The academie of eloquence containing a compleat English rhetorique, exemplified with common-places and formes digested into an easie and methodical way to speak and write fluently according to the mode of the present times : together with letters both amorous and moral upon emergent occasions / by Tho. Blount, Gent.

Women Commended.

WOmen, being of one and the self same sub∣stance with man, are what man i••, only so much more imperfect, as they are created the weaker vessel••.

— She, whose vertue deserves to be conse∣crated with a pen of adamant in the Temple of E∣ternity, since she is able to dazle the eyes of the most hardy, to fill the mouthes of the most elo∣quent, and ravish the mindes of those, who admire no vulgar things. H.C.

A••k Sense what she is: Sense will tell us, Her face is the unclouded welkin in the infancy of day; her eyes the Sun and Moon that sleep by turns, lest they should leave the world in darkness: her tongue the harmony of Spheres and Nature: her breasts heavens milkly way, spangled with azure stars: her arms Castor and Pollux: her other parts because of ••ower function, are but the Symmetry of all the beauties of her sex: she is too much first

to have any second, from the third, fourth and fifth form of women, from a million or all of them, you may take some peece of her, not all, for she her self is the All.

Ask Reason what she is: Reason will tell you, she is her Directress, that she keeps the elements at peace within us: our fire she confines to religi∣ous zeal, and suffers it not to enflame either to lust or supersti••ion: our watry element she hath de∣signed to quench unlawful flames, &c.—

Ask faith what she is: Faith will tell you, she hath yours and mine, and an hundred other souls in one soul, &c.— Were there, or were there no night: yet were she an everlasting day. Were there none bad: yet were she unparalleledly good. Were there any or none to be compar'd to her: yet vvere she superlative. All of her is an eaven proportion of extreams. Heroinae.

—Those eyes more eloquent then all Rheto∣rick, that would raise an Anchoret from his grave, and turn the Feind Fury, into the Cherubin Pitty—

Those vvhite and red Roses (vvhich no rain, but vvhat fell from those heavenly eyes) could colour or sweeten. Those lips that stain the rubies, and make the roses blush, those lips that command the scarlet coloured morn into a cloud to hide his shame: That breath, vvhich makes us all Chamae∣lions, should be vvasted into unregarded sighes: Those breasts eternally chaste and vvhite as the Aples: those legs, columns of the fairest Parian ma••ble, columns that support this monument of all pens,— her skin, smooth as the face of youth, soft as a bed of violets, white as the Queen of innocence, sweet as bean blossoms after rain, &c.

—She, shaking off those glorious loads of state, retired from the crowding tumults of the Court, into a solitary and truly happy Country-condition, there to spin out her thred of life •••• her homely distaff, where we will leave her a veri∣er wonder, then the Phoenix in the desart, the a∣lone paragon of all peerless perfections. Her acti∣ons (so above the Criticism of my purblinde judg∣ment) I am not able to comprehend, much less con∣tradict or controvert.—

You are the beauty of the world, the pride of all joys, the sweetest fruit of best content, and the highest mark of true loves ambition.

To her alone, it appeared, that heaven with a hand rather prodigal then liberal, would give what it had of most value in the rich treasury of nature Stratonica.

Women are Angels, clad in flesh.

The Roman Story (big with variety of wonder) writes Lucretia the female glory.

She was natures fairest paper, not compounded of the rags of common mortality, but so searsed and refined, that it could receive no impression, but that of spotless innocence. —Her.

Where'ere she comes, her presence makes perpe∣tual day.

—They discovered A. (the rich triumph of nature) and in her as much as the world could boast of.

Her eyes inviting all eyes, her lips all lips, her face loves banquet, where she riots in the most lux∣uriant feast of sense:—She was the model of divine perfection.

—A flock of unspeakable vertues, laid up de∣lightfully in that best builded fold.

In this, a very good Orator might have a fair field to use eloquence.

Her eyes seemed a Temple, wherein love and beauty were married.

—So many things united in perfection.

She hath an easie melting lip, a speaking eye.

Venus compar'd to her was but a blowz.

As you are to me a Venus, and strike a warm flame in me, so you are Diana too, and do infuse a chaste, religious coldness. Amorous war.

I stand before you like stubble before a burning glass, your eyes at every glance convert me into flame.

Her voyce was no less beautiful to his ears, then her goodliness was full of harmony to his eyes.

Thy heavenly face is my Astronomy, thy sweet vertue, my sweet Philosophy.

You are the Diamond of the world, the chief work of natures workmanship. The patern of perfection, and the quintessence of worth.

Your fair forehead is a field where all my fancies fight, and every hair of your head seems a strong chain that ties me.

You are the ornament of the earth, the vessel of all vertue.

—With so gracious a countenance, as the goodness of her minde had long exercised her unto.

—She, whose many excellencies won as many hearts, as she had beholders, nature making her beauty and shape, but the most fair Cabinet of a far fai••er minde.

There's musick in her smiles.

A mart of beauties in her visage meet.

— A woman in whom vertue was incorpo∣rated, goodness (which comes to others by stu∣dy) seemed hers by nature.

— You (the type of my felicity) to whom all

hearts, respects, hopes, fears and homages are sa∣crificed.

—Her countenance was too sweet, her speech too proper, her deportments too candid, to cover so b••ack a mischief.

—She took hearts captive, and made them do vassalage and homage to ••er will.

—Where they found A. accompanied vvith other Ladies, amongst vvhom her transcen∣dent beauty and incomparable vertues, made her shine with as much superiority, as a star of a g••ea∣ter magnitude exceeds in splendor the less•••• ••••mi∣naries of its own Spheare.

Her haire seemed to stand in competition with the beams of the Sun.

—She, whose rare qualities, whose courteous behaviour without curiosity; whose comely f••a∣ture, without fault; whose filed speech, without fraud, hath wrapped me in this misfortune. Eu∣pheus.

Nature framed her to be the object of thoughts, The love of hearts, the admiration of souls.

This is she, who is singularly priviledged fr••m heaven with beauties of body, but incomparably heightned vvith gifts of the mind. Such is her learning, that she transcends men in their best fa∣culties.

She, —this bright morning Star, alwayes bears in the rays thereof, joy, comfort, &c.

She was able to enthrall a••l hearts with so ma∣ny supereminent excellencies, as heaven had con∣ferred upon her.

She had a strong and pleasing spirit, a s••lid piety, an a••akened wisdome, an incomparable grace to gain ••earts to her devotion. H.C.

Nature in her promiseth nothing but goodness.

He could not sufficiently admire the vivacity of her spirit, the solidity of her judgement, the equity ••f h••r counsels, and the happiness which ordina∣rily accompanied her resolutions, H.C.

She gained hearts by sweetness, therein imita∣ting the Sun, which neither breakes Dores nor Windows to enter into houses; but penetrates ve∣ry peaceably with the benignity of his favourable b••ams.

The eye and tongue of this creature mutually divided his heart, at one and the same instant love surprized him by the eyes and ears.

Endowed vvith an admirable grace and singu∣lar beauty, to serve even as an Adamant to capti∣vate hearts.

Fair as the Firmament, vvhich vve see enamel∣led with so many starres, that resplendently shine, as Torches lightned before the Altars of the Omni∣potent.

—••he vvho vvas the Adamant of all loves.

— A Lady, vvhose eyes vvil make a Souldier melt, if ••e were compos'd of marble, vvhose very smile hath a magnetick force to draw up souls, vvhose voy••e vvill charm a Satyr, and turn a mans prayer into ambition, make a Hermite run to Hell, &c. Gr. Serv.

— Whose exquisite beauty was so beautified vvith rarest vertues, that men honored Nature as a God in her perfections, and held her more then a Woman in her veru••s. Par. & Vienna.

—She vvhose beauty vvas far fairer then the evening Star, and vvhose vertue vvas more po∣werful 〈…〉〈…〉 greatest C••nstellati••n.

The renown of her att••active vertues, and the vertue of h••r moving per••ections ha••h so captiva∣ted

my freest thoughts, that, vvondring at her same, I am wounded with fancy, and my desire is —

I would vvillingly here draw to the life the Por∣traiture of this Lady, if my black Ink vvere not too unfit a colour to set forth a celestiall beauty.

You have far more perfections then years, and more inward excellence then extern beauty, yet so beautifull, as few so fair, though none more ver∣tuous.

She had a mind of excellent composition, a piercing wit voyd of ostentation, high erected thoughts, seated in a heart of courtesie, an elo∣quence as sweet in the uttering, as slow to co••e to the uttering, a behaviour so noble, as gave a Ma∣jesty to adversity. Arcadia.

—Shee's a Virgin happy in all endowments vvhich a Poet could fancy in his Mistress, being her selfe a School of goodness, vvhere chaste maids may learn (without the aids of foraign principles) by the example of her life and pureness, to be (as she is) excellent. I but give you a bri••f Epitome of her vertues, vvhich dilated on at large, and to their merit, vvould make an ample story.

Were all her other graces worn in clouds, That eye, that very eye would charm a Lucrece.

Her name (like some celestiall fire) quickens my spirits.

I never knew vertue and beauty meet in a swee∣ter nature.

Thou art a virgin sweet, so pretious in thy frame, that with the cordage of thy hair, thou mightst have fettered Kings. Thy voyce has mar'd the beauties of the night; when thou did••t sing, the quiet stars would wink and fall assee.

I could gaze on her, till my wonder did con¦vert me into marble, and yet my s••ul would in her

self retain a fire, lively, as that which bold Prome∣theus stole.

Madam! you are so large a Theam to treat of, and every grace about you off••rs to me such Co∣pie of language, that I stand doubtfull which first to touch at; if I erre (as in my choyce I may) let me intreat you, before I offend, to sign my pa••d••n.

Wh••ther we consider her face or beauty, plea∣si••gness (that charms hearts) and sweet majesty have spent all their riches upon her. Ariana.

She breathes forth nothing but the sweets of love

The eyes are the wonders of the face, and dark figures ••f Divinity; we may call them too the Di∣als ••f love, which fastned on the wall of a coun∣tenance, shew with the stile of their looks, the mi∣nutes of hours, either happy or unhappy to Lo∣vers.

Fame, which is accustomed to increase the de∣sert of every thing it would commend, hath been constrained to diminish yours, being impossible to be published according to the greatness of it.

It is a mark of great vertue not to be able to endure to be commended.

She was crown'd with a garland of odoriferous flowers, and her delicate hair in tresses, falling upon a neck of snow, did set forth the beauties of this divine face, whose splendor dazled mens eyes so, that there was not any one that could support unwound••d the sight of so many won∣ders.

Lesser lights borrow beams of radiance from your great••r Orb, which doth illumine and heat our N••rt••ern cly••e with celestiall ardors. Ho. Court.

Madam, if the duty (which commands me to serve all Ladies) did not ordain me this obedience, your birth and so many ••air qualities I see in you, oblige me to it. Ariana.

—My eye of contemplation was fixed on this bright Sun, as long as it was able to endure the radiant beams of it, wh••se redundant light ve••les the looker on with a dark mist. Sir K.D.

I esteem, reverence and adore you in the most secret and recluse withdrawings of my heart.

— Her face did shine with so great evidence, as it defied the noon-tide Sun in its greatest brightnesse.

Albeit Medea were wicked, yet Penelope was peerless; If Clytemnestra were naught, yet Alcestes was passing good: If Phaedra were damnable, yet there was another laudable. Camd. Rem.

—She had the spirit of a man in a feminine body.

She's a burning mirror, in which all the beams of beauty are united.

She is the Star, by whom my Fate is led.

—Modest she was, and so lovely, that whoso∣ever look'd but stedfastly upon her, could not but-soul himself in her. Feltham.

Her eyes, swift, as the shoots of lightning, nim∣bler then thought, and bright as the polisht Dia∣mond.

—She is of so specious a glory, that though she need not the applause of any, to add to her happiness, yet she attracts the hearts of all that know her, to love, service, admiration.

To apparell any more in these paper vestments, I should multiply impertinents, and perhaps dis∣please. For I have ever found face commendation to dye wisdoms cheeks of a blush-colour.

—All lips are opened with singular preroga∣tives in honour of this Lady, and are all dried up in the abundance of her praises.

In her person alone, a plenitude of all perfecti∣ons does inhabit. H.C.

In her, all the most delicious attractives of beau∣ty, and the most conspicuous characters of power, are assembled together.

This Aglae was a Roman Dame of prime quality, having a delicate wit in a beautifull body, and powerfull passions in a great fortune. She had been married, but becoming a widow in an age, as yet furnished with verdant freshness, grace and beau∣ty, she had not buried all her affections in the Tomb of her husband.

After she had a little wiped away the first tears, which nature exacts as tribute in such like acci∣dents, she quickly plaid so much the Courtier in her slight sorrow, that she seemed greatly to de∣sire, as soon as might be, to finish what she had ne∣ver well begun. Holy Court.

But by successe of time she felt her passion so much enkindled towards him, that she neither thought, spake, nor liv'd, but for him.

The fair Aretaphila inflames all hearts with the musick of her voyce; myriads of joys are in her looks, her eyes are natures richest Diamonds, set in foils of polisht Ebony, her breath expires O∣dors more sweet then issued from the trees of Balm in Paradise, Argal. & Parth.

—She— upon whose meanest thought the Art of memory's grounded, and inspires each Or∣gan of our meditating sense with their perfections merit. Ibid.

She, in whom the sum and abridge of all sorts of excellencies are met, like paralels in their pro∣per center. Herb. Travails.

— Whose listning ears were well pleased with the sweet harmony of her well-tun'd words, and whose liking eyes were ravish'd with the sight of her perfections.

—She—the ornament of the earth, the mo∣dell of heaven, the triumph of Nature, the life of beauty, the Queen of love.

Her action was beautified by nature, and appa∣rell'd with skill; her gesture gave such a way un∣to her speech, through the rugged wilderness of his imaginations, that—

Her voice represented the heavenly seven-sphear'd harmony.

Such an extraordinary Majesty shines in all her actions, as surely either Fortune by parentage, or Nature in creation hath made her —

Pilgrimes, who come from the remotest con∣fines of the world, cannot see any thing in all the affluent wealth thereof, comparable to her. In∣somuch that I wish all the members of my body were changed into tongue, and that I were nought but voyce, to be throughout the whole Universe, the trumpet of her praises. H.C.

Her gracious soul hath more Antidote in it, then all the world hath poyson, which will therfore in her affliction make her like the Sun, which shewes his greatest countenance in his lowest declension, and bring her out of it, lik•• gold out of the fire, refined, not consumed. Lost. Sh.

My prayer shall be, That your Fortune may surmount your greatness, and your vertue your fortune; that your greatnesse may be above envy, your goodnesse above detraction: that your illu∣strious example may darken the ages past, and lighten them to come; that you may live beloved, and die lamented, lamented by earth, but joy'd by heaven, &c.

She suffer'd no mutiny of passions against rea∣son, nor of reason against God.

She resolved to work with perspective Glasses, of d••fferent, yea and even c••ntrary kindes; for when she described her own v••rtues, she served he••self•• of a Diminishing Glasse, which made them seem so little, as to be no more th••n a kind of nothing, But on the other side, when she gave account of her imperfections, she would by no means know them, by any other name then of Vices and Sins, because she took a Multiplying glasse to her self, lest else those Mole-hils should not seem mountains. Sir Tob. Mat. in his preface to S. Teresa's life.

You must give me leave to adjourn you (for more ample satisfaction of this expectation) to those drops, which I may perhaps both be able and willing to derive and draw out of the Sea of her perfections, &c. Ib.

I shall onely say in very few words (by way (as it were) of antepast, till the Feast come in) that she had a heart as open as day, in the exercise of bounty; But above all things, she was so perfect a lover of Truth, that she would no more have even so much as but disguised it, and much lesse varied from it in the least kind, then she would have sold her self for a slave, &c. Ib.

Ile assure you this Elogium has no more in it, of the Panegyrick, then of the just praise; I am ra∣ther her debtor then her creditor herein.

She puts that in execution, which turns nature into admiration.

— She, whose two eyes were the Suns that rul'd my day, and to whom onely her absence did make night; she whose mild vertue and beauteous looks, were a soft, visible musick, which entranc'd the lookers ••n, and struck harmonious raptures

into every chaft soul, and instilled pure fires into every unchast, &c. Amor. War.

A pretty smile made a kind of day-break in her face.

She is wholly made of charm.

—She is the star that rules my faculties.