Visitant

What Lady Contemplation, mu sing by your self alone?

Contemplation

Lady Visitant, I would you had been ten miles
off, rather than to have broken my Contemplation.

Visitant

Why, are you so godly, to be so serious at your Devotion?

Contemplation

No faith, they were Contemplations that pleas’d me better
than Devotion could have done; for those that contemplate of Heaven,
must have death in their mind.

Visitant

O no, for there is no Death in Heaven to disturb the joyes
thereof.

Contemplation

But we must dye before we come to receive those joyes; and the
terrifying thoughts of Death, take away the pleasing thoughts of Heaven.

Visitant

Prethee let me know those pleasing thoughts.

Contemplation

I did imagine my self such a Beauty, as Nature never made
the like, both for Person, Favour, and Colour, and a Wit answerable to my
Beauty, and my Breeding and Behaviour answerable to both, my Wisdome
excelling all: And if I were not thus as I say, yet that every one should think
I were so; for opinion creates more, and perfecter Beauties, than Nature
doth. And then that a great Powerful Monarch, such a one as Alexander, or
Cæsar, fell desperately in love with me, seeing but my Picture, which was
sent all about the world; yet my Picture (I did imagine) was to my disadvantage,
not flattering me any wayes; yet this Prince to be inamoured with
this shadow for the substance sake: Then Love perswaded him to send me
his Picture, which represented him to the life, being extreamly handsome,
yet had a manly and wise countenance. This Picture being brought be Embassadours,
which Embassadours when they came, treated with me about
marriage with this sole Emperor, all other Kings and Princes being but Tributaries;
receiving these Embassadours with great civility and respect, yet
behaving my self with a reserved and Majestical behaviour, which the Embassadours
observing, said, I was the only Lady that was fit to be the only
Emperours wife, both for my Beauty, Carriage, and Wit: When after a
modest Fear, and seeming Humility, I had reason’d against the marriage, at
last by their perswasion I consented; then was there Post after Post, and Messenger
after Messenger, sent with letters from the Emperour to me, and from
me to the Emperour; he admiring my letters, for the elegancy of the stile,
and eloquency of the wit, and admiring my Picture for the beauty; one while read- Zz2r 183
reading my letters, and another while viewing my Picture, made him impatient
for my Company, which made him send to his Embassadours, that with
all speed they should bring me away, sending to all the Princes whose Kingdomes
I was to passe thorow, that they should guard me with Armyes, but
not retard me with Olimpias, or the like, but to convey me safe and speedily:
Whereupon I took my Journey (most of the Kingdome where I was born
petitioning to wait on me); but by reason I could not take them all, unlesse
I should depopulate the Kingdome, I would carry none, lest I should displease
those that were to be left behind; but as I went out of the City where I
dwelt, all the streets were strewed with dead Lovers, which had lived only
on hopes, so long as I lived amongst them: But when they knew for certain
I was to depart, their hopes vanished, and they dyed with despair. The Embassadours
seeing such a Mortality, caused the Army that was my guard to
march apace, and my Coaches to trundle away, thinking it was the Plague;
but at last, after my Beauty had killed millions in the Kingdomes I passed
thorow, I arrived at that part of the world where the Emperour was, who
was a joyed man to hear of my coming, and had made great preparations against
my arrival; but some few dayes before my arrival, he sent a Chariot
which was made of the thinnest plated gold, because it should be light in
the Carriage, but the body of the Chariot was enameled and set with precious
stones, the Horses trappings were only great Chains of pearls, but the
horses reigns were Chains of gold, that might be strong enough to check their
hot Spirits, and swift speed; as for my self, I was only cloathed in white Satin,
and a Crown of Diamonds on my head, like a Bride, for I was to be
marryed as soon as I met the Emperour; but as I past along, all the Highwayes
were beset with Crouds of people, which thronged to see me, and
when they saw me, they cryed out I was an Angel sent from the Gods; but
your coming spoyl’d the Triumph, and brake the Marriage.

Visitant

No, no it is retarded for a time, the next musing Contemplation
the marriage Nuptial will be.

Contemplation

If you had not come and hinder’d me, I should have gover’nd
all the world before I had left off Contemplating.

Visitant

But if you make such hast to be at the Government of the whole
world, you would want a Theam for your thoughts to work upon, for you can
aim at no more than all the world.

Contemplation

O yes, rather than fail I would make new worlds, but this
wil last me a long time in shewing you what wise Laws I make, what upright
Justice I give, ordering so, as the whole world should be as one united Family;
and when I had shewed my wisdome in Peace, then my thoughts should
have raised Warres, wherein I would have shewed my valour and conduct.

Visitant

Prethee be not so imprudent to cast away precious time, and to
bury thy life in fantasms.

Contemplation

Why prethee, they manage time best, that please life most;
For it were better not to be, than to be displeased; for there is none that truly
lives, but those that live in pleasure, & the greatest pleasure is in the imagination
not in fruition; for it is more pleasure for any person to imagin themselvs
Emperour of the whole world, than to be so; for in imagination they reign &
Rule, without the troublesome and weighty cares belonging thereto; neither
have they those fears of being betrayed or usurped as real Emperours have; Zz2 Be- Zz2v 184
Besides, the whole general Race of Man kind, may this way be the particular
Emperour of the whole World, if ithey will; but those that desire to be
Emperours any other wayes, have but sick judgements, for the mind is all, for
if that be pleased, man is happy.

Visitant

Well, well, I had rather have the Material world, than you Airy
Fictions.――But confess really to me, if you should not think your self accurst
if you were to have no other Lovers, but what your Fancy creates.

Contemplation

No truely, for I finding none so exact as my Fancy creates,
makes all men appear worse than they are: For imagination doth like Painters,
which takes all the gracefullest lines, and exactest Features from two or
three good faces, and draws them into one: this is the reason that there may
be handsomer Pictures drawn, than any Creature born; because, Nature distributes
and divides her Favours, as to the generality, when Painter contract
them into particulars; for there was never any, unlesse born as a
wonder, that hath no exceptions; besides, my Lovers which my Fancy creates,
never make me jealouse, nor never disturb me; come to me, and goe
from me; speak or are silent as I will have them, and they are behaved, qualified,
and adorned to my humour, also of what Birth, Age, Complexion, or
Stature I like best; thus their persons and souls are created in my brain, live
in my Contemplation, and are dead and buryed in my forgetfulnesse, but have
a Resurrection in my remembrance,.

Visitant

Prethee do not lose the pleasure of the World, for the sake of
dull Contemplation.

Contemplation

Why, the greatest pleasures that can be in Fruition, I take
in Imagination: for whatsoever the sence enjoyes from outward objects, they
may enjoy in inward thoughts. For the mind takes as much Pleasure in creating
of Fancies, as Nature to create and dissolve, and create Creatures anew:
For Fancy is the Minds creature, & imaginations are as several worlds, wherein
those Creatures are bred and born, live and dye; thus the mind is like
infinite Nature.

Visit.

Prethee leave thy infinite folly.

Contem

It is my infinite delight.

Governess

Madam, why do you weep, and grieve your self almost to
death?

Poor Virtue

Have I not reason? my Father being kill’d, and I left friendlesse
all alone, my Mother dying as soon as I was born.

Governesse

There is no reason you should grieve for your Father, since he
dyed in the defence of his King and Country.

Virtue

’Tis true, and I glory in his valianrt loyal Actions, yet I cannot
choose but mourn for the losse of his life, and weepe upon his
death.

Governess

Methinks the greatest cause you have to weep, is, for the
loss of your Estate, which the Enemy hath siezed on, and you left only to
live on Charity.

Poor Virtue

I cannot mourn for any thing that is in Fortunes power to
take away.

Governess

Why? Fortune hath power on all things in the World.

Poor Virtue

O no, she hath power on nothing but base dross, and outward
forms, things moveable; but she hath neither power on honest hearts, nor
noble Souls; for ’tis the Gods infuse grace, and virtue; nor hath she power
or Reason, or Understanding, for Nature creates, and disposes those; nor doth
she govern Wisdome, for Wisdome governs her; nor hath she power on
Life and Death, they are decreed by Heaven.

Governess

And will you weep at Heavens decree?

Poor Virtue

The Heavens decrees hinder not humanity, nor natural affection.

Governess

Well, ever since your Mother dyed, I have governed your Fathers
House, and pleased him well; but since he is kill’d, and that there is
nothing for me to govern, I will take my leave of you and seek another place;
and I hope fortune will favour me so as to direct me to some Widower, or
old Batchelour, which desires a comely huswifly woman to order their private
affairs.

Poor Virtue

I wish you all happiness, and if I were in a condition, I would
make you a present.

1. Gentleman

Sir, My Lord is so busy since his Fathers Death, with
Stewards, Atturnies, and such like, about ordering his Estate, as I
am loath to disturb him; but as soon as he hath done speaking to them, I will
wait upon you to my Lord.

2. Gentleman

Sir, I shall wait my Lords leasure.

2. Gent

Sir, what pretty young Lady is that which passes by?

1. Gent

She is a great Heiress, and was Ward to my old Lord, and he
upon his Death-bed charged his Son my young Lord to marry her.

2. Gent

Surely small perswasions might serve turn; for her Virtue is
Rhetorick enough to perswade, nay to force affection.

1. Gent

Yet my Lord is discontented, he would rather choose for himself,
than that his Father should have chosen for him; for it is the Nature of
Mankind to reject that which is offered, though never so good; and to prize
that they cannot get, although not worth the having.

2. Gent

Of what Quality, of Birth, and Nature, and disposition is she of?

1. Gent

She is Honourably Born, and seems to be of a sweet disposition;
out of a Melancholy Nature.

Servant

Sir, my Lord desires the Gentleman would be pleased to
walk in.

Interruption

Lady, what makes you so silently sad?

Contemplation

Pardon me, Sir, I am not sad at this time, for my thoughts
are merry, and my spirits lively.

Interrupt

There is no appearance of mirth in you, for mirth hath alwayes
a dancing heel, a singing voyce, a talking tongue, and a laughing face.

Contempl

I have such merry Companions sometimes; but I seldome
dance, sing, talk, or laugh my self.

Interrupt

Where are those Companions? I desire to be acquainted with
them, and keep them Company.

Contempl

You cannot keep them Company, for the place they inhabit in,
is too little for your Corporal body to enter; besides, they are so curious,
choyce, and nice Creatures, as they will vanish at the very sight of you.

Interrupt

Why Lady, I am none of the biggest sized Men, nor am I of
a terrible aspect; I have seen very fine and delicate Creatures.

Contempl

But you never saw any of these Creatures.

Interrupt

Pray where do they dwell, and what are their Names? I long to
visit them.

Contempl

They dwell in my head, and their Sirnames are called thoughts;
but how you will visit them I cannot tell, but they may visit you.

Interrupt

Faith Lady, your relation hath made me despair of an enterview,
but not a friendly entertainment, if you please to think well of me.

Contempl

Thoughts are free, and for the most part they censure according
to fancy.

Interrupt

Then fancy me such a one, as you could like best, and love
most.

Contempl

That I cannot doe, for I love those best which I create my self,
and Nature hath taught me to prize whatsoever is my own most, although
of smaller valew, than what’s anothers, although of greater worth.

Interrupt

Then make me yours, by creating me anew.

Contempl

That is past my skill; but if you will leave me alone, I will think
of you when you are gone; for I had rather of the two entertain you in my
thoughts, than keep you Company in discourse, for I am better pleased with
a solitary silence, or a silent solitariness, than with a talking conversation, or an Aaa2r 187
an entertaining talking, for words for the most part are rather useless spent,
than profitably spoke, and time is lost in listning to them, for few tongues
make Musick, wanting the Cord of Sense, or sound of Reason, or fingers of
Fancy, to play thereon.

Interrupt

But you will injure your wit, to bury your wit in solitary
silence.

Contempl

Wit lives not on the tongue, as language doth, but in the brain,
which power hath, as Nature, to create.

Interrupt

But those are aery not material Creatures.

Contempl

’Tis true, but what they want in substance, they have in variety;
for the brain can create Millions of several Worlds fill’d full of several Creatures,
and though they last not long, yet are they quickly made, they need not
length of time to give them form and shape.

Interrupt

But there is required Speech to express them, or they are made
in vain, if not divulged.

Contempl

Speech is an enemy to Fancy; for they that talk much, cannot
have time to think much; and Fancies are produced from thoughts, as
thoughts are from the minde, and the minde which doth create the thoughts,
and the thoughts the fancies, is as a Deity; for it entertains it self with it self,
and only takes pleasure in its own works, although none other should partake,
or know thereof; but I shall talk a World out of my head, wherefore
farewel.

Nan Scrapeall

Now your Estate is seized on, you have not means to
keep a Servant, as to pay them for their service.

Poor Virtue

No truly Nan, but that which grieves me most, is, that I have
not wherewithall to reward thee for thy past service.

Nan Scrapeall

I have served you these seven years, and have had nothing
but my bare wages, unless it were some of the worst of your cast Clothes;
for Mrs. Governess took order I should have none of the best; but I hope
you will pay me my half years wages that is due to me.

Poor Virtue

Truly Nan I am not able, for not only my Estate, but all the
Money, Jewels, Plate, and other goods you know was seized on, all that my
Father left, or had a right to, unless it were my single self; and if you will
take my service for half a year for payment, I will be very honest, dutiful, and
diligent.

Nan Scrapeall

No by my troth, for you have been bred with so much attendance,
curiosity, and plenty, as you will rather prove a charge than a payment;
but if you can get means by your youth, and beauty, I shall come and
claim what is owing me.

Poor Virtue

When I am able you shall not need to challenge it; for I
will pay you before you ask.

Poor Virtue

Why weepst thou old Humanity?

Humanity

For the ruine of your noble family. I came a boy to your
Grandmother the great and rich Lady Natures service, she being then newly
married to your Grandfather the Lord Propriety; from whence sprung your
Father the Lord Morality; your Grandfather, and Grandmother dying, I served
your Father, who soon after married your Mother the Lady Piety, they
living, whilst she lived, with Peace and Tranquillity; but she dying, left you
only to your Father, as a pledg of their loves; and indeed, you are so like
them both, as all must confess they were your Parents, although they knew
not your Birth; and yet none can tell which you resembled most: thus have
I lived to see your Grandfather, and Grandmother, and Father, and Mother
dead, and Peace, and Tranquillity fled; and you sweet Virtue left dessolate
and forlorn, both of friends and fortune; but sweet Lady comfort your self,
for I have a little fortune, which I got honestly in your Fathers service; and
as long as that lasts you shall not want.

Poor Virtue

I thank you, but you are old Humanity, and ready to go upon
Crutches, and age and infirmities are shiftless; wherefore keep it for thy
own use.

Humanity

Why, so is unexperienced youth, both shiftless, and strengthless.

Poor Virtue

Tis true, yet youth hath an encreasing advantage; for time
carryes youth up, but time pulls Age down; wherefore I will not take that
from thee, that will cause thee to be the poorer, or hazard you to want; I shall
only desire your advise, what I shall do, and what course I shall follow.

Humanity

Alas sweet Lady, necessity will drive you into many extremities.

Poor Virtue

I shall have fortitude to arm me; but what Counsel will you
give me?

Humanity

The best way for you will be to get into some great Ladies service,
and in such a place or office as to attend upon her Person, there you
may live with honour and respect.

Poor Virtue

I had rather shrow’d my honest Poverty in a thatcht house,
than live in a Palace to be pointed at for my misfortunes; for in this Age,
misfortunes are accounted crimes, and poverty is condemned as a thief, and
hang’d in the Chains of scorn; wherefore if I could get a service in an honest
poor Farmers house, I might live happy, as being most obscure from the
World, and the Worlds Vices; for vice encreases more in Palaces than in
Cottages; for in Palaces Pride Plows, Faction Sowes, Riot Reaps, Extortion
Threshes, Covetousness Whoords up the grain or gain; there youth is corrupted
with Vanity, Beauty catcht with Flattery, Chastity endangered with Power,
and Virtue slandered by Envy; besides, great Persons use their Servants
too unequally, making them either Masters, or Slaves; where in an humble
Cottage the industrious, and laborious Masters command their Servants
friendly and kindly, and are obeyed with love; wherefore good Humanity,
seek me out such a Place to live in, to serve.

Humanity

I will, for I will never forsake you as long as I live, or at least
so long as I have leggs to goe.

Poor Virtue

When you cannot visit me, I will visit you, for I shall never
be ungrateful.

Conversation

Sir Experience Traveller, you that have been so great a traveller,
pray tell me what Nations have the rarest Beauties, and which the
greatest Wits?

Sir Experience Traveller

In all my travels, the rarest Beauty that I have
seen, and the greatest Wit that I have heard of, is your self, sweet Lady Conversation.

Conver

Then you have lost your labour; for you might have seen my
Beauty, and have heard my Wit, at lesse Charges, and more
ease.

Experience Tra

Tis true Madam, for some travel meerly to learn to make
a leg or congy with a good grace, and to wear their cloaths, or acouster
themselves fashionably. But I have observed in my travels, that very cold
Countries, and very hot Countries, have neither so many Beauties, nor
so much Wit, at lest not so much as more temperate Countries
have.

Conver

What is the reason of that?

Exper. Trav

I cannot conceive the reason, unlesse the extream coldnesse
of the Climate should congele their Spirits, and stupifie their Brains, making
the Spirits unactive to get, and the Brain too barren to breed and bear Wit.

Conver

So then you make the Spirits and the Brain the Parents to
Wit.

Exper. Trav

Yes Madam.

Conver

And what reason give you for the scarcity of Beauties in very cold
Climates

Exper. Trav

Beauty, Madam, is as tender and fading in the growth, as a
Flower, although it be fresh and sweet; and the more delicate it is, the
more subject to be nipt with the hard Frost, and to be withered with raw
colds.

Conver

Then hot Countries should produce good store.

Exper. Trav

No Madam, for extream heat dryes up Wit, as water in a
Spring, and Sun-burns beauty.

Conver

But hot Brains are thought to produce the greatest Wits.

Expe. Trav

Yes, if they be equally tempered with moisture; for as heat
in moisture are Generators of all Creatures, so of Wit; but if the moisture
exceed the heat, the Brain, or Mind becomes stupid, if the heat exceeds the
moisture, the Brain or Mind becomes mad.

Conver

What Nation hath the best Language?

Expe. Trav

There are but three commendable things in Language, those Bbb are Bbb1v 190
are to be significant, copious, and smooth; and the English tongue hath the
perfection of all, there being an oyle, or butter made of the cream of all other
Languages. Thus, what with the Temperature of the Climate, and
the soft, smooth, spreading Language, England produces rarer Beauties, and
eloquenter Orators, and finer Poets, than any other Nation in the world; and
the Nobility and Gentry live not only in greater grandeur, than in other Nations,
but naturally appear or look with a more splendid Greatnesse.

Conver

Tis true, they did so in former times, when the Crown kept up
Ceremony, and Ceremony the Crown; but since that Ceremony is down,
their grandeur is lost, and their splendor put out, and no light thereof remains:
But they are covered with a dark rudenesse, wherein the Clown justles
the Lord, and the Lord gives the way to the Clown; the man takes the
wall of his Master, and the Master scrapes legs with Cap in hand to the Servant,
and waits upon him, not out of a generous and noble Nature,
but out of a base servile fear, and through fear hath given the Power
away.

Exper. Trav

I am sorry to hear the Nobility is so degenerated.

Adviser

I wonder your Lordship should be so troubled at your Fathers
commands, which was to marry the Lady Ward, unlesse she had been
ill-favoured and old.

Lord Courtship

O that’s the misery! that she is so young, For I had rather
my Father had commanded me to marry one that had been very old, than
one that is so young; for if she had been very old, there might have been
some hopes of her death; but this young Filly will grow upon me, not from
me; besides, those that are young give me no delight, their Company is
dull.

Adviser

Why, she is not so very young, she is fifteen years of
Age.

Lord Court

Give me a Lady to imbrace about the years of twenty, rather
than fifteen; then is her Beauty like a full-blown Rose in June, her Wit
like fruit is ripe and sweet, and pleasant to the ear; when those of fifteen are
like to green sharp Fruit, not ripened by the Sun of Time. Yet that’s not all
that troubles me; but I cannot endure to be bound in Wedlocks shackles,
for I love variety, and hate to be ty’d to one.

Adviser

Why, you may have the more variety by marrying.

Lord Court

No faith, ’tis a Bar; for if I should but kisse my wives Maid,
which a thousand to one but I shall, my wife, if she doth not beat her Maid,
making a hideous noise, with scoldings, yet she will pout, and cry, and feign
her self sick, or else she would Cuckold me, and then I am paid for
all.

Adviser

Faith my Lord, it is a hundred to one but a man when he is maryedryed Bbb2r 191
shall be Cuckolded, were he as wise as Solomon, as valiant as David, as
fortunate as Cæsar, as witty as Homer, or as Handsome as Absalom; for Women
are of the same Nature as men, for not one man amongst a thousand
makes a good Husband, nor one woman amongst a thousand makes an honest
Wife.

Lord Court

No faith, you might well have put another Cypher and made
it ten thousand.

Adviser

Well my Lord, since you must marry, pray let me counsel
you: This Lady Ward being very young, you may have her bred to your
own Humour.

Lord Court

How is that?

Adviser

Why, accustome her to your wayes before you marry her; let
her see your several Courtships to several Mistresses, and keep wenches in
your house; and when she is bred up to the acquaintance of your customes, it
will be as natural to her.

Lord Court

What, to be a whore?

Adviser

No, to know your humours, and to be contented thereat.

Lord Court

Well, I will take your advice, although it is dangerous:
And as the old saying is, the Medicine may prove worse than the
disease.

Adviser

Why, the worst come to the worst, it is but parting.

Lord Court

You say true; but yet a divorce will not clearly take off the
disgrace of a Cuckold.

Humanity

I have found out a service, a Farmer which hath the report of
an honest labouring man, and his wife a good huswifely woman; they
have onely one daughter about your years, a pretty Maid truely she is, and
seems a modest one; but how you will endure such rough and rude work,
which perchance they will imploy you in, I cannot tell, I doubt you will tire
in it.

Poor Virtue

Do not fear, for what I want in strength, my industry shall
supply.

Humanity

But you must be fitted with cloaths according, and proper to
your service.

Poor Virtue

That you must help me to.

Humanity

That I will.

Sir Fancy Poet

Sweet Lady Contemplation, although your thoughts be excellent,
yet there are fine curiosities and sweet pleasures to be enjoyed in
the use of the world.

Contemplation

Perchance so, but would not you think that man a Fool
that hath a great estate, a large convenient house, well situated, in sweet and
healthfull Aire, pleasant and delightful, having all about for the eyes to view
Landskips, and Prospects; beside, all the inside richly furnished, annd the
Master plentifully served, and much company to passe his time with, as a resort
of men of all Nations, of all Ages, of all qualities or degrees; and professions,
of all humours, of all breedings, of all shapes, of all complexions:
Likewise a recourse for all Wits, for all Scholars, for all Arts, for all Sciences;
Also Lovers of all sorts Servants of all use, and imployments; Thus
living luxuriously with all rarities and varieties, and yet shall go a begging,
debasing himself with humble crouching, inslaving himself to Obligations,
living upon cold Charity, and is denyed often times unkindly, or kickt out
scornfully, when he may be honoured at home, and served in state, would
not you think that this man had an inbred basenesse, that had rather serve unworthily,
than command honourably; that had rather be inslaved, than free?
Besides, that mind is a fool that cannot entertain it self with it’s own thoughts;
a wandring Vagabond, that is never, or seldome at home in Contemplation;
A Prodigal to cast out his thoughts vainly in idle words, base to inslave it
self to the Body, which is full of corruption, when it can create bodilesse
Creatures like it self in Corporalities; with which self Creatures, it may
nobly, honestly, freely, and delightfully entertain it self. With which, the
mind may not only delight it self, but improve it self; for the thoughts, which
are the actions of the mind, make the soul more healthful and strong by exercises;
for the mind is the soules body, and the thoughts are the actions
thereof.

Fancy Poet

After what manner will you form this Body?

Contemplation

Thus Understanding is the Brain, Reason the Liver, Love is the
heart, Hate the Spleen, Knowledge the Stomach, Judgement the Sinews, Opinions
the Bones, Will the Veins, Imaginations the Blood, Fancy the Spirits,
the Thoughts are the Life, and Motion, or the Motions of the Life, the outward
Form is the Mind it self, which fsometimes is like a Beast, sometimes
like a man, and sometimes like a God.

Fancy Poet

And you my fair Goddesse.

Lady Amorous

My Lord, you are too covetous to take a wife meerly for
her riches.

Lord Courtship

Believe me Madam, I do esteem of such Riches as Money,
as I do of Marriage, and in my nature I do hate them both; for a man is enslaved
by either: wherefore I would shun them if I could, and turn them out
of doors, but that some sorts of necessity and conveniency inforce me to entertain
them; the one for Posteritie sake, the other for subsistence of present
life, besides convenient pleasures.

Lady Am

The Lady Ward, who is to be your wife, seems of a very dull
disposition.

Lord Court

She is so, but I like her the better for that, for I would have a
deadly dull Wife, and a lively Mistresse, such a sprightly Lady as you
are.

Lady Am

In truth my Lord, I am of a melancholy Nature.

Lord Court

Certainly Madam, you onely [Gap in transcription—flawed-reproductionapproximately 2 letters]ow the Name, not the Nature,
for your Nature is alwayes fresh, and sweet, and pleasant, as the
Spring.

Lady Am

O no, my mind is like to Winter, and my thoughts are numb
and cold.

Lord Court

If your thoughts were so cold, your words would be as if they
were frozen between your lips, all your discourse would melt by drops, not
flow so smoothly and swiftly into mens eares, as they at all times
do.

Lady Am

Tis true, I am merry when I am in your company, but in
your absence I am as dull as a cloudy day, and as melancholy as dark
night.

Lord Court

I cannot believe so well of my self, as that my company can
be the light of your mirth, but I know that your company is the Sun of my
life, nor could I live without it.

Lord Title

This is a barren Country, for in all this progresse I have not
seen a pretty Country wench.

Effeminate Lovely

Nor I.

Golden Riches

Nor I.

Lord Title

If an person can tell, it is Tom Purveyer.

Now Tom Purveyer, are there no pretty wenches in this part of the Countrey?

Tom Purveyer

Yes that there are, an it please your Lordship, and not far off,
two as pretty wenches as are in the Kingdome, and no dispraise to the rest.

All

Where? where?

Tom Purveyer

Hard by here, at a Farmers House; the one is his Daughter,
the other is his Servant-Maid.

Sir Golden RichesSir Effeminate LovelyLord Title[Speaker label not present in original source]

Prethee Tom show us the house.

Tom Purveyer

Not all at once; but one after another.

Sir Golden RichesSir Effeminate LovelyLord Title[Speaker label not present in original source]

Nay faith Tom, let us all see them at once; but we will Court them
apart.

Tom Purveyer

Content.

Lady Conversation

What is the reason that Mercury is feign’d to be the
patron of Thieves?

Sir Fancy Poet

That is to be the patron of Scholars, for Scholars are the
greatest Thieves, stealing from the Authours they read, to their own use.

Lady Convers

And why are Scholars counted the greatest Thieves?

Sir Fancy Poet

Because they steal the Spirits, or life of renown, out
of the treasury of Fame; when all other sorts of Thieves steal but the goods
of Fortune, which is nothing but a Corporal dross.

Lady Convers

And why is nhe feigned the talkative God?

Sir Fancy Poet

Because Scholars talk more than other men, and most commonly
so much, as they will let none speak but themselves; and when there
is a Company of Scholars together, they will be so fierce in disputes, as they
will be ready to go to cuffs for the Prerogative of their opinion.

Lady Convers

The Prerogative of the tongue you mean; but why are Scholars
apt to talk most?

Sir Fancy Poet

Because they overcharge their heads with several Authors,
as Epicures do their Stomacks with variety of meats, and being overcharged,
they are forced to vent it forth through the mouth, as the other through the
gut; for the tongue, as a Feather, tickles the throat of Vainglory, vomiting
out the slime of Learning, into the ears of the hearers; but some heads, as
Stomacks which are naturally weak, are so grip’d, by reason it doth not disgest
well, as they vent nothing but windy Phrases; and other brains which are
hot and moist, by reason of a facil memory, disgest so fast, as they do nothing
but purge loose Sentences; and other brains that are too dry and Incipid, are
so costive, as their restringency strains out nothing but strong lines.

Lady Convers

What is that, Non-sense?

Sir Fancy Poet

Indeed they are hard words without sense.

Lady Convers

What makes a good Poet?

Sir Fancy Poet

A quick Fancy.

Lady Convers

What makes a good Oratour?

Sir Fancy Poet

A ready Tongue.

Lady Convers

What makes a good Physician?

Sir Fancy Poet

Much Practice.

Lady Convers

What makes a good Divine?

Sir Fancy Poet

A Holy Life.

Lady Convers

What makes a good States-man?

Sir Fancy Poet

Long experience, great observance, prudent industry, ingenuous
wit, and distinguishing judgment.

Lady Convers

What makes a good Souldier?

Sir Fancy Poet

Change of Fortune, Courage, Prudence, and Patience.

Lady Convers

What makes a good Courtier?

Sir Fancy Poet

Diligence, Flattery, and time-serving.

Lady Convers

What makes a good Prince, or Governour?

Sir Fancy Poet

Justice, Clemency, Generosity, Courage, and Prudence
mixt together.

Lady Convers

What makes a good Woman?

Sir Fancy Poet

A Poet.

Lady Convers

Why a Poet?

Sir Fancy Poet

By reason the Poetical wits convert their natural defects
into sweet graces, their follies to pure innocencies, and their Vices into Heroick
Virtues.

Lady Convers

By these descriptions, you make as if women were more obliged
to Poets than to Nature.

Sir Fancy Poet

They are so; for where Nature, or Education, makes
one good, or beautiful Woman, Poets make ten; besides, Poets have not
only made greater numbers of beautiful women, but perfecter beauties than
ever Nature made.

Lady Convers

Then let me tell you, that women make Poets; for women
kindle the masculine brains with the fire of Love, from whence arises a
Poetical flame; and their Beauty is the fuel that feeds it.

Sir Fancy Poet

I confess, were there no women, there would be no Poets;
for the Muses are of that Sex.

Maudling Huswife

Truly Husband our Maid Poor Virtue is a very industrious
Servant as ever I had in my life.

Roger Farmer

Yes wife, but you were angry with me at first because I perswaded
you to take her.

Maudling Huswife

Why, she seem’d to be so fine a feat, as I thought she
would never have setled to her work.

Roger Farmer

Truly Wife, she does forecast her business so prudently,
and doth every thing so orderly, and behaves her self so handsomely, and carryes
her self so modestly, as she may be a Pattern to our Daughter.

Maudling Huswife

I am a better Pattern my self.

Lord Title

Fair Maid, may I be your Shepheard to attend you.

Poor Virtue

I am but a single Sheep that needs no great attendance,
and a harmless one, that strayes not forth the ground I am put to feed.

Lord Title

Mistake me not fair Maid, I desire to be your Shepheard, and
you my fair Shepheardess, attending loving thoughts, that feed on kisses
sweet, folded in amorous arms.

Poor Virtue

My mind never harbors wanton thoughts, nor sends immodest
glances forth, nor will infold unlawful love, for chastity sticks as fast unto my
Soul, as light unto the Sun, or heat unto the fire, or motion unto life, or absence
unto death, or time unto eternity, and I glory more in being chast, than
Hellen of her beauty, or Athens of their learning and eloquence, or the Lacedemonions
of their Lawes, or the Persians of their Riches, or Greece of their Fables,
or the Romans of their Conquests; and Chastity is more delightfull to
my mind, than Fancy is to Poets, or Musick to the Ears, or Beauty to the
Eyes, and I am as constant to Chastity, as truth to Unity, and Death to life;
for I am as free, and pure from all unchastity as Angels are of sin.

Lord Title

I wonder not so much at Fortunes gifts, as Natures curiosities,
not so much at Riches, Tittle and power, as Beauty, Wit, and Virtue, joyn’d in Ddd1r 197
in one; besides, she doth amaze me by expressing so much learning, as if
she had been taught in some famous Schools, and had read many histories,
and yet a Cottager, and a young Cottager, tis strange.

Adviser

My Lord, doth my Counsel take good effect?

Lord Courtship

Yes faith, for she seems to take it very patiently, or
elce she is so dull a Creature as she is not sensible of any injury that’s done
her.

Adviser

How doth she look when you adress, and salute your Mistriss?

Lord Courtship

She seems to regard us not; but is as if she were in a deep
contemplation of another world.

Adviser

I think she is one of the fewest words, for I never heard her
speak.

Lord Courtship

Faith so few, as I am in good hope she is tongue-tyed, or
will grow dumb.

Adviser

That would be such a happiness, as all married men would envy
you for.

Lord Courtship

They will have cause, for there is nothing so tedious as
talking women, they speak so constraintly, and utter their Nonsence with
such formality, and ask impertinent questions so gravely, or else their discourse
is snip snap, or so loud and shrill, as deafs a mans ears, so as a man
would never keep them Company, if it were not for other reasons.

Adviser

Your Lordship speaks as if you were a woman-hater.

Lord Courtship

O Pardon me, for there is no man loves the Sex better
than I; yet I had rather discourse with their beauty than their wits; besides,
I only speak of generalities, not particularities.

Interruption

Lady, pray make me partaker of some of your conceptions.

Contempl

My conceptions are like the tongue of an extemporary Oratour,
that after he hath spoke, if he were to speak upon the same subject he could
hardly do it, if it were not impossible just to speak as he did, as to express the
same subjects in the same expressions, and way of his natural Rhetorick; for
the sense may be the same, but the expressions, & way of Rhetorick wil hardly
be the same; but ’tis likely will be very different, and so differing, as not
to be like the same; but the same premeditated Rhetorick, will many times Ddd serve Ddd1v 198
serve to many several designs, or preaching, pleading, or speaking, the Theam
or cause being altered; This is the difference betwixt extemporary Oratory,
and premeditated Oratory, the one may be spoke, as many times as an Orator
will, and make the same Oratory serve to many several Subjects; the other
being not fixt, but voluntary, vanishes out of the remembrance, the same
many times do my conceptions.

Interrup

But I hope all are not vanished, some remain; wherefore pray
expresse or present any one of your conceptions after what manner of way
you please.

Contempl

Why then I will tell you, I had a conception of a Monster, as a
Creature that had a rational soul, yet was a Fool: It had had a beautiful and
perfect shape, yet was deformed and ill-favoured; It had clear distinguishing
senses, and yet was sencelesse; It was produced from the Gods, but had
the nature of a Devil; It had an eternal life, yet dyed as a Beast; It had a
body, and no body.

Interrup

What Monster call you this?

Contempl

I call him Man.

Interrup

This is a Man of your own conception.

Contempl

A man of Natures creating is as monstrous: for though man hath a
rational soul, yet most men are fools, making no use of their reason; and though
Man hath a beautiful and perfect shape, yet for the most part, they make
themselves deformed and ill-favoured with antick postures, violent passions,
or brutish vices; and man hath clear distinguishing Senses, yet in his sleep,
or with fumes, or drink, he is sencelesse: Man was produced immediately
from the Gods, yet man being wicked, and prone to evil, hath by evil wickednesse
the nature of a Devil; Man ’tis said, shall live for ever, as having an
eternal life, yet betwixt this life and the other, he dyes like a Beast, and turns
to dust as other Creatures do; but the only difference between the man Nature
creates, and the man my Conceptions create is, that Natures man hath
a real substance as a real body; whereas my conceptive man is only an Idea,
which is an incorporal man, so as the body of my concepted man, is as the soul
of Natures created man, an incorporality.

Lord Title

Well, I have lost my first Course in Love, and
now like an angry bloody Gray-hound, I will down with
the first I meet, were she as innocent as a Dove, or as wise as
a Serpent, down she goes.

But soft, here’s Loves game, and Ile flye at her. Fair One, for so you
are.

Mall Mean-bred

Truly Sir I am but a Blouse.

Lord Title

Think better of your self, and believe me.

Mall Mean

My Father hath told me, I must not believe a Gentleman in
such matters.

Lord Title

Why sweetest? I am a Lord.

Mall Mean

A Lord; Lord blesse your Worship then, but my Father
gave me warning of a Lord, he said they might nay, say and swear too, and
do any thing, for they were Peers of the Realm, there was no medling with
them he said, without a Rebellion, blesse me from a Lord, for it is a naughty
thing, as they say, I know not.

Lo. Title

Do you value me so little, when I can make you an Apocryphal
Lady?

Mall Mean

The Apocrypha forsooth is out of my Book, I have been bred
purer than to meddle with the Apocrypha, the Gods blesse us from it, and
from all such ill things.

Lo. Title

Well, in short, will you love me?

Mall Mean

I am so ashamed to love a Lord forsooth that I know not how
to behave my self.

Lo. Title

I will teach you.

Mall Mean

If your Honour will take the pains to teach a poor ignorant
Country Maid, I will do the best I can to learn forsooth; but will it not be
too much pains for your Honour, do you think?

Lo. Title

No no, it will be both for my Honour, and my pleasure, and for
the pleasure of my Honour.

Mall Mean

Blesse us, how the Lords doe it backward and forward
at their pleasure, the finest that ever was; but what would your Honour have
of me?

Lo. Title

By this kiss Ile tell you.

Mall Mean

O fie, fie, good your Honour, do not scandalize your lips to
kisse mine, and make me so proud as never to kisse our Shepherd again.

Mall Mean

No fie.

Lo. Title

I will and must kisse you.

Mall Mean

Nay, good your Honour, good your Honour.

What are you the better now? But I see there is no denying a Lord, forsooth
it is not civil, and they are so peremptory too, the Gods blesse them,
and make them their Servants.

Lo. Title

This kisse hath so inflamed me, therefore for Loves sake, meet
me in the Evening, in the Broom close here.

Mall Mean

I know the Close forsooth, I have been there before
now.

Lo. Title

Well, and when we meet I will discover more than yet I have
done.

Mall Mean

So you had need forsooth, for nothing is discovered yet, either
on your side, or mine, but I will keep my promise.

Lo. Title

There spoke my better Angel; so adiew.

Mall Mean

An Angel, I will not break my word for two angels, and I hope
there will be no dew neither, God shield you forsooth.

Sir Effeminate Lovely

Fair Maid, stay and look upon my person.

Poor Virtue

Why, so I do.

Effem. Love

And how do you like it?

Poor Vir

As I like a curious built house, wherein lives a vain and self-conceited
owner.

Effem. Love

And are not you in love with it?

Poor Vir

No truly, no more than with a pencilled Picture.

Effem. Love

Why, I am not painted.

Poor Vir

You are by Nature, though not by Art.

Effem. Love

And do you despise the best and curiousest Works of Nature?

Poor Vir

No, I admire them.

Effem. Love

If you admire them, you will admire me, and if you admire
me, you will yield to my desires.

Poor Vir

There may be admiration withouf love, but to yield to your desires,
were to abuse Natures Works.

Effem. Love

No, It were to enjoy them.

Poor Vir

Nature hath made Reason in man, as well as Sence, and we ought
not to abuse the one, to please the other; otherwise man would be like
Beasts, following their sensualities, which Nature never made man to be;
for she created Virtues in the Soul, to govern the Senses and Appetites of the
Body, as Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Conscience.

Effem. Love

Conscience? What is that, natural fear?

Poor Vir

No, it is the tenderest part of the Soul, bathed in a holy dew, from
whence repentant tears do flow.

Effem. Love

I find no such tender Constitution, nor moist Complexion in
my Soul.

Poor Vir

That is, by reason the Fire of unlawful Love hath drunk all up,
; feared the Consience dry.

Effem. Love

You may call it what Fire you will, but I am certain it is your
Beauty that kindles it, and your Wit that makes it flame, burning with hot
desires.

Poor Vir

Pray Heaven my Virtue may quench it out again.

Effem. Love

I am sure Nature requires a self-satisfaction, as well as a self-
preservation, and cannot, nor will not be quiet without it, esteeming it beyond
life.

Lady Ward

I wonder my Lord Courtship, he being counted a wise man,
should make me his Baud, if he intends to make me his Wife, and by my
troth Nurse, I am too young for that grave Office.

Nurse Careful

How ignorantly you speak Child? it is a sign you have been
bred obscurely, and know little of the world; or rather it proves your Mother
dyed before you could speak, or go, otherwise you would be better experienced
in these businesses.

Lady Ward

My Mother, Nurse, Heaven rest her soul, she would never have
made me a Baud.

Nurse Careful

No, why then she would not do as most Mothers do now a
dayes; for in this age Mothers bring up their daughters to carry Letters, and
to receive messages, or at lest to watch at the door lest their Fathers should
come unawares, and when they come to make some excuse, and then the
Mother laughs, and sayes her daughter is a notable witty Girle.

La. Ward

What, for telling a lye?

Nurse Careful

Yes, when it is told so, as to appeare like a
truth.

Lady Ward

But it is a double fault, as to deceive the Father, and be a Baud
to the Mother.

Nurse Careful

Why, the Mother will execute the same Office for the daughther
when she is marryed, and her self grown into years; for from the age of
seven or eight years old, to the time they are maryed, the Daughter is a Baud
to the Mother; and from the time of their marriage, to the time of their
Mothers death, the Mother is a Baud to the Daughter; but if the Mother be
indifferently young, and hath a young tooth in her head, as the old saying is,
they Baud for each other.

Lady Ward

But why doth not the Mother Baud for her Daughter, before
she is marryed.

Nurse Care

O there is reason for that, for that may spoil her fortune, by
hindering her marriage: for marriage is a Veile to cover the wanton face
of adultery, the like Veil is Baud-mothers, and Baud-daughters; for who
would suspect any lewdnesse, when the Mother and the Daughter is together?

La. Ward

And are not Sons Pimps for their Fathers, as Daughters are for
their Mothers?

Nurse Careful

No faith, Boys have not facility, or ingenuity as Girles
have; besides, they are kept most commonly so strictly to their Bookes,
when Girles have nothing else to do; but when they have cast away their
Books, and come to be marryed men, then they may chance to Pimp for their
Wives.

Lady Ward

O fie Nurse, surely a man will never play the Pimp to Cuckold
himself.

Nurse Care

O yes, if they be poor, or covetous, or ambitious; and then
if they have a handsome woman to their wife, they will set her as a bait to
catch their designs in the trap of Adultery; or patient, quiet, simple, fearful Eee men Eee1v 202
men will, if they have a Spritely wife, they will play the Pimp, either for
fear, or quiet; for such men to such wives, will do any thing to please them,
although it be to Cuckold themselves.

La. Ward

But surely Nurse no Gentleman will do so.

Nurse Care

I know not who you call Gentlemen, but those that bear up
high and look big, and vant loud, and walk proud, and carry the out-side
of a Gentleman, will do so.

La. Ward

Certainly Nurse they are but Bastard Gentry, or else they are
degenerated.

Nurse Careful

An incipid Branch may spring from a sound Root, many
a withered and rotten Plum may hang on a good Tree.

La. Ward

And do Wives play the Bauds for their Husbands, as the Husbands
play the Pimps for their Wives?

Nurse Care

Most often; for they will make Gossiping meetings, on purpose
for their Husbands to Court other women; for they know when their Husbands
minds are fill’d with amorous love, they will not muse upon their actions,
nor examine their wayes; besides, when as the Husband would take his
liberty without disturbance, he will wink at the liberty his wife takes, and so
will be procurers for each other, and the Ladys acquaintance are Confidents.

La. Ward

Confidents, what is that, Nurse?

Nurse Careful

Why it is thus, two Ladies make friendship, or at least
call Friends, and if any man desires to be a Courtly Servant to one of them,
he addresses himself to the other, and expresses what Passions and Affections
he hath for her friend, and so makes his complaints and affections known to
her; whereupon she recommends his addresses and service to her Friend;
thus doing a friendly Office by carrying and declaring his professions, and returning
her Friends civil answers, appointing places for each others lovemeetings,
the other will do as much for her.

La. Ward

Why this is a Baud.

Nurse Care

O peace Child, for if any body heard you say so, they would
laugh at you for a Fool, but ’tis a sign you never was a Courtier, for I
knew a young Lady that went to Court to be a Maid of Honour; and there
were two young Ladies that were Confidents to each other, and a great Prince
made love to one of them, but adddrest himself to the other, as being her
Friend; this young Maid askt why he did so, it was answered, she was the
Princes Mistresse Confident; and just as you ask me, what said she, is a confident
a Baud; whereupon the whole Court laught at her, and for that only
question condemned her to be a very Fool, nay, a meer Changling.

La. Ward ,.

Well Nurse, say what you will, Confident is but a Courtly
name for a Baud.

Sir Effeminate Lovely

Those wandering Stars
that shine like brightest day, are fixt on me, the
Center of your love.

Mall Mean-bred

O Heavens!

Sir. Effem. Lovely

Happy to touch those Lillies in your cheeks mingled
with Roses, loves perfumed bath.

Mall. Mean-bred

They grow forsooth in our Garden.

Sir Effem. Lovely

You are the Garden of all sweets for love, your blushing
lips of the Vermillion die, and those twin cherries, give me leave to
taste.

Mall Mean-bred

Truly Sir, I understand no Latin, but I will call our Vicar
to you, and he shall expound.

Sir Effem. Lovely

No dearest Dear, my lovely Dear, my dearest Love,
my lovelyest Dear.

Mall Mean-bred

I never cost you any thing as yet, Sir.

Sir Effem. Lovely

Why, then no Lady of Arcadie bred.

Mall Mean-bred

Truly Sir, this is as our Vicar saith, like Hebrew without
poynts, to be read backwards; say any thing forward in Nottingham-shire;
speak, that I may guess at, and I will answer your Worship, though truly, it
is as fine as ever I understood not.

Effem. Lovely

Why then sweet heart I love you, and would gladly enjoy
you.

Mall Mean-bred

O fie, enjoy is a naughty word forsooth, if it please
you.

Effem. Lovely

It would please me, your thoughts of what you
mince.

Mall Mean-bred

Thoughts are free forsooth, and I love whole joints without
mincing.

Effem. Lovely

Why then in plain English, I would have your Maidenhead.

Mall Mean-bred

O dear, how will you get it, can you tell? Truely, truely,
I did not think such naughty words would come forth of so fine a Gentlemans
mouth.

Effem. Lovely

But tell me truely, do you think me fine?

Mall Mean

You will make me blush now, and discover all; so fine
cloaths, the Taylor of Norton never made such, and so finely made, unbuttoned
and untrust doth so become you; but I do hang down my head for shame;
and those Linnen Boot-hose (as if you did long to ride,) do so become you,
and your short Coat to hang on your left arm; O sweet, O sweet; and then
your Hat hid with so fine a Feather, our Peacocks tailes are not like it; and
then your hair so long, so finely curled, and powder’d in sweets, a sweeter
Gentleman I never saw. My love’s beyond dissembling, so young, so fresh, so
every thing, I warrant you; O Sir, you will ravish me, but yet you cannot.

Effem. Lovely

O how you have made me thankfulnesse all over for this Eee2 your Eee2v 204
your bounty to me; wherefore my earthly Paradise, let us meet in the next
Close, there under some sweet Hedge to tast Loves aromatick Banquet at
your Table.

Mall Mean-bred

O Sir, with blushes I consent; farewel; do not bettray me then,
you must not tell.

Golden Riches

Stay lovely Maid, and receive a Fortune.

Poor Virtue

I am Fortune proof Sir, she cannot tempt me.

Gold. Rich

But she may perswade you to reason.

Poor Virtue

That she seldome doth, for she is alwayes in extremes, and

Gol. Rich

What do you Rime, my pretty Maid?

Poor Virtue

Yes Rich Sir, to end my discourse.

Golden Riches

I will make you Rich, if you will receive my
gifts.

Poor Virtue

I love not gifts Sir, because they often prove bribes to corrupt.

Gold. Rich

Why, what do you love then?

Poor Vir

I love Truth, Fidelity, Justice, Chastity; and I love obedience to
lawful Authority, which rather than I would willingly and knowingly infring,
I would suffer death.

Gold. Rich

Are you so wilful?

Poor Vir

No, I am so constant.

Gold. Rich

But young Maid, you oughrt not to deny all gifts, for there are
gifts of pure affection, Love-gifts of Charity, gifts of Humanity, and gifts of
Generosity.

Poor Virtue

They are due debts, and not gifts; For those you call gifts of
pure Love, are payments to dear deserving friends; and those of Charity are
payments to Heaven; and those of Humanity are payments to Nature, and
those of Generosity, are payments to Merit; but there are vain-glorious gifts,
covetous gifts, gifts of fear, and gifts that serve as Bauds to corrupt foolish
young Virgins.

Gold. Rich

Are you so wise as to refuse them?

Poor Vir

I am so virtuous as not to take them.

Visitant

What still musing, O thou idle creature?

Contemp

I am not idle, for I busie my self with my own fancies.

Visitant

Fancies are like dust, soon raised, and suddenly blown away.

Contemp

No, they are as fire-works that sparkling flie about; or rather
stars, set thick upon the brain, which gives a twinckling delight unto the
mind.

Visitant

Prethee delight thy friends with thy conversation, and spend not
thy time with dull thoughts.

Contemp

Pray give me leave to delight my self with my own thoughts,
since I have no discourse to entertain a hearer.

Visitant

Why, your thoughts speak in your mind, although your tongue
keeps silence.

Contemp

’Tis true; but they disturb not the mind with noise, for noise
is the greatest enemy the mind hath: and as for my part, I think the most
useless sense that Nature hath made, is hearing: the truth is, that hearing
and smelling might well have been spared, for those two senses bring
no materials into the brain; for sound and scent are incorporal.

Visitant

Then put out all the senses.

Contemp

There is no reason for that, for the eyes bring in pictures which
serve the mind for patterns to draw new fancies by, and to cut, or carve out
figurative thoughts, and the last serves towards the nourishment of the body,
and touches the life.

Visitant

But wisedome comes through the ear by instruction.

Contemp

Wisedome comes through the eye by experience; for we shall
doubt of what we only hear, but never doubt of what we see perfectly: But
the ground of wisedom is Reason, and Reason is born with the soul, wherefore
the ear serves only for reproof, and reproof displeases the mind, and
seldome doth the life any good; nay many times it makes it worse, for the
mind being displeased, grows angry, and being angry, malicious, and being
malicious, revengeful, and revenge is war, and war is destruction.

Visitant

But if you were deaf, you would lose the sweet harmony of
musick.

Contemp

Harmony becomes discord by often repetition, and at the best
it doth but rock the thoughts asleep; whereas the mind takes more pleasure
in the harmony of thoughts, and the musick of fancy, than in any that
the senses can bring into it.

Visitant

Prethee let this harmonious musick cease for a time, and let us
go and visit the Lady Conversation.

Contemp

It Seems a strange humour to me, that all mankind in general
should have an itching tongue to talk, and take more pleasure in the wagging
thereof, than a beggar in scratching where a louse hath bit.

Visitant

Why, every part of the body was made for some use, and the
tongue to express the sense of the mind.

Contemp

Pardon me, tongues were made for taste, not for words, for
words was an art which man invented: you may as well say, the hands were
made to shuffle cards, or to do juggling tricks, when they were made to defend
and assist the body; or you may as well say, the legs were made to cut
capers, when they were made to carry the body, and to move, as to goe
from place to place; for, though the hands can shuffle cards, or juggle,
and the legs can cut capers, yet they were not made by Nature for that use,
nor to that purpose; but howsoever, for the most part, the sense and reason
of the mind is lost in the number of words; for there are millions of words
for a single figure of sense, and many times a cyphre of nonsense stands instead
of a figure of sense: Besides, there are more spirits spent, and flesh wasted
with speaking, than is got or kept with eating, as witness Preachers, Pleaders,
Players, and the like, who most commonly die with Consumptions; and I
believe, many of our effeminate Sex do hurt the lungs with over-exercising
of their tongues, not only with licking and tasting of Sweet-meats, but with
chatting and prating, twitling and twatling; for I cannot say speaking, or
discoursing, which are significant words, placed in a methodical order, then
march in a regular body upon the ground of Reason, where sometimes the
colour of Fancy is flying.

Visitant

Now the Flag of your wit is flying, is the fittest time to encounter
the Lady Conversation; and I make no question but you will be Victorious,
and then you shall be Crowned the Queen of Wit.

Contemp

I had rather bury my self in a Monument of Thoughts, than sit
in the Throne of Applause for Talking.

Lord Title

Sweet, why sit you so silently here?

Poor Virtue

My speech is buried in my thoughts.

Lord Title

This silent place begets melancholy thoughts.

Poor Virtue

And I love melancholy so well, as I would have all as silent
without me; as my thoughts are within me; and I am so well pleased
with thoughts, as noise begets a grief, when it disturbs them.

Lord Title

But most commonly Shepherds and Shepherdesses sit and
sing to pass away the time.

Poor Virtue

Misfortunes have untuned my voice, and broke the strings of
mirth.

Lord Title

Misfortunes? what misfortunes are thou capable of? Thou
hast all thou wert born to.

Poor Virtue

I was born to die, and ’tis misfortune enough I live, since my
life can do no good: I am but useless here.

Lord Title

You were born to help increase the world.

Poor Virtue

The world needs no increase, there are too many creatures already,
especially mankinde; for there are more than can live quietly in the
world; for I perceive, the more populous, the more vicious.

Lord Title

’Tis strange you should be so young, so fair, so witty as you
are, and yet so melancholy; thy poverty cannot make it, for thou never
knewest the pleasure of riches.

Poor Virtue

Melancholy is the only hopes I do rely upon, that though I
am poor, yet that may make me wise; for fools are most commonly merriest,
because they understand not the follies that dwell therein, nor have enough
consideration of the unhappiness of man, who hath endless desires,
unprofitable travels, hard labours, restless hours, short pleasures, tedious
pains, little delights, blasted joys, uncertain lives, and decreed deaths; and
what is mirth good for? it cannot save a dying friend, nor help a ruined
Kingdome, nor bring plenty to a famished Land, nor quench out malignant
Plagues; nor is it a ward to keep misfortunes off, though it may triumph
on them.

Lord Title

But you a young Maid, should do as young Maids do, seek
out the company of young Men.

Poor Virtue

Young Maids may save themselves that labour, for Men will
seek out them, or else you would not be sitting here with me.

Lord Title

And are you not pleas’d with my company?

Poor Virtue

What pleasure can there be in fears?

Lord Title

Are you afraid of me?

Poor Virtue

Yes truly; for the ill example of men, corrupts the good
principles in women: But I fear not the perverting of my Vertue, but mens
incivilities.

Lord Title

They must be very rudely bred, that give you not respect,
you being so very modest.

Poor Virtue

’Tis not enough to be chastly modest and honest, but as a servant
to my Mr. and Mrs. I must be dutiful, and careful to their commands,
and on their employments they have put to me: wherefore I must leave you
Sir, and go fold my sheep.

Lord Title

I will help you.

Golden Rich

Sweet-heart, I have no Sonnets,
Songs, or stronger Lines, with softer Poesie
to melt your Soul, nor Rhetorick to charm your
Eares, or Logick for to force, or ravish you, nor
lap’t in richer cloaths embalm’d in Sweets, nor Courtly Language; but
am an Ancient Squire, by name Sir Golden Riches, which hath force in all
things, and then in Love; for Cupid being blinde, he is for feeling, and look
here my Wench, this purse is stuff’d with Gold, a hundred pounds.

Mall Mean-bred

Let me see, poure it on the ground.

Gold. Rich

I will obey thee: Look here my Girl.

Mall Mean-bred

O dear, how it doth shine forsooth!
it almost blinds mine eyes; take it away, yet
pray let it stay: truly I know not what to do with it.

Gold. Rich

No? why it will buy you rich Gowns, ap’d in the Silk-worms
toyls, with stockings of the softer silk, to draw on your finer legs, with rich
lace shooes, with roses that seem sweet, and garters laced with spangles
like twinckling Stars, embalm your hair with Gessimond Pomatums, and rain
Odoriferous Powders of Proud Rome.

Mall Mean-bred

O Heaven! what a Wench shall I be, could I get
them! But shall we have fine things of the Pedlar too?

Gold. Rich

Buy all their packs, and send them empty home.

Mall Mean-bred

O mighty! I shall put down all the Wenches at the
May-pole; then what will the Bag-piper say, do you think? Pray tell me,
for he is a jeering knave.

Gold. Rich

Despise the Rural company, and that windy bag, change it for
Balls with the greatest Lords to dance, and bring the Jerkin Fiddles out of
frame.

Mall Mean-bred

Then I shall have a Mail Pillion, and ride behind our
Thomas to the dancing.

Gold. Rich

No, you shall ride in rich gilt Coaches, Pages and Lacquies
in rich Liveries, with Gentlemen well cloath’d, to wait upon you.

Mall Mean-bred

And be a Lady; then I will be proud, and will not know
Thomas any more, nor any Maid that was acquainted with me.

Gold. Rich

You must forget all those of your Fathers house too; for I’ll
get a Pedigree shall fit you, and bring you Lineally descended from Great
Charlemain.

Mall Mean-bred

No, I will have it from Charls Wayn my Fathers Carter;
but I would so fain be a Lady, and it might be: I will be stately, laugh without
a cause, and then I am witty, and jeer sometimes, and speak nonsense
aloud. But this Gold will not serve for all these fine things.

Gold. Rich

Why then we will have hundreds and thousands of pounds,
until you be pleas’d, so I may but enjoy you in my Arms.

Mall Mean-bred

No Maid alive can hold out these Assaults, Gold is the
Petarr that breaks the Virgins gates, a Souldier told me so. Well then, my
Lord Title, farewel, for you are an empty name; and Sir Effeminate Lovely,
go you to your Taylor, make some more fine cloaths in vain.

Lady Ward

Why should Lord Courtship dislike me? Time hath not
plowed wrinkles in my face, nor digged hollows in my cheeks, not
hath he set mine eyes deep in my head, nor shrunk my sinews up, nor suck’d
my veins dry, nor fed upon my flesh, making my body insipid and bare; neither
hath he quenched out my wit, nor decay’d my memory, nor ruin’d my
understanding; but perchance Lord Courtship likes nothing but what is in
perfection; and I am like a house which Time hath not fully finished, nor
Education throughly furnished.

Golden Riches

Sweet-heart, refuse not Riches, it will buy thee friends,
pacifie thy enemies; it will guard thee from those dangers that throng
upon the life of every creature.

Poor Virtue

Heavenly Providence is the Marshal which makes way for
the life to pass through the croud of dangers, and my Vertue will gain me
honest friends, which will never forsake me, and my humble submission will
pacifie my enemies, were they never so cruel.

Gold. Rich

But Riches will give thee delight, and place thee in the midst
of pleasures.

Poor Virtue

No, it is a peaceable habitation, a quiet and sound sleep,
and a healthful body, that gives delight and pleasure, and ’tis not riches; but
riches many times destroy the life of the body, or the reason in the soul,
or, at least, bring infirmities thereto through luxury; for luxury slackens
the NNerves, quenches the Spirits, and drowns the Brain, and slackned
Nerves make weak Bodies, quenched Spirits, timorous Minds, a drowned
Brain, and watry Understanding, which causeth Sloth, Effeminacy, and Simplicity.

Gold. Rich

How come you to know so much of the world, and yet know
so few passages in it, living obscurely in a Farmers house?

Poor Virtue

The Astronomers can measure the distance of the Planets,
and take the compass of the Globe, yet never travel to them, nor have they
Embassadors from them, nor Liegers to lie therein to give Intelligence.

Gold. Rich

How come you to be so learnedly judicious, being so young,
poor, and meanly born and bred?

Poor Virtue

Why, Fire, Air, Water, and Earth, Animals, Vegetables,
and Minerals, are Volumes large enough to express Nature, and make a
Scholar learn to know the course of her works, and to understand many effectsGgg fects Ggg1v 210
produced therefrom. And as for Judgment and Wit, they are brother
and sister; and although they do not alwayes, and at all times agree, yet are
they alwayes the children of the Brain, being begot by Nature. Thus what
Wit or Knowledge I have, may come immediately from Nature, not from
my Birth or Breeding; but howsoever, I am not what I seem.

Visitant

What makes you look so sad?

Contempl

Why Monsieur Amorous’s visit hath been the cause of the
death of one of the finest Gentlemen of this Age.

Visitant

How, Pray?

Contempl

Why thus; my Imagination (for Imagination can Create
both Masculine and Feminine Lovers) had Created a Gentleman that was
handsomer and more beautiful than Leander, Adonis, or Narcissus; valianter
than Tamberlain, Scanderbeg, Hannibal, Cæsar, or Alexander; sweeter-
natur’d than Titus, the delight of mankinde; better-spoken, and more eloquent
than Tully, or Demosthenes; wittyer than Ovid, and a better Poet
than Homer. This man to fall desperately in love with me, as loving my
Vertues, honouring my Merits, admiring my Beauty, wondring at my Wit,
doting on my Person, adoring me as an Angel, worshipping me as a Goddess;
I was his Life, his Soul, his Heaven. This Lover courted my affections
with all the industry of Life, gifts of Fortune, and actions of Honour;
sued for my favour, as if he had sued to Heaven for mercy; but I, as
many cruel goddesses do, would neither receive his obligations, nor regard
his vowes, nor pity his tears, nor hearken to his complaints, but rejectd
his Sute, and gave him an absolute denyal; whereupon he was resolved to
dye, as believing no torments could be compared to those of my disdain;
and since I would not love him living, he hoped by dying, his death might
move my pity, and so beget a compassionate remembrance from me; wherupon
he got secretly neer my chamber-door, and hung himself just where I
must go out, which when I saw, I started back in a great fright, but at last
running forth to call for help to cut him down, in came Monsieur Amorous,
which hindrance made me leave him hanging there, as being ashamed to
own my cruelty; and he hath been talking, or rather prating here for so long, as
by this time my kind Love is dead.

Visitant

O no, for Lovers will hang a long time before they dye; for their
necks are tuff, and their hearts are large and hot.

Contempl

Well, pray leave me alone, that I may cut him down, and give
him Cordials to restore life.

Visitant

Faith you must let him hang a little time longer, for I have undertaken
to make you a sociable Lady this day; wherefore you must goe abroad
to a friends house with me.

Contempl

Who I? what do you think I will goe abroad, and leave my
Lover in a twisted string? his legs hanging dangling down, his face all black
and swelled, and his eyes almost started out of his head? no, no, pray goe
alone by your self, and leave me to my Contemplation.

Visitant

Well, if you will not goe, I will never see you, nor be friends
with you again.

Contempl

Pray not be angry, for I will go, if you will have me, although
I shall be but a dull companion; for I shall not speak one word; for wheresoever
I am, my thoughts will use all their Industry to cut the string, and
take him down, and rub and chafe him against a hot fire.

Visitant

Come, come, you shall heat your self with dancing, and let your
Lover hang.

Contempl

That I cannot; for active bodies and active brains are never at
once, the one disturbs the other.

Visitant

Then it seems you had rather have an active brain, than an active
body.

Contempl

Yes; for when the brain doth work, the understanding is inriched,
and knowledge is gained thereby: whereas the body doth oft times
waste the life with too much exercise.

Visitant

Take heed you do not distemper your brain with too much exercisising
your thoughts.

Contempl

All distempers proceed from the body, and not from the minde;
for the minde would be well, did not the humours and appetites of the body
force it into a distemper.

Visitant

Well, upon the condition you will goe, you shall sit still, and
your wit shall be the Musick.

Contempl

Prethee let me rest at home; for to day the strings of my wit
are broken, and my tongue, like a fiddle, is out of tune: Besides, Contemplative
persons are at all times dull speakers, although they are pleasant
thinkers.

Effeminate Lovely

Sweet-heart, you are a most Heavenly Creature.

Poor Virtue

Beauty is created and placed oftner in the fancy,
than in the face.

Effem. Lovely

’Tis said there is a Sympathy in likeness; if
so, you and I should love each other, for we are both beautiful.

Poor Virtue

But ’tis a question whether our Souls be answerable to our
Persons.

Effem. Lovely

There is no question or doubt to be made, but that loving
souls live in beautiful persons.

Poor Virtue

And do those loving soules dye, when their beauties are decayed
and withered?

Effem

The subject pleads it self, without the help of Rhetorick, for
Love and Beauty lives and dies together.

Poor Virtue

’Tis Amorous Love that dies when Beauty is gone, not Vertuous
Love; for as Amorous Love is bred, born, lives, and dies with the appetite:
so Vertuous Love is Created, and shall live with the Soul for
ever.

Effem. Lovely

You may call it what love you please.

Poor Virtue

It is no love, but a disease.

Lord Courtship

Why did you leave the Lady Amorous company so uncivilly,
as to go out of the room, leaving her all alone?

Lady Ward

I heard your Lordship was coming, then I thought it was fit
for me to withdraw; for I have heard Lovers desire to be alone.

Lord Courtship

Do you desire to be alone with a man?

Lady Ward

I am no such Lover, for I am too young as yet, but I know
not what I shall or may be wrought or brought to, but time and good example
may instruct and lead me into the way of amorous love.

Lord Courtship

May it so?

Lady Ward

Why not? for I am docible, and youth is apt to learn.

Lord Court

But before I marry you, I would have you learn to know how
to be an obedient wife, as to be content, and not murmure at my actions, also
to please my humour, but not to imitate my practice.

Lady Ward

If I might advise your Lordship, I would advise you to take
such a Portion out of my Estate, as you shall think just or fit, and then quit
me, and choose such a one as you shall like, for I shall never please you; for
though I may be apt to learn what will please my self, yet I am dull and
intractable to learn obedience to anothers will, nor can I flatter their
delights.

Lord Court

I finde you have learned, and now begin to practice how to
talk; for now your sober silence seems as dead and buried in the rubbish of
foolish words: But let me tell you, a talking wife will never please me;
wherefore practice patience, and keep silence, if you would enjoy the happiness
of peace.

Lady Ward

There can be no peace, when the mind is discontented.

Poor Virtue

Why do you follow me so much, as never to let me rest in
peace and quiet alone? Is it that you think I have beauty? and is it
that you are in love with? why, to cure your disease, I will deform it; or
do you think I have wit to cure that Imagination? I will put my tongue to
silence. I am sure it cannot be my Vertue that inflames you to an intemperance;
for Vertue is an Antidote against it: But had you all the beauty
in Nature squeez’d into your form, and all the wit in Nature prest into
your brain, and all the prosperities of good fortune at your command, and
all the power of Fate and Destiny at your disposal, you could not perswade
me to yield to your unlawful desires; for know, I an honest without selfends;
my virtue, like to Time, still running forward; my chastity fix’d as Eternity,
without circumferent lines; besides, it is built on the foundation of
Morality, and roof’d and ciel’d with the faith of Religion, and the materials
thereof are Honour, which no subtil Arguments can shake the one, nor
no false Doctrine can corrupt or rot the other; neither is the building subject
to the fire of unlawful love, nor the tempestuous storms of torments,
nor the deluge of poverty, nor the earthquakes of fear, nor the ruines of
death; for so long as my Soul hath a being, my Chastity will live. But
were you as poor as I, Even to move pity, or so lowly and meanly born, as
might bring contempt and scorn from the proud, yet if your mind and soul
were endued with noble qualities, and heroical vertues, I should sooner embrace
your love, than to be Mistris of the whole World; for my affection
to merit hath been ingrafted into the root of my Infancy, which hath
grown up with my yeares, so that the longer I live, the more it increases.

Lord Title

You cannot think I would marry you, although I would lie
with you.

Poor Virtue

I cannot but think it more possible that you should marry me,
than I to be dishonest.

Lord Title

Thou art a mean poor wench, and I nobly descended.

Poor Virtue

What though I am poor, yet I am honest, and poverty is no
crime; nor have my Ancestors left marks of infamy to shame me to the
world

Lord Title

Thy Ancestors? what were they but poor peasants? wherefore
thou wilt dignifie thy Race, by yielding to my love.

Poor Virtue

Heaven keep them from that dignity that must be gained by
my dishonesty: no, my chastity shall raise a Monumental Tomb over their
cold dead ashes.

Lord Title

What pity it is Nature should put so noble a soul into a meanborn
body.

Lord Courts

Pray go visit the Lady Amorous, and if her husband be absent,
deliver her this letter.

Lady Ward

Excuse me my Lord.

Lord Courts

Wherefore?

Lady Ward

I am no Carrier of Love-letters.

Lord Courts

But you shall carry this.

Lady Ward

But I will not.

Lord Courts

Will you not?

Lady Ward

No, I will rather endure all the torments that can be invented.

Lord Courts

And you shall; for I will torture you if you do not; for
I will have you drawn up high by two thumbs, which is a pain will
force you to submit.

Lady Ward

Do so if you will; nay scrue me up into the middle-Region,
there will I take a Thunderbolt, and strike you dead, and with such strength
I’ll fling it on you, as it shall press your soul down to the everlasting shades
of death.

Lord Courts

Sure you will be more merciful.

Lady Ward

No more than Devils are to sinful souls; there will I be
your Bawd, to procure you variety of torments; for I had rather be one
in Pluto’s black Court, caused by my own revenge, than to be a Bawd on
earth, which is a humane Devil.

Lord Courts

You are mad.

Lady Ward

Might every word I speak prove like a mad dogs bite, not
only to transform your shape, and turn your speech to barks and howlings,
but that your soul may be no other than the souls of beasts are.

Lord Courts

You are transformed from a silent young Maid to a raging
Fury.

Lady Ward

May all the Furies that Hell inhabites, and those that live Hhh2 on Hhh2v 216
on earth, torment your minde, as rack do torture bodies, and may the venom
of all malice, spleen, and spight, be squeez’d into your soul, and poyson
all content, your thoughts flame like burning oyl, and never quench,
but be eternally a fiery Animal; and may the fire feed onlely on your self,
and as it burns, your torments may increase.

Lord Courts

She is mad, very mad, and I have only been the cause.

Lord Title

Fairest, will not you speak?

Poor Virtue

My words have betrayed my heart, as discovering the secrets
therein: wherefore I will banish them, and shut the doors of my lips
against them.

Lord Title

What, for saying you love me.

Sweet, why do you weep?

Poor Virtue

Tears are the best Cordials for a heart opprest with grief.

Lord Title

I should hate my self, if I could think I were the cause. But
pray forbear to weep.

Poor Virtue

Pray give my grief a liberty, my tears are no disturbance, they
showre down without a ratling noise, and silent fall without a murmuring
voice; but you disturb me: Wherefore for pity-sake leave me, and I will
pray you may enjoy as much prosperity as good fortune can present you with,
and as much health as Nature can give you, and as much tranquillity as Heaven
can infuse into a mortal creature.

Lord Title

Neither Fortune, Nature, nor Heaven can please me, or make
me happy in this world without you.

Poor Virtue

O you torment me.

Sir Humphry Inter

Surely Lady Contemplation your thoughts must needs be
very excellent, that they take no delight but with themselves.

Lady Contempl

My thoughts, although they are not material, as being profitable,
yet they are innocent, as being harmless.

Sir Humphry Inter

Yet your thoughts do the world an injury, in burying
your words in the grave of silence.

Lady Contempl

Let me inform you, that sometimes they creep out of their Iii1r 217
their graves as Ghosts do, and as Ghosts walk in solitary places, so I speak
to my solitary self, which words offend no ears, because I speak to no ears
but my own; and as they have no flatterers to applaud them, so they have
no censurers to condemn them.

Sir Humphry Inter

But you bury your life, whilst you live retir’d from
company.

Lady Contempl

O no, for otherwise my life would be buried in company;
for my life never enjoys it self, but when it is alone; and for the most part,
all publick societies are like a discord in Musick, every one playing several
contrary parts in their actions, speaking in several contrary notes, striking on
several contrary subjects, which makes a confusion; and a confused noise
is like a disordered multitude, only the one offends the ear, as the other offends
the eyes; and there can be no pleasure but in harmony, which harmony
is Quantity, Quality, Symmetry, and Unity; and though quality, quantity,
and symmetry are brought by the Senses, yet Unity is made in the mind. Thus
Harmony lives in the minde; for without the minde, the senses could take
no delight.

Doctor Practice

How do you Lady?

Lady Ward

Why very well Doctor, how do you?

Doctor Prac

Why I was sent, as being believed you are mad.

Lady Ward

Troth Doctor that’s no wonder; for all the world is mad,
more or less.

Doctor Prac

Do you finde any distemper in your head?

Lady Ward

My head will ake sometimes.

Doctor Pract

I mean a distemper in your minde.

Lady Ward

My minde is troubled sometimes.

Doctor Pract

That is not well: let me feel your pulse.

Lady Ward

Why Doctor, can you know the temper of my mind, by the
feeling of my pulse?

Doctor Pract

There is a great Sympathy between the Minde and the
Body.

Lady Ward

But I doubt, Doctor, your learned skill is many times deceived
by the pulse; you will sooner find a mad distemper in the tongue or
actions, than in the writsts.

Doctor Prac

In troth Lady, you speak reason, which those that are mad
do not do.

Lady Ward

O yes, Doctor, but they doe, as you cure Diseases, by
chance.

Lord Title

O Love, dissembling love, that seem’st to be the best of passions,
and yet torments the soul!

Master Inquirer

What makes your Lordship so melancholy, as to shun
all your friends, to walk alone?

Lord Title

I am in Love.

Master Inqui

There are many remedies for love.

Lord Title

I would you could tell me one.

Master Inqui

May I know the Lady you are in love with?

Lord Title

The Lady say you? she is a poor Lady.

Master Inqui

Your Lordship is so rich, as you may marry without a portion,.

Lord Title

O I could curse my fate, and rail at my destiny.

Master Inqui

For what?

Lord Title

To make me fall in love with one I am asham’d to make her
known.

Master Inqui

Is she so mean, and yet so beautiful?

Lord Title

O she hath all the Beauties and Graces that can attract a soul
to love; for surely Nature sate in Councel to make her body, and the Gods
sate in Councel to compose her mind.

Master Inqui

May not I see her?

Lord Title

Yes.

Master Inqui

Where may I find her?

Lord Title

Upon the next Plain, under a bush that bends much like a
bower, there she most commonly sits to watch her sheep; but I will goe
with you.

Master Inqui

You Lordship is not jealous?

Lord Title

All Lovers think their Beloved is never secure enough.

Nurse Careful

O my Child, I am told that on a sudden you turned
mad!

Lady Ward

Surely Nurse your fear, or what else it may be, you seem to
me to be more mad than I can find in my self to be.

Nurse Caref

That shews you are mad.

Lady Ward

If I am mad, I suck’d the madness from your brest.

Nurse Caref

I do confess, Child, I have not had those mad vagaries since
I gave suck, as I had before.

Lady Ward

’Tis a signe you are grown old, Nurse.

Nurse Caref

I confess, Youth is oftner mad than Age; but dear Child
tell me, art thou mad?

Lady Ward

Prethee Nurse, lest thou shouldst become mad, goe sleep to
settle thy thoughts, and quiet thy mind, for I remember a witty Poet, one
Doctor Don, saith,

Nurse Caref

O Heavens, what shall I do, what shall I do!

Doctor Pract

What is the matter Nurse, what is the matter you shreek
out so?

Nurse Caref

O Doctor, my Child is mad, my Child is mad; for she repeats
Verses.

Doctor Pract

That’s an ill signe indeed.

Lady Ward

Doctor, did you never repeat Latine Sentences when you
have read Lectures, nor Latine Verses, when you did Dispute in Schools?

Doctor Pract

Yes, Sweet Lady, a hundred times.

Lady Ward

Lord, Doctor, have you been mad a hundred times, and recovered
so often!

Nurse Caref

Those were Latine Verses, those were Latine Verses Child.