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

The first Part of the Lady Contemplation.

ACT I.

Scene 1.

Enter the Lady Contemplation, and the Lady Visitant.

VIsitant.

What Lady Contemplation, musing by your self alone?

Contemplation.

Lady Visitant, I would you had been ten miles off, rather than to have broken my Contemplation.

Visitant.

Why, are you so godly, to be so serious at your Devo∣tion?

Contemplation.

No faith, they were Contemplations that pleas'd me better than Devotion could have done; for those that contemplate of Heaven, must have death in their mind.

Visitant.

O no, for there is no Death in Heaven to disturb the joyes thereof.

Contemp.

But we must dye before we come to receive those joyes; and the terrifying thoughts of Death, take away the pleasing thoughts of Hea∣ven.

Visitant.

Prethee let me know those pleasing thoughts.

Contemplation.

I did imagine my self such a Beauty, as Nature never made the like, both for Person, Favour, and Colour, and a Wit answerable to my Beauty, and my Breeding and Behaviour answerable to both, my Wisdome excelling all: And if I were not thus as I say, yet that every one should think I were so; for opinion creates more, and perfecter Beauties, than Nature doth. And then that a great powerful Monarch, such a one as Alexander, or Caesar, fell desperately in love with me, seeing but my Picture, which was sent all about the world; yet my Picture (I did imagine) was to my disad∣vantage, not flattering me any wayes; yet this Prince to be inamoured with this shadow for the substance sake: Then Love perswaded him to send me his Picture, which represented him to the life, being extreamly handsome, yet had a manly and wise countenance. This Picture being brought by Em∣bassadours, which Embassadours when they came, treated with me about marriage with this sole Emperor, all other Kings and Princes being but Tri∣butaries; receiving these Embassadours with great civility and respect, yet behaving my self with a reserved and Majestical behaviour, which the Em∣bassadours observing, said, I was the only Lady that was fit to be the only Emperours wife, both for my Beauty, Carriage, and Wit: When after a modest Fear, and seeming Humility, I had reason'd against the marriage, at last by their perswasion I consented; then was there Post after Post, and Mes∣senger after Messenger, sent with letters from the Emperour to me, and from me to the Emperour; he admiring my letters, for the elegancy of the stile, and eloquency of the wit, and admiring my Picture for the beauty; one while

reading my letters, and another while viewing my Picture, made him impa∣tient for my Company, which made him send to his Embassadours, that with all speed they should bring me away, sending to all the Princes whose King∣domes I was to passe thorow, that they should guard me with Armyes, but not retard me with Olimpias, or the like, but to convey me safe and speedily: Whereupon I took my Journey (most of the Kingdome where I was born petitioning to wait on me); but by reason I could not take them all, unlesse I should depopulate the Kingdome, I would carry none, lest I should displease those that were to be left behind; but as I went out of the City where I dwelt, all the streets were strewed with dead Lovers, which had lived only on hopes, so long as I lived amongst them: But when they knew for certain I was to depart, their hopes vanished, and they dyed with despair. The Em∣bassadours seeing such a Mortality, caused the Army that was my guard to march apace, and my Coaches to trundle away, thinking it was the Plague; but at last, after my Beauty had killed millions in the Kingdomes I passed thorow, I arrived at that part of the world where the Emperour was, who was a joyed man to hear of my coming, and had made great preparations a∣gainst my arrival; but some few dayes before my arrival, he sent a Chariot which was made of the thinnest plated gold, because it should be light in the Carriage, but the body of the Chariot was enameled and set with pre∣cious stones, the Horses trappings were only great Chains of pearls, but the horses reigns were Chains of gold, that might be strong enough to check their hot Spirits, and swift speed; as for my self, I was only cloathed in white Sa∣tin, and a Crown of Diamonds on my head, like a Bride, for I was to be marryed as soon as I met the Emperour; but as I past along, all the High∣wayes were beset with Crouds of people, which thronged to see me, and when they saw me, they cryed out I was an Angel sent from the Gods; but your coming spoyl'd the Triumph, and brake the Marriage.

Visitant.

No. no it is retarded for a time, the next musing Contemplation the marriage Nuptial will be.

Contemplation.

If you had not come and hinder'd me, I should have go∣ver'nd all the world before I had left off Contemplating.

Visitant.

But if you make such hast to be at the Government of the whole world, you would want a Theam for your thoughts to work upon, for you can aim at no more than all the world.

Contemplation.

O yes, rather than fail I would make new worlds, but this wil last me a long time in shewing you what wise Laws I make, what upright Justice I give, ordering so, as the whole world should be as one united Fami∣ly; and when I had shewed my wisdome in Peace, then my thoughts should have raised Warres, wherein I would have shewed my valour and con∣duct.

Visitant.

Prethee be not so imprudent to cast away precious time, and to bury thy life in fantasms.

Contemplation.

Why prethee, they manage time best, that please life most; For it were better not to be, than to be displeased; for there is none that tru∣ly lives, but those that live in pleasure, & the greatest pleasure is in the imagina∣tion not in fruition; for it is more pleasure for any person to imagin themselvs Emperour of the whole world, than to be so; for in imagination they reign & Rule, without the troublesome and weighty cares belonging thereto; neither have they those fears of being betrayed or usurped as real Emperours have;

Besides, the whole general Race of Man-kind, may this way be the particular Emperour of the whole World, if they will; but those that desire to be Emperours any other wayes, have but sick judgements, for the mind is all, for is that be pleased, man is happy.

Visitant.

Well, well, I had rather have the Material world, than you Airy Fictions.— But confess really to me, if you should not think your self ac∣curst if you were to have no other Lovers, but what your Fancy cre∣ates.

Contemplation.

No truely, for I finding none so exact as my Fancy creates, makes all men appear worse than they are: For imagination doth like Pain∣ters, which takes all the gracefullest lines, and exactest Features from two or three good faces, and draws them into one: this is the reason that there may be handsomer Pictures drawn, than any Creature born; because, Nature di∣stributes and divides her Favours, as to the generality, when Painter contract them into particulars; for there was never any, unlesse born as a wonder, that hath no exceptions; besides, my Lovers which my Fancy cre∣ates, never make me jealouse, nor never disturb me; come to me, and goe from me; speak or are silent as I will have them, and they are behaved, quali∣fied, and adorned to my humour, also of what Birth, Age, Complexion, or Stature I like best; thus their persons and souls are created in my brain, live in my Contemplation, and are dead and buryed in my forgetfulnesse, but have a Resurrection in my remembrance,

Visitant.

Prethee do not lose the pleasure of the World, for the sake of dull Contemplation.

Contemplation.

Why, the greatest pleasures that can be in Fruition, I take in Imagination: for whatsoever the sence enjoyes from outward objects, they may enjoy in inward thoughts. For the mind takes as much pleasure in cre∣ating of Fancies, as Nature to create and dissolve, and create Creatures anew: For Fancy is the Minds creature, & imaginations are as several worlds, where∣in those Creatures are bred and born, live and dye; thus the mind is like infinite Nature.

Visit.

Prethee leave thy infinite folly.

Contem.

It is my infinite delight.

Ex.

Scene 2.

Enter the Lady Poor Virtue weeping, and her Governesse.

GOverness.

Madam, why do you weep, and grieve your self almost to death?

Poor Virtue.

Have I not reason? my Father being kill'd, and I left friendlesse all alone, my Mother dying as soon as I was born.

Governesse.

There is no reason you should grieve for your Father, since he dyed in the defence of his King and Country.

Virtue.

Tis true, and I glory in his valiant loyal Actions, yet I cannot choose but mourn for the losse of his life, and weepe upon his death.

Governess.

Methinks the greatest cause you have to weep, is, for the loss of your Estate, which the Enemy hath seized on, and you left only to live on Charity.

Poor Virtue.

I cannot mourn for any thing that is in Fortunes power to take away.

Governess.

Why? Fortune hath power on all things in the World.

Poor Virtue.

O no, she hath power on nothing but base dross, and outward forms, things moveable; but she hath neither power on honest hearts, nor noble Souls; for 'tis the Gods infuse grace, and virtue; nor hath she power or Reason, or Understanding, for Nature creates, and disposes those; nor doth she govern Wisdome, for Wisdome governs her; nor hath she power on Life and Death, they are decreed by Heaven.

Governess.

And will you weep at Heavens decree?

Poor Virtue.

The Heavens decrees hinder not humanity, nor natural af∣fection.

Governess.

Well, ever since your Mother dyed, I have governed your Fa∣thers House, and pleased him well; but since he is kill'd, and that there is nothing for me to govern, I will take my leave of you and seek another place; and I hope fortune will favour me so as to direct me to some Widdower, or old Batchelour, which desires a comely huswifly woman to order their pri∣vate affairs.

Poor Virtue.

I wish you all happiness, and if I were in a condition, I would make you a present.

Exeunt.

Scene 3.

Enter two Gentlemen.

1. GEntleman.

Sir, My Lord is so busy since his Fathers Death, with Stewards, Atturnies, and such like, about ordering his Estate, as I am loath to disturb him; but as soon as he hath done speaking to them, I will wait upon you to my Lord.

2. Gentleman.

Sir, I shall wait my Lords leasure.

Enter the Lady Ward and Nurse Care∣ful, they pass over the Stage.

2. Gent.

Sir, what pretty young Lady is that which passes by?

1. Gent.

She is a great Heiress, and was Ward to my old Lord, and he upon his Death-bed charged his Son my young Lord to marry her.

2. Gent.

Surely small perswasions might serve turn; for her Virtue is Rhetorick enough to perswade, nay to force affection.

1. Gent.

Yet my Lord is discontented, he would rather choose for him∣self, than that his Father should have chosen for him; for it is the Nature of Mankind to reject that which is offered, though never so good; and to prize that they cannot get, although not worth the having.

2. Gent.

Of what Quality, of Birth, and Nature, and disposition is she of?

1. Gent.

She is Honourably Born, and seems to be of a sweet disposition; but of a Melancholy Nature.

Enter a Servant.

Servant.

Sir, my Lord desires the Gentleman would be pleased to walk in.

Exeunt.