Ambition preferr'd before Love.
THERE was a Noble Gallant Man, made love to a Virtuous Fair Lady; and after he had express'd his affection, and desired a return, and so agree to marry; she told him, If she would mar∣ry, and had her liberty to chuse a Husband through all the VVorld, it should be him: for, said she, the same of your Worth, and praise of your Merits, hath planted a Root of Affection in my Infant∣years, which hath grown up with time: but, said she, there was another Root also planted therein by Encouragement, which is Ambition; which Am∣bition, says she, hath out-grown that; so that the Tree of Love is like an Oak to a Cedar; for though it may be more lasting, yet it will never be so high. On this high Tree of Ambition, said she, my Life is industrious to climb to Fame's high Tower, for the top reaches to it; which, if I marry, I shall never do.
Why, said her Lover, Marriage can be no hin∣drance.
O, yes, said the Lady; Husbands will never suf∣fer their VVives to climb, but keep them fast Page 200 lock'd in their Arms, or tye them to Houshold-Employments; or, through a foolish-obstinacy, barr up their Liberty: but did they not only give them Liberty, but assist them all they could; yet the unavoidable Troubles of Marriage would be like great storms, which would shake them off, or throw them down, before they had climbed half the way: VVherefore, said she, I will never mar∣ry, unless you can assure me that Marriage shall not hinder my climbing, nor cause me to fall.
Her Lover said, I will give you all the assu∣rance I can: but, said he, You cannot be ignorant, but know, That Fortune, Fates, and Destiny, have power in the ways to Fame, as much as in the ways to Death; and Fates, said he, do spin the Thread of Fame as unevenly, as they do Threads of Life.
Yes, said she; but there is a Destiny belongs to Industry; and Prudence is a good Decree in Na∣ture: VVherefore, said she, I will be so prudent, as not to marry; and so industrious, that all the acti∣ons of my life, and studious contemplations, shall be busily employed to my Ambitious Designs: for I will omit nothing towards the life of my Me∣mory.
