said This Tale I will requite To vindicate our Sex which you did slight A Man in love was with a Lady fair And for her sake would curl perfume his Hair Professions thousands unto her did make And swore for her a Pilgrimage would take I swear said he Truth shall for me be bound Constant to be whilst Life in me is found With all his Rivals he would Quarrels make In Duels fought he often for her sake It chanc'd this Lady sick was like to dye Of the Small Pox Beauty's great Enemy When she was well her Beauty decay'd quite He did forsake her and her Friendship slight Excuses made her did not often see Then asked leave a Traveller to be And thus poor Lady when her Beauty 's gone Without her Lover she may sit alone Then was the third Man's turn his Tale to tell Which to his Company he fitted well A Description of Constancy THere was a Noble Man that had a VVife Young Fair and Virtuous yet of so short life That after she had married been a year A Daughter 's born which Daughter cost her deer No sooner born the Mother laid in bed Before her Lord could come his VVife was dead Where at the sight he did not tear his Hair Nor beat his Breast nor sigh nor shed a Tear Nor buried her in state as many do And with that Funeral-Charge a new Wife wo But silently he laid her in a Tomb Where by her side he meant to have a Room For by no other side he meant to lye In Life and Death to keep her company The whilst he of his Daughter care did take And fond he was ev'n for his dear VVife's sake But Grief upon his Spirits had got hold Consum'd him more than Age that makes Men old His Flesh did waste his Manly Strength grew weak His Face grew pale and faintly did he speak As most that in a deep Consumption are Where Hectick-Fevers do with Life make warr And though he joy'd he had not long to live Yet for to leave his Daughter young did grieve For he no Kindred had to take a care Of his young Child and Strangers he did fear They would neglect their Charge not see her bred According to her Birth when he was dead Or rob her of her Wealth or else would sell Her to a Husband might not use her well Or else by Servants brib'd might her betray With some mean Man and so to run away These cares of his his Mind did much torment And her Ill Fortune to his Thoughts present At last he did conclude If any be True Just and full of Generosity They 're such as are like to the Gods on high As Powerful Princes and Dread Majesty The Soveraign was dead but left to reign His Widowed-Queen whose Prudence did maintain The Government though Forreign Warrs she had Which was a Charge and oft-times made her sad This Noble-man sent to the Queen to crave That she upon his Child would pity have To take her to the Court there to be bred That none might wrong her after he was dead The Queen most willingly his Suit did sign And so in Peace his Soul he did resign This Lady soon did to the Court repair Where she was bred with tender Love and Care And Youth that 's bred in Courts may wisest be Because they more do hear and more do see Than other Children that are bred obscure Because the Senses are best Tutors sure But Nature in this Maid had done her part And in her frame had shew'd her curious Art Compos'd her every way Body and Mind Of best Extracts that were to form Mankind All which she gave to Time for to distill And of the subtil'st Spirits the Soul to fill As Reason Wit and Judgment and to take The solid'st part the Body for to make For though that Nature all her works shapes out Yet Time doth give strength length and breadth about And as her Person grew in stature tall And that her Beauty did encrease withall So did affection in her Heart grow high Which there was planted in her Infancy There was a Subject Prince within the Land Although but young the Army did command He being chose for Birth Wealth Valour Wit And Prudence for to lead and martial it The whilst his Father did the Queen assist To manage State-affairs as knowing best The Kingdom 's Constitutions Natures bad Of Common-People who are sometimes mad And wildly in Distempers Ruins bring For most Rebellions from the Commons spring But he so just and loyally did serve His Queen and Countrey as he did preserve Himself within her Favour and her Love As great Respect and honour'd Praise did prove And in the Warrs his Son such Fame did get That in Fame's Chariot he triumphant set For he was Valiant and of Nature free Courteous and full of Generosity His VVit was quick yet so as to delight Not for to cross or in Disputes to fight For gallant Sword-men that do fight in warr Do never use with Tongues to brawl and jarr He was exact in Body and in Mind For no Defects in either could you find The Queen that had a Neece both young and fair Did strive to match her to this Prince and Heir Of all his Father's VVealth who had such store As all the Nobles else did seem but poor And the young Princess lik'd so well the choice That thoughts of marrying him did her rejoice And through her Eyes such Messages Love sent On smiling-rays and posting-glances went The other Lady did hear the Report For every one did talk of it in Court Besides she saw his Person still attend Upon the Princess and did Presents send And every day to visit her did go As being commanded by his Father so At which she sad and melancholy grew Yet her Disease not thorowly she knew Like as a Plant that from the Earth doth spring Sprouts high before a full-blown Flower it bring So did her Love in Bud obscurely lye Not any one as yet did it descry Nor did the Prince the least affection find She being reserv'd in action and in mind Sober she was and of a bashful look Of but few words yet she good notice took And much observ'd for Love hath a quick Eye And often by her Countenance doth spy The hidden Thoughts that the Tongue dare not tell For in the Mind obscurity doth dwell But yet she did espy something lay cross To his Desires but guess'd not what it was But griev'd that any thing should him displease For those that love do wish their Lov'd much ease Nay so much ease they Torments would endure If these for those they love might good procure But she grew restless and her Thoughts did run About him as about the VVorld the Sun For he was her sole VVorld and wish'd her Love Had influence as Planets from above To order his affections and to bring From several Causes one Effect to spring And the Effect that he might
nought but Air. With that the Thoughts were very much perplext Then did resolve the Chymists should be next Which they would ask so unto them they go To be resolv'd If they of Souls did know They said unto the Thoughts When Bodies dye Souls are th' Elixir and pure Chymistry For Gold said they can never wasted be Nor can it alter from its purity Eternal 't is and shall for ever last And as pure Gold so Souls do never wast Souls are the Essence and pure Spirits of Gold Which never change but shall for ever hold And as Fire doth the pure from dross divide So Souls in Death are cleans'd and purifi'd From grosser parts of Body and no doubt The Soul as Spirits Death exhaleth out It is the Essence of great Nature's store All Matter hath this Essence less or more After the Thoughts had mused long In fine Said they we think the Soul is more Divine Than from a Metal'd Earth for to proceed Well known it is all Metals Earth doth breed And though of purest Earth the true Gold be Being refin'd by Heat to that degree Of pureness by which it long doth last Yet may long time and labour make it wast To shew 't is not Eternal and perchance Some slight Experience may that work advance Which Man hath not yet found but Time said they May Chymists teach and so they went away But travelling about they weary grew To rest a while they for a time withdrew The search of Truth into a Cottage went Where liv'd an aged Cottage well content A Man and Wife which pious were and old To them the Thoughts their tedious Journeys told And what they went to seek the Truth to find Concerning Souls to tell unto the Mind For we desire said they the truth to know From whence the Soul proceeds or where 't will go When parted from the Body The Old Man said Of such Employment he should be afraid Lest Nature or the Gods should angry be For his Presumption and Curiosity If it be Nature's work there is no doubt But it doth transmigrate all things about And who can follow Nature's steps and pace And all the subtil ways that she doth trace Her various Forms which curious Motion makes Or what Ingredients for those Forms she takes Who knows said he the Cause of any thing Or what the Matter is whence all doth spring Or who at first did Matter make to move So wisely and in order none can prove Nor the Decrease nor Destinies can find VVhich are the Laws that every thing do bind But who can tell that Nature is not VVife To mighty Jove and he begets the life Of every Creature which she breeds and brings Forth several Forms each Figure from her springs Thus Souls and Bodies joined in one Gin Though Bodies mortal be the Soul 's divine As being first begot by Jove and so The purest part of Life 's the Soul we know For th' animated part from Jove proceeds The grosser part from Nature self she breeds And what 's more Animated than Mankind Unless his Soul which is of higher Kind Thus ev'ry Creature to Jove and Nature are As Sons and Daughters and their Off-spring fair And as their Parents of them do take care So they as Children ought not for to fear How they dispose of them but to submit Obediently to all that they think fit Not to dispute on idle Questions still But shew obedience to their Maker's will Man asketh blessing of his Father Jove And Jove doth seem Mankind the best to love And Nature she her blessing doth bestow When she gives Health makes Plenty for to flow The blessings which Jove gives unto Mankind Are peaceful Thoughts and a still quiet Mind And Jove is pleas'd when that we serve his VVife Our Mother Nature with a Virtuous Life For Moral Virtues are the Ground whereon All Jove's Commands and Laws are built upon Thoughts trouble not your selves said he which way The Soul shall go to Jove and Nature pay For Temperance wherein the Life is blest That Temperance doth please the Life the best Intemperance doth torture Life with pain And what 's superfluous to us is vain Therefore return and temper well the Mind For you the truth of Souls shall never find At last came Reason which had been their Guide And brought them Faith in her they did confide Taking their leave away with Faith they ride And Faith e're since doth with the Mind reside A Lady which all Vanities had left Since she of Youth and Beauty was bereft She said That Pride in Youth was a great sin Of which a Tale did tell thus entring in A Description of the Fall of foolish and self-conceited Pride THere was a Lady rich that sate in state And round about her did her Servants wait Where every Tongue did walk still in their turn But in the ways of Flattery they run You are said one the finest drest to day A Heavenly Creature did another say Your Skin is purer far than Lillies white And yet is clear and glassy as the Light And from your Eyes such splendrous rays do spread That they seem like a Glory round your Head Your Wit is such 't is supernatural And all that hear you speak straight Lovers fall The sound but of your Voice charms every Ear And when you speak your breath perfumes the air Thus by these flatteries most proud she grew And scornful looks on every Object threw All Men she scorn'd that did to her address And laugh'd at all did love to her profess Her Senses for to please she was so nice That nothing serv'd but what was of great price Thus did she live in Lux'ry Pride and Ease And all her Thoughts were still her self to please She never pray'd unto the Gods on high For she did think her self a Deity That all Mankind was made her to admire And ought her Favours most for to desire That every knee that bow'd not to her low Or whose demeanors did not reverence show She thought them Beasts that did not Merit know Or that her Frowns should work their overthrow Her Smiles and Frowns she thought such power had As Destiny to work both good and bad At last the Gods that always have an eye Upon the Earth who all things do descry Amongst poor Mortals they this Lady spy'd Whose heart was swell'd and thoughts were big with pride Begot by Pluto's Wealth and Nature's Paint Bred in the Soul which makes it sick and faint But Pride is nurs'd still by the Senses five VVhat from each Sense it sucks it keeps alive But if no Nourishment it gets from those As Touch Taste Sound sweet pleasant scent orshows It faints and pines a way as starv'd so dyes And in a Grave of Melancholy lyes But as I said when Gods poor Mortals view'd They for their sins with Punishment pursu'd Then with this Lady they did first begin Many ill accidents at her they fling First they did set her
dry and have a corroding quality their corroding quality is caused by the sharpness and their heat by their corroding and their driness by their insipid nature and though they are actually cold they are virtually hot their virtues are only on cold and moist bodies or diseases as those that have obstructions caused by raw cold flegm or swellings caused by cold clammy Humours or Ulcers caused by cold corrupted Humours or Rheums or Dropsies caused by too many cold moist Humours or the like Diseases caused by cold Humours and in my opinion said she they would be excellently good for all outward Ulcers or old Sores or Wounds being washed and bathed therewith by reason they have a cleansing drying faculty not only inwardly taken but outwardly applied Also they may temper the inflamations that most commonly attend all Ulcers Sores or Wounds not only by cleansing and drying up the putrefactions but being actually cold especially outwardly applied for though they are virtually hot being inwardly taken and digested into the blood or as I may say the Mineral rubbed or wrought into the body yet they are actually cold that is cold to touch But to return to the interior Maladies All those Diseases that are produced from hot dry and sharp causes are as bad as poysons They are so for such obstructions that proceed from hard-baked dry Humours or Dropsies caused by hot dry Livers Spleens or other parts or Consumptions that proceed from salt sharp Rheums or hot dry Lungs Livers Spleens or the like parts or all Swellings caused by hot dry or sharp Humours or interior Ulcers caused by hot dry or sharp Humours or Apoplexies caused by hard crusted flegm or dry black melancholy or burnt dry thick blood which stops the natural passages of the spirits or Epilepsies or Convulsions caused by sharp Humours which shrivel and knit up the Nerves or Veins or Joints of the Body or hot Winds which work and foam and as I may say yeest the natural Humours in the body distempering the body therewith Likewise it is an Enemy to all melancholy bodies being full of sharp Humours like Aqua-fortis which are bred in the body or as a sharp green Humour which is a poisonous Verdigrease bred in the body which Humour is the cause most commonly of the Disease called Epilepsis or Falling-sickness and oft-times is the cause of Convulsions but this Humour is a certain cause of the Stomack-Cholick that is to say a Wind in the Stomack and Sides Also they are Enemies to the Gout by reason that the Gout proceeds from a hot-baked dry salt or sharp Humour It is a bitter or sulphureous Humour or a limy chalky Humour that causeth the Gout and indeed it is a calcined Humour which makes it incurable For the Stone they may work good Effects although my Reason cannot perceive but that the Minerals may contract and confirm humours into stone as well as dissolve stone for thought their acuteness is penetrating and so may dissolve yet their driness is Contracting Uniting Combining and they are not only dry by the insipidness of their nature but by their sharpness for all sharpness is drying more or less and though sharpness is actually dissolving by corroding yet it is virtually drying by heating for corroding is the cause of heat For whatsoever is rubb'd or grated hard or swiftly grows hot even Stones or any Metal which is the hardest Matter we know but looser Matter as Wood will be set on fire Wherefore if Wood Stone and Metal will become actually hot by rubbing or grating actually thereon well may soft flesh especially the inward parts that are most tender And as it is the nature of sharpness to corrode and the nature of corroding or rubbing to heat so it is the nature of heat to drink up moisture and make all things dry And as sharp things may cleanse Ulcers by eating the filth therein or may be good to take off superfluous flesh call'd proud-flesh in Sores or may dissolve some hard Humours moderately taken or applied so they may make Ulcers Sores and Wounds and contract and confirm humours if immoderately or unnecessarily or wrongfully applied But as I said the Mineral-waters may as well cause the Stone in the Kidneys or Bladder as dissolve it and may also ulcerate as soon as cleanse but the Mineral-waters do rather make a passage and send forth Gravel by the quantity that is drunk and passes through the Uretories which like a stream doth wash and carry all loose Matter before it and not so much by the virtue of dissolving But to conclude concerning Mineral-waters said she I cannot perceive but they may breed more Diseases than they cure and those Bodies they are most proper for must be purged and empty before they take them lest the weight and quantity of the Waters should carry obstructions to the parts open and free by carrying too suddenly or forcibly or pressing or thrusting too hard Then they asked her about the nature of Purging-Drugs She said All Purging-Drugs were full of Spirits which was the cause they were so active and quick in operation for said she whatsoever hath most Spirits is most active which shews saith she that Birds have more Spirits which is innated Matter than any other sort of Animal-kind for they are always hopping and flying about also chirping whistling and singing which shews them not only to be more active as having more vital or sensitive Spirits but also more rational as being fuller of Animal Spirits But to return to Drugs said she they seem to have more of the Sensitive spirits vulgarly called Vital Spirits which work upon the grossest Substance than the Rational Spirits which are vulgarly called Animal spirits do with which spirits Cordials seem to be full as working upon the finer parts for Cordials do cheer and do revive the Soul or Mind making the thoughts more cheerful and pleasing which alacrity doth help to abate and qualifie the disorders in the body Then they asked her What was the best study for such as would practise Physick She said Natural Philosophy for said she those can never be good Physicians that are not good Natural Philosophers and if they would study Natural Philosophy more than they do there would be more frequent Cures for if they do not study Nature that makes the Body they shall never know Remedies to cure the body for those that do not understand the Works of Nature cannot mend a fault or prevent a danger to come but they must study Nature's Creations Dissolutions Sympathies Antipathies in Matter Motion and Figure but said she it is a difficult study and requires a subtil moving-brain to find out the several motions although they be the plainest vulgar and grossest much more the subtil and intricate ones And had Aristotle said she studied the motions in Nature or Natural motions as he did the parts of Nature or Natural parts he would have been a far more learned Man than he was but his study
was easie for it is no great matter to conceive what the Senses present but it is difficult to present to the Senses what the Brain conceives making the Senses the Servants or Scouts to seek and search by industry and experiments and to find the truth of a Rational Opinion but said she the studies of many Physicians in these later times are mixt as partly of one Science and partly of another which makes them learned in neither As if a Physician should study Theology he will neither be a subtil Divine or an Eloquent Preacher nor a knowing Physician one Study confounding the other for though Natural Philosophy proves a God yet it proves no particular Religion Then they asked What was that which was called the Sensitive and Rational Spirits She said They were the highest Extracts of Nature which are the Quintessence and Essence of Nature and the innated parts of Nature which in the knowledg and life are Nature which are the Soul and Actions of Nature Then they asked her Whether those Spirits had several Figures or small Bodies and Whether they were from all Eternity She answered That their Degrees and innated Motions and their Figurings Acuteness and Subtilties were from all Eternity As for the rational innated parts said she they change and re-change into any figures or forms having no particular figure or form inherent but the form of that degree of Matter it is of but as it can put its self into parts so it can unite its self and as it can divide and unite its self so it can dilate and contract its self and all by a self-motion as moving innatedly like Quick-silver from an united body into numbers of parts and from parts to an united body again The Sensitive innated part moves said she after another manner as Aqua-fortis or the like on Metal for it moves not figuring it self but as it figures other parts of Matter that hath no innateness inherent therein but only as a dull lump lies to be moved by the moving-part which is the innated part as Metal doth by Fire or Water by Cold or Heat Thus this different way of moving was from Eternity as their degree was from Eternity for the Rational innated Matter is a degree above the Sensitive innated Matter and though they move not always after one manner yet they move always after one nature Many said they could not conceive what those Spirits were some imagining them little Creatures No said she they are not Creatures but Creators which creating-brains may easily understand and those that cannot conceive have a scarcity thereof But said she because the Philosophy is new therefore they do obstruct it with idle Questions ignorant Objections but said she the Philosophy is good in despight of their ignorance I desire very much to know said she how the Learned describe that which they name Vital and Animal Spirits Whether they think them little Creatures or no To which they made no answer Then they asked her What caused sleep in Animal Figures She said The tiredness or weariness of the Sensitive innated Matter called the Sensitive Spirits which weariness causeth them to retire from the outward parts of Animal Figures for though the Sensitive spirits do not desist from moving in any part as to the consistence or dissolution of the Figure yet all the Sensitive spirits do not work one and the same way or after the same manner nor the same part of Innated Matter or Sensitive Spirits work not always one and the same way or after the same manner nor in the same parts but as some of that Innated Matter or Spirits work in several parts of a Figure on the dull part of Matter to the consistence or dissolution of the Figure so others and sometimes one and the same degree work to the use convenience or necessity of the Figure and those that work to the use of the Figure in the several senses although they do not desist from moving as being against Nature being a perpetual Motion yet they often desist from labouring as I may say for it is a greater labour to take patterns as they do from outward Objects than to work by roat or as they please which they do in sleep But it is not always their labour as being over-pow'rd with work but sometimes their want of work as many will sleep through idleness having no outward objects presented to them to print or paint other times it is their appetite to freedom and liberty from those outward labours or employments for though they may and are oft-times as active when they work as in sleep yet it is easier being voluntary for the spirits work more easie at least more freely when they are not taskt than when they are like Apprentices or Journey-men and will be many times more active when they take or have liberty to play or to follow their own Appetites than when they work as I said by constraint and for necessity but many times the Sensitive spirits retire when they work not to sleep as being perswaded or disswaded then from either by the Rational innated Matter which is called the Rational Spirits in the Figure or by the Rational Spirits in another Figure to desist from the outward labour as one would perswade another to rest and to retire and shut up the Shop-windows and Doors of the Sensitive Houses for the Eyes Ears Nostrils Mouth or the pores of the Skin are but the Working-houses or Rooms of the Sensitive spirits To prove it Doth not our Mind which is the Rational part perswade the Body which is the Sensitive part and that wherein works the Sensitive Matter or Spirits to lye to rest or to withdraw from outward Employments because it would not be disturbed with the labour of the Sensitive spirits For the Rational which is the Mind said she are not only the servants to view and take notice of all the works and workings of the Sensitive but are oftentimes in many things the Directors Advisers and sometimes Rulers and Opposers as when the Mind forces the Body to danger or trouble But this Rational part or the Rational spirits are for the most part busily employed in figuring themselves by the Sensitive prints which is the knowledg they take of the works and workings being the more busie and exact when the Sensitive spirits work outward works I will not say they move always after the Sensitive prints which is to view them for sometimes they move after their own inventions for many times the Mind views not what the Body doth and many times they move partly after their own invention and partly after the Sensitive prints But when the Sensitive spirits do retire or when the Rational spirits perswade them to retire then the Rational spirits move after their own appetites or inventions which are Conceptions Imaginations Opinions Fancies or the like But said she it is to be taken notice that as the Rational spirits for the most part move after
Histories I did desire To see my Native Countrey Native Friends That lov'd me well and had no other ends Than harmless mirth to pass away dull time With telling Tales either in Prose or Rime But though Desire did then like a Wind blow The Sails of Wishes on Love's Ship to go Yet Banishment to my dear Lord was then A dangerous Rock made of hard-hearted men And hearing of such dangers in my way I was content in Antwerp for to stay And in the Circle of my Brain to raise The Figures of my Friends crowned with Praise These Figures plac'd in company together All setting by a Fire in cold weather The Fire was of Fancy which I made Within the Glandule of a Chimney laid My Lord and I amongst our Friedns was set In the midst of them that were thither met But afterwards perceiving I could make As many Figures as my Thoughts could take Then I invited all the Learned men And best of Poets that the Age had then The poorest Guess though they no birth inherit To entertain according to their merit Thus was my Mind as busie as a Bee To entertain this Noble Company Then my Imaginations a large Room built Furnish'd most curiously and richly gilt I hired all the Arts for to provide Choice of Provisions and Pastime beside The Wit I had unto the Muses sent With Love's Request which humbly did present My Mind's Desire which was without delay To come and help to pass the time away Wit travell'd far and search'd them all about At last in Nature's Court Wit found them out Then first to Nature Wit did bow down low To Wit Dame Nature did her Favours show And with a pleasing-smile she bid him say Whether be came to fetch her Maids away Wit answered Yes Then Nature bid them take The Helicon Water and with it make The Company all Poets Which they did Although they were but Pictures in my Head Their real persons at great distance were But on my Thoughts that did their Figures bear The marvellous Waters could not work well Which is the cause no better Tales I tell But hope those Friends my Fancy do present VVill take it well and for a good intent For I did trouble much my poor weak Brain This worthy Company to entertain MARGARET NEWCASTLE SEVERAL Feigned Stories IN VERSE The First BOOK READERS my Works do not seem in my Mind So bad as you make them if Faults you find For if you find much Fault you would not spare Your ridgid Censures but their Faults declare For I perceive the World is evil bent Judging the worst of that which was well meant When they a word to Wantonness can wrest They 'l be well-pleas'd and often at it jest When every foolish Tongue with words can play And turn good sense with words an evil way But at my Writings let them do their worst And for their pains with Ignorance be curst IN VVinter cold a Company was met Both Men and VVomen by the Fire were set At last they did agree to pass the time That every one should tell a Tale in Ryme The VVomen said VVe no true Measures know Nor do our Rhymes in even Numbers go Why said the Men All Women's Tongues are free To speak both out of time and follishly And drawing Lots the Chance fell on a Man Who having spit and blown his Nose began Of the Mournful Widow I Travelling it was my chance to spy A little House which to a Tomb stood nigh My Curiosity made me inquire VVho dwelt therein to further my desire I knocked at the door at last came one Which told me 'T was a Lady liv'd alone I pray'd that I the Lady might but see She told me she did shun all Company By her discourse the Lady had been Wife But being a Widow liv'd a lonesome life I told her I did travel all about Only to find a Constant Woman out She answer'd If the world had any where A Constant Woman surely she dwelt there I waited there in hope my Fortune might At length direct me to this Lady's sight And lying underneath a Tomb at night At Curfue-time this Lady with a Light Came forth out of the House all cloth'd in white And to the Tomb her walk she bended right With a Majestick-grace she walk'd along She seem'd to be both beautiful and young And when she came she kneeled down to pray And thus unto her self did softly say Give leave you Gods this Loss for to lament Give my Soul leave to seek which way his went O let my Spirits with his run a Race Not to out-go but to get next in place Amongst the Sons of Men raise up his Fame Let not foul Envy Canker-fret the same And whilst Great Gods I in the world do live Grant I may Honour to my Husband give O grant that all fond Love away may flye But let my Heart amongst his Ashes lye Here do I sacrifice each vainer dress And idle words which my Youth did express Here Dear I cancel all Self-love and make A Bond thy loving Memory to take And in my Soul always adore the same My Thoughts shall build up Altars to thy Name Thy Image in my heart shall fixed be My Tears from thence shall Copies take of thee And on my Cheeks those Tears as Pictures plac't Or like thy Carved Statue ne're shall waste Thy Praise my words though air shall print so deep By Repetition shall for ever keep With that Tears from her Eyes in show'rs did flow Then I rose up to her my self did show She seemed not to be mov'd at my sight Because her Grief was far above her Fright Said I Weep weep no more thou Beauteous Saint Nor over these dull ashes make complaint They feel not thy warm Tears which liquid flow Nor thy deep Sighs which from thy Heart do go They hear thee not nor thank thee for thy love Nor yet his Soul that 's with the God's above Take comfort Saint since Life will not return And bury not thy Joys within this Urn. She Answered I have no Joys in him they did reside They fled away when as his Body dy'd Not that my Love unto his Shape was ty'd But to his Virtues which did in him ' bide He had a Generosity beyond all Merit A Noble Fortitude possest his Spirit Foreseeing-Prudence which his Life did guide And Temperate Thoughts did in his Soul abide His Speech was sweet and gentle to the Eat Delight sate close as listning for to hear His Counsel wise and all his Actions good His Truth and Honesty as Judges stood For to direct and give his Actions Law His Piety to Gods was full of awe Wherefore return your Counsels are in vain For I must grieve whilst I'n the world remain For I have sacrific'd all my Delight Upon my Noble Husband 's Grave and slight All Vanities which Women young do prize Though they entangle them as Webs do Flies Lady said I you being Young and
Fair By Pleasures to the world invited are Bury not all your Youth and Beauty here Which like the Sun may to all Eyes appear O Sir said she the Sun that gave me light Death hath eclips'd and taken from my sight In Melancholy Shades my Soul doth lie And grieves my Body which will not yet die My Spirits long to wander in the air Hoping to find its loving Partner there Though Fates my Life have power to prolong Yet they have none my constant Mind to wrong But when I did perceive no Rhetorick could Perswade her to take comfort grieve she would Then taking my leave for to go away With adoration thus to her did say Farewell thou Angel of a Heavenly Breed For sure thou com'st not from a Mortal Seed Thou art so constant unto Virtue fair Which very few of either Sexes are And after a short time I heard she dy'd Her Tomb was built close by her Husband's side After the Man a Woman did begin To tell her Tale and thus she entred in A Description of Diverted Grief A Man had once a Young and Handsom Wife Whose Virtue was unspotted all her life Her words were smooth which from her Tongue did slide All her Discourse was wittily appli'd Her Actions modest her Behaviour so As when she mov'd the Graces seem'd to go Whatever Ill she chanc'd to see or hear Yet still her Thoughts as pure as Angels were Her Husband 's Love seem'd such as no Delight Nor Joy could take him out of his Wife's sight It chanc'd this virtuous Wife fell sick to death And to her Husband spake with dying-breath Farewell my dearest Husband dye I must Yet do not you forget me in the Dust Because my Soul would grieve if it should see Another in my room your LOVE to be My Ghost would mourn lament that never dyes Though Bodies do pure Loves eternalize You Gods said he that order Death and Life O strike me dead unless you spare my Wife If your Decree be fix'd nor alter can But she must dye O miserable Man Here do I vow Great Gods all witness be That I will have no other Wife but thee No Friendship will I make converse with none But live an Anchoret my self alone Thy Spirits sweet my Thoughts shall entertain And in my Mind thy Memory remain Farewell said she for now my Soul 's at peace And all the Blessings of the Gods encrease Upon thy Soul but I pray do not give Away that Love I had whilst I did live Turning her Head as if to sleep she lay In a soft Sigh her Spirits flew away VVhen she was dead great Mourning he did make VVould neither eat nor drink nor rest could take Kissing her cold pale Lips her Cheeks each Eye Cursing his Fate he lives and cannot dye Tears fell so fast as if his Sorrows meant To lay her in a watry Monument But when her Corps upon the Hearse was laid No Tongue can tell what mournful Cries he made Thus did he pass his time a week or two In sad commplaints and melancholy wo At last he was perswaded for to take Some air abroad ev'n for his own healths sake But first unto the Grave he went to pray Kissing that Earth wherein her Body lay After a Month or two his Grief to ease Some Recreations sought himself to please And calling for his Horses and his Hounds He went to hunt upon the Champian grounds His Thoughts by these Pastimes diverted are Pass'd by the Grave and never dropt a Tear At last he chanc'd a Company to meet Of Virgins young and fresh as Flowers sweet Their Cloathing fine their Humours pleasant gay And with each other they did sport and play Giving his Eyes a liberty to view VVith interchanging Looks in Love he grew One Maid amongst the rest most fair and young VVho had a ready wit and pleasant tongue He Courtship made to her he did address Cast off his Mourning Love for to express Rich Clothes he made and wondrous fine they were He barb'd and curl'd and powder'd sweet his Hair Rich Gifts unto his Mistress did present And every day to visit her he went They like each other well they both agree That in all haste they straight must married be To Church they went for joy the Bells did ring When married were he home the Bride did bring But when he married was some half a year He Curtain-Lectures from his VVife did hear For whatsoe're he did she did with spight And scorn dislike and all his kindness slight Cross every word she would that he did say Seem'd very sick complaining every day Unless she went abroad then she would be In humour good in other Company Then he would sigh and call into his Mind His dear dead Wife that was so wondrous kind He jealous grew and was so discontent And of his later Marriage did repent With Melancholy Thoughts fell sick and dy'd His VVife soon after was another's Bride VVhen she had done the Men aloud did cry Said she had quit her Tale most spitefully Another Man to answer what she told Began to tell and did his Tale unfold The Feminine Description A Man a walking did a Lady spy To her he went and when he came hard by Fair Lady said he why walk you alone Because said she my Thoughts are then my own For in a Company my Thoughts do throng And follow every foolish babling Tongue Your Thoughts said he 't were boldnessfor to ask To tell said she it were too great a task But yet to satisfie your Mind said she I 'le tell you how our Thoughts run commonly Sometimes they mount up to the Heavens high Then straight fall down and on the Earth will lye Then circling run to compass all they may And then sometimes they all in heaps do stay At other times they run from place to place As if they had each other in a Chace Sometimes they run as Phansie doth them guide And then they swim as in a flowing-Tide But if the Mind be discontent they flow Against the Tide their Motion 's dull and slow Said he I travel now to satisfie my Mind Whether I can a Constant VVoman find O Sir said she it 's Labour without end VVe cannot Constant be to any Friend VVe seem to love to death but 't is not so Because our Passions still move to and fro They are not fix'd but do run all about Every new Object thrusts the former out Yet we are fond and for a time so kind As nothing in the world should change our Mind But if Misfortune come we weary grow Then former Fondness we away straight throw Although the Object alter not yet may Time alter our fond Minds another way We love and like and hate and cry VVithout a Cause or Reason why Wherefore go back for you shall never find Any VVoman to have a Constant Mind The best that is shall hold but for a time Wav'ring like wind which Women hold no Crime A Woman
Cure But he that said The Stone in the Mind was Cruelty caused by the sharpness of Envy the bitterness of Hate and greedy Covetousness bid drink a Draught of Prodigality once a week and it would cure him And he that said Cruelty was the Stone that baked the tender and soft Humours into a hard confirmed Body of Stone bid him take an Ounce of Compassion two Ounces of Charity two Ounces of Generosity as much Clemency and bray them all together then divide them into two parts and lay one half to the Heart and another to the Reins of the Mind and those Medicines will soon dissolve the Stone As for Convulsions of the Mind he that said it was Fury bid the Mind take an Ounce of Discretion half an Ounce of Judgment a Scruple of Gravity mix them all together as in an Electuary and take it fasting and it will cure him And he who said That Inconstancy was the Convulsion in the Mind bid him take an Ounce of Temperance and an Ounce of Judgment one Ounce of Understanding two of Resolution mix these into an Electuary and take a good quantity of it every morning and this will cure him As for a Consumption he that said Pity was a Consumption bid the Mind take a Heart and bake it dry and when it was dried to Powder mix it in his ordinary Drink and it will cure him But he that said Forgetfulness was a Consumption bid him only take a Draught of Remembrance every day As for Dropsies he that said Desires were Dropsies bid the Mind take a Bunch of Reason that grows in a well-temper'd Brain and as much Humility that grows in a good Heart boil them in the Water of Content and drink a Draught three times a day this said he will dry up the superfluous matter But he who said That Desire was that Disease which was called the Dog-like-Appetite bid the Mind make a Bisk of Vanity an Oil of Curiosity and a Hodg-podg of Variety and eat so long till he did vomit it up again and if he could surfeit thereof it would prove a Cure otherwise there was no remedy unless the Mind could get some Fruition which is seldom to be had yet sometimes it is found said he But he that said A Dropsie was a Reluctancy that swelled out with an Aversion bid the Mind only use Abstinence and it would cure him And he that said It was Voluptuousness said That the same Medicine was to be prescribed He that said It was Pride that swelled out with Vain-glory bid the Mind take a great quantity of Humility but if you take it from the hand of Misfortunes said he it will make you sick But the Mind perceiving that they agreed not in any one Medicine or Disease desired that they would depart from him for said he Gentlemen it is impossible you should prescribe an effectual Medicine or Remedy since you cannot agree about the Disease So he paid them their Fees and they departed and the Mind became his own Physician Apothecary and Chyrurgeon First He let himself Blood opening the wilful Vein taking out the obstinate Blood Then he did take Pills made of Society and Mirth and those purged all strange and vain Conceits Also the Mind eat every morning a Mess of Broth wherein was Herbs of Grace Fruit of Justice Spice of Prudence Bread of Fortitude these were boiled with the Flesh of Judgment in the Water of Temperance This Breakfast was a Soveraign Remedy against the malignant Passions for it did temper Heat qualifie Sharpness allay Vapours and mollifie obdurate Passions and foolish Affections Likewise he did take to his Service the strongest soundest and quickest Senses which were Five these waited on him and each in their turn gave him intelligence of every thing and brought him all the News in the Countrey which was a Recreation and a Pastime for him And in thus doing he became the healthfullest and jolliest man in the Parish The Thoughts feasted THERE were two men great Companions one of them told the other That he had made a particular search and a strict enquiry for him three days together and could not hear of him insomuch that he had thought some unfortunate Accident or violent Death had befallen him He answered His Senses had been to visit the Soul which was the cause of his Body's retirement The other said I have heard that the Soul did use to visit the Senses but never heard that the Senses did use to visit the Soul He answered That the Sensitive Spirits did as often in some men visit the Rational as the Rational did the Sensitive Well said he and how doth the Soul live He said As a great Prince should do for the Mansion of the Soul is nobly situated upon a high Hill of Ambition which ascends by steps of Desires whereon stands a very curious Castle of Imaginations and all about are solitary Walks of Contemplations and dark Groves of Melancholy wherein run Rivers of Tears The Castle is Walled with Vain-glory and built upon Pillars of Hope Within the Walls are fine Gardens of Eloquence set full with Flowers of Rhetorick and Orchards of Invention wherein grow fruitful Arts. In this Orchard are many Birds of Fancies which flie from Tree to Tree from Branch to Branch from Bough to Bough singing fine Notes of Poetry in a sweet strain of Verse and chirping Rhymes and building their Nests in Arbours of Love wherein they hatch Conceits Likewise said he the Soul hath another House which is a most stately Palace it stands in the midst of a large Plain of good Nature wherein run Rivers of Generosity This Palace is walled about with Fortitude and stands upon Pillars of Justice There are long straight level Walks of Temperance where is fresh Air of Health This Palace is built very convenient for on the out-side are Stables of Discretion wherein are tyed up wild Opinions Phantasms and all skittish Humours and a large Riding-Room of Judgment where all Opinions are managed Also there are Granges of thrifty Contrivance wherein are Cattel of Prudence that give the Milk of Profit Besides there are Kitchins of Appetite Dining-rooms of Luxury Galleries of Memory Cellars of Forgetfulness Chambers of Rest and Closets of Peace But said he after my Senses had viewed every place they took their leave of the Soul who told them That they should stay and feast with her So the Soul invited all his Subjects the Thoughts The first of all were the Generous Thoughts who are the Nobles then the Gentry who are the Obliging and Graceful Thoughts the Heroick Thoughts were Commanders of Warr the Factious Thoughts were the Commons the Mercenary were Trades-men the Plodding-Thoughts were the Yeomantry the Ordinary Thoughts were Labourers and Servants Then there were the Politick Thoughts which were Statists the Proud Thoughts Magistrates and the Pious Thoughts Priests the Censuring Thoughts were the Judges the Wrangling and Pleading Thoughts Lawyers and the Terrifying Thoughts Sergeants the
After which the King and all the People rising up bowed their Heads down low as in humble obedience to the Commands he had receiv'd praying to him as a God to divert the Punishments intended to them and in sorrow lamenting their Fault went home each to his House sealing up their Lips for such a time from receiving Meat or sending forth Words In the mean time the old Man and he had leisure to bethink themselves what to do having at that time the Temple as a Palace to live in none to disturb them nor to hinder their Thoughts from working out their advantage and sitting in Counsel a long time disputing with each other what was best to do at last resolved That the old Man should go to the King as sent from the Gods to bid him send a Command to all his People to eat such Herbs for Sallads and drink their Water without mixture just before they came for else said the old Man their Hunger will make them impatient or so dull as it may stop their Ears by the faintness of their Spirits caused by their empty Stomacks and too much said he makes them furious sending up Malignant Vapours to their Brains which may cause our Ruins But after he had been with the King he returned back to the Temple again and the King obeyed his Desire as a Command from the Gods and brought the People all to the Temple where after they were all gathered together Travelia advanced himself so much higher than rest as they might hear him round about Then thus spake PIOUS Friends for so I may call you being willing to please the Gods though your Ignorance hath led you wrong ways But the Gods seeing your Zeal though through a false Devotion pitying your Ignorance have by their Wisdom found means to appease the Wrath of their Justice for every Attribute of the Gods must have a satisfaction for Right is their Kingdom and Truth is their Scepter wherewith they govern all their Works but the Gods have strowed Lots amongst Mankind of movable things which Chance gathers up and Chance being blind mistakes both in the gathering and distributing Now the Gods made this Chance by their Providence when they made Man for Man hath no more knowledg of the transitory things of the World than what Fortune gives them who is an unjust Distributer for all External Gifts come from her hand and for want of sight she gives oft-times the Beggar 's Lot to the King the Servants to the Master the Master 's to the Servant and for the Internal Gifts which the Gods have bestowed on Men they are different as the External are transitory for some are nearer to perfection some farther off yet none have perfect knowledg for the Gods mix Man's nature with such an aspiring Ambition that if they had a perfect knowledg of the glory of the Gods and a perfect knowledg of the first Cause and of the Effects produced therefrom they would have warr'd with the Gods and have strove to usurp their Authority So busie and vain-glorious hath the Gods made the Minds of Men Wherefore the Gods govern the World by Ignorance and though the goodness of the Gods is great yet it is bound in with their Justice which is attended with Terrors to punish the Crimes of Men and even to punish the innocent Errors that proceed from that Ignorance which they have muzled Man withall But as their Power made the World their Wisdom rules the World their Justice punishes the World so their Mercy keeps the World from destruction and their Love not only saves Man but preferrs Man to a glorious Happiness And some of this Love the Gods have sent to you although by your Ignorance you had almost cast it from you And since the Gods have sent you Knowledg by us take hold of it and do not wilfully fall in your superstitious Errors although it is a difficult pains even for the Gods themselves to perswade Man who is of a cross suspitious inquisitive and murmuring nature accusing the Gods of Partiality saying They prefer or cast out whom they please not as Man deserves Thus they judg of the Gods by their own Passions but the Gods by Variation are pleased to continue the World and by Contradiction to govern it by Sympathy delight it for Delight lives not altogether in the power of Chance being created in the Essence and Soul of Man for though Chance can present those things with Antipathies or Sympathies to the Senses which present them to the Soul yet it hath not the power to rule it for the Soul is a kind of God in it self to direct and guide those things that are inferior to it to perceive and descry into those things that are far above it to create by Invention and to delight in Contemplations and though it hath not an absolute power over it self yet it is a harmonious and absolute thing in it self and though it is not a God from all Eternity yet it is a kind of Deity to all Eternity for it shall never dye and though the Body hath a relation to it yet no otherwise than the Mansion of Jove hath unto Jove The Body is only the residing-place and the Sensitive Spirits are as the Soul's Angels or Messengers and Intelligencers So the Souls of Men are to the Gods as the Sensitive Spirits to the Soul And will you dislodg the Sensitive Spirits of the Gods by destroying and unbuilding each other's Body by violent Deaths before it be the Gods Pleasure to dissolve that Body and so remove the Soul to a new Mansion And though it is not every Creature that hath that Soul but only Man for Beasts have none nor every Man for most Men are Beasts only the Sensitive Spirits and the Shape may be but not the Soul yet none know when the Soul is out or in but the Gods and not only other Bodies may not know it but the same Body is ignorant thereof The Soul is as invisible to the Sensitive Spirits as the Gods to men for though the Soul knows and hath intelligence by the Sensitive Spirits yet the Sensitive have none from the Soul for as Gods know Men but Men know not Gods so the Soul knoweth the Senses but the Senses know not the Soul Wherefore you must seek all the ways to preserve one another as Temples of the Gods not to destroy and pull them down for whosoever doth so commits Sacriledg against the Gods Wherefore none must dye but those that kill or would kill others Death must be repaid with Death saith Jove and only Death is in the power of Man to call when they please but Life is in the power of the Gods and those that displease the Gods shall have a miserable Life not only in the bodily part which is sensible of pain and may be tormented out of one shape into another and be perpetually dying or killing with all manner of Torments and yet never dye in the
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-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
divide and dissolve those gross and tough Humours and open Obstructions Likewise those that are salt and bitter do purifie and cleanse the corruption in the Body and when the cause of the Disease is taken or removed away the Body becomes equally temper'd for as the Disease doth waste the Body doth cool Thus it is the sharpness saltness and bitterness that cures the Disease and not a cold nature in the Simples for when the Disease as I said is gone the Body is well-temper'd and cooled Then they asked her which was the best way to make the best temperament for Health She said that way that was best towards Mediocrity as neither to eat too gross meats nor too watrish nor to drink too strong drink nor such as was very small that is neither too hot nor too cold either virtually or actually As for gross Meats they fill the Body with too much Melancholy Humours and the Head with Malignant Vapours Very fine and tender Meat makes the Stomack weak by reason the substance is not sufficiently solid for as very gross meat over-powers the Stomack by the laborious working thereon so very fine and tender meat makes it lazy and weak for want of exercise Very small Drinks being very watrish quench the natural heat and those that are very strong burn it out but said she Meats and Drinks must be wisely match'd and not only Meats and Drinks but the Nourishment and the Nourished for although in general hot Constitutions should use cooling drinks and meats for their diets and cold hot diets and moist dry diets and dry moist diets yet if the Body be any ways diseased or distempered they must order such a Body according to the Cause and not to the Effects of their Disease As for example To all Hydropical Bodies must not be applied drying Medicines nor Diets for if the Dropsie proceeds from a dry cause dry Diets or Medicines are as bad as poyson for though the Effect be watrish in such Diseases yet the Cause was dry So for heat or cold And this example may serve for all other Diseases wherefore Physicians must search out and know the original cause before they can cure the Disease for those that prescribe according to the Effect may cure by chance but kill with ignorance Then they asked her If the Spirits were always affected with the Distemper of the Body or the Body with the Distemper of the Spirits She answered Not always for sometimes the Spirits will be ill-affected and the Body in health other times the Body sick and the Spirits lively and well-temper'd But said she this is to be observed that the Body may be cold and the Spirits enflamed and the Body heated and the Spirits quenchched or stupified for the Spirits are the thinnest and subtillest substances of the Creature now this thinnest and subtillest substance in the Creature may be enflamed when the solid'st is be-numb'd with cold for a cold melancholy Body may have enflamed and distracted Spirits Likewise a cold diseased Body may have Hectick Spirits and thus both the Animal and Vital Spirits may be hot and the more solid Parts or Humours of the Body cold Also the heat of the Spirits may be quenched and the Body burning-hot as the Stomack Liver or other parts may be parched with heat when both the Animal and Vital Spirits have not a sufficient heat to give them lively motions And it is to be observed said she that the Animal and Vital Spirits as they are the thinnest and subtilest part of a Creature so they are nourished by the thinnest substances or parts of Food which dilate to the Spirits for though the Spirits can and do work upon the solid'st parts of the Body or Nourishment yet they only receive benefit by the thinnest As also the great annoyance for it is the Vapour of Meats and Drinks that feeds the Spirits and not the Substance for Vapour will choak smuther burn or quench them out But the Vapours from Liquors work more suddenly upon the Spirits either to good effect or bad than Vapours from a solid Substance by reason all Liquors have a dilatating nature which spreads it self amongst the Spirits with more facility Also the Vapour of Liquid Bodies is more facil than the Vapour of Solid Bodies and said she some burn their Stomacks with Drugs and some quench their Spirits with Julips others burn their Spirits with Cordials and flat or dead the Stomack with Meats virtually cold For it is to be observed that there is a general Error amongst Mankind about Rules concerning Health some practising with a belief that Drinks virtually cooling temper hot Meats and virtually cooling Meats hot Drinks In which they are deceived for though they may mix so and temper yet for the most part it is only as Water and Meal makes Dough or as Earth and Water makes Mud or as Sugar and Water makes Syrrup but doth not temper that virtual heat or cold that works upon the substantial or the spiritual parts for that which works upon the Spirits hath a more sudden operation than that which works upon the solid parts of the Body and that from the solider parts has a flower operation so that the Stomack may be parched and the heat of the Spirits quenched and the Spirits burnt and the Stomack weak by a heavy or dull coldness But those Bodies that are in health have not such defects as to fear such a sudden operation for as defects are easily inveterated so Health is not suddenly annoyed wherefore they may temper their Meat and Drink by cooling and heating yet not to a high degree for all Extreams are naught Then they asked her What was the reason that all Creatures look fuller and fatter in Summer than in Winter She answered The reason was Because then the Blood extends to the extream parts which swells out the flesh and puffs out the skin and in the Winter the blood falls back as the sap of Plants doth to the Roots which causeth the flesh and skin to look withered and dry as Branches and Leaves do sear'd faded wither'd and dry The like reason is when Men have Pimples Scabs Swellings Pocks and the like which is the fruit of corrupted blood Then they asked her opinion of Mineral Waters What Virtues and Vices they have being drunk She answered That all Mineral-waters were of a kind of a Brine but not so much a salt Brine as a sharp Brine if I may call that which is sharp Brine said she but whether it hath the effects upon the body as Brine hath upon dead flesh as to preserve or keep it from putrefaction I cannot say but certainly it drinks up the natural moisture in healthful bodies more often than it purifies the corrupted Humours in diseased bodies The Effects of Sharp and Salt are oft-times alike as a sharp Pickle will preserve from putrefaction as well as Brine But howsoever the Mineral-waters have much salt in them the Effects are hot and
the Sensitive prints which is to put their own Matter into such Figures as the Sensitive spirits print upon the dull and unmoving parts of Matter so many times the Sensitive spirits do print or engrave those Conceptions Imaginations Fancies or the like upon the dull part of Matter as Patterns of the Rational Figures for as I said the Rational spirits do cast work or move their own part of Matter into Figures and the Sensitive spirits do figure and print upon other parts of Matter as that which is called the dull and unmoving part but when the Rational Matter perswades or causes the Sensitive Matter to work and print from their figurings or that the Sensitive spirits do it of their own free choice they work for the most part irregularly I will not say always for when the Rational spirits move to invention the Sensitive spirits work those inventions regularly if not at first yet with a little practice but when the Rational spirits move to any passion especially violent passions the Sensitive spirits are apt to work irregularly and to discompose the Animal Figure with Irregularities for oft-times not only the irregular motions of the Rational spirits but the violence of their motions although regular doth disorder the Sensitive spirits causing them to work irregularly but violence is not always irregular or perturbed also the regularity of the Sensitive spirits will cause a disorder amongst the Rational spirits as we shall see the Mind will distemper the Body as the Body will disorder the Mind but where the Rational innated Matter or Spirits move so irregularly as to make unusual imaginations or imaginary fears and other conceptions and passions which are irregular as much as violence causeth the Sensitive spirits also to work both irregularly and violently whereby they print strange figures in the Animal Senses as we may prove by those that are affrighted or have imaginary fears who see strange and unusual objects which Men call Devils Hobgoblins Spirits and the like and without question they do see such things as are strange and unusual to them for such strange and unusual Figures are printed by the irregularity of the Sensitive spirits upon the Optick Nerve And so for Hearing Scent Touch and the like for when Men have such imaginary fears they will say they saw strange things and that they heard strange noises and smelt strange Scents and that they were pinched and beaten black and blew and that they were carried out of their way and cast into Ditches or the like and it is not to be doubted but that they did see such Sights hear such Sounds smell such Scents and feel such Pains for many times the black-and-blew marks will be seen in the flesh and the flesh will be sore and how should it be otherwise when the Sensitive innated Matter or Spirits by moving in such motions work in each Sense those Objects Sounds Scents Touches and the like And I see no reason but the whole Body may be carried violently from place to place by the strength of the Sensitive spirits for certainly the innated Matter in every Animal Figure doth not commonly use its full strength for the Body will be more actually strong at some times than at other times and upon some occasion more than when they have no occasion to use strength for though the several degrees of innated Matter cannot work beyond the strength of their degree yet they can work in their strength and not always work to their full power and as we may observe the power of strength is seldom used in Animal Figures but certainly it is amongst the Sensitive and Rational spirits in every Animal Creature as it is with the Governours or Citizens of every Kingdom they know not their own power and strength until they be put to it for every particular Part knoweth not the strength of the Whole until they join together as one Part. This is the reason Man or any other Creature is ignorant not only each of other but of themselves for How is it possible Man should know himself since Nature cannot know her self being divided into several Parts and Degrees But to return to the strength of the united-united-spirits of Mankind which united-united-spirits working irregularly carry the Body forcibly into unnecessary or dangerous places for the violence and irregularity doth disorder the Rational spirits if they were not disordered before so much that they cannot direct prudently nor order methodically not advise subtilly but are all as I may say in a hurly-burly for the Rational spirits making imaginary fears do as those that begin an Uproar so the Rational spirits are not only afraid of the Tumult amongst the Sensitive spirits but are discomposed and hurried about themselves and their Society which is their own Matter is dispersed abroad that is dis-united and disordered in their regular motions so as the Rational innated Matter or spirits although they were the first Cause of the extravagant Commotions amongst the Sensitive spirits yet they are discomposed therewith by reflexion their own disorders returning in double lines of strength from the Sensitive Body Then they asked her Why the Animal Figure did not always dream in sleep since the Sensitive and Rational spirits or innated Matter did never desist from moving She said That although the innated Matter did never desist from moving yet they did not always figure or print for they dissolve as well as create Besides said she they may work to the preservation or consistence of the Figure and of every particular sense and yet not always make use of the senses Besides said she the Rational Matter doth not always figure it self by the Sensitive Print and for proof many times those that are in a serious Discourse studious Contemplations or violent Passions will take no notice of the Sensitive motions for in a violent passion many will receive a deadly wound and never take notice of the touch and many times those in serious discourse receive a pinch on their Arm or Finger or any other part and yet they at that time never take knowledg thereof and yet when their violent passion or discourse is ended then their Rational knowledg takes notice that their Finger Arm or other parts ake or their Wounds smart which shews the sense of Touch was sometimes in their Finger or in that part wounded before the Rational knowledg took notice of it So in a deep Contemplation when they view Objects hear Sounds smell Scents tast and touch the Rational knowledg takes no notice of it because the Rational spirits move not to the Sensitive Works so that only the Eye sees or the Ear hears or the Nose smells or the Tongue tasts or any particular part feels but the Rational takes no notice thereof so that these are but particular knowledges in every particular sense or part of the Figure and not a general knowledg for the Sensitive knowledg which are the Sensitive spirits are bound to parts but the Rational
to the creation of the Mind or Soul the Sensitive to the Body But said she Opinion creates one way and Nature another way which Opinions except there be sense and reason in them are the false Conceptions in Nature But the learned Students study so much the Parts that they never consider the Parties that work therein The Authoress of these Opinions of the Rational and Sensitive spirits says she brings Sense and Reason to dispute for their truth which no other Opinions do and they that will not believe Sense and Reason will believe nothing but express by their incredulity that they have but a small quantity of that innated Matter in their Brains Whatsoever treats of innated Matter as the Sensitive and Rational spirits is to be compared to my Philosophical Opinions Then they asked her Whether she thought there could be Repetitions in Nature She said Yes for said she if anything in Nature cannot be so dissolved as to be annihilated it may be repeated for if the same Matter and same Motions are in being the same Figures may be repeated and if there can be in Creations said she a repetition it is probable there are repetitions of one and the same Creature only the time and changes of time makes a difference and obscurity in which obscurity the Creature is ignorant of it self and its former Being whereby one and the same Creature may come to envy his own Renown which was kept alive by Records from Age to Age as if Homer should be created again and envy his own Works or at least strive to out-work them or that Alexander and Caesar should be created again and should envy their own Actions Victories and Powers or at least grieve and repine they cannot do the like for if they were created again they might miss of the same Occasions Opportunities or Powers Birth or Fortunes for though the Body and Soul may be the same as also the Appetites and the Desires yet the outward concurrence may not be the same that was in the former Being for though the Concurrents as well as the Creature may be repeated yet perchance not repeated in one and the same Age or Time but if they should fall out to be repeated in one Age the same Actions would fall out to be as Caesar's or Alexander's were to conquer the World again as they did before and there would be the same Warr betwixt the Grecians and Trojans if the same Occasions were but Homer would not write the same Poems if they were on record for though it be an honour to conquer what was conquered although after the same manner yet it is no honour to Wit to write what was writ before upon the same Subject nor indeed upon any other Subject for both the Wit and the Subject must be new at least the Wit to gain as great and lasting Renown Then they asked her What Fire was She said That Fire was not only the quickest motion but it is a perpetual quick motion that hath no intermission by which it hath a strange power over every thing so that it hath a stronger power by the continuance than by the quickness The Third sort that visited her were Moral Philosophers The Moral Philosophers asked her If it were possible to alter or abate the Passions No said she you may pacifie or imprison them and enforce them to conceal themselves in the heart not only from outward appearance but from the very understanding in the head but never alter or change their natures to weaken their natural strength or abate their natural vigour for Passions said she are like the Sun they may be eclipsed or clouded but never can be alter'd and as the Sun saith she draws forth Vapour from the Earth so do the Imaginations draw forth Passions from the Heart and as a Bucket draws up Water from the bottom of a Well so do outward Objects draw up Passions from the Heart Then they asked What was the difference betwixt the Passions and the Appetites She said The Appetites were the Passions of the Body and the Passions the Appetites of the Mind and the Mind is as apt to surfeit of the one as the Body of the other Likewise saith she the Mind is as seldom pleased as the Body is seldom at ease being both restless and never satisfied for the height of sensitive Pleasure is the beginning of Pain and the height of Passion is the beginning of Desire and Desire hath no Period no Pleasure no Center Then they asked her What sort of Love was the perfectest She said That Love that descended for Love that descends is more solid than that which ascends and draws more towards perfection as being most contracted for that which ascends is airy and disperses soon like smoak but that which descends is like falling showers of Rain that join into a River or Sea of Love running with force to perfection This is the reason Parents love their Children better than Children can love their Parents This is the reason Nature loves her Creatures better than the Creatures can love Nature This is the reason The Gods love Mankind better and more perfectly than Mankind loves the Gods Thus the perfectest Love is from the Gods to Men for the greater the descent is the more force there is The like said she is Hate for that Hate which descends is more inveterate and malignant than that which ascends for we are easily perswaded to pardon the Injuries or Wrongs we receive from our Superiors but seldom are pacified without a high revenge for the Wrongs we have received from Inferiors I mean not only the Inferiors of Birth or Fortunes but Merit This is the reason Noah could not forgive his Son Cham for the disgrace which he received for no Hate is like to that of Dishonour This is the reason that Heaven hates Hell more than Hell can hate Heaven Then they asked her Why the Passions forced the Body to weep to sigh to groan to laugh to sing to complain to rail to curse to commend to extoll to implore to profess to protest to look pale to look red to shake to tremble to strike to embrace She said That the causes in the mind did work their Effects upon the Bodies as the Causes in Jove did work their Effects upon Nature Or in a lower Comparison said she the Mind is as the Sun and the Body like the Earth the Sun having several Faculties as the Mind several Passions it gives life and light strength and growth it comforts and warms it weakens corrupts withers and decays it burns and destroys it dilatates and contracts it doth digest and expel it sucks it draws and confirms so doth the Mind it gives the Light of Knowledg and the Life of Understanding it comforteth and warmeth by Invention it strengthens by Judicious Advice it encreases by Temperance it weakens withers and decayes by unsatiable Intemperance it drys and parches it by grief inflames it by anger burns it
his Service did address His Love by Words and Letters did express Though she seem'd Coy his Love she did not slight But Civil Answers did in Letters write At last so well acquainted they did grow That but one Heart each other's Thoughts did know Mean time their Parents did their Love's descry And sought all ways to break that Unity Forbad each other's company frequent Did all they could Love's Meetings to prevent But Love regards not Parents nor their Threats For Love the more 't is barr'd more Strength begets Thus being cross'd by stealth they both did meet And Privacy did make their Love more sweet Although their Fears did oft affright their Mind Lest that their Parents should their Walks out-find Then in the Kingdom did Rebellion spring Most of the Commons fought against their King And all the Gentry that then Loyal were Did to the Standard of the King repair Amongst the rest this Noble Youth was one Love bade him stay but Honour spurr'd him on When he declar'd his Mind her Heart it rent Rivers of Tears out of her Eyes grief sent And every Tear like Bullets pierc'd his Breast Scatter'd his Thoughts and did his Mind molest Silent long time they stood at last spake he Why doth my Love with Tears so torture me Why do you blame my Eyes said she to weep Since they perceive you Faith nor Promise keep For did you love but half so true as I Rather than part you 'ld chuse to stay and dye But you Excuses make and take delight Like cruel Thieves to rob and spoil by Night Now you have stole my Heart away you run And leave a silly Virgin quite undone If I stay from the Warrs what will Men say They 'l say I make excuse to be away By this Reproach a Coward I am thought And my Disgrace will make you seem in fault To set your Love upon a Man so base Bring Infamy to us and to our Race To sacrifice my Life for your content I would not spare but Dear in this consent 'T is for your sake Honour I strive to win That I some Merit to your Worth may bring She. If you will go let me not stay behind But take such Fortune with you as I find I 'le be your Page attend you in the Field When you are weary I will hold your Shield He. Dear Love that must not be for Women are Of tender Bodies and Minds full of Fear Besides my Mind so full of Care will be For fear a Bullet should once light on thee That I shall never fight but strengthless grow Through feeble Limbs be subject to my Foe When thou art safe my Spirits high shall raise Striving to get a Victory of Praise With sad Laments these Lovers did depart Absence as Arrows sharp doth wound each Heart She spends her time to Heaven-high doth pray That Gods would bless and safe conduct his way The whilst he fights and Fortune's Favour had Fame brings this Honour to his Mistress sad All Cavaliers that in the Army were There was not one could with this Youth compare By Love his Spirits all were set on fire Love gave him Courage made his Foes retire But O ambitious Lovers how they run Without all guidance like Apollo's Son Run out of Moderation's Line so he Did through the thickest of the Army flee Singly alone amongst the Squadrons deep Fighting sent many one with Death to sleep But Numbers with united strength at last This Noble Gallant Man from Horse did cast His Body all so thick of wounds was set Safety it seems in fight he did forget But not his Love who in his Mind still lyes He wish'd her there to close his dying-Eyes Soul said he if thou wandrest in the Air Thy Service to my Mistress by thy care Attend her close with her Soul Friendship make Then she perchance no other Love may take But if thou sink down to the Shades below And being a Lover to Elyzium go Perchance my Mistress Soul you there may meet So walk and talk in Love's Discourses sweet But if thou art like to a Light put out Thy Motion 's ceas'd then all 's forgot no doubt With that a sigh which from his Heart did rise Did mount his Soul up to the Airy Skies The whilst his Mistress being sad with care Her Knees were worn imploring Gods with Prayer A Drowsie Sleep did all her Senses close But in her Dreams Fancy her Lover shows With all his Wounds which made her loud to cry Help help you Gods said she that dwell on high These fearful Dreams her Senses all did wake In a cold sweat with fear each Limb did shake Then came a Messenger as pale as Death With panting sides swoln eyes and shortned breath And by his looks his sadder Tale did tell Which when she saw straight in a swoun she fell At last her stifled Spirits had recourse Unto their usual place but of less force Then lifting up her Eyes her Tongue gave way And thus unto the Gods did mourning say Why do we pray and offer to high Heaven Since what we ask is seldom to us given If their Decrees are fix'd what need we pray Nothing can alter Fates nor cross their way If they leave all to Chance who can apply For every Chance is then a Deity But if a Power they keep to work at will It shews them cruel to torment us still When we are made in Pain we always live Sick Bodies Grieved Minds to us they give With Motions which run cross compos'd we are Which makes our Reason and our Sense to jar When they are weary to torment us must We then return and so dissolve to Dust But if I have my Fate in my own Power I will not breathe nor live another hour Then with the Gods I shall not be at strife If my Decree can take away my Life Then on her feeble Legs she straight did stand And took a Pistol charg'd in either hand Here Dear said she I give my heart to thee And by my Death divulg'd our Loves shall be Then Constant Lovers Mourners be when dead They 'l strew our Graves which is our Marriage-Bed Upon our Hearse a weeping-Poplar set Whose moistning-drops our Death's-dri'd Cheeks may wet Two Cypress Garlands at our Head shall stand That were made up by some fair Virgin 's hand And on our cold pale Corps such Flowers strow As hang their Heads for grief and downward grow Then shall they lay us deep in quiet Grave Wherein our Bones long Rest and Peace may have Let no Friends Marble-Tombs erect upon Our Graves but set young Mirtle-trees thereon Those may in time a shady Grove become Fit for sad Lovers Walks whose Thoughts are dumb For Melancholy Love seeks place obscure No Noise nor Company it can endure And when to ground they cast a dull sad Eye Perhaps they 'l think on us who therein lye Thus though w' are dead our Memory remains And like a Ghost may
our Lover was arraign'd to stand Condemn'd to Bus'ness that in Ireland Necessity doth urge him That word Part So cruel was it struck each other's heart Which inwardly did bleed with sorrow's grief Since nothing now but hopes were their relief Sadly he goes aboard Love fills his Sails And Cupid with his wings fanns gentle Gales To waft him over he thus thought to please His wounded Lover o're those Rocky Seas Love would not leave him nor was he content Unless this dangerous passage with him went In the mean time his Mistress did commit Her self to sorrow and with her to sit As her close Prisoner this was all her end And grieved more than Widows do pretend Safely is landed now our Lover o're And Cupid with him on the Irish shore Love is so various which some Lovers see Now Love an Irish Cupid's turn'd to be And takes all memory thus from our Lover Of his first Mistress and doth now discover Love's new Plantation in the Irish Pale In Love's rich Island there which doth not fail To take our Lover and inflame him more Under an Irish Mantle than what 's store Of Gowns of Cloth of Gold Curls painted Art Cheats Love when simple Nature wounds Love's Heart This change of Love is blown so up and down By Fame's loud Trumpet through all Chester Town The Women gossip'd it and could not hold Till to his former Mistress they it told This was the first time that she smil'd to see Impossible Reports of him to be They might as well say Phoebus gives no light Or Starrs to fall or make a Day of Night As he inconstant was yet Love doth doubt Not doubting yet enquires all about And sets her Love-spies to enquire a-new But those reports each minute stronger grew So she resolv'd her self to know the truth And was disguis'd in Clothes now like a Youth And went in Cavalier The gentle Wind Did favour her and landed to her mind The Port was Dublin and could not forbear To make enquiries for her Love and there She found him at an Inn. He then began To take such liking to his Countrey-man All his Discourse enquiring for his Ends To know the welfare of his English Friends Which she so fully satisfied as he Was now enamour'd of her company And was so fond in her took such delight As supp'd and lay together too that night Never suspecting her his Mistress then Blindly went on and took her for a Man So full of Love and Friendship could not hold But to her all his Irish Love he told Desiring her to go along and see This Miracle of Beauty which was she And so she did Her Love turn'd now disdain To see his Falshood and no love remain So base unworthy and unconstant too As now began to think what she should do She quench'd her Passion which is wise and better Than Love's Complaints so writ to him a Letter Of her whole Voyage and Love's constant Hist'ry All her Designs disguises in Love's Myst'ry And left this Letter in the Window so Three or four days it was 'fore he did know Or found it out In the mean time she 's gone And shipp'd for England leaving him alone When found her Letter was such Passions grew Stronger upon him than e're Lover knew Resolv'd the foaming Billows to embrace Those liquid steps of hers he meant to trace And lay himself in pickled tears of Love Now at her feet to see what that would move But all in vain he thought too long had tarri'd When landed found the same day she was marri'd Fell in such extasies cursing his Fate The Ship and Winds that made him come so late With Love's new hopes his Sails he fill'd and then Invok'd God Neptune to go back again And all the passage as he went along Challeng'd the Mermaids in a loving Song With Love's assurances so over-joy'd As now his loving heart was not annoy'd But fill'd with Pleasure and with all Delight Thinking t' embrace his Irish Love that night No sooner landed so he thought to woo His Mistress but he found her marri'd too Cursing the Starrs of his Nativity Thus short of Wedlock at both ends to be Made him grow desperate and as they say Then in despair he made himself away Upon a Wench and some swear without doubt That there he knock'd the Brains of 's Cupid out So murther'd Love and there he did enroul Each one a Fool with a Platonick Soul And so despis'd and scorn'd the old God Hymen That with so easie words so long did tye men To make them Galley-slaves in Marriage so Ti'd in his Chains condemn'd for life to row In Wedlock's Galley Give me freedom then Thy Godhead I invoke whilst foolish Men To Love and Hymen's Prisons there do sit Justly committed for their want of Wit For he 's a Fool that 's ti'd when might be free And thus he rav'd and talk'd Non-sense you see As he that writ this Story you may mend it So for his sake and yours and mine I 'le end it A Lady said His Tale of Love did tell She with a Tale of Death would fit it well For Death said she unties the Lover's knot When deadly Arrows from his Bow are shot A Lady on her Death-bed panting lay She call'd her Friends and thus to them did say Farewel my dearest Friends for I must go Unto a place which you nor I yet know May be my Sp'rit will wander in the shade Of glimmering light which is by Moon-shine made Or in my Tomb in peace may lye asleep So long as Ashes in my Urn do keep Or else my Soul like Birds may have its wings Or like to Herc'les Flyes that want their stings But howsoever Friends grieve not nor cry For fear my Soul should be disturb'd thereby Clothe not your selves with Melancholy black Call not your Grief unto remembrance back But let your Joys a Resurrection have Call'd forth by comfort from the sorrowful Grave Let not Delight intombed lye In the sad Heart or weeping Eye Let not pale Grief my Soul affright Shrouded in Melanch'ly's dark Night But Death said she I fear him not So turn'd her head and Death her shot Then on a Cypress Hearse was laid forth dead As scorning Death aside was turn'd her head By cruel Death her arms were careless flung Her hands over the sides as strengthless hung Her eyes were clos'd as if she lay asleep Though she was pale her face did sweetness keep Her Elogie was thus Tears rain a-pace and so a River make To drown all Grief within a watry Lake Make Seas of Tears for Wind of Sighs to blow Salt Billows up the Eyes to overflow Let Ships of Patience traffick on the Main To bring in Comfort to sad Hearts again The next turn a Man And he thus began THE Silk-worm and the Spider Houses make All their Materials from their Bowels take They cut no Timber down nor carve they Stone Nor buy they Ground to build their Houses
Sword did rule and keep them all in aw No Prayers offer'd to the Gods on high All Ceremony in the Dust did lye Nothing was done in Order Truth and Right Nought govern'd then but Malice Spleen Spight But mark how justly Gods do punish Men To make them humble and to bow to them Though they had Plenty and thereof did eat They relish'd not that good and savoury Meat Because their Conscience did them so torment For all their Plenty they were discontent They took no rest Cares so oppress'd their Mind No Joy nor Comfort in the World could find When drowsie sleep upon their Eyes did set Then fearful Visions in their Dreams they met In Life no pleasure take yet fear to dye No Mercy can they hope from Gods on high O serve the Gods and then the Mind will be Always in peace and sweet tranquillity A Woman said A Tale I mean to tell That in those Warrs unto a Cross befell AN ancient Cross liv'd in our Father's time With as much Fame as did the Worthies nine No harm it did or injury to none But dwelt in peace and quietly alone On Times or Government did not complain But stood Stone-still not stirr'd in no King's Reign Both Winter's Snow and Summer's scorching Sun It did endure and Urin'd was upon Yet peaceful Nature nor yet humble Mind Shall not avoid rude Ignorance that 's blind That superstitiously beats down all things Which smell but of Antiquity or springs From Noble Deeds nor love nor take delight In Laws or Justice hating Truth and Right But Innovations love for that seems fine And what is new adore they as Divine That makes them so neglect the Gods above For Time doth waste both their respect and love And so this Cross poor Cross all in a rage They pull'd down quite the fault was only Age. Had it been gilded gloriously and brave They Vanity for an excuse might have But it was poor its Mortar all off worn Which Time had eaten as when Dogs have torn The Flesh from Bones of Hares or harmless Sheep Or like to Skeletons that Scholars keep If they had pious been it might have stood To mollifie the Minds of Men to good But they were wicked hating every thing That by example might to goodness bring Then down they pull'd it leaving not one stone Upon another for it to be known To after-ages for the Ground lies bare And none can know that once the Cross stood there Then said a Man I can this Tale well fit For I a Tale can tell that 's like to it IN old times when Devotion false did reign A Church was built although to use prophane Was Consecrated as Diana's right Who was their Goddess of the Moon-shine bright But afterwards when Truth with Zeal did flame It Christned was and bore Jove's mighty Name And dedicated to the Sun above Then married was became his Spouse and Love Long did she live in Duty Peace and Zeal Became an Honour to the Commonweal Was curiously adorn'd within without The Quoire all hung with Hangings rich about With Marble Tombs and Statues carv'd and cut Wherein the Bodies of good Saints were put There polish'd Pillars long the Iles did stand And Arched Roofs built by a skilful hand With Painted Windows plac'd on either side At every end were Gates large open wide And all the inside was most bravely gilt As all the outside with Free-stone were built There Choristers did sing each several Note And Organs loud did answer ev'ry throat And Priests there taught Men how to pray and live Rewards and Punishments which Jove did give But mark this Temple was destroy'd by sin Since they did leave to worship Jove therein Because this Church profan'd by sinful Men Was made a Stable and for Thieves a Den. No surer mark of Wrath when Gods do frown Then to give leave to pull their Temples down A Lady said these VVarrs her Soul did shake And the remembrance made her heart to ake My Brother then was murther'd in cold-blood Incircled round with Enemies he stood Where he like to a fixed Starr shin'd bright They like to black and pitchy Clouds of Night He like the Sun his Courage like that Heat Their Envy like bad Vapours strove to beat His Light of Honour out but pow'rful Fame Did throw their spight back on their heads with shame And though they struck his Body not his Mind For that in Death through all their Malice shin'd He valiant was his Spirits knew no fear They never chill'd when they in Battel were And strove to give more blows than safety sought His Limbs most vigour had when most he fought He spoke not loud nor sung his fear to hide With silence march'd and quietly did ride Viewing the Armies with a watchful Eye And careful was advantages to spye If that his Soldiers chanc'd to run away He ran not after them to make them stay As some Commanders which will call and run After the Soldiers when the Flight's begun But when once gone seldom return again But with their Soldiers they will safe remain But he amongst his Foes like Earth was fix'd Or like to Fire himself was intermix'd And their great solid Bodies did divide Pulling their Fabrick down on either side Until his Mercy did for Favour pray Unto his Courage so to run away He made them know he was a Soldier good Train'd up in Warrs which Art he understood Besides his Genius was prompt thereunto Wit Skill Invention knew what best to do Which made the Foe more fierce his Life to take For fear that he their ruin soon would make For they so soon as he was in their pow'r Like greedy Vulturs did his Life devour He stood their Rage his Courage knew no fear Nor on grim Death with terror did he stare But did embrace her with a Generous Mind VVith Noble Thoughts and Kisses that were kind Vollies of Shot did all his Body tear VVhere his blood 's spilt the Earth no Grass will abear As if for to revenge his Death the Earth VVas curs'd with barrenness ev'n from her birth And though his Body in the Grave doth lye His Fame doth live and will eternally His Soul 's Immortal and so is his Fame His Soul in Heav'n doth live and here his Name The next time had a Man his turn to speak Who said That Civil-Warrs made Rich men break Populous Kingdoms that do flourish well In Peace and Plenty then to ruin fell WHen I with grief unto remembrance bring The blessed time men liv'd with a goodKing To think at first how happy such do raign And in what Peace such Kingdoms do remain VVhere Magistrates do sit in Justice Throne Few Crimes committed Punishments scarce known The Nobles liv'd in state and high degree All happy even to the Peasantry Where easie Laws no Tax to make them poor All live Plenty full is every Store They Customs have to recreate the Mind Not barbarous but civil gentle kind
sorrowfully departed No sooner were they gone but in came my Play-fellows the Muses who seeing me sit so dejected began to sport with me one pulled me out to Dance another would have me Sing another repeated Love-Verses another described Battels and Warrs another like a Mimmick imitated several Humours and so every one endeavoured to please me in their turns But the Tragedian Muse said That she liked my Humour very well and that I was the only fit Company for her But my Moral Governess chid them away and said She would order me better than to suffer such wanton Wenches and idle Huswives to keep me Company for they were able to spoil and corrupt a whole Nation with their wildness and impoverish a Kingdom with their laziness whereupon some went laughing away but others went weeping So after I had been some time chastised by Virtue the Sciences returned in a Chariot which the Arts had made being finely carved neatly cut and lively painted joined with curious Screws and subtil Engines and the Wheels Mathematically Compassed Which Chariot was drawn by Six new sound strong and well-breath'd Opinions Harnessed with Speculations Shod with Disputations wherewith they often stumble upon the ridg of Ignorance or plunge into holes of Nonsense He that drove the Chariot was Ambition the Postillion was Curiosity the Sciences sat in it and Doubts and Hopes run by as Lacquies which Lacquies did bear me upon their Shoulders and placed me in the midst of the Chariot the Sciences being round about me Where I was no sooner set but Rhetorick presented me with a Posie of sweet Eloquence and the Mathematicks crown'd me with Truth But they all in their turns encouraged me with Promises That they would carry me to Fame's Palace and there I should remain No sooner had Ambition given a Lash to make the Opinions run but the Muses came in another Chariot made by Contemplation cut out of Imagination lined with several-colour'd Fancies embroidered with Rhymes rowling upon the Wheels of Numbers drawn by Distinguishings whose Trappings were Similizing Plumed with Delight Shod with Pleasure which makes them run smooth swift and easie He that did drive the Chariot was Judgment and the Postillion Wit But when the Muses who were therein saw I was in the Chariot of the Sciences they began to quarrel and draw out their Satyrical Swords The Sciences being more Grave and Temperate received their Assaults very civilly as coming from fair Ladies But after some dispute they did agree to take turns to carry me to Fame's Palace After I had travelled some time with the Sciences I was received into the Chariot of the Muses where I was received with great joy and crowned with a Wreath of Flame And thus I am travelling with very wise and pleasant Company though as yet I have no sight of the Palace but howsoever my Mind is so pleased with the Journey so delighted with the Society and so proud of the Favours and Gifts it receives from them every day that it despises the Follies and hates the Falshood of Mankind and scorns the Proffers of Fortune not regarding the Vanities of the World Would you could bring me into that Society said the second Lady The first answered I will do my endeavour So after a short time She pleaded so earnestly in her Friend's behalf that she was received into their Company in their Chariots where each Lady took their turns to ride in each Chariot whereby the Muses and Sciences were both pleased having always one of them with each And when at any time they rested from travelling the Sciences and Muses made Pastimes for those two Ladies like those of the Olympick-Games the Sciences found out new places to play in and took the Height the Longitude and Latitude of them Also by the help of the Arts they fortified and made them strong and built thereon and the Muses invented Masques made Plays and the like for the Sciences Arts and Muses were so proud and did so glory that they had gotten two of the Feminine Sex that they strove with all their Industry to delight them and to entertain them after the best manner The Propagating SOULS THERE was a handsom young Lord and a young beautiful Lady who did love one another so passionately and entirely that their Affections could never be dissolved but their Parents not agreeing to it would by no means be perswaded to let them Marry nor so much as to let them converse like Strangers Setting Spyes to watch them But when they found they would meet in despight of their Spies they enclosed them up from coming at each other Whereat they grew so discontent and melancholy that they both dyed and just at one and the same time to the great grief of their Parents who now wish'd they had not been so cruel But when their Bodies were dead these Lovers Souls leaving their Fleshly Mansions went towards the River of Styx to pass over to the Elyzium-Fields where in the way they met each other At which meeting they were extreamly joyed but knew not how to express it for they had no Lips to kiss nor Arms to embrace being Bodiless and only Spirits But the Passion of Love being always ingenious found out a way that their Souls which are Spirits did mingle and intermix as liquid Essences whereby both their Souls became as one But after these gentle smooth soft Loveexpressions they began to remember each other of their Crosses and Oppositions whilst they lived in their Bodies but at last considering of the place they were moving to the Masculine Soul was unwilling to go to it for since he had his Beloved Soul he cared not to live in the Elyzium Then speaking in the Soul's Language he perswaded his Love not to go thither for said he I desire no other Company but yours nor would I be troubled or disturbed with other Lovers Souls Besides I have heard said he that those that are there do nothing but walk and talk of their past-life which we may desire to forget Then let us said he only enjoy our selves by intermixing thus She answered She did approve of his desire and that her Mind did join and consent But where said she shall be our Habitation He answered He would build a Mansion in the Air of Poets Fancies and Philosophers Imaginations and make Gardens of Oratory Wherein should Flow'rs of Rhetorick grow By which Rivers of Divine Faith should flow That place said she a Paradice would be But I no strong Foundation there can see For it will shake with every puff of Wind No certainty nor surance will you find My Soul said be then we will higher fly And there another Mansion we will try And after they had argued some time at last they did agree to dwell in one of the Planets but before such time as they could arrive to the lowest Planet these two Noble Souls by Conjunction produced several Flames which were called Meteors these being not able to travel
so high lived in the Lower Region and by intermixing together as their Parents did produced more of their Kind But after those productions of these Souls they went to the Planets where they found some of their Climates too cold others too moist others too cold and moist others hot and others hot and moist others hot and dry others cold and dry with which they did not agree being not equally temper'd But yet in every Planet these Souls being fruitful they left many of their Issues called Meteors which are shining-lights like Starrs but being produced from the Mortal temper of the Souls are subject to Mortality for Amorous Thoughts are the Bodily-dregs of Mortality which made these Meteors subject to dye as other Generations being the Mortal Effects of their Immortality otherwise they would be Starrs for whatsoever is Mortal may beget their Like or Kind which other things that are Immortal never do But when these two Souls had travelled above the Planets they became one fix'd Starr as being Eternal and not subject to dye And when they were thus they did produce no more Issues for what Mortality the Body left Those Souls to Earth and Planets did resign Which in a Generation of Meteors shine Fancy's Monarchy in the Land of Poetry IN the Land of Poetry Reason was King a Gallant Prince he was and of a Heroick Spirit a Majestical Presence and of a Sober and Grave Countenance He was tall of Stature and strong of Limbs His Queen was the Lady Wit a Lady of a quick Spirit of a pleasant Conversation amiable Countenance free Behaviour and of a sweet Disposition she was neatly shap'd fair Complexion'd and finely but variously attired This King and Queen loved one another with an extraordinary Affection and lived very happily and peaceably for he governed wisely His Kingdom was large and fully populated well manured and of great Traffick He made profitable Laws set strict Rules and kept good Orders both in the Church and State As for the Church Faith and Zeal were the two Arch-bishops who were sworn to consecrate none but Moral Virtues to preach Good Life and leave all Sects Opinions Superstitions Idolatry and the like Neither were they suffered to make Lectures of Learning because it is always about Controversies puzling Belief with nice Distinctions vain Fantasms and empty Words without Sense The Cathedral Church was the Conscience The two Universities were Study and Practice wherein all the Masculine Youth of the Kingdom were bred As for the State there were Superintendent Officers and Magistrates made of all degrees The Sen ces were the five Ports to this Kingdom the Head and the Heart were the two Magazines There were two Governours made to every Port to Command and Rule Judgment and Understanding always sit at the Ports called the Ears to examine all that enter there having a strict Command from the King to let in no Sound but Harmony no Reports but Truth no Discourses but Rational or Witty and that they should shut the Gates against Flattery Falshood Discord harsh loud Strains Scraping Creaking Squealing Noises Love and Skill were the two Commanders to the Port Eyes who were commanded to let none in but Uniformity Cimmetry Beauty Graceful Motions pleasing Aspects light and well-mixt Colours and to shut the Gates against Deformity or Monstrosity rude or cruel Actions glaring Lights illmix'd Colours false Shadows and Darkness and to set up the light of Dreams when they are shut Also to let no Tears pass through the Eyes but those that have a Pass-port from the Governour of the Heart At the Port of the Nostrils sate Like and Dislike who were commanded to let in none but sweet Smells such as refresh the Brain as the scent of sweet Flowers savoury Herbs Earth new-plough'd new-bak'd Bread also sweet Gums sweet Essences and the like but to shut the Gates of the Nostrils against snuffs of Candles stinking Breaths corrupted Flesh stale Fish old Apples strong Cheese spilt Drink foul Gutters especially the Pump or Sink in a Ship also no Smells of Suet or Grease and from many more stinking Scents which would be too tedious to mention But in case of necessity they were to be allowed or at least commanded to let in some sorts of Stinks as Assafoetida and burnt Feathers to cure the Fits of the Mother Then the two Commanders of the Mouth were Truth and Pleasure one was to govern the Words the other the Taste Pleasure was commanded to let nothing into the Mouth that was either too sharp too bitter too salt or too deliciously sweet Truth was commanded to suffer no Lyes Cursing Slandering Railings Flattering nor Amorous Lascivious Factious Discourses Likewise never to let pass an Oath but to confirm a Truth no Threatning but to terrifie or reclaim the Wicked or Cross-natur'd no Pleading but for Right no Commands but for Good no Praises but for Worth Also to let no Sighs nor Groans pass nor no Professions except they have a Pass-port from the Heart Nor no Promises but when they have a Pass-port from the King which is Reason The two Commanders of Touch were Pain and Pleasure who were commanded to keep out all sharp Colds burning Heats Bruises Pinches Smartings Cuttings Prickings Nippings Pressing Razing and to let in none but nourishing Warmth soft Rubbing gentle Scratching refreshing Colds and the like And upon pain of Death or at least high Displeasure these Rules were to be kept Yet sometimes Bribery corrupted the Commanders The Privy-Council-Chamber was the Breast the Privy-Councellors were Secrecy Constancy Fidelity Unity Truth Justice Fortitude Prudence and Temperance These Privy-Councellors helped the King to manage the Affairs of the Kingdom The Secretaries of State were Intelligence and Dispatch The Treasurer was Memory The Lord Keeper was Remembrance The Mayors of every City were Authority The Constables were Care The Judges were Commutative and Distributive Justice Honesty was the Commander of all the Forces of the Actions and Thoughts The Heroick Actions are the chief Commanders as Captains and Colonels and the like The Common-Soldiers are the ordinary and necessary Actions which are employed in Offensive and Defensive Warrs The Merchants are the Imaginations which traffick and trade all over the World The Inventions are the Handicrafts-men and Labourers The Appetites are the Citizens that are so covetous as to engross all Commodities and the Wealth of the Kingdom and are the most Luxurious People in the Land But as I said the King was a Wise Prince and to divert his Subjects from too serious Studies dull Contemplations and laborious Dictatings he had Masques Plays Pastorals and the like being attended by his Nobles the Sciences and the Gentry of the Kingdom which were the several Languages The Queen by the Muses and Graces The Marriage of Life and Death DEATH went a wooing to Life but her grim and terrible Aspect did so affright Life that she ran away and would by no means hearken unto her Suit Then Death sent Age and
Arguing Thoughts were Logicians the Doubting Thoughts Scepticks the Hoping Thoughts Physicians the Inquisitive Thoughts Natural Philosophers the Humble Thoughts Moral Philosophers the Phantastical Thoughts Poets the Modest Thoughts Virgins the Jealous Thoughts Wives the Incontinent Thoughts Courtesans the Amorous Thoughts Lovers the Vain Thoughts Courtiers and the Bragging or Lying Thoughts Travellers And when all these Thoughts were met the Soul feasted them with Delight and the Senses with Pleasure presenting them with Reason and Truth The Travelling Spirits THERE was a Man went to a Witch whom he entreated to aid his Desires for said he I have a curiosity to travel but I would go into such Countreys which without your power to assist me I cannot do The Witch asked him What those Countreys were He said He would go to the Moon Why said she the Natural Philosophers are the only men for that Journey for they travel all the Planets over and indeed study Nature so much and are so diligent and devout in her Services that they despise our great Master the Devil and would hinder us in our ways very much but that they travel most by Speculation Then said he I would go to Heaven Truly said she I cannot carry you thither for I am as unpractised in those ways and have as little acquaintance there as the Natural Philosophers have for they believe that there is no such Kingdom But if you desire to travel to that Kingdom you must go to the Divines who are the only Guides yet you must have a care in the choice for some will carry you a great way about and through very troublesome and painful places others a shorter but a very strait narrow way others through ways that are pleasant and easie and you will find not only in Natural Philosophers but also in Divines such Combats and Dissentions amongst them that it is both a great hindrance and a trouble to the Passengers which shews they are not very perfect themselves in their ways for many Travellers go some a quarter and some half and some three parts of the way and then are forced to turn back again and take another Guide and so from Guide to Guide until they have run them all over or are out of breath and yet be as far to seek of their way as when they first set out Why then said the Man carry me to Hell Truly said the Witch I am but a Servant extraordinary and have no power to go to my Master's Kingdom until I dye although the Way be broad and plain and the Guides sure yet being the Devil's Factor to do him service on the Earth I can call forth any from thence although it were the King himself Well then said he carry me I beseech you to the Center of the Earth That I can do said she and so obscurely that the Natural Philosophers shall never spye us So she prayed him to come into her House for said she it is a great Journey therefore you must take some repast before you go Besides said she your Body will be too cumbersome wherefore we will leave that behind that you may go the lighter being all Spirit So she went out and came and brought a Dish of Opium and prayed him to eat well thereof So he eat very heartily and when he had done his Senses grew very heavy insomuch as his Body fell down as in a swound remaining without Sense in the mean while his Spirit stole out and left the Body asleep So the Witch and he took their Journey and as they went he found the Climate very intemperate sometimes very hot and sometimes very cold great Varieties they found in the way in some places monstrous great and high Mountains of the Bones of Men and Beasts which lay mixed with one another Then he saw a very large Sea of Blood which had issued from slain Bodies but those Seas seemed very rough whereupon he asked What was the reason She answered Because their Deaths were violent And there were other Seas of Blood which seemed so smooth that there was not a wave to be seen Whereat he ask'd How comes this to be so smooth and calm She said It was the Blood of those that dyed in peace Then he asked her Where was the Blood of other Creatures as Beasts Birds Fish and the like She said Amongst the Blood of Men for said she the Earth knows no difference And as they went along they came through a most pleasant place which she said was the Store-house of Nature where were the shapes and sub stances of all kind of Fruits Flowers Trees or any other Vegetables but all were of a dusky colour There he gathered some Fruit to eat but it had no tast and he gathered some Flowers and they had no smell Of which he asked the reason She said That the Earth gave only the Form and Substance but the Sun was the only cause of the Tast Smell and Colours Going farther they saw great Mines Quarries and Pits but she being vers'd and knowing the way well did avoid them so that they were no hindrance in their journey as otherwise it would have been But going down further it began to grow very dark being far from the face of the Earth insomuch that they could hardly see the plainest way whereupon he told the Witch That the Hill was so hideously steep and the place began to grow so dark that it was very dangerous No said she there is no danger since our Bodies are not here for our Spirits are so light that they bear up themselves So they went a great length until the place grew so strait that it began to be a pain even to their Spirits and so he told the Witch His Spirit was in pain She said He must endure it for the Center of the Earth was but a Point in a Circle So when he came to the Center of the Earth he saw a Light like Moon-shine of which when he came near he saw that the first Circle about the Center was Glow-worms Tails which gave that Light and in the Center was an old Man who did neither stand nor sit for there was nothing to stand or sit on but he hung as it were in the Air nor ever stirr'd out of his place and had been there ever since the World was made for he having never had a Woman to tempt him to sin never dyed And although he could never remove out of his place yet he had the power to call all things on the Earth unto him by degrees and to dispose of them as he would But being near the old Man the Witch excused her coming and prayed him not to be offended with them for there was a Man desired Knowledg and would not spare any pains or industry to obtain it For which he praised the Man and said He was welcome and any thing he could inform him of he would The old Man asked him about the Chymists that lived upon the face of
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
Leaves nor shorten the Life for it may live as long as Nature pleases for all mee but you eat out the Seeds which are their young Off-springs and the Earwigs eat off the Leaves and the Worms devour the Roots when I bear nothing away but what is free for all which is that which falls from the Heavens By this we may perceive That it is the nature of most Creatures that are guilty and do the greatest Wrongs to be the first Accusers The Third Tale of the Ant and the Bee IT chanced that an Ant and a Bee wandring about met in a Honey-pot the Honey being very clammy stuck so close to the Ant and weighed so heavy that she could not get out but like a Horse in a Quagmire the more pains she took to get out the deeper she sunk in Whereupon she entreated the Bee to help her The Bee denied her saying She should become guilty of Theft in assisting a Thief Why said the Ant I do not entreat you to assist my Stealth but my Life but for all your pretended Honesty and Nicety of Conscience you endeavour to steal Honey as much as I. No said the Bee this Honey was stoln by Man out of our Commonwealth and it is lawful not only to challenge our own but to take it wheresover we find it Besides Man most commonly doth cruelly murther us by smuthering us with Smoak then destroys our City and carries away the Spoils But Men are not only the most wicked of Creatures in making the greatest Spoils and Disturbances in Nature but they are the subtillest of all Creatures to compass their Designs and the most inventive for several destructive and enslaving Arts. But Nature knowing the Ingenuity of Man to Evil and the proneness of his Nature to Cruelty gave us Stings for Weapons to oppose and defend our selves against them which they finding by experience invented the way of smuthering us with Smoak The Ant said I hope that the Cruelty you condemn and have found by experience in Man will cause you to be so charitable as to help me out of my Misery There is no reason for that answered the Bee for if Man doth unjustly strive to destroy me it doth not follow I must unjustly strive to help you But whilst the Bee was thus talking the Honey had clammed the Bee's Wings close to her sides so that she could not loosen them to flye and in strugling to get liberty for flight plunged her whole Body in the Honey O said the Bee I shall be swallowed up and choaked immediately What said the Ant with your own Honey O said the Bee the Quantity devours me for Water refreshes Life and drowns Life Meat feeds the Body and destroys the Body by Surfeits besides a Creature may choak with that which might nourish it O unhappy Creature that I am said the Bee that my Labour and Industry should prove my ruin but the Honey rising above her Head stopped her speech and kill'd her The Ant after a short languishing dyed also Thus we see the same Mercy and Assistance we refused to others is refused to us in the like Distress And many times in the midst of Abundance are our Lives taken away When we are too greedily earnest in keeping or taking what we can justly call our own we seldom enjoy it either by losing it or our selves Which shews there is no secure Safety nor perfect Felicity nor constant Continuance in the Works of Nature A Tale of the Woodcock and the Cow A COW seeing a Woodcock sitting close to a a green Turf and observing him not to stir asked him why he sate so lazily there having so strong a Wing as he had to flye O said the Woodcock it is a laborious action to flye but sitting here I take my ease and rest The Cow said If I had Wings to flye I would never lye upon the cold Earth but I would mount up near to the warm Sun whose Heat clarifies the Air to a Crystalline Skye whereas the Earth is only a gross Body sending forth thick and stinking Fogs which many times give us the Rot and other Diseases by the unwholsome Vapours that arise from it and cold Dews that lye upon the Ground when the Air is sweet and refreshing warm and comfortable 'T is true said the Woodcock the Sun is a glorious and powerful Planet his Heat is our Comfort and his Light is our Joy and the Air is a thin and fine Element But alas said he though we be Birds that can flye therein yet we cannot rest therein and every Creature requires rest sometimes neither can we live only by the Sun for the Sun cannot fill us though he warms us his Light fills not our Crops although it doth our Eyes nor is the Seed sown in the Air and though the Winds furrow and plow the Clouds yet the Air is too soft an Element to bear Corn or any other Vegetable nor doth there grow sweet Berries on the Sun-beams as on the Bushes besides great Winds beat down our sailing-wings and when the Air is thick and full of Water it wets and cleaves our Feathers so close they will not spread which causeth difficulty of flight which tires us and puts our Limbs to pain when you sit lazily here all day long chewing the Cud having your Meat brought by Man to encrease your Milk and in the Summer you are put to rich Pasture or lye in green Meadows growing thick with Cowslips and Dazies or else for change you walk up to the Mountains tops to brouse on wild Thyme or sweet Marjoram and yet you rail against our good Mother Earth from whose Bowels we receive Life and Food to maintain that Life she gives us She is our kind Nurse from whence we suck out of her springing breasts fresh water and are fed by her Hand of Bounty shaded under her spreading-Boughs and sheltred from Storms in her thick Groves Besides said the Woodcock you are safe from Dangers whenas we have many Airy-Enemies as the Tyrant-Eagle and Murtherous Hawk But said the Cow we that only live upon the Earth are dull and melancholy Creatures in comparison of those that flye in the Air for all Birds are ingenuous and seem to have more Wit than Beasts besides they are of chearfuller Dispositions and have clearer Voices by reason their Spirits are more refined whereof the Serene Air and the hot Sun is the cause by agitating the Spirits to that degree that they seem to have more Life than we Beasts have or any other Creature for those Bodies that are most active and those Minds that are more cheerful have most although not longest Life having more of the innated Matter which is Self-motion in them than duller Creatures have And since Nature hath given you a greater proportion of Life that is more lively Spirits slight not her Benefits but make use of them for to that purpose she gives them Wherefore get up and sit not idly here Mount up
into a great Passion and great Controversies she had with her self whether she should lose her Honour and live or save her Honour and dye Dishonour she hated and Death she feared the one she blusht at the other she trembled at But at last with much strugling she got out of that Conflict resolving to dye for in Death said she there is no Pain nor in a dishonourable Life any Content But though Death says she is common to all yet when it comes not in the ordinary ways of Nature there must be used violence by Artificial Instruments and in my Condition there must be used Expedition And considering what ways to take she bethought of a Maid-servant that used to make clean the Rooms and such kind of works to whom she had often talked as she was about her Employments and had gotten much of her Affections Her she called and told her that a Wife Wizard had advised her That ever on her Birth-day she should shoot off a Pistol and in so doing she should be happy so long as she used the same Custom but if she neglected she should be unfortunate for by the shooting thereof said she I shall kill a whole Year of Evil from doing me hurt but she told her withall That it must be that day and it must be a small one for fear of making a great noise and done privately for fear her Mistress should know of it or any Body else for it will be of no effect if above one know of it besides my self The simple Wench easily believing what she said was industrious to supply her wants and in a short time brought her desires which when she had got her dejected Spirits rose with an overflowing joy and setting down with a quiet Mind since before she could not stand nor set still for her troubled and rough Thoughts drove her from one end of the Room to the other like a Ship at Sea that is not anchored nor ballasted or with storm tost from Point to Point so was she but now with a constant Wind of Resolution she sailed evenly although she knew not to what Coast she should be driven But after some expectation in came the old Bawd and the Prince who was so struck with her Beauty as he stood some time to behold her At last coming near her earnestly viewing her and asking her some leight Questions to which she answered briefly and wittily which took him so much as he had scarce patience to bargain with the old Bawd for her But when they were agreed the wicked Bawd left them to themselves where he turning to the young Lady told her That of all the Women that ever he met with his Senses were never so much delighted for they had wedded his Soul to Admirations She answered That if his Senses or his Person did betray her to his Lust she wished them all annihilated or at least buried in Dust but I hope said she by your Noble and Civil Usage you will give me cause to pray for you and not to wish you Evil for Why should you rob me of that which Nature freely gave And it is an Injustice to take the Goods from the right Owners without their consents and an Injustice is an Act that all Noble Minds hate and all Noble Minds usually dwell in Honourable Persons such as you seem to be and none but base or cruel Tyrants will lay unreasonable Commands or require wicked things from the Powerless or Vertuous Wherefore most Noble Sir said she Shew your self a Master of Passion a King of Clemency a God of Pity and Compassion and prove not your self a Beast to Appetite a Tyrant to Innocents a Devil to Chastity Virtue and Piety and with that Tears did flow from her Eyes as humble Petitioners to beg her release from his Barbarous Intention But he by those Tears like Drink to those that are poyson'd grows more dry and his Passions more violent He told her No Rhetorick could alter his Affections Which when she heard and he ready to seize on her she drew forth the Pistol which she had concealed bending her Brows with a resolute Spirit told him She would stand upon her Guard for why said she it is no sin to defend my self against an Obstinate and Cruel Enemy and know said she I am no ways to be found by wicked Persons but in Death for whilst I live I will live in Honour or when I kill or be kill'd I will kill or dye for security He for a time stood in a maze to see her in that posture and to hear her high defiance but considering with himself that her words might be more than her intentions and that it was a shame to be out-dared by a Woman with a smiling-countenance said You threaten more Evil than you dare perform besides Honour will be buried with you in the Grave when by your Life you may build Palaces of Pleasure and Felicity With that he went towards her to take away the Pistol from her Stay stay said she I will first build me a Temple of Fame upon your Grave where all young Virgins shall come and offer at my Shrine and in the midst of these words shot him With that he fell to the ground and the old Bawd hearing a Pistol came running in where seeing the Prince lye all smeared in blood and the young Lady as a Marble Statue standing by as if she had been fixt to that place looking stedfastly upon her own Act she running about the Room called out Murther Murther Help Help not knowing what to do fear had so possest her At last she drew her Knife thinking to stab her but the Prince forbid her saying He hoped he should live to give her her due desert which if the Gods grant said he I shall ask no more So desiring to be laid upon the Bed until the Chirurgeons came to dress his Wounds stenching the blood as well as they could the mean time But after the Chirurgeons had search'd his Wounds he ask'd them Whether they were mortal They told him They were dangerous and might prove so but their hopes were not quite cut off with despair of his recovery But after his Wounds were drest he gave order for the young Lady to be lockt up close that none might know there was such a Creature in the House nor to disclose how or by what means he came hurt Then being put in his Litter he was carried into his own House which was a stately Palace in the City The noise of his being wounded was spread abroad and every one enquiring how he came so making several Tales and Reports as they fancied but none knew the truth thereof After some days his Wounds began to mend but his Mind grew more distemper'd with the love of the fair Lady yet loath he was to force that from her she so valiantly had guarded and kept and to enjoy her lawfully he could not because he was a married Man and had been so
they neither enjoy the Lawrel Olive or Cypress but go to the Grave unregarded or forgotten or live in shame despised But those that are industrious and valiant may they sit high in Honour's Throne and Fame blow their Praises so loud and far that no time can stop the Sound Then the two Armies being set in Battel-array the Prince to save the effusion of blood finding his Army not full of alacrity sent the young Geral a Challenge who although he knew himself unfit for a single Duel accepted it being afraid of the dishonour of denying it but the two Armies would not consent to look on whilst they fought for in the Encounter both Armies joined in cruel fight But she having no skill in the art and use of the Sword nor strength either to assault or resist was wounded and her Wound bled so fast that she fainted and fell down to the ground But the Prince who was of a Noble nature perceiving by her shape that she was but a Stripling run to unty her Head-piece and viewing her Face straight knew her and was so astonished thereat that he had not power to stir for the present but stopping the Wound as well as he could brought life again yet so faint she was that she could not speak neither had he power to go away but sate by until he was found in that posture In the mean time the Army being left to chance having not their General to direct them Fortune play'd a part of Civility and Courtship giving victory to the Ladies so the Queen's Army had the day and some of the common Soldiers seeking for Spoil found them he sitting by holding her in his Arms from whence they took her and put her in a Litter and he also in the same as a Prisoner to carry them to the body of the Army and as she went having recovered her Spirits again thus complaining she said I have heard of Pleasure ne're could it obtain For what we Pleasure call still lives in Pain Then Life is Pain and Pain is only Life Which is a Motion Motion all is strife As forward backward up or down or so Side-ways or in a Circle round doth go Then who would live or would not wish to dye Since in the Grave there is no Misery O let me dye strive not my Life to save Death happy is and Peace lies in the Grave The Prince told her She preached to her self a false Doctrine for said he Life is a blessing which the Gods do give And nothing shews them Gods but that they live They 're the Original of Life the Spring Life the beginning is of every thing And Motion is from all Eternity Eternal Motions make the Gods to be To wish no Life we wish no Gods and then No Resurrection to the Souls of Men In Resurrection we as Gods become To be none would refuse a Martyrdome The very Being pleaseth Nature well Were she to live always in pains of Hell Nature nothing is more horrid to her Than Annibilation that quite undoes her Thus Gods and Nature you do wish to spoil Because a little pain endures a while Devils had rather Devils be than nought at all But you like Angels that did never fall Thus they discoursed as they went but he strove to conceal himself from her knowledg until such time as he thought he might make his peace with her for fear she should run away again out of hate and dislike to him But the Army when they miss'd their young General grew so sad that they took no pleasure in their Victory for they were all as one dumb man no noise was heard all Eyes were full of Tears But when they saw the Litter as supposing she was dead they raised a Cry that rent the Air and made the thicker Clouds to move Which when she heard and saw them running to her she shook her hand to shew them she did live Then sent they shouts of Joy to Heaven high And ev'ry Countenance sad look'd merrily But when they came so near as to view her Face and saw her pale and weak they grew into such a rage that they would have killed the Prince hearing he wounded her but she entreated for his life and begg'd him for her Prisoner No sooner ask'd but granted and she gave the charge of him to her Father Being brought into her Tent the Army watch'd by turns whilst she was under the Chirurgeons hands for cure Nor would they take any of the Spoils but what she did divide unto them nor any Direction but what she gave Nor would they stir until her Health permitted her to travel but being indifferently well she gave order to march on But the King had raised another Army in the time of her sickness and sent it out to meet them She although weak went about to order and encourage her Soldiers who loved her better than their life which Affections made them fight so well that they overcame their Enemies and before the King could raise another Army they got unto the City Where as soon as she came near she gave order to her Soldiers to entrench about it and to cast at every corner of the City a Mount of Earth on which she placed her Cannon to batter down the Walls then she did build Forts about to place her Men to shoot and cast Granadoes in and by their several assaults they battered the City and killed many of their Men by sundry and sudden assaults at last she resolved to storm it But the King perceiving his weakness and that he could not hold out long sent to the young General desiring a Treaty and withall a Cessation of Arms. In the mean time the Queen being weary of her Imprisonment longing for the coming of her Beloved in a melancholy Humour thus spake O what a Hell is it to love and not be loved again Nay not only to love but to love a Slave and he regards me not Do I say Slave No he is none that hath no Slavish Passion Then he is free And I am only bound to Slavery First to my Passions then to his Tyranny What shall I do you Gods above You punish me and yet you make me love Do you delight still in a tortur'd Mind Make you no sympathy in Human Kind Must all your Works consist in contradiction Or do we all enjoy nothing but Fiction The Mind is nothing but meer Apprehension 'T is not a Thing unless it hath Dimension But O you Powerful Gods by your Decree You can of Nothing Something make to be Then make me Something grant me my Delight Give me my Lover or destroy me quite Thus leaving her in a Melancholy Posture and Humour we return to the Armies The Cessation being near expired the young General called a Council and thus spake to them Right Noble and Valiant Heroes THE King hath sent to treat of Peace but in my opinion there can be no honourable Agreement next to the setting the Queen
Rest lying upon the cold and hard Ground killing those that never did me harm and offering my self to be killed by those that never did me good and this I do to get an honourable Fame whenas ten thousand to one I am cast into the Grave of Oblivion amongst the common Soldiers for alas Fame hath not many Puny-Clarks to record every several Action done by every particular person in a great and numerous Army Besides all the Honour of a Victory redounds to the General and the Losses reflect upon the Common-Soldier and Under-Commanders besides Fortune gives the Triumph and not Merit And what have I gained by all my Travels and Experience Nay what have I not lost Have I not spent a great Sum of Money endangered my Life both by Sea and Land wasted my Youth wearied my Limbs exhausted my Spirits with tedious Journeys my Senses almost choaked with Dust or drowned with Wet lying in Lowsie Inns eating stinking Meat and suffered all the Inconveniences that go along with Travellers and when they return to their own Countrey they are no wiser than when they went out but oft-times become more compleat and absolute Fools bringing vain Fashions fantastical Garbs lying Reports Infectious Diseases rotten Bodies Atheistical Opinions feared Consciences and spotted Souls Well said he I will now return to my Native Soil leaving the flattering and dissembling Courts the deboist Cities the Cruel Warrs and never take up Arms more but when my King and Country calls me to it nor will I travel more but when my King and Countrey sends me forth But I will lead a Countrey-life study Husbandry follow my Plows sell my Cattel and Corn my Butter and Cheese at Markets and Fayres kiss the Countrey Wenches and carry my Neighbour's Wife to a Tavern when Market is done live thriftily and grow rich Then taking his leave of the General he returned to his own Countrey where after he had visited his Friends who were joyed to see him and did welcome him home he put himself into one of his Farm-houses stocking his Grounds taking Men-servants and Maid-servants to follow his Business and he himself clothed in a Frieze Jerkin and a pair of Frieze Breeches a Frieze pair of Mittins and a Frieze Mountier-Cap to keep out sharp-cold in Winter-mornings when the Breath freezes between the Teeth would over-see and direct and was industrious to call up his Servants before day-light and the last a-bed when their VVork was done for in the Summer-time he would be up with the Lark to mow down his Hay to reap down his Harvest and to see his Carts loaded riding from Cart to Cart and at Noon would sit down on his Sheafs of Corn or Hay-cocks eating Bread and Cheese and young Onions with his Regiment of Work-men tossing the black-Leather Bottle drinking the Healths of the Countrey-Lasses and Good-wives that dwelt thereabout and after his Harvest was brought into his Barns and his Sheep-shearing-time done make merry as the custom of the Countrey was with good Cheer although Countrey-fare with Goose-Pyes Pudding-Pyes Furmity Custards Apples and March-Beer dancing to the Horn-Pipe with the lusty Lasses and merry Good-wives who were drest in all their Bravery in their Stammel Petticoats and their gray Cloath-Wastcoats or white wrought Wastcoats with black Woolstead and green Aprons and the Men with Cloath Breeches and Leather Doublets with Pewter Buttons These and the like Recreations the Countrey-people hath mix'd with their hard Labours When their Stomacks were full and their Legs weary with dancing or rather with running and leaping for their Dances have no nice and difficult Measures to tread they disperse every one to their several Houses which are thatch'd and only Holes cut for Windows unless it be the rich Farmers and they most commonly have a chief Room which is glazed yet the poorer sort are seldom without Bacon Cheese and Butter to entertain a Friend at any time Then giving thanks to the Gentleman for their good Cheer and he shaking them every one by the hand they took their leaves and the next day every one followed their own Labours as they used to do nor did the Gentleman omit any pains care and industry in his Affairs but plyed the Markets selling his Corn Straw Hay Cattle Cheese Butter Honey c. And after he had followed this way of Husbandry two or three years casting up his Accounts he found that he was rather behind than before-hand in his Estate and that his Husbandry did not amount so high as the Rents he had from his Tenants when he did let them Alas said he Have I taken all this pains rising early following my business hard all day making my self a Slave to the Muck of the Earth to become poorer than I was It 's hard when those that take my Lands pay me great Rents and not only live themselves and their Families thereon but grow rich into the bargain and I cannot make so much as my Rent when I take as much pains and am as industrious as they are Then being in a cholerick Humour as they are most commonly that thrive not and vexing at the Servants round his House for their carelesness and idleness in a melancholy humour he would walk out into his Fields and going once by a Neighbour's Cottage where only lived an old Man and his old Wife he saw her standing at the door fanning some Corn in a little Basket By your leave Good-wife said he You are fanning your Gleanings God bless you my good Master said she and all that belongs to you Truly said she I am sifting a little Corn from the Husks to boil for my good Man's Supper and mine who will come home weary and hungry from his day's labour We are old Master said she and Labour goeth hard with us now but in our younger days it was like a Recreation when our Bodies were young and strong and our Spirits lively but now our Bodies being weak and our Spirits faint it is a toil and an affliction to us but we must work whilst we live for we have nothing but our Labours to feed us and clothe us God help us said she Well said he I will be charitable and see if that will make me thrive and told her he would allow her a Weekly-stipend Why the blessing of God said she rain down plentifully on your Life and Eternal Joys in Heaven after you are dead But I wonder said he you could not get so much by your Labour in your younger days to serve to maintain you when you were old O Master said she some have too little to thrive on and some have too much but those that have nothing but from hand to mouth can never lay up because they eat up what they get and there can be no store without some savings They that have more than they can manage themselves are destroyed by those that help them for many mouths eat them up and many hands work them out besides they are ever
life of Man and I shall have in recompence only the honourable Name of Justice of Peace in Quorum which is nothing but a sound and no real and substantial thing neither would I have the trouble for all the Poultry in the Countrey wherefore I will have nothing to do in Court City or Countrey but obey the Laws though not to execute them as a subordinate Magistrate I will submit to Authority but not sit in Authority At last with these Contemplations and Discourses to himself he arrived to his own House so after Supper with musing thoughts he went to Bed The next day he sent to an intimate Friend to come to dine with him and after dinner he told him his intent of discharging himself of the trouble and loss of Husbandry withall he told him a design he had to marry and desired him to seek him out a good Wife relating what manner of Woman he would have her to be His Friend said I will do my best to search out such a one as may sympathize with your Humour But I do wonder said he you should think of Marriage now for you should have wedded a Wife when you were in the prime and strength of your Age about the years of four or five and twenty and not stay until you are eight or nine and forty when weakness and sickness is ready to seize on you He answered and said That young Men wanting the Experience of time chose by Fancy and not with judgment besides they knew not how to prize Chastity nor honour the Virtues of their Wives having no experience of the Falshood and Inconstancy which dwells in that Sex or rather that was created with Women as being the Essence of their Natural Dispositions so that Chastity is to be accounted as supernatural and if my Wife had been inclined to Honesty yet the Vanities and Debaucheries of my Fantastical Youth might have misled her Youth and have corrupted her pure Mind and innocent Life by my ill Example Besides If I had married whilst I was young it is likely I should have been weary of my Wife before she had been old and my Children might have been weary of me before I had been old but now I am old enough to govern a young Wife by my sober Example and my solid Instructions and gentle Perswasions and to prize her Chastity so as to trust her without a jealous Spye and to honour her Virtue to love her Person to maintain her Honour to provide for her and her Family to chuse her Delights and to direct her Life Thus I may be happy in my Age by not marrying when I was young Well said his Friend I will travel all the Countrey over to chuse you a fit Wife Pray said he let me give you some certain Rules along with you First I would not have her a meer Countrey-Gentlewoman for she seldom seeing any other Men but her Father's Steward Butler or Carters with their Frieze Jerkins and Leather Breeches if she should come to see a flanting young Gallant bedaub'd with Gold and Silver Lace or say it were Copper she will be so ravish'd in admiration that she will yeeld upon the meanest condition he can make nay a Gentleman-Usher with a pair of Silk Stockins will beset her hard Wherefore let me have one that dwells in the Countrey that hath seen the City that hath seen the Court Plays and Masques but not so well acquainted with them as to know their enticing-Vanities or tempting-Vices Then I would have her such a one whose Parents have bred her rather to a Superfluity than in pinching-Necessity for Necessity teaches Youth to dissemble and shark and when they come to command Plenty they have no stay of their Prodigality and Luxury but just like those that are almost starved for want of Meat and Drink throw so much into the Stomach that many times it causeth a sudden death or else a dangerous sickness But those whose breedings have known no want have no mean nor base desires for plenty opens the door to generosity and raises the mind to high and noble speculations which produceth honourable actions despiseth unnecessary vanities loves magnanimity and hates crouching flattery or base dissembling actions which Plenty seldom knows having no use thereof Another thing you must observe her humour and have a care she be not of a peevish disposition for they are pleased at no time but fall out with every thing even with themselves and not only make their own unhappiness but of all those that live near them they will cross all discourse be it never so rational oppose all actions be they never so just delight in no place to live in be it never so convenient but all their Life is made up with crosses and their mind is insnared with unnecessary troubles Truly said his Friend your Rules by which I am to measure a Wife are so strait as all my industry will never fit you So his Friend left him to court his Contemplations whilst he went to search for a Fruition After a short time he sent him word in a Letter thus SIR I Have found a young Lady who has the Reputation of being Virtuous born from an Ancient Stock and Honoured Race carefully bred and well qualified her Portion is small her Friends are not poor she has enough Beauty to delight a temperate Mind she seems to be of a cheerful Disposition and makes me believe she can love an Ancient Man if says she his Merit equals his years but said she I will be wooed before I am wed Wherefore if you will marry you must visit the Lady and as you do both like you may agree Howsoever I durst not strike up the Bargain before you see her for fear you should dislike my Market being the first Commodity of this kind and of this nature I ever cheapned So good Fortune direct you After he had received this Letter he put himself into a Wooing-Equipage and so compleat he was in Apparel and Attendants that the same Eyes that had seen him when he followed his Husbandry and should view him now would forswear they had ever seen him before Such alterations fine Clothes and many Followers make The young Lady who expects his company makes her self fine to entertain him the whilst her Friends trim up the House direct their Servants how to wait and provide good Cheer to bid him welcome At last a Servant comes running in to give notice the Noble Gentleman was come which as soon as the young Lady heard the report gave her the Palpitation of the Heart which caused a trembling over the whole Body and fear and bashfulness made her Colour to rise and fall but hemming up those Spirits that Fear had depress'd setling her Countenance to the best advantage for her Face she stood with as much resolution as her weak Confidence would give her leave to receive his Addresses whom he no sooner saw but loved liking her by report before
The second sort that were to visit her were PHYSICIANS And after a short time they asked her what made a good Physician She answered Practise and Observation Then they asked her What made the difference between Pain and Sickness She said Pain was caused by cross perturbed Motions and Sickness by distempered Matter and the overflow of Humours Then they asked her Whether the Mind could be in pain or be sick She answered No but said she the Mind is like the fire it can put the Body to pain but can feel none it self likewise the Motion is like fire for the more Matter it hath to work on the quicker it moves and when the Mind is as it were empty it grows dull and the Head is filled with nothing but smoaky Vapours Then they asked her What difference there is between the Soul and the Mind She answered As much difference as there is betwixt Flame and the grosser part of Fire for said she the Soul is only the pure part of the Mind Then they asked her the difference if any was betwixt the Soul the Mind and the Thoughts She answered As the Mind was the Fire the Soul the Flame so the Thoughts were as the Smoak that issues from the several Subjects that the Mind works on and as Smoak so the several Thoughts many times vanish away and are no more remembred and sometimes they gather together as Clouds do and as one Cloud lies above another so the Thoughts many times lye in rows one above another as from the first to the second and third Region Then they asked her What was the best Medicine to prolong Life She answered Temperance and good Diet. Then they asked her What Diet As for Diet said she to Healthful Bodies Meats must be well and wisely matched but to Diseased Bodies such Diets must be prescribed as are proper to cure each several Disease As for the mixing and matching Meats said she they must be after this description following All Flesh-meats are apt to breed Salt Rheums and being roast breeds Cholerick Humours which Salt Rheums and Cholerick Humours causeth many times Hectick Fevers enflaming the Arterial Blood and Vital Spirits and drinking out the Radical Moisture and Salt Rheums penetrating into the Vital parts cause excoriations and ulcerations As for white Meats as Milk-meats and the like they are apt to breed sharp Humours also the gross parts cause many times obstructions of the Noble parts and the sharpness is apt to corrode especially the Uretaries Guts and Stomack producing Bloody-waters from the one and Cholicks in the other Also sharp Humours cause Cankers Fistula's and the like eating through several parts of the Body making several holes passages or wounds to pass through and Obstructions cause ill digestion ill digestion causes corruptions corruptions cause several Diseases as Feavers Small-Pox Imposthumes Boils Scabs and Leprosies if the Corruption is salt or sowr As for Fish and also all sorts of Pults they breed Slime and Slime in hot Bodies causeth the Stone and Gout in cold Bodies and all sorts of white Swellings as the Kings-Evil Wens and the like also the Brains Feet or any Sinewy part of any Meat doth the like as also Sweet-meats As for all sorts of Fruits Roots Herbs they breed thin crude Humours which causes Wind Wind causes Cholicks Cramps and Convulsions by griping and twisting the Guts Nerves and Veins as also all swimming and dizzy Diseases in the Head likewise Head-akes caused by a Vapour arising from the crude and raw Humours also in hot Bodies it causeth the Sciatica the heat over-rarifying the sharp Humours caused by Fruit makes it so subtil and searching that it doth not only extend to the outmost parts of the Body as betwixt the skin and flesh but gets into the small Thread-Veins As for all Sweet-meats and Comfits they are in some Bodies very obstructive and in all Bodies they breed both sharp and hot Rheums and I have heard said she that Sugar makes the most sharp and acid Vitriol As for the matching of several Meats Fish-meats do well agree with Roots Herbs and Fruits if they be stewed roasted boiled baked or the like otherwise the rawness hinders the concoction of the Meat but if they be drest as aforesaid they temper the saltness and quench out the heat which the over-nourishing strength doth produce Also Fish may be mix'd with Flesh-meat although all Physicians are against it for certainly the natural freshness and coldness of Fish doth temper and allay the natural heat and saltness that is in Flesh-meat mixing it into a good Chyle and tempering it into a Juicy-Gravy which encreases the radical moisture and nourisheth the radical heat also it supplies the Arteries fills the Veins plumps the Flesh smooths the skin whenas strong drinks mix'd with strong meats over-heats the Body enflames the Spirits evaporates the radical moisture burns the radical heat scorches the Arteries drinks up the Blood sears the Veins shrinks up the Nerves dries the Flesh and shrivels the Skin White Meats and Pults agree best as being of one and the same degree as it were of heat for all strong Meats curdle all sorts of Milk which causes obstructions and corruptions and turns it sowr being of a nature so to do which makes such sharpness in the blood and body as causes Tertians Quartans Quotidians and the like Diseases Pults and all sorts of Milk-meat being of a spungy substance digest as it were together when Meats that are solid mix'd with Meats that are more porous and spungy do hinder each other Small drink is best with white Meat but when Pults is eaten without Milk it may agree better with stronger Liquor Roots and Milk-meats agree as being both easily dissolv'd from the first forms into Chyle Nor do Fruits and Pults disagree for the sharpness of the Fruits doth divide the clamming of the Pults and the sliminess of the Pults doth temper the sharpness of the Fruits but Fruits and Milk-meats are enemies which when they meet they do exasperate one another So that Fruits and Pults and Milk and Roots do best together Roots having no sharpness in them but there is of all sorts of Flesh Fish Milk Roots and Herbs some being hotter than others and grosser as the most watrish Fruits are the hottest as having most Spirits in their acute Juices Likewise all Roots or Herbs that bite as it were the tongue or are bitter to the tast are hot although Druggists Herbalists and Physicians are many times of the other opinion but certainly all that is sharp salt or bitter proceeds from a hot nature and most commonly produces hot effects having a fiery figure and motion but because they find many things that are sharp or bitter to qualifie Feavers or the like hot Diseases they think it is the natural temper of the Drugs Herbs Roots Fruits or the like but a hot Cause may produce a cold Effect as for example Obstructions cause heat in the Body but sharp things do
knowledg which are the Rational spirits is free to all as being free to it self the other bound to the dull part of Matter But to return to Dreams How shall we remember figurative Dreams since Memory is not made by the Rational motions for though the Sensitive innated Matter might print such figures yet the Rational innated Matter hath not figured those prints and then we say we did not dream Then they asked Why some Animal Creatures were almost dissolved for want of sleep She said Want of sleep was caused by distemper which distemper was a disorder and irregularity amongst the innated Matter sometimes from the Sensitive spirits sometimes from the Rational spirits and sometimes from both The irregularity of the Sensitive spirits was when the Body was pained or sick or over-power'd the irregularity amongst the Rational was when the Mind was troubled these disorders hinder the Sensitive spirits from shutting up Shop orderly and when they sleep by halves or unsoundly those irregularities cause their windows and doors which are the senses to open and shut unnecessarily and untimely as I may say and many times lack of sleep is caused when the spirits are so tired that they cannot use a sufficient force to shut up shop at least not to lock or barr the Windows and Doors close Sometimes the Sensitive spirits are so earnest and as I may say greedy in working that they labour both night and day either for curiosity or encrease or pleasure but most commonly the Rational spirits join or go halves with the Sensitive spirits when they work for curiosity or pleasure because they make a delight thereby Then they asked her What was the reason that some sorts of Cordials or Drugs caused sleep She said That that part of innated Matter that was taken in Cordials or such Drugs did either help the innated Matter in the Animal Body or Figure by adding strength to them to shut up their Shops and Windows or else helped to rectifie their disorders and irregularities But said she as some Drugs or Cordials do sympathize to the irregular part of innated Matter in the Figure so other Drugs and Cordials do work antipathetically to their regularity and sympathetically to their irregularities and then the working to sleep is more hindred then helped Then they asked her Whether one kind of Motion could give a perfect form at one instant She said No unless the Creature formed be without the varieties of parts for every different part requires a different motion to the creating of each part and a distance of time to form each part in for some parts require more work and labour than others Then they asked her If all Creatures were created by degrees She said All Creatures that were composed of various parts are for as there are degrees of innated Matter which innated Matter is the Creator of all Figures so there are degrees of and in Creation for our senses said she shew us that there is a season a time and a working in time by degrees and if we allow there be degrees of encreasing as strengthning and enlarging why should we think there are none in creating every particular Figure and different parts in one and the same Creature For as we see seed must be first sown and then remain in the Earth for some time before those seeds sprout up and encrease so there is time and degrees in forming of the formed for if there be degrees that we call Time why not in the working of each part of each Figure in time For in reason we cannot think that the root the blade the stalk the ears the seed in the ears of Corn are produced from one motion made by the Seed sown and the Earth and so each different part to be created at one instant into one created from or figure And as in Vegetables so questionless in Animals there are degrees in their creations for it is against reason and sense to think an Animal is formed at one instant although the figure at first created was no bigger than a hair if the figure hath variety of parts which require not only various motions but degrees of motions and distance of time to move in And thus as Vegetable require degrees and distance of time to create one figure so in Animals there is not only space in time and degrees of motions and several mixtures of temperaments to enlarge and strengthen that figure but degrees in creating every particular part in one and the same figure which is not formed at once for common sense said she shews us that there is nothing done but by degrees and whosoever thinks otherwise their thoughts move irregularly and against sense and reason for Nature works by degrees and in order and orders her Works by degrees Then they asked her Whether a Creature might not be created by the effects of motion without partaking of the substance of the Parents She said No for said she the Earth and the seed sown which are the Parents that produce an Off-spring cannot produce any thing of its own nature unless some part of the Producers goeth to the creating of the Produced for it is not only such a motion made between the Producers that creates the Produced but part of their innated Matter which are the Sensitive and Rational spirits which goeth to the forming and creating of the Produced for that innated Matter or Spirits that goeth from the Producers meeting and intermixing together creates or lays the foundation of the Produced on which other innated Matter or Spirits brought by the way of nourishment do build so that the foundation of every Creature is of the Creator But said she one and the same Matter doth not move always after one and the same manner for it is not meerly such a motion but such kind of motions that create and the variousness of the motions or Creators although of one and the same Matter causeth a difference in the Created in semblances constitutions humours dispositions qualities faculties and the like for though the Producers be the same and not only the Produced of the same Kind but of the same Natures as coming from such Producers yet the Produced are not always alike but some vary more than others not only the Produced but those produced from their Producers But said she to shew that the Produced partake of the Producers of each party more or less not only in effects but in substance is that such a Creature or Creatures could not be created but by the same Creators otherwise the same motions made by such a kind of Matter would produce the same Creature which cannot be for the same kind or degree of innated Matter which creates hath the same kind of motions in general but every particular part is of it self for that which is of one part is not of another part although it be of one and the same Kind and hath one and the same Property But the Rational spirits said she go
by rage confirms it by melancholy destroys it by desperate fury as self-murther Likewise as the Sun doth not only contract and dilatate it self but contracts and dilatates the several Creatures on and in the Earth the same doth the Mind the several parts of the Body it dilatates the Body into several actions postures and behaviours to strike to kick to stretch out the Body to spread out the Arms to fling out the Legs to stare to call or cry out to hoop to hollow and it will contract the Body into a silent musing close the lips shut up the eyes fold in the arms bow or bend in the legs and as it were wind up the Body by fear grief anger melancholy joy wonder admiration and the like and as the Sun doth suck and draw from the Earth and dissolve and expel the Creatures therein so do the Passions the Humours of the Body for as some Sun-beams suck moisture from the several Springs that rise in the Earth so divers Passions suck out moisture from the several Veins that run in the Body or as such Beams which pierce the Earth make the face thereof wither and pale so will some sorts of Passions and as some other sorts of Sunny-beams for all work not the like effect draw Sulphureous Vapours from the Bowels of the Earth towards the Middle-Region which flash out in Lightning so do the Passions draw from the Heart a flushing-colour to the Face which flushes in hot blushes And as the Sun-beams draw Salt Vapours from the Sea which fall in pouring showers so do the Passions draw Salt Vapours from the Bowels which fall in trickling tears for the Passions are the beams of the Mind and have as great an influence and power over the Body as the Sun-beams have upon the Earth and as the Sun 's bright Rays cause the Elements to appear clear and light so doth the Mind's tranquility cause the countenance to look cheerful and fair Then they asked her of the Four Cardinal Virtues She said That Prudence and Temperance were two Virtues which belonged more to the Wise than the Heroick Men for Prudence barrs Generosity and Magnanimity and doth not only forewarn dangers but restrains from dangerous actions when Heroick Honour is got in Danger more than Safety and Courage is made known thereby likewise Temperance forbids Magnificence but Fortitude and Justice belongs most to Heroick Men. Then they asked her If she thought Beasts had a Rational Soul She answered That if there could be no Sense without some Reason nor Reason without the Sense Beasts were as Rational as Men unless said she Reason be a particular Gift either from Nature or the God of Nature to Man and not to other Creatures if so said she Nature or the God of Nature would prove partial or finite As for Nature in her self she seems unconfined and for the God of Nature he can have no Biass he ruling every thing by the straight Line of Justice and what Justice nay what Injustice would it not be for Mankind to be supream over all other Animal-Kind or some Animal-Kind over any other Kind Then they asked her Why no Creature was so shiftless at his birth as Man She answered There were other Creatures as shiftless as Man as for example Birds are as shiftless before their Wings are fledged For as Infants want strength in Arms to feed themselves and Legs to go so Birds want strength of Bills to feed themselves and Feathers in Wings to flye Then they asked her Whether she thought there were a Heaven and a Hell She answered That in Nature there was a Hell and a Heaven a God and a Devil good Angels and bad Salvation and Damnation for said she Pain and Trouble is a Hell the one to torment the Body the other the Mind Likewise said she Health and Pleasure is a Heaven which gives the body rest and the mind Tranquility also said she the natural God is Truth the natural Devil Falshood the one seeks to save the other to deceive the good Angels are Peace and Plenty the evil are Warrs and Famine Light is the Beatifical Vision Darkness the natural Dungeon Death is the Damnation Life the Salvation and Moral Virtue is the natural Religion and Moral Philosophers are Nature's Priests which preach and seem to practise a good life Then they asked What Government for a Commonwealth was best She answered Monarchical for as one Sun is sufficient to give Light and Heat to all the several Creatures in the World so one Governour is sufficient to give Laws and Rules to the several Members of a Commonwealth Besides said she no good Government can be without Union and Union is in Singularity not in Plurality for Union is drawn to a Point when Numbers make Division Extraction Substraction which often-times brings Distraction and Distraction Confusions Then they asked her Whether she was of that Opinion That those that had good Understandings had weak Imaginations She said She was not of that Opinion for said she from the pureness and cleerness of the Understanding proceeds the subtilty and the variety of their Imaginations and the Understanding is the foundation of Imagination for as Faith is built upon Reason so is Imagination upon Understanding Then they asked her If the Faculties of the Mind or Soul had their uses or proceeded from the temper of the Brain and Heart She answered That the uses and faculties of the Mind proceeded from the Motions of the Vital and Animal Spirits which I call said she the Sensitive and Rational Spirits which is the Life and Soul and from the regular motions and full quantity thereof proceeds a perfect Memory a clear Understanding and a sound Judgment from the quick motions proceed a ready Wit and from the various and regular motions proceed probable Imaginations or Opinions from the scarcity proceeds dulness and stupidity or insensibility from the irregularity proceeds Extravagancies or Madness and where the Scarcity and Irregularity meets it produceth a stupid dull Madness The Fourth sort that visited her were Scholars that studied Theology and they asked her Whether she was of opinion that Man hath Free will She answered That she was not so proud nor so presumptuous as to think that Man had Free-will for said she if Jove had given Men Free-will he had given the use of one of his Attributes to Man as free Power which said she Jove cannot do for that were to lessen himself To let any Creature have free power to do what he will for Free-will is an Absolute Power although of the narrowest limits and to have an Absolute Power is to be a God and to think Man had it only and no other Creature were to think Jove partial but said she Man's Ambition hath bred this and the like Opinions But said they Jove might permit Man or suffer Man to do some things She said That was as ill or a worse Opinion for to think Jove permits Man to cross his
oft-times like the Legs which most commonly walk without the guidance of the sight or the directions of the knowledg for few measure each stride or count or look at every several step they take nor think they how they go nor many times where they go and the Mind many times is so deep in Contemplations that the Thoughts are so fix'd upon some particular Object or so busily employed on some Invention or so delightfully taken with some Fantasm that although the Legs walk themselves weary yet the Mind and Thoughts do not consider or think whether the Body hath Legs or no. How many through extream fear run into that they should shun not considering whither they go And if the Legs move so often without the Mind's knowledg or Heart's consent well may the Tongue which is the agilest Member of the Body And to judg by the Countenance were more unjust for a Man may have a Knavish Face and an Honest Heart a spightful Eye yet a Generous Nature a Frowning Brow yet a Quiet Spirit a Dull Cloudy Countenance but a Bright Clear Mind The fifth is a Chaffering or Trafficking Justice for though it is justice for a Man to buy and to fell in a Commonwealth where all is not in common yet there may be great injustice in buying and selling As for example A Man hath a Horse which he esteems and hath a love or as it were an affection to which Horse he is forced to sell either for want or otherwise for which he asks a Price according to his Affection not according as he is really worth now this Man doth not cozen nor cheat because he prizes him as he thinks he is worth yet he is unjust through his partiality not judging the Horse uprightly nor weighing the Scales of Justice evenly between his Affection and the Horse's worth The sixth Suffering As for Buying it comes into Self-Justice for example A Man through perswasion buys a House which House is no way convenient for him or stands unhealthy being in an ill Air or unpleasantly as in a dirty place or in some place where many Travellers pass which puts the Dweller to great charges through Entertainments Now this Man is unjust to himself through his facil nature or courteous or kind disposition in buying such a House as will impair his Health or Estate or necessitate him through incommodiousness Or for a Man to keep a Servant that is no way ingenious or useful in his Offices the Master may be said to be a Bountiful or Charitable Man to his Servant but unjust to himself to be ill served when he may be better served Likewise for to be bound or engaged for a Man unto whom he is no ways obliged or hopes to be so is an injustice to himself but to hazzard if he doth never suffer imprisonment for the Engagment not being able to make a satisfaction for which he gives up his Liberty this Injustice is caused by a foolish pity Also although it is Justice for a Man to adventure offer or lay down his Life for one that he knows by good proofs would do the like for him yet for a Man to offer or give up his Life for a Man condemned or otherwise from whom he never received such Favours as to deserve or merit his Life or had proof of his Friendship although this Person was never so worthy I say it were a Heroick Act and a huge Generosity but a great injustice to himself unless he had self-ends in thinking he should get a Fame thereby for though there is a Human Justice as well as a Grateful Justice For Mankind to help and assist each other yet surely it is Justice for a Man to love himself best next to his Creator Producer Preserver and Protector as his God his Parents his Countrey and his Friend and he ought to offer up his Goods Life Liberty and Fame to Him from whom he received them for it is an Injustice not to return if need require as much as he received Thus it is Justice to prefer a Man's own Fortunes Life and Fame before all others but those before-mentioned and an Injustice if he do otherwise Thus Noble Hearers said she you may observe and take notice That although all dishonesty is Injustice yet all Injustice is not Dishonest because the Intent is not evil Likewise although Justice is Honest yet Honesty is not always Just by reason many times the Knowledg is not perfect or the Understanding clear or the Truth visible or the Will free or the Power strong enough to do Justice or justly The Seventh sort that visited her were Barresters and Orators to whom she thus spake The Root of Oratory is Logick the Branches are Rhetorick and the Fruit is Magick which charms the Senses and inchants the Soul wherefore it ought to be banished from the Barr of Justice lest it should incircle Justice-Seat excluding Right and Truth that comes to plead For Oratory chiefly is employ'd For to prefer the Wrong and Falshood hide They asked her Whether an Orator or a Poet had most power over the Passions She answered An Orator had power to betray the Passions but could not make an absolute Conquest of them As for Poetry saith she it hath a double power for all Poetry hath Oratory but all Oratory hath not Poetry Wherefore said she Poetry hath an absolute power over the Passions for Poetry is like a powerful Monarch can raise rally and imbattel them at his command and like a skilful Musician can set tune and play upon them as he pleases Poetry is Nature's Landskip and Life's Prospect it is a Spring where Noblest Souls do bathe themselves Their Thoughts like wanton Boys dabble therein But those that are to make Orations said she either at the Barr in Pulpits upon Theaters or in the Field must first consider the ground and matter whereon and whereof they would speak and to what End they would drive their speech for when they have laid the ground and have well considered the subject of their Discourse Words will follow easily and freely without meditating thereupon but those that consider only Words and in what Phrases they shall speak shall never speak well but be out at every turn because the foundation is not laid whereupon their Discourse should be built for the Materials which are Words will serve them in small stead or to little purpose when they want the Ground or mistake the Ground whereon they should work But a Learned Orator's Head said she is like a Garden wherein are set divers sorts of Flowers fetch'd from several Soils both far and near as some from Demosthenes Thucydides Tully Seneca Tacitus and the like and many Slips from more Modern Orators and Seeds from so many several Authors which they strain about in their Orations as is sans nombre Or said she a Learned Orator is like a Crab tree-stock whereon are grafted several sorts of sweet Fruits but bears nothing of its own
Fruit and if it doth said she they will be but sowr Crabs So their Speech would sound harsh to the Ear as such sowr Fruit would be sharp to the Tast. Whereas a Natural Orator said she bears nor brings forth any other Fruit but his own which is sweet and pleasent without pains-taking or ingrafting but all things grow as Nature sets them without the help of Art But I have observed said she that in Matches of Orations the last hath ever the Victory or for the most part although not so Wise or Eloquent as the first which shews that the digesting part of the Brain which is Judgment and Nutriment and is Truth which nourisheth the Rational Understanding is not like the Stomack the digestingplace for Food that is to nourish the sensitive Body for when the Stomack is full the Tast dis-relishes all Meat presented thereunto be it never so delicious it heaves against it as being over-charged neither doth variety tempt it Whereas the Head although it be stuft or over-gorged as I may say still covets more and the Ears suck and draw in with an eager appetite so it be variety otherwise it grows dull flat and drowsie for the Brain will feed on gross Matter or unwholsome Trash with more pleasure and a greater gust than on that which is fine or wholsome if once received before Also said she I perceive all those that make Orations in the Field to their Soldiers repeat their Victories from the first descent of the foundation of their Cities Kingdoms and Commonwealths and the Renown of their Ancestors but never their Losses their Treacheries or their Follies they strive to bury them in oblivion for though it be a good Policy yet it is not a clear Honesty to present a half-faced Glass for a whole But this is not so great a fault but it may be excused when it is to a good End as to defend what is rightly their own or to gain back what unjustly they lost or to revenge an unpardonable Wrong or to punish a wicked Crime or to take the part of the Helpless Innocent otherwise it is a Dishonesty not excusable when it is used for Treason Rapine or the like But you Orators said she are like those that are skilful in playing on a Flute or Cornet where the Ears of the Auditors are the holes and your Tongues or Words as the Fingers do make the stops your Breath gives the sound and your Wit and your Learning are the Ayres and Musical Ditties that move their Passions or rather their Passion for indeed there is but one Passion in Nature or at least in an Animal Figure which Passion changes into several Forms according to the several subjects or objects it is placed upon for upon some subjects it is Love upon others it is Hate upon others it is Fear upon others Anger and so the like of all the rest of those they call several Passions which is but one natural Faculty Property Quality or what you will name it which is the Heart That these severally alter and Camelion-like change and sometimes seem all one colour and sometimes of divers colours or as a Triangular-Glass which makes a Million of various colours from one light so doth the Triangular-Heart from the light of Life seem to have many Passions But said she lest Orators should be the cause of unlawful Passions there ought to be a Law That the publick Assemblies that are drawn about an Oracle either such as are to declare the Command of the Gods or for any other Instruction Informations or Exhortations either in the Church or on Theaters should not be mixed of several Sexes but either the Assembly should be all Men or all Women otherwise a Consecrated Place may be polluted with wanton Eyes and enticing Countenances self-whisperings and secret agreements to dangerous Meetings evil Intentions and wicked Actions by which a Church would become a Bawdy-House and the Priests the Pimps or Procurers to draw them together And all Orations concerning the Commonwealth or for any important matter would be lost for the Ears of the Assembly would be stopt by their Eyes at least the hearing of the Auditors would be imperfect and their Understanding confounded and their Memory dazled with the splendor of light glances and fair Faces of each Sex The Eighth sort of Visiters were States-men who ask'd her What Government was best She answered Monarchy For said she a good King is the Center of a Commonwealth as God is the Center of Nature who orders and disposes all to the best and unites and composes all differences which otherwise would run into a confusion and Unity said she is sooner found and easier made by one than by more or many Neither said she can one Man make so many Faults as more or many may Besides said she there is less Justice and more Injustice in a Multitude than in one Then they asked her Whether it were lawful for a King to lay down his Scepter and Crown She answered That Princes that voluntarily lay down their Royal Dignity do either express some infirmity in Power or weakness of Understanding or imperfect Health of Body or Effeminacy of Spirits or doting Affection or Vain-glory for Religion requires it not nay said she it seems rather an Impiety for Jove's Annointed being his chief Deputy on Earth to leave or be weary in governing the people by which and in which he serves Jove And it was accounted said she a Blessing as well as an Honour in the Ancient Writ to go out and in before the People most being inspired by Jove to that Dignity of Prophesying and for the Great Gallant Heroick Heroes as Alexander and Caesar they left not their Crowns nor parted with their Power until Death uncrowned and divested them Neither said she were there any that voluntarily laid down or yeelded up a Crown but have had more Condemners and Dispraisers than Commenders or Admirers Thus said she neither the Laws of Honour or Religion allow it nor can I perceive Morality approves it Then they asked her If a foolish King might not bring a Commonwealth to ruin sooner than a Council of Many She said No for said she the plurality breeds Faction which Faction causeth more evil than one foolish Head can make or bring about Then they asked If a Tyrant-King were not worse than a Factious Assembly She said No for said she a Tyrant-King may make good Laws and keep Peace and maintain Supreme Power and Authority but a Factious Assembly said she will break all Laws do no Justice keep no Peace obstruct Authority and overthrow Supreme Power and said she that Kingdom is happiest that lives under a Tyrant-Prince for when the People are afraid of their Prince there is Peace but where the Prince is afraid of the People there is Warr and there is no Misery like a Civil-Warr Nor is there a greater sign that a King is afraid of his People than when he advances those
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
illustrate with false lights their dim Virtues or give them such Praises they never deserved Wherefore no History should be esteemed but what was written by the Authors themselves as such as write the History of their own Lives Actions and Fortunes and the several Accidents that befell in their time and to their knowledg yet said she I wish I might out-live the Historians of these times that I might write a History of the Historians there to describe their Birth and Breeding their Life their Actions their Fortunes their Interest and let the World judg whether they writ Truth and without Partiality But to draw towards an end of my Tale All sorts of People resorting to hear her speak she became so famous as that a great Monarch whose Kingdom was neighbouring to the Countrey she was born bred and lived in had a great curiosity to see and hear her for the fame of her Beauty was equal to the fame of her Wit and putting himself into a disguise left his Kingdom and Wife to visit this Lady whom when he saw and had heard speak her Wit Beauty and graceful Behaviour did so ravish him that he became a deseperate Lover Whereupon he secretly revealed himself unto her perswading all he could to leave that inclosed life proffering her to be divorced from his Wife and to marry her But she refused his Offers despised his Love forbid his Suit and absented her Person which caused him to return in a rage and fury sending Ambassadors to proclaim Warrs unless the State would deliver the Lady into his Power But they absolutely denied to deliver her thinking it both a wicked and dishonourable disgrace to their Countrey although they perceived an utter ruin was like to fall upon them by reason the Kingdom was in a weak condition caused by former Warrs But it came no sooner to her hearing but she desired to meet the Ambassadors in a publike audience which they granted where multitudes of People came thronging to see her and when they were met she thus spake I come not here to make Eloquent Orations to divulge my Wit or to present my Beauty to the view of many Eyes for though I may thank Nature for her bounteous Gifts Yet I have not that Vanity or Pride For to allure or draw from Virtue 's side But I come to answer these Threatning-Ambassadors for I cannot call them Noble or Honourable since they come upon a base Design and to an unjust End But let me tell them That the Gods would hate me should I break my holy Vow Next I should grieve my Father's sleeping-Ashes should I disobey his dyingcommand Thirdly I should be a dishonour to my Birth and Sex should I live incontinently Lastly I should curse my Birth hate my Life blast my Fame should I be the cause of my Countrey 's Ruin and my Countrey had cause to do the same should it beruined for me But since it will prove a Mischief Sin and Shame to live Honour Prudence Love and Justice bids me dye Wherefore I have sacrificed my Life for my Countrey 's Peace and Safety my unspotted Chastity holy Vows and dutiful Obedience and to quench the raging Lust of a wicked Tyrant And growing very sick she became so weak that she could stand no longer but gently sinking to the ground she fell whereupon all that could get near run unto her to help her but she told them it was in vain for Poyson saith she hath been the Engine that hath broken open the Gate of Life to let Death in and so immediately dyed Which the People no sooner understood but made such outcries lamentations and mournings as if there had been an utter desolation of the whole World Then after some time of Preparations they buried her with great solemnity and intombed her costly the State setting up her Statue of Brass for her Courage and Love to her Countrey the Church Deified her a Saint for her Virtue and Piety and the Clergy raised Altars where all the Kingdom twice a year did offer unto her solemn Sacrifices and the Poets built several Pyramides of Praise of her Beauty Wit Virtue and sweet Graces which Pyramides reach'd to Fame's highest Tower and the Historians writ her Life and Death in Golden Letters and recorded them in Fame's Brazen Tower that all the World might know and follow the Example of her Heroick Spirit Generous Soul Chast Body Pious Life and Voluntary Death HEAVEN's Library which is FAME's Palace purged from Errors and Vices JOVE and some of the other Gods being set in Council Pallas being one rose up and bowing to Jove thus spake Great Jove said she I ought in duty and love to inform you not only of the Vices and Errors which are numerous in the World and in time may bring it to confusion but of those Errors and Vices which are crept into your great Library Fame's Palace and if order be not taken to destroy them they will devour all your best and noblest Records Jove answers That Vices were as Serpents and Errors as Worms bred in the Bowels of Nature of which she could never be cured for the Gods had no Medicine strong enough to purge them out and by reason they were from all Eternity they could not be destroyed for if any thing could be destroyed that is from all Eternity then we our selves might be destroy'd but said Jove we can cast them out of our own Mansions though we cannot cast them out of Nature's Bowels also we can hinder them from coming in wherefore Fame is to be reproved for suffering the Library to be so foul and full of filthy Vermin Whereupon Mercury was sent to call Fame to appear before Jove and his Council so when Fame came Jove told her That Gods and Goddesses ought to be just and upright and to have their Palaces pure and full of Truth which said he you nor your Palace hath not been for you are Partial and your Court full of Faction and my Library your Palace foul and full of Wormy Errors which if it had been kept pure and clean they would never have entred or if they had entred you might have caused them to have been swept out by Old Father TIME Fame answered That it was not her fault for Mars Venus and Fortune had sent them in and it is not for me to oppose so great a God as Mars or so great a Goddess as Venus or to sit as Judg to determine what was best to be flung out or what to be placed therein for none is fit to judg those Causes but you great Jove and your Council Jove approving what Fame said told his Council That after they had taken some repast they would sit in Council again and their only Business should be to purge and cleanse their Library So after they had feasted with Ambrosia and Nectar they returned to Council where they did first decree That all those Records that were to be cast forth should be heapt up