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

Scene 34.

Enter Madamosel Solid, and a Matron.

SOlid.

Lord! Lord! I wonder men and women should spend their time so idley, and wast their lives so vainly, in talking so ignorantly, and acting so foolishly upon the great Stage, or the Stage of the great World.

Matron.

VVhy, how would you have them spend their time, or talk, or act?

Solid.

I would have them spend their time, to gain time, as to prevent or hinder times oblivion, and to speak and act to that design,

—That when their bodies dye, Their Names and Fames, may live eternally.

Matron.

But it is not in every mans, or womans power, to get same, for some are made uncapable by nature, others are hindred by fortune, some are obstructed by chance, others want time and opportunity, wealth, birth and education, and many that are pull'd back by envie, spite and malice.

Solid.

VVhat man or woman soever, that nature is liberal to, may eter∣nalize themselves; as for fortune, she may hinder the active, the like may chance, envie, spite and malice, but cannot hinder the contemplative; the like may time and opportunity; but poor poverty and birth, can be no hin∣drance to natural wit, for natural wit, in a poor Cottage, may spin an after∣life, enter-weaving several colour'd fancies, and threeds of opinions, making fine and curious Tapestries to hang in the Chambers of fame, or wit may

and carve Images of imaginations, to place and set forth the Gardens of fame, making fountains of Poetry, that may run in smooth streams of verse, or wit may paint and pensel out some Copies, and various Pictures of Na∣ture, with the pensels of Rhethorick on the grounds of Philosophy, to hang in the Galleries of fame; Thus the Palacesses of fame may be furnished and adorn'd by the wit of a poor Cottager.

Ex.