Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

Scene 4.

Enter the Lady Bashfull, and M^rs. Reformer her woman; she being in yeares.

MIstriss Reformer.

Madam, now you are become a Mrs. of a Family, you must learn to entertain visitants, and not be so bashfull as you were wont to be, insomuch as you had not confidence to look a stranger in the face, were they never so mean persons.

Lady Bashfull.

Alas Reformer, it is neither their birth, breeding, wealth, or title, that puts me out of Countenance; for a poor Cobler will put me as much out of Countenance as a Prince; or a poor Semestress, as much as a great Lady.

Mrs. Reformer.

What is it then?

Lady Bashfull.

Why there are unacustomated faces, and unacquainted humours.

Mrs. Reformer.

By this reason, you may be as much out of countenance as an unacustomed Dogg, or Cat, that you never saw before; or any other beast.

Lady Bashfull.

O no, for mankind is worse natured than boasts, and beasts better natured than men; besides beasts lookes not with censuring eyes, nor heares, or listens with inquisitive cares, nor speakes with detracting tongues, nor gives false judgment, or spitefull censures, or slandering reproaches, nor jeeres, nor laughs at innocent or harmless Errours, nor makes every little mistake a crime.

Enter the Lady Bashfulls Page.

Page.

Madam, there is a Coachfull of gallants allighted at the gate.

Lady Bashfull.

For heavens sake, say I have no desire to be seen.

Reformer.

No, say my Lady is full of grief and is not fit to receive visits.

Enter the Ladyes and Gentlemen.

Whereat the Lady Bashfull stands trembling and shaking, and her eyes being cast to the ground, and her face as pale as death. They speak to Reformer.

Where is the Lady Bashfull, pray Gentlewoman tell her we are come to kiss her hands.

Reformer offers to go forth.

Lady Wagtaile.

Will you do us the favour old Gentlewoman, as to let the Lady know we are here.

Reformer.

If I am not so old as to be insensible, this is she.

Lady Wagtaile.

Is this she, alas good Lady, she is not well, for surely she hath a sit of an Ague upon her, she doth so shake; you should give her a Car∣duus-possit and put her to bed.

Lady Amorous.

Lady, are you sick.

She Answers not.

Lady Wagtaile.

She is sick indeed, if she be speechless.

Reformer.

Madam, pray pull up your spirits, and entertain this honourable Company.

Lady Wagtaile.

Why is the defect in her spirits.

Reformer.

She is young and bashfull.—

They all laugh, except Sir Roger Exception, and Sir Serious Dumb.

Ha! Ha! She is out of countenance.

Sir Roger Exception.

No she is angry, because we are strangers unknown unto her; and she takes it for a rudeness that we are come to visit her, there∣fore let us be gone.

Lady Amorous.

Let me tell you, it is meer shamefacedness.

Sir Roger Exception.

I say no, for those that are angry will shake extreamly, and turn as pale as death.

Sir Humphrey Bold.

Lady, take courage, and look upon us with a confi∣dent brow.

All the while Sir Serious Dumb lookes on the Lady Bashfull with sixt eyes.

The Lady Bashfull offers to speak to the Company, but cannot for stuttering; they all laugh again at her.

Reformer.

Lord, Madam I will you make your self ridiculous.

Lady Bashfull.

I cannot help it, for my thoughts are consumed in the fiery flame of my blushes; and my words are smothered in the smoak of shame.

Lady Wagtaile.

O! she speakes, she speakes a little.

Reformer.

Pray Madam leave her at this time, and if you honour her with your Company again, she may chance to entertain you with some confi∣dence.

Lady Wagtaile.

Pray let me and Sir Humphry Bold come and visit her once a day, if it be but halfe an hour at a time, and we shall cure her I warrant thee.

Reformer.

I wish she were cured of this imperfection.

Sir Humphry Bold.

She must marry, she must marry, for there is no cure like a husband, for husbands beget confidence, and their wives are brought a bed with impudence.

Lady Wagtaile.

By your favour Sir Humphry Bold, marriage must give way or place to courtship, for there are some wives as simply bashfull as Virgins; but when did you ever see, or know, or hear of courtly lovers, or Amorous courtships, to be bashfull: Their eyes are as piercing as light, and twinckles as Starrs, and their countenance as confident as day; and the discourses is freer than wind.

He imbraces her.

Sir Humphry Bold.

And your imbraces are wondrous kind.

Lady Wagtaile.

In troth we women love you men but too well, that is the truth of it.

Sir Roger Exception.

Pray Madam let us go, and not stay to anger this young Lady as we do.

Lady Wagtaile.

Farewell friend, Sir Humphry Bold and I will visit your La∣dy to morrow.

As they were all going away, the Lady Wagtaile turnes back again.

Lady Wagtaile.

Pray what may I call your name.

Reformer.

My name is Reformer.

Lady Wagtaile.

Good Mrs. Reformer, I am heartily glad to see you well.

Reformer.

I thank you Ladyship.

All goeth away but Sir Serious Dumb, and he stayes a little time to look upon the Lady Bashfull, and then goeth out.

Ex.

The Lady Bashfull Sola, and after they were all gone she stretches up herself.

Lady Bashfull.

O in what a torment I have been in; holl is not like it.

Exit.