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

Scene 7.

Enter the Sociable Virgins, and two Grave Matrons.

MAtron.

Come Ladies, what discourse shall we have to day?

1 Virgin.

Let us sit and rail against men.

2 Matron.

I know young Ladies love men too well to rail against them; besides, men always praise the Effeminate Sex, and will you rail at those that praise you?

2 Virgin.

Though men praise us before our faces, they rail at us behind our backs.

2 Matron.

That's when you are unkind, or cruel.

3 Virgin.

No, 'tis when we have been too kind, and they have taken a surfet of our company.

1 Matron.

Indeed an over-plus of Kindness, will soon surfet a mans Af∣fection.

4 Virgin.

Wherefore I hate them, and resolve to live a single life; and so much I hate men, that if the power of Alexander and Caesar were joyn'd into one Army, and the courage of Achilles and Hector were joyn'd into one Heart, and the wisedom of Solomon and Ulysses into one Brain, and the Elo∣quence of Tully and Demosthenes into one Tongue, and this all in one man, and had this man the Beauty of Narcissus, and the youth of Adonis, and would marry me, I would not marry him.

2 Matron.

Lady, let me tell you, the Youth and Beauty would tempt you much.

4 Virgin.

You are deceiv'd: for if I would marry, I would sooner marry one that were in years: for it were better to chuse grave Age, than fantastical Youth; but howsoever, I will never marry: for those that are unmaried, appear like birds, full of life and spirit; but those that are maried, appear like beasts, dull and heavy, especially maried men.

1 Matron.

Men never appear like beasts, but when women make them so.

1 Virgin.

They deserve to be made beasts, when they strive to make wo∣men fools.

2 Virgin.

Nay, they rather think us fools, than make us so: for most Husbands think, when their Wives are good and obedient, that they are simple.

1 Virgin.

When I am maried, I'll never give my Husband cause to think me simple for my obedience: for I will be crose enough.

3 Virg.

That's the best way: for Husbands think a cross and contradicting Wife is witty; a hold and commanding Wife, of a heroick spirit; a subtil and crafty Wife to be wise, a prodigal Wife to be generous, a false Wife to be beautiful: And for those good qualities he loves her best, otherwise he hates her; nay, the falser she is, the fonder he is of her.

4 Virgin.

Nay, by your favour, for the most part, Wives are so inslav'd, as they dare not look upon any man but their Husbands.

1 Matron.

What better object can a woman have than her Husband?

1 Virgin.

By your leave, Matron, one object is tiresome to view often, when variety of objects are very pleasing and delightful: for variety of ob∣jects clear the senses, and refresh the mind, when only one object dulls both

sense and mind, that makes maried wives so sad and melancholy, when they keep no other company but their Husbands; and in truth they have reason: for a Husband is a surfet to the Eyes, which causes a loathing dislike unto the mind; and the truth is, that variety is the life and delight of Natures works, and Women being the only Daughters of Nature, and not the Sons of Iove, as men are feigned to be, are more pleased with variety, than men are.

1 Matron.

Which is no honour to the Effeminate Sex; but I perceive, Lady, you are a right begotten daughter of Nature, and will follow the steps of your Mother.

1 Virgin.

Yes, or else I should be unnatural, which I will never be.

Exeunt.