The two Lancashire lovers: or the excellent history of Philocles and Doriclea Expressing the faithfull constancy and mutuall fidelity of two loyall lovers. Stored with no lesse variety of discourse to delight the generous, then of serious advice to instruct the amorous. By Musæus Palatinus.

CHAP. II.

Of the Education of Doriclea.

MInes low laid are ever the richest: yet the purest Ore, retaines something of Earth, till it bee refined. There is no Creature so pregnant, or for native parts so inabled; but wan∣ting the refinement of Education, all that pre∣cious Ore which it derived from Nature is but in the lumpe, till Education have searched, purged and refined it from all those mouldy and brackish mixtures or interveynings of Earth: that native source from whence it produc••t its first forme.

Never did Nature bestow her gifts in an ampler measure nor fuller manner then shee streamed them upon those noble Roman Ma∣trons, Cornelia, Aurelia. Lelia, Paula, Por∣tia, Octavia, Sulpitia, Virginia, Lucretia: Ex∣cellent were their endowments: full of genu∣ine worth their naturall ornaments; yet had

all these lost much of their beauty, had they rested so and derived from Art no lustre to accomplish that beauty.

This moved the Parents of those vertuous Matrons, to ripen these seedes which Nature had so freely bestowed, with these gracefull beamelings of Art, to perfect that which Na∣ture had planted, and accomplish what so loving a mother had moulded.

Never had that brave Berenice wonne so much ground, nor gain'd such command in the eye of her beholder; Neither had that stately presence of majesticke Sophonisba made an imperiall heart captive to her smile; Nor that love-attracting Cleopatra sove∣raigniz'd so much upon such princely Com∣manders: had not something more then the gifts of Nature accompanied them. These, as they had a sufficient portion of beauty to take the Sense: so had their Education so exactly polished those outward parts, as they wrought strangely upon the Conceit. For to be seene in Musicke; to expresse a singular grace in the Carriage of a dance; to discourse with an un∣affected eloquence; to have judgement to di∣stinguish of those divine ayres and active straines of Poesy; Lastly, not onely to relate▪ but to reconcile difference in relations of History; These are they, which farre above all outward Faires attract love, and promise a Continuance so long; as no new Choice may procure •• Change: nor suffer the least

surreptitious Conceit of any forraigne fancy to seaze on their enamoured brests: having made such a vertuous and divine Choice, as it were impiety to dreame of a Change.

These were the principall motives which induced Androgeus and Euryclea, the tender Parents of Doryclea, to provide for her such Masters as might accomplish her by their Principles of breeding, in such distinct know∣ledges as might best suit with her condition; and expresse her with most winning grace in the sight of such with whom shee consor∣ted.

Nor were these, to whose direction shee was committed, more serious in teaching, nor exact in practising, then shee was quicke in receiving, and firme in reteyning.

For her Muslcuke, though naturally shee stood not affected to it▪ being rather addicted to retyrednesse and privacy; yet seeing it was her Parents desire, she declined from her owne will, to satisfie their command to whom shee ought herselfe. And herein shee grew such a proficient, as none with more varietie and lesse affectation ever wrought upon the affe∣ction.

Yet would she never bee moved to discover her perfection in this kinde, in any publicke place: so farre she was from ostentation, and so humbly affected, as whereinsoever shee was praised, shee imputed it to an over esteeme of their opinion who praised her; reteyning

ever that modest conceit, or rather disesteeme of her owne abilities, as ever redounded more to her honour.

To repeate sundry Cantzonets and enlive∣ned measures composed by herselfe (were it not too digressive from the Scope and Object of our Historie) I should here addresse my penne: But my ayme shall be rather briefly to shadow, then to draw out to the full body the presentment of so excellent a piece.

Howsoever, those who were of judgement have confirm'd thus much for her: That ne∣ver was instrument married to voyce with more harmony, then it was, when exercis'd by Doriclea.

Nor was shee lesse gracefull in her Posture or Carriage: retayning such a modest-virgin state; as those who observed her, could nei∣ther taxe her of scorne, nor of too carelesse neglect. Affable she could be without being childish: and keepe her distance without arrogance. Never could there appeare more gracefull state in a more humble heart: de∣siring ever rather to serve others in their ver∣tuous designes, then to observe others ren∣dring her praise for her deserts. Neither was she so carried away with these, as to forget what might better sort with her quality, and what might longer attend her, then these Eare-charming ayres of harmony.

For her Needle, she made Dorcas her Pattern: she was ever tasking herselfe to some worke or

other: wherein she made Charity her object, by preparing for the naked a Cover.

Lastly, for knowledge in Tongues (though most men be of opinion that one is enough for any woman) she profited so exceedingly, as she reteyned the very accent and sound with such propriety, as she became more easily to be admired then imitated; and herein more admired, by how much her Elocution was free, native and unaffected.

Thus in all these became Doriclea an in∣comparable proficient: so that, as she brought with her into the world an excellent disposi∣tion in affecting what was good and meriting applause: so had the improvement of her E∣ducation so accomplish'd her, as no expression received life from her, which deserv'd not due praise.