did only with him one Man bring VVho prov'd himself trusty in every thing But when his diffus'd Spirits he did compose Into a deep sad Melancholy he grows Could neither eat nor drink nor take his rest His thoughts and passions being so opprest At last this Lady and her Noble Guide Got to a place secure yet forc'd to hide Her self a time till such Friends could make That would protect Vertue for Vertue 's sake Because her loving Foe was great in Power Which might a Friendless Innocent devour This Noble Gentleman desir'd to know From what Misfortunes her restraint did grow Willing she was to tell the Gentleman The story of her Life and thus began After my birth my Mother soon did dye Unto my Father leaving a Son and I My Father nor my Brother liv'd not long Then was I left alone and being young My Aunt did take the charge to see me bred To manage my Estate my Brother dead I was the only Child and Heir but she Was married to a Lord of High Degree Who had a Son and that Son had a VVife They disagreed led an unhappy Life VVhen I was grown to sixteen years of age My Aunt did dye her Husband did engage To take the charge and see me well bestow'd And by his tender care great love he show'd But such was my Misfortune O sad Fate He dy'd and left me to his Son's VVife's hate Because this younger Lord grew much in Love VVhich when his VVife by circumstance did prove She sought all means she could to murther me Yet she would have it done with privacy The whilst her amorous Lord fresh Courtships made VVith his best Rhetorick for to perswade My honest Youth to yeeld to his desire My Beauty having set his heart on fire At last considering with my self that I Having a plentiful Estate whereby I might live honourable safe and free Not subject to be betray'd to slavery Then to the
Bodies ne're shall parted be With that he sighs and breathing out his last About his Mistress Corps his Arms he cast The Urn seal'd up his Friends a Tomb did build Famous it was such Love therein it held Most Parents do rejoyce and Offerings bring Of thankful Hearts or Pray'rs for their Off-spring These thought their Age was blest but they were blind With Ignorance and great affections kind More than with Age but who knows Destiny Or thinks that Joy can prove a Misery Some Parents love their Wealth more than their Breeds Hoording up more than Love or Nature needs And rather than poor Virtue they will take By crossing Love Childless themselves will make A sober Man who had a thinking-Brain Of Vice and Vanity did thus complain 'T IS strange to see the Follies of Mankind How they for useless things do vex their Mind For what superfluous is serves them for nought And more than necessary is a fault Yet Man is not content with a just measure Unless he surfeits with Delight and Pleasure As if true Pleasure only liv'd in Pain For in Excess Pain only doth remain Riches bring Care to keep Trouble to spend Beggars and Borrowers have ne're a Friend And Hospitality is oft diseased And seldom any of their Guests are pleased In Feasts much Company disturbs the rest And with much noise it doth the Life molest Much Wine and Women makes the Body sick And Doting-Lovers they grow Lunatick Playing at Cards and Dice Men Bankrupts grow And with the Dice away their Time they throw Their Manly Strength their Reason and their Wit Which might in Warrs be spent or Letters writ All Generosity seems buried here Gamesters seem Covetous as doth appear But when they spend most prodigally wast As if their Treasures were the Indies vast Or else their Purse an endless Myne of Gold But they 'l soon find it doth a bottom hold Titles of Honour Offices of State Bring Trouble Envy and Malicious Hate Ceremony restrains our Freedom and State-Offices Commands Men tott'ring stand And Vanities Inchanters of the Mind That muffle Reason and the Judgment blind Do lead the life in strange fantastick ways To seek that Pleasure which doth live in Praise Praise is no real thing an empty Name Only a Sound which we do call a Fame Yet for this Sound Men always are at strife Do spend their Fortunes and do hazzard Life They give their Thoughts no rest but hunt about And never leave until the Life goes out That Man that seeks in Life for more than Health For Rest and Peace within his Commonwealth Which is his Family sure is not wise And know not where true Happiness still lies Nor doth he guess that Temperance doth give The truest Pleasure makes it longest live You Gods said he give me a Temperate Mind An Humble Cottage a Chast Wife and Kind To keep me Company to bear a part Of all the Joys or Sorrows of my Heart And let our Labours Recreations be To pass our Time and not a Misery Banish all Cares you Gods let them not lye As heavy burthens and when we must dye Let 's leave the World as in a quiet Sleep Draw gently out our Souls our Ashes keep Safely in Urns not separate our Dust Or mix us so if transmigrate we must That in one Body we may still remain When that 's dissolved make us up new again A Lady said She his Discourse would fit A Story tell that should his Humour hit THere was a Man and Woman married were They liv'd just so as should a Married Pair Though their Bodies divided were in twain Their Souls agreed as one they did remain They did so mutually agree in all This Man and Wife we only One may call They were not rich nor were they very poor Not pinch'd with want nor troubled with great store They did not labour for the Bread they eat Nor had they various or delicious Meat Nor many Servants had to vex their Mind Only one Maid that faithful was and kind Whose VVork was just so much as to employ Her so as Idleness might not her annoy Thus decently and cleanly did they live And something had for Charity to give Her Pastime was to spin in Winter cold The whilst he read and to her Stories told And in the pleasant Spring fresh air to take To Neighbouring-Villages short Journeys make In Summer-Evenings they the Fields did round Or sit on Flow'ry-banks upon the ground And so in Autumn they their walks did keep To see Men gather Grapes or sheer their Sheep Nor did they miss Jove's Temple once a day Both kneeling down unto the Gods to pray For gracious Mercy their poor Souls to save A healthful Life an easie Death to have Thus did they live full forty years and more At last Death comes and knocketh at the dore And with his Dart he struck the Man full sick For which the Wife was almost Lunatick But she with care did watch great pains did take Broths Julips Jellies she with skill did make She most industrious was his pains to ease Studying always his Humour for to please For oft the sick are peevish froward cross And with their pains do tumble groan and toss On their sad Couches quietly he lay And softly to himself to Heaven did pray Yet was he melancholy at the heart For nothing else but from his VVife to part But when she did perceive his Life decay Close by his side upon a Bed she lay Embrac'd and kist him oft until his Breath And Soul did part drawn forth by powerful Death Art gone said she then I will follow straight For why my Soul upon thy Soul shall wait Then turn'd her self upon the other side In breathing-sighs and show'ring-tears she dy'd A Single-Life best A Man said He liv'd a most happy Life Because he was not ty'd unto a Wife Said he Marriage at best obstructs the Mind With too much Love or Wives that are unkind Besides a Man is still ty'd by the heel Unto the Cradle Bed Table and Wheel And cannot stir but like a Bird in string May hop a space but cannot use his wing But those who 're free and not to Wedlock bound They have the liberty the World to round And in their Thoughts much Heav'nly Peace doth dwell When Marriage makes their Thoughts like pains of Hell And when they die no Care doth grieve their Mind For any thing that they shall leave behind A Lady said If Women had but Wit Men neither Wives nor Mistresses should get No cause should have to murmure and complain If Women their kind Freedom would restrain But Marriage is to Women far more worse Than 't is to Men and proves the greater Curse And I said she for proof a Tale will tell What to a Virtuous Married Wife befell THere once a Lord and Lady married were And for Sev'n years did live a Happy Pair He seem d to love his Wife as well he might For she was Modest
the Earth The Man answered They made much noise in talk and took great pains and bestowed great costs to find the Philosophers Stone which is to make the Elixir but could never come to any perfection Alas said the old Man they are too unconstant to bring any thing to perfection for they never keep to one certain ground or track but are always trying of new Experiments so that they are always beginning but never go on towards an end Besides said he they live not long enough to find the Philosophers Stone for said he 't is not one nor two Ages will do it but there must be many Ages to bring it to perfection But I said he living long and observing the course of Nature strictly am arrived to the height of that Art and all the Gold that is digged out of the Mines was converted by me for in the beginning of the World there was very little Gold to be found and neither my Brother Adam nor his Posterity after him for many Ages knew any such thing but since I have attained to the perfection of that Art I have made so many Mines that it hath caused all the outward parts of the World to go together by the ears for it but I will not hereafter make so much as to have it despised As for my Stills said he they are the Pores of the Earth and the Waters I distill are the sweet Dews the Oily part is the Ambergreece and the Chymists know not how or from whence or from what it comes for some say from Trees others that it is the Spawn of some kind of Fish so some think it one thing some another The saltness of the Sea comes also from Chymistry and the Vapour that arises from the Earth is the Smoak that steems from my Stills But said he the World is not to continue long as it is for I will by my Art turn it all into Glass that as my Brother Adam transplanted Men from Earth by his sin some to Heaven some to Hell so I will transplant the World from Earth to Glass which is the last act of Chymistry Then the Man observing a great concourse of Waters that went with a violent force close by the Center he asked the old Man How came that Water there He answered It was the Gutter and Sink of the Earth for whatsoever Water the Sun drank from the Sea and spued upon the Earth run through the Veins into the Sea again by the Center all little Pipe-Veins meeting there or else said he the World would be drowned again for at Noah's Flood those Pipe-Veins were commanded by Jove to be stopt and after such a time to be opened again I wonder said the Man that all the weighty Materials in the World do not fall upon your Head and so kill you Why so they would said he if they lay all together on a heap but as every thing hath a several motion so every thing hath a proper place for Gold and Iron never dwell together in the Earth neither are all kinds of Stones found in one Quarry nor do all the Mines or Quarries join together but some are in one place and some in another which poises the weight of the Earth equally and keeps it from falling The Man said You have but a melancholy life being none here but your self O said the old Man the Riches of the Earth and all the Varieties thereof come into my Compass This place is the Heart or Soul of Plenty Here have I sweet Dormice fat Moles nourishing Worms industrious Ants and many other things for Food Here are no Storms to trouble me nor Tempests to disorder me but Warmth to cherish me and Peace and Quiet to comfort and joy me the drilling-Waters are my Musick the Glow-worms my Lights and my Art of Chymistry my Pass-time When he had done speaking they took their leaves craving pardon for their abrupt Visit and giving him thanks for his gentle entertainment But the old Man very kindly prayed them to have a care of themselves as they returned for said he you must go through Cold Crude Aguish and Hot Burning Pestilent places for there are great Damps in the Earth as also a great Heat and Fire in the Earth although it gives not Light like the Sun for the Heat of the Earth said he is like the Fire in a Coal and that of the Sun like that of a Flame which is a thinner part of Substance set on fire and is a weaker or fainter Heat but the Sun said he gives more Heat by his quick Motion than the Heat gives Motion And though said he the Fire be the subtillest of all Elements yet it is made slower or more active by the substance it works upon for Fire is not so active upon solid Bodies as it is upon leighter and thinner Bodies So the Witch and the young Man's Spirit gave him thanks and departed But going back they found not the ways so pleasant as when they went for some ways were deep and dirty others heavy and clayie some boggy and sandy some dry and dusty and great Waters high Mountains Stony and Craggy Hills some of them very Chalky and Limy But at last arriving where they set out he found his Body there and putting it on as a Garment gave thanks to the Witch and then went home to rest his weary Spirits The Tale of the Lady in the Elyzium THERE was a Lord that made love to a Lady upon very honourable terms for the End was Marriage This Lady received his Love with great Affection and it chanced that upon the hearing of a report That he was married to another she fell into a swound for above an hour insomuch that they all thought her to be dead but at last returning to her self again one told her That he thought her Soul had utterly forsaken her Mansion the Body No said she 't was only the sudden and violent Passion which had hurried my Soul to Charon's Boat in a distracted Whirlwind of Sighs where in the Croud I was Ferried over to the Elyzium-Fields They ask'd her What manner of place it was She answered Just such a place as the Poets have described Pleasant green Fields but as dark as a shady Grove or the dawning of the Day or like a sweet Summer's Evening when the Nightingal begins to sing which is at the shutting up of the day But when I was there said she I met with such Company as I expected not Who were those said they Julius Caesar and the Vestal Nunn Nero and his Mother Agrippa and Catiline and his Daughter Cornelia and such as Anthony and Cleopatra Dido and AEneas sans nomber But finding not my chast Lover there said she I went to Charon and told him The Fates had neither spun out my Thread nor cut it in sunder but they being careless in the spinning it was not so hard twisted as it should have been insomuch that the report of my Lover's Marriage
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
in their treacherous Victories and if you beset me with Stratagems kill me outright and lead me not a Prisoner to set out your Triumph If you have Warrs with your Conscience or Fancy or both interrupting the peace of your Mind as your Letter expresses I should willingly return to your side and be your Advocate but the Fates have destin'd it otherwise And yet what unhappy Fortune soever befalls me I wish yours may be good Heavens keep you Here said she give the Man that brought me the Letter this The Man returning to his Lord so soon made him believe he had not delivered her his Letter Well said the Duke you have not delivered my Letter Yes but I have said he and brought you an Answer Why said the Duke it is impossible you staid so short a time Then said he I have wrought a Miracle or you did lengthen my Journey in your Conceits with the foul ways of Dissiculties I hope said the Duke thou art so blessed as to make as prosperous a Journey as a quick Dispatch Leave me a while said he till I call you But when he went to open the Letter Time brings not more weakness said he than Fear doth to me for my Hands shake as if I had the Palsie and my Eyes are so dim that Spectacles will hardly enlarge my sight But when he had read the Letter Joy gave him a new Life Here said he she plainly tells me She would be mine She saith She would return to my side if the Fates had not destin'd against it by which she means her Unkle is against me Well if I can but once get access I shall be happy for ever So after he had blessed himself in reading the Letter many times over I will said he strengthen my self to be able to go abroad for as yet I am but weak and calling to hisMan he bid him get him something to eat Did your Grace said the Man talk of Eating Yes answered the Duke for I am hungry By my troth said the Man I had thought your Hands Mouth Appetite and Stomack had made a Bargain the one That it never would desire Meat nor Drink The other That it would digest none The third That it would receive none and the fourth That it would offer none for on my Conscience you have not eat the quantity of the Pestle of a Lark this week and you are become so weak that if a Boy should wrestle with you he would have the better You are deceived said the Duke I am so strong and my Spirits so active that I would beat two or three such old Fellows as thou art and to prove it I will beat thee with one hand No pray said he I will believe your Grace and leave your active Grace for a time to fetch you some Food When his Man came in with the Meat he found the Duke a dancing I helieve said he you carry your Body very leight having no heavy Burthens of Meat in your Stomack I am so Airy said the Duke as I will caper over thy Head By my troth said he then I shall let fall your Meat out of my hands for fear of your heels Whist the Duke was at his Meat he talkt to his Man Why hast thou lived an old Batchelor and never married O Sir said he Wives are too chargeable Why said the Duke are you so poor No Sir answered he Women are so vain and do not only spend their Husbands Estates but make his Estate a Bawd to procure Love servants so as his Wealth serves only to buy him a pair of Horns Prithee let me perswade thee to marry and I will direct thee to whom thou shalt go a wooing Troth Sir I would venture if there had been any Example to encourage me Why what do you think of my Marriage Do not I live happily Yes said he when your Duchess and you are asunder but when you meet it is like Jupiter and Juno you make such a thundring noise as it frights your Mortal Servants thinking you will dissolve our World your Family consuming your Hospitality by the Fire of your Wrath rouling up the Clouds of smoaky Vapour from Boil'd-Beef as a Sheet of Parchment When you were a Batchelor we lived in the Golden Age but now it is the Iron Age and Doomsday draws near I hope saith the Duke thou art a Prophet but when Doomsday is past you shall live in Paradice In my Conscience Sir said he Fortune hath mis-match'd you for surely Nature did never intend to join you as Man and Wife you are of such different humours Well said the Duke for all your railing against Women you shall go a wooing if not for your self yet for me Sir said he I shall refuse no Office that your Grace shall employ me in Go your ways said the Duke to that Lady's Maid you gave the Letter to and present her with a Hundred pounds and tell her If she can help me to the speech of her Lady you will bring her a Hundred pounds more and if you find her nice and that she says She dares not offer her Five hundred pounds or more and so much until you have out-bribed her cautious Fears Sir said the Man If you send her many of these presents I will woo for my self as well as for your Grace Wherefore by your Grace's leave I will spruce up my self before I go and trim my Beard and wash my Face and who knows but I may speed For I perceive it is a fortunate year for old Men to win young Maids Affections for they say The Vice-Roy is to be married to the sweetest young beautifullest Lady in the World and he is very old and in my Opinion not so handsome as I am With that the Duke turned pale Nay said the Man Your Grace hath no cause to be troubled for 't is a Lady you have refused wherefore he hath but your leavings With that the Duke up with his hand and gave him a box on the Ear Thou lyest said he he must not marry her Nay said the Man that is as your Grace can order the business But your Grace is a just performer of your Word for you have tried your strength and have beaten me with one hand The Duke walked about the Room and after he had pacified himself at last spoke to his Man Well said he if you be prosperous and can win the Maid to direct me the way to speak to her Lady I will cure the Blow with Crowns Sir said he I will turn you my other Cheek to box that if you please Go away said the Duke and return as soon as you can Sir said he I will return as soon as my business is done or else I shall lose both Pains and Gains Good Fortune be my Guide said he and then I am sure of the World's Favour for they that are prosperous shall never want Friends Although he were a Coward a Knave or a Fool the World shall
he thought they might despise him as seeming unconstant yet stay he could not wherefore calling them together he spake in this manner My Friends said he We have here a pleasant Island altogether unhabited but what is possest by our selves and certainly we might become a famous People had we Women to get Posterity and make a Commonwealth but as we are all men we can only build us Houses to live and dye in but not have Children to survive us Wherefore my Counsel is That some of us that are most employed may take the new Ship and go a Pyracing for Women making some adventure on the next Kingdom which may be done by a sudden surprisal which Prizes if we get any will bring us more comfort pleasure and profit than any other Goods for what contentment can Riches bring us if we have not Posterity to leave it to They all applauded so well of his Advice that they were impatient of stay striving who should go along with him and so pleased they were with the imagination of the Female Sex that those whose Lot was to stay who seldom or never pray'd before prayed for the others good success But the Prince's intention was only to find that Female he lost caring not to seek for those he never saw But setting out with great expedition and hopes of a good return sailed with a fair Wind three or four days at last saw Land part of the Kingdom of Amity No sooner landed but they were beset with Multitudes of Countrey-people who flocked together being affrighted with the arrival of strangers and being more in numbers than they were over-power'd them and took them Prisoners They were examined for what they came They answered For fresh Water But they believed them not for said they it is not likely you would come in a Troop so armed for fresh Water So they bound them and sent them to the King to examine them farther And being carried to the chief City where the King was who was advertised of all sent for them into his Presence to view them And being brought unto them the Prince who was of a comely and graceful Presence and a handsome man bowing his Head down low in a submissive stile thus spake Great King We poor Watry-Pilgrims travelling through the vast Ocean to search the Curiosities of Nature that we may offer our Prayers of Admiration on her Altar of New Discoveries have met with cruel Fortune who always strives to persecute and hath forced us to your Coast for the relief of fresh Water for we came not here to rob nor to surprise but to relieve our feeble Strength that was almost lost with thirst not that we were afraid to dye but loath to live in Pain nor would we willingly yeeld up our Lives unless great Honour lay at stake but if the Fates decree our death what way soever it comes with patience we will submit But if great King your Generosity dares trust our Faiths so far as to employ us in your Service we may prove such by our Courage that our Acts may beg a Pardon for those necessitated Faults we have committed and if we dye in Warrs we dye like Gallant Men but to dye shackled Prisoners we dye like Slaves which all Noble Natures abhor The King when he had heard him speak thus answered the Prince as their accustomed manner was in Verse Your Faith I 'le trust and Courages will try Then let us see how bravely you dare dye The Prince Poetically answered again as he perceived it an usual Custom to speak Our Lives said he wee 'l quit before we yeeld Wee 'l win your Battels or dye in the field For the King at that time was newly entred into a Warr with the Queen of Amity the chief cause was for denying him Marriage he being a Batchelor and she a Maid and their Kingdoms joining both together but he nearer to her by his Affection being much in Love with her But she was averse and deaf to his Suit and besides her People was loath for fear of being made a subordinate Kingdom Wherefore he sought to get her by force And the King liking the Prince's Demeanour demanded who he was and from whence he came The Prince told him truly who he was from whence he came how he was taken by the Pyrates and how long he had lived with them concealing the cause of his journey But by his Discourse and Behaviour he insinuated himself so far into the King's Favour and got such Affections in his Court that he became very powerful insomuch as he was chosen the Chief Commander to lead out the Army believing him as he was nobly born and observing him to be honourably bred and they being a People given to ease and delighting in Effeminate Pleasures shunned the Warrs sending out only the most Vulgar People who were rather Slaves than Subjects All meeting together produced the chusing of the Prince who ordered and directed their setting out so well and prudently as gave them great hopes of a good Success In the mean while the Queen was not ignorant of their Intentions nor slack in her Preparations sending forth an Army to meet them But the Queen her self had a Warr in her Mind as great as that in the Field where Love as the General lead her Thoughts but fear and doubt of Times made great disorder and especially at that time for Travelia on whom she doted was then sick in which Sickness she took more care to recover him than to guard her self and Kingdom But the Army she sent out was led by one of her Chief Noble Men who marched on until he had a view of the other Army and being both met they set their Armies in Battel-array When they were ready to fight the Prince thus spake in the most general Language Noble Friends YOU being all Strangers to me makes me ignorant both of your Natures and Customs and I being a Stranger to you may cause a mistrust both of my Fidelity and Conduct As for my Experience I am not altogether ignorant of the Discipline of Warr having been a Commander in my own Countrey Neither need you doubt of my Zeal and Loyalty to your King's Service by reason I owe my Life to him for it was in his power to have taken it away Neither can I have more Honour bestowed on me from any Nation than from this were I never so ambitious or basely covetous to bribe out my Fidelity Wherefore if I lose as I am perswaded I shall win the Day yet it will not be out of my Neglect Falshood or want of Skill but either it must be through Fortune's Displeasure or by your Distracted Fears which I cannot believe will possess any Spirit here being so full of Alacrity Chearfulness and Readiness to meet the Enemy and may the Thoughts of Honour maintain that Heat and Fire not only until it hath consumed this Army you see but all that shall ever oppose you After he
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
Throat into the Stomack to feed the Body to maintain the life thereof and the natural Capacities digest those several Objects and Subjects into Knowledg and Understanding as the natural heat into Flesh and Blood And the Brain is like the Body sometimes more strong and sometimes more weak which makes the Understanding sometimes more sick and sometimes more healthy and sometimes also the Brain will be stuft with Fancy as the Body with Humours But some Brains are like an unhealthy Body that will never thrive and others like Stomacks that are nourish'd but with some particular sort of Meat when Variety will corrupt but never digest And others are like Stomacks that the more Varieties are received the better Concoction where particulars would cause a Surfeit Likewise said she young Brains are like tender Slips not grown to bear Fruit but length of time brings them to maturity And some Brains are like barren Grounds that will not bring Seed or Fruit forth unless it be well manured with the Wit which is rak'd from other Writers or Speakers Others are like unplowed ground for the Senses which are as the Husband-man either neglect through laziness or are so poor that they have not a sufficient stock of Objects or Subjects or Matter or Form to work with or sow in the Brain Others are like foolish Husband-men that either sow or reap too soon or too late that know not how to sett and graft to prune or to cherish which makes the Brain unprofitable Others like ill Husbands run wandring about unconstantly and never regard their Affairs but let the Brain run to Weeds which with good Husbandry might bear fruitful Corps And some are so rich and fertil that if they be not plowed nor sett yet they will be fat Meadows and rich Pasture wherein grow wild Cowslips Prim-roses Violets Dazies and sweet Thyme Marjoram Succory and the like Then they asked her How they should govern their Servants She answered With Employment for said she idle Servants like idle Subjects grow factious and so rebellious for want of good Employments to busie their heads with Then they asked her How Masters ought to use Servants She answered As good Princes do their Subjects with a Fatherly care for their well-being well-doing and subsisting they must have a Protector 's regard for their safety be just Judges for their Rights and Priviledges for their Condemnations and Punishments honest Friends to advise them wise Tutors to instruct them prudent Governours to order them powerful Generals to command them bountiful Gods to reward their painful Labours their dutiful Obediences their honest Services their faithful Trust and their constant Fidelity Then the Wives asked her If it might not be as lawful for Wives to receive and entertain Love's Courtships as for Husbands to make Love-Courtships She said No for said she unconstant Women are the ruin of a Commonwealth For first It decays Breed for though many be barren by Nature yet there are more become barren through Wildness Secondly It corrupts Breed mingling the Issues of several Men. Thirdly It decays Industry for a Man that doubts the Children be none of his will never take pains to provide for them or at least not to enrich them Fourthly It makes dangerous and deadly quarrels for the Cuckold and the Cuckold-maker can never agree Then they asked her What they should do in case their Husbands did kiss their Maids or their Neighbour's Maids Daughters or Wives She said To take as little notice of it as they could to give them as much liberty as they would have to praise their Mistresses more than they deserved and to cause them to be as jealous of them as they could be First said she To take no notice makes them to live quiet and makes their Husbands to be more shye lest they should perceive it otherwise said she there will not only be quarrels but she will receive often affronts and disgraces by himself and Whores Secondly said she To give them liberty will glut their Appetites surfeit the Humour and quench their Affections Thirdly said she A superlative Praise will abate the Truth and out-reach the Admiration Lastly said she To make them jealous by discoursing That no Woman is to be trusted or relied upon for their constancies in Love when they have forsaken their own Honour their Modest Nature their Honest Birth their Lawful Rites their Civil Customs and their Pious Zeal to Heaven for Jealousie saith she turns Love into Hate Then they asked her What they should do if their Husbands Whores did enslave them by being as Mistresses to command and they as Drudges and Slaves to obey making them as Bawds or Witnesses to their Lascivious Acts She said There was nothing for that but parting for said she a Noble Mind cannot play the Bawd nor live with impudent Vices But said they if the Wife have Children how shall they part then 'T is better said she to part with the Goods of the Body than the Goods of the Soul wherefore it were better to part from Children or Life than with Honour and Virtue for though Virtue said she may wink at an Infirmity and Honour may excuse a Fault yet not be made as a Party or brought to the publick view or be made a Slave thereto Then they asked her What was the best way to keep their Husband's Love and cause them to be constant She said The best way to keep their Husband's love was to be honestly modest cleanly patient prudent and discreet but said she a man may love dearly and tenderly his Wife and yet desire to kiss his Maid wherefore to keep him constant said she a Wife must act the Arts of a Courtizan to him which is very lawful since it is to an honest End for the Arts honest and lawful but the Design and End is wicked but said she to learn those Arts you must be instructed by such as have practised or seen them for I have not nor cannot guess or devise Arts. The Twelfth sort were Nurses with their Nurse-Children And they asked her How Children should be ordered She said Young Children should be handled gently watched carefully used kindly and attended prudently The gentle handling said she is most requisite for Children have rather Grissles than Bones more Jelly than Flesh whereby the least oppression or wrenching or turning may deform them causing some Members to be deformed that otherwise would be in perfection and by reason Nurses handle not Children tenderly there is so many lame and crooked as they are Likewise Nurses should give their Limbs liberty not swaddle nor tye them too hard or to suffer their Coats to be too little or their Shooes or Stockings too short nor to pin too many Pins about them lest they should prick them Likewise not to toss nor tumble them nor to dance nor rock them too violently for a weak motion may displace an unknit Grissle-Joint and what Pains soever they feel or Hurts they get