but that malicious breath soon vanishes and leaves no stain behind it so I hope your jealousie will do the like it will vanish and leave no doubt behind it Perfection I hope you are not angry with me for telling you or for being my self troubled at what was reported Solid No for innocency is never concern'd it always lives in peace and quiet having a satisfaction in it self wherefore reports only siezes on the guilty arresting them with an angry turbulency Perfection But perchance you may be angry for my jealousie Solid No for jealousie expresses love as being affraid to lose what it desires to keep Perfection Then I hope you do not repent the love you have placed on me Solid Heaven may sooner repent of doing good than I repent my love and choyce Perfection Dear Mistress my mind is so full of joy since it is clear'd of suspition and assured of your love as my thoughts doth fly about my brain like birds in Sun-shine weather Ex. Scene 24. Enter Monsieur Nobilissimo and Madamosel Doltche NObilissimo Sweet Lady will you give me leave to be your Servant Doltche I wish I were a Mistress worthy of your service Nobiliss. There is no man shall admire more your beauty and wit nor be more diligent to your youth nor shall honour your merits and love your vertue more than I Doltche Indeed I had rather be honoured for my merit than for my birth for my breeding than for my wealth and I had rather be beloved for my vertue than admired for my beauty and I had rather be commended for my silence than for my wit Nobilissimo It were pity you should bury your great wit in silence Doltche My wit is according to my years tender and young Nobilissimo Your wit Lady may entertain the silver haired Sages Doltche No surely for neither my years nor my wit are arrived to that degree as to make a good companion having had neither the experience of time nor practice of speech for I have been almost a mute hitherto and a stranger to the VVorld Nobilissimo The VVorld is wide and to travel in it is both dangerous and difficult wherefore you being young should take a guide to protect and direct you and there is no Guide nor Protector so honourable and safe as a Husband what think you of marriage Doltche Marriage and my thoughts live at that distance as they seldom meet Nobilissimo VVhy I hope you have not made a vow to live a single life Doltche No for the Laws of Morality and Divinity are chains which doth sufficiently restrain mankind and tyes him into a narrow compasse and though I will not break those chaining Laws to get lose and so become lawless yet I will not tye nature harder with vain opinions and unnecessary vows than she is tyed already Nobilissimo You shall need no Tutour for you cannot only instruct your self but teach others Doltche Alas my brain is like unplanted ground and my words like wild fruits or like unprofitable grain that yields no nourishing food to the understanding Wherefore if I should offer to speak my speech must be to ask questions not to give instructions Nobilissimo Certainly Lady nature did study the architectour of your form and drew from herself the purest extractions for your mind and your soul the essence or spirits of those extractions or rather you appear to me a miracle something above nature to be so young and beautifull and yet so vertuous witty and wise grac'd with such civil behaviour for many a grave beard would have wagg'd with talking lesse sense with more words Doltche Youth and age is subject to errors one for want of time to get experience the other through long time wherein they lose their memory Nobilissimo Pray let me get your affections and then I shall not lose my hopes of a vertuous Lady to my wife Ex. Scene 25. Enter Madamosel Caprisia and Monsieur Generosity GEnerosity Lady are you walking studiously alone may I not be thought rude if I should ask what your studies are Capris. I am studying how some studies for pain some pleasure some dangers some quarrels some to be wicked some to be learned some to be ignorant some to be foolish some to be famous but few to be wise Generosity Who studies to be wicked Capris. Thieves Murtherers Adulterers Lyers and Extortioners Generosity Who studies to be learned Capris. Linguists Generosity Who studies to be ignorant Capris. Divines Generosity Who studies quarrels Capris. Lawyers Generosity Who studies dangers Capris. Souldiers Generosity VVho studies to be fools Capris. Buffoones Generosity VVho studies fame Capris. Poets Generosity VVho studies pleasure Capris. Epicures Generosity VVho studies pain Capris. Epicures Generosity Do Epicures study both for pain and pleasure Capris. Yes for they that surfeit with pleasure must endure pain and Epicures studies the height of pleasure which no sooner injoyed but pain follows Generosity VVho studies to be wise Capris. They that study Temperance Prudence Fortitude and Justice Generosity And what study you Capris. I study how I may avoid the company of mankind also to be quit of your Lordships presence He alone She goeth out Generosity She is so handsome no humour can ill become her Ex. Scene 26. Enter Monsieur Profession and Monsieur Comorade Comorade Thom. Give me leave to rejoyce with thee for the resurrection of thy heart that was kill'd with thy Mistresses cruelty and buried in her constancy Profession VVell well make your self merry Comorade But prethee in what plight is thy heart I doubt it is lean weak and pale and in a puling condition lying in the Grave of thy Mistresses inconstancy Profession Faith I cannot tell the good Angel that brought into life can give a better account of it than I can Comorade VVhere shall I seek this good Angel amongst the effeminate or masculine Sex For I suppose it is an Angel that is of one Sex although I have heard Angels are of neither Sex but prethee of which shall I inquire Profession Of the divine Sex and the divinest of her Sex Comorade You may as well bid me inquire of that which is not to be found for every particular man that is a Servant to any particular of these angelical creatures will prefer his own Mistress to be the divinest and so the most absolutest Profession All men that sees my Mistresse and doth not adore her as the only She is damned in ignorance and condemned to perpetual blindnesse Comorade Say you so then I will not see her for fear I should be one of the damned and therefore I will give over that design as the search of her and go to a Tavern and drink the good health of thy heart and leave the inquiry after it and if you will go with me so Profession I cannot without the breach of gratitude deny thy kindnesse wherefore I will bear thee company Ex. Scene 27. Enter Doctor Freedom and Madamosel Doltche Madamosel Solid Madamosel Volante
Here on this Figure Cast a Glance But so as if it were by Chance Your eyes not fixt they must not stay Since this like Shadowes to the Day It only represent's for Still Her Beuty 's found beyond the Skill Of the best Paynter to Imbrace Those louely Lines within her fure View her Soul's Picture Iudgment will Then read those Lines which Shee hath writt By Phancy's Pencill drawne alone Which Peece but Shee Can justify owne PLAYES Written by the Thrice NOBLE ILLUSTRIOUS AND Excellent Princess THE LADY MARCHIONESS OF NEWCASTLE LONDON Printed by A. Warren for Iohn Martyn Iames Allestry and Tho. Dicas at the Bell in Saint Pauls Church Yard 1662 THE DEDICATION TO those that do delight in Scenes and wit I dedicate my Book for those I writ Next to my own Delight for I did take Much pleasure and delight these Playes to make For all the time my Playes a making were My brain the Stage my thoughts were acting there THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY MY LORD MY resolution was that when I had done writing to have dedicated all my works in gross to your Lordship and I did verily believe that this would have been my last work but I find it will not unless I dye before I have writ my other intended piece And as for this Book of Playes I believe I should never have writ them nor have had the Capacity nor Ingenuity to have writ Playes had not you read to me some Playes which your Lordship had writ and lye by for a good time to be Acted wherein your Wit did Create a desire in my Mind to write Playes also although my Playes are very unlike those you have writ for your Lordships Playes have as it were a natural life and a quick spirit in them whereas mine are like dull dead statues which is the reason I send them forth to be printed rather than keep them concealed in hopes to have them first Acted and this advantage I have that is I am out of the fear of having them hissed off from the Stage for they are not like to come thereon but were they such as might deserve applause yet if Envy did make a faction against them they would have had a publick Condemnation and though I am not such a Coward as to be affraid of the hissing Serpents or stinged Tongues of Envy yet it would have made me a little Melancholy to have my harmless and innocent Playes go weeping from the Stage and whipt by malicious and hard-hearted censurers but the truth is I am careless for so I have your applause I desire no more for your Lordships approvement is a sufficient satisfaction to me My Lord Your Lordships honest Wife and faithfull Servant M. N. TO THE READERS NOBLE READERS I Must ask pardon for that I said I should not trouble you with more of my works than this Book of Playes but since I have considered with my self there is one work more which is very fit for me to do although I shall not be able to do it so well as the subject will deserve being the Life of my Noble Lord but that work will require some time in the gathering together some several passages for although I mean not to write of all the particulars of these times yet for as much as is concerning that subject I shall write of it will be requirable but it is a work that will move so slowly as perchance I shall not live to finish it but howsoever I will imploy my time about it and it will be a satisfaction to my life that I indeavour it M. N. TO THE READERS NOBLE READERS THe reason why I put out my Playes in print before they are Acted is first that I know not when they will be Acted by reason they are in English and England doth not permit I will not say of Wit yet not of Playes and if they should yet by reason all those that have been bred and brought up to Act are dead or dispersed and it would be an Act of some time not only to breed and teach some Youths to Act but it will require some time to prove whether they be good Actors or no for if they are not bred to it whilst they be young they will never be good Actors when they are grown up to be men for although some one by chance may have naturally a facility to Action and a Volubility of Speech and a good memory to learn and get the Parts by heart or wrote yet it is very unlikely or indeed impossible to get a whole Company of good Actors without being taught and brought up thereto the other reason is that most of my Playes would seem tedious upon the Stage by reason they are somewhat long although most are divided into first and second Parts for having much variety in them I could not possibly make them shorter and being long it might tire the Spectators who are forced or bound by the rules of Civility to sit out a Play if they be not sick for to go away before a Play is ended is a kind of an affront both to the Poet and the Players yet I believe none of my Playes are so long as Ben Johnson's Fox or Alchymist which in truth are somewhat too long but for the Readers the length of the Playes can be no trouble nor inconveniency because they may read as short or as long a time as they please without any disrespect to the Writer but some of my Playes are short enough but the printing of my Playes spoils them for ever to be Acted for what men are acquainted with is despised at lest neglected for the newness of Playes most commonly takes the Spectators more than the Wit Scenes or Plot so that my Playes would seem lame or tired in action and dull to hearing on the Stage for which reason I shall never desire they should be Acted but if they delight or please the Readers I shall have as much satisfaction as if I had the hands of applause from the Spectators M. N. TO THE READERS NOBLE READERS ALthough I expect my Playes will be found fault with by reason I have not drawn the several persons presented in a Circular line or to a Trianglar point making all the Actors to meet at the latter end upon the Stage in a flock together likewise that I have not made my Comedies of one dayes actions or passages yet I have adventured to publish them to the World But to plead in my Playes behalf first I do not perceive any reason why that the several persons presented should be all of an acquaintance or that there is a necessity to have them of one Fraternity or to have a relation to each other or linck'd in alliance as one Family when as Playes are to present the general Follies Vanities Vices Humours Dispositions Passions Affections Fashions Customs Manners and practices of the whole World of Mankind as in several persons also particular Follies Vanities Vices Humours Passions
expresse himself in such high poetical Raptures for his discourse is plain and ordinary Nobilissimo Nay sometimes his discourse is extraordinary as when he hath Wars but Nurse thou art old and the fire of love if ever thou hadst any is put out by old Father Times extinguisher Doltche True love never dyes nor can time put it out Nobilissimo 'T is true but Nurse seems by her speech as if she had never known true love for true love as it alwaies burns clear so it alwaies flames high far infinite is the fewel that feeds it Nurse Well well young Lovers be not so confident but let me advise you to ballance reason on both sides with hopes and doubts and then the judgement will be steady Nobilissimo But in the scales of love Nurse nothing must be but confidence Nurse Yes there must be temperance or love will surfeit and dye with excess Doltche Love cannot surfeit no more than souls with grace or Saints of Heaven Ex. Scene 37. Enter Madamosel Caprisia alone CApris. My smiles shall be as Baits my eyes as Angels where every look shall be a hook to catch a heart I 'l teach my tongue such art to plant words on each heart as they shall take deep root from whence pure love shall spring my lips shall be as flowery banks whereon sweet Rhethorick grows and cipherous fancy blows from which banks love shall wish to gather Posies of kisses where every single kisse shall differ as Roses Pinks Violets Primroses and Daffidillies and the breath therefrom shall be as fragant as the touch soft thereon and as the Sun doth heat the Earth so shall my imbraces heat my Lovers thoughts with self-conceit which were before like water frozen with a dejected and despairing cold Hay ho Ex. ACT V. Scene 38. Enter Monsieur Profession and Madamosel Solid PRofession Dear Mistress you are the only She that is fit to be crown'd the sole Empresse of the World Solid Let me tell you Sir I had rather be a single Shepheardesse than the sole Empress of the World for I would not be a Mistress of so much power to be as a Servant to so much trouble Profession But put the case Alexander were alive and would crown you Empress of the World you would not refuse that honour but accept of it for the sake of renown Solid Yes I should refuse it for if I could not get renown by my own merits I should wish to dye in Oblivion for I care not Nay I despise such honours and renowns as comes by derivations as being deriv'd from another and not inherent in my self and it is a poor and mean renown that is gain'd or got only by receiving a gift from a fellow-creature who gives out of passion appetite partiality vain-glory or fear and not for merit or worthsake wherefore no gifts but those that comes from the Gods or Nature are to be esteem'd or received with thanks but were to be refused had man the power to chose or to deny Profession Sweet Mistress nature hath crown'd you with beauty and wit and the Gods hath given you a noble soul Solid I wish they had for the Gods gifts are not like to mans and natures crown is beyond the golden crown of Art which are greater glories than Power Wealth Title or Birth or all the outward honours gain'd on Earth but I desire the Gods may crown my soul with reason and understanding Heaven crown my mind with Temperance and Fortitude Nature crown my body with Health and Strength time crown my life with comely and discreet age Death crown my separation with peace and rest and Fame crown my memory with an everlasting renown thus may my creation be to a happy end Profession Gods Fortune and Fates hath joyned to make me happy in your love and that which will make me absolutely happy is that I shall marry you and imbrace you as my wife Solid The absolute happiness is when the Gods imbraces man with mercy and kisses him with love Ex. Scene 39. Enter Madamosel Caprisia CApris. Hay ho who can love and be wise but why do I say so For reason loves wisely 't is only the mistaken senses that loves foolishly indeed the sense doth not love but fondly and foolishly affects for it 't is an humoursome and inconstant appetite that proceeds from the body and not that noble passion of true love which proceeds from the soul But O! what a ridiculous humour am I fallen into from a cholerick humour into an amorous humour Oh! I could tear my soul from my body for having such whining thoughts and such a mean submissive croaching feigning flattering humour and idle mind a cholerick humour is noble to this for it is commanding and seems of an heroick spirit but to be amorous is base beastly and of an inconstant nature Oh! How apt is busie life to go amisse What foolish humours in mans mind there is But O! The soul is far beyond the mind As much as man is from the beastly kind Ex. Scene 40. Enter Madamosel Volante and Doctor Freedom DOctor Are you weary of your life that you send me for you said you would not send for me untill you had a desire to dye Volante True Doctor and if you cannot cure me kill me Doctor In my conscience you have sent for me to play the wanton Volante Why Doctor If I do not infringe the rules and laws of modesty or civility I cannot commit wanton faults Doctor Yes faith your tongue may play the wanton Volante Indeed Doctor I had rather tell a wanton truth than a modest lye Doctor Well what is your disease Volante Nay that you must guesse I can only tell my pains Doctor Where is your pain Volante In my heart and head Doctor Those be dangerous parts but after what manner are your pains Volante On my heart there lyes a weight as heavy as the World on Atlas shoulders and from my melancholly mind arises such damps of doubts as almost quenches out the fire of life did not some hope though weak which blows with fainting breath keep it alive or rather puffs than blows which intermitting motions makes my pulse unequal and my bloud to ebbe and flow as from my heart unto my face and from my face unto my heart again as for my head it feels drousie and my spirits are dull my thoughts uneasily doth run crossing and striving to throw each other down this causes broken sleeps and frightfull dreams and when I awake at every noyse I start with fears my limbs doth shake Doctor VVhy this disease is love wherefore I cannot cure you for love no more than wit can neither be temper'd nor yet be rul'd for love and wit keeps neither moderate bounds nor spares diet but dyes most commonly of a surfeit Volante O yes discretion can cure both Doctor Then send for Monsieur Discretion and hear what he sayes to you for your disease is past my skil Volante By your industry
civil to invite a rich noble Husband Sansp. Why say I had the power to pick and choose amongst the noblest and the richest men a Husband out you cannot promise me a happy life fortune may set a Crown of Diamonds on my head yet prick my heart with thorns bind up my spirits with strong chained fears my thoughts imprisoned in dark melancholly and thus my mind may prove a Hell unto my life and my Husbands actions devils to torment it Mother No disputing but let my will be obeyed Sansp. It is fit it should be by me although it brings my ruine Lady Mother goes out Sanspareille alone Sanspareille Ioy gave me wings and made my spirits fly Hope gave me strength to set ambition high Fear makes me old as paulsie shakes each limb My body weak and both my eyes are dimb Like to a Ball which rackets beats about So is my heart strucken twixt hope and doubt Ex. Scene 4. Enter the Lady Incontinent and one of her women LAdy Incontinent I observe the Lord de L'amour useth the Lady Innocence with more respect than he was used to do and I observe his eyes meets her when she comes in place where he is and follows her wheresoever she goeth and when she stands still they are sixt upon her Woman Truly she hath power if she will put it in force to command a heart at least to perswade a heart to love her for certainly she is very beautifull if it were not obscured under a sad countenance as the Sun behind a dark cloud but sometimes do what she can in despite of her sadnesse it will keep out and the other day when you were gone abroad I saw her dance sing and play on a Gitturn all at one time Lady Incontinent And how did it become her Woman Truly she sung so sweetly played so harmoniously danced so gracefully and looked so beautifully that if I had been a man I should have been in love with her Lady Incontinent I charge you break her Gittar tell her she sings not well and that her dancing doth ill-become her Woman Perchance she will not believe me Lady Incontinent Oh yes for youth are credulous even against themselves Exeunt ACT II. Scene 5. Enter the Lady Sanspareille and walks a turn or two as contemplating SAnspareille Ambitious thoughts flyes high yet never tires Wing'd with the swiftest thoughts of desires Then thoughts of hopes runs busily about Yet oft are stop'd with thoughts of fear and doubt And thoughts of mirth and melancholly strives All thoughts are restless till the body dyes Enter Sir Father Love Father Love My childe it is a sign you are melancholly that you are in a poetical vain She weeps Father Why do you weep Sansp. Melancholly thoughts makes tears to flow thorough my eyes Father Melancholly why thou art not come to the years of melancholly 't is aged brows on which sad Saturn sets and tired thoughts on which he reigns and on grieved heart his heavy taxes layes but those that are young he leaves to other powers neither hath fortune set her turning foot upon thy head for thou art in the same worldly condition that thou wert born to wherefore thy mind may be quiet and thy thoughts merry and free Sansp. Surely sir it is not alwaies age nor yet cross fortunes that clouds the mind for some are old and mean poor and despised yet merry and humours gay and some are young and fairer and rich and well esteemed honoured and loved and yet their thoughts dejectedly doth move and humour dull as lead 't is nature makes melancholly neither age nor evil fortune brings it Father But what makes thee sad my child Sansp. Ambition Sir Father What doth your ambition aim at If it be honour I have an Estate will buy thee an honourable Husband if it be riches I will be saving and live thriftily if it be gallantry or bravery I will maintain thee at the hight of my fortune wear Frieze my self and adorn thee in Diamonds Silver and Gold Sanspareille Heaven forbid that my vanity should prodigally spend your Estate or my covetousnesse pinch and starve your Life or that my pride should be match'd with noble honour which should be as humble as great Father It cannot be for wit and beauty for surely nature hath made her self poor by giving you so much Sansp. My dear Father know it is fame I covet for which were the ambitions of Alexander and Caesar joyned into one mind mine doth exceed them as far as theirs exceeded humble spirits my mind being restless to get the highest place in Fames high Tower and I had rather fall in the adventure than never try to climb wherefore it is not titled Honour nor Wealth nor Bravery nor Beauty nor Wit that I covet but as they do contribute to adorn merit which merit is the only foundation whereon is built a glorious fame where noble actions is the architectour thereof which makes me despairingly melancholly having not a sufficient stock of merit or if I had yet no waies to advance it but I must dye like beasts forgotten of mankind and be buried in Oblivions grave Father If it be fame my child covets it is a noble ambition and Heaven pardon me if I speak vain-gloriously of what is my own yet I speak but my opinion when I say I do believe there is none so fit to raise a fame as thou art Sansp. Sir your love speaks as willing to incourage me but know Sir it is not a vulgar fame I covet for those that goeth with equal space and even hights are soon lost as in a crowd or multitude but when fame is inthron'd all Ages gazes at it and being thus supremly plac'd up high Like as an Idol gets Idolatry Thus singularity as well as merit advances fame Father Child thou speakest alwaies reason and were my life the only singular way to raise thy fame thou shouldst have it Sansp. Heaven forbid For that would raise my infamie if I should build upon my Fathers noble life But Sir do you love me Father Yes above my life for thou art the life of my life Sansp. Do you love me as well as you think you could your Grand-children Father No comparison can be made for thou art come immediately from my loynes those but from the Ioines of my Issue which is estranged from me and for their affections Grand-childrens is but weak only they keep alive my name not love for that dyes in the second descent and many times the first Sansp. But Sir would not you think me strangely unnatural and unworthy of your love to wish or desire you to break the line of your Posterity and bury succession in my grave Father Unnatural no for your vertue can ask nothing of me that my love will think unreasonable to give and for my Posterity I had rather it should end with merit than run on in follies or who knows but their evil or base actions may blemish
Chapter conteins more than half the book The Last Chapter is remembrance which is also a very long Chapter and the variety of thoughts are the several letters in which these Chapters are writ but they are not all writ after one kind of writing neither are they writ with one and the same language For knowledge is writ in great and plain letters memory and understanding in finer and smaller letters Conceptions and Imaginations after the manner of way as like Hierogyphiks Remembrance is writ as after the like way of Characters Knowledge is writ in the Originall Language as we may liken to Hebrew Memory and Understanding are writ in a language derived therefrom Conception and Imagination are written in heathen Greek Remembrance is writ in a mixt or compounded language like as English but yet it is most like that we call old English But the most profitablest School is consideration And the best Tutour is reason and when the mind is distempered or obstructed with Ignorance education is the best Physick which purges it cleanses and freeth it from all gross and foul and filthy Errours but the Educatours which are the Physitians should be well chosen for the plain truth is that youth should be taught by those that are grave and sage that they may learn experience by the Second hand otherwayes Age only knows but hath no time to practise in but if that youth be taught good principles their life growes high by Noble deeds and broadly spreads with Honours but when that youth have liberty to sport and play casting their learning time away they grow like poisonous plants or weeds which makes their life swell big with venomous passions and dispositions and burst with evil deed but youth their understanding is like their years and bodyes little and weak for the Soul is improved by the Senses but Educatours their Physicians presents to their Senses the most wholesom and nurishing meat for as the body is nurished and grows strong by good disgestion so doth the Soul gain knowledge by information but if the food be unwholesom or more than the Stomach be able to digest or that the body is not fed sufficiently the body becomes lean weak saint and sick so the Soul or mind If the senses be imperfect or the objects more than can be well disenst or too many for the temper of the brain or that the brain be too cold or to hot then the Soul or mind like the body decayes for like as the bodily senses so the senses of the Soul decayes for the understanding as the Spirits grows saint the judgment as the liver wan and weak the memory as the eyes grows dim and blind the thoughts as the several limbs grows feeble and lazy but some remedy is for those diseases for the speculative notes helpes the dull memory cordiall learning the faint understanding purging and opening experience the wan and obstructed judgment and necessity exercises the lazy thoughts but if the brain be defective or the Soul imperfect from the birth there is no remedy for then the reason proves a dwarf and the understanding a fool but if the Soul be perfect and the brain well tempered then the Soul is like the serene and azure Sky wherein reason as the Sun gives light to all the Animal World where the thoughts as several Creatures lives therein some being bred in the deep and restless Ocean of Imagination others as from the fixt Earth of knowledge springs and as the Gods governs the World and the Creatures therein so the Soul should govern the body and the Appetites thereof which governing is to govern still to the best As for the continuance of the World so for the prolonging of the life of the body which government I wish to the Soul of every young Student here In the next place I shall speak to Oratours whose study and practice is language and language although it is not born with man yet it is bred with man or in man either by their education or their own Invention for if language had a beginning it was invented by the Creature if no beginning it was taught them by the Gods for though that Nature made such Organs as was proper to express language with yet it seems as if she did not Creat language as a principal work but if she did then Oratours tongues are Natures Musicall instruments but the best Musicall Instruments were better to lye unplaid with than to sound out of Tune or to strike jarring discord which displeaseth more than the harmony can delight so likewise it were better not to speak than to speak to no purpose or to an evill design but Oratory or Rhetorick is as all other Musick is which lives more in sound than in substance it charms the eare but it cannot inchant the reason it may enslave the passions but not conquer the understanding it may obstruct truth and abuse virtue but it can neither destroy the one nor corrupt the other it can flatter up hopes and raise up doubts but it cannot delude experience it can make factions and raise tumults but seldome rectify disorders for it is to be observed that in those States or Nations where Oratory and Rhetorick flourisheth most the Common-wealth is for the most part distempered and Justice looses her seat and many times the State looses its former Government Customs and Lawes witness the Romans Athens and Lacedemonians and others that were ruined by their flourishing Rhetorick and factious Oratory but it is thought that the flowers of Rhetorick is much vaded since the time of the Athens through the whole World and that the lively Cullours are quite lost if it be so then surely the deffect is much in the first education of Children for in Infancy is a time these should take a good print but their Nurses is their Grammar and her tongue is their first Tutour which most commonly learns them the worst part of Speech which parts are Eight as impertinent questions cross answers broken relations false reports rude speeches mistaking words misplaccing words new words of their own making without a signification Wherefore parents that would bring up their Children elegantly and eloquently they must have a learned Grammar and a wise Tutour at the first to teach them for the mouth as the Press Prints the breath as the paper with words as the Ink and reason and sense bindes them up into a book or vollume of discourses but certainly the Oratours of this Age for eloquence and elegancy comes not short of the eloquent Oratours of Athens or any other State they only use it to better designs than to make Warrs on their Neighbours to banish their Citizens or those that ought to be rewarded to alter their Government and ruine their state no worthy Oratours you use your eloquence for peace love and unity and not for faction War and ruine for which may the Gods of eloquence assist you But there is two sorts of Oratours the one
shades to find thee out O! O death quick dispatch Let me unprisoned be my body is old decayed and worn times ruins shews it Oh! Oh! let life fall for pitty pull it down stops a time Am I not dead you cruel powers above to lengthen out an old mans life in misery and pain why did not Time put out the sight of both my eyes and also deaf my ears that I might neither hear nor see the death of my lifes joy O Luxurious Death how greedily thou feedst on youth and beauty and leist old Age hang withering on lifes tree O shake me off let me no longer grow if not grief shall by force snip off my tender stalk and pitty lay me in the silent grave Heark Heark I hear her call me I come I come Childe He feches a great sigh O no she is gone she is gone I saw her dead her head hung down like as a Lilly whose stalk was broke by some rude blusterous wind He stares about There there I see her on her dutious knee Her humble eyes cast to the ground Her spotlesse hands held up for blessings crave asking forgivenesse for faults not done O no She is dead She is dead I saw her eye-lids cloze like watry Clouds which joyn to shut out the bright Sun and felt her hands which Death made cold and numb like as to Cristal balls She is gone she is gone and restless grows my mind thoughts strive with thoughts struggle in my brain passions with passions in my heart make War My Spirits run like furies all about Help help for Heavens sake and let life out Ex. Scene 15. Enter the Lady Mother Love alone LAdy Mother Love O my daughter my daughter is dead she is dead Oh that ever I was born to bear a Childe to dye before me Oh she was the Comfort of my Heart the pleasure of my Eyes the delight of my life Oh she was Good she was Sweet she was Fair O what shall I do what shall I do Ex. Scene 16. Enter Sir Thomas Father Love half distracted SIr Thomas Father Love Mercury lend me thy winged feet that I may fly to Heaven there to observe how all the Gods and Godesses doe gaze upon my Beautiful Childe for she is fairer than the light that great Apollo gives and her discourse more ravishing than the Musick of the Spheres but as soon as she sees me she will leave them all and run unto me as she used to do kneeling will kiss my hands which she must not do being a Goddess and I a Mortal wherefore I must kneel to her and carry her an offering but what shall the offering be Let me think Why I will kneel and offer up my Aged life unto her Memory but now I think of it better I cannot dye in Heaven wherefore let me Study let me Study what she did love best when she lived upon the Earth O I now remember when I did ask her what she lov'd best she would Answer her Father and her Fame but I believe if she were here it would be a hard Question for her to resolve which she preferr'd and being not to be separated in Affection we will not part in our Resurrection wherefore Mercury farewel for I will fly up with the Wings of her good Fame And carry up her Wit and there will strow It on Heavens floor as bright as Stars will show Her Innocency shall make new Milky waies Her Virtue shall Create new Worlds to praise Her never-dying Name Ha Ho! It shall be so it shall be so Ex. ACT IV. Scene 17. Enter the Lady Innocence alone studious with her eyes to the ground thou casting them up speaks LAdy Innocence I am not so much in love with the World as to desire to live nor have I offended Heaven so much as to be afraid to dye then way should I prolong my life when Honour bids me dye for what Noble Soul had not rather part with the Body than live in Infamy Then t is not Death that affrights me and yet I find my Soul is loath to leave its bodily Mansion but O to be buried in Oblivions grave is all I fear no Monumental Fame nor famous Monument my Soul displeases that makes it loath to leave the body in forgotten dust whilst it doth sadly wander in the Aire She walks a turn or two as in a musing thought then speaks Soul be at ease for the Memory of the dead is but like a dying Beauty vades by degrees or like a Flower whither'd hath neither Sent Colour nor Tast but moulders into dust so hath the mind no form of what is past But like as formless heaps those Objects lye And are intomb'd in the dark Memory O Foolish Vanity to be so much a slave to Fame since those that Fame doth love the best and favoureth most are not Eternal Wherefore Nature perswades me to release my woe Though foolish Superstition Natures foe Forbids it yet Reason aloud sayes dye Since Ease Peace Rest doth in the grave still lye Walkes about as in a silent musing then speaks I am resolv'd then Come sweet Death thou friend that never fails give me my liberty But stay my hasty resolution for I would not willingly go to the grave as beasts doe without Ceremony for I being friendless those humane Funeral rites will be neglected none will take the pains nor be at the charge to see them perform'd but some base vulgar person will throw me into the Earth without respect or regard wherefore I will Living perform the Ceremonies and as a guess or friend be at my own Funeral it shall be so and I will prepare it Ex. Scene 18. Enter Sir Thomas Father Love alone and for a time walkes as in a musing or thinking with his eyes cast on the ground then speaks FAther Love Multitudes of Melancholy thoughts croud in my brain And run to pull down Reason from his Throne Fury as Captain leads the way Patience and Hope is trod upon O these distracted thoughts burrie my Soul about Seeking a place to get a passage out But all the Ports are stopp'd O Cursed Death for to prolong a life that is so weary of its Mansion Enter Mr. Comfort Sir Thomas Father Loves friend Friend Sir will you give order for your Daughters Funeral and direct how you will have her interred Father Love How say you why I will have you rip my body open and make it as a Coffin to lay her in then heave us gently on sighs fetcht deep and lay us on a Herse of sorrowful groans then cover us with a Dark Black Pitchy Spungy Cloud made of thick Vapour drawn from bleeding hearts from whence may tears of showers run powring down making a Sea to drown remembrance in But O remembrance is a fury grown Torments my Soul now she is gone Friend Sir where there is no remedy you must have patience Father Love Patience out upon her she is an Idle lazy Gossip and keep
dust soon raised and suddenly blown away Contemp. No they are as fire-works that sparkling flie about or rather stars set thick upon the brain which gives a twinckling delight unto the mind Visitant Prethee delight thy friends with thy conversation and spend not thy time with dull thoughts Contemp. Pray give me leave to delight my self with my own thoughts since I have no discourse to entertain a hearer Visitant Why your thoughts speak in your mind although your tongue keeps silence Contemp. 'T is true but they disturb not the mind with noise for noise is the greatest enemy the mind hath and as for my part I think the most useless sense that Nature hath made is hearing the truth is that hearing and smelling might well have been spared for those two senses bring no materials into the brain for sound and scent are incorporal Visitant Then put out all the senses Contemp. There is no reason for that for the eyes bring in pictures which serve the mind for patterns to draw new fancies by and to cut or carve out figurative thoughts and the last serves towards the nourishment of the body and touches the life Visitant But wisedome comes through the ear by instruction Contemp. Wisedome comes through the eye by experience for we shall doubt of what we only hear but never doubt of what we see perfectly But the ground of wisedom is Reason and Reason is born with the soul wherefore the ear serves only for reproof and reproof displeases the mind and seldome doth the life any good nay many times it makes it worse for the mind being displeased grows angry and being angry malicious and being malicious revengeful and revenge is war and war is destruction Visitant But if you were deaf you would lose the sweet harmony of musick Contemp. Harmony becomes discord by often repetition and at the best it doth but rock the thoughts asleep whereas the mind takes more pleasure in the harmony of thoughts and the musick of fancy than in any that the senses can bring into it Visitant Prethee let this harmonious musick cease for a time and let us go and visit the Lady Conversation Contemp. It seems a strange humour to me that all mankind in general should have an itching tongue to talk and take more pleasure in the wagging thereof than a beggar in scratching where a louse hath bit Visitant Why every part of the body was made for some use and the tongue to express the sense of the mind Contemp. Pardon me tongues were made for taste not for words for words wa an art which man invented you may as well say the hands were made to shuffle cards or to do juggling tricks when they were made to defend and assist the body or you may as well say the leg were made to cut capers when they were made to carry the body and to move as to goe from place to place for though the hands can shuffle cards or juggle and the legs can cut capers yet they were not made by Nature for that use nor to that purpose but howsoever for the most part the sense and reason of the mind is lost in the number of words for there are millions of words for a single figure of sense and many times a cyphre of nonsense stands instead of a figure of sense Besides there are more spirits spent and flesh wasted with speaking than is got or kept with eating as witness Preachers Pleaders Players and the like who most commonly die with Consumptions and I believe many of our effeminate Sex do hurt the lungs with over-exercising of their tongues not only with licking and tasting of Sweet-meats but with chatting and prating twitling and twatling for I cannot say speaking or discoursing which are significant words placed in a methodical order then march in a regular body upon the ground of Reason where sometimes the colour of Fancy is flying Visitant Now the Flag of your wit is flying is the fittest time to encounter the Lady Conversation and I make no question but you will be Victorious and then you shall be Crowned the Queen of Wit Contempl. I had rather bury my self in a Monument of Thoughts than sit in the Throne of Applause for Talking Exeunt Scene 23. Enter the Lord Title to Poor Virtue who sat under a little hedge bending like a Bower He sits down by her LOrd Title Sweet why sit you so silently here Poor Virtue My speech is buried in my thoughts Lord Title This silent place begets melancholy thoughts Poor Virtue And I love melancholy so well as I would have all as silent without me as my thoughts are within me and I am so well pleased with thoughts as noise begets a grief when it disturbs them Lord Title But most commonly Shepherds and Shepherdesses sit and sing to pass away the time Poor Virtue Misfortunes have untuned my voice and broke the strings of mirth Lord Title Misfortunes what misfortunes art thou capable of Thou hast all thou wert born to Poor Virtue I was born to die and 't is misfortune enough I live since my life can do no good I am but useless here Lord Title You were born to help increase the world Poor Virtue The world needs no increase there are too many creatures already especially mankinde for there are more than can live quietly in the world for I perceive the more populous the more vicious Lord Title 'T is strange you should be so young so fair so witty as you are and yet so melancholy thy poverty cannot make it for thou never knewest the pleasure of riches Poor Virtue Melancholy is the only hopes I do rely upon that though I am poor yet that may make me wise for fools are most commonly merriest because they understand not the follies that dwell therein nor have enough considerations of the unhappiness of man who hath endless desires unprofitable travels hard labours restless hours short pleasures tedious pains little delights blasted joys uncertain lives and decreed deaths and what is mirth good for it cannot save a dying friend nor help a ruined Kingdome nor bring in plenty to a famished Land nor quench out malignant Plagues nor is it a ward to keep misfortunes off though it may triumph on them Lord Title But you a young Maid should do as young Maids do seek out the company of young Men Poor Virtue Young Maids may save themselves that labour for Men will seek out them or else you would not be sitting here with me Lord Title And are you not pleas'd with my company Poor Virtue What pleasure can there be in fears Lord Title Are you afraid of me Poor Virtue Yes truly for the ill example of men corrupts the good principles in women But I fear not the perverting of my Vertue but mens incivilities Lord Title They must be very rudely bred that give you not respect you being so very modest Poor Virtue 'T is not enough to be chastly modest and honest but as
the Air of Conversation but when continually kept close in the Chamber of Contemplation they will be apt to fall into many several diseases as melancholy Opinions and extravagant Fancies which may over-heat the minde and sire the thoughts wherefore Lady let me give you Counsel Lady Contempl. What Counsel would you give me as a Lawyer or Physician Sir Fan. Poet As a Physician Lady Contempl. For the Body or the Minde Sir Fan. Poet For the Minde Lady Contempl. The Physicians for the Minde are Divine Sir Fan. Poet No the best physicians for the Minde are Poets Lady Contempl. How will you prove that Sir Fan. Poet By Example and Skill for when the Minde is raging mad Poets with gentle perswasions in smooth numbers and soft musick cure it and when the Mind is despairing Poets draw hopes into numbers which beats out the doubtful Foe And for Example David with his Poetical Inspirations and Harpsical harmonious Musick allay'd the ill Spirit and raging passion of Saul for Poets take from the sweet Spring of Nature an Oil of Love and from Heaven the Balsom of Mercy and pour them through golden numbers and pipes of wit into the fester'd wounds of despair when oft-times Divines in stead of supple Oil pour in corroding Vitriol and in stead of healing Balsoms pour in burning Sulphure which are terrifying threats and fearful menaces wherefore Lady let me advise you as a Poetical Physician to keep your minde cool and your thoughts in equal temper wherefore in order thereto when the minde is wrapt in the mantle of Imagination if it finds it self very hot therewith let it lay that mantle by and bathe it self in the fresh clear pure Rivers of Discourse Lady Contempl. By your favour Sir for the most part the Mind becomes hotter with the motion of the tongue than the mantle of Imagination for when the tongue hath liberty it runs wildly about and draggs the minde after it and rather than I will have my minded dragg'd and hurried about by my unruly tongue which will neither endure the bit of Reason nor the bridle of Discretion but runs beyond all sense I will tye up my tongue with the cords of silence in the stable of the mouth and pull down the Port-cullis of the teeth before it and shut the doors of my lips upon it Thus shall it be treble lock'd and kept with the Key of Judgment and the Authority of Prudence Exeunt Scene 20. Enter the Lady Conversation and a Grave Matron LAdy Conversat. Did you hear him say he had layn with me Matron Yes Madam Lady Conversat. O the wicked base vain-glory of men to bely the pure chastity of a woman But surely he did not plainly express so much in clear words as by nods winks shrugs dark sentences or broken discourses Matron He said plainly he had layn with you in an unlawful manner Lady Conversat. Fates assist me in revenge for it is no dishonour to be reveng'd of a base person that hath maliciously slander'd me or vain-gloriously injur'd me Matron Revenge is against the Laws of Honour Madam Lady Conversat. It may be against the Tenets of some particular Religion or religious Opinions But a noble revenge is the ground or foundation of Heroick Honour Matron But what do you call a Noble Revenge Lady Conversat. First to be an open Enemy as to declare the enmity next to declare their endeavour to prosecute to the utmost of their power either their Enemies Estate Liberty and Life whereas a base Revenger is to dissemble in professing they have forgotten and forgiven their injury and pardon'd their Enemy yet under-hand and disguisedly endeavour to do their Enemy a mischief Not but an honourable Revenger may choose their time for executing their revenge but they must declare they will be revenged before they execute their revenge and let their Enemies stand upon their Guard Matron But a revengeful woman is not good Lady Conversat. Why not as well as a revengeful man For why may not a woman revenge her scandaliz'd honour as well as a man Is there any reason why it should be a dishonour for a man to pass by a disgrace and for a woman to revenge her disgrace Is it not as great a blemish to the honour of a woman to be said to be unchaste as for a man to be said to be a Coward And shall a woman only sit and weep over her lost honour whilest a man fights to regain his And shall it be thought no dishonour for a man to pistol or at least bastonade another man for an injury or an affront receiv'd and a fault for a woman to do or cause to be done the like Must women only sit down with foolish patience and endure wrong when men may execute revenge with fury These were both injustice and an unjust act of Education to our Sex as also it would be an unjust sentence not only from men but from the Gods since neither Gods nor men will suffer injury wrong or dishonour without revenge But if Gods Men and Education should be so unjust to our Sex yet there is no Reason in Nature we should be so unjust to our selves But for my part as I am constant to an honest friend and can easily forgive an honourable Enemy so I can never forgive a malicious Foe nor forget a vain-glorious bragging fool or false slandring knave but will persecute them to the utmost of my power and the weight of my revenge should be according to the pressure of my injury or dishonour Matron But let me tell you Madam those that brag are seldome believ'd and there is none that believe these vain bragging Ranters for it 's well known that all Ranters are idle deboyst persons and do usually belye the most Honourable and Chaste Ladies for which all worthy persons hate them and account them so base as they will shun their companies no man of honour will come near them unless it be to beat them But if you appear to the world as concerned you may raise those doubts which would never have been raised had you took no notice thereof Lady Conversat. Indeed Disputes raise doubts wherefore I will not bring it into a Dispute but take your Counsel and take no notice of it Matron You will do vvisely Lady Exeunt Scene 21. Enter Sir Golden Riches to Poor Virtue SIr Gold Rich. I vvish my tongue as smooth as oil to make my vvords as soft as Air that they may spread about your heart there intermixd with your affection Poor Virtue Words cannot win my love no more than wealth nor is my heart subject to those infections Sir Gold Rich. I will build thee Palaces of burnish'd gold where thou shalt be worshipd whilest thou livest and when thou diest I will erect a Monument more famous than Mausolus's was Poor Verrtue My Virtue shall build me a Monument far richer and more lasting for the materials with which it shall be built shall be try'd Chastity as
give away what they have Portrait Talk not of womens souls for men say we have no souls only beautiful bodies Bon' Esprit But beautiful bodies are a degree of souls and in my Conscience please men better than our souls could do Superbe If anything prove we have no souls it is in letting men make such fools of us Matron Come come Ladies by Womens Actions they prove to have more or at least better souls than Men have for the best parts of the Soul are Love and Generosity and Women have more of either than Men have Grave Temperance The truth is that although Reason and Understanding are the largest parts of the Soul yet Love and Generosity are the delicatest parts of the Soul Enter Monsieur Heroick Heroick Goodmorrow young Ladies you appear this morning like sweet-smelling flowers some as Roses others as Lillies others as Violets Pinks and Primroses and your associating in a company together is like as a Posie which Love hath bound up into one Bucket which is a fit Present for the Gods Bon' Esprit If you would have us presented to the Gods we must die for we are never preferred to them but by Death wherefore we must be given to Death before the Gods can have us they may hear us whilest we live and we may hear of them but partake of neither until we die Heroick O that were pity Ladies for there is nothing more sad in Nature than when Death parts a witty Soul from a young beautiful Body before the one hath built Monuments of Memory and the other gained Trophies of Lovers And as for the Gods you will be as acceptable to them when you are old as when you are young Ambition As nothing could make me so sad as untimely death of Youth Wit and Beauty so there is nothing could anger me more as for Fortune to frown upon Merit or not to advance it according to its worth or to bury it in Oblivion hindring the passage into Fames Palace Temperance For my part I believe Death will neither call nor come for you before his natural time if you do not send Surfet and Excess to call him to take you away Pleasure Indeed Mankind seem as if they were Deaths Factors for they do strive to ingross and destroy all other creatures or at least as many as they can and not only other creatures but their own kinde as in Wars and not only their own kinde but themselves in idle and unprofitable Adventures and gluttonous Excess thus as I said they are Deaths Factors buying sickness with health hoping to gain pleasure and to make delight their profit but they are cozen'd for they only get Diseases Pains and Aches Matron Pray Ladies mark how far you are gone from the Text of your discourse as from sweet-smelling flowers to stinking carrion which are dead carkasses from a lively good-morrow to a dead farewel from mirth to sadness Portrait You say right Mother Matron wherefore pray leave off this discourse for I hate to hear off death for the thoughts of death affright me so as I can take no pleasure of life when he is in my mind Heroick Why Ladies the thought of death is more than death himself for thoughts are sensible or imaginable things but Death himself is neither sensible nor imaginable Portrait Therefore I would not think of him and when I am dead I am past thinking Superbe Let us discourse of something that is more pleasing than Death Heroick Then by my consent Ladies your discourse shall be of Venus and Cupid which are Themes more delightful to your Sex and most contrary to death for Love is hot and Death is cold Love illuminates life and Death quenches life out Bon Esprit Let me tell you Sir Love is as apt to burn life out as Death is to quench it out and I had rather die with cold than be burnt with heat for cold kills with a dead numness when heat kills with a raging madnesse Pleasure But Lovers are tormented with fears and doubts which cause cold sweats fainting of spirits trembling of limbs it breaks the sweet repose of sleep disturbs the quiet peace of the mind vades the colours of beauty nips or blasts the blossome of youth making Lovers look withered before Time hath made them old Heroick It is a signe Lady you have been in love you give so right a Character of a Lover Pleasure No there requires not a self-experience to find out a Lovers trouble for the outward Actions will declare their inward grief and passion Superbe Certainly she is in love but conceals it she keeps it as a Secret Pleasure Love cannot be secret the passion divulges it self Portrait Confess Are you not in love Faction Nay she will never confess a Secret unless you tell her one for those that tell no secrets shall hear none Portrait O yes for a Secret is like a child in the womb for though it be concealed for a time it will come out at last only some comes out easier than others and some before their time Ambition Nay whensoever a secret comes out it 's untimely Faction Secrets are like Coy Ducks when one is flown out it draws out others and returns with many Pleasure Then like a Coy Duck I will try if I can draw all you after me Exit Pleasure Bon' Esprit She shall see she is like a Duck which is like a Goose and we like her for we will follow her Exeunt Scene 8. Enter Monsiuer Tranquillities Peace and his Man TRanquill Peace Have you been at Monsieur Busie's house to tell him I desire to speak with him Servant Yes I have been at his house Tranquill. Peace And will he come Servant Faith Sir the house is too unwieldy to stir and Monsieur Busie is too Active to stay at home but the truth is I went at four a clock this morning because I would be sure to find him and his servants and their Master was flown out of his nest an hour before Then I told his servants I would come about dinner-time and they laugh'd and ask'd me what time was that I said I supposed at the usual time about Noon or an hour before or after but they said their Master never kept any certain time of eating being full of business Then I asked them what time that would be when he would come home to bed They answered that his time of Resting was as uncertain as his time of Eating Then I pray'd them to tell me at what time they thought I might find him at home They said it was impossible for them to guess for that their Master did move from place to place as swift as thoughts move in the Mind Then I pray'd them that they would tell him when he came home that you would desire to speak with him They told me they would but they did verily believe he would forget to come to you by reason his head was so full of busie thoughts or thoughts of
at least VVanton That 's all one for Cupid wounds Age as well as youth Ease But I had thought that an old womans heart had been so hard Love could not have enter'd VVanton Old Mother Matron proves it otherwise for her Heart is as tender as the youngest Heart of us all Idle While I am young I will be a Lover because I will not be a Fool when I am old Ease That 's the way to be a Fool whilst you are young and a Lover when you are old VVanton No that is to be a Curtezan whilst she is young and a Bawd when she is old Idle Nay faith when I can no longer traffique for my self I will never trade for any other VVanton Covetousness will tempt your reverent Age Exeunt Scene 9. Enter Ambition Pleasure Faction Portrait Bon' Esprit Superbe Wanton Ease Excess PLeasure How shall we entertain our time Portrait Let us sit and chuse Husbands Bon' Esprit What in the Ashes Portrait No in our Speeches Faction Content Ambition Begin but let your Maids Lady Pleasure sit and chuse Husbands with us Pleasure If I were to chuse a Husband I would chuse a man that was honourably born nobly bred wisely taught civilly behav'd also I would have him to speak rationally wittily and eloquently to act prudently valiantly justly and temperately to live freely magnificently and peaceably I would have him honourably born because I would not have him a Boor by Nature which is surly rude grumbling and miserable I would have him nobly bred because I would not have him a Shark a Cheat or a Sycophant I would have him wisely taught because I would not have him an ignorant fool nor a pedantical fool I would have him civilly-behav'd to please my Eyes I would have him to speak rational witty and eloquent to please my Ears I would have him valiant to defend his Country to guard his Family and to maintain his Honour I would have him prudent to foresee misfortunes and to provide for the future that I may never want for the present I would have him temperate lest Excess should ruine his Fortune Health or Esteem I would have him just because others should be just to him to live freely as not to be inslaved to live magnificently for to be respected to live peaceably to avoid brawleries And such a man as this will be kind to his Wife loving to his Children bountiful to his Servants courteous to his Friends civil to Strangers faithful to his Trust and just to his Promise Superbe If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man that were Rich honour'd with Titles and were Powerful I would have him Rich because I would have him live plentifully to feed luxuriously to be adorn'd gloriously I would have him to have Titles of Honour because I would take place of my Neighbours to have the chief place at a Feast and to have the first and choisest meats offer'd me I would have him Powerful to oppose my Opposers to insult over my Enemies and to neglect my Friends which if I be poor and helpless they will do me Thus I shall be honour'd by my Superiours crouch'd to by Inferiours flatter'd by Sycophants brag'd of by my Friends obey'd by my Servants respected by my Acquaintance envy'd by my Neighbours sought to by my Enemies Thus I might advance my Friends punish my Enemies tread down my Superiours inslave my Inferiours insult over my Foes and inthrone my self Ambition If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man whom all other men are slaves to and he mine And what can I desire more than to be absolute Bon' Esprit If I were to choose I would choose a man for a Husband that were an honest and plain-dealing man patient and wise that I might neither be deceiv'd by his falshood nor troubl'd with his quarrels nor vex'd with his follies Faction If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a subtil crafty Knave that can cheat an honest Fool with which cheats I can entertain my time like those that go to see Juglers play tricks VVanton If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man that were blind deaf and dumb that he might neither trouble me with his impertinent Questions nor see my indiscreet Actions nor hear my foolish Discourses Thus I may say what I will and never be crost do what I will and never be hinder'd go where I will and never be watch'd come when I will and never be examin'd entertain whom I will and never be rebuk'd Thus I may Govern as I will Spend as I will Spare as I will without Controlment Portrait If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man that were industrious thrifty and thriving for the pleasure is not so much to enjoy as getting like those that are hungry have more pleasure in eating their meat than when their stomacks are full Excess If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man that were a busie Fool which would continually bring me fresh although false News for his busie mind which fills his Head with Projects which Projects will feed my excessive Ambition with his high Designs although improbable and set my thoughts at work with his several Atchievments although there is no leading-path therein But howsoever this will furnish my Imagination imploy my Thoughts please my Curiosity and entertain my time with Varieties wherein and wherewith I may pass my life with fine Phantasms or like a fine Dream Pleasure It is a sign you love sleep excessively well so as you would have your life pass as a dream Excess Why Madam sleeping is the lifes Elizium and our dreams the pastime therein and our beds are our living graves to the greatest part of our life and most are best pleased therein for it gives rest to our wearied and tired limbs it revives the weak and fainting spirits it eases the sick and pained it pacifies the grieved it humours the melancholy it cherishes age it nourishes youth it begets warmth it cools heat it restores health it prolongs life and keeps the mind in peace Ease I will not choose but vvish and pray which is if ever I marry I pray Jove that I may out-live my Husband Bon' Esprit O fie Women pray that their Husbands may out-live them Ease If they do in my Conscience they dissemble but howsoever I will never pray so for I perceive when men are Widowers they are more hasty to marry again than Batchellors are and the last love blots out the first and I should be sorry to be blotted out Ambition But if men do marry after they have buried their first Wife yet perchance they will not love their second Wife so well as the first Ease I know not that but yet to the outward view I perceive a man seems to forget his first Wife in the presence of his second Wife Faction By your favour a second Wife puts a Husband in remembrance of
doth in beams of light which is Inventions at other times the Mind dilates as the Sun his hear which is in Poetick flames and in rarified fancies likewise the Mind attracts as the Sun doth Vapours from the Earth so my Mind attracts knowledge from the World as from several subjects and objects as the Sun from several Climates likewise as the Sun contracts porous matter into a solid substance so doth my Mind contract loose thoughts into solid Judgment and as the Sun expulses united Bodyes into parts so doth my Mind expulse its serious Contemplations and united Conceptions into several discourses Examination Prethee expulse this discourse amongst thy sociable friends Solitary What amongst the sociable Virgins Examination Nay faith Wives for the most part are more sociable than Maids Exeunt Scene 11. Enter the Lady Censurer and a Gentleman CEnsurer Sir I hear you intend to be a Souldier in the Wars Gentleman Yes Madam I am come to take my leave and to kiss your Ladiships hands before I go Censurer Sir you have chosen an honourable Profession for though it is an industrious carefull painfull and dangerous Profession yet it is a noble Protection to the Weak and Infirm to the decrepid Age and shiftless Youth to the faint and tender Female Sex it is a guard to the ashes of the Dead and to the Temples of the Gods for without Marshal Discipline no Peace would be kept Truth and Right would be torn from the owners Justice pull'd out from her Seat and Monarchy quite from his Throne and though a Souldier may lose his life sooner than Nature did determine yet in recompence Honour buryes him and Fame builds up his Monument Gentleman Your descriptions Madam are able to make a Coward a Valiant Man Exeunt Scene 12. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. Some have thought the World was but as Stage and that the several Creatures are the several Actors and that every several Generation is a new Play 2 Gent. No every several Generation doth not seem as if they were new Plays for there seems to be but one play and that to continue to the end of the World and that every Generation seems only new Actors that play over the same parts for we well perceive that the following Generations act but what the former Generations did before them 't is true the World seems to be the Stage and the Seas Rocks Rivers Plants Hills Dales Cities Towns Villages and the like are as the several Changes the Animals as the several Actors the several Seasons the several Scenes and the Spectators are the Gods and the end of the World the end of the Play and then they must make another World if they will have another Play 1 Gent. Surely Mercury is their Poet 2 Gent. 'T is very likely also 't is probable Pallas helps him 1 Gent. Nay 't is probable that Venus and Cupid helps him for Love and Beauty doth at all times assist a Poet 2 Gent. There is no excellent and extraordinary wit but hath many assistants as first Nature is the chief so likewise Mercury Pallas Venus Cupid and the Muses 1 Gent. The most foolish Actors of all Actors are women 2 Gent. The truth is it 't is very unhappy for women that they are not instructed in the rules Rethorick by reason they talk so much that they might talk sensibly whereas now for want of that Art they talk meer nonsense 1 Gent. But all women are apt to speak more than to Act by reason words are easily spoke and deeds so hard to be done 2 Gent. Faith women are as full of Actions as words for all their life is imployed with talking and running about to no purpose Exeunt ACT IV. Scene 13. Enter the Lady Solitary the Lady Examination the Lady Censurer and a Grave Matron EXamination Come let us go abroad for I love to refresh my self in the Serene Ayr taking the pleasure of every Season as when the returning Sun spins Golden Beams which interwaves into the thiner Ayr as Golden Threads with softer Silk making it like a Mantle Rich and warm which wraps the Body of each Creature in so in the Summer when lifferous winds do fan the sultry heat then in the Autum that 's like a temperate Bath which is neither too hot nor too cold then in the VVinter when freesing cold doth purge the Ayr as Physick doth the Body from most corrupt humours and binds each loose deshevered part Censurer The VVinter will bind up your active limbs and numb your flesh and make your Spirits chill besides VVinter doth bedrid Nature the spightfull malicious and wicked Season for it doth strive for to destroy each several thing and it yields nothing good it self besides it doth Imprison many things binding them fast with Icy Chains taking away their Natural Liberty also it doth not only frown and lour on the bright Sun making his light dim and dusky but VVinter doth untwist and doth unweave the Suns bright Golden Beams and wind them on dark bottoms Solitary The cold sharp Ayr is as sharp unto the touch as a Lemon to the tast and works a-like in some effects Matron Yes be 'r Lady in causing frowning and crumpling faces Solitary Not only so but sharp Ayr and sharp Lemons do both cleanse from Putrification and keep from Corruption Censurer But hot Ayr works upon the Body as stronge Liquors upon the Brain for hot Ayr distempers the Body as strong Liquors do the Mind Matron Beshrow me I have felt some Ayres as hot and as burning as Brandy-wine Solitary VVhat VVine is that Matron The VVine of VVine the Spirits of VVine Censurer Indeed that VVine if you call it so which is Strong-waters will work upon the Body as soon as the hottest Ayr causing Feavours and other Malignant diseases Examination It seems that hot and burning Ayr works upon the Spirits as much and as soon as the hottest Liquors and hot Liquors upon the Body as much as hot Ayr both causing Feavours and Frenzies Matron In truth and I heard that Ayr is liquid and so is Drink and Drunkards like frantick persons will do mad tricks sometimes Examination And there are several sorts of Ayr as there are several sorts of Drinks some colder some hotter some moist and some hath dry effects and some Ayr refreshes and quenches heat other some dissipates and expels cold some revives the Spirits and some inrages them some corrupts Bodyes and some preserves them Matron By my Faith I perceive Ayr and Drink have many good and bad qualities but I had rather have good Drink and bad Ayr than bad Drink and good Ayr there is some substance in the one but the other is like unto that which I have heard of but could never see which is Incorporality for that which is not subject to my sight I can hardly believe it is any thing Censurer Indeed very thin Ayr is next unto nothing Exeunt Scene 14. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. Tom Adventurer is gone
to be a Souldier 2 Gent. Yes and he may chance to get a glorious Fame 1 Gent. But particular Fames are like particular Creatures some dye and decay sooner than others but few live to old Nestors years and some lye Bedrid and a great Company are decrepid and lame others are croked and deformed from their Birth and some by evill Fortune and many are Orphans and aboundance Bastards and Changlings and though War makes the lowdest noise in Fames Palace yet Wit for the most part lives the longest therein for Wit is such a delightfull Company and such pleasant pastime as old Father Time takes great care to preserve it lapping Wit warm in the Memory and feeding it often with Rehersals Exeunt Scene 15. Enter the Lady Examination and the Lady Solitary EXamination Come Come you will never get you a real Lover if you delight so much in Solitaries Solitary I desire none for real Lovers do oftentimes prove unconstant whereas feigned lovers are as constant as the Contemplator would have them and as many as they would have besides a crowd or multitude of thoughts may rise up in the brain and be as Spectators of one single thought which if the Contemplator pleases may be a Lover and the rest of the Spectators thoughts may censure of that single thought as of his good parts or bad his virtues or vices some may praise others dispraise and the like thus a Contemplator can never want Lovers Admirers Censurers nor any other Company since the Mind can present them with what thoughts they desire not only the thoughts of Men Women and Children but of any other Creatures that Nature hath made for why should not our Spirits or Soul delight and content us without the real possession of outward Good as well as the Spirits or Soul doth torment us with a real Evill for why may not Opinion or Fancy as well and as much delight us as Opinion and Fancy affright us as they often do Examination But an over-studious Mind doth waste the Body for the Thoughts feeds as much upon the Body as the Body upon the meat we eat and the Body nourishes the Thoughts as much as meat nourishes the Body and for the most part as the Body is effected so is the Mind for a distempered Body makes a distempered Mind as a Luxurious Body makes an Amorous Mind and a Feavour in the Body makes the mind frantick for the heat of a Feavour is like Strong-water it makes the Spirits drunk the Thoughts dizie and the Mind sick Solitary Indeed the Body and the Mind do most commonly agree as in Monarchy the King and the Subjects do the Subjects obeying the King and the King commanding the Subjects yet sometimes the Subjects compel the King and sometimes the King forces the Subjects so sometimes the Appetite compels the Reason at other times the Reason forces the Appetite to a Moderation and sometimes the Humours of the Body which are like the senceless Commonalty and the Passions of the Soul which are as the Nobles oftentimes fall out where sometimes the Humours of the Body usurp with an uprore the Passions of the Soul and sometimes the Passions overcome the Humours by a wise policy but when as the Kingdome of Man is in Peace the Imaginations in the head send down thoughts as metal into the heart wherein they are melted and minted into current Coin each thought as each peece having a several stamp some is stamped with Hate some Spight others Malice some with Jealousy some Hope some with Fear some Pitty some Love but that of Love is of the highest vallew but these Coins serve for Commerce and Traffick in the Body from the Authority of the Mind or Soul whose stamp or Image each piece bears Exeunt Scene 16. Enter Sir William Admirer and the Lady Peaceable ADmirer Dear Mistriss how I love you Peaceable I wish I had Merits worthy your Affections Admirer You are all a man can wish in women kind for you are young fair virtuous witty and wise Peaceable Alas all youth hath more follies than years whereas those that are old have or ought to have more years than follies Admirer You might be thought old by your speech and actions by reason you speak so experienced and act with such prudence and discretion wherefore I should judge you were instructed by those that are old and knew much Peaceable Indeed my Educators were Aged and my Tutors like as Painters drew with the Pencil of the Tongue and the Colours of Sense and the white of Truth on the Platform of my Brain many figurate discourses for the Understanding to view but my Understanding hath weak Eyes Admirer Your Understanding neither wants sight nor light but the Lady Faction wants both or else she had not been so uncivil to you as she was when I was with you last were not you very Cholerick with her Peaceable I am of too Melancholy a Nature to be very Cholerick Admirer Why are those that are Melancholy never Cholerick Peaceable I cannot say never but yet very seldome by reason they want that heat which makes Choler for though the Spirits of Melancholy persons may be as quick as those that are Cholerick yet they are not so fiery for there is as much difference betwixt Melancholy and Choler as freesing and burning the one contracts into a sad silence the other expulses in blows and many extravagant actions and angry words but those persons which are seldome angry as all Melancholy persons are who are of a patient peaceable Nature yet when they are angry are very angry to those persons that are naturally Melancholy that are seldome seen to be merry or to laugh yet when they are merry their mirth is ridiculous and they will laugh extremely as at nothing or at any thing so those that are naturally Contemplative when they do speak they speak beyond all sense and reason their speech flows like as a Torrent rough and forceable thus we may perceive that extremes one way run into extremes another way Admirer I can truly witness that you are not apt to be angry or at least not to appear angry for I did wonder at your humble behaviour civil answers patient demeanors towards the Lady Faction Peaceable I may suffer an injury patiently when I cannot avoid it but I will never injure my self in doing such actions or speaking such words as are unbefitting unworthy and base Exeunt ACT V. Scene 17. Enter the Lady Solitary her Governess a Grave Matron and a Gentleman as coming a Iourney MAtron Pray Charge thank this Gentleman for his gifts and favours to me Solitary Governess let me tell you that they do themselves a courtesy or favour that do a courtesy or favour to another and therefore there needs no thanks Gentleman But Lady you ought to thank me for coming out of my way so far as I have done to see you Solitary No truly for if you came out of your way to see me
Faith she begins now to have regard to her health for she take Iackalato every Morning in her Bed falling and then she hath a mess of Gelly broath for her Breakfast and drinks a Cup of Sack before Dinner and eats a Whitewine Cawdle every afternoon and for her Supper she hath new laid Eggs and when she goes to Bed she drinks a hearty draught of Muskadine to make her sleep well besides if she chances to wake in the Night she takes comfortable Spirits as Angelica Aniseeds Besor aquamirabilis and the like hot waters to comfort her heart and to drive away all Melancholy thoughts Doctor Comfort Those things will do it if it be to be done but I am sorry that my Lady hath sold all my Patrons Horses Saddles Arms Cloaths and such like things at the Drums head and by out-cryes to get a little the more money for them I fear the World will condemn her as believing her to be covetous Doll Pacify O that 's nothing for what she loses by being thought covetous she will regain by being thought rich for the World esteems and respects nothing so much as riches Exeunt ACT II. Scene 5. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. Pray Sir what news from the Army you are newly come from thence 2 Gent. I suppose you have heard how the Effeminate Army was some half a mile from the Masculine Armies but the Masculine Army being very earnest to fight not only to get Victory and power but to revenge each others losses as their Friends slain in the former Battel which thoughts of revenge did so fire their minds and inflame their Spirits that if their Eyes had been as much illuminated as their flaming Spirits were there might have been seen two blazing Armies thus joining their Forces against each other at last began a cruell fight where both the Armies fought with such equal Courages and active Limbs as for a long time neither side could get the better but at the last the Army of Faction broak the Ranks and Files of the Army of Reformation whereupon every Squadron began to fall into a Confusion no order was kept no chardge was heard no command obey'd terror and fear ran maskerd about which helpt to rout our Army whereupon the Enemy kill'd many of our men and wounded many more and took numbers of Prisoners but upon this defeat came in the Female Army in the time that some of the Enemy was busy in gathering up the Conquered spoils others in pursute of the remainders of our men others were binding up the Prisoners others driving them to their Quarters like a Company of Sheep to a Market there to be sold but when as some of the Commanders perceived a fresh Army coming towards them their General commanded the Trumpets to sound a Retreat to gather them together and also made haste to order and settle his men in Battel Array and desirous their General was to have all the Prisoners slain but the Female Army came up so fast and so close to prevent that mischief as they had not time to execute that design but their General encouraged his Souldiers and bid them not to be disheartened perswading them not to lose what they had got from an Army of men to an Army of boys for said he they seem to be no other by the appearance of their shapes and statures but when the Female Army came to encounter them they found their charge so hot and furious as made them give place which advantage they took with that prudence and dexterity as they did not only rout this Army of Faction killing and wounding many and set their own Countrymen at liberty and recovered their losses and gained many spoils and took numbers of Prisoners of their Enemies with Bag and Baggage but they pursued those that fled into their Trenches and beat them out of their works and took possession thereof where they found much riches these Trenches being taken the Lady Victoria took possession and made them her Quarters calling all her Female Souldiers to enter therein by the sound of Flutes which they always used instead of Trumpets and their Drums were Kettel-Drums but upon this Victory the Masculine Sex of the Army of Reformation was much out of Countenance being doubly or trebly overcome twice by their Enemy and then by the gallant actions of the Females which out-did them yet they thought it best to take their advantage whilst the Victory was fresh and flourishing and their Enemies weak and fearfull to lay siege to the next Towns in the Enemies Country whereupon the Lady Victoria and her Female Souldiers hearing of the Army of Reformations designs for they had sent the men to their own Quarters as soon as the Battel was won and Victory got Also the Masculine Prisoners they sent to the mens Quarters not intermixing themselves with the men but as I said they hearing the design they had to besiege the Towns were much inraged for not making them of their Councils whereupon they sent a Messenger like as an Embassadour to tell the Masculine Army they did wonder at their ingratitude that they should forget so much their relievers as to go upon any Warlike design without making them acquainted therewith striving as it were to steal the Victory out of their hands but said they since we are become victorious over our Enemies and Masters and Mistresses of the Field by our own valiant actions and prudent conducts we will maintain our power by our own strengths for our Army is become now numerous full and flourishing formed and conformable by our Discipline skillfull by our practice valiant by our resolutions powerfull by our victory terrible to our Enemies honourable to our Friends and a subject of Envy to the Masculine Sex but your Army is weak and decrepid sitter for an Hospital than for a Field of War your power is lost your courage is cold your discipline disorderous and your command sleighted despised by your Enemies pittied by your Friends forsaken of good Fortune and made subject unto our Effeminate Sex which we will use by our power like Slaves But when our Lord General who was recovered out of sickness and all his Commanders about him heard this message which was delivered in a full assembly according as the Lady Victoria had commanded the message should be the men could not chose but smile at the womens high and mighty words knowing they had all sweet and gentle dispositions and complying Natures yet they were at a stand which to be pleased at most as in hearing them disparage their Masculine Sex or in advancing their own Female Sex by their self Commendations but howsoever so well pleased the men were with the womens gallant actions that every man was proud that had but a Female acquaintance in the Female Army but our Lord General was mightily taken with their bravadoes and much mirth amongst the Commanders was about it but when they were to advise what to do in the affairs
themselves or presence to those of Noble Birth and Breeding and can more freely and boldly talk to any Person or Persons of what Quality or Dignity soever than those Noble Persons can talk to them The third and last sort of Confidence or Boldnesse proceeds from an extraordinary Opinionatedness or self-conceitednesse for those that think or believe themselves to be above others in VVit Person Parts or Power although they have neither will be most haughtily and proudly confident scorning and undervaluing all others as inferiour Thus bold Confidence or confident Boldnesse is produced from Practice Ignorance and Pride Also there are three sorts of Bashfulnesse The one proceeds from too great an Apprehension The other from a poetical Fiction The third from an aspiring Ambition First from too groat an Apprehension as some are afraid that their Observers or Friends should make an evil Construction of their good Intentions Others will be Bashfull and out of Countenance upon a poetical Fiction as imagining of some impossible or at least some improbable accident which may fall out to their disgrace The third and last is through an aspiring Ambition desiring to out-act all others in Excellencies and fearing to fail therein is apt to be out of Countenance as if they had received a foyl thus we may perceive that the Stream of good Nature the peircing Beams of Wit and the Throne of Noble Ambition is the true cause of bashfulness I mean not shamefastness but sweet bashfulnesse but although bashfulnesse is a sweet tender noble and peircing Effect of and from the Soul yet bashfulnesse is apt to unstring the Nerves to weaken the Sinews to dull the Senses to quench the Spirits to blunt the eyes or points of Wit and to obstruct the Speech insomuch as to cause the words to run stumblingly out of the mouth or to suffer none to passe forth but a little Anger in the Mind will take off the extreme bashfulnesse of the Behaviour although much Anger doth obstruct the Senses Spirits and Speech as much as extreme Bashfulnesse doth for extreme anger and extreme bashfulnesse have often one and the same Effects to outward Appearance Exeunt Scene 27. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. The Gentlemen will turn Trumpeters for a Regiment of Gentlemen have bought every one of them a Trumpet to sound a March to the Academy of Ladies 1 Gent. Faith if the Ladies would answer their Trumpets with blowing of Horns they would serve them but as they ought to be served 1 Gentleman Women will sooner make Hornes than blow Horns Exeunt Scene 28. Enter the Lady and their Matroness The Lady Speaker takes the Chair MAtron Lady let the Theam of your discourse at this time be of Virtuous Courtships and wooing Suters Lady Speaker Some Poetical and Romantical Writers make valiant gallant Heroicks wooe poorly sneakingly and pedlingly Matron Lady let me interrupt you would you have gallant Heroicks in their Courtships to Fair young Ladies as Commanding as in the Field or as Furious as in a Battel Lady Speaker No I would have them wooe with a Confident Behaviour a Noble Demeanor a Generous Civility and not to be amazed or to tremble for fear to weep for pitty to kneel for mercy to sigh and be dejected with a Mistresses frown for though sorrow sighs tears and Humility become all Heroick Spirits very well and expresse a Noble and Generous Soul yet not in such a cause for tears become all Heroick Spirits for the Death or Torments of Friends or for the sufferances of Innocents or Virtue yet not if only themselves were tormented or to dye or for any misfortune that could come upon our own Persons or estates or for any obstructions to their own pleasures or delights but it becomes all Heroick Spirits to tremble for fear of their Honour or losse of their Fame and expresses a generous Soul to grieve and to mourn in a general Calamity and to humble themselves to the Gods for those in distresse and to implore and kneel to them for mercy both for themselves and others as for to divert the wrath of the Gods but not to weep sigh tremble kneel pray for their Effeminate pleasures delights or Societies nor to grieve or sorrow for the losse of the same Also some VVriters when they are to describe a Bashfull and Modest Lady such as are Nobly and Honourably bred describe them as if they were simply shame-faced which description makes such appear as if they came meerly from the Milk-boul and had been bred only with silly Huswives and that their practice was to pick VVorms from Roots of Flowers and their pastimes to carry and fling crumbs of Bread to Birds or little Chickens that were hatched by their Hens their Mothers gave them or to gather a lapfull of sweet Flowers to Distill a little sweet VVater to dip their Hankerchiefs in or to wash their Faces in a little Rose-water and indeed this harmlesse and innocent Breeding may be Modest and Bashfull or rather shame-faced for want of other Conversation which Custome and Company will soon cast off or wear out and then print Boldnesse on their brow but true modest Souls which have for the most part Bashfull Countenances proceede from a deep Apprehension a clear Understanding an ingenuous VVit a thinking Brain a pure Mind a refined Spirit a Noble Education and not from an ignorant obscure Breeding for it is not Ignorance that makes Modesty but Knowledge nor is it Guiltinesse that makes Bashfulnesse but fear of those that are guilty but as I said many VVriters that would make a description of Modest and Bashfull women mistake and expresse a shame-faced Ignorance and obscure Breeding and instead of expressing a young Lady to be innocent of Faults they expresse her to be one that is ignorant of Knowledge so as when they would describe a Modest Bashfull Innocent Virgin they mistake and describe a simple ignorant shame fac'd Maid that either wants Breeding or Capacity Matron But Lady let me ask you one question would you have a young Virgin as confident and knowing as a Married wife Lady Speaker Yes although not in their Behaviour or Condition of life but in her Virtue and Constancy for a chast Married wife is as Modest and Bashfull as a Virgin though not so simple ignorant and shame-faced as a plain bred Maid but as I said VVriters should describe the wooing of gallant Heroicks or Great and Noble Persons to woo with a Generous Confidence or Manly Garb a Civil Demeanor a Rational Discourse to an honest Design and to a Virtuous end and not with a whining Voice in pittifull words and fawning Language and if it be only for a Mistriss as for a Courtezan Bribes are the best Advocates or to imploy others to treat with them and not to be the Pimp although for themselves Also VVriters should when they describe Noble Virgins to receive Noble Addresses of Love and to receive those Noble Addresses or Courtships with an attentive Modesty
the Lawyers she will plead for them gratis 1 Gent. It is a pious and Noble Act 2 Gent. Also her Father hath challenged all the eloquent Oratours of our Nation to make Orations extemporately likewise he hath challenged the most famous Schollars and learned men to dispute with her 1 Gent. Her Father is most doatingly fond of her 2 Gent. He hath reason and out of love to her he is building a very fine Library to lay in all her Works for they say she writes much and hath writ many excellent Works 1 Gent. She deserves a Statue for her self as well as a Library for her Works Ex. Scene 9. Enter the Lady Innocence and Adviser the Lord de l'Amours Man ADviser Madam my Lord and the Lady Incontinent hath sent me to tell you you must come to be examined about the Chain Lady Innocence I am so shrunk up with fear that methinks I could thrust my self into a Nut-shell to hide myself Adviser Faith if you could it would not conceal you for they would crack the Nut-shell and find you out Adviser goes out Lady Innocence alone O that Innocency should tremble as much as guilt with fear but if they did but know how little I value the riches of the world they would not believe I should steal so frivolous a thing Enter as to the Lady Innocence the Lord de l'Amour the Lady Incontinent and a Iustice and the Ladies two Maids Informer and Falshood Lord de l'Amour The Lady Incontinent hath brought a Iustice who hath power to make you confesse She falls a shaking Lady Incontinent You may perceive her guilty she trembles and shakes looks so pale Lady Innocence Pray judge me not guilty by my countenance bring it not as a witnesse against me for the childish fears in my heart causeth a trembling which like an Earthquake shakes my body and makes my breath as pent up Air that pants for passage striving to get forth and my innocent bashfulnesse or my bashful innocency makes my eyes like perturbed lights that see nothing cleerly my words to flow like rough and broken streams for my mind is so troubled and my passions in such a storm as my words can neither flow easie nor free Lady Incontinent Here be two that will witnesse that she stole the Chain Falshood I will swear she took the Chain of Pearl and put it in her pocket and so went out of the room with it Lord de l'Amour Why did not you follow her and take it from her Falshood I thought she would bring it again for I never suspected she would deny it Lord de l'Amour And will you witnesse the same Informer Informer I will witnesse I saw it in her hand looking on it Lord de l'Amour What say you for your self Lady Innocence Lady Innocence I say my accusements doth not make me guilty of a crime but I confess I took the Chain in my hand out of a curiosity and trial of my judgment or skill to see whether I could find any defect in somuch valued esteemed and high-prized a thing as Pearl but not any wayes out of a covetous Appetite as to steal it nor had I any tempting thoughts thereto nor wisht I that or the like should be lawfully given me Lord de l'Amour What did you with it when you had done viewing it Lady Innocence I laid it on the Table from whence I took it off Lady Incontinent But here are those that will swear you carried it away with you Maids Yes that we will Lady Innocence I cannot alwayes avoid a false accusation Lord de l'Amour Will you swear you did not Lady Innocence Yes If my Oath will be taken Lady Incontinent Well you did take it that is certain wherefore you were best confess it or you shall be wrackt to make you confess it Lady Innocence I will never bear false-witness against my self I will dye first Lady Incontinent My Lord pray let her be carried away and be whipt until the be forced to confess it Lady Innocence Let me killed first for to be whipt is base and is only fit for Gally-slaves or those that are born from Slaves but to be kill'd is Noble and gives an Honourable triumph Iustice. Young Lady you are heer accus'd by two Witnesses and unless you can bring Evidence to clear you you are liable to punishment Lady Innocence Truly Sir I have but two invisible Witnesses Conscience and Innocency to plead for me and Truth my Judge who cannot be brib'd although it may be over-powr'd by false and slanderous reports Iustice. But it is imagin'd by your best friends you are guilty Lady Innocence Neither my friends nor enemies can create me a Criminal with their Imaginations Lord de l'Amour But speak are you guilty Lady Innocence To what purpose should I speak for what can I say to those that make it their delight to accuse condemn and execute or what justice can I expect to have where there is no equity wherefore to plead were a folly when all hopes are cut off to desire life a double misery if I must indure Torments but silence and patience shall be my two Companions the one to help me in my suffering the other to cut of impertinencies She goes out from them Lord de l'Amour What think you Justice is she guilty Lady Incontinent Why should you make a question when it hath been proved by Witnesses Come Justice Come and drink a Cup of Sack and give your opinion then The Lady Innocence comes as passing by alone Lady Innocence I am so confidently accus'd of this Theft as I am half perswaded I did take the Chain but that Honour and Honesty sayes I did not Ex. Scene 10. Enter Sir Thomas Father Love at one door and a servant-Maid at the other door SIr Thomas Father Love Where is your Mistriss the people do flock about the house to see her as I think they will pull it upon my head if she shews not her self to them wherefore call her The Maid goes out Enter the Lady Sanspareile Sir Thomas Father Love Come Come Child there are such expectations without for thee but what makes thee to look so heavy Lady Sanspareile Truly Sir I am not well Sir Thomas Father Love Not well Heaven bless thee where art thou Sick Lady Sanspareile I cannot say I am very sick or in any great pain but I find a general alteration in me as it were a fainting of spirits Sir Thomas Father Love Prethee say not so thou dost so affright me but thou art not very sick art thou Lady Sanspareile I hope I shall be better Sir Sir Thomas Father Love My dear Child go to bed whilst I send for some Doctors to thee Ex. Scene 11. Enter the Lady Innocence alone TO whom shall I powre out my sad complaint for all do them a Melancholy mind O Gods how willingly would I be buried in the grave with dust and feast the worms rather than live amongst
mankind Oh! Oh! that these Melancholy damps arising from my afflicted Soul could extinguish the Lamp of life or that my sad and grieved thoughts that feed upon my troubled Spirits could bite with sorrows teeth the thread of life asunder She sits down on the ground leaning her Cheek on her hand and weeps Enter to her her Maid Passive Passive My sweet Mistriss why do you weep Lady Innocence The spring of grief doth send forth streams of tears to wash off my disgrace and the foul spots which slandring tongues have stain'd or rather slain'd my reputation for which my eyes did they not weep would seem unnaturally unkind but my dead reputation is imbalm'd with salt tears bitter groans shrowded in sorrows and intomb'd in misery Passive My dear Lady you are imbalm'd with the pretious gums of Virtue and sweet spices of wit wrapt up in youth and beauty and are intombed or rather inthroned in honest hearts wherefore waste not your self with grief for certainly the world will condemn your Accusers and not you Lady Innocence Those feeble hopes cannot my spirits uphold they give no light of comfort to my mind for black despair like Melancholy night mustles my thoughts and makes my Soul as blind O but why do I thus mourn in sad complaints and do not curse Fortune Fates and destiny their Wheels there spindel threads and Chains She heaves up her hands and lifts up her eyes May Nature great turn all again to nought That nothing may with joy receive a thought She goes out in a very Melancholy posture Passive alone She is deeply Melancholy Heavens ease her mind Ex. Scene 12. Enter 2. or 3. Doctors 1. DOctor The Lady Sanspareile cannot live for the hath no pulse 2. Doctor No she is descending to the grave 3. Doctor But had we best tell her Father so 1. Doctor No by no means as yet 2. Doctor Why not he will know when she is dead Enter the Lady Mother Love as to the Doctors Lady Mother Love Mr. Doctors What do you mean to let my Daughter dye will you not prescribe something to give her 1. Doctor Madam we shall do our best you may be confident Lady Mother What if you prescribed a Glister or a Purge 1. Doctor I shall not need Madam Lady Mother Why if any one be sick they ought to have some remedies applyed to them 2. Doctor We shall consider what course is best to be taken Lady Mother Love For Gods sake do not neglect her Ex. Enter Sir Thomas Father Love to the Doctors Sir Thomas Father Love Mr. Doctors what is your opinion of my Daughter 1. Doctor Truly Sir she is very dangerous sick Sir Thomas Father Love I can find no pulse she hath 2. Doctor Nor we Sir that makes us doubt her Father Love Pray consult about her what is best to be done 1. Doctor We shall Sir Ex. Scene 13. Enter the Lord de l'Amour and the Lady Innocence LOrd de l'Amour What makes you look so gastly pale Lady Innocence I am so ashamed of my accusation as my bashfullness is beyond all blushing as greatest griefs are beyond all tears it causes my limbs to tremble face look pale like Death's assault making my courage fail Lord de l'Amour Perchance you are asham'd to confess so base a crime you may confess to me for I shall strive to hide your faults and cover them with some excuse wherefore confess for though it be a fault to steal yet it is a double fault to hide it with a Lye and by these crimes you do offend the Gods nor will their anger be remov'd unless you confess and ask pardon Lady Innocence Your Doctrine is very good and Application well applied had I been Guilty but being Innocent they are vainly uttered Lord de l'Amour I hope you will agree to resign the interest you have to me if I should desire you Lady Innocence Saints never offred up their Souls to God more willingly than I all interest to you not but that I love you yet I should be loath to be bound to one that hath so ill an opinion of me as you have Lord de l'Amour The World would condemn me if I should marry you to stain my Posterity with your Crimes Lady Innocence O Heavens is my scandal of so deep a dye as to stain Predecessors and Posterity yours may avoid it but my Predecessors are spotted all over She goes out weeping Lord de l'Amour I cannot chuse but love her although I fear she is guilty but I perceive she is resolv'd not to confess as being asham'd of it Ex. Scene 14. Enter the Lady Sanspareile in a bed as being sick the bed drawn on the stage and her Father kneels by the bed-side whilst she speaks as dying SAnspareile Let spotless Virgins bear me to my grave and holy Anthems sing before my Herse and soft-toucht Instruments to play the while and keep just time with tears that trickling fall from the sad eyes of my most sorrowful friends and one my Coffin spread upon a covering of smooth Sattin white to signify here how I lived a Virgin pure I lived and dyed and let my works which I have wrought and spun out of my brain be given to times Library to keep alive my name And set a Lilly-Garland on my Herse On every leaf therein stick on a verse And when my Coffin to the grave you bring Let Poets on my Herse some verses fling For whilst I liv'd I worship'd Nature great And Poets are by Nature favoured I in the Muses Arms desire to Dye For I was bred up in their Company And my request 's to them when I am dead I may amongst them be remembered But death drawes near my destiny is come Father farewell may time take up my years which death cuts off and add them to your life Peace keep your mind and Comfort give you rest He weeps But why do you weep dear Father my life 's not worth your tears yet Heavens doe weep and mingle with dull earth their Cristal streams and earth 's refresht thereby so is not death for death is ever dry Father O Child O Child my heart will break Sanspareile Sir why do you sigh and groan and grieve that I must dye life is perpetual and death is but a change of shape Only I wish that Death may order it so That from your rootes I may your flower grow I fear not Death nor am I loath to dye Yet I am loath to leave your Company But O the Muses stay my dying lips to close Farewel Dyes Her Father starts up from her Bed-side and stares about the Bed and the dead Lady is drawn off the stage Father What art thou sted dear Soul where dost thou goe stay and I will bear thee Company Stares about Where art thou Soul why mak'st thou such great haste I pray thee stay and take thy aged Fathers Soul along with thee left it should wander in the dark and gloomy