illustrate with false lights their dim Virtues or give them such Praises they never deserved Wherefore no History should be esteemed but what was written by the Authors themselves as such as write the History of their own Lives Actions and Fortunes and the several Accidents that befell in their time and to their knowledg yet said she I wish I might out-live the Historians of these times that I might write a History of the Historians there to describe their Birth and Breeding their Life their Actions their Fortunes their Interest and let the World judg whether they writ Truth and without Partiality But to draw towards an end of my Tale All sorts of People resorting to hear her speak she became so famous as that a great Monarch whose Kingdom was neighbouring to the Countrey she was born bred and lived in had a great curiosity to see and hear her for the fame of her Beauty was equal to the fame of her Wit and putting himself into a disguise left his Kingdom and Wife to visit this Lady whom when he saw and had heard speak her Wit Beauty and graceful Behaviour did so ravish him that he became a deseperate Lover Whereupon he secretly revealed himself unto her perswading all he could to leave that inclosed life proffering her to be divorced from his Wife and to marry her But she refused his Offers despised his Love forbid his Suit and absented her Person which caused him to return in a rage and fury sending Ambassadors to proclaim Warrs unless the State would deliver the Lady into his Power But they absolutely denied to deliver her thinking it both a wicked and dishonourable disgrace to their Countrey although they perceived an utter ruin was like to fall upon them by reason the Kingdom was in a weak condition caused by former Warrs But it came no sooner to her hearing but she desired to meet the Ambassadors in a publike audience which they granted where multitudes of People came thronging to see her and when they were met she thus spake I come not here to make Eloquent Orations to divulge my Wit or to present my Beauty to the view of many Eyes for though I may thank Nature for her bounteous Gifts Yet I have not that Vanity or Pride For to allure or draw from Virtue 's side But I come to answer these Threatning-Ambassadors for I cannot call them Noble or Honourable since they come upon a base Design and to an unjust End But let me tell them That the Gods would hate me should I break my holy Vow Next I should grieve my Father's sleeping-Ashes should I disobey his dyingcommand Thirdly I should be a dishonour to my Birth and Sex should I live incontinently Lastly I should curse my Birth hate my Life blast my Fame should I be the cause of my Countrey 's Ruin and my Countrey had cause to do the same should it beruined for me But since it will prove a Mischief Sin and Shame to live Honour Prudence Love and Justice bids me dye Wherefore I have sacrificed my Life for my Countrey 's Peace and Safety my unspotted Chastity holy Vows and dutiful Obedience and to quench the raging Lust of a wicked Tyrant And growing very sick she became so weak that she could stand no longer but gently sinking to the ground she fell whereupon all that could get near run unto her to help her but she told them it was in vain for Poyson saith she hath been the Engine that hath broken open the Gate of Life to let Death in and so immediately dyed Which the People no sooner understood but made such outcries lamentations and mournings as if there had been an utter desolation of the whole World Then after some time of Preparations they buried her with great solemnity and intombed her costly the State setting up her Statue of Brass for her Courage and Love to her Countrey the Church Deified her a Saint for her Virtue and Piety and the Clergy raised Altars where all the Kingdom twice a year did offer unto her solemn Sacrifices and the Poets built several Pyramides of Praise of her Beauty Wit Virtue and sweet Graces which Pyramides reach'd to Fame's highest Tower and the Historians writ her Life and Death in Golden Letters and recorded them in Fame's Brazen Tower that all the World might know and follow the Example of her Heroick Spirit Generous Soul Chast Body Pious Life and Voluntary Death HEAVEN's Library which is FAME's Palace purged from Errors and Vices JOVE and some of the other Gods being set in Council Pallas being one rose up and bowing to Jove thus spake Great Jove said she I ought in duty and love to inform you not only of the Vices and Errors which are numerous in the World and in time may bring it to confusion but of those Errors and Vices which are crept into your great Library Fame's Palace and if order be not taken to destroy them they will devour all your best and noblest Records Jove answers That Vices were as Serpents and Errors as Worms bred in the Bowels of Nature of which she could never be cured for the Gods had no Medicine strong enough to purge them out and by reason they were from all Eternity they could not be destroyed for if any thing could be destroyed that is from all Eternity then we our selves might be destroy'd but said Jove we can cast them out of our own Mansions though we cannot cast them out of Nature's Bowels also we can hinder them from coming in wherefore Fame is to be reproved for suffering the Library to be so foul and full of filthy Vermin Whereupon Mercury was sent to call Fame to appear before Jove and his Council so when Fame came Jove told her That Gods and Goddesses ought to be just and upright and to have their Palaces pure and full of Truth which said he you nor your Palace hath not been for you are Partial and your Court full of Faction and my Library your Palace foul and full of Wormy Errors which if it had been kept pure and clean they would never have entred or if they had entred you might have caused them to have been swept out by Old Father TIME Fame answered That it was not her fault for Mars Venus and Fortune had sent them in and it is not for me to oppose so great a God as Mars or so great a Goddess as Venus or to sit as Judg to determine what was best to be flung out or what to be placed therein for none is fit to judg those Causes but you great Jove and your Council Jove approving what Fame said told his Council That after they had taken some repast they would sit in Council again and their only Business should be to purge and cleanse their Library So after they had feasted with Ambrosia and Nectar they returned to Council where they did first decree That all those Records that were to be cast forth should be heapt up
object of his Mistress clos'd Like Multitudes that gather in a Ring To view some curious or some wondrous thing Or like a devout Congregation met Will strive about the Altar near to set So did his Thoughts near her Idea get Which as a Goddess in his Soul did set Then he an Altar built of Marble white And Waxen Tapers round about did light Her Picture on this Altar plac'd was high There to be seen with an up-lifted Eye She was his Saint and he there every day Did offer Tears and Sighs to her did pray And her implore she would the Gods request To take his Soul his Body lay to rest In th' mean time his Mistress's made believe That he was kill'd for which she much did grieve For when she at the first the news did hear Her Face turn'd pale like Death it did appear Then gently sinking she fell to the ground Grief seiz'd her heart and put her in a swound At last life got the better and then wept And wisht to Heaven that she in death had slept But Melancholy her whole Soul possest And of all pleasing Thoughts it self divest All objects shuns that pleasing were and fair And all such sounds as were of a leight air The splendrous Light and glorious Sun shut out And all her Chamber hung with black about No other light but blinking Lamps would have Some Earth and Turf therein like to a Grave The which she often view'd or sate close by Imagining the Prince therein did lye And on that Grave her Tears like show'rs of rain Keep fresh the Turf on the green Grass remain As pearled dew before the Sun doth rise Or as refreshing show'rs from Cloudy Skies And often this supposed Grave doth dress With such significant Flow'rs as did express His Virtues and his Dispositions sweet More than those Flowers when in Posies meet His various Virtues known to all so well More fragrant than those Flowers were for smell But first she set a Lawrel-Garland green To shew that he a Victor once had been And in the midst a copious Branch did place For to express he dyed in the chace Of his fierce Enemies his Courage was so true That after a long fight away they flew Thus Melancholy past her time away Besides sad solemn Musick ' twice a day For ev'ry Sense with Melancholy fill'd And always dropping-tears from thence distill'd With which her Melancholy Soul did feed And Melancholy Thoughts her Mind did breed Then on the ground her Head aside-ways hung Would lye along whilst these sad Songs were sung A SONG TITAN I banish all thy joys of Light Turning thy glorious Rays to darker Night Clothing my Chamber with sad Black each part Thus suitable unto my mournful heart Only a dimn Wax Taper there shall wait On me to shew my sad unhappy Fate With mournful Thoughts my Head shall furnisht be And all my Breath sad Sighs for love of thee My Groans to sadder Notes be set with skill And sung in Tears and Melancholy still Languishing-Musick to fill up each Voice With Palsied trembling Strings is all my choice A SONG SInce he is gone Oh then Salt Tears Drown both mine Eyes and stop mine Ears With Grief my Grief it is so much It locks my Smell up Taste and Touch. In me remains but little breath Which quickly take away Oh Death A SONG WHY should I live But who doth know The way to him or where to go Death's ignorant the Dead they have No sense of Grief when in the Grave Forgetful and Unthankful Death Hast thou no love when gone's our Breath No Gratitude but there dost lye In dark Oblivion for to dye No sense of Love or Honour there Then Death I prethee me forbear Thousands of years in sorrow I Would live in Grief and never dye A SONG MY Bed of Sorrow 's made since no relief And all my Pillows shall be stuff'd with Grief My Winding-sheets are those whereon I lye My Curtains drawn with sad Melancholy Watching shall be my Food Weeping my Drink Sighing my Breath and Groaning what I think Trembling and shaking all my Exercise Disquiet and disorder'd Thoughts now rise Wringing of hands with folded arms lamenting Is all the joy is left me of contenting For he is gone that was my joy my life I 'm left his Widow who ne'er was his Wife But all the while the Queen was angry bent Against the Prince because away he went And left the Army without a General For which she Rebel Traytor him did call But she another General did make Which of the Army all the Charge did take Yet his Success in Warrs proved but bad For afterward the Queen great Losses had And all the Soldiers they were discontent Whereat the Queen another General sent But he no better Fortune there could meet The Enemy did force him to retreat Then did the Enemy so pow'rful grow The Forces of the Queen they overthrow In every Fight and Skirmish which they had For which the Queen and Kingdom did grow sad At last the Queen the Prince did flatter and Entreated him again for to Command But he deny'd the Queen would not obey Said Earthly Power to Gods they must give way At last she sent him word she would not spare His life and therefore bid him to prepare Himself for death for dye he should For Disobedience and Revenge she would Have on him Then his Father to him went For to perswade him and there did present Show'rs of Tears which sadly pouring fell Upon his only Son his grief to tell He round about his Neck one arm did wind The other arm embrac'd his Body kind His Cheeks his Son did joyn to his And often he his Lips did kiss O pity me my Son and thy Life spare Thou art my only Child and only Heir Th' art my sole Joy in thee I pleasure take And wish to live but only for thy sake The Prince his Father answer'd and said he I am not worth those Tears you shed for me But why do you thus weep and thus lament For my death now When to the Warrs I went You did encourage me to fight in field For Victory or else my Life to yeeld I willingly obey'd and joy'd to find My Father's Sympathy unto my Mind Besides it shew'd a greater love to me Than Parents self-lov'd fondness us'd to be For to prefer my Honour and my Fame Before the perpetu'ty of your Name And as you priz'd my Honour and Renown So I a Heavenly not an Earthly Crown And give me leave the better choice to make To quit all troubles and sweet Peace to take I ne'er more willing nor more fit can dye For Heaven and the Gods pure company For had I dy'd in Warrs my Soul had been Stained with Blood and spotted o're with Sin But now my Mistress is a Saint in Heaven Hath intercession made my sins forgiven And since she 's gone all Joys with her are fled And I shall never happy be till
his Service did address His Love by Words and Letters did express Though she seem'd Coy his Love she did not slight But Civil Answers did in Letters write At last so well acquainted they did grow That but one Heart each other's Thoughts did know Mean time their Parents did their Love's descry And sought all ways to break that Unity Forbad each other's company frequent Did all they could Love's Meetings to prevent But Love regards not Parents nor their Threats For Love the more 't is barr'd more Strength begets Thus being cross'd by stealth they both did meet And Privacy did make their Love more sweet Although their Fears did oft affright their Mind Lest that their Parents should their Walks out-find Then in the Kingdom did Rebellion spring Most of the Commons fought against their King And all the Gentry that then Loyal were Did to the Standard of the King repair Amongst the rest this Noble Youth was one Love bade him stay but Honour spurr'd him on When he declar'd his Mind her Heart it rent Rivers of Tears out of her Eyes grief sent And every Tear like Bullets pierc'd his Breast Scatter'd his Thoughts and did his Mind molest Silent long time they stood at last spake he Why doth my Love with Tears so torture me Why do you blame my Eyes said she to weep Since they perceive you Faith nor Promise keep For did you love but half so true as I Rather than part you 'ld chuse to stay and dye But you Excuses make and take delight Like cruel Thieves to rob and spoil by Night Now you have stole my Heart away you run And leave a silly Virgin quite undone If I stay from the Warrs what will Men say They 'l say I make excuse to be away By this Reproach a Coward I am thought And my Disgrace will make you seem in fault To set your Love upon a Man so base Bring Infamy to us and to our Race To sacrifice my Life for your content I would not spare but Dear in this consent 'T is for your sake Honour I strive to win That I some Merit to your Worth may bring She. If you will go let me not stay behind But take such Fortune with you as I find I 'le be your Page attend you in the Field When you are weary I will hold your Shield He. Dear Love that must not be for Women are Of tender Bodies and Minds full of Fear Besides my Mind so full of Care will be For fear a Bullet should once light on thee That I shall never fight but strengthless grow Through feeble Limbs be subject to my Foe When thou art safe my Spirits high shall raise Striving to get a Victory of Praise With sad Laments these Lovers did depart Absence as Arrows sharp doth wound each Heart She spends her time to Heaven-high doth pray That Gods would bless and safe conduct his way The whilst he fights and Fortune's Favour had Fame brings this Honour to his Mistress sad All Cavaliers that in the Army were There was not one could with this Youth compare By Love his Spirits all were set on fire Love gave him Courage made his Foes retire But O ambitious Lovers how they run Without all guidance like Apollo's Son Run out of Moderation's Line so he Did through the thickest of the Army flee Singly alone amongst the Squadrons deep Fighting sent many one with Death to sleep But Numbers with united strength at last This Noble Gallant Man from Horse did cast His Body all so thick of wounds was set Safety it seems in fight he did forget But not his Love who in his Mind still lyes He wish'd her there to close his dying-Eyes Soul said he if thou wandrest in the Air Thy Service to my Mistress by thy care Attend her close with her Soul Friendship make Then she perchance no other Love may take But if thou sink down to the Shades below And being a Lover to Elyzium go Perchance my Mistress Soul you there may meet So walk and talk in Love's Discourses sweet But if thou art like to a Light put out Thy Motion 's ceas'd then all 's forgot no doubt With that a sigh which from his Heart did rise Did mount his Soul up to the Airy Skies The whilst his Mistress being sad with care Her Knees were worn imploring Gods with Prayer A Drowsie Sleep did all her Senses close But in her Dreams Fancy her Lover shows With all his Wounds which made her loud to cry Help help you Gods said she that dwell on high These fearful Dreams her Senses all did wake In a cold sweat with fear each Limb did shake Then came a Messenger as pale as Death With panting sides swoln eyes and shortned breath And by his looks his sadder Tale did tell Which when she saw straight in a swoun she fell At last her stifled Spirits had recourse Unto their usual place but of less force Then lifting up her Eyes her Tongue gave way And thus unto the Gods did mourning say Why do we pray and offer to high Heaven Since what we ask is seldom to us given If their Decrees are fix'd what need we pray Nothing can alter Fates nor cross their way If they leave all to Chance who can apply For every Chance is then a Deity But if a Power they keep to work at will It shews them cruel to torment us still When we are made in Pain we always live Sick Bodies Grieved Minds to us they give With Motions which run cross compos'd we are Which makes our Reason and our Sense to jar When they are weary to torment us must We then return and so dissolve to Dust But if I have my Fate in my own Power I will not breathe nor live another hour Then with the Gods I shall not be at strife If my Decree can take away my Life Then on her feeble Legs she straight did stand And took a Pistol charg'd in either hand Here Dear said she I give my heart to thee And by my Death divulg'd our Loves shall be Then Constant Lovers Mourners be when dead They 'l strew our Graves which is our Marriage-Bed Upon our Hearse a weeping-Poplar set Whose moistning-drops our Death's-dri'd Cheeks may wet Two Cypress Garlands at our Head shall stand That were made up by some fair Virgin 's hand And on our cold pale Corps such Flowers strow As hang their Heads for grief and downward grow Then shall they lay us deep in quiet Grave Wherein our Bones long Rest and Peace may have Let no Friends Marble-Tombs erect upon Our Graves but set young Mirtle-trees thereon Those may in time a shady Grove become Fit for sad Lovers Walks whose Thoughts are dumb For Melancholy Love seeks place obscure No Noise nor Company it can endure And when to ground they cast a dull sad Eye Perhaps they 'l think on us who therein lye Thus though w' are dead our Memory remains And like a Ghost may
It is decreed by the great Gods on high Which nothing can prevent then let my fall Be an Atonement to make Friends withall But Death and Courage being long at strife About her Husband's Honour and his Life They both did fall and on the ground did lye But honoured Courage receiv'd Fame thereby When Death had turned out his Life it went Into his Fame and built a Monument The Bride when that she saw her Husband faint She weeping mourn'd and made a sad complaint O Gods said she grant me but this Request That I may dye here on my Husband's breast With that she fell and on his Lips did lye Suckt out each other's breath and so did dye When that the Lover saw her Soul was fled And that her body was cold pale and dead Then he impatient grew his Life to hold With desperate Fury then both fierce and bold He gave himself a mortal wound and so Fell to the ground and sick did grow Then did he speak to all the Company I do entreat you all for Charity To lay me by my Mistress in a Grave That my free Soul may rest and quiet have With that a Voice heard in the air to say My Noble Friends you ought to disobey His dying-words for if you do not so From our dead ashes jealousie will grow But howsoe're their Friends did so agree That they did put them in a Grave all three And ever since fierce Jealousie doth rage Throughout the World and shall from age to age A Batchelor that spightful was and old Unto the Company his Tale he told WOmen care not nor seek for Noble Praise All their delight runs to Romantick ways To be in love and be belov'd agen And to be fought-for by the youngest men Not for their Vertue but their Beauty fair Intangling men within their amorous snare And turning up their Eyes not for to pray Unless it be to see their Love that day With whining Voice and foolish words implore The Gods for what unless to hold the dore And what is their desire if I should guess I straight should judg it tends to wantonness Perchance they 'l say It is for Conversation But those Conversations bring Temptation What Youth 's in love with Age where wisdom dwells That all the follies of wild Youth still tells But Youth will shun grave Age's Company And from them flye as from an Enemy Say they Their wit is all decay'd and gone And that their wit is out of fashion grown Say they are peevish froward and displeas'd And full of pain and weak and oft diseas'd But that is fond excuse to plead for Youth For Age is Valiant Prudent full of truth And Sickness often on the Young takes hold Making them feeble weak before they 're old If Women love let it be for the sake Of Noble Virtue and the wiser take Else Virtue is depress'd forsaken quite For she allows no Revellers of Night This Sex doth strive by all the art they can To draw away each other's Courtly-Man And all the allurements that they can devise They put in execution for the prise Their Eyes are quick and sparkling like the Sun Yet always after Mankind do they run Their words are smooth their faces in smiles drest Their heart is by their countenance exprest But in their older age they spightful grow And then they scorns upon their youngers throw Industrious are a false Report to make Lord Lord what poor Employments Women take To carry Tales on Tongues from Ear to Ear VVhich faster run than Dromedaries far In heat with speed and haste they run about From House to House to find their Comrades out And when they meet so earnest they are bent As if the Fate 's Decrees they could prevent The best is Rubbish they their Minds do load With several Dresses and what is the Mode But if they spightful are they straight defame Those that most Virtue have or honoured Name Or else about their Carriage they find fault And say their Dancing-Masters were stark naught But for their several Dressings thus will say How strangely such a one was drest to day And if a Lady dress or chance to wear A Gown to please her self or curl her Hair If not according as the Fashion runs Lord how it sets a-work their Eyes and Tongues Straight she 's fantastical they all do cry Yet they will imitate her presently And for what they did laugh at her in scorn VVith it think good themselves for to adorn Thus each of them doth into other pry Not for to mend but to find fault thereby VVith that the VVomen rose and angry were And said they would not stay such Tales to hear But all the Men upon their Knees did fall Begging his Pardon and their stay withall And Women's Natures being easie free Did soon consent to keep them company The Tale to tell Unto a Woman's turn befell And when their rusling twatling Silks did cease Their creaking Chairs and Whisperings held their peace The Lady did a Tragick Tale unfold Forcing their Eyes to weep whilst she it told The Description of the Fondness of Parents and the Credulity of Youth A Gentleman had liv'd long and was old A Wife he had which Fifty years had told Their Love was such as Time could not decay Devout they were and to the Gods did pray Yet Children they had none to bless their Life She happy in a Husband h'in a Wife But Nature in the World her Power to show From an old Stock caus'd a young Branch to grow At length this aged Dame a Daughter bore Got by her Husband when Threescore and more They are so joy'd they Nature's Bounty praise And thank the Gods that did the Issue raise They were so fond that none this Child must t'uch Only themselves their pains they thought not much She gave it suck and dress'd it on her Lap The whilst he warm'd the Clouts then cool'd the Pap. They when it slept did by the Child abide Both sitting near the Cradle on each side But when it cry'd he danc'd it on his Arm The whilst she sung its Passion for to charm Thus did they strive to please it all they could And for its good yeeld up their Lives they would VVith pains and care they Nurs'd their Daughter well And with her Years her Beauty did excel But when she came to Sixteen years of age Her Youth and Life by Love she did engage Unto a Gentleman that liv'd hard-by Close to her Father's House who seem'd to dye If he enjoy'd her not yet did he dread His Father's Curse to light upon his Head His Father to his Passion being cruel Although he was his only Son and Jewel Charging upon his blessing not to marry This fairest Maid nor Servants for to carry Letters or Tokens Messages by stealth Despising her because of no great VVealth Yet she was Nobly born not very poor But had not VVealth to equal his great store But he did woo his Love
tell you said the Mind Nature builds some Minds like a curious and stately Palace and furnishes them so richly that it needs neither Time nor the Senses laying Reason as the Foundation and Judgment for the Building wherein are firm and straight Pillars of Fortitude Justice Prudence and Temperance is paved with Understanding which is solid and hard walled with Faith which is roofed with Love and bows like an Arch to embrace all towards a round Compass is Leaded with Discretion which sticks close keeping out watry Errors and windy Vanities it hath passages of Memory and Remembrance to let Objects in and Doors of Forgetfulness to shut them out likewise it hath Windows of Hopes that let in the Light of Joy and Shutts of Doubts to keep it out also it hath large Stairs of Desire which arise by steps or windings up by degrees to the Towers of Ambition Besides in Architecture of the Mind there are wide Rooms of Conception furnish'd richly with Invention and long Galleries of Contemplation which are carved and wrought with Imaginations and hung with the Pictures of Fancy Likewise there are large Gardens of Varieties wherein flow Rivers of Poetry with full Streams of Numbers making a purling Noise with Rhymes on each side are Banks of Oratory whereon grow Flowers of Rhetorick and high Trees of Perswasion upon which a Credulous Fool helped by the Senses will climb and from the top falls on the Ground of Repentance from whence old Father Time takes him up and puts him into the Arms of Expence who carries him in to the Chyrurgeon of Expence and is healed with the Plaster of Warning or else dyes of the Apoplexical Disease called Stupidity But Wisdom will only look up to the top viewing the growth and observing what kind they are of but never adventures to climb she will sit sometimes under the Branches for Pleasure but never hang on the Boughs of Insinuation While they were disputing in comes grim Death whose terrible Aspect did so affright the Mind that the very fear put out its Light and quenched out its Flame and the Body being struck by Death became sensless and dissolved into Dust. But old Father Time run away from Death as nimbly as a light-heel'd Boy or like those that slide upon the Ice but never turned to see whether Death followed or no Death called him but he made himself as it were deaf with Age and would not hear A Tripartite Government of Nature Education and Experience NATURE Education and Experience did agree to make a Juncto to govern the Monarchy of Man's Life every one ruling by turns or rather in parts being a Tripartite Government The Soul the Senses and the Brain where Nature creates Reason as the chief Magistrate to govern the Soul Education creates Virtue to govern the Appetites for Virtue is bred not born in Man And Experience creates Wit to govern the Brain for Wit though native without Experience is defective As for the Soul which Natural Reason governs it hath large Territories of Capacity and Understanding and many Nobles living therein as Heroick Passions and Generous Affections Subtil Enquiries Strong Arguments and Plain Proofs The Senses which Virtuous Education governs are five great Cities and the various Appetites are the several Citizens dwelling therein which Citizens are apt to rebel and turn Traitors if Virtue the Governess be not severe and strict in executing Justice with Courage cutting off the Heads of Curiosity Nicety Variety Luxury and Excess and though Temperance must weigh measure and set Limits yet Prudence must distribute to Necessity and Conveniency the several Gifts of Nature Fortune and Art The third is the Brain wherein Experienc'd Wit governs which is the pleasantest part and hath the larrgest Compass wherein are built many Towers of Conceptions and Castles of Imaginations Grounds ploughed with Numbers and sowed with Fancies Gardens planted with Study set with Practice from whence Flowers of Rhetorick grow and Rivers of Elegancy flow through it This part of the Kingdom hath the greatest Traffick and Commerce of any of the three parts and flourishes most being populated with the Graces and Muses Wit being popular hath great power on the Passions and Affections and in the Senses makes Civil Entertainments of Pleasure and Delight feeding the Appetites with delicious Banquets NATURE's HOUSE THE whole Globe is Nature's House and the several Planets are Nature's several Rooms the Earth is her Bed Chamber the Floor is Gold and Silver and the Walls Marble and Porphyrie the Portals and Doors are Lapis-Lazarus instead of Tapistry Hangings it is hung with all sorts of Plants her Bed is of several precious Stone the Bed-posts are of Rocks of Diamonds the Bed's-head of Rubies Saphires Topasses and Emeralds Instead of a Feather-bed there is a Bed of sweet Flowers and the Sheets are fresh Air her Table is of Agats and the like yet the Roof of the Chamber is Earth but so curiously Vaulted and so finely wrought that no Dust falls down it is built much like unto a Martin's Nest the Windows are the Pores of the Earth Saturn is her Gallery a long but a dark Room and stands at the highest Story of her House Sol is her Dining-Room which is a round Room built with Heat and lined with Light Venus is her Dressing-Room Cynthia is her Supping-Room which is divided into four Quarters wherein stand four Tables one being round at which she sits being furnished with all Plenty the other are Side-board Tables Mercury is her Room of Entertainment The Rational Creatures are her Nobles The Sensitive Creatures are her Gentry The Insensible Creatures are her Commons Life is her Gentleman-Usher Time is her Steward And Death is her Treasurer A DISPUTE THE Soul caused Reason and Love to dispute with the Senses and Appetites Reason brought Religion for whatsoever Reason could not make good Faith did Love brought Will for whatsoever Love said Will confirmed The Senses brought Pleasure and Pain which were as two Witnesses Pleasure was false Witness but Pain would not nor could not be bribed Appetite brought Opinion which in somethings would be obstinate in others very facil But they had not disputed long but they were so entangled in their Arguments and so invective in their Words as most Disputers are that they began to quarrel as most Disputers do Whereupon the Soul dismist them although with much difficulty for Disputers are Captains or Colonels of ragged Regiments of Arguments and when a Multitude are gathered together in a Rout they seldom disperse until some Mischief is done and then they are well pleased and fully satisfied The Preaching-Lady Dearly Beloved Brethren IHAVE called you together to Instruct Exhort and Admonish you My Text I take out of Nature the third Chapter in Nature at the beginning of the fourth Verse mark it dearly Beloved the third Chapter beginning at the fourth Verse The Text In the Land of Poetry there stands a steep high Mount named Parnassus at the top
Fair By Pleasures to the world invited are Bury not all your Youth and Beauty here Which like the Sun may to all Eyes appear O Sir said she the Sun that gave me light Death hath eclips'd and taken from my sight In Melancholy Shades my Soul doth lie And grieves my Body which will not yet die My Spirits long to wander in the air Hoping to find its loving Partner there Though Fates my Life have power to prolong Yet they have none my constant Mind to wrong But when I did perceive no Rhetorick could Perswade her to take comfort grieve she would Then taking my leave for to go away With adoration thus to her did say Farewell thou Angel of a Heavenly Breed For sure thou com'st not from a Mortal Seed Thou art so constant unto Virtue fair Which very few of either Sexes are And after a short time I heard she dy'd Her Tomb was built close by her Husband's side After the Man a Woman did begin To tell her Tale and thus she entred in A Description of Diverted Grief A Man had once a Young and Handsom Wife Whose Virtue was unspotted all her life Her words were smooth which from her Tongue did slide All her Discourse was wittily appli'd Her Actions modest her Behaviour so As when she mov'd the Graces seem'd to go Whatever Ill she chanc'd to see or hear Yet still her Thoughts as pure as Angels were Her Husband 's Love seem'd such as no Delight Nor Joy could take him out of his Wife's sight It chanc'd this virtuous Wife fell sick to death And to her Husband spake with dying-breath Farewell my dearest Husband dye I must Yet do not you forget me in the Dust Because my Soul would grieve if it should see Another in my room your LOVE to be My Ghost would mourn lament that never dyes Though Bodies do pure Loves eternalize You Gods said he that order Death and Life O strike me dead unless you spare my Wife If your Decree be fix'd nor alter can But she must dye O miserable Man Here do I vow Great Gods all witness be That I will have no other Wife but thee No Friendship will I make converse with none But live an Anchoret my self alone Thy Spirits sweet my Thoughts shall entertain And in my Mind thy Memory remain Farewell said she for now my Soul 's at peace And all the Blessings of the Gods encrease Upon thy Soul but I pray do not give Away that Love I had whilst I did live Turning her Head as if to sleep she lay In a soft Sigh her Spirits flew away VVhen she was dead great Mourning he did make VVould neither eat nor drink nor rest could take Kissing her cold pale Lips her Cheeks each Eye Cursing his Fate he lives and cannot dye Tears fell so fast as if his Sorrows meant To lay her in a watry Monument But when her Corps upon the Hearse was laid No Tongue can tell what mournful Cries he made Thus did he pass his time a week or two In sad commplaints and melancholy wo At last he was perswaded for to take Some air abroad ev'n for his own healths sake But first unto the Grave he went to pray Kissing that Earth wherein her Body lay After a Month or two his Grief to ease Some Recreations sought himself to please And calling for his Horses and his Hounds He went to hunt upon the Champian grounds His Thoughts by these Pastimes diverted are Pass'd by the Grave and never dropt a Tear At last he chanc'd a Company to meet Of Virgins young and fresh as Flowers sweet Their Cloathing fine their Humours pleasant gay And with each other they did sport and play Giving his Eyes a liberty to view VVith interchanging Looks in Love he grew One Maid amongst the rest most fair and young VVho had a ready wit and pleasant tongue He Courtship made to her he did address Cast off his Mourning Love for to express Rich Clothes he made and wondrous fine they were He barb'd and curl'd and powder'd sweet his Hair Rich Gifts unto his Mistress did present And every day to visit her he went They like each other well they both agree That in all haste they straight must married be To Church they went for joy the Bells did ring When married were he home the Bride did bring But when he married was some half a year He Curtain-Lectures from his VVife did hear For whatsoe're he did she did with spight And scorn dislike and all his kindness slight Cross every word she would that he did say Seem'd very sick complaining every day Unless she went abroad then she would be In humour good in other Company Then he would sigh and call into his Mind His dear dead Wife that was so wondrous kind He jealous grew and was so discontent And of his later Marriage did repent With Melancholy Thoughts fell sick and dy'd His VVife soon after was another's Bride VVhen she had done the Men aloud did cry Said she had quit her Tale most spitefully Another Man to answer what she told Began to tell and did his Tale unfold The Feminine Description A Man a walking did a Lady spy To her he went and when he came hard by Fair Lady said he why walk you alone Because said she my Thoughts are then my own For in a Company my Thoughts do throng And follow every foolish babling Tongue Your Thoughts said he 't were boldnessfor to ask To tell said she it were too great a task But yet to satisfie your Mind said she I 'le tell you how our Thoughts run commonly Sometimes they mount up to the Heavens high Then straight fall down and on the Earth will lye Then circling run to compass all they may And then sometimes they all in heaps do stay At other times they run from place to place As if they had each other in a Chace Sometimes they run as Phansie doth them guide And then they swim as in a flowing-Tide But if the Mind be discontent they flow Against the Tide their Motion 's dull and slow Said he I travel now to satisfie my Mind Whether I can a Constant VVoman find O Sir said she it 's Labour without end VVe cannot Constant be to any Friend VVe seem to love to death but 't is not so Because our Passions still move to and fro They are not fix'd but do run all about Every new Object thrusts the former out Yet we are fond and for a time so kind As nothing in the world should change our Mind But if Misfortune come we weary grow Then former Fondness we away straight throw Although the Object alter not yet may Time alter our fond Minds another way We love and like and hate and cry VVithout a Cause or Reason why Wherefore go back for you shall never find Any VVoman to have a Constant Mind The best that is shall hold but for a time Wav'ring like wind which Women hold no Crime A Woman
said This Tale I will requite To vindicate our Sex which you did slight A Man in love was with a Lady fair And for her sake would curl perfume his Hair Professions thousands unto her did make And swore for her a Pilgrimage would take I swear said he Truth shall for me be bound Constant to be whilst Life in me is found With all his Rivals he would Quarrels make In Duels fought he often for her sake It chanc'd this Lady sick was like to dye Of the Small Pox Beauty's great Enemy When she was well her Beauty decay'd quite He did forsake her and her Friendship slight Excuses made her did not often see Then asked leave a Traveller to be And thus poor Lady when her Beauty 's gone Without her Lover she may sit alone Then was the third Man's turn his Tale to tell Which to his Company he fitted well A Description of Constancy THere was a Noble Man that had a VVife Young Fair and Virtuous yet of so short life That after she had married been a year A Daughter 's born which Daughter cost her deer No sooner born the Mother laid in bed Before her Lord could come his VVife was dead Where at the sight he did not tear his Hair Nor beat his Breast nor sigh nor shed a Tear Nor buried her in state as many do And with that Funeral-Charge a new Wife wo But silently he laid her in a Tomb Where by her side he meant to have a Room For by no other side he meant to lye In Life and Death to keep her company The whilst he of his Daughter care did take And fond he was ev'n for his dear VVife's sake But Grief upon his Spirits had got hold Consum'd him more than Age that makes Men old His Flesh did waste his Manly Strength grew weak His Face grew pale and faintly did he speak As most that in a deep Consumption are Where Hectick-Fevers do with Life make warr And though he joy'd he had not long to live Yet for to leave his Daughter young did grieve For he no Kindred had to take a care Of his young Child and Strangers he did fear They would neglect their Charge not see her bred According to her Birth when he was dead Or rob her of her Wealth or else would sell Her to a Husband might not use her well Or else by Servants brib'd might her betray With some mean Man and so to run away These cares of his his Mind did much torment And her Ill Fortune to his Thoughts present At last he did conclude If any be True Just and full of Generosity They 're such as are like to the Gods on high As Powerful Princes and Dread Majesty The Soveraign was dead but left to reign His Widowed-Queen whose Prudence did maintain The Government though Forreign Warrs she had Which was a Charge and oft-times made her sad This Noble-man sent to the Queen to crave That she upon his Child would pity have To take her to the Court there to be bred That none might wrong her after he was dead The Queen most willingly his Suit did sign And so in Peace his Soul he did resign This Lady soon did to the Court repair Where she was bred with tender Love and Care And Youth that 's bred in Courts may wisest be Because they more do hear and more do see Than other Children that are bred obscure Because the Senses are best Tutors sure But Nature in this Maid had done her part And in her frame had shew'd her curious Art Compos'd her every way Body and Mind Of best Extracts that were to form Mankind All which she gave to Time for to distill And of the subtil'st Spirits the Soul to fill As Reason Wit and Judgment and to take The solid'st part the Body for to make For though that Nature all her works shapes out Yet Time doth give strength length and breadth about And as her Person grew in stature tall And that her Beauty did encrease withall So did affection in her Heart grow high Which there was planted in her Infancy There was a Subject Prince within the Land Although but young the Army did command He being chose for Birth Wealth Valour Wit And Prudence for to lead and martial it The whilst his Father did the Queen assist To manage State-affairs as knowing best The Kingdom 's Constitutions Natures bad Of Common-People who are sometimes mad And wildly in Distempers Ruins bring For most Rebellions from the Commons spring But he so just and loyally did serve His Queen and Countrey as he did preserve Himself within her Favour and her Love As great Respect and honour'd Praise did prove And in the Warrs his Son such Fame did get That in Fame's Chariot he triumphant set For he was Valiant and of Nature free Courteous and full of Generosity His VVit was quick yet so as to delight Not for to cross or in Disputes to fight For gallant Sword-men that do fight in warr Do never use with Tongues to brawl and jarr He was exact in Body and in Mind For no Defects in either could you find The Queen that had a Neece both young and fair Did strive to match her to this Prince and Heir Of all his Father's VVealth who had such store As all the Nobles else did seem but poor And the young Princess lik'd so well the choice That thoughts of marrying him did her rejoice And through her Eyes such Messages Love sent On smiling-rays and posting-glances went The other Lady did hear the Report For every one did talk of it in Court Besides she saw his Person still attend Upon the Princess and did Presents send And every day to visit her did go As being commanded by his Father so At which she sad and melancholy grew Yet her Disease not thorowly she knew Like as a Plant that from the Earth doth spring Sprouts high before a full-blown Flower it bring So did her Love in Bud obscurely lye Not any one as yet did it descry Nor did the Prince the least affection find She being reserv'd in action and in mind Sober she was and of a bashful look Of but few words yet she good notice took And much observ'd for Love hath a quick Eye And often by her Countenance doth spy The hidden Thoughts that the Tongue dare not tell For in the Mind obscurity doth dwell But yet she did espy something lay cross To his Desires but guess'd not what it was But griev'd that any thing should him displease For those that love do wish their Lov'd much ease Nay so much ease they Torments would endure If these for those they love might good procure But she grew restless and her Thoughts did run About him as about the VVorld the Sun For he was her sole VVorld and wish'd her Love Had influence as Planets from above To order his affections and to bring From several Causes one Effect to spring And the Effect that he might
love her so As love her best or at least he might know How well she lov'd him for she wish'd no more Than love for love as Saints which do adore The Gods in Heaven whose love is wholly pure And nothing can of drossy flesh endure At last she and her Thoughts in Councel sate What was best to be done or this or that They all agree that she her Love should own Since innocent and pure and make it known By her Epistles and her Pen to write What her pure Heart did dictate and indite No forfeit of her Modesty because She had no Ends but only Virtuous Laws Then took she Pen and Paper and her Wit Did tell her Love the truth and thus she writ Sir You may wonder much that I do send This Letter which by Love doth recommend It self and suit unto your judging-ear And that it was not stopt by bashful fear But let me tell you This pure Love of mine Is built on Virtue not on base Design It hath no dross nor proudly doth aspire A Flame inkindled by immac'late Fire Which I to th' Altar of your Merits bring From whence the Flame to Heaven high may spring Your glorious Fame within my Heart though young Did plant a Slip of Honour from whence sprung Pure Love and Chast Desires for I do crave Only within your Heart a place to have I do not plead hoping to be your Wife Nor 'twixt you and your Mistress to breed strife Or wish I that her Love you should forsake Or unto me a Courtly Friendship make But only when I 'm dead you would inshrine Within your Memory this Love of mine Which Love to all the World I may proclame Without a blush or check or spotted-fame 'T is not your Person I do so admire Nor yet your Wealth or Titles I desire But your Heroick Soul and Generous Mind Your Affability and Nature kind Your honest Heart where Justice still doth raign Your prudent Thoughts and a well-temper'd Brain Your helping Hand and your industrious Life Not to make broils but to decide all strife And to advance all those are in distress To help the weak and those are powerless For which my Heart and Life to Love is bound And every thought of you with Honour crown'd These are not feigning Lines that here I write But Truths as clear and pure as Heaven's Light Nor is it Impudence to let you know Love of your Virtues in my Soul doth grow Her Love thus innocent she did enroll Which was the pure Platonick of her Soul Though in black Characters the Envious may Call the sense clear as is the Morning's day And every word appear unto the sight To make her smoother Paper yet more white Thus she infolded Honour and more Truth Than ever yet was known in Female-youth Blush-colour'd Silk her Letter then did bind For to express how modest was her Mind And Virgins Wax did close it with her Seal Yet did that Letter all her Love reveal Then to her Nurse's Husband she did trust These loving Lines knowing him faithful just To all her Family he obey'd her will And would have done no doubt though 't had been ill For his Obedience never ask'd the cause Nor was he Casuist in Divine Laws But faithful and most trusty so was sent With this most Sacred Letter then he went In the mean time that she her Letter sent The Prince to her a Letter did present By a Servant in whom he put much trust As finding him both dextrous prudent just In all Employments he this Letter brought Which'mongst this Lady's Thoughts much wonder wrought Even so much as she could not believe But thought he did mistake and did conceive She was the Princess Whereupon said she I doubt this Letter was not writ to me But he confirm'd to her that it was writ She to her Closet went and open'd it With trembling hands the VVaxen Seal she broke And what he writ with a faint Voice thus spoke Fairest of all your Sex for so you are Unto all others as a Blazing-Starr VVhich shews it self and to the VVorld appears As a great VVonder once in many years And never comes but doth portend on Earth Either the fall of Princes or their Birth O let your influence only at me aim Not for to work my Overthrow or Fame But Love to make me happy all my life Then yeeld your self to be my Virtuous VVife But if you this Request to me deny The Gods I hope will grant me soon to dye She when she this had read was in a maze And senslesly did on the Letter gaze By which her Spirits discomposed were In quarrelling-disputes 'twixt Hope and Fear At last Hope got the better then did they Triumph with joy and in her Heart did play For when the Spirits mutually agree Both in the Eyes and Heart they dancing be Then to the Gentleman that came she went And told him civilly that she had sent Unto the Prince and that she could not fit So well an Answer to return as yet The Prince as Melancholy sate alone But all the while his Mistress thought upon Staid for the Messenger's return for he Till answer came refus'd all Company At last one of his Pages to him ran To tell him Without was an ancient Man That would not be deny'd for speak he must Unto the Prince or else must break his trust He was in charge with and rather than so Would venture life before he back would go And not his Message to the Prince to tell Whereat the Prince liking his Courage well Sent for him who came with Humility The Letter gave upon his bended knee The Prince the Letter read and pleased so As by his smiling-countenance did show Which made all Cloudy Thoughts disperse clears His Mind as in dark days when Sun appears Sure said the Prince the Gods our Loves decree And in our Unions they do all agree They joyn our Hearts in one our Souls so mix As if eternally in Heaven would fix Then soon he all delays for to prevent Another Letter writ which to her sent In answer of her own this Letter gave Unto her Foster-Nurse who was as grave As old bald Father Time of Courage stout A Rustick plainness and not eas'ly out Of countenance trusty to be employ'd And in her Lady's service would have dy'd The Prince commended her Fidelity And pleas'd he was at her blunt Quality But with the Letter quickly did return For she though old yet every step did run And then the Letter which the Prince had sent She to her Lady did in mirth present Who then the Letter broke with joyful speed And to her Foster-Nurse she did it read Sweetest You have exprest your Love to me With so much plainness and sincerity And yet your stile severely have you writ And rul'd your Lines with a Commanding-wit Heroick Flourishes your Pen doth draw Or executes as in a Martial-Law Then solemnly doth march in Mourning-trail And
melancholy words all hopes do vail As Golden dust on written lines strewn were Your written lines seem sprinkled with a Tear As by the Heat of Passion spread about For fear that Cruelty should blot it out But let me tell you That my love is such As never Lover loved half so much And with so fervent Zeal and purest Flame Nay something above Love that wants a Name For to express it like to Gods on high For who can comprehend a Deity And though I honour all your Sex yet my Having another Mistress I deny Besides your self and though I do obey To visit the fair Princess nothing say Concerning Love nor yet Professions make As common Lovers promise for her sake Wonders and yet my Life to her will give To do her service but whilst I do live My Heart and Soul is yours and when I dye Still will my Soul keep yours in company Though by Honour my active life is bound Unto your Sex you only will be found Within my Heart and only Love to be From whence my Brain doth Copies take of thee On which my Soul doth view with much delight Because the Soul sees not with vulgar sight For Souls do see not as the Senses do But as transparent Glass the Minds quite through Or rather as the Gods see all that 's past Present or what 's to come or the World vast Or what can be all unto them is known And so are Souls to one another shown And if our Souls do equally agree Our Thoughts and Passions to each known will be But after this Letter they both did get An opportunity by which they met No Complemental-wooing they did use True Love all flattering words it doth refuse But they agreed and both did think it fit Their love to hide not to discover it At last the Queen and Father did agree The Prince and Princess straight should married be Ne're made a question for they doubted not But Youth and Beauty had each other shot With Amorous Loves But when the Prince made known How that his heart was now none of his own His Father seem'd with trouble discontent But the enraged Queen with malice bent Did strive all ways she could for to disgrace The sweet young Lady oft disprais'd her Face Her Person Dress Behaviour and her Wit And for to match with such a Prince not fit The Prince's love so firm no words could break Impatiently did hear but little speak But the Princess heard the Prince to be A Lover to another then did she Tear rail and rave as if she frantick were And of her Rival words she would not spare One day a Company of Nobles met And in a Room they were together set The Prince and his Fair Mistress she did spy And often at them cast a spightful Eye At last her Malice set a-work her Tongue And at the Prince she evil words out flung Which he receiv'd with a submissive face Turning those scorns as favours of her grace But when she had with Scorns his Patience try'd She for to vent her Spleen in Passion cry'd Some of the Company there jesting by The other Lady ask'd if she would cry She answer made she had not the like cause Nor had she broke the Modest Civil Laws But if her Passion had misled her Tongue She would have wept to water or else flung Her self to dust for want of moisture dye Unless her life could issue through her eye But when the Prince perceiv'd such storms to rise And showring tears to fall from beauteous eyes He did absent himself and shun'd to be A trouble to the Princess Company But when the Queen had try'd all means she could To alter his affections nothing would She then their Marriage strove for to prevent And to the Army she the Prince soon sent Then order gave Not to return again But with the Army there for to remain He to his Mistress went his leave to take Perswading her a Journey she would make Unto the Army and there to agree When they should meet straight-way married be At last she did resolve to leave the Court And privately with great speed to transport Her Person to the Prince where he was gone For ne're till then she found her self alone When the Army began for to retire To Winter-Quarters he did there desire His Mistress Company and then did write To those he had entrusted how they might Convey her safely but by some mistake The Queen had means this his Letter to take Which when she read all in a rage she grew And then his Letter into the fire she threw Which when sh' had told her Neece they both did strive And both in Council sate for to contrive To hinder her wish'd-meeting wherefore they Did think it best the Lady to convey Unto some private place and then give out That she was dead which soon was spread about And every one in censuring spent some breath And most did judg she dy'd a violent death But the Queen's anger only would destroy Their Loves because her Neece then should enjoy The Prince on whom her heart in love was set And us'd all means she could his love to get But though at first they thought the Prince might mourn Yet when his grief had been by time out-worn He then might take the Princess for his Wife Concealing the young Lady all her life And though they did not murther her yet they Did strive to grieve and cross her every way Wherefore they did agree that some should tell Her that the Prince in Battel fell The report of her death spread far and near And at last came unto the Prince his ear The news struck him so hard as it did make His strength grow weak and all his limbs to shake But when his strength return'd his mind sad grew And from all company himself withdrew No Orders he would give but left the care Of all the Army to an Officer And from th' Army without the Queen's consent He did return and to his Father went And told him he all worldly things did wave Had buri'd them all in his Mistress Grave And the remainder of his days would spend In holy Devotion his Prayers would send Unto the Gods and my dear Saint said he Will be a Mediator there for me His Father did disswade him all he could But all in vain a Hermit be he would Instead of Palaces he chose a Cell Left Courts and Camps did solitary dwell Instead of Clothes that rich and costly were He wore a Garment made of Camel's hair Instead of Arms a Hermit's Habit took And for a Sword he us'd a Prayer-book Instead of treading Measures in a dance And wanton Eyes that oft would side-ways glance His knees upon hard stone did bowing bend And his sad Eyes unto the Earth descend Instead of flattering words to tempt Maids fair No words did speak but what were us'd in Prayer All wild wandring thoughts were now compos'd And the dead
walk in moving-Brains And in each Head Love's Altars for us build To sacrifice some Sighs or Tears distill'd Then to her Heart the Pistol set she shot A Bullet in and so her Grief forgot Fame with her Trumpet blew in every Ear The sound of this great Act spread every where Lovers from all parts came by the report Unto her Urn as Pilgrims did resort There offer'd Praises of her Constancy And vow'd the like unto Love's Deity A Woman said That Tale exprest Love well And shew'd that Constancy in Death did dwell Friendship they say a thing is so sublime That with the Gods there 's nothing more Divine With wonder Lovers having but one will Their two Bodies one Soul doth govern still And though they be always dis-joined much Yet all their Senses equally do t'uch For what doth strike the Eye or other part Begets in all like Pleasure or like smart So though in Substance Form divided be Yet Soul and Senses join'd in one agree A Man that to the Lady plac'd was nigh Said He would tell another Tragedy Humanity Despair and Jealousie express'd in three Persons WAlking along close by a River's side The Waters smooth ran with a flowing-tide The Sun thereon did dart such shining-light As made it than a Diamond-Chain more bright The purling-streams invited me to swim Pull'd my Clothes off then enter'd every Limb. But envious Cold alas did me oppress And darting-arrows sharp me backwards press The River to embrace me made great haste Her moist soft arms incircled round my waste Streams coming fast strove there to force me stay But that my arms did make my body way My hands did strike the soft smooth Waters face As flatt'ring them to give my body place But when I found them apt higher to rise Striving to stop my breath and blind my eyes Then did I spread my arms and Circles make And the united-streams asunder brake My Legs did kick away those Waters clear To keep them back lest they should croud too near And as I broke those Streams they run away Yet fresh suppli'd their place to make me stay Long did I struggle and my strength did try At last got hold upon a Bank near by On whose side was a Hill where Trees were plac'd Which on the Waters did a shadow cast Thither I went and when I came close by I saw a Woman there a weeping lye VVhich seeing I began to slack my pace Straight did my Eyes view there a lovely Face Under a Tree close by the Root she sate VVhich with her Tears as falling-show'rs she wet At last she spake and humbly thus did pray You Gods said she my Life soon take away No slander on my Innocency throw Let my pure Soul into Elyzium go If I drown here within this watry Lake O let my Tears a murmuring River make Give it both Voice and VVords my Grief to tell My Innocence and why therein I fell Then straight she rose the River leapt she in VVhich when I saw I after her did swim My Hands as Oars did well my Body row Though panting-breath made waters rough to grow Yet was my Breast a Keel for to divide And by that help my Body swift did glide My Eyes the Needle to direct the way VVhich from the North of Grief did not estray She as the Load-stone drew me to her aid Though Storms within did make my Mind afraid Her Garments loose did on the Waters flow Which were puft up like Sails when winds do blow I catch'd thereat to draw her to the brink But when I went to pull she down did sink Yet did not I my hold thereof let go But drew her to the Shore with much ado I panting with short breath as out of wind My Spirits spent my Eyes were dimly blind My strength so weak forc'd me to lye down straight did fill Because alas my Life was over-fraight VVhen life got strength my mind with thoughts Then to the Lady us'd all art and skill Bowing her forwardsth ' waters to let out VVhich from her Nose Mouth gusht like a spout At last her breath before restrain'd out-broke And thus to me she passionately spoke O who are you that do my Soul molest Not giving leave in Death to take my rest Is there no Peace in Nature to be found Must Misery and Fear attend us round O Gods said she here grant me my desire Here end my life and let my breath expire I Answered Thus you with Nature set your self at odds And by this wish you do displease the Gods By violence you cut off their Decree No violence in Nature ought to be But what makes you thus strive for to destroy That Life which God did give you to enjoy She Answered O Sir If you did know the torments I do feel My Soul is rackt upon Ill Fortune's Wheel My Innocency by aspersion whipt And my pure Chastity of Fame is stript My Love 's neglected and forsaken quite Banisht from that my Soul took most delight My Heart was plac'd upon a Valiant Man Who in the Warrs much Honour bravely wan His actions all by wisdom placed were And his discourse delighted every Ear His Bounty like the Sun gave life and light To those whom Misery had eclipsed quite This Man my Person seem'd for to admire My Love before the World he did desire Told me the Gods might sooner Heaven leave Than he forsake my love or truth deceive But O vile Jealousie a Lover's Devil Tormenting Thoughts with Suspitions evil Frighting the Mind with false Imaginations Burying all Joys in deepest Contemplations Long lay it smuther'd but at last out-broke VVith Hate in Rage and Spleen base words it spoke Slander and Infamy in Circles round My innocent Youth with sharpest Tongues do wound But his Inconstancy did wound me more Than Slander Spite or Malice did before For he another married and left me Clouded in dark Disgrace black Infamy VVith that she fetch'd a Sigh Heav'n bless said she This cruel unkind Man who e're he be I faint Death digs my Grave O lay me in This watry Monument then may the Spring In murmures soft with blubbering words relate And dropping weep at my Ill Fortune's Fate Then on a Groan her Soul with wings did flie Up to the Heavens and the Gods on high VVhich when I saw my Eyes with grief did flow Although her Soul I thought to Heaven did go And musing long at last I chanc'd to see A Gentleman which handsome seem'd to be He coming near ask'd me who there did lie I said 'T was one for Love and Grief did die Hearing my words he started back Brows bent VVith trembling legs he to the Body went VVhich when he view'd his blood fell from his face His Eyes were fix'd and standing in one place At last kneel'd down and thus did say No hope is left Life 's fled away Thou wandring Soul where e're thou art Hear my Confession from my heart I lov'd thee better far
in secret guise Courting her privately for fear of Spies He strove to win her unto his embraces Muffle the Faults he would and the Disgraces Said he Why may not we our Senses all delight Our Senses and our Souls Heaven unite That we call Honour only Man creates For it was never destin'd by the Fates It is a word Nature ne're taught us nay It is a Precept she forbids t' obey Then follow Nature for that follows God And not the Arts of Men they 're vain and odd Let every Sense lye steep not drown'd in pleasure Let us keep up their height in balanc'd measure First let our Eyes all Beauteous Objects view Our Ears all Sounds which Notes and Times keep true Then Scent all Odours to refresh the Brain With Tastes delicious Palates entertain Touch things most pleasing that all Parts may feel Expansion of the Soul from Head to Heel Thus we shall use what Nature to us gave For by restraint in Life we dig our Grave And in the Grave our Senses useless lye Just so is Life if Pleasures we deny Thus Heav'n that gave us Sense may take it ill If we refuse what 's offered to us still Then let our Sense and Souls take all delight Not to surfeit but feed each Appetite Come Pleasure Circle me within thy Arms Inchant my Soul with thy delightful Charms Said she It is not always in our Power To feed Delight nor Pleasure to devour Man no free Power hath of any thing Only himself can to destruction bring Can kill his Body and his Soul can damn Although he cannot alienate the same Nor can he make them always to remain Nor turn them to what they were first again Thus can we cross and vex our selves with pain But being sick cannot be well again We can Disturb great Nature's work at will But to Restore and Make is past our skill But he did plead so hard such Vows did make Such large Professions and such Oaths did take That he would constant be and that his Bride He would her make when that his Father dy'd She young and innocent knew no deceits Nor thought that Words and Vows were us'd as baits So yeelded she to all he did desire Thinking his Vows as much as Laws require But they so oft did meet till it befell She sick did grow her Body big did swell Which she took care to hide and would not be As she was wont in other Company But to her Parents she would often cry And said she swell'd so with a Tympany They did believe her and did make great moan Their only Child was now so sickly grown His Father old the Marriage to prevent Now in all haste his Son to travel sent Gave him no time nor warning to be gone Nor till he saw him ship'd left him alone But he to ease his Mistress of her fear For to return he only now took care But she no sooner heard that he was gone But in her Chamber lock'd her self alone Complain'd against her Destiny and Fate And all her Love to him was turn'd to Hate You Gods said she my Fault 's no wilful sin For I did think his Vows had Marriage been But by his stealth so privately to leave me I find my Crime and that he did deceive me For which said she you Gods torment him more Than ever any Man on Earth before With that she rose about her Neck she flung A Silken String and in that String she hung Her Parents to her Chamber did repair Calling her forth to take the fresh sweet air Supposing it might do her Health some good And at her Chamber door long time they stood But when they call'd and knock'd no answer made She being sick they ' gan to be afraid Their Limbs did shake with age Nerves being slack't Those Nervous Strings with fear were now contract At last though much a-do they had to speak They Servants call'd to open or to break The Lock No sooner done but with great fear They entred in and after they were there The horrid sight no sooner struck their Eyes But it congeal'd their Hearts and straight both dyes The Fame of their sad Fates all round was spread The Lover heard his Mistress then was dead His Clothes his Hair he tore his Breast did beat His Spirits issu'd out in a cold Sweat Said he O cursed Death come kill me quick And in my Heart thy Spear or Arrow stick Because my Love in thy cold Arms doth lye I now desire nay am resolv'd to dye But O! Love is a powerless God in vain He strives with 's Flame to melt Death's Icy Chain For though with Love my Heart so hot doth burn Yet cannot melt I fear Death's Icy Urn. Then he all in a rage to the Earth fell And there invoking up the Devils of Hell Saith he Ye Powerful Terrors me assist For to command or force Death when I list That by your help and pow'r my Love may rise From the dark Vault or Grave wherein she lies Or else by Death's cold hand alone Convert me into Marble-stone Then running as distracted in and out By Fancies Visions strange saw all about And crying loud My Mistress she is there He seem'd to catch but grasp'd nought else but air See see her Ghost how it doth slide away Her Soul is pure and shines as glorious Day But my foul Soul which is as black as Night Doth shadows cast upon the Soul that 's bright Which makes her walk as in a gloomy shade Like Shadows which the Silver Moon hath made Hark how my Love sings sweetly in the Skye Her Soul is mounted up to Heavens high And there it shall be made a Deity And I a Devil in Hell tormented lye His spirit being spent fell to the ground And lying there a while as in a swound At last he rose and with a sober pace He bent his steps as to her burying-place And with his Cloak he muffled him about His Hatpull'd o're his Brows his Eyes look't out To guide his way but far he had not gone That straight he saw the Funerals coming on Three Hearses all were born as on a breast Black cover'd two with white the third was drest A Silver Crown upon that Hearse did stand And Myrtle-boughs young Virgins bore in hand The graver sort did Cypress-branches bear The mournful Parents death for to declare With solemn Musick to the Grave them brought With Tears in-urn'd their Ashes in a Vault But he before the People did return Did make great haste to get close to the Urn His Hat pulls off then bows le ts loose his Cloak With dropping Eyes countenance sad thus spoke You charitable Friends whoe're you be To see the Dead thus buri'd solemnly The like to me your Favour I do crave Stay all and see me buri'd in this Grave Giving himself a private wound there fell Into the Grave and dying there did tell Of his sad Love but now said he Our Souls nor
sung her last sad Funeral-Song of Love The Earth grew proud now having so much honour That Odoriferous Corpse lying upon her When that pure Virgin 's Stuff dissolv'd in Dew Was the first cause new Births of Flowers grew And added Sweets to those it did renew The Grosser Parts the Curious soon did take Of it transparent Purslain they did make Her Purer Dust they keep for to refine Best Poets Verse and gild every Line And all Poetick Flames she did inspire So her Name lives in that Eternal Fire A Mock-Tale of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle CUPID Love-birding went his Arrow laid Aiming to hit a young fresh Countrey-Maid Being pur-blind his Arrow it did glance And hit an Old-old Woman there by chance She presently with Love sighs shorter breath Groan'd so as all the Neighbours thought her Death Little she had of feeling nor no ground To guess where Cupid us'd to make the wound A long forgetfulness there was no doubt Of what was Love and all those thoughts worn out At last Love rub'd her Mem'ry up and then She thought some Threescore years ago and ten Was wounded so but then was in her Prime The Surgeon cured her was Father Time But he 's not skilful for Love's wounds all those Though they seem cured yet they 'l never close But break out still again not Winter's cold Will freeze them up nor Age though ne're so old She with Laborious Hands and Idle Breech Us'd to weed Gardens and for her grown rich Some Twenty Pounds she 'd got which she did hide For her great great great Grandchild when a Bride O powerful Love to see thy fatal Curse Now to forget her Noble Race and Purse Enquires out the best Taylors in the Town To make her Wastcoats Petticoats and Gown New Shooes of Shoo-maker she did bespeak And bids him put three-penny-worth of Creak Into the Soles that Dew when them it fills Like Hero's Buskins chirrup through the Bills Hunts Pedlars out and buys fresh Ribbans blew To shew that she is turn'd a Lover true And now those Hands not white as Venus Doves Not to preserve but hide with Dog-skin Gloves Takes keener Nettles up that by her stood To rub her Skin and Cheeks but found no Blood No dangling Tresses there could any find Sister to Time no Locks before behind Yet smooth she was not as the Billiard-ball But bald as it all over you might call When met her Love he thought she smil'd to grace Her self when 't was but wrinkles in her Face And all Love's arts she try'd and oft she met him This lusty young and labouring-man to get him His Poverty with her Purse join'd their hands And so did enter in the Marriage-bands But to describe their sumptuous Marriage Feast Their richer Clothes and every honour'd Guest Their melting Love-Songs softer Musick 's t'uch Are not to be express'd not half so much As you may now imagine all my Skill And fainter Muse too weak nay Virgil's Quill With that description it would blunter grow And Homer's too with all his Furies so They blush'd for shame when saw this lovely Bride Put them all down thus triumphs she in Pride Now after Supper when they were both fed Your Thoughts must go along with them to bed There being laid he mounted now Love's Throne She sigh'd with Love then fetch'd a deeper groan And so expir'd there in height of Pleasure And left him to enjoy her long-got Treasure Nay so belov'd she was that now lies low That all the Women wish'd for to dye so Then came a Lady young that had not been In that Society and coming in They told her she a Tale must pay Or as a Bankrupt she must go away Truly said she I am not rich in Wit Nor do I know what Tales your Humours fit Yet in my young and budding Muse Will draw the Seasons of the Year Like ' Prentice-Painters which do use The same to make their skill appear But Nature is the Hand to guide The Pencil of the Brain and place The Shadows so that they may hide All the Defects or giv 't a grace Phansie Draws Pictures in the Brain Not subject to the outward Sense They are Imaginations vain Yet are they the Life's Quintessence For when Life 's gone yet they will live And to the Life a Fame will give The Tale of the Four Seasons of the Year THE Spring is dress'd in buds blossoms sweet And Grass-green Socks she draws upon her feet Of freshest air a Garment she cuts out With painted Tulips fringed round about And lines it all within with Violets blew And yellow Primrose of the palest hew Then wears an Apron made of Lillies white And lac'd about it is with Rays of Light Cuffs of Narcissus her fair hands do tye Pinn'd close with Stings of Bees which buzzing flye To gather Honey-dew which thereto cleaves And leave their Stings when they do prick the leaves Ribbons of Pinks and Gilliflowers makes Roses both white and red for Knots she takes When she 's thus dress'd the Birds in Love do fall And chirping then do to each other call To sing and hop and merry make And joy'd they are all for the Spring 's sake But of all Birds the Nightingal delights To sing the Spring to bed in warmer Nights Because the Spring at Night draws in her Head Into the Earth for that she makes her bed And in the Morning when asleep she lies The Nightingal doth sing to make her rise And calls the Sun to open her fair Eyes Who gallops fast that he might her surprise But when the Spring is past her Virgin 's prime And married is to old bald-Father Time The Nightingal for grief doth cease to sing And silent is till comes another Spring The Summer 's cloth'd in glorious Sun-shine bright And with a trailing-Veil of long-day-light Some Dust as Powder on her Hair doth place And with the Morning's Dew doth wash her Face A Zephyrus-Wind she for a Fan doth spread To cool her Cheeks which are hot-burning-red And with that Heat so thirsty she doth grow As she drinks all the fresh sweet Springs that flow Then in a Thundring-Chariot she doth ride For to astonish Mortals with her Pride Before her Chariot flashing-Lightning flyes A fluid Fire that spreads about the Skyes As Princes great that in dry ways do travel Have Water thrown t' allay the Dust and Gravel This Fire allays cleanses all Vapours gross Lest rising they should stop the Thunder's force And when she from her Chariot doth alight Then is she waited on by Sun-beams bright Or else the Rays that from the Moon do spread As Waxen Tapers light her to her bed And with refreshing-sleeps a while doth rest There sweet air breathing from her panting breast Yet Summer's proud ambitious high and hot And full of action idle she is not Chol'rick she is and oft doth Quarrels make But yet sometimes she doth her Pleasure take At high-noon with the Butter-flyes doth
on Yet they are Curious built with Art and Care Like Lovers who build Castles in the Air Which ev'ry puff of Wind is apt to break As Imaginations when Reason's weak They said His Tale was short He Answer made I 'le piece it out And thus he said THE Silk-worm digs her Grave as she doth spin And makes her Winding-sheet to lap her in And from her Bowels takes a heap of Silk Which on her Body as a Tomb is built Out of her ashes do her young ones rise Having bequeath'd her Life to them she dyes They only take that Life to spin a Death For as they wind up Silk they wind out Breath Thus rather than do nought or idle be They 'l work and spin out Life's small Thread we see When all their work is done ready to dye Their Wings are grown for Life away to flye The Silk-worm is first a small Seed then turneth into a Worm at last grows to have Wings like a Flye but lives not to make use of them As soon as she is big enough she spins a Ball of Silk all about her self wherein being grown to be a Fly she makes a hole to come out to leave Seed for the generation of her young ones After which she immediately dyes The Women said the Men made quick dispatch In telling Tales like Dogs that Bones do snatch But howsoe're a Woman did begin To tell a Tale and thus she entred in A Description of the Passion of Love misplaced A Lady on the Ground a mourning lay Complaining to the Gods and thus did say You Gods said she why do you me torment Why give you Life without the Mind's content Why do you Passions in a Mind create Then leave it all to Destiny and Fate With knot and snarls they spin the Thread of Life Then weave it cross and make a Web of strife Come Death though Fates are cross yet thou' rt a Friend And in the Grave dost peace quiet send It chanc'd a Gentleman that way came by And seeing there a weeping Beauty lye Alas dear Lady why do you so weep Unless your Tears you mean the Gods shall keep Jove will present those Tears to Juno fair For Pendants and for Neck-laces to wear And so present that Breath to Juno fair That she may always move in perfum'd air Forbear forbear make not the World so poor Send not such Riches for the Gods have store I 'm one said she to whom Fortune's a Foe Crossing my Love working my overthrow A Man which to Narcissus might compare For Youth and Beauty and the Graces fair Do him adorn on him my love is plac'd But his neglect doth make my life to wast My Soul doth mourn my Thoughts no rest can take He by his scorn doth me unhappy make With that she cry'd O Death said she come quick And in my heart thy Leaden Arrow stick Take comfort Lady grieve and weep no more For Nature handsome Men hath more in store Besides dear Lady Beauty will decay And with that Beauty love will flee away If you take time this heat of Love will wast Because 't is only on a Beauty plac'd But if your Love did from his Virtue spring You might have lov'd though not so fond have been The love of Virtue is for to admire The Soul and not the Body to desire That 's a gross Love which only dull Beasts use But Noble Man to love the Soul will chuse Because the Soul is like a Deity Therein pure Love will live eternally O Sir but Nature hath the Soul so fix'd Unto the Body and such Passions mix'd That nothing can divide or dis-unite Unless that Death will separate them quite For when the Senses in Delights agree They bind the Soul make it a Slave to be He Answered If that the Soul in Man should give consent In every thing the Senses to content No Peace but War amongst Mankind would be And Desolation would have Victory No Man could tell or challenge what 's his own He would be Master that is strongest grown Lady love Virtue and let Beauty dye And in the Grave of Ruins let it lye With that she rose and with great joy said she Farewell fond Love and foolish Vanity The Men condemn'd the Tale because said they None but a Fool would preach so Wise men pray But Ladies hear me did another say TO love but one is a great fault For Nature otherwise is taught She caus'd Varieties for us to taste And other Appetites in us she plac'd And caus'd dislike in us to rise To surfeit when we gormandise For of one Dish we glut our Palat Although it be but of a Salat When Solomon the Wise did try Of all things underneath the Sky Although he found it Vanitie Yet by it Nature made us free For by the change her Works do live By several Forms that she doth give So that Inconstancy is Nature's play And we her various Works must her obey A Woman said that Men were foolish Lovers And whining Passions Love oft discovers They 're full of Thoughts said she yet never pleas'd Always complaining and yet never eas'd They 'l sigh they mourn they groan they make great moan They 'l sit cross-legg'd with folded arms alone Sometimes their Dress is careless with despair With hopes rais'd up 't is costly rich and rare Setting their Looks and Faces in a frame Their Garb's affected by their Mistress Name Flattering their Loves forswearing then each boasts What Valiant Deedsh ' has done in Forreign Coasts Through what great dangers his adventures run Such acts as Hercules had never done That every one that hears doth fear his Name And every Tongue that speaks sounds forth his fame And thus their Tongues extravagantly move Caus'd by vain-glorious foolish amorous Love Which only those of his own Sex approve But when their Rallery was past The Tale upon a Man was cast Then crying peace to all that talking were They were bid hold their Tongues and lend an Ear. The Man more than the rest was somewhat old They said to him Your Tale you have not told Alas said he my Memory is bad And I have none so good as you have had He musing a short time thus did begin I hope said he my Tale may credit win A Description of Civil-Warrs A Kingdom which long time had liv'd in Peace Her People rich with Plenty fat with Ease With Pride were haughty grown Pride Envy bred From Envy Factions grew then Mischief spread And Libels every where were strew'd about Which after into Civil-Warr broke out Some for the Commons fought some for the King And great Disorder was in ev'ry thing Battels were won and lost on either side Where Fortune ebb'd and flow'd like to a Tide At last the Commons won and then astride Fierce Tyranny on Noble Necks did ride All Monuments pull'd down that stood long time And Ornaments were then thought a great Crime No Law was pleaded but the Martial Law The
So he went to a Noble Gentleman who had a fair well-bred virtuous Lady to his Daughter although but a small Portion and having the Father's consent and the Lady's affection at least her good-will married When these three Knights were married each carried his Wife to his Dwelling-House Where the Covetous Knight did spare from his Back and Belly rise early and go to bed late yet his Wife and Servants did agree at least did wink at each other to cozen him let him do what he could to spare they outwitted him with craft to get The Amorous Knight when he had lived at home a little while to himself and his Wive's gay Clothes were faded and she appeared in her natural Complexion and became like her Neighbours he courted others and despised his Wife then she strives to spruce up and to get others to court her which Courtships did cause Expences in Dancing Meetings Revelling and Feasting The Judicious Knight and his Lady lived happily loved dearly governed orderly thrived moderately and became very rich when the other two were Bankrupts the one being cozen'd by his Wife and Servants he not allowing them sufficiently the other being impoverished with Mistresses and Vanities Ambition preferr'd before Love THERE was a Noble Gallant Man made love to a Virtuous Fair Lady and after he had express'd his affection and desired a return and so agree to marry she told him If she would marry and had her liberty to chuse a Husband through all the VVorld it should be him for said she the same of your Worth and praise of your Merits hath planted a Root of Affection in my Infant-years which hath grown up with time but said she there was another Root also planted therein by Encouragement which is Ambition which Ambition says she hath out-grown that so that the Tree of Love is like an Oak to a Cedar for though it may be more lasting yet it will never be so high On this high Tree of Ambition said she my Life is industrious to climb to Fame's high Tower for the top reaches to it which if I marry I shall never do Why said her Lover Marriage can be no hindrance O yes said the Lady Husbands will never suffer their VVives to climb but keep them fast lock'd in their Arms or tye them to Houshold-Employments or through a foolish-obstinacy barr up their Liberty but did they not only give them Liberty but assist them all they could yet the unavoidable Troubles of Marriage would be like great storms which would shake them off or throw them down before they had climbed half the way VVherefore said she I will never marry unless you can assure me that Marriage shall not hinder my climbing nor cause me to fall Her Lover said I will give you all the assurance I can but said he You cannot be ignorant but know That Fortune Fates and Destiny have power in the ways to Fame as much as in the ways to Death and Fates said he do spin the Thread of Fame as unevenly as they do Threads of Life Yes said she but there is a Destiny belongs to Industry and Prudence is a good Decree in Nature VVherefore said she I will be so prudent as not to marry and so industrious that all the actions of my life and studious contemplations shall be busily employed to my Ambitious Designs for I will omit nothing towards the life of my Memory The Matrimonial Agreement A Handsome young Man fell in love with a fair young Lady insomuch that if he had her not he was resolved to dye for live without her he could not So wooing her long at last although she had no great nor good opinion of a married life being afraid to enter into so strict bonds observing the discords therein that trouble a married life being raised by a disagreement of Humours and jealousie of Rivals But considering withall that Marriage gave a respect to Women although Beauty were gone and seeing the Man personable and knowing him to have a good Fortune which would help to counterpoise the Inconveniences and Troubles that go along with Marriage she was resolved to consent to his request The Gentleman coming as he used to do and perswading her to chuse him for her Husband she told him she would but that she found her self of that Humour that she could not endure a Rival in Wedlock and the fear of having one would cause Jealousie which would make her very unhappy and the more because she must be bound to live with her Enemy for so she should account of her Husband when he had broken his Faith and Promise to her He smiling told her She need not fear and that Death was not more certain to Man than he would be constant to her sealing it with many Oaths and solemn Protestations nay said he When I am false I wish you may be so which is the worst of Ills. She told him Words would not serve her turn but that he should be bound in a Bond That not only whensoever she could give a proof but when she had cause of suspition she might depart from him with such an allowance out of his Estate as she thought fit to maintain her He told her He was so confident and knew himself so well that he would unmaster himself of all his Estate and make her only Mistris She answered A part should serve her turn So the Agreement was made and sealed they married and lived together as if they had but one soul for whatsoever the one did or said the other disliked not nor had they reason for their study was only to please each other After two years the Wife had a great Fit of Sickness which made her pale and wan and not so full of lively spirits as she was wont to be but yet as kind and loving to her Husband as she was afore and her Husband at her first sickness wept watched and tormented himself beyond all measure but the continuance made him so dull and heavy that he could take no delight in himself nor in any thing else His occasions calling him abroad he found himself so refreshed that his spirits revived again but returning home and finding not that mirth in the sick as was in the healthy Wife it grew wearisome to him insomuch that he always would have occasions to be abroad and thought Home his only Prison His Wife mourning for his absence complained to him at his return and said she was not only unhappy for her Sickness but miserable in that his occasions were more urgent to call him from her when she had most need of his company to comfort her in the loss of her Health than in all the time they had been married And therefore pray Husband said she what is this unfortunate business that employs you so much and makes me see you so seldom He told her The Worldly Affairs of Men Women did not understand and therefore it were a folly to recite them besides said
he I am so weary in following them that I hate to repeat them She like a good Wife submitted to her Husband's Affairs and was content to sit without him The Husband returning home one day fromjolly Company whose Discourse had been merry and wanton he met with his Wife's Maid at the door and ask'd her how her Mistris did she said Not very well Thou lookest well said he and chucks her under the chin She proud of her Master's kindness smerks and smiles upon him insomuch that the next time he met her he kiss'd her Now she begins to despise her Mistris and only admires her self and is always the first Person or Servant that opens the door to her Master and through the dilgence of the Maid the Master 's great Affairs abroad were ended and his only employment and busie care is now so much at home that whensoever he was abroad he was in such hast that he could scarce salute any body by the way and when his Friends spake to him his Head was so full of thoughts that he would answer quite from the question insomuch that he was thought one of the best and carefullest Husbands in the World In the mean time his VVife grew well and his Maid grew pert and bold towards her Mistris and the Mistress wondering at it began to observe more strictly what made her so for she perceived the VVench came oftner than accustomed where her Husband and she were and found also that her Husband had always some excuse to turn his head and eyes to that place where she was and that whensoever the Wench came where they were he would alter his Discourse talking extravagantly VVhereupon not liking it she examined her Husband VVhether his Affections were as strong to her as ever they were He answered He was the perfectest good Husband in the World and so he should be until he dyed It chanc'd he was employed by the State into another Countrey where at the parting his Wife and he lamented most sadly and many tears were shed But when he was abroad being in much Company who took their liberty and had many Mistresses he then considered with himself he was a most miserable Man that must be bound only to one but withall did consider what Promises he made his Wife and what Advantages she had on him in his Estate which kept him in good order for a time But at last he was perswaded by his Companions to fling off all Care and take his pleasure whilst he might for said they What do our Wives know what we do Besides said they Wives are only to keep our House to bring us Children not to give us Laws Thus preaching to him he at last followed their Doctrine and improved it so well that he became the greatest Libertine of them all like a Horse that having broken his Reins when he finds himself loose skips over Hedges Ditches Pales or whatsoever is in his way and runs wildly about until he hath wearied himself But his Wife having some Intelligence as most commonly they want none or may be out of pure love comes to see him He receives her with the greatest joy and makes the most of her in the World carrying her to see all the Countrey and Towns thereabouts and all the Varieties Curiosities and Sights that were to be seen But when she had been there a Month or such a time he tells her how dangerous it is to leave his House to Servants who are negligent and his Estate to be entrusted he knows not to whom so that there is no way but to return both for his and her good especially if they had Children although said he I had rather part with my life than be absent from you but Necessity hath no Law So she good Woman goeth home to care and spare whilst he spends for in the mean time he follows his Humours and Custom making Confidence and Confidence Carelesness begins to be less shie and more free insomuch as when he returned home his Maid whom he did but eye and friendly kiss now he courts in every Room and were it not for his having his Estate made over even before his Wive's face but that made him fawn and flatter and somewhat for quietness sake But his Wife one day being in his Closet by chance opened a Cabinet wherein she found a Letter from a Mistris of his whereat she was much amazed and being startled at it at last calling her self to her self again shewed it to her Husband he fain would have excused it but that the plainness of truth would not give him leave whereupon he craved pardon promising amendment and swearing he never would do so again No said she I never will trust a broken Wheel Do you know what is in my Power said she Yes said he a great part of my Estate O how I adore Dame Nature said she that gave me those two Eyes Prudence to foresee and Providence to provide but I have not only your Estate but your Honour and Fame in my Power so that if I please all that see you shall hiss at you and contemn whatsoever you do For if you had the Beauty of Paris they would say You were but a Fair Cuckold If you had the Courage of Hector they would say You were but a Desperate Cuckold Had you the Wisdom of Ulysses or Solomon they would laugh and say There goes he that is not yet so Wise as to keep his Wife Honest. If you had the Tongue of Tully and made as Eloquent Orations they would say There is the Prating Cuckold If you were as fine a Poet as Virgil or as sweet as Ovid yet they would laugh and scorn and say He makes Verses whilst his Wife makes him a Cuckold Now Jealousie and Rage are her two Bawds to corrupt her Chastity the one perswading her to be revenged to shew her Husband she could take delight and have Lovers as well as he This makes her Curl Paint Prune Dress make Feasts Plays Balls Masques and have Merry-meetings abroad whereupon she began to find as much pleasure as her Husband in Variety and now begins to flatter him and to dissemble with him that she may play the Whore more privately finding a delight in obscurity thinking that most sweet which is stoln so they play like Children at Bo-peep in Adultery and face it out with fair looks and smooth it over with sweet words and live with false hearts and dye with large consciences But these repenting when they dyed made a fair end Of Two Ladies different Humours THERE were two young Ladies bred together the one proved a Stoick living a retired life the other proved a Gossip her Head being full of vain Designs her Tongue full of idle Discourses her Body busily-restless running from place to place spending her life in fruitless Visits and expensive Entertainments gleaning up all the News of the Town and when she had gathered up a Bundle or Sheaf of this unprofitable
Lady Learned Lady SOME are of opinion That the World is a living Creature and the Sun is the Soul of it A Wise and Learned Philosopher held That the World was made of Atoms the Chaos being nothing but an infinite confus'd quantity of them Wit I think the Chaos was a great Lump of Wit which run it self into several Figures creating several Forms Thus the Chaos being Wit and the Wit being Motion hath invented this World and many more for all we know for Wit is never idle but is still producing something either of Delight or Profit Wis. The best is Not to dispute of what Matter it is or how it was made or when it was made but to enjoy the Pleasures thereof to make use of the Profits it hath and to avoid as much as we can the Inconveniences and Troubles therein for Disputes carry more out of the ways of Truth and leads further into the ways of Ignorance than all the Reason Nature hath given can add to our Knowledg and there is no Reason so strong but may be contradicted by another Wit If our Reason be so false a Guide and not only the Creation but the Tract of the World is so hard to be found out How shall we find a direct way to Jove's Mansion Wis. I will tell you The way to walk is by the Line of a good Life and to take hold of Faith and to climb up to Heaven by the Ladder of Prayers Lear. Nature is a Chymist and Water is the Mercury Fire is the Sulphur Air is the Volatil Salt Earth is the fixed Salt the fixed Starrs are the Crystalline part Life is the Spirits or Essences Death is the Caput Mortuum Wit Wit which is the Scholar of Nature is as good a Chymist for Wit doth extract something out of every thing Wis. And Wisdom knows how to apply the Extraction to the best use Learn As the agitation of the Air makes us draw our breath so the agitation of the World makes it continue Wit The agitation of the Brain makes a sharp ready Wit Wis. The agitation of Virtue makes a peaceable Commonwealth Learn Some Moral Philosophers hold That no Creature hath Reason but Man Wis. Men only talk of Reason but live like Beasts following their Appetites without Rules Wit Men may as soon set Rules to Eternity as to themselves for their Desires are so infinite and so intricate that we may as soon measure Eternity as them for Desires are like Time still run forward and what is past is as it had never been Wis. But Man may set Rules to Himself not to his Desires and as wise Laws govern the Life so that Reason Which Men say they have should govern their insatiable Desires Learn 'T is said History instructs the Life it registers Time it enthrones Virtue it proclaims Noble Natures it crowns Heroick Actions it divulges Baseness and hangs up Wickedness It is a Torch that gives light to dark Ignorance It is a Monument to the Dead and a Fame to Persons of Merit Wit In Poetry is included Musick and Rhetorick which is Number and Measure Judgment and Fancy Imitation and Invention It is the finest Art in Nature for it animates the Spirits to Devotion it fires the Spirits to Action it begets Love it abates Hate it tempers Anger it asswages Grief it eases Pain it encreases Joy allays Fear and sweetens the whole Life of Man by playing so well upon the Brain that it strikes the strings of the Heart with Delight which makes the Spirits to dance and keeps the Mind in tune whereby the Thoughts move equally in a round Circle where Love sits in the Center as Mistress and Judg. Learn Some Philosophers hold That all the Changes in the World are only caused by Dilatation and Contraction Wit I am sure too much Dilatation of the Spirits causeth a weakness by dis-uniting their Forces and contracting of Humours causeth Diseases Yet a dilatating Wit is best spreading it self smoothly flowing and easily which if it be contracted it makes it constraint hard and unpleasant and becomes difficult to the Understanding VVis Let us contract our Vanities and moderate our Appetites with sober Temperance and dilate our Virtues and good Graces by Noble Actions and Pious Endeavours Learn The Mind some say is nothing but Local Motion in the Brain which we call Spirits in Animals that is Vapour indeed Vapour of Vapours that is the thin and sharp Vapours it is an Extract of Vapour from Vapours like Essences or Smoak that arises from the porous and liquid parts of the Body especially the Blood This Essence hath an innated Motion arising from the acuteness thereof yet its strength is often allayed by the dulness and coldness of grosser Vapours or obstructed or hindred by the thickness of dull Matter and oft-times it evaporates out of the Body by too much rarification caused by too quick a Motion Wit The Mind is like a God an Incorporeal thing and so infinite that it is as impossible to measure the Mind as Eternity Indeed Vapour is a great Instrument to the Wit for gross Vapour stops up the Wit cold Vapour congeals it hot Vapour inflames it thin and sharp Vapour quickens it Thus all sorts of Vapours make Variety of Wit and the several Figures and Works and Forms that the Vaporous Smoak ariseth in causeth several Fancies by giving several Motions to the Brain VVis Well Sisters to conclude your Dispute The best Ingredient of the Mind is Honesty and the best motion of the Brain is Reason otherwise the Brain would be mad and the Mind wicked wherefore moderate the one and temper the other Learn Learning encreases Knowledg begets Understanding employs Time and enriches the Mind Wit Wit invents profitable Arts it creates Sciences it delights the Mind it recreates the Life and entertains Time VVis VVisdom guides the Life safe gives honest Laws to the VVill sets noble Rules to the Actions it governs Misfortunes easily it prevents Misfortunes prudently it employs Time thristily it makes Peace it gets Victory it tempers those Passions that would disturb the Soul it moderates those Appetites that would cause Pain to the Body it endures Sickness patiently and suffers Death valiantly Learn There are many several kinds of Arts as Arts of Pleasure enticing Arts vain-glorious Arts vain Arts superfluous Arts superstitious Arts ambitious Arts covetous Arts profitable Arts destructive Arts. Arts of Pleasure are Gardens Groves Bowers Arbours Grots Fountains Prospects Landskips Gilding Painting Sculpture likewise Musick of all sorts Confectionary Cookery and Perfumes Enticing Arts are Artificial Singing Artificial Speaking Artificial Dressing Dancing Powdring Curling Perfuming Rich Clothing Luxurious Entertainments Vain Arts are Feathers Fancies Ribbons black-Patches and Side-Glasses Amorous Arts are flattering Complements false Professions affected Garbs affected Speeches affected Countenances affected Actions Sonnets Poems Frolicks Questions and Commands Proposes and Riddles Presents Private Meetings and Conference Expensive Arts are Feasting Masquing Balling Carding Dicing Racing
five years for as the years of Twenty by his Parents Perswasion being a younger Brother at that time although afterwards he was lest the first of his Family by the death of his Eldest Brother he married a Widow being Noble and Rich but well stricken in years never bearing Child And thus being wedded more to Interest than Love was the cause of his seeking those Societies which best pleased him But after long Conflicts and Doubts Fears Hopes and Jealousies he resolved to remove her from that House and to try to win her by Gifts and Perswasions And sending for a reverent Lady his Aunt whom he knew loved him he told her the passage of all that had hapned and also his affection praying her to take her privately from that place and to conceal her secretly until he was well recovered entreating her also to use her with all the Civility and Respect that could be Going from him she did all that he had desired her removing her to a House of hers a Mile from the City and there kept her The young Lady in the mean time expecting nothing less than Death was resolved to suffer as valiantly as she had acted So casting off all care she was only troubled she lived so idly But the old Lady coming to see her she prayed her to give her something to employ her time on for said she my Brain hath not a sufficient stock to work upon it self Whereupon the old Lady asked her If she would have some Books to read in She answered Yes if they were good ones or else said she they are like impertinent persons that displease more by their vain talk than they delight with their Company Will you have Romances said the old Lady She answered No for they extol Virtue so much as begets an Envy in those that have it not and know they cannot attain unto that perfection and they beat Infirmities so cruelly as it begets pity and by that a kind of love Besides their Impossibilities makes them ridiculous to Reason and in Youth they beget Wanton Desires and Amorous Affections What say you to Natural Philosophy said she She answered They were meer Opinions and if there be any Truths said she they are so buried under Falshood as they cannot be found out Will you have Moral Philosophy No said she for they divide the Passions so nicely and command with such severity as it is against Nature to follow them and impossible to perform them What think you of Logick She answered It is nothing but Sophistry making Factious Disputes but concludes nothing Will you have History No said she for they are seldom writ in the time of Action but a long time after when Truth is forgotten but if they be writ at present Partiality Ambition or Fear bears too much sway Will you have Divine Books No said she they raise up such Controversies that cannot be allayed again tormenting the Mind about that they cannot know whilst they live and frights their Consciences so that it makes men afraid to dye But said the young Lady Pray give me Play-Books or Mathematical ones the first said she discovers and expresses the Humours and Manners of Men by which I shall know my self and others the better and in shorter time than Experience can teach me And in the latter said she I shall learn to demonstrate Truth by Reason and to measure out my Life by the Rule of good Actions to set Marks and Figures on those Persons to whom I ought to be grateful to number my days by Pious Devotions that I may be found weighty when I am put in the Scales of God's Justice Besides said she I may learn all Arts useful and pleasant for the Life of Man as Musick Architecture Navigation Fortification Water-works Fire-works all Engines Instruments Wheels and many such like which are useful besides I shall learn to measure the Earth to reach the Heavens to number the Starrs to know the Motions of the Planets to divide Time and to compass the whole World The Mathematicks is a Candle of Truth whereby I may peep into the Works of Nature to imitate her in little It comprises all that Truth can challenge All other Books disturb the Life of Man this only settles it and composes it in sweet Delight The old Lady said By your Beauty and Discourse you seem to be of greater Birth and better Breeding than usually ordinary young Maids have and if it may not be offensive to you pray give me leave to ask you From whence you came and What you are and How you came here She sighing said I was by an unfortunate Warr sent out of my Countrey with my Mother for safety being very young and the only Child my Parents had My Father who was one of the Greatest and Noblest Subjects in the Kingdom and being employed in the Chief Command in that Warr sent my Mother not knowing what the Issue would be to the Kingdom of Security where he had been formerly sent Embassador So my Mother and I went to remain there until the troubles were over But my Father being killed in the Warrs my Mother dyed for grief and left me destitute of Friends in a strange Countrey only with some few Servants I hearing a Peace was concluded in the Kingdom was resolved to return to my own Native Soil to seek after the Estate which my Father left me as his only Heir When I embarked I only took two Servants a Maid and a Man but by an unfortunate Storm I was cast upon a Shore belonging to this Kingdom where after I was landed my two Servants most treacherously robb'd me of all my Jewels and those Moneys I had and then most barbarously left me alone where afterwards my Host sold me to an old Bawd and she to one of her Customers who sought to force me whereas I to defend my self shot him but whether he be dead or alive I know not afterwards I was brought hither but by whose directions you I suppose can give a better account to your self than I yet I cannot say but that since I came hither I have been civilly used and courteously entertained by your self who seem to be a Person of Worth which makes my fears less for I hope you will secure me from Injuries though not from Death And since you are pleased to enquire what I am and from whence I came I shall entreat the same return to instruct me in the knowledg of your self and why I was brought hither and by whose Order The old Lady said She was Sister to the Prince's Mother and a tender lover of her Nephew and to comply with his desires she was brought there to be kept until he should dispose of her Then she told her what he was but never mentioned the affection he had for her but rather spoke as if her Life were in danger So taking her leave she left her telling her She would send her such Books as she desired Thus passing
Felicity But these are only Words not Acts to shew you my thanks Yet here I do offer all that the Gods or Nature gave me Life Health or Beauty Peace Pleasure or Plenty and these shall stand upon the Altar of a Thankful Heart ready to be sacrificed to your Service Whereupon all the Army cryed out An Angel an Angel the Gods had sent unto them Then was there a Declaration read in the Army of the Agreement of Peace and when it was read That the Prince should be Vice-Roy in the Kingdom of Amity all the Soldiers as if they had but one Voice cryed out Travelia shall be Vice-Regent which was granted to pacifie them Whereupon there were great Acclamations of Joy But the Prince told his Mistress She should also govern him She answered That he should govern her and she would govern the Kingdom Then went the King and Queen the Prince and Travelia the Nobles and the chief Commanders to celebrate their Nuptials and on the Wedding-day though the Queen was adorned with a Crown of Diamonds hung about with rich Jewels yet her Beauty did dim their Luster But Travelia was only drest in a white Silk Garment which hung loosly about her and yet Her Face did seem like to a Glory bright Where Gods and Goddesses did take delight And in her Eyes new Worlds you there might see Love-flying Cupids there as Angels be And on her Lips Venus enthroned is Inviting duller Lovers there to kiss Wing'd Mercury upon her Tongue did sit Strewing out Flow'rs of Rhetorick and Wit Pallas did circle-in each Temple round Which she with Wisdom as a Lawrel crown'd And in her Cheeks sweet Flowers for Love's Posies There Fates spun Tbreads of Lillies and of Roses And every loving Smile as if each were A Palace for the Graces to dwell there And chast Diana on her Snow-white Breast There lean'd her Head with most pure thoughts to rest When view'd her Neck great Jove turn'd all to wonder In Love's soft Showers melting without Thunder The lesser Gods on her white Hands did lie Thinking each Vein to be their Azure Skie Her charming circling Arms made Mars to cease All his fierce Battels for a Love 's soft Peace And on our World's Globe sate triumphing high Heav'd there by Atlas up unto the Skie And sweet-breath'd Zephyrus did blow her Name Into the glorious Trumpet of good Fame After they were married to set out their Triumphs they had Masques Playes Balls Pageants Shews Processions and the like And when they had kept the Festivals some days in the City the Prince and Princess desired they might go and revel for some days with the Army that was without the City The Queen being well pleased therewith thither they went where they had Tiltings Running at the Ring Fencing Wrastling Vaulting Jumping Running Races of Horse and Foot Baiting of Beasts and many the like Warlike Pastimes and such Hospitality that every Common Soldier was feasted And after they were well satisfied with Sports and good Cheer the Prince and Princess returned to the Court again where after they had remained some time the King and Queen sent them with the Army into the Kingdom of Amity and the Soldiers returned home not only with all the Spoils they got in the Warr but the King did present all the Chief Commanders with Presents and the two Kingdoms lived in Peace and Tranquillity during the life of the King and Queen and for ought I can hear do so to this day The Tale of a Traveller A Gentleman and his Wife being married some years and having none but Daughters at last was born unto them a Son of whom they were very fond and did strive to give him the best Breeding they could In the first place he was to learn the Horn-book from that his Primmer and so the Bible by his Mother's Chamber-Maid But after he came to ten years old or thereabouts he was sent to a Free-School where the noise of each Scholar's reading aloud did drown the sense of what they read burying the Knowledg and Understanding in the consusion of many Words and several Languages yet were whipt for not learning by their Tutors whose ill teaching broke and weakned their Memories with over-heavy burthens and striving to thrust in more Learning than could be digested or kept in the Brain dulled their Senses and opprest their Understanding for being afraid of whipping they got their Lessions by rote without understanding the sense But this Youth being ingenious by nature learnt more by his own Capacity than by his Tutor's dull Rules After some time he was sent to the University where continuing from the years of Fourteen to the years of Eighteen did at last consider with himself that he was buried to the World and its Delights conversing more with the Dead than with the Living in reading old Authors for that little company he had was only at Prayers and Meat the time of the one being taken up in Devotion the other in Eating or rather Fasting for their Prayers were so long and their Commons so short that it seemed rather an Humiliation and Fasting than an Eating and a Thanksgiving But their Conversation was yet a greater Penance then their spare Diet for their Disputations which are fed by Contradictions did more wrack the Brain than the other did gripe the Belly the one with filling the Head with vain Opinions and false Imaginations for want of the light of Truth as the other with Wind and Crude Humours for want of sufficient nourishment Upon which Considerations he left the University and fitted himself to travel into Forreign Countreys to see their Varieties and Curiosities and to learn the Customs and Laws thereof going into all places and Companies of note and recourse But when he had travelled some few years he began to sum up his Journeys that he might know what advantagious Experiences he had gained by his Observations Whereupon he recounted the several Forms and Fashions in Architecture both in Churches and Palaces Cities Towns and Villages their Longitudes and Latitudes their Height and Thickness their Forms as Round Square Triangular and the like their Materials as Stones and what sorts of them Wood Brick Tiles Slat or the like what Pillars and Pillasters of all fashions Cuts and Carvings the Doors and Frontispieces which are for grace and ornament as Bellviews or for Conveniency to avoid the sharp Winds shunning the Northern or Southern Points And so for Windows placing them obliquely from the Sun to avoid the extremity of Heat Then likewise Granishing as Gilding Fretting and their Paintings where the proportion of their Figures were made according to the distance of the Eyes Then what Piles had been so built upon the least compass of Ground that none was lost but every foot employed making no vacant corners or useless places Then their Situation and Accommodations for Water and Fuel and Healthsome Air. What Cities had Navigable Rivers or conveniency of Ports and Havens for
be dead So in two or three days all Contracts were confirmed and the Match was concluded with the approbation of all Friends of either side married they were and in a short time after he carried her to his House there made her Mistress of his Estate and whilst he governed his outward Affairs she governed the Family at home where they lived plentifully pleasantly and peaceably not extravagantly vain-gloriously and luxuriously they lived neat and cleanly they loved passionately thrived moderately and happily they lived and piously dyed The She-Anchoret THERE was a Widower who had but one Child and she a Daughter which Daughter he bred with Pious Devotions Moral Instructions and Wise Advertisements but he falling sick to death called his Daugher unto him and thus spake to her Farewell my dearest Child for dye I must My Soul must flye my Body turn to dust My only care is that I leave thee young To wander in the World Mankind among Few of them charitable are or kind Nor bear they in their Breast a Noble Mind To help the Fatherless or pity Youth Protect the Innocent maintain the Truth But all their time 's spent with laborious toil For to pervert to ruin and to spoil Flatter thy Beauty and thy Youth betray To give thy Heart and Virgin-flower away They will profess love vow to be thy Friend Marriage will promise yet they will pretend Their Friends will angry be or else they 'l say Their Land 's engag'd they first their Debts must pay Or else that they during some time of life Have made a Vow Not yet to take a Wife And twenty such Excuses they will find For to deceive the simple Female-Kind And if you marry Troubles you will find Pains Griefs and Cares to vex a quiet Mind But here I charge you lying in Death's Arms That you do stop your Ears against their Charms Live chast and holy serve the Gods above They will protect thee for thy zealous Love Daughter I will obey whatever you command Although you dye your will shall fixed stand Father Next I do charge thee Not to grieve nor mourn Since no redress will from the Grave return Daughter O do not so said she But give Grief leave to flow out of my Eyes For if it be supprest the Body dyes Whilst now you live great wrong y'uld think you have If I should sit and laugh upon your Grave Or with neglect should I your Grave pass by And ne're take notice where your Ashes lye Father You cannot hinder Destiny's Decree Daughter O no! but Nature Nature still will be Nature created Love within the Mind The Object dead the Passion still is kind Had I as many Lives as Nature make I 'de lay them on Death's Altar for your sake That single one I have O Heavens me hear Exchange it for my Father's Life so dear But when her Father found that Death drew on He bid her lay her Hand his Eyes upon Father Close up my Eyes said he and then receive Upon thy Lips my last Breath let me breathe When he was dead sh' amaz'd long time sate still At last bethought her of her Father's Will Then up she rose his Body did entomb And how she spent her Life rehearse I 'le soon The Description of her Life in Prose AFTER she had interred her Father's Corps although she had rich honourable and importunate Suiters yet she resolved to live like a kind of an Anchoret's Life living encloistered by her self alone vowing Chastity and a Single-life but gave leave for any to speak to her through a Grate When she went first into her solitary Habitation she thus spake Virtues are several Pathes which lead to Heaven And they which tread these Pathes have Graces given Repentant tears allay the Dust of Pride And pious Sighs doth blow vain Thoughts aside Sorrow and Grief which in the Heart doth lye Doth cloud the Mind as Thunder doth the Skie But when in Thundring-groans it breaketh out The Mind grows clear the Sun of Joy peeps out This pious Life I now resolve to lead Will in my Soul both Joy and Comfort breed She had not been long enclosed but she grew as famous as Diogenes in his Tub all sorts of people resorted to her to hear her speak and not only to hear her speak but to get knowledg and to learn wisdom for she argued rationally instructed judiciously admonished prudently and perswaded piously applying and directing her Discourse according to the several Studies Professions Grandeurs Ages and Humours of her Auditory The first that came to her were Natural Philosophers who asked her Opinion of Man's Soul of which she discoursed in this manner She said Man hath three different Natures or Faculties A Sensitive Body Animal Spirits and a Soul This Soul is a kind of Deity in it self to direct and guide those things that are far above it and to create by Invention and though it hath not an absolute Power over it self yet it is an harmonious and absolute thing in it self and though the Sensitive Body hath a relation to it yet no other ways than Jove's Mansion hath unto Jove for the Body is only the residing-place and the Animal Spirits are as the Angels of the Soul which are Messengers and Intelligencers All Animal Creatures have not this Soul but only Man for Beasts have none nor every Man for most Men are Beasts and have only a Sensitive Body and Animal Spirits as Beasts have but none know when this Soul is out or in the Body but the Gods and not only other Bodies and Spirits cannot know but the Body where it resides and the attending-spirits are ignorant thereof for this Soul is as invisible to the Body and the Animal Spirits as the Gods to Men for though this kind of Soul knows and hath intelligence by the Senses and by the Animal Spirits yet the Senses nor Animal Spirits have none from the Soul for as Gods know Men but Men know not Gods so this Soul knows the Senses and Animal Spirits but the Senses nor Animal Spirits know not this Soul Then they asked her Whether Souls were Immortal She answered That only the Life was Immortal from whence all Souls are derived Then they asked her What Deities she thought there were She answered She thought but one which was the Father of all Creatures and Nature the Mother he being the Life and Nature the only Matter which Life and Matter produceth Motion and Figure various Successions Creations and Dissolutions Then they asked her What she thought Time was She said Time was only the Variation and Alteration of Nature for Time is only in respect to Creations Alterations and Dissolutions Then they asked her What Eternal was She answered An endless Succession Then they asked her What Infinite was She said A Numberless Succession but said she Eternal is in respect to Infinite as Infinite to Eternal Then they asked her Whether she thought there were fixt Decrees or all were governed by
said Yes in six cases The first was If he had a good Estate and had no Children to be Heir to it or that there were none left of his Family to keep alive the lovely memory of his Ancestors The second was If he had many young Children and his Employments or Affairs required him often from home Thirdly If he had many Servants and much Houshold-Employments Fourthly If he were a Melancholy Man and lived solitarily alone Fifthly If he were infirm or sickly And lastly If he were consciously honest or honestly amorous Yet said she he must be wise in chusing such a Woman as his Affairs require or his Humour desires for a Man that marries for Children must chuse a Woman well born well bred of a good Reputation and who comes from a fruitful Stock likewise she must be beautiful and well shap't lest she gives his Breed an ill dye or an ill-favoured mark Secondly If a Man marry a Wife to take care to bring up his Children he must chuse a discreet sober and well-natured Woman and one that is honourably born and well bred for those that are honourably born and bred have good Natures noble Qualities and sweet Dispositions also it breeds Children to respect it humbles them to obedience it subjects them to corrections and begets in them a love Thirdly If a Man marries a Wife to follow his Servants and govern his Houshold-affairs she must be such a one as hath been bred thriftily and to good Huswifry and one that hath had some experience in the World otherwise he may chance to have a busie Wife but not a prudent Wife she may take pains but he get but small gains Fourthly If a Man marries because he would not live solitarily he must use his endeavour to get a cheerful Wife and of a pleasant Humour or rather a pleasing Humour she must be conversible and of a ready Wit and a good Understanding also of a healthful Constitution otherwise he will have a Disease instead of a Wife a Trouble instead of a Companion a Grave instead of a Bed If a Man marries a Wife to attend and nurse him she must be a neat cleanly ingenious and handsome-handed Woman also skilful in Chirurgery and Physick and the applying of Medicines likewise she must be careful watchful and industrious also patient silent chast and good-natur'd otherwise his Wife instead of a Nurse may prove his Plague his Hell his Tormenter his Plague with her Sluttery his Hell with her Dishonesty his Tormenter with her froward nature and scolding tongue And lastly If a Man marry out of a Consciencious Honesty as being Honestly Amorous he must endeavour to get a Chast Healthful Beautiful Cleanly Woman Likewise she must be of a free Disposition a merry Humour and a kind Nature also she must rather be modestly kind than boldly wanton For if she be dishonest his Jealousie will disturb his Love If sickly his Kindness will disturb her Health If ill-favoured it will tempt his Constancy If sluttish he will loathe her Bed If peevish or coy it will cross his Desires and if bold it will surfeit his Appetite But said she Equal Matches and Happy Marriages are not common by reason Fortune Covetousness or Lust makes more Marriages than prudent Judgment of Love and oft-times Men and Women are deceived in each other by reason the nature of Man is so obscure as it can hardly be found out besides Woers do strive to conceal their Faults and veil their defects or pretend to be vertuous because they would be gracious in the opinion of their Mistresses or the Mistress in the opinion of the Suitor whenas Marriage will discover them to be but Counterfeits gilded with deceit which Golden outside is rubbed off with acquaintance and then their base drossie Nature appears and Repentance is dearly bought Then they asked her If it were not lawful for a Man to keep a Mistress in case he was unwilling to marry She said The Laws of Nature and Custom would allow it but not the Laws of Morality or Divinity Wherefore if they could not live a chast single life she said they ought to marry Besides said she although those Men that have Mistresses instead of a Wife have liberty to change their Mistresses which they cannot do their Wives yet it is a far worse condition of life to keep a Mistress than marry a Wife for the best natur'd Mistress is harder and more difficult to please than the worst humour'd Wife for a Mistress is a Tyrant prouder than a mean foolish Favourite more commanding than a strict General more Tyrannical than any Tyrant more false than a Traitor Proud because sued to Commanding because served with obedience Cruel because jealous False because unconstant Wherefore she must be flattered obeyed observed and watch'd Likewise they will be more prodigal than a Gamester for what they get by Vice they spend in vanity and yet more covetous than an Usurer for if she lend her Lover her Person she will have the Interest of his Estate This ruins his Family and impoverishes his Estate Also she is more froward than a Child if she hath not what she desires or as melancholy as a Stoick when she hath so much she knows not what to desire more furious than a desperate Mad-man when she is crost Wherefore she must be humour'd and pleas'd to keep her quiet Likewise when is merry she is more mischievous than a Jack-an-apes more skittish than a Colt skips more than a Frog chatters more than a Pye when she is angry she is more furious than a Bull and more fierce than a Mastiff When she hath Designs she is craftier than a Fox more subtil than a Serpent when Covetous more ravenous than a VVolf when Jealous more cruel than a Tiger when Kind they are worse than Beasts for VVhores are seldom harmlesly merry or vertuously melancholy or honourably angry or innocently wise or prudently thrifty or lovingly jealous or modestly kind The Gifts of Nature Youth VVit and Beauty they set as snares to intangle Virtue or to intrap Vice Youth fits Beauty draws and VVit catches hold To conclude A VVhore and good Fortune leaves a Man at once and a VVhore many times makes the Fortune ill when a chast VVife is constant to a Man all her life and many times makes an ill Fortune good Then the Women asked her If it were not allow'd in Honour's Laws for Widows to marry She said By no means for Widows do both Cuckold their dead Husbands and their living Husbands The Fourteenth sort were Virgins They asked her How they ought to behave themselves She said Soberly Modestly Silently Civilly Temperately and Dutifully Soberly Behaving themselves with reservedness not to dance skip jump or toy wildly about or to wander or gad abroad without their Parents or Governesses Modestly Not to keep lewd or ill-famed Company or to entertain all sorts of Visiters or to suffer Men to embrace kiss or whisper to them Silently