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

Scene 9.

Enter Ambition, Pleasure, Faction, Portrait, Bon' Esprit, Su∣perbe, Wanton, Ease, Excess.

PLeasure.

How shall we entertain our time?

Portrait.

Let us sit and chuse Husbands.

Bon' Esprit.

What, in the Ashes?

Portrait.

No, in our Speeches.

Faction.

Content.

Ambition.

Begin; but let your Maids, Lady Pleasure, sit and chuse Hus∣bands with us.

Pleasure.

If I were to chuse a Husband, I would chuse a man that was honourably born, nobly bred, wisely taught, civilly behav'd; also I would have him to speak rationally, wittily, and eloquently; to act prudently, vali∣antly, justly, and temperately; to live freely, magnificently, and peaceably. I

would have him honourably born, because I would not have him a Boor by Nature, which is surly•• rude, grumbling, and miserable: I would have him nobly bred, because I would not have him a Shark, a Cheat, or a Sycophant: I would have him wisely taught, because I would not have him an ignorant fool, nor a pedantical fool: I would have him civilly-behav'd, to please my Eyes: I would have him to speak rational, witty, and eloquent, to please my Ears: I would have him valiant, to defend his Country, to guard his Family, and to maintain his Honour: I would have him prudent, to foresee misfortunes, and to provide for the future, that I may never want for the pre∣sent: I would have him temperate, lest Excess should ruine his Fortune, Health, or Esteem: I would have him just, because others should be just to him; to live freely, as not to be inslaved; to live magnificently, for to be respected; to live peaceably, to avoid brawl••ries. And such a man as this, will be kind to his Wife, loving to his Children, bountiful to his Servants, courteous to his Friends, civil to Strangers, faithful to his Trust, and just to his Promise.

Superbe.

If I were to choose a Husband, I would choose a man that were Rich, honour'd with Titles, and were Powerful. I would have him Rich, because I would have him live plentifully, to feed luxuriously, to be adorn'd gloriously: I would have him to have Titles of Honour, because I would take place of my Neighbours, to have the chief place at a Feast, and to have the first and choisest meats offer'd me: I would have him Powerful, to oppose my Opposers, to insult over my Enemies, and to neglect my Friends; which, if I be poor and helpless, they will do me: Thus I shall be honour'd by my Superiours, crouch'd to by Inferiours, flatter'd by Sycophants, brag'd of by my Friends, obey'd by my Servants, respected by my Acquaintance, envy'd by my Neighbours, sought to by my Enemies. Thus I might ad∣vance my Friends, punish my Enemies, tread down my Superiours, inslave my Inferiours, insult over my Foes, and inthrone my self.

Ambition.

If I were to choose a Husband, I would choose a man whom all other men are slaves to, and he mine. And what can I desire more than to be absolute?

Bon' Esprit.

If I were to choose, I would choose a man for a Husband that were an honest and plain-dealing man, patient and wise, that I might neither be deceiv'd by his falshood, nor troubl'd with his quarrels, nor vex'd with his follies.

Faction.

If I were to choose a Husband, I would choose a subtil crafty Knave, that can cheat an honest Fool, with which cheats I can entertain my time, like those that go to see Juglers play tricks.

VVanton.

If I were to choose a Husband, I would choose a man that were blind, deaf, and dumb, that he might neither trouble me with his imperti∣nent Questions, nor see my indiscreet Actions, nor hear my foolish Discour∣ses: Thus I may say what I will, and never be crost, do what I will, and ne∣ver be hinder'd, go where I will, and never be watch'd, come when I will, and never be examin'd, entertain whom I will, and never be rebuk'd. Thus I may Govern as I will, Spend as I will, Spare as I will, without Control∣ment.

Portrait.

If I were to choose a Husband, I would choose a man that were industrious, thrifty, and thriving: for the pleasure is not so much to enjoy, as getting, like those that are hungry, have more pleasure in eating their meat, than when their stomacks are full.

Excess.

If I were to choose a Husband, I would choose a man that were a busie Fool, which would continually bring me fresh, although false News: for his busie mind, which fills his Head with Projects, which Projects will feed my excessive Ambition, with his high Designs, although improbable, and set my thoughts at work with his several Atchievments, although there is no leading-path therein: But howsoever, this will furnish my Imagina∣tion, imploy my Thoughts, please my Curiosity, and entertain my time with Varieties, wherein, and wherewith, I may pass my life with fine Phantasms, or like a fine Dream.

Pleasure.

It is a sign you love sleep excessively well, so as you would have your life pass as a dream.

Excess.

Why, Madam, sleeping is the lifes Elizium, and our dreams the pastime therein, and our beds are our living graves, to the greatest part of our life, and most are best pleased therein: for it gives rest to our wearied and tired limbs, it revives the weak and fainting spirits, it eases the sick and pain∣ed, it pacifies the grieved, it humours the melancholy, it cherishes age, it nou∣rishes youth, it begets warmth, it cools heat, it restores health, it prolongs life, and keeps the mind in peace.

Ease.

I will not choose, but vvish and pray, which is, if ever I marry, I pray Jove that I may out-live my Husband.

Bon' Esprit.

O sie, Women pray that their Husbands may out-live them?

Ease.

If they do, in my Conscience they dissemble, but howsoever I will never pray so: for I perceive when men are Widowers, they are more hasty to marry again than Batchellors are, and the last love blots out the first, and I should be sorry to be blotted out.

Ambition.

But if men do marry after they have buried their first Wife, yet perchance they will not love their second Wife so well as the first.

Ease.

I know not that, but yet to the outward view I perceive a man seems to forget his first Wife in the presence of his second Wife.

Faction.

By your favour, a second Wife puts a Husband in remembrance of his first Wife, either for goodness or badness.

Ease.

For my part, I would not be kept in remembrance by one in my room; but howsoever, I shall love my self better than I'm sure I shall love my Husband, and therefore I desire to live long: for I had rather live and have him in remembrance, than die and to forget him; and I had rather re∣member than be remember'd.

Enter Grave Temperance.

Pleasure.

O Temperance, I heard say that you have seen the rare Beauty, Madamoiselle la Belle.

Portrait.

And is she so handsome as she is reported to be?

Temperance.

Truly she is a pretty young Lady.

Faction.

Is she only a pretty Lady?

Bon' Esprit.

Why she is young, and those that are very young, are only pretty; but those that are at full growth are beautiful and handsome, and those in their Autumnal years are Lovely, and those that are old are ill-favour'd.

Temperance.

No, no, those Women that have been once handsom, never grow ill-favour'd.

Pleasure.

Well, setting aside old women, what say you to the young Lady?

Temperance.

I say she is handsomer at a distance than neer-hand.

Superbe.

That's well, for then her praises will be only at a distance.

Temperance.

No by'r Lady, she hath Beauty enough to be praised to her face.

Portrait.

I had rather appear handsomer at a distance than at a near view, than seem worse at a distance, and handsomer at a near view.

Ambition.

Why so?

Portrait.

By reason there is no Woman but is seen more by strangers than acquaintance; besides, whole streets of people view Ladies as they passe through in their Coaches, when perchance not above half a dozen neigh∣bours and acquaintance see them near hand.

Faction.

So you may have many Admirers, but few Lovers.

Portrait.

Faith the rarest Beauties that ever were, the more they were known and seen, the less Esteem'd and Admir'd they were: for an unac∣quainted face appears, or at least pleaseth better, although but an indifferent Beauty, than a common face, although it excels with Beauty.

Pleasure.

Did you not hear Madamoiselle la Belle speak?

Temperance.

No faith, she may be dumb for any thing I know.

Bon' Esprit.

How is she behav'd?

Temperance.

After the Country Mode.

Ambition.

What manner of Woman is her Mother?

Temperance.

A Country Lady.

Faction.

Faith if Madamoiselle la Belle hath neither Wit nor Behaviour, her Beauty will be dim'd for the want of either: for Wit and Behaviour are the Polishers of Beauty, otherwise Beauty is but like a Diamond unfil'd, or unpolish'd, or like gold untry'd, or unresin'd.

Temperance.

Nay Ladies, she may have a great Wit for all that I know: for she did not express either simplicity or ignorance, whilst I was in her company she spake not one word.

Superbe.

Let us examine no more, but let us go see her, and then dis∣course with her.

Exeunt.