Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	fortitude_n	prudence_n	temperance_n	1,677	5	10.4183	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15487	Willobie his Auisa. Or the true picture of a modest maid, and of a chast and constant wife In hexamiter verse. The like argument wherof, was neuer hereto fore published. Read the preface to the reader before you enter farther.	Dorrell, Hadrian.; Willoughby, Henry, 1574?-1596?, attributed name.	1594 (1594)	STC 25755; ESTC S101317	53,586	140

not bee curious All these are so rightly described according to their nature that it may seeme the Author rather meant to shew what suites might be made and how they may be aunsweared then that there hath bene any such thing indeede These thinges of the one side leade me to thincke it altogether a fained matter both for the names and the substance and a plaine morrall plot secretly to insinuate how honest maides women in such temptations should stand vpon their guard considering the glory praise that commendes a spotlesse life and the blacke ignominy foule contempt that waiteth vpon a wicked and dissolute behauiour Yet of the other side when I do more deepely consider of it more narrowly weigh euery particular part I am driuen to thinke that there is some thing of trueth hidden vnder this shadow The reasons that moue me are these First in the same paper where I found the name of AVISA written in greate letters as I said before I found this also written with the Authors owne hand videlicet Yet I would not haue Auisa to be thought a politike fiction nor a truethlesse inuention for it may be that I haue at least heard of one in the west of England in whome the substaunce of all this hath bene verified and in many thinges the very wordes specified which hath indured these and many more and many greater assaultes yet as I heare she standes vnspotted and vnconquered Againe if we marke the exact descriptions of her birth her countrie the place of her abode and such other circumstances but especially the matter and manner of their talkes and conferences me thinkes it a matter almost impossible that any man could inuent all this without some ground or foundation to build on This inforceth me to coniecture that though the matter be handled poetically yet there is some thing vnder these fained names and showes that hath bene done truely Now iudge you for I can giue no sentence in that I know not If there bee any such constant wife as I doubt not but there may bee I wish that there were more would spring from her ashes and that all were such VVhether my Author knew or heard of any such I cannot tell but of mine owne knowledge I dare to sweare that I know one A. D. that either hath or would if occasion were so offered indure these and many greater temptations with a constant mind and setled heart And therfore here I must worthely reprehend the enuious rage both of Heathen Poets and of some Christian and English writers which so farre debase the credite and strength of the whole sexe that they feare not with lying toungs wickedly to publish that there are none at all that can continue constant if they bee tried Hereof sprang these false accusing speeches of the old Poets Ludunt formosae casta est quam nemo rogauit Faire wenches loue to play And they are onely chast whome no man doth assay And againe Rara auis in terris nigroque simillima cygno Foemina casta volat Arare-seene bird that neuer flies on earth ne yet in aire Like blackish Swan a woman chast if she be yong and faire This false opinion bred those foule-mouthed speeches of Frier Mantuan that vpbraides all women with fleeting vnconstancy This made Ariosto and others to inuent and publish so many lewd and vntrue tales of womens vnfaithfulnes And this is the cause that in this booke ye shall so often find it obiected against AVISA by all her sutors that no woman of what degree so euer can be constant if she be much requested but that the best will yeeld But the best is this common and course conceit is receiued but onely among common lewd carelesse men who being wicked themselues giue sentence of all others according to the loose and lawlesse humors wherewithall they feele their owne straying and wandring affections to be infected For they for sooth because in diuers and sundrie places as they often wickedly boast they may for an Angell and a great deale lesse haue hired nagges to ride at their pleasure such as make a sinnefull gaine of a filthy carkasse because in other countries where stewes and brothelhouses are winckt at they see oftentimes the fairest and not the meanest flocke to the fellowship of such filthy freedome Thinke presently that it is but a mony matter or a little intreatie to ouerthrow the chastity of any woman whatsoeuer But if all women were in deede such as the woman figured vnder the name of AVISA either is or at least is supposed to bee they should quickly restore againe their auncient credite and glory which a few wic ed wantons haue thus generally obscured In the twentie and seuen Canto I find how D. B. perswadeth with A. that it is little sinne or no fault to loue a frend besides her husband VVhereupon inquiring more of the matter I haue heard some of the occupation verifie it for a trueth That among the best sort they are accompted very honest women in some cities now that loue but one frend besides their husband and that it is thought amongst them a thing almost lawfull If this be true as I hardly thincke it to bee true because wicked men feare not to report any vntrueths but if it be true I feare least the ripenesse of our sinne cry to the Lord for vengeance against vs that tremble not at the remembrance of Gods iudgements that hath bound a heauy curse woe vpon the backe and conscience of them That speake good of euill and euill of good that is such as are growne to that pointe that they are no longer ashamed of their sinne nor care for any honesty but are become wilfully desperate in the performance of all kind of impiety But I leaue this to the godly preachers to dilate more amply And to returne to my purpose although I must confesse that of all sortes of people there haue bene will be still some loosely and lewdly giuen yet this can bee no excuse to lauishe tounges to condemne all generally For I dare to venter my hand and my head vpon this point that let the foure moral vertues be in order set downe Prudence Fortitude Temperance Iustice and let the holy scriptures be searched from the beginning to the end let all the ancient histories both ecclesiasticall and prophane be thorowly examined and there will bee found women inough that in the performance of all these vertues haue matched if not ouer matched men of euery age which I dare my selfe to verifie in their behalfes vpon the venter and losing of my credite if I had time and leasure Among infinite numbers to giue you a taste of one or two for wisedome and Iustice what say you to Placilla wife to the Emperour Theodosius She was wont euery day in her owne person to visite the sicke the poore and the maymed And if at any time shee saw the Emperour declining from Iustice to