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

Scene 4.

Enter the Lady Contemplation, and Sir Humphrey Interruption.

INterruption.

Lady, what makes you so silently sad?

Contemplation.

Pardon me Sir, I am not sad at this time, for my thoughts are merry, and my spirits lively.

Interrupt.

There is no appearance of mirth in you, for mirth hath alwayes a dancing heel, a singing voyce, a talking tongue, and a laughing face.

Contempl.

I have such merry Companions sometimes; but I seldome dance, sing, talk, or laugh my self.

Interrupt.

Where are those Companions? I desire to be acquainted with them, and keep them Company.

Contempl.

You cannot keep them Company, for the place they inhabit in, is too little for your Corporal body to enter; besides, they are so curious, choyce, and nice Creatures, as they will vanish at the very sight of you.

Interrupt.

Why Lady, I am none of the biggest sized Men, nor am I of a terrible aspect; I have seen very fine and delicate Creatures.

Contempl.

But you never saw any of these Creatures.

Interrupt.

Pray where do they dwell, and what are their Names? I long to visit them.

Contempl.

They dwell in my head, and their Sirnames are called thoughts; but how you will visit them I cannot tell, but they may visit you.

Interrupt.

Faith Lady, your relation hath made me despair of an enter∣view, but not a friendly entertainment, if you please to think well of me.

Contempl.

Thoughts are free, and for the most part they censure according to fancy.

Interrupt.

Then fancy me such a one, as you could like best, and love most.

Contempl.

That I cannot doe, for I love those best which I create my self, and Nature hath taught me to prize whatsoever is my own most, although of smaller valew, than what's anothers, although of greater worth.

Interrupt.

Then make me yours, by creating me anew.

Contempl.

That is past my skill; but if you will leave me alone, I will think of you when you are gone; for I had rather of the two entertain you in my thoughts, than keep you Company in discourse; for I am better pleased with a solitary silence, or a silent solitariness, than with a talking conversation, or

an entertaining talking, for words for the most part are rather useless spent, than profitably spoke, and time is lost in listning to them, for few tongues make Musick, wanting the Cords of Sense, or sound of Reason, or singers of Fancy, to play thereon.

Interrupt.

But you will injure your wit, to bury your wit in solitary silence.

Contempl.

Wit lives not on the tongue, as language doth, but in the brain, which power hath, as Nature, to create.

Interrupt.

But those are aery not material Creatures.

Contempl.

'Tis true, but what they want in substance, they have in variety; for the brain can create Millions of several Worlds fill'd full of several Crea∣tures, and though they last not long, yet are they quickly made, they need not length of time to give them form and shape.

Interrupt.

But there is required Speech to express them, or they are made in vain, if not divulged.

Contempl.

Speech is an enemy to Fancy; for they that talk much, cannot have time to think much; and Fancies are produced from thoughts, as thoughts are from the minde, and the minde which doth create the thoughts, and the thoughts the fancies, is as a Deity; for it entertains it self with it self, and only takes pleasure in its own works, although none other should par∣take, or know thereof; but I shall talk a World out of my head, wherefore farewel.

Ex.