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

Scene 24.

Enter Monsieur Nobilissimo, and Madamosel Doltche.

NObilissimo.

Sweet Lady, will you give me leave to be your Servant!

Doltche.

I wish I were a Mistress worthy of your service.

Nobiliss.

There is no man shall admire more your beauty, and wit, nor be more diligent to your youth, nor shall honour your merits, and love your vertue more than I.

Doltche.

Indeed, I had rather be honoured for my merit, than for my birth, for my breeding, than for my wealth, and I had rather be beloved for my vertue, than admired for my beauty; and I had rather be commended for my silence, than for my wit.

Nobilissimo.

It were pity you should bury your great wit in silence.

Doltche.

My wit is according to my years, tender and young.

Nobilissimo.

Your wit, Lady, may entertain the silver haired Sages.

Doltche.

No surely, for neither my years, nor my wit, are arrived to that degree, as to make a good companion, having had neither the experience of time, nor practice of speech; for I have been almost a mute hitherto, and a stranger to the VVorld.

Nobilissimo.

The VVorld is wide, and to travel in it, is both dangerous and difficult; wherefore, you being young, should take a guide, to protect and direct you, and there is no Guide nor Protector so honourable, and safe, as a Husband; what think you of marriage.

Doltche.

Marriage, and my thoughts, live at that distance, as they seldom meet.

Nobilissimo.

VVhy, I hope you have not made a vow, to live a single life.

Doltche.

No, for the Laws of Morality, and Divinity, are chains, which doth sufficiently restrain mankind, and tyes him into a narrow compasse; and though I will not break those chaining Laws, to get lose, and so become lawless; yet I will not tye nature harder with vain opinions, and unnecessary vows, than she is tyed already.

Nobilissimo.

You shall need no Tutour, for you cannot only instruct your self, but teach others.

Doltche.

Alas, my brain is like unplanted ground, and my words like wild fruits, or like unprofitable grain, that yields no nourishing food to the understanding; Wherefore, if I should offer to speak, my speech must be to ask questions, not to give instructions.

Nobilissimo.

Certainly, Lady, nature did study the architectour of your form, and drew from herself the purest extractions, for your mind, and your soul, the essence or spirits of those extractions, or rather you appear to me, a miracle, something above nature, to be so young and beautifull, and yet so vertuous, witty and wise, grac'd with such civil behaviour; for many a grave beard, would have wagg'd with talking, lesse sense, with more words.

Doltche.

Youth and age, is subject to errors, one for want of time to get experience, the other through long time, wherein they lose their me∣mory.

Nobilissimo.

Pray let me get your affections, and then I shall not lose my hopes of a vertuous Lady to my wife.

Ex.