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

Scene 39.

Enter the Lady Chastity, and her woman gives her a letter.

Lady reads the Letter.

LAdy Chastity.

Who brought this letter?

Woman.

A kind of a Gentleman servingman.

Chastity.

Pray receive no more letters from that man.

Woman.

He said he would come in the evening to receive an answer.

Chastity.

If he comes, tell him it needs no answer.

Enter Sir Henry Sage.

Chastity.

Husband, will you read a Love letter?

Sir Hen. Sage.

From whence comes it, and to whom is it sent?

Chastity.

You will soon find from whence it comes, and to whom it is sent.

He reads it.

Sir Hen. Sage.

So wife, I perceive I am in danger to be made a Cuckold.

Chastity.

Doth the letter beget your faith to that opinion?

Sir Hen. Sage.

But the praises, and professions this letter brings you, raises ••••uples, and those scruples beget controversies, and those controversies may in time make a convert.

Chastity.

Rather a pervert Husband; but be you constant, and I will war∣rant you safe.

Sir Hen. Sage.

But Youth and Beauty wife, when they plead, are greater Bawds, and have a more perswasive power than the Lady Procurer.

Chastity.

Truly all three, as Beauty, Youth, or the Lady Procurer, rather than perswade me, would divert me, had I a wanton nature; as first, for the Lady Procurer her baseness appeared such as made me hate my self for being of the same sex she was of, and grieved me to see the follies of mankind, the one appearing like a Devil, the other like a beast, so seem'd the Lover and the Bawd, when men have Reason to govern, as much as Appetite to per∣swade, the one proceeding from the Soul, the other from the body; besides, Virtue is the Natural Complexion of the Soul, not Vice: for Vice is bred, not born in man: As for Youth, it is so fantastical, extravagant, wilde, and self-opinionated, doing such ridiculous Actions, putting themselves into such affected Postures, as I might be as soon enamour'd with a Jack-anapes: Be∣sides, the discourses of Youth are so flashy, as it gives the hearers no relish; and their Judgment is so shallow, and their Understanding so mysty, as when Reason discourses with them, it is apt to be lost in the darkness of Ignorance. Lastly, for Beauty in men, it is worse than unhansomeness in women: for an ill-favour'd woman seems masculine, as if she had an Heroick Spirit,

though she were a Coward; to have a judicious Understanding, though she should be a Fool; to be Chaste, although she were Wanton; when on the contrary, a beautiful man appears Effeminate, Foolish, and Cowardly, when (perchance) he may be Wise and Valiant, yet 'tis Beauty makes him seem otherwise; and (for the most part) a beautiful man is more nice and curious about his person, as in his cloathing, dressing, trimming, perfuming, powde∣ring, curling, and some will pomate and paine themselves, all which seems to me preposterous to men, insomuch as I could as soon be amorously affe∣cted with my own Sex, as those that are accounted beautiful men; and you might sooner be jealous of Age than Youth, with a Sun-burnt face and a wi∣ther'd skin, than a face that looks as if it had not seen the Sun, or the Sun it, nor felt the nipping Frost nor parching Wind; but I hope you have a better opinion of your self than to be jealous, as to think I can like any man better, or so well as you: And if you have not so good an opinion of me, us to believe I am constantly honest, yet I have such an assurance of my self, as to know I am not liable to be corrupted, and I am so Chaste, as I have not a thought subject to fully the purity of my chaste Mind and honest Heart.

Sage.

I believe you.

Exeunt.