Gentlemen Doll Pascify Gentlemen would you speak with me Monsieur la Gravity Yes for we desire you will help us to the honour of kissing your Ladyes hands thereon to offer our service Doll Pacify Sir you must excuse me for the Sign of VVidowhood is not as yet hung out Mourning is not on nor the scutcheons are not hung over the Gate but if you please to come two or three dayes hence I may do you some service but now it will be to no purpose to tell my Lady for I am sure she will receive no visits Exeunt FINIS THE ACTORS NAMES The Lord General and many Commanders Monsieur la Gravity Monsieur le Compagnion Monsieur Comerade Doctor Educature Doctor Comfort and divers Gentlemen Messengers Servants Officers and others Lady Victoria and many Heroicks Lady Jantils Lady Passionate Doll Pacify Nell Careless City Wives and others THE SECOND PART OF BELL IN CAMPO ACT I. Scene 1. Enter Doctor Comfort and Doll Pacify DOll Pacify Good Master Priest go comfort my old Lady Doctor Comfort If you will Comfort me I will strive to Comfort her Doll Pacify So we shall prove the Crums of Comfort Doctor Comfort But is my Lady so sad still Doll Pacify Faith to day she hath been better than I have seen her for she was so patient as to give order for Blacks but I commend the young Lady Madam Iantil who bears out the Siege of Sorrow most Couragiously and on my Conscience I believe will beat grief from the fort of her heart and become victorious over her misfortunes Doctor Comfort Youth is a good Souldier in the Warfare of Life and like a valiant Cornet or Ensign keeps the Colours up and the Flag flying in despite of the Enemies and were our Lady as young as Madam Iantil she would grieve less but to lose an old Friend after the loss of a young Beauty is a double nay a trible affliction because there is little or no hopes to get another good Husband for though an old woman may get a Husband yet ten thousand to one but he will prove an Enemy or a Devill Doll Pacify It were better for my Lady if she would marry again that her Husband should prove a Devill than a Mortal Enemy for you can free her from the one though not from the other for at your words the great Devil will avoid or vanish and you can bind the lesser Devils in Chains and whip them with holy Rods untill they rore again Doctor Comfort Nay we are strong enough for the Devil at all times and in all places neither can he deceive us in any shape unless it be in the shape of a young Beauty and then I confess he overcomes us and torments our hearts in the fire of love beyond all expression Doll Pacify If I were a Devil I would be sure to take a most beautifull shape to torment you but my Lady will torment me if I stay any longer here Exeunt Scene 2. Enter two Gentlemen 1 GEnt. Sir you being newly come from the Army pray what news 2 Gent. I suppose you have heard how our Army was forced to fight by the Enemies provocations hearing the Lord General lay sick whereupon the Generals Lady the Lady Victoria caused her Amazonians to march towards the Masculine Army and to entrench some half a mile distance therefrom which when the Masculine Army heard thereof they were very much troubled thereat and sent a command for them to retreat back fearing they might be a disturbance so a destruction unto them by doing some untimely or unnecessary action but the Female Army returned the Masculine Army an Answer that they would not retreat unless they were beaten back which they did believe the Masculine Sex would not having more honour than to fight with the Female Sex but if the men were so base they were resolved to stand upon their own defence but if they would let them alone they would promise them upon the honour of their words not to advance any nearer unto the Masculine Army as long as the Masculine Army could assault their Enemies or defend themselves and in this posture I left them Exeunt Scene 3. Enter the Lady Victoria and her Heroickesses LAdy Victoria Noble Heroickesses I have intelligence that the Army of Reformations begins to flag wherefore now or never is the time to prove the courage of our Sex to get liberty and freedome from the Female Slavery and to make our selves equal with men for shall Men only sit in Honours chair and Women stand as waiters by shall only Men in Triumphant Chariots ride and Women run as Captives by shall only men be Conquerors and women Slaves shall only men live by Fame and women dy in Oblivion no no gallant Heroicks raise your Spirits to a noble pitch to a deaticall height to get an everlasting Renown and infinite praises by honourable but unusual actions for honourable Fame is not got only by contemplating thoughts which lie lasily in the Womb of the Mind and prove Abortive if not brought forth in living deeds but worthy Heroickesses at this time Fortune desires to be the Midwife and if the Gods and Goddesses did not intend to favour our proceedings with a safe deliverance they would not have offered us so fair and fit an opportunity to be the Mothers of glorious Actions and everlasting Fame which if you be so unnatural to strangle in the Birth by fearfull Cowardize may you be blasted with Infamy which is worse than to dye and be forgotten may you be whipt with the torturing tongues of our own Sex we left behind us and may you be scorned and neglected by the Masculine Sex whilst other women are preferred and beloved and may you walk unregarded untill you become a Plague to your selves but if you Arm with Courage and fight valiantly may men bow down and worship you birds taught to sing your praises Kings offer up their Crowns unto you and honour inthrone you in a mighty power May time and destiny attend your will Fame be your scribe to write your actions still And may the Gods each act with praises fill All the women Fear us not fear us not we dare and will follow you wheresoever and to what you dare or will lead us be it through the jawes of Death THE PRAYER Lady Victoria GReat Mars thou God of War grant that our Squadrons may like unbroaken Clouds move with intire Bodyes let Courage be the wind to drive us on and let our thick swell'd Army darken their Sun of hope with black despair let us powre down showers of their blood to quench the firy flames of our revenge And where those showers fall their Deaths as seeds Sown in times memory sprout up our deeds And may our Acts Triumphant gat lands make Which Fame may wear for our Heroicks sake Exeunt Scene 4. Enter Doctor Comfort and Doll Pacify DOctor Comfort Doll how doth our Lady since the burying of my Patron Doll Pacify
those back-holders that are the greatest Libertines make the best Husbands Lady Ward 'T is true he is of a noble nature valiant and generous prudent and just and temperate in all delights and free from all other vices but Incontinency civil and obliging to all the world but to me and I could love him better than life could he be constant and only love me as he ought to do a Wife otherwise Death were more pleasing to me Exeunt Scene 10. Enter the Lady Contemplation musing and the Lady Visitant comes to her LAdy Contempl. You were born to do me a mischief Lady Visit. Why how Lady Contempl. Why you have routed an Army Lady Visit. Which way Lady Contempl. I did imagine my self Married my Husband being a General of an Army who had fought many Battels and had won many Victories conquer'd many Nations at last an unfortunate day of Battel being fought my Husband being too active and venturous making lanes of slain bodies as he went and his horse riding thorow Rivers of blood those Rivers rising so high as his horse was forced to swim but the blood growing thick to a jelly obstructed his way which made his horse furious which fury added to his strength forced a passage over a hill or heap of slain bodies but the horses spirits being spent with fury and labour fell strengthless to the ground with my Husband upon his back and being in the midst of his Enemies Army his Enemies seeing him fall ran about him in great numbers and so took him prisoner whereupon his Souldiers soon missing him thought he was kill'd upon which belief their courages grew cold their limbs unactive and their spirits so benumm'd as they all seemed like to a number of stone-statues which unactive dulness gave their Enemies the Day without any after-blows I being in the Camp hearing of my Husbands misfortunes ran with a distracted fear towards the Enemies Camp I being espy'd by some of my Husbands scatter'd Troops was stop'd in the way and so brought back to my Tent again where when I was there some of my Husbands Officers of the Army told me That though the Day was lost yet there was a considerable Body left which I no sooner heard but my spirits took new life and then excusing my fear told those Commanders it was not through fear that made me run out of my Tent for I did not fly from my Enemies but to them and that I sought death and not life and to express my courage I told them That if they would give me leave I would take my Husbands Office and lead the Army They told me that if the rest of the Commanders would agree to it they were well contented So when all the Commanders met together I spake thus unto them Noble Friends and valiant Souldiers you may think it a vain ambition for me to desire to lead your Army especially against so potent an Enemy and being a woman which female Sex are usually unexperienced in Martial Affairs as also by nature fearful which fears may ruine an Army by giving wrong direction causing a confusion through distraction and truly an Army were not to be trusted unto a woman management and ordering if that Records had not given us Precedents which is that Woman have led Armies have fought valiantly themselves and have had good success and not so much by fortunes favour as by their own wise Conduct And to shew that Pallas is a friend unto her own Sex is that in all History there are very few women than can be found that have lost Battels in the field of Wars but many that have won Battels and in all publick Affairs it is to be observed the Gods do generally assist our Sex whereby to shew their own power and to abate the haughty pride of men But to induce you more for men trust not so much unto the Gods as to their own strength is that you are present in all Councels and Actions to assist and direct me besides I am Wife unto your General who was and is an expert Souldier and a valiant man although he now had ill fortune but ill fortune neither lessens valour nor experience but rather increases them This gallant and wise man my Husband and your General his Discourses have been my Tutors and his Example hath and shall be my Guide and if you dare trust me I dare venture otherwise I shall stay in my Tent and pray for your good success After I had left off speaking an old Commander which had served long in the Wars and was much esteemed answered me as thus Noble Lady although your youth doth disswade us yet your beauty and wit doth encourage us for what man although he were possest with fear itself can run away when a fair Lady sights for beauty triumphs in all hearts and commands the whole world wherefore that man that shall or will deny to follow your Command is of a bastard-kind although a lawful Issue With that all the rest of the Commanders cry'd or call'd out that none was so fit to Lead and Command them as I Thus being chosen I call'd a general Muster of my Souldiers and then gave order that some of the broken Regiments should be mended and made up with other broken Regiments also I made new Officers in the room of those that were slain or taken prisoners and after I surveyed my Artillery and Ammunition which done I drew my Army into a Body and after I had given Orders and Directions for the Souldiers to march towards the Enemies Camp which when the Enemy heard of a new Army coming towards them they drew out the Body of their Army in Battel Array But I shunn'd to fight so soon as appeared by reason my Army was tyred with marching wherefore I gave order to Intrench Besides I thought it might give my souldiers more courage when accustomed to the fight and neighbourhood of the Enemies But withall I made some of them give intelligence to the Enemy that a woman led the Army by which they might despise us and so become more negligent by which negligence we might have an advantage In the mean time I sent to Treat of a Peace and to have my Husband set at liberty but the Enemy was so averse to a peace as they returned me both jesting and scornful Answers So when I saw no peace could be made I drew out my Army into Battel Array which when the Enemy perceiv'd they did the like but it will be too tedious at this time to tell the Form and Figures I put my Army into as also what Commanders led or who commanded the Horse or who commanded the Foot that day only let me tell you I led the Van my self and was Accoutred after this manner I had a Masculine Suit and over that a cloth of silver Coat made close to my waste which reached to the ankles of my legs and those Arms I wore being all gilt were Back Brest Gorget
will as to make a crooked body straight Ex. Scene 9. Enter Sir Thomas Father Love bringing in the Auditours into a large roome nobly furnished where at one end or side is a place raised and railed with guilt rayles for the Lady Sanspareille to stand on FAther Love Gentlemen pray do not think me rude by drawing you from your serious studies by an intruding invitation to hear a young student discourse 1. Philosopher 'T is true Sir we should have been glad to have heard you discourse for you might instruct us where as a young student is rather to be instructed for it is time that brings knowledg or gets wit or speakes eloquently Father Love 'T is true but yet in some naturall ingenuity it is as strong as time and produceth that which time of it selfe could not do 2. Philosopher Sir if your young students wit be as fine as her standing place it will be delightfull 3. Philosopher Sir you have adorned her Theater to inthrone her wit Father Gentlemen I wish her wit may furnish and so adorn your understanding but if you please to sit such as it is shall be presented to you Being all placed the Lady Sanspereille enters upon the mounted place drest all in black fit for the gravity of the Company The Company upon her entrance seems to be struck with amaze of her beauty they speak to her Father 1. Philosopher Sir we perceive now you have invited us to feast our eyes not our eares Father Gentlemen if you please to give her so much patience to hear her then judge or censure as you please Then they all cry Whist Whist After the Lady by her Civill bows had given respect to all the Company with a modest and amiable Countenance with a gentle and well pleased eye and a gracefull and winning behaviour thus speaks Lady Sanspareile The Majesty of Age and sage gravity are objects able to put unexperienced and unpracticed youth out of Countenance and bashfullness is the greatest enemy to discourse for it discomposes the Countenance disturbes the thoughts disorders the words and confounds the sence therein but youth hath many times this advantage that it apprehends not the disgrace that experienced years and deeper judgment doth For the truth is bashfullness proceeds from too great an apprehension but I not apprehending far enough may comit errours through a confident ignorance but if you think my confidence too much for my youth yet pray judge not my modesty to litle for my Sex for speaking belongs as much to the Female Sex as to the Masculine so as it be on sober Subjects and to grave Fathers and wise men or intruth to any degree of Age or Sex or Birth so as it be timely suitably rationably and modestly delivered And why may not women speak in publick and to publick assemblies as well as in privat visits and particular entertainments and to particular persons and acquaintance And in reason it should be more commendable that womens discourse and actions are such as they fear no witness Nay they ought never to speak or shew themselves to those persons that are not domestick without sufficient witness for privat discourses which are like whisperings and secret meetings and particular entertainments are subject to loos customs rude behaviours and lascivious discourses mischievous designes and dangerous plots all which takes leave without warrant and assaults without warning yet it is probable this Auditory will think my Father is too indulgent to his Child to let her to make publick Orations or that he is too vain glorious as to believe or hope his Child may get applause or esteem in the world by her discourses But First I must remember them that it is naturall for Parents to be fond of their Children Secondly it is no crime nor indiscretion for a Father to believe or think his Child may have as much wit as any other mans Child if he have given as good education Thirdly it is not against nature and reason but that women may discourse of several subjects as well as men and that they may have as probable opinions and as profitable inventions as fresh fancies as quick wits and as easy expressions as men if their education be answerable to their naturall capacityes and ingenuityes As for my selfe I must tell this assembly I have been bred industriously for I have been instructed with as much knowledg as my yeares was capable to understand but the truth is that my educatours strove to ripen my understanding before the naturall time like those that hastens fruit to be ripe forcing it by artificiall means not staying for the naturall heat of the Sun so was my understanding like as the tree and my wit as the fruit by which it wants the Aromaticall and delicious relish that naturall time gives which makes me fear my wit will relish to the eares of the hearers as such forced fruits to the tast of the eaters I have only this request that though you may dislike it for want of the naturall sweetness yet pray esteem of it for the rarity as being not usuall for one of my years and Sex to speak argue and make Orations in a publick assembly but it is likely this assembly may think this is a vain glorious Prologue to my following discourse But I must tell this worthy grave and learned assembly that I am not bound to follow a vain custome nay I may say a dishonest one as when Oratours do dissemble as on my Conscience most do selfe love being naturall to all besides many times they disgrace their birth by a dissembling humbleness and bely their thoughts knowledge and education when as they say they are unworthy to speak to such an assembly and that they are unlearned their knowledg is little their understanding dull their judgment weak their capacity narrow and that they are unexperienced and unfurnished of expressions to deliver the subject or matter of their discourse if this or the like which they say be true they abuse the Auditory and themselves to invite them or draw them to hear that they think is not worth the listening to and if they be not so as they say they bely the nature and education which heaven forbid I should be so ungratefull to nature so base to my birth so undutifull to my Educatour and so unthankfull to the Gods No no I will not be so for I will publickly acknowledg natures favours who hath given me more wit than time hath given me yeares she hath furnished me with ingenuity beyond an ordinary proportion and hath drawn the plat form of my mind Mathematically and pensiled me with her best coullourd dyes for which I am bound morally to serve her As for my birth as I am of the same kind of Mankind I am equall with the rest let my condition be never so poor I have no reason to be ashamed of the Kind but my birth is Honourable by length of time as for my education it
true begotten Children of self-love This love hath no other object but perfection it hath an absolute command over life it conquers death and triumphs over torments but every soul hath not this pure love for there is a seeming self-love and a reall self-love but as I said every soul hath it not for it is with souls and the passions therein as with bodyes and the sensuall life some are more healthfull and strong others infirm and weak some are fair and well favoured others foul and ill favoured some are straight well shapt others crooked and deformed some high some low some are of long life others of short life some lifes have more actions than others some more sensitive relishes than others some good Natures some bad and all of that sort of Animals we call mankind and as the body and sensitive Spirits so for the Soul and rationall Spirits for some hath as I may say more Soul than others as some hath larger Souls than others some purer than others as being more Serene some hath more ingenuity and understanding than others So passions although one and the same sorts of passions yet in some Souls they are more Serene and elevated than others but many times the pure passions of the Soul is so allyed with the gross humours of the body as they become base and of no good use but in the passion of pure love for the most part dwels naturally Melancholly I mean not that dry cold sharp humour bred in the body which makes it Insipid inclosing the Soul as it were within Walls of stone which causeth a dull heavy and stupid disposition as it oppresseth and lyes like a heavy burthen on the Soul hindering the active effects thereof but this naturall Melancholly dwells not in every Soul but onely in the noblest for it is the noblest effect of the noblest passion in the noblest Soul As for the passion of hate it is not that lothing or aversion which is caused by a full or sick Stomack or surfetted Senses or glutted Appetites or cross humours or an Antipathy of dispositions or evill fortunes or the like but the true passion of hate is in the Soul not bred in the body yet hate is a bastard passion of self-love begot by opposition bred from corruption and born with disturbance this hate as it is derived from the bowels and loynes of self-love so it pursues self-loves enemyes which is suspect falshood and neglect With this passion of hate anger is a great Companion these two passions being seldome assunder but anger is oftentimes mistaken as all the rest of the passions are but this passion of anger is one of the uselest passions of the Soul and is so far from assisting fortitude as many think it doth as it is an opposite enemy to it for it cannot suffer patiently and oftimes knows not what it Acts or on what it Acts or when it Acts this passion is one of the furyes of the Soul which oftimes deposes reason but a Chollerick disposition is sooner to be pardoned and less to be feard being bred in the body and as the humour ebbes and flowes this disposition is less or more But to return to the two Principle passions which is love and hate I will at this time similize them to two several Kingdoms or Regions love being the largest for it reaches to the shades of death and strongest for it can indure and hold out the assaults of any torment being intrenched with fidelity fortified with constancy imbatled with courage victualled with patience and armed or manned with resolution and were it not for the many labyrinths of feats running in and out with continuall doubts wherein the content of the mind is oftentimes lost otherwayes it would be as pleasant a Kingdome as it is a strong one having large prospects of honour and Land-Skips of perfection green Meddows of hopes wherein grows sweet Primroses of Joy and clear springs of desires runs in swift streams of industry by the banks of difficulty besides this Kingdome is allwayes serene for the Sun of Fervency of allwayes shines there In this large Kingdome of love reigns naturall Melancolly who is the Heroick Royallest soberest and wisest Prince born in the mind he directs his Actions with prudence defends his Kindome with courage indures misfortunes with patience moderates his desires with temperance guides his Senses with judgment orders his Speech with Sence and governs his thoughts with reason he is the commander of the Appetites living in the Court of imaginations in the City of silences in the Kingdome of love in the little world called Man and the greatest favorite to this Prince is wit and the Muses are his Mistrisses to whom he applies his Courtship recreating himself in their delightful Company entertaining himself with Balls Maskes Pastorills Comedyes Tragedyes and the like presenting them in the Bowers of fancy built in the Gardens of Oratory wherein growes flowers of Rhetorick but the greatest enemies to this Prince is unseasonable mirth which oftimes disturbes his peace by bringing in an Army of empty words sounding their loud Trumpets of laughter shooting of bald jests beating the drums of idleness with the sticks of ridiculous Actions But hate although it be a Kingdome that is very strong by reason it hath high mountainous designes hard Rocks of cruelties deep pits of obscurity many Quagmires of subtilty by which advantages this Kingdome is inpregnable yet the Kingdome of its self is barren and Insipid bearing nothing but thorny Bushes of mischief and moss of ill Nature no noble thoughts or worthy Actions the climate is various for the Aire of the mind is gross having thick mists of envy which causeth several sicknesses of discontent other whiles it is very cold and sharp with spight other times it is sulphury hot with malice which flashes lightning of revenge which in a thundery fury breaks out In this Kingdome of hate reigns anger who is a Tyrant and strikes at every smale offence and many times on Innocence and so unjust as he seldome takes witnesses pride and jealousy are his favourites which governs all with scorn and executes with fury he imposes taxes of slander and gathers levies of detraction exception is his secretary to note both wordes and Actions he accuseth the Senses with mistakes and beheads the Appetites on the Scaffolds of dislike he strangles truth with the Cords of Erronious opinions and tortures the thoughts one Wheels of foul suspition whipping imagination with disgrace he confounds the Speech with disordered hast that neither Sence nor wordes can take their right places but anger dyes as most Tyrants doth being kild by repentance and is buryed in salt teares betwixt these two Kingdoms of love and hate runs a salt Sea of sorrow which sometimes breaks into the Kingdome of love and sometimes into the Kingdome of hate from this Sea arises thick vapours of grief which gathers into dark Clouds of sadness which Clouds dissolves into showring
as a great Lady But if we could conquer and imprison Monsieur Satyrical in Loves Fetters that would be a Conquest worthy Fames Trumpet Pleasure O that would be such an Exploit as it would be an Honour to our Sex Bon' Esprit There is nothing I desire more than to be she that might infetter him Portrait I long to insnare him Ambition So do I Bon' Esprit Faith I will lay an Ambuscado for him Matron Fie Ladies fie I am asham'd to hear the Designs you have no catch Monsieur Satyrical such Fair Young Noble Ladies to be so wanton as none will content you but a wilde rough rude Satyr Bon' Esprit If I were sure there were no other ways to get him I would become a Wood-nymph for his sake Matron You have forgot the Nymph that was turned into a Bear Bon' Esprit O she was one of cruel Diana's Nymphs but I will be none of her Order Matron No I dare swear you will not for 't is unlikely you should when you desire to imbrace a Satyr Bon' Esprit I do not desire to imbrace him but to enamour him Matron Well Ladies your Parents gave you to my Care and Charge but since you are so wilde to talk of nothing but Nymphs Woods and Satyrs I will resigne up the Trust which was imposed on me to your Parents again for I will not adventure my Reputation with such wanton young Ladies Bon' Esprit Mother Matron let me tell thee thy Reputation is worn out of thee Time hath devoured it and therefore thou hast no Reputation to lose Exeunt Scene 15. Enter Monsieur Censure and Monsieur Frisk FRisk Fath Tom I have emptyed thy pockets Censure Thou hast pick'd my pockets with thy juggling Dice for which if thou wert a woman and in my power I would be reveng'd for my loss Frisk Why what would you do if I were a Woman Censure I would condemn thee to a solitary silent life which to a woman is worse than Hell for company and talking is their Heaven and their Tongues are more restless than the Sea their Passions more stormy than the Winds and their Appetites more unsatiable and devouring than fire they are lighter than Air more changing than the Moon Frisk What makes thee thus rail at the Effeminate Sex Censure Have I not reason when Fortune is of the same gender Enter Madamoiselle Faction Frisk Faith Tom I must tell Faction What will you tell Frisk Why I will tell you Lady he hath rail'd most horribly against your Sex Faction That is usual for all those men which never received nor hope to receive any favour from our Sex will rail against it Censure Those men have no reason Lady to commend you if they never received neither profit nor pleasure from you and those that have been cruelly used by your Sex may lawfully rail against it Faction The Laws of Honour forbid it Censure But the Laws of Nature allow it and Nature is the most prevailing law Faction Natures law is for Men to love Women and Women Men but in you and I there is not that Sympathy for I dislike your Sex as much as you do ours and could rail with as free a will against it The truth is that although I do not hate men yet I despise them for all men appear to me either Beasts or Butter-flies which are either sensual or vain Indeed most men are worse than beasts for beasts are but according to their kind when men are degenerated by beastly Sensualies from which they were made for as most men are worse than beasts so you are worse than most men Censure It is a favour Lady from your Sex to rail against ours for it is a sign you have considered us and that we live in your memory although with your ill opinions yet it is better to live with Enemies than not to be and of all men I have received the greatest favour from the chiefest of your Sex which is your self in that you have considered me most though you have found me worst yet it proves you have thought of me Faction If those thoughts and dispraises be favours I will binde so many together until they become as thick and hard as steel of which you may make an Armour to keep your Reputation from wounds of reproach She goes out Frisk There Tom she hath paid thee both for thy Railings and Complements Censure She hath not payd me in current coyn Frisk It will pass for disgrace I 'll warrant thee Exeunt Scene 16. Enter Madam Ambition Faction Portrait Bon' Esprit Pleasure BOn Esprit There are but three things a gallant man requires which is a Horse a Sword and a Mistris Ambition Yet a gallant man wants Generosity for the greatest honour for a man is to be generous for Generosity comprises all Virtues good Qualities and sweet Graces for a generous man will never spare his life purse nor labour for the sake of just Right plain Truth Honest Poverty Distress Misery or the like for a generous man hath a couragious yet compassionate Heart a constant and noble Mind a bountiful Hand an active and industrious Life and he is one that joyes more to do good than others to receive good Pleasure There are few or none that have such noble Souls as to prefer anothers good before their own Portrait The truth is men have more promising Tongues than performing deeds Faction For all I can perceive mans life is composed of nothing but deceit treachery and rapine Bon' Esprit Indeed mans mind is like a Forest and his thoughts like wilde beasts inhabit therein Ambition Mans Mind is like a Sea where his Thoughts like Fishes swim therein where some Thought are like huge Leviathans others like great Whales but some are like Sprats Shrimps and Minnues Enter Monsieur Sensuality Sensuality What is like a Minnues Ambition A mans Soul Sensuality It is better have a soul although no bigger than a Minnues than none at all as Women have but if they have I dare swear it is no bigger than a pins point Bon' Esprit Very like which point pricks down thoughts into the Brain and Passions in the heart and writes in the Brain witty Conceits if the point be sharp Sensuality No no it serves onely to raise their brains with Vanity to ingrave their hearts with Falshood and to scratch out their lives with Discontent Pleasure We oftner scratch out mens lives than our own Sensuality Nay you oftner scratch out our honour than our lives Faction For my part I have an itch to be scratching Sensuality I believe you for you have a vexatious soul Faction It hath cause to be vexatious for the point of my soul is whetted with Aqua Fortis against your Sex Sensuality I 'm sure Lady your tongue is whetted with Aqua Fortis Faction So is yours Sensuality If it be let us try which point is sharpest Faction I will leave the Trial to Time and Occasion Exeunt Scene 17.
at least VVanton That 's all one for Cupid wounds Age as well as youth Ease But I had thought that an old womans heart had been so hard Love could not have enter'd VVanton Old Mother Matron proves it otherwise for her Heart is as tender as the youngest Heart of us all Idle While I am young I will be a Lover because I will not be a Fool when I am old Ease That 's the way to be a Fool whilst you are young and a Lover when you are old VVanton No that is to be a Curtezan whilst she is young and a Bawd when she is old Idle Nay faith when I can no longer traffique for my self I will never trade for any other VVanton Covetousness will tempt your reverent Age Exeunt Scene 9. Enter Ambition Pleasure Faction Portrait Bon' Esprit Superbe Wanton Ease Excess PLeasure How shall we entertain our time Portrait Let us sit and chuse Husbands Bon' Esprit What in the Ashes Portrait No in our Speeches Faction Content Ambition Begin but let your Maids Lady Pleasure sit and chuse Husbands with us Pleasure If I were to chuse a Husband I would chuse a man that was honourably born nobly bred wisely taught civilly behav'd also I would have him to speak rationally wittily and eloquently to act prudently valiantly justly and temperately to live freely magnificently and peaceably I would have him honourably born because I would not have him a Boor by Nature which is surly rude grumbling and miserable I would have him nobly bred because I would not have him a Shark a Cheat or a Sycophant I would have him wisely taught because I would not have him an ignorant fool nor a pedantical fool I would have him civilly-behav'd to please my Eyes I would have him to speak rational witty and eloquent to please my Ears I would have him valiant to defend his Country to guard his Family and to maintain his Honour I would have him prudent to foresee misfortunes and to provide for the future that I may never want for the present I would have him temperate lest Excess should ruine his Fortune Health or Esteem I would have him just because others should be just to him to live freely as not to be inslaved to live magnificently for to be respected to live peaceably to avoid brawleries And such a man as this will be kind to his Wife loving to his Children bountiful to his Servants courteous to his Friends civil to Strangers faithful to his Trust and just to his Promise Superbe If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man that were Rich honour'd with Titles and were Powerful I would have him Rich because I would have him live plentifully to feed luxuriously to be adorn'd gloriously I would have him to have Titles of Honour because I would take place of my Neighbours to have the chief place at a Feast and to have the first and choisest meats offer'd me I would have him Powerful to oppose my Opposers to insult over my Enemies and to neglect my Friends which if I be poor and helpless they will do me Thus I shall be honour'd by my Superiours crouch'd to by Inferiours flatter'd by Sycophants brag'd of by my Friends obey'd by my Servants respected by my Acquaintance envy'd by my Neighbours sought to by my Enemies Thus I might advance my Friends punish my Enemies tread down my Superiours inslave my Inferiours insult over my Foes and inthrone my self Ambition If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man whom all other men are slaves to and he mine And what can I desire more than to be absolute Bon' Esprit If I were to choose I would choose a man for a Husband that were an honest and plain-dealing man patient and wise that I might neither be deceiv'd by his falshood nor troubl'd with his quarrels nor vex'd with his follies Faction If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a subtil crafty Knave that can cheat an honest Fool with which cheats I can entertain my time like those that go to see Juglers play tricks VVanton If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man that were blind deaf and dumb that he might neither trouble me with his impertinent Questions nor see my indiscreet Actions nor hear my foolish Discourses Thus I may say what I will and never be crost do what I will and never be hinder'd go where I will and never be watch'd come when I will and never be examin'd entertain whom I will and never be rebuk'd Thus I may Govern as I will Spend as I will Spare as I will without Controlment Portrait If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man that were industrious thrifty and thriving for the pleasure is not so much to enjoy as getting like those that are hungry have more pleasure in eating their meat than when their stomacks are full Excess If I were to choose a Husband I would choose a man that were a busie Fool which would continually bring me fresh although false News for his busie mind which fills his Head with Projects which Projects will feed my excessive Ambition with his high Designs although improbable and set my thoughts at work with his several Atchievments although there is no leading-path therein But howsoever this will furnish my Imagination imploy my Thoughts please my Curiosity and entertain my time with Varieties wherein and wherewith I may pass my life with fine Phantasms or like a fine Dream Pleasure It is a sign you love sleep excessively well so as you would have your life pass as a dream Excess Why Madam sleeping is the lifes Elizium and our dreams the pastime therein and our beds are our living graves to the greatest part of our life and most are best pleased therein for it gives rest to our wearied and tired limbs it revives the weak and fainting spirits it eases the sick and pained it pacifies the grieved it humours the melancholy it cherishes age it nourishes youth it begets warmth it cools heat it restores health it prolongs life and keeps the mind in peace Ease I will not choose but vvish and pray which is if ever I marry I pray Jove that I may out-live my Husband Bon' Esprit O fie Women pray that their Husbands may out-live them Ease If they do in my Conscience they dissemble but howsoever I will never pray so for I perceive when men are Widowers they are more hasty to marry again than Batchellors are and the last love blots out the first and I should be sorry to be blotted out Ambition But if men do marry after they have buried their first Wife yet perchance they will not love their second Wife so well as the first Ease I know not that but yet to the outward view I perceive a man seems to forget his first Wife in the presence of his second Wife Faction By your favour a second Wife puts a Husband in remembrance of
of practice more Masculine Souldiers are overcome by their Arms than by their Enemies for the unaccustomedness makes them so unwieldy as they can neither defend themselves nor assault their Foes whereas Custome will make them feel as light as their Skins on their Flesh or their Flesh on their Bones nay Custome hath that force as they will feel as if their Bodies were Naked when as their Arms are off and as Custome makes the Cold and peircing Ayr to have no power over the naked Bodyes of men for in cold Countreys as well as hot men have been accustomed to go naked and have felt no more harm nor so much by the cold than those that are warmly Cloathed so Custome will make your Arms seem as light as if you had none on when for want of use their waight will seem heavy their several pieces troublesome and incombersome as their Gorgets will seem to press down their Shoulders their Back and Breast-plates and the rest of the several pieces to cut their waste to pinch their Body to bind their Thighes to ty their Arms and their Headpiece to hinder their breath to darken their sight and to stop their hearing and all for want of use and Custome but enough of this read on Reader Secondly Be it known observed and practised that every Company must watch by turns whether they have Enemyes neer or no and at all times and whosoever Drinks any thing but Water or Eats any thing but Bread all the time they are on the watch shall be punished with fasting Lady Victoria Give me leave to declare the reason of this Law the reason is that stronge Drinks and nourishing meats send many vapours to the Brain which vapours are like several Keys which lock up the Senses so fast as neither loud noises bright lights nor strong sents can enter either at the Ears Eyes or Nostrils insomuch as many times their Enemies send Death to break them asunder Reader Thirdly Be it known observed and practised that none of the Troopers march over Corn Fields if it can be avoided unless the Enemy should be behind and then the more spoil the better Lady Victoria The reason of this is that it were a great imprudence to destroy through a careless march of Horse and Foot that which would serve to feed and nourish us in the Winter time and in our Winter Quarters when it is laid in the Barns and Granaries by the labour and the industry of the Farmers Reader Fourthly Be it known observed and practised that none shall plunder those things which are waighty of carriage unless it be for safety or necessity Lady Victoria The reason is of this that all that is heavy in the carriage is a hindrance in our march Reader Fiftly Be it known observed and practised that no Souldiers shall play at any Game for money or drink but only for meat to eat Lady Victoria The reason of this is that those that play for drink the winners will be drunk and those that are drunk are unfit for service besides many disorders are caused by drunkenness and to play for money the losers grow Cholerick and quarrels proceed therefrom which quarrels many times cause great mutinies through their side taking and factious parties besides having lost their money and not their Appetites they become weak and faint for want of that nourishing food their money should get them having nothing left to buy them victuals withall besides it forces them to forrage further about where by straggling far from the body of the Army they are subject to be catch'd by the Enemy but when they play for meat their winnings nourish their Bodies making them strong and vigorous and when their Appetites are satisfied and their Stomacks are fill'd their humours are pleasant and their minds couragious besides it is the Nature of most Creatures either to distribute or at least to leave the remaining pieces to the next takers so that the losers may have a share with the winners and part of what was their own again Reader Sixtly Be it known observed and practised that no Captains or Collonels shall advance beyond their Company Troop Regiment or Brigade but keep in the middle of the first rank and the Lieutenant or Lieutenant Collonel to come behind in the last rank Lady Victoria The reason of this is that Collonels and Captains going a space before their Troops Companies or Regiments for to encourage and lead on their Souldiers do ill to set themselves as marks for the Enemy to shoot at and if the Chief Commanders should be kill'd the Common Souldiers would have but faint hearts to fight but for the most part they will run away as being affraid and ashamed to see the Enemy when their Chief Commander is kill'd and if they have no Officer or Commander behind them the Common Souldiers will be apt to run away having no worthy witnesses or Judges to view and condemn their base Cowardly actions which otherwise they are ashamed of chusing rather to fight their Enemies than to make known their fears Reader Seventhly Be it known observed and practised that none of the Army ly in Garrison Towns but be always intrenched abroad Lady Victoria The reason of this is that Towns breed or beget a tenderness of Bodies and laziness of limbs luxurious Appetites and soften the natural dispositions which tenderness luxury effeminacy and laziness corrupts and spoils martial discipline whereas the open Fields and casting up trenches makes Souldiers more hardy laborious and carefull as being more watchfull Eightly Be it known observed and practised that none unless visibly sick to be idle but imployed in some Masculine action as when not imployed against an Enemy and that they are not imployed about the works forts or trenches but have spare time to imploy themselves in throwing the Bar Tripping Wrastling Running Vaulting Riding and the like exercise Reader Ninthly Be it known observed and practised that every Commander when free from the Enemies surprizals shall train their men thrice a week at least nay every day if they can spare so much time as putting their Souldiers into several ranks files and figures in several Bodies apart changing into several places and the like Lady Victoria The reason of this is that the Souldiers may be expert and ready and not be ignorant when they encounter their Enemies for many a Battel is lost more through the ignorance of the Souldiers not being well and carefully train'd by their Commanders or having such Commanders that know not how to train or draw them up there are more Battels I say lost thus than for want of men or courage Reader Tenthly Be it known observed and practised that every Morning when Incamp'd that every Commander shall make and offer in the midst of his Souldiers a Prayer to Mars another to Pallas a third to Fortune and a fourth to Fame these Prayers to be presented to these Gods and Goddesses with great Ceremony both from the