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

Scene 29.

Enter the two Gentlemen.

1 Gent.

FRiend, prethee tell me why you do not marry.

2 Gent.

Because I can find no woman so exact as I would have a Wife to be: for first I would not have a very tall woman, for the ap∣pears as if her soul and body were mis-match'd, as to have a pigmy soul, and a gyantly body.

1 Gent.

Perchance her soul is answerable to her body.

2 Gent.

O no: for it is a question whether women have souls or no; but for certain, if they have, they are of a dwarfish kind: Neither would I have a wife with a masculine strength; for it seems pra••posterous to the softness and tenderness of their Sex: neither would I have lean wife; for she will appear always to me like the picture of Death, had she but a sythe and hour-glass in her hand: for though we are taught to have always Death in our Mind, to remember our End, yet I would not have Death always before my Eyes, to be afraid of my End: But to have a very lean wife, were to have Death in my Arms, as much as in my Eyes, and my Bed would be as my Grave.

1 Gent.

Your Bed would be a warm Grave.

2 Gent.

Why man, though Death is cold, the Grave is hot: for the Earth hath heat, though Death hath none.

1 Gent.

What say you to a fat woman?

2 Gent.

I say a fat woman is a bed-fellow only for the Winter, and not for the Summer; and I would have such a woman for my Wife, as might be a nightly companion all the year.

1 Gent.

I hope you would not make your Wife such a constant bed-fel∣low, as to lie always together in one bed.

2 Gent.

Why not?

1 Gent.

Because a mans stomack or belly may ake, which will make wind work, and the rumbling wind may decrease love, and so your wife may dis∣like you, and dislike in time may make a Cuckold.

2 Gent.

By your favour it increases Matrimonial Love: 'tis true, it may decrease Amorous Love; and the more Amorous Love increases, the more danger a man is in: for Amorous Love, even to Husbands, is dangerous; for that kind of Love takes delight to progress about, when Matrimonial Love is constant, and considers Nature as it is: Besides, a good Wife will not dislike that in her Husband, which she is subject to her self; but howso∣ever I will never marry, unless I can get such a Wife as is attended by Virtue, directed by Truth, instructed by Age, on honest grounds, and honourable principles, which Wife will neither dislike me, nor I her, but the more we are together, the better we shall love, and live as a maried pair ought to live, and not as dissembling Lovers, as most maried couples do.

1 Gentlem.

What think you of choosing a Wife amongst the Sociable Virgins?

2 Gent.

No, no, I will choose none of them; for they are too full of dis∣course: for I would have a Wife rather to have a listning Ear, than a talking Tongue; for by the Ear she may receive wise instructions, and so learn to practise that which is noble and good; also to know my desires, as to obey my will; when by speaking muck, she may express her self a fool: for great Talkers are not the wisest Practisers: Besides, her restless Tongue will disturb my Contemplations, the Tranquillity of my Mind, and the peace, quiet, and rest of my Life.

Exeunt.