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

Scene 19.

Enter Madamosel Solid, and Monsieur Comorade.

COmorade.

Lady, you have kill'd a Gentleman.

Solid.

Who, I! why, I never had the courage to kill a fly.

Comorade.

You have kill'd him with your disdain.

Solid.

I am sorry he had so weak a life, as so slight a cause, as a womans disdain, could destroy it; but for my part, I disdain no man, although I can∣not intimately love all men.

Comorade.

He is but one man, Lady.

Solid.

And I have but one particular love to give, or rather I may say, to be gain'd, for I cannot dispose of it; for it will be only disposed by it self, without my leave, so as I must be guided by that which will not be guided by me? I can lend my pity, but not give him my love.

Comorade.

I suppose you have given him some encouragement, and hopes, if not an assurance, by reason, he sayes, you have forsaken him.

Solid.

Not unless common civility, be an encouragement, and ordinary conversation gives hopes; as for an assurance, indeed I gave Monsieur Pro∣fession; For I did assure him, I could not love him, as he would have me love him, as Husband. But, O vain man! to brag of that he never had.

Comorade.

'Tis no brag, Lady, to confess he is forsaken.

Solid.

It is a brag, for in that he implyes, he hath been beloved, for the one must be, before the other.

Comorade.

Pray Madam, let me perswade you, to entertain his love, he is a Gentleman who hath worth, person and wealth, all which he offers you, as to his Goddesse, and a good offer is not to be refused, Lady, when it may lawfully be taken.

Solid.

You say true, Sir, and could I perswade my love, as easily as you can commend the man, 'tis likely I should not refuse him.

Comorade.

But you will be thought cruel, to let a Gentleman dye, for want of your love.

Solid.

Why, put the case I have other Lovers, as passionate, and worthy as he; how would you have me divide my self amongst them? Or can you

tell me how to please them; I cannot marry them all, the Laws forbids it, and to be the common Mistresse to them, all honour, and honesty forbids it; for though there is some excuse for men, who hath by custom their liberty in amours, because their amours obstructs not nature, so makes breach of honesty; but women are not only barr'd by nature, but custom of subjection, and modesty of education, wherefore, if they should take liberty to seve∣ral Lovers, or loves courtships, they would not only dishonour themselves, and their whole Sex, and their living friends; but their dishonour would out∣reach their Posterity, and run back to their Fore-fathers, that were dead long, long before they were born; for their unchaste lives, would be as marks of disgrace, and spots of infamie upon the Tombs of those dead Ancestors, and their ashes would be full'd with their stains, whereas, a chast woman, and a gallant man, obliges both the living, and the dead; for they give honour to their dead Ancestors in their Graves, and to those friends that are living in the World, and to those that shall succeed them; Besides, their exam∣ples of their vermes, for all Ages to take out patterns from.

Comorade.

Madam, you have answered so well, for your self, and Sex, as I can say no more in the behalf of my friend.

Ex.