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
Bodies ne're shall parted be With that he sighs and breathing out his last About his Mistress Corps his Arms he cast The Urn seal'd up his Friends a Tomb did build Famous it was such Love therein it held Most Parents do rejoyce and Offerings bring Of thankful Hearts or Pray'rs for their Off-spring These thought their Age was blest but they were blind With Ignorance and great affections kind More than with Age but who knows Destiny Or thinks that Joy can prove a Misery Some Parents love their Wealth more than their Breeds Hoording up more than Love or Nature needs And rather than poor Virtue they will take By crossing Love Childless themselves will make A sober Man who had a thinking-Brain Of Vice and Vanity did thus complain 'T IS strange to see the Follies of Mankind How they for useless things do vex their Mind For what superfluous is serves them for nought And more than necessary is a fault Yet Man is not content with a just measure Unless he surfeits with Delight and Pleasure As if true Pleasure only liv'd in Pain For in Excess Pain only doth remain Riches bring Care to keep Trouble to spend Beggars and Borrowers have ne're a Friend And Hospitality is oft diseased And seldom any of their Guests are pleased In Feasts much Company disturbs the rest And with much noise it doth the Life molest Much Wine and Women makes the Body sick And Doting-Lovers they grow Lunatick Playing at Cards and Dice Men Bankrupts grow And with the Dice away their Time they throw Their Manly Strength their Reason and their Wit Which might in Warrs be spent or Letters writ All Generosity seems buried here Gamesters seem Covetous as doth appear But when they spend most prodigally wast As if their Treasures were the Indies vast Or else their Purse an endless Myne of Gold But they 'l soon find it doth a bottom hold Titles of Honour Offices of State Bring Trouble Envy and Malicious Hate Ceremony restrains our Freedom and State-Offices Commands Men tott'ring stand And Vanities Inchanters of the Mind That muffle Reason and the Judgment blind Do lead the life in strange fantastick ways To seek that Pleasure which doth live in Praise Praise is no real thing an empty Name Only a Sound which we do call a Fame Yet for this Sound Men always are at strife Do spend their Fortunes and do hazzard Life They give their Thoughts no rest but hunt about And never leave until the Life goes out That Man that seeks in Life for more than Health For Rest and Peace within his Commonwealth Which is his Family sure is not wise And know not where true Happiness still lies Nor doth he guess that Temperance doth give The truest Pleasure makes it longest live You Gods said he give me a Temperate Mind An Humble Cottage a Chast Wife and Kind To keep me Company to bear a part Of all the Joys or Sorrows of my Heart And let our Labours Recreations be To pass our Time and not a Misery Banish all Cares you Gods let them not lye As heavy burthens and when we must dye Let 's leave the World as in a quiet Sleep Draw gently out our Souls our Ashes keep Safely in Urns not separate our Dust Or mix us so if transmigrate we must That in one Body we may still remain When that 's dissolved make us up new again A Lady said She his Discourse would fit A Story tell that should his Humour hit THere was a Man and Woman married were They liv'd just so as should a Married Pair Though their Bodies divided were in twain Their Souls agreed as one they did remain They did so mutually agree in all This Man and Wife we only One may call They were not rich nor were they very poor Not pinch'd with want nor troubled with great store They did not labour for the Bread they eat Nor had they various or delicious Meat Nor many Servants had to vex their Mind Only one Maid that faithful was and kind Whose VVork was just so much as to employ Her so as Idleness might not her annoy Thus decently and cleanly did they live And something had for Charity to give Her Pastime was to spin in Winter cold The whilst he read and to her Stories told And in the pleasant Spring fresh air to take To Neighbouring-Villages short Journeys make In Summer-Evenings they the Fields did round Or sit on Flow'ry-banks upon the ground And so in Autumn they their walks did keep To see Men gather Grapes or sheer their Sheep Nor did they miss Jove's Temple once a day Both kneeling down unto the Gods to pray For gracious Mercy their poor Souls to save A healthful Life an easie Death to have Thus did they live full forty years and more At last Death comes and knocketh at the dore And with his Dart he struck the Man full sick For which the Wife was almost Lunatick But she with care did watch great pains did take Broths Julips Jellies she with skill did make She most industrious was his pains to ease Studying always his Humour for to please For oft the sick are peevish froward cross And with their pains do tumble groan and toss On their sad Couches quietly he lay And softly to himself to Heaven did pray Yet was he melancholy at the heart For nothing else but from his VVife to part But when she did perceive his Life decay Close by his side upon a Bed she lay Embrac'd and kist him oft until his Breath And Soul did part drawn forth by powerful Death Art gone said she then I will follow straight For why my Soul upon thy Soul shall wait Then turn'd her self upon the other side In breathing-sighs and show'ring-tears she dy'd A Single-Life best A Man said He liv'd a most happy Life Because he was not ty'd unto a Wife Said he Marriage at best obstructs the Mind With too much Love or Wives that are unkind Besides a Man is still ty'd by the heel Unto the Cradle Bed Table and Wheel And cannot stir but like a Bird in string May hop a space but cannot use his wing But those who 're free and not to Wedlock bound They have the liberty the World to round And in their Thoughts much Heav'nly Peace doth dwell When Marriage makes their Thoughts like pains of Hell And when they die no Care doth grieve their Mind For any thing that they shall leave behind A Lady said If Women had but Wit Men neither Wives nor Mistresses should get No cause should have to murmure and complain If Women their kind Freedom would restrain But Marriage is to Women far more worse Than 't is to Men and proves the greater Curse And I said she for proof a Tale will tell What to a Virtuous Married Wife befell THere once a Lord and Lady married were And for Sev'n years did live a Happy Pair He seem d to love his Wife as well he might For she was Modest
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
Histories I did desire To see my Native Countrey Native Friends That lov'd me well and had no other ends Than harmless mirth to pass away dull time With telling Tales either in Prose or Rime But though Desire did then like a Wind blow The Sails of Wishes on Love's Ship to go Yet Banishment to my dear Lord was then A dangerous Rock made of hard-hearted men And hearing of such dangers in my way I was content in Antwerp for to stay And in the Circle of my Brain to raise The Figures of my Friends crowned with Praise These Figures plac'd in company together All setting by a Fire in cold weather The Fire was of Fancy which I made Within the Glandule of a Chimney laid My Lord and I amongst our Friedns was set In the midst of them that were thither met But afterwards perceiving I could make As many Figures as my Thoughts could take Then I invited all the Learned men And best of Poets that the Age had then The poorest Guess though they no birth inherit To entertain according to their merit Thus was my Mind as busie as a Bee To entertain this Noble Company Then my Imaginations a large Room built Furnish'd most curiously and richly gilt I hired all the Arts for to provide Choice of Provisions and Pastime beside The Wit I had unto the Muses sent With Love's Request which humbly did present My Mind's Desire which was without delay To come and help to pass the time away Wit travell'd far and search'd them all about At last in Nature's Court Wit found them out Then first to Nature Wit did bow down low To Wit Dame Nature did her Favours show And with a pleasing-smile she bid him say Whether be came to fetch her Maids away Wit answered Yes Then Nature bid them take The Helicon Water and with it make The Company all Poets Which they did Although they were but Pictures in my Head Their real persons at great distance were But on my Thoughts that did their Figures bear The marvellous Waters could not work well Which is the cause no better Tales I tell But hope those Friends my Fancy do present VVill take it well and for a good intent For I did trouble much my poor weak Brain This worthy Company to entertain MARGARET NEWCASTLE SEVERAL Feigned Stories IN VERSE The First BOOK READERS my Works do not seem in my Mind So bad as you make them if Faults you find For if you find much Fault you would not spare Your ridgid Censures but their Faults declare For I perceive the World is evil bent Judging the worst of that which was well meant When they a word to Wantonness can wrest They 'l be well-pleas'd and often at it jest When every foolish Tongue with words can play And turn good sense with words an evil way But at my Writings let them do their worst And for their pains with Ignorance be curst IN VVinter cold a Company was met Both Men and VVomen by the Fire were set At last they did agree to pass the time That every one should tell a Tale in Ryme The VVomen said VVe no true Measures know Nor do our Rhymes in even Numbers go Why said the Men All Women's Tongues are free To speak both out of time and follishly And drawing Lots the Chance fell on a Man Who having spit and blown his Nose began Of the Mournful Widow I Travelling it was my chance to spy A little House which to a Tomb stood nigh My Curiosity made me inquire VVho dwelt therein to further my desire I knocked at the door at last came one Which told me 'T was a Lady liv'd alone I pray'd that I the Lady might but see She told me she did shun all Company By her discourse the Lady had been Wife But being a Widow liv'd a lonesome life I told her I did travel all about Only to find a Constant Woman out She answer'd If the world had any where A Constant Woman surely she dwelt there I waited there in hope my Fortune might At length direct me to this Lady's sight And lying underneath a Tomb at night At Curfue-time this Lady with a Light Came forth out of the House all cloth'd in white And to the Tomb her walk she bended right With a Majestick-grace she walk'd along She seem'd to be both beautiful and young And when she came she kneeled down to pray And thus unto her self did softly say Give leave you Gods this Loss for to lament Give my Soul leave to seek which way his went O let my Spirits with his run a Race Not to out-go but to get next in place Amongst the Sons of Men raise up his Fame Let not foul Envy Canker-fret the same And whilst Great Gods I in the world do live Grant I may Honour to my Husband give O grant that all fond Love away may flye But let my Heart amongst his Ashes lye Here do I sacrifice each vainer dress And idle words which my Youth did express Here Dear I cancel all self-Self-love and make A Bond thy loving Memory to take And in my Soul always adore the same My Thoughts shall build up Altars to thy Name Thy Image in my heart shall fixed be My Tears from thence shall Copies take of thee And on my Cheeks those Tears as Pictures plac't Or like thy Carved Statue ne're shall waste Thy Praise my words though air shall print so deep By Repetition shall for ever keep With that Tears from her Eyes in show'rs did flow Then I rose up to her my self did show She seemed not to be mov'd at my sight Because her Grief was far above her Fright Said I Weep weep no more thou Beauteous Saint Nor over these dull ashes make complaint They feel not thy warm Tears which liquid flow Nor thy deep Sighs which from thy Heart do go They hear thee not nor thank thee for thy love Nor yet his Soul that 's with the God's above Take comfort Saint since Life will not return And bury not thy Joys within this Urn. She Answered I have no Joys in him they did reside They fled away when as his Body dy'd Not that my Love unto his Shape was ty'd But to his Virtues which did in him ' bide He had a Generosity beyond all Merit A Noble Fortitude possest his Spirit Foreseeing-Prudence which his Life did guide And Temperate Thoughts did in his Soul abide His Speech was sweet and gentle to the Eat Delight sate close as listning for to hear His Counsel wise and all his Actions good His Truth and Honesty as Judges stood For to direct and give his Actions Law His Piety to Gods was full of awe Wherefore return your Counsels are in vain For I must grieve whilst I'n the world remain For I have sacrific'd all my Delight Upon my Noble Husband 's Grave and slight All Vanities which Women young do prize Though they entangle them as Webs do Flies Lady said I you being Young and
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
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
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
than life Thought to be happy in a VVife But O Suspition that false Thief Seiz'd on my Thoughts ruling as Chief Suspition Malice Spight commanded still To carry false Reports thy Ears to fill My jealousie did strive thee to torment And glad to hear when thou wast discontent I strove always my love for to disguise ' T was said I married was when all were lies But Jealousie begets all actions base And in the Court of Honour hath no place Forgive me Soul where ever thou dost rest For of all VVomen I did love thee best Here I do offer up my life to thee Both dead we in one Grave may buried be Swifter than Lightning straight his Sword he drew Upon the Point himself he desperate threw And to his panting Breast made such dispatch That I no help could bring on hold could catch Turning his pale and ghastly eyes to me Mix both our ashes in one Urn said he With that he fell close by his Mistress side Embrac'd and kist and groan'd and there he dy'd Which when I saw I drest my Clothes put on To celebrate their Funeral-Rites alone First I did lay a heap of Cypress dry With striking Flints I made a fire thereby Laid both their Bodies thereupon to burn Which in short time did into ashes turn And being mixt I took them thence away And digg'd a Grave those ashes in to lay Then did I gather Cockle-shells though small With art I strove to build a Tomb withall Placing some on others in even Lays Others join'd close till I a Tomb did raise And afterwards I planted Myrtle green Where Turtle-Doves are daily building seen And there young Nightingals come every Spring To celebrate their Fames do sit and sing A Merry Lass amongst the rest Began her Tale and thus exprest A Master was in love with his fair Maid But of his scolding Wife was sore afraid For she in every place would watch and pry And peep through every Key-hole to espy And if she found them out aloud would call And cry she was undone her Maid had all Her Husband's love for she had none sh' was sure Wherefore this life she never would endure But he did woo his Maid still by his eye She apprehensive understood thereby And oft would find some work to come in place Because her Master should behold her Face Excuses make that business she had great Her business was her Master for to meet With pretty smiles she trips it by And on him casts a kind-coy eye To all the House besides would seem demure Oft singing Psalms as if she were right pure Repeating Scripture sigh turn up her eyes As if her Soul straight flew unto the Skies And that her Body were as chast cold Ice And she were only fit for Paradice Though her words were precise her thoughts were not She with her Master Scripture quite forgot She then a Goddess was prayed unto Her Master did as Priests with Offering woo Her Mistress like to Juno fret and frown'd When that her Husband and her Maid she found And in the Clouds of Night would seek about Sometimes she mist them sometimes found them out But when she did Lord what a noise was there How Jove and she did thunder in the air She with an Ishmael big away was sent Like unto Hagar out of doors she went Where he like Abraham good a Bottle ty'd And gave her Means for the Child to provide Whereat her Mistress angry was and cry'd And wisht her Maid like Ishma'l might have dy'd Another man amongst the rest Said they their Tales bad well exprest BUT they that study much and seldom speak For want of use of words are far to seek Their Tongue is like a rusty Key grown rough Which hardly turns so do their words come forth Or like an Instrument that lies unstrung Till it be tun'd cannot be plaid upon For Custom makes the Tongue both smooth quick And moving oft no words thereon will stick Like to a flowing-Tide makes its own way Runs smooth or clear without a stop or stay That makes a Lawyer plead well at the barr Because he talks there four parts of the year That makes Divines in Pulpits well to preach Because so often they the People teach But those that use to contemplate alone May have fine thoughts good words t' express they none Good language they express in black and white Although they speak it not yet well they write Much thoughts keep back the words from running out The tongue 's ti'd up the sluce is stopt no doubt For Fancy's quick and flies such several ways For to be drest in words it seldom stays Fancy is like an Eele so slippery glides Before the tongue takes hold away it slides Thus he that seldom speaks is like to those That travelling their Mother-tongues do lose Now says a Lady that was sitting by Pray let your rusty Tongue with silence lye And listen to the Tale that I shall tell Mark the Misfortunes that to them befell A Description of Love and Courage A Gentleman was riding all about As in a Progress he chanc'd to spy out Growing upon a rising-Hill a Wood In midst whereof a little House there stood It was but small yet was it wondrous fine As if 't were builded for the Muses Nine The Platform was so well contriv'd that there Was ne're a piece of ground lay waste or spare This House was built of pure rich Marble-stone And Marble-Pillars wholly stood upon So smooth 't was polish'd as like Glass it show'd Which gave reflection to the Wood there grow'd Those Trees upon the Walls seem'd painted green Yet every Leaf thereon was shaking seen The Roofs therein were arch'd with artful skill Which over-head hung like a hanging-Hill And there a man himself might entertain With his own words rebounding back again The doors to every room were very wide And men like Statues carv'd on either side And in such lively postures made they were They seem'd like Guards or Porters waiting there The winding-Stairs rising without account Of any steps up to the top did mount It on the Head a Cap of Lead did wear Like to a Cardinal's Cap 't was made four-square But flat it was close to the Crown did lye From Cold and Heat it kept it warm and dry And in the midst a Tower plac'd on high Like to Ulysses Monster with one eye But standing there did view through windows out On every side fine Prospects all about When that his eyes were satisfi'd with sight And that his mind was fill'd with such delight He did descend back by another way Chance was his only Guide which did convey Him to a Gallery both large and long Where Pictures by Apelles drawn there hung And at the end a Door half ope half shut Where in a Chamber did a Lady sit To him so beautiful she did appear She seem'd an Angel not a Mortal here Cloth'd all in white she was and from her Head Her
Lady and the Lord I went As a respect I told them my intent The Lady my Design she well approv'd He nothing said but seem'd with passion mov'd But afterwards when I my leave did take He did rejoice as if 't were for my sake And so it was but not unto my good For he with Treachery my ways withstood For as I travell'd he beset me round And forc'd me from my Servants which he found To be not many when he had great store For to assault but my defence was poor Yet were they all disguis'd no Face was shown Such unjust acts desire to be unknown VVhen I was in their power Help help said I You Gods above and hear a VVretch's Cry But no assistance from Heav'n did I find All seem'd as Cruel as the mad Mankind Then he unto the Castle me convey'd The Lord himself discovering thus said Cruellest of thy Sex since no remorse Can soften thy hard heart I 'le use my force Unless your heart doth burn with equal fire Or condescend to what I shall desire I for my own defence 'gainst this abuse Soft flattering words was forced for to use Gently entreating his Patience that I A time might have my heavy heart to try That by perswasions it might entertain Not only Love but return Love again He seem'd well-pleas'd his temper calm did grow VVhich by his smiling-countenance he did show He said If in your Favour I may live A greater blessing Heaven cannot give Then to a VVoman old he gave the charge For to attend but not for to enlarge My Liberty with rules my Life did bind Nothing was free but Thoughts within my Mind Thus did I live some half a year and more And all this while the Gods on high implore For still he woo'd and still I did deny At last h'impatient grew and swore that I Deluded him and that no longer would He be denied but yeeld to him I should With much entreaty I pacifi'd his Mind With words and countenance that seemed kind But Prayers to Heav'n more earnestly I sent With tears and sighs that they would still prevent By their great power his Evil Design Or take away this loathed life of mine Although at first they seem'd to be all deaf Yet now at last they sent me some relief The whilst the Champion Knight with his fair Prize Was struck with Love by her quick-darting Eyes Yet mov'd they so as Modesty did guide Not turning wantonly or leer'd aside Nor did they stern or proudly pierce But gentle soft with sweet commerce And when those Eyes were fill'd with watry streams Seem'd like a Brook gilded with the Sun-beams At last perswading-Love prevail'd so far As to present his Suit unto her care Fair Maid I love thee and my Love so pure That no corrupted thoughts it can endure My Love is honest my Request is just For one Man's fault do not all Men mistrust I am a Batchelor and you a Maid For which we lawfully may love he said Wherefore dear Saint cast not my Suit aside Chuse me your Husband and be you my Bride I am a Gentleman and have been bred As to my Quality my Father dead Me his Possessions left which are not small Nor yet so great to make me vain withall My Life is yet with an unspotted Fame Nor so obscure not to be known by Name Amongst the best and most within this Land Favours receiv'd yet none like your Command She stood a time as in a musing-thought At last she spake Sir said she you have brought My Honour out of danger and civilly Have entertain'd me with your company For which I owe my life much more my love Should I refuse I should ungrateful prove 'T is not for Wealth that I would marry to Nor outward Honours that my Love can woo But it is Virtue and a Heroick Mind A Disposition sweet noble and kind And such a one I judg you for to be Wherefore I 'le not refuse if you chuse me When they were thus agreed they did repair Unto his House and went to marry there The whilst the Lord the Kingdom all about He privately had sent to search her out At last news came with whom and where she dwelt With that much grief within his heart he felt That any Man should have her in his power He like a Devil could his Soul devour But when he heard the Messenger to say There 's preparation gainst her Wedding-day He grew outragious cursed Heaven and Earth The Marriage of his Parents and his Birth At last he did resolve what e're befell That he would have her though he sank to Hell When he had got a Company together Such as he fed that would go any whither No act they would refuse that he desired Obey'd most desperately what he required Unto his House they went in a disguise Intending then the Lady to surprise But be'ng upon her Wedding-day were there A Company of Guests that merry were This Lord desir'd to part them if he might 'Cause lye together they should not that Night So in they went the Servants all did think Them Maskerades and made them all to drink But when they went into an inward Room Where all were dancing Bride and the Bridegroom The Bride acquainted with that Maskard-sight She ran away as in an extream fright The Bridegroom soon imagin'd what they were And though unarm'd his Courage knew no fear Their Swords they drew aim'd only at his life That done they thought to get away his Wife His Hat and Cloak Arms of Defence did make The Tongs for to assault he up did take The Women scriecht Murther Murther cry'd out The Men flung all the Chairs and Stools about With which they did resist and did oppose For some short time the Fury of his Foes It chanc'd a Sword out of a hand did fall The Bridegroom straight took 't up fought withall So well did manage it and with such skill He many of his Enemies did kill Yet he was wounded sore and out of breath But heat of Courage kept out dull cold Death At last his Friends got Arms to take his part VVho did th' oppression of his Foes divert The Vizzard of the Lord fell off at length VVhich when the Bridegroom saw with vigorous strength He ran upon him with such force that he Struck many down to make his passage free The trembling Bride was almost dead with fear Yet for her Husband had a listening ear At last the noise of Murther did arrive O is he dead said she and I alive With that she run with all her power and might Into the Room her Husband then in fight With her great Enemy and where they stood The Ground was like a foaming Sea of Blood Wounded they were yet was each other's heart So hot with Passion that they felt no smart The Bride did pass and re-pass by their Swords As quick as flashing Lightning and her words Cryed out Desist desist and let me dye
House and Goods on fire Where her rich Furniture did soon expire Then Envy sought all ways to pull her down And tax'd her Land as due unto the Crown And in that Suit great Sums of Money vast Lawyers ingross'd which made those Sums to wast And when those Lawyers got all that she had They cast her Suit as if her Cause was bad By which her Lands she lost then only left Her rich with Beauty but of Lands bereft In which she pleasure took although but poor Of Fortune's Goods of Nature's Giftssh ' had store But when the Gods did see her still content At last they to her Body Sickness sent She patient was her Beauty still did last But when that they their Judgment on that cast Making a Grave to bury Beauty in Which Beauty once did tempt the Saints to sin Because her Face so full of Pock-holes were That none could judg that Beauty once dwelt there Then did she sit and weep turn'd day to Night Asham'd she was to shew her Face the light Time an Ingraver cuts the Seal of Truth And as a Painter draws both age and youth His Colours mix'd with Oyl of Health lays on The plump smooth Youth he pencils thereupon Shadows of Age he placeth with much skill Making the hollow places darkest still But Time is slow and leisure he doth take No price will hasten him his Works to make But accidental Chance who oft doth jarr With aged Time and then some Works doth marr But when her wealth was gon and state was down Then did her Friends and Servants on her frown So far now from professing Slavery As they did use her most uncivilly Would rail against her spightful words throw out Or had she been but guilty would no doubt Betray her life such natures have Mankind That those in Misery no Friends can find For Fortune's Favours only Friendships make But few are Friends only for Virtue 's sake In Fortune's Frowns Man will not only be A Neuter but a deadly Enemy Nay ev'n a Devil to torment the Mind If he no mischief ' gainst the body find But after she had mourn'd Three hundred days Consid'ring Nature's Fortune's various ways She did repent weeping for what was past Imploring Gods to pity her at last Good Gods forgive my Vanity and Pride Let not my Soul with sinful spots be dy'd Let your great Mercies scour those spots off clean That by your Justice no spots may be seen Consider Lord the Works that Nature makes The Matter Motion and the Form she takes The Grounds and Principles on which she builds The Life and Death in all things she distills Is various still in what she doth compose Nothing but wild Inconstancy she shows Nor is it only the substantial part That is compos'd thus by her Curious Art But what we call Immortal as the Soul Doth various passions appetites controul And as all bodies that are young want strength And wait for Time to give them breadth and length So doth the Soul want Understanding too And knows not what is best to think or do Wherefore great Jove I never shall despair Of thy sweet Mercy nor yet Devils fear To punish Ignorance Youth rash ways runs Which Age by long-experienc'd knowledg shuns But Age oft time 's as faulty as Youths be Corrupted with bad Principles we see That length of Time and Custom makes them shew As if in Man they naturally grew But to conclude the time she had to live She heartily unto the Gods did give Though young into a Nunnery she went Her Vows unto the Gods she did present Her Days not being long she soon there dy'd And now her Soul with Angels doth reside For with her Penance Tears and Contrite Spirit She wash'd away her sins and Heav'n did merit The next Tale when you read it will discover The fortunate or the unfortunate Lover A Mock-Tale of the Lord Duke of Newcastle which his Grace was pleased to say out of his great Civility That it would serve for Shadows to set off the rest He loving Truth so well that he was never good at telling Tales A Young and Lusty Cheshire-Lad did move In Venus Sphere and was so fill'd with Love When first he saw a lovely Lass at Chester Whose badg of Christianity was Hester So beautiful and fair she did appear Fresh as the welcome Spring to the New Year And Odoriferous as Flower 's birth As fair as new-born Lillies from the Earth This set the young Man's heart in Love's Flame Fire Struck dumb in Love turn'd all now to admire At last Love found a Tongue which did not fail To burst out violently and thus to rail Cursing now partial Nature that did give More beauty to her than elsewhere doth live Bankrupt in Beauty since her store is gone Mankind condemn'd to foul ones now or none Was Nature lavish or else made the Thest Upon her self since she hath nothing left Of what is handsom so I now do find He enjoys thee enjoys all Womankind For Beauty Favour and what 's height of Pleasure Since thou art Nature's Store-house her Treasure O love me then since all my hopes are crost If I enjoy you not I 'm wholly lost For what I can call Happiness nay worse My Life then to me 's but a fatal Curse But if you yeeld I 'le bless Dame Nature's Gift And Bounty to you since 't was all her drist To make her Master-piece in you and vex The envious Females angring all your Sex And if her bounty to you you give me I shall be Deifi'd in love by thee Here on my knees I beg thy Love thus low Until I have it my Knees here shall grow Therefore be kind She answer'd with sweet Eyes Which spoke not speaking for to bid him rise And then discours'd with modest blushes so As that did tell him all her heart did know Trembling and shaking with Love's Palsi'd Tung With broken Sighs and half Words it was strung Love's Comma's Full-Points and Parenthesis And this Love's Rhetorick Oratory is With Love's pale-difficulty then afraid She softly said O I 'm a tender Maid And never heard such language you 'l deceive me And now I wish I could wish you would leave me Why d' ye inchant a silly Maid alas I never saw such beauty in my Glass And yet I 've heard of flatt'ring Glasses too But nothing flatters like you Men that woo Your Tongue 's Love's Conjuration without doubt Circles me here in Love cannot get out By your Love 's Magick whispering Then did yield And said You 've conquer'd and have won the field Such Joy between them such new Passions rais'd Which made the God of Love himself amaz'd Since by no Tongue or Pen can be exprest Cupid and Hymen ne're hop'd such a Feast But see the Fate of business which doth move So cross For Business hath no sense of Love O thou dull Bus'ness Yet some States-men pry Into Love's Secrets with a glancing Eye But here
our Lover was arraign'd to stand Condemn'd to Bus'ness that in Ireland Necessity doth urge him That word Part So cruel was it struck each other's heart Which inwardly did bleed with sorrow's grief Since nothing now but hopes were their relief Sadly he goes aboard Love fills his Sails And Cupid with his wings fanns gentle Gales To waft him over he thus thought to please His wounded Lover o're those Rocky Seas Love would not leave him nor was he content Unless this dangerous passage with him went In the mean time his Mistress did commit Her self to sorrow and with her to sit As her close Prisoner this was all her end And grieved more than Widows do pretend Safely is landed now our Lover o're And Cupid with him on the Irish shore Love is so various which some Lovers see Now Love an Irish Cupid's turn'd to be And takes all memory thus from our Lover Of his first Mistress and doth now discover Love's new Plantation in the Irish Pale In Love's rich Island there which doth not fail To take our Lover and inflame him more Under an Irish Mantle than what 's store Of Gowns of Cloth of Gold Curls painted Art Cheats Love when simple Nature wounds Love's Heart This change of Love is blown so up and down By Fame's loud Trumpet through all Chester Town The Women gossip'd it and could not hold Till to his former Mistress they it told This was the first time that she smil'd to see Impossible Reports of him to be They might as well say Phoebus gives no light Or Starrs to fall or make a Day of Night As he inconstant was yet Love doth doubt Not doubting yet enquires all about And sets her Love-spies to enquire a-new But those reports each minute stronger grew So she resolv'd her self to know the truth And was disguis'd in Clothes now like a Youth And went in Cavalier The gentle Wind Did favour her and landed to her mind The Port was Dublin and could not forbear To make enquiries for her Love and there She found him at an Inn. He then began To take such liking to his Countrey-man All his Discourse enquiring for his Ends To know the welfare of his English Friends Which she so fully satisfied as he Was now enamour'd of her company And was so fond in her took such delight As supp'd and lay together too that night Never suspecting her his Mistress then Blindly went on and took her for a Man So full of Love and Friendship could not hold But to her all his Irish Love he told Desiring her to go along and see This Miracle of Beauty which was she And so she did Her Love turn'd now disdain To see his Falshood and no love remain So base unworthy and unconstant too As now began to think what she should do She quench'd her Passion which is wise and better Than Love's Complaints so writ to him a Letter Of her whole Voyage and Love's constant Hist'ry All her Designs disguises in Love's Myst'ry And left this Letter in the Window so Three or four days it was 'fore he did know Or found it out In the mean time she 's gone And shipp'd for England leaving him alone When found her Letter was such Passions grew Stronger upon him than e're Lover knew Resolv'd the foaming Billows to embrace Those liquid steps of hers he meant to trace And lay himself in pickled tears of Love Now at her feet to see what that would move But all in vain he thought too long had tarri'd When landed found the same day she was marri'd Fell in such extasies cursing his Fate The Ship and Winds that made him come so late With Love's new hopes his Sails he fill'd and then Invok'd God Neptune to go back again And all the passage as he went along Challeng'd the Mermaids in a loving Song With Love's assurances so over-joy'd As now his loving heart was not annoy'd But fill'd with Pleasure and with all Delight Thinking t' embrace his Irish Love that night No sooner landed so he thought to woo His Mistress but he found her marri'd too Cursing the Starrs of his Nativity Thus short of Wedlock at both ends to be Made him grow desperate and as they say Then in despair he made himself away Upon a Wench and some swear without doubt That there he knock'd the Brains of 's Cupid out So murther'd Love and there he did enroul Each one a Fool with a Platonick Soul And so despis'd and scorn'd the old God Hymen That with so easie words so long did tye men To make them Galley-slaves in Marriage so Ti'd in his Chains condemn'd for life to row In Wedlock's Galley Give me freedom then Thy Godhead I invoke whilst foolish Men To Love and Hymen's Prisons there do sit Justly committed for their want of Wit For he 's a Fool that 's ti'd when might be free And thus he rav'd and talk'd Non-sense you see As he that writ this Story you may mend it So for his sake and yours and mine I 'le end it A Lady said His Tale of Love did tell She with a Tale of Death would fit it well For Death said she unties the Lover's knot When deadly Arrows from his Bow are shot A Lady on her Death-bed panting lay She call'd her Friends and thus to them did say Farewel my dearest Friends for I must go Unto a place which you nor I yet know May be my Sp'rit will wander in the shade Of glimmering light which is by Moon-shine made Or in my Tomb in peace may lye asleep So long as Ashes in my Urn do keep Or else my Soul like Birds may have its wings Or like to Herc'les Flyes that want their stings But howsoever Friends grieve not nor cry For fear my Soul should be disturb'd thereby Clothe not your selves with Melancholy black Call not your Grief unto remembrance back But let your Joys a Resurrection have Call'd forth by comfort from the sorrowful Grave Let not Delight intombed lye In the sad Heart or weeping Eye Let not pale Grief my Soul affright Shrouded in Melanch'ly's dark Night But Death said she I fear him not So turn'd her head and Death her shot Then on a Cypress Hearse was laid forth dead As scorning Death aside was turn'd her head By cruel Death her arms were careless flung Her hands over the sides as strengthless hung Her eyes were clos'd as if she lay asleep Though she was pale her face did sweetness keep Her Elogie was thus Tears rain a-pace and so a River make To drown all Grief within a watry Lake Make Seas of Tears for Wind of Sighs to blow Salt Billows up the Eyes to overflow Let Ships of Patience traffick on the Main To bring in Comfort to sad Hearts again The next turn a Man And he thus began THE Silk-worm and the Spider Houses make All their Materials from their Bowels take They cut no Timber down nor carve they Stone Nor buy they Ground to build their Houses
her mercy said he could not look It was so dark and thought he had mistook No said the Bride most sweetly you are right As if our Taper here was shining bright Now Love's Hesperides would touch the same That Place O Place which Place no tongue should name She gentle Dame with roving hand indeed Instead of Crutches found a broken Reed They both now fill'd with Ale Brains in 't did steep So arm in arm our Lovers fell asleep So for the Will though nothing else indeed To Love the Beggars built a Pyramid A Tale of his Grace the Duke of Newcastle called The Philosopher's Complaint I Through a Cranny there did spy A grave Philosopher all sad With a dim Taper burning by His Study was in Mourning clad He sigh'd and did lament his state Cursing Dame Nature for 't was she That did allot him such a Fate To make him of Mankind to be All other Animals their Mold Of thousand Passions makes them free Since they 're not subject unto Gold Which doth corrupt Mankind we see The busie Merchant plows the Main The Pleading-Lawyer for his Fee Pious Divines for Lawful Gain Mechanicks all still Coz'ners be With Plow-shares Farmers wound the Earth Look to their Cattel Swine and Sheep To multiply their Seed Corn's birth And all for Money which they keep The Sun-burnt Dame prevents the Day As her laborious Bees for Honey Doth milk her Kine and spins away Her fatal Thread of Life for Money Mankind doth on God Pluto call To serve him still is all their pleasure Love here doth little Money all For of this World it is the measure Beasts do despise this Orient Mettle Each freely grazing fills his Maw After Love's procreating settle To softer sleep wise Nature's Law They 're not Litigious but are mute False Propositions never make Nor of unknown things do dispute Follies for wise things do not take Or Flow'ry Rhet'rick to deceive Nor Logick to enforce the wrong Or tedious History to weave Troubling the Hearers all along Nor study the enamell'd Sky Thinking they 're govern'd by each Starr But scorn Man's false Astrology And think themselves just as they are Their Pride not being so supream Celestial Bodies moving thus Poor Mortals each awaking dream To think those Lights were made for us Nor are they troubled where they run What the Sun's Matter it might be Whether the Earth moves or the Sun And yet they know as well as we Nor do they with grave troubled looks By studious Learning for to stay Or multiplicity of Books To put them out of Truth 's right way For Policies Beasts never weave Or subt'ler Traps do ever lay With false dissembling which deceive Their Kind to ruin or betray No hot ambitions in them are Trumpets are silent Drums do cease No troublers in their Kind in Warr For to destroy but all for Peace The Stranger valu'd Jemms that dress Our beauteous Ladies like the day A Parrot's Feathers are no less And gossips too as well as they Man's ever troubled 'bout his Fame For Glory and Ambition hot When Beasts are constantly the same In them those Follies enter not Nor hope of Worlds to come that 's higher With several Sects divisions make Or fear an everlasting Fire But quiet sleep and so awake Man still with thoughts himself torments Various desires what shall be And in his life hath small contents Beasts pleas'd with what they have not we Repining Man for what is past Hating the present what they see Frighted with what 's to come at last Beasts pleas'd with what is and must be Ease Man doth hate and Business store A burthen to himself he is Weary of time yet wishes more Beasts all these Vanities they miss Self-loving Man so proud a Durt Vain 'bove all things when understood Studies always himself to hurt When Beasts are wise to their own good Man makes himself a troubled way Runs into several dangers still VVhen in those thoughts Beasts never stray But do avoid them with their will Man's troubled Head and Brain still swelling Beyond the Power of Senses five Not capable of those things telling Beasts beyond Senses do not strive Nature's just measure Senses are And no Impossibles desire Beasts seek not after things that 's far Or Toys or Baubles still admire Beasts Slander not or Falshoods raise But full of Truth as Nature taught And wisely shun dissembling ways Follow Dame Nature as they ought Nor to false Gods do sacrifice Or promise Vows to break them no No Doctrine to delude with Lyes Or worship Gods they do not know Nor envy any that do rise Or joyful seem at those that fall Or crooked ways 'gainst others tries But love their Kind themselves and all Hard labour suffer when they must When over-aw'd they wisely bend Only in Patience then they trust As Misery's and Affliction 's Friend They seek not after Beauty's blaze To tempt their appetite when dull But drink the Stream that Tempests raise And grumble not when they are full They take no Physick to destroy That Health which Nature to them gave Nor rul'd by Tyrants Laws annoy Yet happy seem with what they have With cares Men break their sweet repose Like Wheels that wear with turning round Beasts quiet thoughts their Eye-lids close And in soft sleep all cares they drown'd No Rattles Fairings Ribbons Strings Fiddles Pipes Minstrelses them move Or Bugle Bracelets or fine Rings And without Cupid maketh Love O happy Beasts that spend the day In pleasure with their nearest Kin And all is lawful in their way And live and dye without a sin Their Conscience ne're troubled is We made so yet forbid it too For Nature here is not amiss We strive 'gainst what w' are made to do Beasts need not Language they despise Unuseful things all Men's delight Those Marks which Language from doth rise If pleas'd with them discourse they might And out of words they argue not But reason out of things they do When we vain Gossipings have got They quiet silent Lives have too Complain'd of Scholars that they sought With envious watching and with spight To leave the good to find a fault In any Author that doth write O vain Philosophy their Laws With hard words still for matter brings Which nothing is nor knows the cause Of any thing unuseful things Why are our Learned then so proud Thinking to bring us to their bow And Ignorance Wisdom allow'd And know not that they do not know Motion's cessation is the end Of Animals both Beasts and Men The longest Lives to that do tend And to Death's Palace his dark Den. Or that Beasts breath doth downwards go And that Men's Souls do upward rise No Post from that World comes you know It puzzled Solomon the Wise. Thus he complain'd and was annoy'd Our grave Philosopher for 's birth That he was made to be destroy'd Or turn'd to sad or colder Earth I piti'd him and his sad case Wishing our Vicar him to teach For to
Humours and obeyed his will in every thing Next I have been a Thrifty Cleanly Patient and Chast Wife Thirdly I brought him a great Portion And lastly My Neighbours say I am handsome and yet my Husband doth neglect me and despise me making Courtships to other Women and sometimes to vex me the more before my Face He said Your Husband is not worthy of you therefore if I may advise you I would cast aside the affection I had placed upon him and bestow it upon a Person that will worship you with an Idolatrous Zeal and if you please to bestow it on me I will offer my Heart on the Altar of your Favours and sacrifice my Services thereupon and my Love shall be as the Vestal Fire that never goeth out but perpetually burns with a Religious Flame Thus speaking and pleading he made courtship to her which she at first did not receive But he having opportunity by reason her Husband was much from home and using importunity at last corrupted her and she making a Friendship with this Gentleman began to neglect her Husband as much as he had done her which he perceiving began to pull in the Bridle of his loose carriage and finding that his Acquaintant was her Courtly Admirer he began to woo her a-new to gain her from him but it would not be for she became from a Meek Modest Obedient and Thrifty Wife to be a Ranting Flanting Bold and Imperious one But her Husband grew so fond of her that he sought all the ways he could to please her and was the most observant Creature to her that might be striving to please her in all things or ways he could devise insomuch as observing she was never pleased but when she had Gallants to court her he would invite Gentlemen to his house and make Entertainments for them and those she seemed most to favour he would make his dear Friends and would often be absent to give them opportunities to be with his Wife alone hoping to get a favourable Look or a Kiss for his good services which she would craftily give him to encourage him But the other Gentleman that made the first addresses to her being a Married-man his Wife hearing her Husband was so great a Lover of that Lady and that that Lady's Husband was reformed from his incontinent life and was become a doting fond Wittal loving and admiring her for being courted and made love to esteeming that most which others seemed to like best she began to imitate her which her Husband perceiving gave her warning not to do so which she would not take but entertained those that would address themselves to her Whereupon her Husband threatned her but she was at last so delighted with variety that she regarded not his Threats whereupon he used her cruelly but nothing would reclaim her only she would make more secret meetings wherewith she was the better pleased for secret meetings as I have heard give an edg to Adultery and it is the nature of Mankind to be most delighted with that which is most unlawful But her Husband finding no reformation could be made he parted with her because he thought it a greater dishonour to be a Wittal than a Cuckold although he was very much troubled to be either for though he was willing to make a Cuckold yet he was not willing to be one himself Thus you may see the different natures of Men. The Converts in Marriage THERE were four young Gentlewomen whose Fathers were near Neighbours whereupon there grew an Acquaintance and so a Society between them The first was Reserved and Coy The second was Bold and Ranting The third was Merry and Gay The fourth was Peevish and Spightful She that was Reserved and Coy was Generous and Ambitious She that was Bold and Ranting was Covetous and Wanton She that was Merry and Gay was Vain and Fantastical She that was Peevish and Spightful was Cross and Unconstant It chanced that the four Fathers by reason they had good Estates were offered four Husbands for their four Daughters all at one time The Husband that was to marry the first Lady was Covetous Miserable and Timorous as all Miserable Covetous Persons for the most part are but being very Rich the Father to this Lady forced her to marry him He that was to marry the second Lady was Temperate Prudent and Chast. He that was to marry the third Lady was Melancholy Solitary and Studious And he that was to marry the fourth Lady was Cholerick and Impatient After they had been married some time the Covetous and Timorous man became Hospitable Bountiful Valiant and Aspiring doing High and Noble Deeds And she that was Bold and Wanton became Chast Sober and Obedient He that was Melancholy became Sociable Conversable and Pleasant and she Thrifty and Staid But he that was Cholerick and Impatient who married her that was Peevish and Spightful they live like Dogs and Cats spit scrawl scratch and bite insomuch as they were forced to part for being both faulty they could not live happily because they could never agree for Errors and Faults multiply being joined together AGE's FOLLY THERE was a Man and his Wife that had been married many years together and had agreed and lived happily loving each other wondrous well but at last after they were stricken in years the Husband was catch'd with a crafty young Wench like a Woodcock in a Noose or Net wherein he was entangled in Love's Fetters and though he fluttred and fluttred to get loose yet she kept him fast not that she loved Age but Wealth for Amorous Age is prodigal and though more self-conceited than those that are young or in their prime of years yet are easily catched which is strange for most commonly those that are self-conceited are proud disdainful despising thinking few or none worthy of their love But Amorous Age although they are self-conceited take a pride and brag that they can have a Love as well as those that are Young which makes each smile and every amorous glance from youthful eyes to be snares or rather baits which Age doth nibble at But his Wife observing her Husband to prank and prune to jet and set himself in several postures to be extravagant in his actions fantastical in his dress loose in his discourse wondred to see him on a sudden transformed from a Sober Grave Staid Wise Man to a Jack an-apes At last concluded with her self That for certain he was mad with which opinion she became wondrous melancholy But by chance finding him making amorous addresses to a young Woman she then perceived the Cause was Love and nothing but Love I mean Amorous Love that powerful Amorous Love which blindfolds long and wise Experience with a foul false appetite making not only Young but Old Men Fools His Wife like a discreet Woman moderated her Passion for a while hoping it was but a sudden flash or faint blast that would soon dye But when she perceived his Amorous Humorou
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
to shew her self once again for I will said he the next day after this Ball remove to our new House Sir said she I must have another new Gown As many as thou wilt said he and as rich I will also buy you Jewels No Sir said she pray spare that cost for they are only to be worn at such times of Assemblies which I shall not visit often for fear I tire the Courtly Spectators which delight in new Faces as they do in new Scenes So her Unkle left her to order her self who dressed her self this time all in white Sattin embroidered all over with Silver When her Unkle saw her so dress'd Now by my troth thou lookest like a Heaven stuck with Starrs but thy Beauty takes off the gloss of thy Bravery Now said he you shall not go veiled for thy Beauty shall make thy way besides we will not go too soon nor while they are in disorder but when they are all placed you will be the more remarkable The Cavaliers especially the Duke and the Vice-Roy began to be melancholy for fear she should not come their Eyes were always placed at the Doors like Centinels to watch her entrance and when she came to the Court all the Crouds of People as in a fright started back as if they were surprised with some Divine Object making a Lane in which she pass'd through and the Keepers of the Doors were struck mute there was no resistance all was open and free to enter But when she came in into the presence of the Lords and Ladies all the Men rose up and bowed themselves to her as if they had given her Divine Worship only the Duke who trembled so much occasioned by the passion of Love that he could not stir but the Vice-Roy went to her Lady said he will you give me leave to place you Your Highness said she will do me too much Honour So he called for a Chair and placed her next himself and when she was set she produced the same Effects as a Burning-glass for the Beams of all Eyes were drawn together as to one Point placed in her Face and by reflection she sent a burning heat and fired every Heart But he could not keep her for as soon as they began to dance she was taken out not by the Duke for he had not recovered as yet Love's shaking-sit The young Gallants chose her but too often to dance for every one took it for a Disgrace not to have the Honour to dance with her insomuch that few of the other Ladies danced at all as being Creatures not worthy to be regarded whilst she was there The Vice-Roy fearing they should tire her for she durst not deny them by reason it would be thought an affront and rude or want of Breeding call'd sooner for the Banquet than otherwise he would have done Besides he perceived the rest of the Ladies began to be angry expressing it by their Frowns and knowing nothing will so soon pacifie that Bitter Humour in Ladies as Sweet-Meats he had them brought in But when the Banquet came in he presented her the first with some of those Sweet-Meats still filling her Ears with Complements or rather chosen Words for no Complement could pass on her Beauty it was so beyond all expressions At last he asked her where her Lodging was and whether she would give him leave to wait upon her She answered him It would be a great grace and favour to receive a Visit from him but said she I am not at my own disposing wherefore I can neither give nor reccive without leave Pray said he may I know who is this happy Person you so humbly obey She said It is my Unkle with whom I live Where doth he live said he Truly said she I cannot tell the name of the Street Is he not here Lady said he Yes said she and pointed to him And though he was loath yet he was forced to leave her so long as to speak with her Unkle but the whilst he was from her all the young Gallants which were gathered round about her presented her with Sweet-Meats as Offerings to a Goddess and she making them Curt'sies return'd them thanks for that she was not able to receive as being too great a Burthen for she was offer'd more Sweet-Meats than one of the Vice-Roy's Guard could carry But all the while the Duke stood as a Statue his Eyes were fix'd only upon her nor had he power to speak and she perceiving where he was for her Eyes had secretly hunted him out did as often look upon him as her Modesty would give her leave and desired much to know who he was but was ashamed to ask At last the Duke being a little encouraged by her Eye came to her Lady said he I am afraid to speak lest I should seem rude by my harsh Discourse for there is not in the Alphabet words gentle nor smooth enough for your soft Ears but what your Tongue doth polish yet I hope you will do as the rest of the Gods and Goddesses descend to Mortals since they cannot reach to you Sir said she but that I know it is the Courtly-Custom for Men to express their Civilities to our Sex in the highest Words otherwise I should take it as an affront and scorn to be called by those Names I understand not and to be likened to that which cannot be comprehended The Duke said You cannot be comprehended nor do your Lovers know what Destiny you have decreed them The Vice-Roy came back with her Unkle who desired to have his Neece home the Banquet being ended But when the Duke saw her Unkle he then apprehending who she was was so struck that what with guilt of Conscience and with repenting-forrow he was ready to fall down dead Her Unkle seeing him talking to her spoke thus to the Duke Sir said he you may spare your Words for you cannot justifie your unworthy Deeds Whereat she turned as pale as Death her Spirits being gathered to guard the Heart being in distress as overwhelmed with Passion But the Bussle of the Croud helped to obscure her Change as well as it did smuther her Unkle's Words which pierced none but the Duke's Ears and hers The Vice-Roy taking her by the Hand led her to the Coach and all the Gallants attended whereat the Ladies that were left behind in the Room were so angry that they shoot forth Words like Bullets with the Fire of Anger wounding every Man with Reproach and at the Vice-Roy they sent out whole Volleys which battered his Reputation But as for the young Lady they did appoint a place of purpose to dissect her reading Satyrical Lectures upon every part with the hard terms of Dispraises So all being dispersed the Vice-Roy long'd for that seasonable hour to visit her But the Duke wish'd there were neither Time nor Life I cannot hope said he for Mercy my Fault is too great nor can I live or dye in quiet without it and the
Miseries and Torments of despairing-Lovers will be my Punishment The old Gentleman was so pleased to see his Neece admired that as he went home he did nothing but sing after a humming way and was so frolick as if he were returned to twenty years of age and after he came home he began to examine his Neece How do you like the Duke said he For that was he that was speaking to you when I came She answered That she saw nothing to be disliked in his Person And how said he do you like the Vice-Roy As well said she as I can like a Thing that Time hath worn out of fashion So said he I perceive you despise Age but let me tell you That what Beauty and Favour Time takes from the Body he gives double proportions of Knowledg and Understanding to the Mind You use to preach to me The outside is not to be regarded and I hope you will not preach that Doctrine to others that you will not follow your self Sir said she I shall be ruled by your Doctrine and not by my own Then said he I take my Text out of Virtue which is divided into four parts Prudence Fortitude Temperance and Justice Prudence is to foresee the worst and provide the best we can for our selves by shunning the dangerous ways and chusing the best And my Application is That you must shun the dangerous ways of Beauty and chuse Riches and Honour as the best for your self Fortitude is to arm our selves against Misfortunes and to strengthen our Forts with Patience and to fight with Industry My Application of this part is You must Barricado your Ears and not suffer by listning the enticing perswasions of Rhetorick to enter for if it once get into the Brain it will easily make a passage to the Heart or blow up the Tower of Reason with the Fire of Foolish Love Temperance is to moderate the Appetites and qualifie the unruly Passions My third Application is you must marry a discreet and sober Man a wise and understanding Man a rich and honourable Man a grave and aged Man and not be led by your Appetites to marry a vain fantastical Man a proud conceited Man a wild debauched Man a foolish Prodigal a poor Shark or a young unconstant Man Fourthly and lastly Is Justice which is to be divided according to Right and Truth to reward and punish according to desert to deal with others as we would be dealt unto And my last Application is That you should take such counsel and follow such advice from your Friends as you would honestly give to a faithful Friend as the best for him without any ends to your self and so Good-night for you cannot chuse but be very sleepy When he was gone Lord said she this Doctrine although it was full of Morality yet in this Melancholy Humour I am in it sounds like a Funeral-Sermon to me I am sure it is a Preamble to some Design he hath pray God it be not to marry me to the Vice-Roy of all the Men I ever saw I could not affect him I should more willingly wed Death than him he is an Antipathy to my Nature Good Jupiter said she deliver me from him So she went to Bed not to sleep for she could take little rest for her Thoughts worked as fast as a Feverish Pulse But the Vice-Roy came the next day and treated with her Unkle desiring her for his Wife Her Unkle told him It would be a great Fortune for his Neece but he could not force her Affection but said he you shall have all the assistance that the Power and Authority of an Unkle and the Perswasions as a Friend can give to get her consent to marry you Pray said the Vice-Roy let me see her and discourse with her He desired to excuse him if he suffered him not to visit her for said he young Women that are disposed by their Friends must wed without wooing But he was very loth to go without a sight of her yet pacifying himself with the hopes of having her to his Wife he presented his Service to her and took his leave Then her Unkle sate in counsel with his Thoughts how he should work her Affection and draw her consent to marry this Vice Roy for he found she had no stomack towards him At last he thought it best to let her alone for a Week or such a time that the smooth Faces of the young Gallants that she saw at the Masque and Ball might be worn out of her Mind In the mean time she grew melancholy her Countenance was sad her Spirits seemed dejected her Colour faded for she could eat no Meat nor take any rest neither could she study nor practise her Exercises Dancing and Musick was laid by and she could do nothing but walk'd from one end of the Room to the other where her Eyes fix'd upon the Ground she would sigh and weep and knew not for what but at last spoke thus to her self Surely an Evil Fate hangs over me for I am so dull as if I were a piece of Earth without sense yet I am not sick I do not find my Body destempered then surely it is in my Mind and what should disturb that My Unkle loves me and is as fond of me as ever he was I live in Plenty I have as much Pleasure and Delight as my Mind can desire O but the Vice-Roy affrights it there is the Cause and yet methinks that cannot be because I do verily believe my Unkle will not force me to marry against my Affections besides the remembrance of him seldom comes into my Mind for my Mind is so full of Thoughts of the Duke that there is no other room left for any other my Fancy orders places and dresses him a thousand several ways And thus have I thousand several Figures of him in my Head Heaven grant I be not in love I dare not ask any one that hath been in love what Humours that Passion hath But why should I be in love with him I have seen as handsome Men as he that I would not take the pains to look on twice and yet when I call him better to mind he is the handsomest I ever saw But what is a handsome Body unless he hath a noble Soul He is perjured and inconstant alas it was the fault of his Father to force him to swear against his Affections Whilst she was reasoning thus to her self in came her Unkle who told her He had provided her a good Husband Sir said she Are you weary of me or Am I become a Burthen you so desire to part with me in giving me to a Husband Nay said he I will never part for I will end the few remainder of my days with thee She said You give your Power Authority and Commands with my Obedience away for if my Husband and your Commands are contrary I can obey but one which must be my Husband Good reason said he and for thy sake I
some Weeks in the mean time the Prince recovered resolving to visit this young Lady having heard by his Aunt the relation of what she was whose Birth made him doubt she would not be so easily corrupted as he hoped before and she knowing his Birth had more hopes of honourable usage Yet sitting in a studious posture with a sad Countenance and heavy fixt Eyes accompanied with melancholy Thoughts contemplating of her Misfortunes past with a serious consideration of the condition she stood in advising with her Judgment for the future in comes the Prince whom she no sooner saw but she trembled for fear remembring her past danger and fore-seeing the trouble she was like to run through But he with an humble Behaviour and civil Respect craved pardon for his former Faults promising her That if she would be pleased to allow him her Conversation he would never force that from her which she was not willing to grant for there was nothing in this World he held dearer than her Company and sitting down by her began to question her of Love as Whether she had engaged her Affection to any person of her own Countrey or any where else She told him No. By which Answer he being jealous before imagining she might be so valiant as to wound him more for the sake of her Lover than out of a love to Honour or Reputation received great content and joy esteeming it the next happiness that since she loved not him she loved no other I wonder at your Courage said he for usually your Sex are so tender and fearful and so far from using Instruments of Death as Swords Guns or the like that they dare not look at them but turn their Head aside She answered That Necessity was a great Commandress And thus discoursing some time at last he took his leave until the next day But when he was gone how glad she was O what a torment will this be said she to be affrighted every day with this ravenous Lyon But said she I must get a spell against his Fury and not only against him but against all such like and by her industry she got a subtil Poyson which being put in a very small Bladder she fastned to her Arm that when any occasion served she might have it ready to put in her mouth which in great extremity she might use and crushing it but betwixt her teeth she was sure it would expel Life suddenly The next Morning the Prince sent her a Present of all kinds of rich Persian Silks and Tissues fine Linnen and Laces and all manner of Toys wherewith young Ladies use to make themselves fine and gay But she returned them with great thanks bidding the Bringer tell the Prince That she did never receive a Present but what she was able to return with advantage unless it were from those to whom she had a near relation as Parents and Kindred or the like But he when he saw them returned thought it was because they were not rich enough and sent her another Present of Jewels of great value which when she had viewed she said They were very rich and costly but returning them back she said I dare not trust my Youth with the Riches and Vanities of the World lest they may prove Bribes to corrupt my free and honest Mind wherefore tell the Prince I am not to be catch'd with glorious Baits and so returned them back The Prince when he saw he could fasten no Gifts on her was much troubled yet hoped that Time might work her to his desires so went to visit her and when he saw her he told her He was very unfortunate that not only Himself but even his Presents were hateful for he could guess at no other reason why she should refuse them since they were neither unlawful nor dishonourable to receive She answered That the Principles that she was taught were That Gifts were both dangerous to give and to take from Designing or Covetous Persons He said He was unhappy for by that he saw she would neither receive Love nor give Love Thus he daily visited her and hourly courted her striving to insinuate himself into her favour by his Person and Services used Powdering Perfuming and rich Clothing though he was so personable and well-favoured and had such store of Eloquence as might have perswaded both Ears and Eyes to have been Advocates to a young Heart and an unexperienced Brain His Service was in observing her Humour his Courtship in praising her Disposition admiring her Beauty applauding her Wit and approving her Judgment insomuch that at the last she did not dislike his Company and grew to that pass as to be melancholy when he was gone blush when he was named start at his approaching sigh weep and grow pale and distempered yet perceived not nor knew her Disease Besides she would look often in the Glass curl heir Hair finely wash her Face cleanly set her Clothes handsomely mask her self from the Sun not confidering why she did so But he as all Lovers have watchful Eyes observed she regarded her self more than she used to do which made him more earnest for fear her Passion should cool protesting his Love vowing his Fidelity and Secresie and swearing his Constancy to death She said That he might make all that good but not the Lawfulness Can you said she make it no sin to God no dishonour to my Family no infamy to my Sex no breach to Virtue no wrong to Honesty no Immodesty to my self He answered It was lawful by Nature Sir said she It is as impossible to corrupt me as to corrupt Heaven But were you free I should willingly embrace your Love in lawful Marriage He told her They were both young and his Wife old almost ripe enough for Death and a little time more would cut her down Wherefore said he let us enjoy our selves in the mean time and when she is dead we will marry No said she I will not buy a Husband at that deer rate nor am I so evil as to wish the death of the living for any advantage unless they were Enemies to Virtue Innocency or Religion But he was so importunate as she seemed displeased which he perceiving left off persisting lest he might nip off the young and tender Buds of her Affection But it chanced not long after there was a Meeting of many Nobles at a Feast where Healths to their Mistresses were drank round and the Prince who thought it a sin to Love to neglect that Institution offered with great Ceremony and Devotion for his Mistress's Health sprinkling the Altar of the Brain with Fume and burning the Incense of Reason therein After the Feast was ended he went to see his Mistress whose Beauty like Oyl set his Spirits in a flame which made his Affection grow to an intemperate Heat Whereat she became so afraid as she puts the Poyson into her Mouth the Antidote of all Evil as she thought and then told him her intention But
or rather resolution for Love is obstinate and if it finds not a like return but a neglect grows spightful rather wishing evil to what they love than another should enjoy what they would have and hate themselves out of a displeasure in not having what they desire So did he and was impatient until he was shipt and gone who steered his course towards the Kingdom of Riches as believing she was sailed towards her own Countrey and resolved he was to find her out or to end his days in the search his Life being a burthen to him without her company Thus Love sailing in the Ship of Imagination on the Ocean of the Mind toss'd on the troubled Waves of discontented Thoughts whilst his Body sailed in the Ship on the Sea cutting the salt Waves they were set on by Pyrates and taken Prisoners so that he was doubly captivated his Soul before now his Body At first they used him but roughly according to their barbarous natures but by degrees his noble Disposition and affable Behaviour got indifferent entertainment It chanced some time after in the sharing of those Prizes they got with him and some others they had got before they fell out and from rude words they fell to ruder blows The Prince apprehending the danger that might befall to himself strove to pacifie them giving them such Reasons in elegant words that it charmed their Ears and softned their Hearts and ended the strife amongst them and begot from them such love and respect that they made him their Albitrator and Divider of the Spoils which he performed with that Justice and Discretion to each one that they made him their Governour and chief Ruler over them which Power he used with that Clemency and Wisdom that he was 〈◊〉 father as their God than their Captain giving him all Ceremonious Obedience And thus reigning in his Watry Kingdom with his three-forked Trident we leave him for a time and visit the old Man and adopted Son who now began to grow weary of their Divine Honours and like wise Men that seek a retired and secured life from the Pomp of dangerous Glories bethought themselves how they might get away and to return into their own Countreys again for an humble and mean Cottage is better beloved by the Owner than the bravest and stateliest Palace if it be another's Thus putting their Designs in execution they invited the King and People to a solemn Meeting in the Temple where Travelia standing in his usual place thus spake THE Gods said he will have us to return from whence we came and to you Great King their Command is To love your People and to distribute Justice amongst them guarding the Innocent punishing the Offendor and not to use any cruel Ceremony to destroy your own Kind but to instruct them in the Right and to lead them into the ways of Truth as being their High-Priest amongst them Also To make as Warrs against your Neighbouring Kingdoms but as a defence and guard to your own for in Peace lives Happiness when Warrs bring Ruin and Destruction and in doing this Tranquillity shall be as a Bed of Ease for Life to sleep on and Length of Days as a Chariot for Life to ride in to Heaven where your Souls shall dwell in the height of Bliss And in this World Fame shall Crown your Deeds and your Posterity shall glory in your Name And to you beloved People the Gods command Piety in your Devotion Obedience to your King Love to your Neighbour Mercy to your Enemies Constancy to your Friends Liberty to your Slaves Care and Industry for your Children Duty to your Parents and in doing this Plenty shall flow in amongst you Mirth shall dance about you Pleasures shall invite you Delight shall entertain you Peace shall keep you safe till the Gods call you to partake of the Glories of Heaven and my Prayers shall always be That Jove may preserve you all Then going off from the place where he stood they went to the King to take their leaves whereat the King and People wept and wish'd the Gods had given them leave to dwell amongst them But since they could not have their desire therein they travelled to the River-side in attendance on them offering them great Riches to carry with them But they desired nor took they any more with them than they thought would defray their charges in a time of necessity Neither did they build a new Ship to sail in but went in the same Boat they came which had been kept as a Relick safe for the old Man considered with himself that a bigger Vessel would be more dangerous without Sea-men than the small Boat which they could manage themselves And so with great sorrow of either side the one to lose their Angels as they thought them to be the others for the dangers they were to run through And thus they parted from the Kingdom of Fancy putting forth their Boat from the shore the old Man who was very skilful at Sea observing what Angle they came in returned the same way where after six days they were upon the Main Sea the Winds being fair and the Waters smooth the Boat went as swift as an Arrow out of a Parthian's Bow and as even as if it meant to hit a Mark but if by a fresh Gale the Waves did chance to rise the Boat would as nimbly skip each ridg as a young Kid over a green Hillock being as leight as Mercury's winged Heels So Joy filled their Hearts with Hopes as Winds filled their Sails But various Fortune causing several changes in the World did raise such Storms of Fears as drowned all their Joys for a Ship fraughted with Pyrates like a great Whale seized on them Pyrates let nothing escape which they can get to make advantage of so ravenous is their covetous Appetite But finding not such a Prize as they did expect but such as might rather prove a burthen consulted to put the old Man into the Boat again and to keep only the young Youth whom being very handsom they might sell for a Slave and get a Sum of Money But when the old Man was to depart Travelia clasped about him so close that his Tears and the Tears of the old Man mix'd and joined and flowed as Waters through a Channel swell'd with several Brooks But when he was forced to leave his hold down on his kness he fell begging he might go or keep his Father there Pity said he my Father's Age Cast him not out alone to sail on the wide and dangerous Sea for though my Help is weak yet I am a Stay and Staff for his decayed Life to lean upon and I hope the Gods have destin'd me to that end but if no pity can move your Hearts for Him O let it do it for Me Cut me not from the Root though old and dry For then poor Branch I wither shall and dye Nay said he I will dye when I can no longer help him
had thus spoke to them they began the Onset Long was the Dispute but at last by the Prince's Courage which animated the rest by his Example and by his wise Conduct and diligent Care in rectifying the disordered Ranks and supplying their broken Files by fresh Men he got the day and put the Enemy to a rout killing many and taking store of Prisoners The Prince when he saw that Fortune was his Friend at that time though at other times she had frown'd yet now he thought to make his advantage whilst she was in a good Humour wherefore he called to the Soldiers to follow their pursuit but they were so busie in the dividing of the Spoils as they were deaf to all Commands or Entreaties giving their Enemies leave to rally their scattered Forces and so to march away and by that means they got so far before them as they had time to get up their Spirits and strengthen their Towns by Fortification to Man their Forts and to entrench themselves whereas if they had followed their Victory they might have taken a great part of the Countrey for all Towns Forts and the like seldom stand out but yeeld to a Victorious Army yet it must be whilst the terror and fright of their Losses hath wholly possest their Minds leaving no place for Hope But when the Prince thought they had lost their opportunity through the Covetousness of the Soldiers he sent a Messenger to the King of the Victory and with the Reasons why he could not follow the same but if his Majesty would give permission he would march on and try out his Fortune In the mean time the Queen hearing of the loss of her Army was much perplexed Then musing with her self what way she were best to take she straight went to Travelia who was indifferently well recovered to him she related the sad News then asked his Counsel what she were best to do He told her His Opinion was for her to call a Council of the Gravest and Noblest of her Subjects and those whose Age had brought Experience for if Worldly Wisdom dwells any where it is in Aged Brains which have been ploughed by various Accidents and sowed with the Seed of Observation which Time hath ripened to a perfection these are most likely said he to produce a plentiful and good Crop of Advice but young Brains said he want both Manuring and Maturity which makes their Counsels green and unwholsome Whereupon they called a Council where after they had disputed long at last they all agree in one consent That the best was For her to go her self in Person to animate her Soldiers and to give a new Life to their dejected Spirits Whereat she was much troubled by reason Travelia was not so well as to travel with her and to leave him seemed worse to her than Death But after her Council was broken up she returned to him and told him what her Council had decreed And this said she angerly to him was by your Advice For had I not called a Council but had sent a General of my own choice it would not have been put to a Vote for me to have gone in Person But had you had that love for me as I have for you I should have had better Advice and with that wept Heaven knows said she the greatest Blow Fortune can give me is to go and leave you behind me He seeing her weep thus spake BEAUTY of your Sex and Nature's rarest Piece Why should you cast your Love so low upon a Slave so poor as I when Kings hazzard their Kingdoms for your sake And if your People knew or did suspect your Love to me they would rebel and turn unto your Enemy and besides Conquerors are feared and followed whereas Losing is a way to be despised and trod into the Earth with scorn Alas I am a Creature mean and poor not worthy such a Queen as you and 't were not wise to hazzard all for me Wherefore go on great Queen and may you shine as glorious in your Victories as the brightest Starrs in Heaven May Pallas be your Guide and Mars the God of Warr fight your Battels out May Cupid give you ease and Venus give delight May Hymen give such Nuptials as best befits your Dignity May Fortune always smile and Peace dwell in your Kingdom And in each Heart such Loyal Love may grow No Disobedience may this Kingdom know Age Crown your Life and Honour close your Days Fame's Trumpet loud may blow about your Praise She weeping said No Sound will pierce my Ear or please my Mind Like to those Words you utter when they 're kind But at last by his Perswasions more than by her Councellor's Advice she consented to go upon that condion he would take upon him the Government of her Kingdom until such time as she returned again and said she if I dye be you Heir to my Crown and Ruler of my People And may the Gods keep you from all Opposers The People knowing her Commands and Pleasure by her Proclamation fell a murmuring not only in that she left a Stranger but a poor Slave who was taken Prisoner and sold and a Person who was of no higher Birth than a Ship-Master's Son to govern the Kingdom and rule the People Whereupon they began to design his death which was thought best to be put in execution when she was gone But he behaved himself with such an affable demeanour accompanied with such smooth civil and pleasing words expressing also the sweetness of his Nature by his Actions of Clemency distributing Justice with such even Weights ordering every thing with that Prudence governing with that Wisdom that it begot such Love in every Heart that their Mouths ran over with Praises ringing out the Sound with the Clappers of their Tongues into every Ear and by their Obedience shewed their Duty and Zeal to all his Commands or rather to his Perswasions so gently did he govern Thus whilst he ruled in Peace at home the Armies met abroad and being set ready to fight the Trumpets sounded to Charge and every one prepared to encounter his Enemy striving for the honour of Reputation which is got by the ruin of one Side So equally hath Nature distributed her Gifts that every one would have a just Proportion did not Fortune disorder and misplace her Works by its several Accidents But the terror of the former Blow was not quite extinguished in the Queen's Army nor the insulting Spirits of the other Army laid but rather a new Courage added to their old Victory which did help them now to win that day and with such victorious Fortune that they took the Queen a Prisoner and did destroy the whole Army The Prince thinking the Kingdom won in having the Queen's Person made him divide his Army into two parts the one half he sent to take possession of the Towns Castles and Forts the other part he led himself to conduct the Queen being much pleased that
Travelia was with her he grew so jealous that had not Honour forbid him having past his word unto her they should all there be safe he should not have let him live to have been his Rival In the mean time the Messenger had caused the Prince to repair to the Court who was much troubled how to behave himself for said he in his thoughts if I should make my self known unto my Mistress she will straight convey away her self either by death or stealth and if I go disguised although I may make the reason known unto the King yet the Court will talk and think it is for some ill design against the State so bring an aspersion upon my Loyalty Thus musing a long time with himself at last he thought it best for to take counsel of the King and being come to him the King with great joy embraced him saying O my Friend thy Company is a Kingdom to me He humbly kissing his hand said He thought Fortune was so much his Enemy as that she had shut him out of his Royal Favour But Sir said he it was none of my fault I did not win for the Gods Jupiter Mars and the rest are such Lovers of the fair Mortal-Females that they will never be against them for wheresoever they are Victory is there also The King thinking he meant it of the Queen told him how unkindly she used him and how he perceived she loved the young General even to a dotage and withall asking his counsels what he should do he smiling yet sighing said O Sir said he there is no cause to fear for that Person you do suspect is a Woman which I believe the Queen knows not Then he told him all the story of his Love and all the several accidents thereupon and ask'd his advice what he should do The King was overjoyed at his relations discovering she was a Woman and his joy gave so many several Advices that the number confused the Counsel and confounded the Choice But while they were thus talking a Messenger came to the Prince which brought him Letters from his own Countrey by Merchants that were lately come in that his Wife was dead for although they knew not where he was yet they sent Letters into several Countreys in hope some might light into his hands which when he heard his Doubts were turned into Hopes With that the King and he embraced with joy making no question now but Cupid was turned their Friend and that he would shoot two Golden Arrows into their Mistresses Hearts from the Forts of their Affections The time being come when the King and Queen and the Councellors of both should meet about the Peace they being all set ready to treat the King entreated the Queen she would give him leave that the Prince might be one of his Council which said he without your own consent he shall not be since he hath been your Prisoner She told the King He was not bound to her since she had given him a Release and your Councellors are to be chosen by your self and not by me After her answer he sent for him who came being not disguised but as he was himself and Travelia looking upon his face as he was coming in and seeing the Man she most did fear she fell into a swound at which accident the Queen being extreamly afflicted thinking it was done by some design wrought from the jealousie of the King broke up the Juncto for that time taking all the care she could for his recovery But Travelia being recovered out of her swound was still sick in Mind though not in Body and kept her Bed as if she had been very ill Whereupon the Queen's suspition was more encreased and fear'd some Poyson had been given him and with that conceit could not endure to see the King The King being much troubled that the Queen was more severe to him than she was used to be and perceiving that it was Travelia that was the cause complained unto the Prince and with seeminganger said merrily Dispose of your Mistress some way for I am jealous said he although she be a Woman Sir said the Prince I have as much reason to be jealous of the Queen as you have of my Mistress setting her Masculine Habit aside At last they did agree to discover her to the Queen Whereupon the Prince went to the Queen and desired her by a Messenger to grant him half an hours Conference She desired to be excused He sent her word It was something concerning his own Affairs Whereupon she gave him admittance When the Prince came to her he said Madam I should not press thus rudely on your thoughts but that I think I am part of the cause that makes them melancholy Sir said she You take upon you to know much for it is hard to know the Mind or Thoughts of our selves much less of others Madam said he I will be so presumptuous to guess at them if you will give me leave Take it said she Then Madam said he I must tell you You are in love and the Person you love although most excellent yet cannot return such love as you desire for you have placed your Affection upon a Woman who hath concealed her Sex in taking the Habit of a Man and hath more confirm'd your mistake by the actions of a Soldier I know not said the Prince how kind you have found her but I have found her cruel Then told her the story from the first time he saw her until that present When the Queen had heard his relation her Colour came and went moved by her mix'd Passions Anger and Love angry that she was deceived yet still did love and wish'd she had been a Man Then the Prince began to move unto her the Suit of the King But she was so impatient and troubled in her Mind being crost in her Love that she would hear nothing concerning Love more at that time Which he perceiving took his leave for the present But as soon as he was gone Tears from her Eyes flow'd out as if they meant To make her there a Watry Monument And her oppressed Heart such sighs sent forth Like Gusts of Wind that blow from South or North. After this furious Storm a Calm did rise Her Spirits like a still smooth Water lyes Then laying down her gentle Head to rest Thus to the God of Love her Prayers addrest Thou powerful God of Love that shoots from high One Leadden Arrow in my Breast let flye To quench that scorching Heat thou mad'st to burn Unless a Woman to a Man can turn With that the God of Love did pity take Quench'd out the first and did a new Fire make Yet was it weak as being made but new But being kindled it much hotter grew At last the Flame got hold upon the King Which did much Joy unto each Kingdom bring After a sweet and refreshing sleep she rose and went to Travelia's Chamber and told her how she was discovered
cozened and cheated in every Office their Reapers steal sheaves of Corn for whilst the Masters watch one end of the Field there are sheaves flung over the Hedg at the other end and their Sons Daughters Servants Friends or Partners that help to share convey it away and if they miss it in the Field they will have it when it goeth home in the Cart for whilst the Master goeth home with one Cart the other that goeth before or cometh behind is purloined when he is in the Barn they rob him in the Field when he is in the Field they rob him in the Barn besides their Threshers carry home Corn in their Bottles and Bags or hide it in some out-corner until they go home They are cozened in their Garners for though they do keep the Keys themselves yet when it is fann'd sifted and turned they must watch as a Cat doth a Mouse or else they will lose it and if they grind their Corn the Miller steals his share and when they go to sow the seed in the ploughed up ground if the Master doth not follow the Plough and Harrow and watch the hand that flings in the Corn they will throw handfuls in heaps to gather it up when he is gone home and for their Kine and Sheep their Maids will sell their Milk in the Fields and when their Masters and Mistresses are gone to Bed although they saw them go before they will rise in the middle of the night when they are asleep and skim their Bowls of the first Cream In their Meadows and Pastures the Neighbours will put their Cattel to feed on their Grass in the night and take them out before the day Besides the Servants they send to Markets will drink out the gains and then complain to their Masters that Provisions came so thick and Buyers so few that they were forced to sell at under-rates and that Plenty destroyed the Market so that Robbin and Dick Jone and Gill make merry with what their Master loses and so the like in all other Commodities The Shepherd steals the Twin-Lambs the Swineherd the tenth Pig the Net-herd will mix strange Steers in amongst his Master 's to grass knowing his Master cannot have so much time as to count his own every day and when the Barns and the Ploughs and the Carts want mending and repairing his Baylie cuts down two Trees or more when less than one will serve the turn and the Carpenter makes more and greater Chips than he needs to do or carries pieces of Wood home amongst his Tools likewise his Carters steal his Oats and makes his Horses fast and flings down more Trusses of Hay from the Lost than they need to use the Butchers steal the Tallow out of the Oxe's the Sheep's and Swine's Belly whilst they rip them up unless they be watch'd Wherefore he that Husbands much had need have Argus Eyes to watch in every corner and to spy into every action and Briareus hands to help at every turn and more than one pair of Legs to walk into every place or else he shall never thrive But he that hath no more Ground than he can ride about every day nor more Servants than what his two Eyes can observe nor more Labourers than what he can diligently follow nor more Cattel than what he can easily count nor more Mouths than Business this Man shall thrive so as to be able to pay his Landlord's Rent to maintaintain his Family and have Money in his Purse to lay out upon a good Bargain when many a good Worshipful Gentleman is fain to borrow and find more wants in his Abundance than the other in his hired Farm and those are the happiest Masters said she that have not many nor high desires and can be content with a little and whose Wants are not above their Means The Gentleman said I have travelled far and have seen and heard much yet I have learnt more experience from you than I have done in all my tedious and expensive Travels wherefore said he I find we go far about to seek for that which is at home and for your Learned Discourse said he here is a Crown to make your Husband welcome when he comes home Heaven send you a good Wife said she and may you live together as old as Methuselah and as loving as Isaac and Rebecca So home he went and by the way he considered what the old Woman had told him I find said he her words true for I have taken more Business upon me than I can manage wherefore I will sell off my Stock and lett my Lands again only keep so much as shall serve me for Provision for my private Expence and I will get me a Wife who shall not be so handsome as to be proud of her Beauty seeking ways to shew it to the World and whilst she strives to shew her self out of a desire to have all Eyes gaze at her and to incaptivate all Hearts she may chance to be catch'd in Love's Net her self with some flattering Youth or ignorant Coxcomb who are only crafty to lay Lime-twigs to catch simple Women Neither will I have one with a great Portion for she will so presume upon what she brought and be so extravagant in her Expences and Vanities which are like Hydra's heads where if one be struck off two will rise in the room and will not be contented to spend her own but my Estate also Nor will I have one that is poor for then her beggarly Kinred will lye upon my Estate like so many Caterpillars and never leave until they have destroyed the Fruit Tree and all But I will have one that is Right Worshipful born Honorably bred Chast and of a good Reputation has a competent Portion is young and indifferently handsom and one that is cleanly thrifty and patient with a sober behaviour and a modest Countenance has so much wit as to understand my Discourse and so much Discourse as to answer pertinently to my Questions is without self-conceit and of so much ingenuity as to learn the rules of my will then I will live to my self seeking all moderate Delights for my Senses and not be as a Property to serve others cramming a Company of idle People as they do Capons with the fat of my Estate and I their Host to provide their Meat and Drink and their Servant to place their Dishes before them and their Drudg to make my House clean after they are gone and have nothing for my labour but their Satyrical Reports saying I am vain-glorious and prodigal and when my kind heart and courteous civility hath made me Bankrupt they will laugh at my Person condemn my Actions scorn my Poverty shun my Miseries and will blot me out of their remembrance for Ingratitude or any other Vice or Wickedness seldom hath and hates returning-thoughts Neither will I spend my time in deciding my Neighbours foolish Quarrels for Time is precious being short though it measures the full
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