Scene 13.
Lord Madam! I hope you are not seriously troubled for being out of Countenance.
Yes truely.
What? as to make you melancholly!
Yes, very melancholly, when I think I have made my self a scorn, and hath indangered my reputation.
Your reputation! Heaven bless you, but your life is so innocent, harmless, chaste, pure and sweet, and your actions so just and honest, as all the Divels in Hell cannot indanger your reputation.
But spitefull tongues, which are worse than Divels, may hurt my reputation.
But spite cannot have any thing to say.
Spite will lye, rather than not speak, for envie is the mother to spite, and slander is the Mid-wife.
Why, what can they say?
They will say I am guilty of some immodest act, or at least thoughts, or else of some heynous and horrid crime, otherwise I could not be ashamed, or out of countenance, if I were innocent.
They cannot say ill, or think ill, but if they could, and did, what are you the worse, as long as you are innocent.
Yes truely, for I desire to live in a pure esteem, and an honou∣rable respect in every breast, and to have a good report spoke on me, since I de∣serve no other.
There is an old saying, that opinion travels without a Passe-port, and they that would have every ones good opinion, must live in every mans age: But I am very confident, there is none lives or dyes without censures, or detraction; even the Gods themselves, that made man, hath given man power and free will to speak, at least to think what they will; That makes so many Athiests in thought, and so many several factions by disputation, and since the Gods cannot, or will not be free from censures, why should you trouble your self with what others say, wherefore pray put off this indiscreet and trouble∣some humour, for if you would not regard censure, you would be more con∣fident.
I will do what I can to mend.