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

Scene 14.

Enter Poor Virtue with a Sheephook, as comming from tending her sheep, and the Lord Title meets her.

LOrd Title.

Fair Maid, may I be your Shepheard to attend you.

Poor Virtue.

I am but a single Sheep that needs no great attendance, and a harmless one, that strayes not forth the ground I am put to feed.

Lord Title.

Mistake me not fair Maid, I desire to be your Shepheard, and you my fair Shepheardess, attending loving thoughts, that feed on kisses sweet, folded in amorous arms.

Poor Virtue.

My mind never harbors wanton thoughts, nor sends immodest glances forth, nor will infold unlawful love, for chastity sticks as fast unto my Soul, as light unto the Sun, or heat unto the fire, or motion unto life, or ab∣sence unto death, or time unto eternity, and I glory more in being chast, than Hellen of her beauty, or Athens of their learning and eloquence, or the Lace∣demonions of their Lawes, or the Persians of their Riches, or Greece of their Fa∣bles, or the Romans of their Conquests; and Chastity is more delightfull to my mind, than Fancy is to Poets, or Musick to the Ears, or Beauty to the Eyes, and I am as constant to Chastity, as truth to Unity, and Death to life; for I am as free, and pure from all unchastity as Angels are of sin.

Poor Virtue goes out.

Lord Title alone.

Lord Title.

I wonder not so much at Fortunes gifts, as Natures curiosities, not so much at Riches, Tittle and power, as Beauty, VVit, and Virtue, joyn'd

in one; besides, she doth amaze me by expressing so much learning, as if she had been taught in some famous Schools, and had read many histories, and yet a Cottager, and a young Cottager, tis strange.

Ex.