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

About this Item

Title: Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.
Author: Newcastle, Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of, 1624?-1674.
Publication: London :: Printed by A. Warren, for John Martyn, James Allestry, and Tho. Dicas ...,; 1662.
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Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A53060.0001.001
Cite this Item: "Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A53060.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 17, 2024.

Pages

Scene 13.

Enter the Lady Prudence, and the Courtier: They take their places, and the Assembly about them.

COurtier.

Lady, you are the Sun of Beauty, from whence all your Sex receive a light, which without that would sit in darkness; you only give them lustre; you are the only Godess men adore, and those men which do not so, if any such men be, they are damned to censure: As for my self, La∣dies have judged me handsom, and for my persons sake have given me fa∣vours; nay, they have wooed my love with great Expences, maintained my Vanities, and paid my Debts, ruin'd their own and Husbands Honour and E∣state, and all for love of me; yet do I sue to you with great Humility, though many of your Sex have courted me; and let me tell you, fair Lady, that Courtiers Wives have freer Access to Masks, Plays, Balls, and Courtly Pleasures, than other Ladies have, who beg and strive, and often are beat∣en back in rude disgrace.

All which, fair Lady, if you summ up right, You'l find a Courtiers Wife hath most delight.

Prudence.

Fair Sir, could Person, Courtship, Garb, or Habit win my love, you should nor could not be deny'd: But since my Affection is not to be won by any outward Form, or Courtly Grace, I cannot grant your sute; be∣sides, the lives that Courtiers live, agree not with my humour: for I had rather travel to my Grave with ease, than inconveniently Progress about, ti∣ring my body out, lying in nasty lodgings, feeding on ill drest meat that's got by scrambling; but at the best, a Courtiers life to me is most unpleasant, to sit up late at Masks and Plays, to dance my time away in Balls, to watch for Grace and favour, and receive none; to gape for Preferments, Offices, and Honours, but get none; to waste my Estate with Fees, Gifts, and Braveries, to run in debt prodigally, to receive Courtships privately, to talk loud foo∣lishly, to betray friendship secretly, to profess friendship commonly, to pro∣mise readily, to perform slowly, to slatter grosly, to be affected apishly; no Prudent Brain, or Noble Heart, would interweave the thred of life with such vain Follies, and unnecessary Troubles; besides, I had rather be Mistris of my own House, were it a Cottage poor, than serve the Gods, if Gods were like to men.

Exeunt.