disadvantage my self or children for I have no children as yet and I have neither Power nor Kingdom now VVherefore if I can injoy her upon these tearms as the name of VVife it will be well Gent. But Sir this part of the VVorld allows but of one wife wherefore if you should marry this Lady the Clergy will excommunicate you as an Adulterer and the Lady as an Adulteress out of the Church Duke I had rather be in the Ladies bed than in the Church But I have money although I have lost my Dukedom and that will help me Gentleman But not make your Marriage lawfull Duke I care not for if the marrying and the name of wife will satisfie the Lady I care not whether it be Good or Bad Lawfull or unlawfull VVife or Concubine 't is all one to me for I willl marry a hundred women if they will marry me and let me lye with them Exeunt Scene 8. Enter the Unfortunate Dutchess and her Woman VVOman Your Highness bears afflictions more couragiously than I thought your Highness would have done Unfortunate Dutchess Truly I find I am more happy since I am amongst my Enemies if they may be termed so than I was in my own Country with an unkind Husband for they allow me a Noble and Princely Pension and I live Free Easily and Peaceably which I did not before Woman I hear your Sister is marryed to the Dukes Brother Unf. Dutchess I wish she may be more happy with her Husband than I have been with mine Woman If they have Children and your Highness none they will be Heirs to the Dukedom Unf. Dutchess They will so but there is no Dukedom now to heir 't is made now a Province Woman But times may change Exeunt Scene 9. Enter the Comical Dutchess and her Woman VVOman Now you are an absolute Dutchess you must carry your self in State and live Magnificently like as an Absolute Princess as you are Comical Dutchess Yes but it is a great affliction for the Duke and I to be banished and driven out of our Kingdom Woman Alass Madam great Princes have many times great misfortunes but you must bear your misfortunes with a Princely magnaminity Comical Dutchess But if I have Children alass what shall they do Woman But those that did never injoy the possession cannot repine nor grieve for the loss Comical Dutchess You say true Exeunt Scene 10. Enter the Creating Princess and her Woman WOman Pray Madam do not marry so meanly for you cannot intitle him a Prince Creating Princess Well well say what you will I will make him a Prince for why may not I as well make my Husband lawfully a Prince as well as the Duke of Inconstancy makes the Lady Beauty a Dutchess and yet hath another Wife Woman Introth it will be just like a poor Begger Woman in Engl. being mad she said she was Queen Elizabeth of Engl. and all the Boys Girls and Common people would run after her and call her Queen Elizabeth in sport and jest the like was a poor mad Begger Man in France which said he was King Henry the 4th. of France but the only difference will be that you and the Comical Dutchess have means and wealth enough to live in Principy and they had none but were so poor they were forced to beg so could not Act their parts Creating Princess You are a bold rude wench therefore get you out of my service Woman Truly I would not stay in it if I might for I should be ashamed Exeunt Scene 11. Enter the Unfortunate Dutchess and her Woman WOman Madam doth your Highness here of the Apocriphal Dutchess Unfortunate Dutchess What Apocriphal Dutchess Woman Why the Duke hath married another Lady Unfortunate Dutchess That he cannot untill I dye 't is true a Mistriss may take the name of a VVife but cannot possess the right of a VVife Woman She will be as a Dutchess in a Play she will only act the part of greatness Unfortunate Dutchess Indeed most Stage-Players are Curtizans Woman And most Curtizans are good Actors Unfortunate Dutchess I make no question but she will now have enough Spectators Woman But I hope they will hiss her from off the Stage Exeunt Scene 12. Enter the Creating Princess and her Husband CReating Princess Have I married you who was a mean fellow and have not I made you a Prince and you to deny to pay my Debts Husband But I thought you would have rather inricht me than have made me poorer than I was Creating Princess Have I not inriched you with Titles do not all my Servants call you Prince and do not all the Trades-men where we buy all our Commodities when they come to our Palace do the same call you Prince and doe you reverence Husband Yes for hopes of gain Creating Princess I am sure you will gain little reputation or respect if you carry your self so sneakingly as you do whereas you should carry your self like a Prince bravely Husband Put when all our money is gone we shall be but poor Princes I had better have keep to my Trade than to have been a Prince where if I had I should have been rich now I shall be a Beggar Creating Princess You are so mean a fellow as you cannot be sensible of the honour and dignity I have bestowed upon you Exeunt Scene 13. Enter the Comical Dutchess big with Child she sits under her Canopy in a Chair of state her Attendants by her wait on her 1 ATtendant All the great Ladies are so envious at your Highness as there will none of them come neer you Comical Dutchess I like the Company of Bourgers Wives better for they are my Slaves 2 Attendant Yes Madam but your Highness is forced I think to present them with some presents now and then for the World is so wicked that they will not give true honour it 's due unless they are bribed 3 Attendant You say true but men will give Ladies their due right 4 Attendant Yes men are more generous and bountifull to Ladies but yet they must be bribed with hopes of obtaining some favours otherwayes I fear me they would be as reserved and retired from your Highnesses Court as the great Ladies are Comical Dutchess I wonder they should I being an absolute Princess 2 Attendant Yes but since your Titles Rights and Marriage is renounced against they are not so civil dutifull and obedient as they were not considering as they ought to do that right cannot be renounced against 3. Attendant But her Highness doth shew them their error and that she shews them it cannot be taken from her for she keeps the same State she did and is as Merry Gay and Frollick to let the World see she understands her own Greatness best 1. Attendant But yet there are but few of any Nation but the inferior sort that come to her Highness Court unless it be the Red Oker Knights and Ladies and if it were not for them this Court would
but I perceive Lady you are a right begotten daughter of Nature and will follow the steps of your Mother 1 Virgin Yes or else I should be unnatural which I will never be Exeunt ACT II. Scene 8. Enter Monsieur Pere and Monsieur Frere MOnsieur Frere Sir I wonder since my sister is so handsome that you did not marry her more to her advantage Pere Why Son I think I have marry'd her very well for your advantage for her beauty was her only Portion and she is marry'd to a noble Gentleman who hath a very great Estate Frere But Sir her beauty doth deserve a King nay an Emperour a Caesar of the World Pere O Son you are young which makes you partial on your sisters side Exeunt Scene 9. Enter Madam Bonit and her Maid Nan BOnit It 's a strange forgetfulness not to come near me in two hours but let me sit without a fire if you were my Mistris I should make a conscience to be more diligent than you are if I did take wages for my service as you do Nan If you do not like me take another Bonit If you be weary of my service pray change perchance you may get a better Mistris and I hope I shall get as careful a servant Exeunt Scene 10. Enter the Sociable Virgins and the Matrons 1 VIrgin I would have all women bred to manage Civil Affairs and men to manage the Military both by Sea and Land also women to follow all Manufactures at home and the men all Affairs that are abroad likewise all Arts of Labour the men to be imploy'd in and for all Arts of Curiosity the women 2 Virgin Nay certainly if women were imploy'd in the Affairs of State the World would live more happily 3 Virgin So they were imploy'd in those things or business that were proper for their strength and capacity 1 Matron Let me tell you Ladies women have no more capacity than what is as thin as a Cobweb-laun which every eye may see through even those that are weak and half blind 4 Virgin Why we are not Fools we are capable of Knowledge we only want Experience and Education to make us as wise as men Matron But women are uncapable of publick Imployments 1 Virgin Some we will grant are so are some men for some are neither made by Heaven Nature nor Education sit to be States-men 2 Virgin And Education is the chief for Lawyers and Divines can never be good States-men they are too learned to be wise they may be good Orators but never subtil Counsellors they are better Disputers than Conuivers they are fitter for Faction than Reformation the one make quarrels or upholds quarrels the other raises doubts But good States-men are bred in Courts Camps and Cities and not in Schools and Closets at Bars and in Pulpits and women are bred in Courts and Cities they only want the Camp to give them the perfect State-breeding 3 Virgin Certainly if we had that breeding and did govern we should govern the world better than it is 4 Virgin Yes for it cannot be govern'd worse than it is for the whole World is together by the Ears all up in Wars and Blood which shews there is a general defect in the Rulers and Governors thereof 1 Virgin Indeed the State-Counsellers in this Age have more Formality than Policy and Princes more plausible words than rewardable deeds insomuch as they are like Fidlers that play Artificially and Skilfully yet it is but a sound which they make and give and not real presences 2 Virg. You say true and as there is no Prince that hath had the like good fortune as Alexander and Caesar so none have had the like Generosities as they had which shews as if Fortune when she dealt in good earnest and not in mockery measur'd her gifts by the largeness of the Heart and the liberality of the hand of those she gave to And as for the death of those two Worthies she had no hand in them nor was she any way guilty thereof for the Gods distribute life and death without the help of Fortune Matron 'T is strange Ladies to hear how you talk without knowledge neither is it fit for such young Ladies as you are to talk of State-matters leave this discourse to the Autumnal of your Sex or old Court-Ladies who take upon them to know every thing although they understand nothing But your Discourses should be of Masks Plays and Balls and such like Recreations fit for your Youth and Beauties Scene 11. Enter Monsieur Malataste and Madam Bonit MAlataste What 's the reason you turn away Nan Bonit Why she turns away me for she is more willing to be gone than I to have her go Malateste It is a strange humour in you as never to be pleas'd for you are always quarrelling with your servants Bonit Truly I do not remember that ever I had a dispute or quarrel with any servant since I was your Wife before this with your Maid Nan and to prove it is that I do not speak many words in a whole day Malateste Those you speak it seems are sharp Bonit Let it be as you say for I will not contradict you Malateste Well then take notice I will not have Nan turn'd away Bonit I am glad she pleases you so well and sorry I can please you no better Exeunt Scene 12. Enter Monsieur Frere alone FRere She is very handsom extreme handsom beyond all the women that ever Nature made O that she were not my sister Enter Madam Soeur He starts Soeur I doubt Brother I have surpriz'd you with my sudden coming in for you start Frere Your Beauty Sister will not only surprize but astonish any man that looks thereon Soeur You have us'd your self so much to dissembling Courtships since you went into Italy as you cannot forbear using them to your sister But pray leave off that unnecessary civility to me and let us talk familiarly as brothers and sisters use to do Frere With all my heart as familiarly as you please Soeur Pray Brother tell me if the women in Italy be handsom and what Fashions they have and how they are behav'd Frere To tell you in short they are so Artify'd as a man cannot tell whether they are naturally handsom or not As for their Behaviour they are very Modest Grave and Ceremonious in publick and in private confident kind and free after an humble and insinuating manner they are bred to all Virtues especially to dance sing and play on Musical Instruments they are naturally crafty deceitful false covetous luxurious and amorous they love their pleasures better than Heaven As for their fashion of garments they change as most Nations do as one while in one and then in another As for their Houses they are furnish'd richly and themselves adorned costly when they keep at home in their houses for they dress themselves finest when they entertain strangers or acquaintance but this Relation is only of
Daughter Mistriss Odd-Humour Two Fathers of the Church Gentlemen Maid-Servants Men-Servants A Nurse THE RELIGIOUS ACT I. Scene 1. Enter two Maid-Servants Kate and Joan. KAte My Masters Nephew and my Ladyes Daughter are the kindest lovers for so young ones as that ever I knew Ioan. I believe you never knew such young ones for she is not above ten years of age and he but thirteen or fourteen Kate He addresseth himself in that Country manner and pleads his Love-sure with such affectionate respect and she gives Audience with such modest attention as one would think they were older by a douzen years a-piece than they are Ioan. They have been bred together and they have not been acquainted with the Vanityes and Vices of the World which makes love the more pure Kate My Lady desires my Master that he would give consent his Nephew may marry her Daughter Ioan. She hath reason for he is the only Son of his Father my Masters Brother the Lord Dorato who is very rich and is in great favour with the Arch-Prince of the Country Kate Why so is my Ladyes Daughter the only Child of her Parents and she is Heir to her Fathers Estate Ioan. Yes but her Father left so many Debts when he dyed as the Estate will not be so great as it is thought to be Kate But by that time she is of Age the Debts may be paid Ioan. But my Lady hath a great Jointure out of it that will be a hindrance to the payment ôf Debts Kate Well I believe whether they have their friends consent or not they will marry they love so very much each other Ioan. Perchance so and then repent when they come to elder years that they marryed so young Kate Faith that they may do if they were double their Age for few marry that repent not Ioan. Well come away and leave them to repentance Kate Nay stay they are not married yet Exeunt Scene 2. Enter Sir Thomas Gravity and his Lady LAdy Pray Husband give your Nephew leave to marry my Daughter Sir Thomas Gravity Time enough Wife they are young and may stay this seven years and indeed they are so young as it is not fit they should marry besides I have not absolute power to dispose of my Nephew for though my Brother left him to my care and breeding when he went Ambassadour to the Emperour because his Wife was dead and none so fit to leave him with as I yet to marry him without his Fathers Knowledge or Consent will not be taken well nay perchance he may be very angry Lady Come come he will not displease you with his anger for fear he may lose that you have power to give from him which is your Estate which you may leave to him or his Son having no Children of your own wherefore pray Husband grant my request Sir Thomas Gravity Well wife I will consider it Lady Nay if you consider you will find so many excuses as you will deny my request with excuse Sir Thomas Gravity Faith if I do consent to this marriage it will be to be rid of my Nephews and your importunity Lady You may be sure we will never let you be quiet Sir Thomas Gravity I believe you Exeunt Scene 3. Enter MIstriss Odd-Humour and her Maid Nan Mistriss Odd-Humour Nan give me my work and my little armed Chair The Maid goeth out and strait enters with a little low wicker armed Chair she sits in it but is forced to crowd her self into it the Chair being too little for her seat Nan Lord Mistriss you take great pains to crowd into that Chair I wonder you can take delight to sit so uneasily Mistriss Odd-Humour O custome is a second Nature for I using to sit in this Chair from my Childhood I have a Natural Love to it as to an old acquaintance and being accustomed to sit in it it feels easier She works the whilst she sits and speaks than any other seat for use and custome makes all things easy when that we are unaccustomed to is difficult and troublesome but I take so much delight to sit and work or Sing old Ballads in this Chair as I would not part from it for any thing Nan Yes you would part with your little old Chair for a proper young Husband who would set you on his knees Mistriss Odd-Humour By my faith but I would not for I should find more trouble and less case on a young Husbands knees than on my old Chairs Seat Nan But if you should sit in this Chair when you were marryed your Husband must kneel down if he would kiss you Mistriss Odd-Humour Why then this Chair will learn a Husband humble submission and obedience which Husbands never knew but Nan prethee fetch me some of my old Ballads to sing for I am weary of working One calls Nan in another room Nan Mistriss your Mother calls you She strives to get out of the little Chair hitching first on one side and then on the other side wringing her self by degrees out the whilst speaks Mistriss Odd-Humour I had as lieve be whipt as stir Nan You have reason you labour so much and ring your self so hard as whipping would be less pain for your Chair is now sitter for your Head than your Britch Mistriss Odd-Humour Not unless to break my head for a Chair is not a fit rest for the head for then the heels would be upwards and so I might be thought a Light-heeld wench for light things fly or ly upwards Nan Why the head that is the uppermost part of the body is not light Mistriss Odd-Humour Yes when 't is mad or drunk Exeunt Scene 4. Enter the Lord Dorato Ambassador and a Man with Letters LOrd Dorato How doth my Brother and my Son Man Very well my Lord The Lord reads a Letter Lord Dorato How is this my Son marryed to my Brothers Wives Daughter without my Knowledge or Consent to a Girl whose Estate hath more Debts than Lands and who knows how she will prove when she is a woman and my Son to marry a wife before he hath wit to govern a wife to put a clog to his heels to hinder his Travell for Knowledge sure my Brother is mad dotingly mad to be perswaded by a foolish woman his wife for I know it was her insinuating perswasions that made him agree to the marriage O I could curse the time I sent my Son to him and my self for trusting him to educate and govern him who hath bred him to be as foolish as himself O foolish Son and more foolish Brother by how much being older but I will break the marriage-knot asunder or disinherit my Son or marry and get another that may prove more wise and happy to me Do you know of my Sons marriage Man Yes Sir for t is much talk'd of and of the extraordinary love betwixt the young couple Lord Dorato A couple of young Puppyes and their Unckle an old Al 's O the
will send you amongst the effeminate Sex where you may learn to sport with Ladies as well as fight with Turks Affectionata speaks softly to her self pray Jove they do not search me Exeunt Scene 26. Enter the Lady Wagtail and the Lady Amorous LAdy Wagtail I can tell you news Lady Amorous What news Lady Wagtail Sir Serious Dumb can speak again Lady Amorous I am sorrow for that for now he may tell tales out of School Lady Wagtail If he do we will whip him with the rods of tongues which is more sharp than the rods of wyer Lady Amorous We may whip him with words but we our selves shall feel the smart of reproch Lady Wagtail How simply you talk as if reproch could hurt a woman when reproch is born with us and dyes with us Lady Amorous If reproch have no power of our Sex why are all women so carefull to cover their faults and so fearfull to have their crimes divulged Lady Wagtail Out of two reasons first because those of the masculine Sex which have power as Fathers Uncles Brothers and Husbands would cut their throats if they received any disgrace by them for disgrace belongs more to men than women The other reason is that naturally women loves secrets yet there is nothing they can keep secret but their own particular faults neither do they think pleasure sweet but what is stollen Lady Amorous By your favour women cannot keep their own faults secret Lady Wagtail O yes those faults that may ruine them if divulged but they cannot keep a secret that is delivered to their trust for naturally women are unfit for trust or council Lady Amorous But we are fit for faction Lady Wagtail The World would be but a dull World if it were not for industrious factions Lady Amorous The truth is that if it were not for faction the World would lye in the cradle of Peace and be rock'd into a quiet sleep of security Lady Wagtail Prithee talk not of quiet and peace and rest for I hate them as bad as death Lady Amorous Indeed they resemble death for in death there is no wars nor noise Lady Wagtail Wherefore it is natural for life neither to have rest nor peace being cantrary to death Exeunt ACT IV. Enter the Lord Singularity and Affectionata AFfectionata My Lord I hear the King hath invited you to attend him in his progress this Summer Lord Singularity Yes but I have made my excuse and have got leave to stay at home for I will tell thee truly that I had rather march ten miles with an Artillery than travel one with a Court and I had rather fight a battel than be bound to ceremony or flattery which must be practised if one live at Court Besides I have been bred to lead an Armie and not to follow a Court And the custom of the one have made me unacquainted and so unfit for the other for though I may truly say I am a good Souldier yet I will confess ingenuously to thee I am a very ill Courtier Affectionata I think they are the most happiest that are least acquainted with a great Monarchs Court Lord Singularity I will tell thee a discourse upon this theam in the time of Henry the eighth of England there were many Courtiers of all degrees about him and the theam of their discourse was who was the happiest man in England So all the Nobles and inferiour Courtiers agreed unanimously it was his Majesty and it could be no man else and they all said that their judgements was so clear in that point that it could not admit of a contradiction or dispute Said Henry the eighth by the body of our Lord you are all mistaken then said one of the Courtiers I beseech your Majesty to tell us who is the happiest man By the Lord said the King that Gentleman that lives to his profit and dare moderately spend for his pleasure and that neither knows me nor I know him he is the happiest man in the Kingdom and I am of Henry the eights opinion but howsoever it were better to be such a one that goeth with the bagge and baggage of an Armie than one of the tail of a Court Affectionata But your Lordship would not refuse to be as the chief as to be a Favourite for a Favourite is more sought feared and flattered than the King himself Lord Singularity I think I should not refuse to be a Favourite by reason a Favourite is a General to command Martial and Conduct in all affairs both at home and abroad in peace and in war and all by the power and authority of the commission of Favourites Affectionata Which Commission hath a greater and larger extent than any other Commission Lord Singularity You say right for it extends as far as the Kings power Exeunt Scene 27. Enter the Lady Bashfull and Reformer her woman REformer Madam shall your wedding be private or publick Lady Bashfull Private Reformer I wonder you will have it private Lady Bashfull Why do you wonder Reformer Because the wedding-day is the only triumphant day of a young maids life Lady Bashfull Do you call that a triumphant day that inslaves a woman all her life after no I will make no triumph on that day Reformer Why you had better have one day than none Lady Bashfull If my whole life were triumphant it would be but as one day when it was past or rather as no day nor time for what is past is as if it never were and for one day I will never put my self to that ceremonious trouble which belongs to feasting revelling dressing and the like Reformer I perceive your Ladyship desires to be undrest upon the Wedding-day Lady Bashfull No that I do not but as I will not be carelesly undrest so I will not be drest for a Pageant show Exeunt Scene 28. Enter the Lord Singularity and AFfectionata AFfectionata I think there is no Family more methodically ordered prudently governed than your Lordships Lord Singularity It were a disgrace to my profession if I should not well know how to command for a good Commander in the field can tell how to be a good Manager in his private Family although a prudent Master of a Family knows not how to be a skilfull Commander in the field but a prudent Master must have a trusty Steward so a knowing General must have a carefull and skilfull Lieutenant-General or else he will be very much troubled also both Master and General must have other Officers or else they will not find their Accounts or Conquests as he hopes or expects For neither General nor Master can order every particular command nor rectifie every particular errour himself for a Generals Office is only to direct order and command the chief Officers and not the common Souldiers So the Master of a Family is only to direct order and command his Steward he the rest of the Officers and the common servants every one must order those that belongs
Reason when there are so many seeming reasons as the right cannot be known 1 Virgin Seeming reasons are like seducing flatterers perswade 't is truth when all is false they say 2 Virgin Let us talk of Justice 4 Virgin Justice to the Generality hath a broad full face but to particulars she hath but a quarter and half-quarter face and to some particulars she veils it all over Wherefore to talk of Justice is to talk blindfold 2 Virgin Let us talk of Bashfulness 3 Virgin What should we talk of our own disgrace Matron A Grace you mean Lady 3 Virgin No surely a distemper'd Countenance and a distorted Face can be no grace 1 Virgin Let us talk of the Passions 2 Virgin It is easier to talk of them than to conquer and govern them although it is easier to conquer the perturbed passions of the Mind than the unruly Appetites of the Body for as the Body is grosser than the Soul so the Appetites are stronger than the Passions 4 Virgin Let us talk of Gifts 5 Virgin There are no Gifts worth the talking of but Natural Gifts as Beauty Wit good Nature and the like 4 Virgin Let us talk of Wit that is a Natural Gift 1 Virgin Nature gives true Wit to very few for many that are accounted Wits are but Wit-leeches that suck and swell with wit of other men and when they are over-gorg'd they spue it out again besides there are none but Natural Poets that have variety of Discourses all others talk according to their Professions Practice and Studies when Poets talk of all that Nature makes or Art invents and like as Bees that gather the sweets of every flower bring honey to the Hive which are the Ears of the Hearers wherein Wit doth swarm But since we are not by Nature so indu'd Wit is a subject not fit to be pursued by us 5 Virgin Let us talk of Beauty 3 Virgin Those that have it take greater pleasure in the Fame than in the Possession for they care not so much to talk of it as to hear the praises of it Matron Come Ladies let us go for I perceive your Wits can settle upon no one subject this day Exeunt Scene 16. Enter Monsieur Frere alone as being melancholy FRere O how my Spirit moves with a disorder'd haste my thoughts tumultuously together throng striving to pull down Reason from his throne and banish Conscience from the Soul Walks as in a melancholy posture Enter Monsieur Pere Pere What Son Lover-like already before you have seen your Mistris Well her Father and I am agreed there 's nothing wanting but the Priest and Ceremony and all is done Frere Sir there are our Affections wanting for we never saw one another Wherefore it is not known whether we shall affect or nor Pere I hope you are not so disobedient to dispute your Fathers will Frere And I hope Sir you will not be so unkind as to force me to marry one I cannot love Pere Not love why she is the richest Heiress in the Kingdom Frere I am not covetous Sir I had rather please my Fancy than increase my Estate Pere Your Fancy Let me tell you that your fancy is a fool and if you do not obey my will I will dis-inherit you Frere I fear not poverty Pere Nor fear you not a Fathers curse Frere Yes Sir that I do Pere Why then be sure you shall have it if you refuse her Frere Pray give me some time to consider of 't Pere Pray do and consider wisely you had best Exeunt Scene 17. Enter two Servants I SErvant I doubt my Lady will die 2 Servant I fear so for the Doctor when he felt her pulse shook his head which was an ill sign 1 Servant It is a high Feaver she is in 2 Servant The Doctor says a high continual Feaver 1 Servant She 's a fine young Lady 't is pity she should die 2 Servant My Master puts on a sad face but yet me thinks his sadness doth not appear of a through-die Exeunt Scene 18. Enter the Sociable Virgins and two Grave Matrons MAtron Come Ladies how will you pass your time to day I Virgin Pray let us sit and Rhime and those that are out shall lose a Collation to the rest of the Society All speak Agree agreed I Virgin Love is both kind and cruel As fire unto fuel It doth imbrace and burn Gives Life and proves Deaths Urn 2 Virgin A lowring Sky and Sunny wrays Is like a commendation with dispraise Or like to Cypress bound to Bays Or like to tears on Wedding days 3 Virgin A flatt'ring Tongue and a false Heart A kind Imbrace which makes me start A beauteous Form a Soul that 's evil Is like an Angel but a Devil 4 Virgin A woman old to have an Amorous passion A Puritan in a fantastick Fashion A formal States-man which dances and skips about And a bold fellow which is of countenance out 5 Virgin A Scholars head with old dead Authors full For want of wit is made a very gull 1 Virgin To laugh and cry to mingle smiles and tears Is like to hopes and doubts and joys and fears As sev'ral passions mixes in one mind So sev'ral postures in one face may find 2 Virgin To love and hate both at one time And in one person both to joyn To love the man but hate the crime Is like to sugar put to brine Matron Ladies you had better tell some Tales to pass your time with for your rhymes are not full of wit enough to be delightfully sociable 3 Virgin Agreed let us tell some Tales 4 Virgin Once upon a time Honour made Love to Vertue a gallant and Heroick Lord he was and she a sweet modest and beautiful Lady and naked Truth was the Confident to them both which carried and brought love messages and presents from and to each other 2 Matron Out upon beastly truth for if she goeth naked I dare say she is a wanton Wench and Virtue I dare swear is little better than her self if she keeps her company or can behold her without winking and I shall shrewdly suspect you Ladies to be like her if you discourse of her but more if you have any acquaintance with her And since you are so wilde and wanton as to talk of naked truth I will leave you to your scurrilous discourse for I am asham'd to be in your company and to hear you speak such Ribauldry O fie O fie naked Truth Iove bless me and keep me from naked Truth as also from her sly Companion Virtue out upon them both She goes out and the Sociable Virgins follow her saying Stay or else Truth would meet her and cloath her in a fools coat Exeunt Scene 19. Enter Madam Soeur and Monsieur Frere MAdam Soeur Now you have seen your Mistris Brother tell me how you like her Frere It were a rudeness to your Sex if I should say I dislike any Woman Soeur Surely Brother you cannot dislike her
for she is handsom well-behav'd well-bred a great Estate and of a good Fame and Family Frere And may she have a Husband answerable Soeur Why so she will when she marries you Frere I cannot equal her Virtues nor merit her Beauty wherefore I will not injure her with mariage Soeur Will you not marry her Frere No Soeur I hope you speak not in Earnest Frere In truth Sister I do no not jest Soeur Prethee Brother do not tell my Father so for if you do he will be in such a fury as there will be no pacifying him Frere If you desire it I will not Soeur First reason with your self and try if you can perswade your Affections Frere Affections Sister can neither be perswaded either from or to for if they could I would imploy all the Rhetorick I have to perswade them O sister He goes out in a melancholy posture Enter Monsieur Pere Pere Where is your Brother Soeur He is even now gone from hence Pere How chance he is not gone to his Mistris Soeur I know not Sir but he looks as if he were not very well Pere Not well he 's a foolish young man and one that hath had his liberty so much as he hates to be ty'd in wedlocks Bonds but I will go rattle him Soeur Pray Sir perswade him by degrees and be not too violent at first with him Pere By the Mass Girl thou givest me good counsel and I will tempet him gently Exeunt Scene 20. Enter two or three Maid servants 1 SErvant O she 's dead she 's dead the sweetest Lady in the World she was 2 Servant O she was a sweet-natur'd creature for she would never speak to any of us all although we were her own servants but with the greatest civility as pray do such a thing or call such a one or give or fetch me such or such a thing as all her servants lov'd her so well as they would have laid down their lives for her sake unless it were her Maid Nan 1 Servant Well I say no more but pray God Nan hath not given her a Spanish Fig 3 Servant Why if she did there is none of us knows so much as we can come as Witnesses against her Enter Nan Nan It is a strange negligence that you stand prating here and do not go to help to lay my Lady forth Exit Nan the Maid Enter Monsieur Malateste and passes over the Stage with his handkerchief before his eyes 1 Servant My Master weeps I did not think he had lov'd my Lady so well 2 Servant Pish that 's nothing for most love the dead better than the living and many will hate a friend when they are living and love them when they are dead Exeunt Scene 21. Enter Monsieur Frere and Madam Soeur comes after and finds him weeping Soeur Brother why weep you Frere O Sister Mortality spouts tears through my eyes to quench Loves raging fire that 's in my Heart But 't will not do the more I strive with greater fury doth it burn Soeur Dear Brother if you be in love she must be a cruel woman that will deny you for pure and virtuous love softens the hardest hearts and melts them into pity Frere Would I were turn'd to stone and made a marble Tomb wherein lies nothing but cold death rather than live tormented thus Exit She alone Soeur Heaven keep my fears from proving true Exit Scene 22 Enter Monsieur Sensible and Madamoiselle Amor his Daughter MOnsieur Sensible Daughter how do you like Monsieur Frere Amor Sir I like whatsoever you approve of Sensible But setting aside your dutiful Answer to me tell me how you affect him Amor If I must confess Sir I never saw any man I could love but him Sensible You have reason for he is a fine Gentleman and those Mariages most commonly prove happy when Children and Parents agree Amor But Sir he doth not appear to fancy me so much or so well as I fancy him Sensible It 's a sign Child thou art in Love that you begin to have doubts Amor No Sir but if I thought he could not love me I would take off that Affection I have placed on him whilst I can master it lest it should grow so strong as to become masterless Sensible Fear not Child Exeunt Scene 23. Enter the Sociable Virgins and Matrons 1 MAtron 'T is said that Malateste is a Widower 1 Virgin Why then there is a Husband for me 2 Virgin Why for you he may choose any of us as soon as you for any thing you know 3 Virgin I 'm sure we are as fair 4 Virgin And have as great Portions 5 Virgin And are as well bred as you are 1 Virgin Well I know he is allotted to my share 2 Matron Pray do not fall out about him for surely he will have none of you all for 't is said he shall marry his Maid 1 Virgin Why he is not so mad for though his Maid served to vex and grieve his wife into her grave and also to pass away idle hours with him yet he will not marry her I dare warrant you for those that are maried must take such as they can get having no liberty to choose but when they are free from wedlocks bonds they may have choice Enter Monsieur Malatesle all in mourning 1 Virgin So Sir you are welcome for you can resolve a question that is in dispute amongst us Malatesle What is it Lady 1 Virgin The question is whether you will marry your Maid or not Malatesle No sure I cannot forget my self nor my dead wife so much as to marry my Maid 1 Virgin Faith that is some kindness in Husbands that they will remember their wives when they are dead although they forget them whilst they live Malatesle A good wife cannot be forgotten neither dead nor alive 1 Virgin By your favour Sir a bad wife will remain longest in the memory of her Husband because she vex'd him most Malatesle In my Conscience Lady you will make a good wife 1 Virgin If you think so you had best try Malatesle Shall I be accepted Lady 1 Virgin I know no reason I should refuse Sir for Report says you have a great Estate and I see you are a handsome man and as for your nature and disposition let it be as bad as it can be mine shall match it Malatesle My Nature loves a free spirit 1 Virgin And mine loves no restraint Malatesle Lady for this time I shall kiss your hands and if you will give me leave I shall visit you at your lodging 1 Virgin You shall be welcome Sir Exit Monsieur Malateste 1 Virg. Ladies did not I tell you I should have him 2 Virgin Jesting and Raillery doth not always make up a Match 1 Virgin Well well Ladies God be with you for I must go home and provide for my Wedding for I perceive it will be done on the sudden for Widowers are more hasty to
a fame but what fame soever men get the woman loses as being thought either too kind or cruell Madamoiselle Amor Sister this Gentleman never saw you only fought in his own defence he desires you would give him leave to come and kiss your hands he is a very gallant man and an experienced Souldier Madamoiselle La Belle A Souldier why he never lead an Army nor pitcht a Field nor fought a Battel he never Intrencht nor Incampt he never guarded kept nor took Fort Town or City perchance he hath studied as most Gentlemen do so much of Fortification as to talk of Trenches Lines Ramparts Bullworks Curtains Wings Faces Forts Centries And of Amunition Cannon Muskets Carabines Pistols Slings Bowes Arrows Darts Pikes Bills Halbards Bolts Poleaxes Swords Cimeters Shot Bullets Powder Drums Trumpets Waggons Tents and the like and for Arms Pot Back Breast Gantlets corslets Gorgets and the like thus they learn the Names but seldome practice the use Madamoiselle Amor Yes this Gentleman hath lead Armies pitcht Fields fought Battels where those he won were won by his Prudence and Conduct and those he lost were by Fortunes spight whose changing power and inconstant humour no Mortal can withstand Madamoiselle La Belle Nay Sister if he be so gallant a person I shall not refuse his visits nor deny my self his Company but entertain him as civilly as he may deserve Exeunt ACT V. Scene 17. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. Well met I was going to your Lodging 2 Gent. Faith if you had gone to my Lodging you had mist of my Company 1 Gent. But howsoever I should have been entertained by thy old Landlady for she makes me welcome in thy absence 2 Gent. The truth of it is that my Landlady as old as she is loves the Company of men especially of young men for if a young man will trouble himself to stay in her Company and talk to her she is so pleased as she makes more wrinckles with her smiles than Time hath made and she will simperingly put in her Chin as if she were but fifteen 1 Gent. Faith I commend women for they will never yield to ages humours though they are forced to yield to ages infirmities for their minds are always young though their bodyes be old 2 Gent. Indeed their minds are Girls all their life time but leaving old women will you go see Monsieur Phantasie 1 Gent. Is he so well as to admit of Visiters 2 Gent. Yes for he is in a recovering condition and state of Health 1 Gent. Come let us go then Exeunt Scene 18. Enter Monsieur Heroick and Madamoiselle La Belle MOnsieur Heroick Madam the fame of your Beauty and Virtue hath drawn me hither to offer my service on the altar of your commands Madamoiselle La Belle You are so great a favourite to Nature and Fortune and are so splenderous with their gifts as you are able to put the confidence of our Sex out of Countenance especially I that am by Nature bashfull wherefore it is unlikely I should command you Monsieur Heroick I had rather be commanded by you Lady than to command the whole World and should be prouder to be your Slave than to be that sole Monarch Madamoiselle La Belle I should be sorry so gallant a man as fame reports you to be should have so sick a Judgment and so ungoverned a Passion as to yield up your liberty to a woman and to ty your life to her vain foolish humours Monsieur Heroick It is impossible that in so heavenly a form a foolish Soul should be for I perceive by your beautifull person Nature hath out-wrought her self having not Art or skill to make a Second and what man would not be proud to serve the only she Madamoiselle La Belle O Sir take heed you wrong not your noble worth and merit in being over civill for complements are all dissembling and dissembling runs in the ways of perjury Monsieur Heroick Pray Madam conster not my love-service and admiration to an idle Visit a vain Discourse and false Profession for if you appear not so beautifull to all the World as you appear to me yet I dare boldly tell the world I think you so and will maintain it with my life Madamoiselle La Belle I believe then I am more beholding to your Eyes that have contracted me into a beautifull form than unto Nature that hath made me of a vulgar shape Monsieur Heroick Your Tongue Lady hath the power of Circes wand to charm the Senses and transform the shape making all men it speaks to either to appear Monsters or Gods Madamoiselle La Belle You have Inthroned me with your Favours and Crowned me with your Commendations Monsieur Heroick My desire is that you will Crown me with your Love Exeunt Scene 19. Enter Madamoiselle Detractor Madamoiselle Malicious and Madamoiselle Tell-truth TEll-truth I hear that Madamoiselle Bon shall marry her unconstant Servant Monsieur Phantasie Detractor Faith that is a comfort that any woman can get a Husband whilst the Graces are young and in being Tell-truth The Graces never grow old Detractor Let me tell you Time decays and withers all things Tell-truth No not the Gods Detractor But Time doth waste Devotion wears out Religion burns up the Sacrifice of Praise puts out the Lamp of Charity and quenches out the Vestal fire of Zeal Malicious But then there are new Religions brought in the place or room of the old Detractor Yes and new Gods with new Religions and new Religions and Opinions are like young beautifull Ladyes when they appear first to the view of the World they are followed admired worshiped sought sued and prayed to but when they grow old all their Servants and followers forsake them and seek out those that are younger so the last and newest Opinions and Religions are accounted the best and stuck to for a time the closest and followed by the greatest numbers and have most zealous supplicants thus the Gods dy in effect Tell-truth The truth is that all things that are young are Strong Vigorous Active and Flourishing and whatsoever is old is VVeak Faint Sick and witheringly dyes Enter Madamoiselle Spightfull Spightfull I can tell you news Tell-truth VVhat news Spightfull VVhy Monsieur Nobilissimo to is marry Madamoiselle Amor and his Brother Monsieur Heroick is to marry her Sister Madamoiselle La Belle Tell-truth And who is to marry the third Sister Madamoiselle Grand Esprit Spightfull She is resolved to live a single life Detractor I am glad they have chose Husbands out of the numbers of there Suters for when they are married I hope out of the number of there remainders we may have some offers for Husbands Malicious For my part I shall despair unless the third Sister Madamoiselle Grand Esprit would marry also for the whole bulk of Mankind will sue to her and never think of any other woman whilst she is undisposed of Tell-truth But she it seems hath
take their leaves of their Wives Madam Jantil and Madam Passionate Madam Jantil young and beautifull Madam Passionate in years Madam Iantil. I cannot chuse but take it unkindly that you will go without me do you mistrust my affection as that I have not as much love for you as the Generals Lady hath for her Husband or do you desire to leave me because you would take a Mistriss along with you one that perchance hath more Beauty than you think me to have with whom you may securely and freely sit in your Tent and gaze upon or one that hath more wit than I whose sweet smooth and flattering words may charm your thoughts and draw your Soul out of your ears to sit upon her Lips or dancing with delight upon her Tongue Seigneur Valeroso Prethee Wife be not jealous I vow to Heaven no other Beauty can attract my eyes but thine nor any sound can please my brain but what thy charming Tongue sends in besides I prise not what thy Body is but how thy Soul 's adorn'd thy virtue would make me think thee fair although thou wert deformed and wittier far than Mercury hadst thou Midas's ears but thou hast all that man can wish of women kind and that is the reason I will leave thee safe at home for I am loth to venture all my wealth and happiness in Fortunes unconstant Bark suffering thy tender youth and Sex to float on the rough waves of chance where dangers like to Northern winds blow high and who can know but that fatal gusts may come and overwhelm thee and drown all my joys wherefore for my sake keep thy self safe at home Madam Iantil. I shall obey you but yet I think it were not well I should be a long time from you and at a great distance Seigneur Valeroso I will promise you if I perceive the War is like to be prolonged and that there be Garrison-Towns so safe as you may securely live in I will send for you placing you so where sometimes I may visit you Madam Iantil. Pray do not forget me so much as to cancell your promise Seigneur Valeroso Forget the sweet I should sooner forget life and if I do whilst I have memory Heaven forget me Madam Iantil. I must ask you a question which is to know why you will take an under command being so nobly Born and bearing a high Title of Honour your self and being Master of a great Estate Seigneur Valeroso To let the World see my Courage is above my Birth Wealth or Pride and that I prefer inward worth before outward Title and I had rather give my life to the Enemy on honourable terms than basely to stay at home in time of general Wars out of an ambitious discontent for valour had rather have dangers to fight with than Offices to command in Seigneur Valeroso and his Lady whispers while the other two Monsieur la Hardy and his Lady speaks Madam Passionate Why should you go to the Wars now you are in years and not so fit for action as those that are young and have their strengths about them besides we have lived a married pair above these thirty years and never parted and shall we now be seperated when we are old She weeps Monsieur la Hardy Alas Wife what would you have me do when I am commanded out I must obey besides I would not have my Country fight a Battel whilst I live and I not make one for all the World for when I cannot fight my Body shall serve to stop a breach wherefore leave your crying Wife and fall to praying for our safe return and here my noble friend is desirous you should stay with his Lady to comfort one another and to divert Melancholy and the longing hours of our return Madam Passionate Farewell I fear I shall never see you again for your absence will soon kill me She cryes Exeunt Scene 8. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. O you are welcome from the Army what news 2 Gent. VVhy our Army march'd untill they came unto the frontiers of the Kingdome where they found the Army of the Enemy ready to encounter them the Lord General seeing they must of necessity fight a Battel thought best to call a Council of VVar that there might be nothing of ill conduct laid to his chardge but that all might be ordered by a wise and experienced Council whereupon he made an election of Counsellors joyning together three sorts as grave wife and prudent men subtill and politick men and valiant skillfull martiall men that the cold temper of the prudent might allay the hot temper of the valiant and that the politick might be as ingenious to serve them together by subtill devises and to make traps of Stragems to catch in the Enemy and at this Council many debates there were but at last they did conclude a Battel must be fought but first they did decree that all the women should be sent into one of their Garrison Towns some two dayes journey from the Army the reasons were that if they should be overcome by their Enemyes the women might be taken by their Enemyes and made Slaves using or abusing them as they pleased but when the women were sent away they did not shed tears of sorrow but sent such vollies of angry words as wounded many mens hearts but when they were almost at the Town that was to be their aboad the Generals Lady was so extremely incensed against the Counsellers by reason they decreed her departure with the others as she strove to raise up the Spirits of the rest of her Sex to the height of her own but what the issue will be I know not 1 Gent. Have you been with the King 2 Gent. Yes I was sent to give him an account of the Army Exeunt Scene 9. Enter the Lady Victoria and a number of women of all sorts with her she takes her stand upon a heap of green Turfs as being in the Fields before the Garrison Town and then speaks to those women LAdy Victoria Most Heroical Spirits of most chast and loving Wives Mistrisses Sisters Children or Friends I know you came not from your several Houses and homes into this Army meerly to enjoy your Husbands Lovers Parents and Friends in their safe and secure Garrisons or only to share of their troublesome and tedious marches but to venture also in their dangerous and cruell Battels to run their Fortunes and to force Destiny to joyn you to their Periods but the Masculine Sex hath separated us and cast us out of their Companyes either out of their loving care and desire of preserving our lives and liberties lest we might be distroyed in their confusions or taken Prisoners in their loss or else it must be out of jealousy we should Eclipse the fame of their valours with the splendor of our constancy and if it be Love let us never give the preheminence for then we should lose that Prerogative that belongs to the Crown of our Sex
our lives did part After she had walkt silently a turn or two about her Chamber her eyes being sixt on the ground she return'd as to her Bed Exit Scene 15. Enter a Gentleman and another meets him as in great haste 1 GEnt. What news what news 2 Gent. Sad news for there hath been a Battel fought betwixt the two Armies and our Army is beaten and many of our gallant men slain 1 Gent. I am sorry for that The second Gentleman goeth out Enter a third Gentleman 1 Gent. Sir I suppose you are come newly from the Army pray report the Battel 3 Gent. Truly I came not now from the Army but from the Town the Generals heroical Lady and the rest of the heroicks did surprize seise and plunder 1 Gent. What the Garrison Town they were sent to for safety 3 Gent. Yes 1 Gent. And doth their number encrease 3 Gent. O very much for after the suprisal of the Town the women in that Town did so approve of their gallant actions as every one desired to be inlisted in the roul and number of the Amazonian Army but in the mean time of the forming of their Army intelligence was brought of the Battel which was fought and that there was such loss of both sides as each Army retir'd back being both so weak as neither was able to keep the Field but that the loss was greater on the reformed Army by reason there was so many of their gallant men slain but this news made many a sad heart and weeping eyes in the Female Army for some have lost their Husbands some their Fathers others their Brothers Lovers and Friends 1 Gent. Certainly this will fright them out of the Field of War and cause them to lay by their Heroick designs 3 Gent. I know not what they will do for they are very secret to their designs which is strange being all women Exeunt ACT IV. Scene 16. Enter two women like Amazons 1 WOman Our Generalless seems to be troubled perceiving how heavily this Female Army takes their losses 2 Woman She hath reason for it may hinder or at least obstruct her high designs Exeunt Scene 17. Enter the Lady Victoria and her Amazons she takes her stand and speaks to them LAdy Victoria Noble Heroicks I perceive a mourning veil over the Face of this Female Army and it becomes it well for 't is both natural and human to grieve for the Death of our friends but consider constant Heroicks tears nor lamentations cannot call them out of the grave no petitions can perswade Death to restore them nor threats to let them go and since you cannot have them alive being Dead study and be industrious to revenge their quarrels on their Enemies lives let your justice give them Death for Death offer upon the Tombs of your Friends the lives of their Foes and instead of weeping Eyes let us make them weep through their Veins wherefore take courage cast off your black Veil of Sorrow and take up the Firematch of Rage that you may shoot Revenge into the hearts of their Enemies to which I hope Fortune will favour us for I hear that as soon as the Masculine Army have recovered strength there will be another Battel fought which may be a means to prove our loves to our Friends our hate to our Enemies and an aspiring to our honour and renown wherefore let us imploy our care to fit our selves for our march All the women We shall follow and obey you where and when and how you please Exeunt Scene 18. Enter Doctor Educature and Nell Careless the Doctor weeps DOctor Educature Doth my Lady hear of my Lords Death Nell Careless The Messenger or Intelligencer of my Lords Death is now with her Exeunt Scene 19. Enter Madam Jantil and a Gentleman Intelligencer the Lady seems not disturb'd but appears as usually MAdam Iantil. How died my Lord Gentleman Madam he fought with so much courage as his actions will never dye and his valour will keep alive the memory of this War for though he died his Death was Crown'd with Victory he digg'd his Grave out of his Enemies sides and built his Pyramid with heaps of their Bodies the groans of those he slew did ring his dying Knell Madam Iantil. What became of his body Gentleman He gave order before the Armies joined to fight that if he were kill'd his body should be sought out and delivered to you for he said it was yours whilst he lived and he desired it might be disposed of by you when he was dead his desires and commands were obeyed and his body is coming in a Litter lapt in Searcloth Madam Iantil. Worthy Sir I give you many thanks for your noble relation assuring my self it is true because you report it and it is my Husband that is the subject and ground of that honourable relation whom I always did believe would out-act all words Gentleman He hath so Madam Madam Iantil. Sir if I can at any time honourably serve you I shall be ready whensoever you will command me Gentleman Your Servant Madam He was going forth and returns If your Ladyship hath not heard of Monsieur la Hardy's Death give me leave to tell you he is slain Madam Iantil. I am sorry and for his Lady for she loved him most passionably The Gentleman goes out Enter as running and calling out Doll Pacify Madam Passionate's Maid Doll Pacify Help help my Lady is dead my Lady is fallen into a swound at the report of my Masters being kill'd The Lady goeth out and the Maid then they enter strait again with two or three Servants more bringing in the Lady Passionate as in a swound Madam Iantil. Alas poor Lady her Spirits are drown'd in Sorrow and Grief hath stopt her breath loosen her Garments for she is swell'd with troubled Thoughts her Passions lie on heaps and so oppress life it cannot stir but makes her senceless Upon the loosing of her garments she revives and cryes out Madam Passionate O my Husband my Husband She swounds again Madam Iantil. Bow her forward bow her forward Madam Passionate revives again Madam Passionate O let me dye let me dye and bury bury me with him Swounds again Madam Iantil. Alas poor Lady put her to Bed for her life will find most case there The Servants goes out with Madam Passionate Madam Jantil alone Madam Iantil. O life what art thou and Death where doest thou lead us or what dissolv'st thou us into Exeunt Scene 20. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. I wonder there is no news or Messenger come from the Army yet when there usually comes one every day Enter a Messenger 2 Gent. O Sir what news Messenger Faith there hath been nothing acted since the last Battel but it is said there will be another Battel very suddenly for the Enemy provokes our men to fight by reason our Lord General lies sick of his wounds having had a Feavour caused by the anguish of his hurts and by his Sickness