Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	love_n	patience_n	temperance_n	1,797	5	11.2015	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A60009	The illustrious history of women, or, A compendium of the many virtues that adorn the fair sex represented not only in lively and pathetical discourses grounded upon reason, but in sundry rare examples of virtuous love, piety, prudence, modesty, chastity, patience, hnmility [sic], temperance, conduct, constancy, and firmness of mind ... : with the prophesies and predictions of the Sybils ... : the whole work enrich'd and intermix'd with curious poetry and delicate fancie sutable to so charming a subject.	J. S. (John Shirley), fl. 1680-1702.	1686 (1686)	Wing S3508; ESTC R26238	56,658	194

My reward is above Crescit sub pondere virtus Behold Bright Virtues Glorious Emblem plac't Beneath a Crown with beaming Stars Enchas't Virtue like Palms dos under pressure rise And Phoenix like true Virtue never dies London printed for Iohn Harris at the Harrow in the poultrey I. 〈◊〉 The Illustrious HISTORY OF WOMEN OR A COMPENDIUM of the many Virtues that Adorn the Fair Sex Represented not only in Lively and Pathetical Discourses grounded upon Reason but in Sundry rare Examples of Virtuous Love Piety Prudence Modesty Chastity Patience Humility Temperance Conduct Constancy and Firmness of Mind with what else in the like Nature is necessary for the Accomplishment of the most Celebrated Beauties With other Examples of Women Skill'd in the most Curious Arts and Sciences To which are Added the Examples of Warlike Women their Noble Exploits and Victories With the Prophesies and Predictions of the Sybils in relation to the Incarnation continuance upon Earth Death Resurrection and Ascention of our Blessed Saviour And as an Apendix the Character of a Virtuous Woman in all her Capacities The whole Work enrich'd and intermix'd with Curious Poetry and Delicate Fancie sutable to so Charming a Subject LONDON Printed for John Harris at the Harrow against the Church in the Poultrey 1686. Price bound One Shilling This may be Printed November 21 1685. R. L. S. The PREFACE TO THE READER TO some it may seem strange that in so small a Bark I have adventured into an Ocean rarely Navigated made an Essay on what has been seldome undertaken and never Exposed in it's proper Lusture The Virtues and Excellencies of the softer Sex a Subject worthy a more resined Pen but since the Ni●slings of Appollo the Wits of the Age have for the most part not only declined it but rather studied to Eclips the brightest Candor of Female perfection than give it a valuable proportion of the praise it has merited I thought it not amiss to remove the Veile that obscured it from the Eyes of the Ignor anter part of the Masculine World and let them see how they have been imposed upon by the haters and contemners of the Beatious Sex and consequently induced to harbour a mean Esteem of Female virtue or the perfections of Women-kind who in Piety Constancy Entirest Love Amazing Beauty Arts and Arms have in all Ages been the boast of Nations and Exemplary even to a Miracle wadeing with undaunted resolves through the greatest of difficulties and dangers to such Eminence as has rendered them accomplished and stilled the hissing Snakes of Envy whilst those that sought to cross their Noble actions and Clip the Wings of flying Fame have been obliged to own themselves o'recome and tune the strings that were Discordant to their praises with which renowned stories and examples of Female Worthies drawn from Authentique Histories c. I have mostly filled the following Pages a Work that may prove grateful unless the Age proves otherwise however I dare not doubt the approbation of those for whose sakes it was compiled to whose virtues it ows it's Birth and of such it is I chiefly wish it may find acceptance which if it does I have my end and shall remain as heretofore the admirer of Female virtue And. Ladies Your Devoted Servant JOHN SHIRLEY To the LADIES the Authors APOLOGY LADIES beneath your Virtues Patronage This little Book wou'd shelter from the rage Of Carping Zolists who seldome spare The Candor of the Chast the Wise and Fair Like Boreas blasts or like a Lapland storm By Mild degrees compel'd is to reform The Task was bold but Love and your sweet Charms Made me forget the Girds of Envies Arms To your Fair Sex this Book 's a Votarie What pitty is it then to let it dye Or Languish long which it alas must do Vnless 't is kindly Entertain'd by you Come take it in your Hands give it a Smile And make it live though but a little while I 'm shure to you'ts no Foe for see it wears Your Virtues Badge enchac'd with those bright Stars That in the Female Firmament do shine There rendering you so Lovely and Divine Ladies once more Protection it bespeaks If not for it 's yet for your omn dear sakes Give shelter to it e're the storm awakes THE INTRODUCTION WHEN the Wise Creator had furnished the Glorious Universe in every part with wonderous Varietie he formed Man and brought him into it as into a stately Pallace stored with what might please each Sence and render him Delight a Thousand wayes which great Munificence might have over-charged the largest Thought and put a Limit to the vastness of desire yet the Divine goodness thought not this sufficient for his Darling Favorit in favour of whom the visible World was made decked in all it 's glitering Glories but opening wider yet his giving Hand to make his Happiness the more compleat he Added a Blessing worthier than the rest formed of Elements rarefied by cordial Life and soft Contexture giving it at once a Shape and Soul Angelical the last Created but admired beyond the first A Work that put a period to the great Work-masters undertaking as made to Crown the rest of the Creation and that it might be the more Ennobled gave it a name signifying life and bowed the lofty Soul of Man to cherish and admire it to place in it next Heaven his chief felicity by centring in this lovely Creature Woman adding attractive charms and winning graces such as might captivate the stubornest heart and melt the rockie Orbe of strict reservedness ease the labouring of the mind and smooth the rumpled waves of a disordered passion which made the Enemy of Man-kind swell with Envy and contract a deadly hatred nourished with a mortal Bane to behold in any one creature an adornment of so many Excellencies such an Epitome of Coelestial Innocence clad in unvaluable Robes of native Beauty and as it were regreting that the Favours of the highest were so largly dispenced to any Creature of a lower rank than Angels and that corporeal beings should nearly vie in excellency with incorporial he layed the guilded Bait of Aspiring greatness in her way and with a subtill Guile under disguise prevailed to be believed and by being credited to affront his Maker and heap up a vengeance terrible in seducing her on whom the Image of the Deitie was livelyly portrayed nor was the fraud imposed as some have fancy'd without regret even Hellish malice being touch'd with Remorse to injure such a lovely frame of Innocence And thus imagine him at the first view of our Grand Parents to have pondered with himself Of a●●lwhat do my Eyes with grief behold Earth Born Creatures of a different mould Advanc'd into the happy Realms of Light Not Spirits yet near to Heavenly Spirits Bright Whom my great Thoughts with wonder do persue And in them a Divine resemblance view And cou'd a Love in my hot Breast remain Of ought but Mischief's dire and deadly Bain

therein disobey their Maker whose Absolute Command it is And with the entirest Integrity having carried my discourse on this worthy Subject thus far in General I shall now proceed to what is more Particular and Exempler in the Praise of Women-kind though as I have said all their Virtues in this nature to describe will prove too large a Theam For who but one with Eagles Eyes can Gaze Against the Sun in it's Meridian Blaze Or without Solomons large Heart can know All from the Ceder to the Shrub below Or name each fair Enamel that does spread Earth's lovely bosom when the winters fled What Marriner can count the waves that rise Or Artist tell the wanderers of the Skies Who is the Man can count the flying Clouds Or tell she Fry the swelling Ocian Shrowds Who in Arithmatick a Number can Find for the Moments past since time began Or in an age count out by swift Degrees The countless Sands forsaken by the Seas Hard tasks these are for mortal Man to do Yet full as easy as at once to view Each glorious Cabinet where Virtue rests To look into each worthy Female Breast To count the Sacred Treasure horded there And tell the World of each peculiar share Layd up to Purchase an Imortal Name Recorded in the deathless Book of Fame To Purchase Robes of White to pass the Gate Where for them Virtues true Reward does wait Though it on Earth should hiss it's great desert Yet there it will be sure to find it's part For in that Region is it's proper Seat There Virtue and not Riches makes us great Crowns us with Life and an Immortal State The Illustrious HISTORY OF WOMEN c. Of Chast-Love TO come nearer to my purpose for the bester ease and understanding of the Reader I shall proceed in a Regular way on Method placing together as near as is convenient the memorable Examples of one kind as I find them in divers Histories highly approved by the Learned of the present and past Ages And in this Case chast-Chast-Love being the Center and Basis of all other Virtues I shall begin with that perfection of Woman-kind Eurialus Count of Augusta being at Sienna with the Emperour Sigismond Lucretia a Beautiful Virgin called by some the second Venus upon his Modest Address conceived such Entire Affection for him that at his necessitated leaving her to attend his Lord the Emperour to Rome his Absence wrought so much upon her tender Spirits that having strugled a while with the flame of a constant passion she no longer able to indure the Absence of one on whom she had bestowed her Heart yielded up her self into the Icey Aims of Death calling on her Lover and with dying murmurs beg'd a Blessing might ever remain upon him of which sad misfortune Eurialus having notice took it so much to heart that in his Life-time he never was observed to Laugh or Smile Marcel Donat. Hist Med. Mirab. Theodora a Christian Virgin for that Sacred Profession being Condemned to the Stews where her chastity was to be expos'd to the violation of the worst of Villains Dydimus who Entirely loved her whilst the Debauchees were striving to enter there pressed in in a Souldiers habit a Person pretending to have the first knowledge of that Beautious Maid but being Retired he changed Habit with her by which means she was enabled to escape but he upon others pressing in being found a man was halled before the Judg who had shamelessly Condemned Theodora to loose her Virginity who immediately Sentanc'd him to Death of which she having notice came from her Retirement and offered her life a Ransom for his but such Transcendent-love nothing moved the Inexorable Judge who instead of accepting the offer commanded they should both be immediately put to Death which command being obeyed their Souls took flight to the bright Mansion of Eternal Love Lonicer Theatri The Story related of the wonderful love of Piramus and Thisbe is memorable nor is it held in the general Fabulous though Ovid has glozed upon it the substance being this The Beautious Pair living as Neighbours in B●bylon when grown to maturity found themselves surpriz'd with a generous flame love had made a mighty conquest o're their hearts their M●tu●● affections could not be so closely hid but Parents of a different mind in whom Age had quench'd the fire of passion came to know the case wherein they stood and cru●●ly proceeded to divorce their Joys by seperation but mighty love that like the Victorious ●alm laden with ponderous Weights under restraint ancreases found an unsuspected way to Whisper through a Cranny and by that means to set a time for slight when the Moon had thrown her Silver Mantle over the Shadie Night The place being appointed Thisbe ravish'd with eager Joys to have her Lover in her Arms first made Escape but there instead of Pyranats she found a Lyoness besmeer'd with blood which made her hasten to a Neighbouring Cave whilst in her slight she drop'd her Veile which the Lyoness finding rumpled it with her Bloody Jaws and went her way Pyramus soon after coming and finding the Veile he knew to be hers all smeer'd with Blood and the Footsteps of a wild Beast supposed her devour'd and after many doleful lamentations Exclaiming against himself for exposing to such hazard a thing he prized so dear resolving not to live without her he sell upon his Sword when Thisbe dispensing with her fear came to the place and found him Breathing out his last having no more Sense than at her Name to open his dying Eyes and see his dear mistake which was not long e're closing again he was left in the black Mist of Death when having expressed her self with the disordered passion of a distracted lover scorning a tedious life when he for whom she liv'd was gone she bared her Snowey Breast and with undaunted Courage fell upon the self-same Sword O●ids Met c. Less Famous than this is not the admirable love of the Beautious Hero to the Greecian Youth Leander whose memorable loves famed the threatning Towers of Sestos and Abidos in the former the Noble Virgin dwelt and from the latter parted by the Hellespont the adventerous Youth often Swam to visit her she being his Load-Star to stear his Course in the darkest Night by placing a light in the highest Turret but after often adventring with success Fate crossing Love in raising a Tempest whilst he was labouring in the Ocean the undistinguishing Waves put a period to his life and then unkindly cast his lifeless Corps upon the shoar where he with such Eagerness wish'd to come alive at sight of which the Lady being over-come with Grief leaped headlong from the Tower and plunging into the Remorsless Deep became partaker of her Lovers Fate The Beautious Daughter of the Emperour Charlemain falling in love with Eginardus Secretary to that Emperour nor was the flame he felt less violent he one Night coming in private to her Chamber it

her helpless Chastity She ●esiring not to out-live the loss of her ●●onour though her Friends comforted ●●er in the best manner saying she ●●as Guiltless seeing it was done by Violence contrary to her Consent When ●●e better to Accomplish her design ●●s well as she could dissembled her ●●rrow appearing by degrees to dry ●●p the Extraordinary flood of Grief ●●at slow'd from her Beautious Eyes ●●e desir'd them one day to goe with ●●er to the Monument of her Husband 〈◊〉 the often Visitation of which is ordi●ary in many Countreys being come ●either she Entreated them to list up ●e stone that she might see how ●eath and his short continuance there ●ad alter'd him which stone o● a vast ●eight being rais'd on one side and rop'd up she under pretence of seriously viewing those Reliques of ●ortality Leaped into the Tomb ●here her dead Husband lay pulling way at the same time the stay which offer'd the stone to fall with such ●rce that her Head being mortally ●rus'd she soon died and was buried with her Lord. Lon. Thatre The latter loss beyond the First imploy'd Her sadded Soul though Fate before had Tri'd In her dear Lord's mishap a Death to give But Chastity once gone she scorn'd to live Novellus Caronceus Lord of Paria falling in Love with a beautiful Virgin a Citizens Daughter of Vincentia and her Chistity not yeilding by fair entreaties to his lacivious designs he caused her to be taken out of her Fathers house and forcibly Ravished her after which he not having found the Pl●●sure he expected by reason of her unwillingness he Barbarously added a greater Cruelty by cutting her in pieces and sending her Mangled Limbs to her Parents Who astonished at so great a wickedness made their adress to the Senate of Venice in whom the horrour of the Fact mov'd at once such detestation and Compassion that warring on the murthering Ravisher they ●ook him and his two Sons whom ●hey delivered into the hands of the ●xecutioner Beard Theatre So loud to Heaven for Vengance was the cry Of Virgin blood and Injur'd Chastity O●bright Deputy or Sub-governour 〈◊〉 a King of the West Saxans going ●s Progress happen'd in the absence 〈◊〉 one Beorn a noble Saxon to call 〈◊〉 his house whereas became a person 〈◊〉 such esteem with the King he 〈◊〉 as splendidly entertain'd but all 〈◊〉 delicates were nothing pleasing 〈◊〉 consideration of the beautiful Lady ●ith whom he found dinner ended 〈◊〉 oppertunity under pretence of ●mmunicating some Secrets he had 〈◊〉 charge to her Lord to retire 〈◊〉 to a private place out of the hear●●g of the Servants where he re●●al'd his wicked purpose using many ●●treaties to oblige her to a com●●acency but finding she had rather die than violate her Chastity he threw her by force on a Couch and Ravish'd her after which leaving her overwhelm'd in Tears he with his retinue hasted thence The afflicted Lady concealing as much as in her lay the shame that was done her till her Lord came home fell at his Feet with great Cries declaring the Mischief that had befallen her saying she was altogether unworthy to name him her Husband since she had been so shamelessly abused intreating him by all the former Ties of Love to revenge himself and her which he not long after too sadly effected by being instrumental in bringing in the Danes who made miserable Havock of the Kingdom slaying the Ravisher and most of the Forces he lead Speeds Chron. Wonderful were the Examples of the Chast Ladies in the Abby of Glassenbury who by the Advice and Example of their Abess least their Incomparable Beauties should be the occasion of loosing their honours cut● off their Lips and Noses at the time when the Danes made progress through the Land with Fire and Sword and by that means saving their Chastity lost their Lives for the Barbarous Enemy finding it was done to cross their purpose cruelly put them to the Sword doubtless not unhappy for them who found thereby a speedy way to the reward of their Piety Speeds Cron. Stand back Diana in whom Fables tell The Sacred love of Chastity did dwell Yet cruel still they Paint thee for thine Eyes They say were pleas'd with Humain Sacrifice Give place to these whose Virtues shine more bright Than all the flames that on thy Alters blaz'd Whose Chaster Souls above the Stars took flight And for Deliverance their great Maker prais'd Of Piety In Piety and Love of sacred things this Sex is no ways wanting as not to mention the Examples of those 〈◊〉 Holy Writ many Histories havi●● the lively Monuments of unwear●● Divotion can furnish us nor ha●● they refus'd in most Ages to lay do●● their lives with chearfulness for t●● sake of their Redeemer Triumphi●● with a Holy Joy in the Circling flam●● bearing with a constancy and patien●● almost Inexpressible all the Torme●● Witty Horror could invent nay so●● have griev'd to be depriv'd of such● Glory and long'd with eager Zeal● pass through Tribulation to the pla●● where Crowns and Diadems a● lay'd up for the perseverer in faithfu●ness till Death Eulalia a noble Virgin of Portug●● dispising all the proffer'd Glories th●● consist in Transcient things spent h●● time and care in heaping up a Treasu●● for her Soul Sobriety and Mode●● were her Attendants and Discreti●● Crown'd her Actions a Zeal and F●●vent Love to her Redeemer made h●● fearless of danger knowing his support is all-sufficient and so continu●● she increasing in Grace and Virt●● when Hell stir'd up it's wicked Engins to oppose the flourishing Gospel when the Heathens ●●harras ' 〈◊〉 Church than was it she appeared most constant and devout resolving to suffer any affliction for him that had redeemed her with his precious Blood and when the Christians were commanded to offer Sacrifice to Devils this Couragious Virgin by her Prayers and Exhortations encouraged them to be steadfast in the Faith and not to give the Tempter ground Praying dayly in the presence of the Heathen which her Parents who loved her entirely perceiving and fearing she might fall under the punishment of the Rigorous decree sent her to their Countrey House distant from the City and watched her there least she should escape but she desirous to possess a Crown of life brooked not that Solitude but found means to leave it and being sometime after presented to the Roman Prefect a man that Thirsted after Christian Blood she boldly own'd her Faith aledging she was ready to lay down her life for his sake from whom she had receiv'd it● which resolute persistance in that rig●teous 〈◊〉 made him rage to th● Excess that without regard to b● Birth Years or Tender Beauty 〈◊〉 commanded the Executioner to dis●●cate her Joynts and then with Wi●● Beasts Claws tore off her Flesh whi●● she regardless of her pain was prais●● God for counting her worthy 〈◊〉 After this she was tortur'd with 〈◊〉 Iron Grate and had her Virgin Brea●● Seer'd with flaming Torches wh●● fir'd

the Almighty to save the World from desolation her virtues are for the most part admirable and no less her judgment and the other Intelectual faculties of her Soul That as I have prov'd being nothing Inferiour to that in which Man centers his largest Pride and Boast imagining it as it truly is a Ray of Essence a Effluence of his Maker Woman from her Infancy with pretty Smiles delights the World and Chears the hearts of her admiring Parents and as she grows Virtue takes its place well pleas'd to dwell in such a Fabrick and brings as her Attendants Modesty Sobriety and a wining Behaviour No sooner is Woman possess'd by Man in the happy State of Conubial Love but she furuishes him with a shower of Blessings wrap'd in soft Delights and deck'd in Chastest Charms mild and plyant is her Temper and her Cariage towards him decent and comely her Behaviour her Love is beyond Expression and her Tenderness such that she values him on whom her heart is plac'd equal with all but her imortal happiness as for her Life she counts it a Trifle and had rather loose it than her Honour she esteems nothing on Earth too good for her Beloved and inforces all her Charms to please and render him the happy Father of hopeful Children she is indeed his Internus Sensus his second self equally shareing his Joys and Afflictions and is not like a Swallow that sings to the morning wake of his prosperity and when the Winter of his Adversity comes takes her way upon the Winds to seek a warmer Sun her Smiles are not to be bought with Silver nor her Love to be purchac'd with Gold but are freely and intirely plac'd upon her Beloved great is her diligence to please him and as great her care not to offend him when he rejoyces she rejoyces when he is griev'd she is sad simpathising with him in all things and is the secret Cabinet in which he dare repose his Secrets and find them there as safe as in his Soul a Repository she is of his abstrusest thoughts and is ever tender of his honour nothing she thinks too good for him nor nothing she can do too much in Health she takes care for his necessaries and is wonderfully tractable in forwarding his Affairs in Sickness she is more studious for his Health then her Intrest and puts up her Prayers and Vows to Heaven for his recovery Expressing in all her actions a careful Love and Tenderness and in her Words a venerable Esteem so that without so great a virtue as Woman Man must be miserable and forlorn as to his temporal Condition nor ought he to esteem so great a Blessing unworthy his largest Thoughts nor render the Almighty less Tribute of Praise and Thanks-giving for bestowing that last best favour on him which could only compleat his earthly Felicity In making Woman Nature has been Lavish and shew'd her curious Art in Forming a Creature soft and tempting to allay the rough temper of Man by moderation and mildness as the Fluid Aire prevents the Firey Region from Calcinating the Earth and renders that outragious Element serviceable to Man-kind Great was the cunning Nature used or rather the God of Nature not to refer so great a Work to second causes in framing the lovely structure of the Softer Sex in every part proporting what by sight or touch might yield delight forgetting nothing that was admirable in it self or might be pleasing to those whose curions thoughts could scan the best Perfections wonder not then why the Sex is so admir'd by all the sages of the World yet not so much as real Worth commands in true desert as has been often intimated in the foregoing Pages why then should Man decline so great a Blessing why should not he who is so proud of being Rational use his Rationalty to a right end and by temporal Love founded on Virtue strive to raise his Soul to that which is Eternal endless and not dated by degrees of time a Love unalterable as Fate sounded on a commixture of Blessings in conversation with Angels Arch-Angels Cherubims and Seraphims Thrones Dominations Prince-doms Virtues and Powers all the Starry Quire of Brightness and Batitude and higher yet for Love is God and God is Love by it the order of the Visible World is maintain'd and things not visible to mortal Eyes supported in their sacred order and concordence 't is that which makes all truly happy and without it is no happiness in this World nor the World to come Then let us prize a Gift that is so fair So good so just that she our love should share To a degree too great to be exprest Who of all Blessing Earth affords is best Who only Crowns all Earthly Flappiness And does Man-kind beyond his wishes bless A greater Blessing Heav'n never gave To Mortal Man but him that Man did save The Reasons why Mans Happiness is not compleat on Earth without the Charming Creature Woman AS for the necessity of the Beautious Sex it is evident not only for the sake of Generation but for that of Mutual Society Man without them being as a Solitary Traveller who Journeys through Wildernesses and Desarts where Rational Creatures seldome give his Eyes the plesure of beholding them though some may object that the Conversation of Man with Man is materialy sufficient I grant it is in general relating to indifferent affairs but where the Soul claims a closer Union than such Innocent diversions can alow that convers is of little moment Woman was taken from Man and therefore by a simpathy of Nature and a secret contraction of the better part she considers in being cruel to her temporal Original she is cruel to her self and in that cruellty offends her Maker unless a singular vow of Chastity interposes wherein her aime is to be a spotless Virgin that so she may follow the Lamb that has taken away Original Sin and given us leave and oppertunity to be Regenerate and Born again through Faith and Relyance on his meritorious Death and passion but to come nearer to the conclusion Eternal love ought to be our chief aim Life in our Saviours death we d●ly claim In his dear merits all our hopes must be Zone of our everlasting life is he A bright Meridian of Eternity But how came this great Mistery to pass Eternal Widom the Prime Author was The thing is deep and Mortal Minds are lost Heav'n nows alone what this dear Blessing cost Consider then and let us still adore Omnipotence which our weak nature bore Compassioning us he lay'd aside Known Glory dispising shame he dy'd ●●●'raign o're Death with Death he yet comply'd Having thus far discours'd I shall proceed to the Character of a Virtuous Woman in all her Capacities The GOLDEN CHARACTER Of a VIRTUOUS WOMAN In all her CAPACITIES IN this case three things are more immediately to be consider'd viz The Virgin State and those of Marriage and Widdow-hood and of these in their