Selected quad for the lemma: duty_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
duty_n	husband_n	wife_n	word_n	3,358	5	4.9141	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16659	The English gentlevvoman, drawne out to the full body expressing, what habilliments doe best attire her, what ornaments doe best adorne her, what complements doe best accomplish her. By Richard Brathvvait Esq.	Brathwaite, Richard, 1588?-1673.; Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver.	1631 (1631)	STC 3565; ESTC S122488	147,901	276

blemish to their beauty Their names are by aged Annals memorized and shall by these of ours be reuiued Such were Cornelia the mother of Gracchu● and Vetruria of Coriolanu● who became examples of goodnesse and chastity Educating their children which they had brought vp from their own brests with the milke of morality The like did Portia the wife of Brutus Cle●bula the daughter of Cleobulus one of the seuen Sages of Greece Sulpitia the wife of Calenus who not onely instructed her children which she had tenderly nursed with excellent precepts while shee liued but left sundry memorable instructions as Legacies or Mothers blessings to them when she dyed Hortensia the excellent daughter of a most eloquent Orator deserued no lesse fame for her motherly care in nursing and breeding her ability in copious and serious discoursing her grauity in composing and digesting such golden sentences as shee afterwards recommended to the perusall of her suruiuing Children Ed●sia borne at Alexandria farre excelled others in profunditie of learning and piety of liuing shee was admired by such as liued in her time performing the office of a Nurse in her childrens infancy of a Guardian in their minority of a Sage Counsellour in their maturity Paulina the wife of Seneca as shee was excellently seasoned with the precepts of her husband so shee surceas'd not from commending them to the practice of those children shee had by her husband Whence it was that Sen●ca bemoaned the ignorance of his mother for that shee had not so exactly obserued the precepts of his Father What shall I speak of Thean● the daughter of Metapontus Phemone who was first that euer composed heröicke verse Cori●nathia who exceeded the Poet Pindarus in her curious and artfull measures and contending fiue seuerall times with him for the Garland Argenta●ia Polli● the wife of Lucan whom shee is reported to haue assisted in those his high and heroicke composures Zenobia the Queene of Palmira who learned both the Greeke and Latine tongue and compiled an excellent History approuing her selfe no lesse a constant wife to her husband then a nursing Mother to her children Theodosia yonger daughter of the vertuous and victorious Theodosius no lesse renowned for her learning and other exquisite endowments of minde than by being inaugurated with an imperiall title to which she was afterwards aduanced The Centons of Homer she composed and into one volume reduced which to her suruiuing glory were after published Diodorus Logicus his fiue daughters all which excelled in learning and chastity and left memorials of their motherly care to their posterity These were tender Nurses carefull Mothers reuerend Matrons Or to giue them that title which antiquity hath bestowed on them they were in so darke and cloudy a time patternes of piety presidents of purity champions of chastity mirrours of modesty iewels of integrity Women to vse Plutarchs words so deuoted to contemplating as they conceiued no delight in dancing yet could not contemplation estrange them from performing such proper offices as did concerne them They knew what it was to obey that it was not fit for an inferiour member to command the head nor for them to soueraignize ouer their husbands What had sometimes beene taught them by their Mothers they now carefully recommend to the serious reuiew of their Daughters Wiues with obedience husbands should subdue Sen. in Octau For by this meanes they 'le be subdu'd to you Thus learned they the duty of a wife before they aspired to that title conforme your selues to their examples the cloud which kept them from a full view of their condition is in respect of you dispersed your eyes are cleared not with any Pagan errour filmed Be then in this your Christian coniugall Pilgrimage so conformed that as with increase of dayes so with appro●ement of deserts you may be firmed Againe are you widowes you deserue much ho●●ur if you be so indeed This name both from the Greeke and Latine hath receiued one consonant Etimology depriued or destitute Great difference then is there betwixt those widowes who liue alone and retire themselues from publike concourse and those which frequent the company of men For a widow to loue society albeit her intentions relish nothing but sobriety giues speedy wings to spreading infamy Saint Hierom writing to E●stachia giues her this counsell If thou shalt finde any question in Scripture harder then thou canst well resolue demand satisfaction from such an one who is of a most approued life ripe age that by the integrity of his person thou maist be secured from the least aspersion for in popular concourse and Court-re●orts there is no pace for widowes for in such meetings she exposeth her honour to danger which aboue all others she ought incomparably to tender Yea but will you obiect admit our inheritance family fortunes and all lye a bleeding may we not make recourse to publike Courts for redresse of our publike wrongs What of all this Doe not complaine that you are desolate or alone Modesty affecteth silence and secrecy a chaste woman solitarinesse and priuacy If you haue businesse with the Iudge of any Court and you much feare the power of your aduersary imploy all your care to this end that your faith may be grounded in those promises of Christ Your Lord maketh intercession for you rendring right iudgement to the Orphane and righteousnesse vnto the widow This inestimable inheritance of Chastity is incomparably more to be esteemed and with greater care preserued by Widowes then Wiues albeit by these neither to be neglected but highly valued Out of that ancient experience which time hath taught them their owne obseruations inform'd them and the reuerence of their condition put vpon them they are to instruct others in the practice of piety reclaime others from the pathes of folly and with a vertuous conuoy guide them to glory It would lesse become them to tricke and trimme themselues gaudily or gorgeously then yong girles whose beauty and outward ornament is the hope and anchor-hold of their preferment for by these doe the husbands seeke and hope in time to get what they seeke Whereas it were much more commendable for widowes neither to seeke them nor being offred to accept them le● enforced by necessity or wonne by importunacy or giuing way to their frailty they make exchange of their happy estate for a continuate scene of misery A widow ought to pray feruently to exercise workes of deuotion frequently that the benefit of her prayer redound to her effectually and fruitfully and not returne backe from the throne of God drily or emptily For I would according to Menanders opinion haue a widow not onely to demeane her selfe chastely and honestly but likewise to giue examples of her b●amelesse life to such as heare her instructions attentiuely For she ought to be as a Glasse to young Maids wherein they may discerne their crimes Now I hold her a chaste Widow who though she haue opportunity to doe it and be suited by importunity

mee towards him that Coniugall duty mixt with all affability may winne him Againe is he old His age shall beget in mee more reuerence his words shall be as so many aged and time-improued precepts to informe me his actions as so many directions to guide me his rebukes as so many friendly admonitions to reclaime mee his bed I will honour no vnchaste though● shall defile it his Counsell I will keepe no forraine brest shall partake it I will bee a staffe to him in his age to support him an eye to direct him an hand to help him his Substance I will not scatter on a youthfull Louer but serue him still whom I haue vow'd to honour Againe is he rich Much good may it doe him this shall not make me proud my desire shall be he may imploy it for his best aduantage I will moue him to communicate vnto the needy that his riches may make him truly happy It is a miserable state that starues the owner I will perswade him to enioy his owne and so auoyd basenesse to reserue a prouident care for his owne and shunne profusenesse Againe is hee poore His pouerty shall make me rich there is no want where there wants no content This I shall enioy in him and with him which the world could not afford mee liu'd I without him It hath beene an old Maxime that as pouerty goes in at one doore loue goes out at the other but this rule shall neuer direct my thoughts should pouerty enthrall me it shall neuer appall me my affection shall counterpoize all affliction No aduersity can d●uide mee from him to whom my vowed faith hath indiuidually ti'd me In a word is hee wise He shall be my Thales Is he follish I will by all meanes couer his weakenesse as I am now made one with him so will I haue mine equall share in any aspersion that shall be throwne on him Thus if you expostulate your Christian constant resolues shall make you truly fortunate Your Fancy is on deliberation grounded which promiseth such success● as your Marriage-dayes shall neuer feare the bitter encounter of vntimely repentance nor the curelesse anguish of an afflicted Conscience THe selfe-same rule which Augustus was said to obserue in his choice and constant retention of friends Fancy is to be with constancy retained are you Gentlewomen to apply to your selues in the choice of your second-selues He was slow in entertaining but most constant in retaining Fauorites are not to be worne like fauours now in your hat or about your wrist and presently out of request Which to preuent entertaine none to lodge neere your heart that may harbor in his brest ought worthy your hate Those two Motto's I would haue you incessantly to remember for the vsefull application of them may highly conduce to your honour The one is that of Caia Tranquilla which she euer vsed to her royall Spouse Caius Tarquinius Priscus Where th●● art Caius I am Caia The other that of Ruth vnto Naomi Whither thou goest I will goe and where thou dwellest I will dwell There is no greater argument of lightnesse then to affect the acquaintance of strangers and to entertaine variety of Suiters These as they distract the eye so they infect the heart Constant you cannot be where you professe so long as you affect change Vowes deliberately aduised and religiously grounded are not to be dispenc'd with But say you neuer vowed haue you made outward professions of loue and entertained a good opinion of that obiect in your heart Againe are you resolued that his affection is reall towards you That his protests though deliuered by his mouth are engrauen in his heart Let not so much good loue be lost insult not ouer him whom vnfained affection hath vow'd your seruan Let Wolues and beasts be cruell in their kindes But Women meeke and haue relenting mindes It were too much incredulity in you to distrust where you neuer found iust cause of distaste Yea but you will againe obiect we are already by your owne Obseruations sn●ficiently instructed that Fancy is to be with ●eliberation grounded that loue lightly laid on lasts not long Should we then affect before we finde ground of respect Should wee entertaine a Rhetoricall Louer whose protests are formal Complements and whose promises are gilded pills which couer much bitternesse No I would not haue you so credulous lest your Nuptiall day become ominous Make true triall and experiment of his Constancy who tenders his seruice to you Sift him if you can finde any branne in him Taske him before you take him Yet let these be sweetly tempred with lenity Let them not be Taskes of insuperable difficulty This were to tyrannize where you should loue This was Ompha●es fault to make her faithfull seruant a seruile slaue Alas shall hee fare the worse because hee loues you This would induce others who take notice of your cruelty to loath you And make your discarded louer surprized with an amorous distemper to reply as Absal●m to Hushai Is this thy kindnesse to thy friend My counsell is that as it will be vsefull for you to deliberate before you take so much as the least Notions of an affectionate Seruant yea and to second that deliberation with some probable proofe or triall that hee is truly constant so it will be a gratefull office in you to retaine him in your fauour with a gracious respect to countenance the improuement of his constancy with a cheerefull and amiable aspect to banish all clowds of seeming discontent and to giue him some modest expressions of the increase of your good Conceit towards him Let this be done till Hymen make you indiuidually one Then and neuer till then may Loue enioy her full freedome She stands priuiledg'd by a sacred rite to taste that fruit which before was forbidden Mutuall respects like so many diametrall lines pointing all to one Centre are then directed to one exquisite obiect the purity of loue which produceth this admirable effect it makes one soule rule two hearts and one heart dwell in two bodies Now I would haue you when your desires are drawne to this period to become so taken with the loue of your choyce as to interpret whatsoeuer hee shall doe euer to the best sense It were little enough that you retained a good opinion of him who stands in so many seuerall ingagements obliged for you Should your riot bring him into debt his restraint must make you free D●rance must be his suit while better stuffe makes you a Coate Yea what Conscience is there in it but hee should receiue an affable and amiable respect from you seeing if your Consci●nce be no Conformalist he must pay for you These respects should perpetually tye you to honour him who becomes so legally ty'd for you Requite these then with constancy and retaine this ensuing Example euer in your memory Theogena wife to Agathocles shew'd admirable constancy in her husbands greatest misery shewing her selfe most his