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

Scene 15.

Enter the Sociable Virgins, and Matron.

MAtron.

Come Ladies, what will you discourse of too day?

1 Virgin.

Of Nature.

Matron.

No, that is too vast a Subject to be discours'd of: for the Theme being infinite, your discourse will have no end.

2 Virgin.

You are mistaken: for Nature lives in a quiet Mind, feeds in a generous Heart, dresses in a Poetical Head, and sleeps in a dull Under∣standing.

3 Virgin.

Natures Flowers are Poets Fancies, and Natures Gardens are Poetical Heads.

Matron.

Pray leave her in her Garden, and talk of something else.

4 Virgin.

Then let us talk of Thoughts: for thoughts are the children of the Mind, begot betwixt the Soul and Senses.

1 Virgin.

And Thoughts are several Companions, and like Courtly

Servitors, do lead and usher the Mind into several places.

2 Virgin.

Pray stay the Discourse of Thoughts•• for it's a dull Dis∣course.

4 Virgin.

Then let us talk of Reason.

3 Virgin.

Why should we talk of Reason, when there are so many seem∣ing reasons, as the right cannot be known?

1 Virgin.

Seeming reasons are like seducing flatterers, perswade 'tis truth, when all is false they say.

2 Virgin.

Let us talk of Justice.

4 Virgin.

Justice, to the Generality, hath a broad full face; but to parti∣culars, she hath but a quarter and half-quarter face; and to some particu∣lars, she veils it all over: Wherefore to talk of Justice, is to talk blind∣fold.

2 Virgin.

Let us talk of Bashfulness.

3 Virgin.

What, should we talk of our own disgrace?

Matron.

A Grace you mean, Lady.

3 Virgin.

No surely, a distemper'd Countenance, and a distorted Face, can be no grace.

1 Virgin.

Let us talk of the Passions.

2 Virgin.

It is easier to talk of them, than to conquer and govern them, al∣though it is easier to conquer the perturbed passions of the Mind, than the un∣ruly Appetites of the Body: for as the Body is grosser than the Soul, so the Appetites are stronger than the Passions.

4 Virgin.

Let us talk of Gifts.

5 Virgin.

There are no Gifts worth the talking of, but Natural Gifts, as Beauty, Wit, good Nature, and the like.

4 Virgin.

Let us talk of Wit, that is a Natural Gift.

1 Virgin.

Nature gives true Wit to very few: for many that are account∣ed Wits, are but Wit-leeches, that suck and swell with wit of other men, and when they are over-gorg'd, they spue it out again; besides, there are none but Natural Poets that have variety of Discourses, all others talk accor∣ding to their Professions, Practice, and Studies, when Poets talk of all that Nature makes, or Art invents, and like as Bees that gather the sweets of e∣very flower, bring honey to the Hive, which are the Ears of the Hearers, wherein Wit doth swarm: But since we are not by Nature so indu'd, Wit is a subject not fit to be pursued by us.

5 Virgin.

Let us talk of Beauty.

3 Virgin.

Those that have it, take greater pleasure in the Fame, than in the Possession: for they care not so much to talk of it, as to hear the prai∣ses of it.

Matron.

Come Ladies, let us go: for I perceive your Wits can settle up∣on no one subject this day.

Exeunt.