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

Scene 35.

Enter Bon' Esprit, Portrait, Faction, Ambition, Superbe, Mother Matron,

FAction.

The Lady Variety, now she is a Widow, she tricks and dresses up her self in her Mourning, and is more fond of the company of men, than we that are Maids.

Bon' Esprit.

'Tis a sign she knows by Experience that the Masculine Sex are better, and more pleasurable company than any of her own Sex, which Maids do not know, by reason they are for the most part restrain'd.

Portrait.

Why should you find fault with Widows, when maried Wives indeavour by all the Arts they can to get the company of men, and do strive by inticements to allure them to Courtships, as much as Widows or Maids to lawful and honest Mariage?

Ambition.

One would think that maried women, by their neglect and dis∣respect to their Husbands, they loved not the company of men.

Superbe.

They may love the company of men, though not the company of one man, as their Husbands.

Matron.

Come, come, Ladies, Maids are always spiteful to Maried Women, because they be preferred in Mariage before them, and are jealous of Widows, for fear that they should get their Servants and Suters from them.

Faction.

I should sooner be jealous of a Widow, than spightful to a Ma∣ried Wife: for most Wives are in a condition to be pity'd rather than en∣vy'd;

but Widows have such a magnetick power, as one Widow will draw away the Servants and Suters from a dozen Maids.

Bon' Esprit.

Indeed Widows are very prevalent; for a poor widow shall have more Suters, and better Choice, than a rich Maid, and an ill-favour'd Widow, than a handsome Maid, an old Widow, than a young Virgin.

Ambition.

I wonder at it.

Faction.

Why should you wonder at it? since they know the humours, weaknesses, and strengths of men, better than Maids do, by which they know how to work and draw them to their bent and design.

Bon' Esprit.

No, that's not the Cause.

Faction.

What's the Cause then?

Bon' Esprit.

Why men think VVidows wiser than Maids, as being more known and experienc'd.

Portrait.

Indeed they have more knowledge than Maids, or else they have very ill luck.

Ambition.

VVhy, Maids are more desirous to marry VVidowers than Batchelours.

Superbe.

VVhat is the reason of that?

Bon' Esprit.

I know not, except it be the former reason.

Faction.

No, no, it is because it is said that VVidowers love their second wives better than the first.

Portrait.

And what their third wife?

Faction.

I suppose Love increaseth with the number.

Ambition.

But women, 'tis said, love their first husband better than the second.

Superbe.

That's only an excuse to marry a third, and so a fourth Hus∣band.

Bon' Esprit.

Indeed Death and Hymen are great friends to VVidows and VVidowers: for if once a woman buries her husband, or a man his wife, they never leave marying and burying, until they have had five or six husband and wives.

Faction.

If it were always so, I would I had been maried, and had buri∣ed my husband; O what a Gossipping life should I have had! Gossipping at my husbands Funerals, and Gossipping at my Maried Nuptials, besides the pleasure of being woo'd.

Bon' Esprit.

But you would have more trouble and vexation in the time between your Mariage-day and your Husbands Death, than pleasure betwixt your Husbands Death and Mariage-day.

Faction.

O no: for I suppose if Death be a friend, he will take away e∣very Husband as soon as that time is past they call Hony-moneth.

Enter Monsieur Inquisitive.

Inquisitive.

Ladies, I will tell you News.

Portrait.

What News?

Inquisitive.

The young Widow, the Lady Variety, hath the Small Pox.

Faction.

That's no Newes; for all sorts of Diseases are too frequent to be News; If they were, it would be happy for all animal creatures, if dis∣eases were strangers.

Inquisitive.

But it is News that she should have them.

Faction.

It is in respect of a new face, or otherwise not: for all mankind

in these parts of the World have that disease at one time or other, if they live to't.

Inquisitive.

Truly I pity her.

Ambition.

I hope she is not in such a condition to be pitied: for pity is a kin to scorn, as near as Cousin-germans, for reproach and shame are brother and sister, and scorn is the son of reproach, and pity is the daughter of shame: But although the Small Pox may set marks of deformity, they set none of dishonour; they only mark the Body, not the Soul; and that is only to be accounted shame, and to be asham'd of, as the infirmities of the Soul, for which they may be pitied.

Inquisitive.

That deserves scorn.

Ambition.

Baseness only deserves scorn, and not infirmities, loss, or mis∣fortunes; but there is a difference betwixt infirmities, losse, misfortunes, baseness, and wickedness. Infirmities proceed directly from Nature, Losse from Possession, Misfortunes from Interpositions, Baseness from that creature called Man, and Wickedness from Devils: The first is caused by the care∣lesness of Nature, the second by the lack of Power, the third by the ne∣cessity of Fate, the fourth by the corruption of Man, the last by the per∣swasion and temptation of the Devil. The first, second, and third are not to be avoided, the fourth not to be practised, the fifth not to be followed nor fostered. The first is to be pitied, the second to be grieved for, the third to be lamented for, the fourth to be scorned, and the fifth to be hated and ab∣horred. Thus we may grieve for the loss of her Beauty, but not pity her, having no natural defect in the Soul, which is the Understanding, and the Rational part.

Inquisitive.

But Sickness is a natural defect.

Ambition.

No, Sickness is no more a natural defect, than Time, or Death, Life, or Growth: for they are only Natural Effects, but not Natural De∣fects.

Exeunt.