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

THE FIRST PART OF NATURES three DAUGHTERS, Beauty, Love, and Wit.

ACT I.

Scene 1.

Enter Madamoiselle Detractor, Madamoiselle Spightfull, Mada∣moiselle Malicious, and Madamoiselle Tell-truth.

TEll-truth.

The Lady Natures Daughters are the only Ladies that are admired, praised, adored, worshiped, and sued to; all other women are despised.

Spightfull.

We may go into a Nunnery; for we shall never get Servants, nor Husbands, as long as they live.

Tell-truth.

Why there are but three of them, and three women cannot serve and content all the men in the VVorld.

Detractor.

No, but they may discontent all the men so much, as to make them all to be Male-contented Lovers, who will reject all, because they can∣not have what they desire.

Malicious.

Let us make a Faction against them.

Spightfull.

Alas what Faction against them, can hurt and destroy Love, Wit, and Beauty?

Detractor.

Jealousy will weaken Love, Dispraise will disgrace Wit, and Beauty, Time will soon bring that to decay.

Tell-truth.

But Jealousy cannot weaken true and virtuous Love, nor Dis∣praise cannot disgrace pure Wit, nor Time cannot decay the Beauty of the mind; wherefore all the faction you can make against them, will do them no hurt; besides, you will be condemned by all the Masculine Sex, if not pu∣nished with infamy, for your treachery; and since you cannot do them harm, your best way will be to imitate them for your own good.

Spightfull.

So we shall be laughed at, and stared on as Monkies, and scorn∣ed; forasmuch as we offer at that which is beyond our abilities, and what∣soever is forced, and constrained, appeareth ridiculous.

Malicious.

Come let us leave speaking of them, and thinking of them, if we can.

Exeunt.

Scene 2.

Enter Monsieur Esperance, and his Wife Madamoi∣selle Esperance.

MOnsieur Esperance.

Surely Wife you do not love me, you are not any way kind to me.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

True Love Husband, is not so fond as ser∣viceable.

Monsieur Esperance.

But true Love will express it self sometimes: for if you did truly Love me, you would hang about my Neck, as if you meant to dwell there.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

If I thought my kindness might not Surfet your af∣fection, I would hang about your Neck, as the Earth to the Center, and as you move should bear me still about you; but I am afraid if overfond, you should be weary of me, and account me a trouble, and I had rather starve all my delights, than make you loath my Company.

Monsieur Esperance.

This is but an excuse Wife.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

Why are you Jealouse, that you think my words speak not my thoughts? have I behaved my self so indiscreetly, or have my actions been so light, as you believe I shall be wanton?

Monsieur Esperance.

No, I do not fear your Virtue.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

Do you fear my Indiscretion?

Monsieur Esperance.

I hope you will give me no cause to fear, although Husbands are oftner dishonoured by their Wives Indiscretions, than their Inconstant affections.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

Pray be confident, that I shall have a greater care of your Honour, than of my own Life.

Exeunt.

Scene 3.

Enter two Gentlemen.

1 GEntleman.

The Lady Natures three Daughters, namely Wit, Beauty, and Love, are the sweetest, and most Virtuous Ladies in the VVorld.

2 Gentleman.

I have heard so much of their fame, as I have a great desire to see them.

1 Gentleman.

You may see the Lady VVit, for she doth discourse often in publick; but for the other two Sisters, they are somewhat more retired.

2 Gentleman.

How shall we know the time, that the Lady VVit discour∣ses in publick?

1 Gentleman.

I am now going to see if I can get a place, where I may

2 Gentleman.

I will go with you, if you will give me leave.

1 Gentleman.

VVith all my Heart.

Exeunt.

Scene 4.

Enter Monsieur Nobilissimo, and Monsieur Poverty.

MOnsieur Poverty.

My Noble Lord, I am a Gentleman, one that is ruin'd by Fortunes spight, and not by my own Carelesness, Vanity, Luxury, or Prodigality; for my Poverty is honest: but though my Poverty hath an ho∣nest face, yet it is ashamed to appear in the open sight of publick knowledg, which makes me whisper my wants to your Lordships private Ear.

Monsieur Nobilissimo.

Sir, if your necessities can conceal themselves, they shall never be divulged by me; and what I can honestly give you out of my Estate, and not very imprudently from my self, I shall freely, and secretly, distribute to you, and such as are in your condition.

Monsieur Poverty.

Your Lordships Servant.

Exeunt.

Scene 5.

Enter Madamoiselle Amor alone.

MAdamoiselle Amor.

The mind is the best Tutor, and ought to instruct the Senses how to choose; for the Senses are but as the working La∣bourers, to bring Lifes materials in; but O my Senses have betrayed my mind, in bringing through my Ears, and Eyes, Beauty, and VVit, which like as creeping Serpents, got passage to my heart, and winding round about with flattering imbraces, yet sting the peace, and quiet of my mind, raising therein blisters of discontent, causing an anguish of restless thoughts, which work, and beat like pulsive pa••n.

But O had I been born both Deaf and Blind, Then might I scape this Hell tormenting mind; His Wit like various Musick pierc'd my Ear, Some being solemn, and some pleasant were And when he spake, his person did appear Like to the Sun, when no dark Clouds were neer; Fame of his valour, like a trumpet sound, Through Ears from Heart, unto the Eyes rebound; And then his person, like Mars did appear, Yet so, as when fair Venus Queen was neer. O Love forbear, use not this cruelty, Either bind him, or give me liberty.

Enter Monsieur Adresser.

Monsieur Adresser.

VVhat are you all alone sweet Mistriss?

Amor.

No Sir, I have the Company of thoughts.

Adresser.

Those are Melancholy Companions.

Amor.

Indeed mine are so at this time; yet thoughts with thoughts may discourse wittily, and converse pleasantly together, without articulate words.

Adresser.

Certainly your thoughts must needs be pleasant, your words are so witty.

Amor.

No truly, for my thoughts lie in my brain like a Chaos in a con∣fused heap, and my brain being young, hath not enough natural heat to dis∣gest them into a Methodical order; neither hath Time cookt them ready for the Mind to dish out, or the Tongue to carry to the Ears of the hearers.

Adresser.

The oftner I hear, and see you, the more I wonder at you.

Amor.

Why, I hope Sir I am no Monster?

Adresser.

No, for you seem to me something divine.

Amor.

Then you should rather admire me: for Admiration proceeds from things excellent, Wonder from things strange and unusuall.

Adresser.

So you are strange, and unusal: for things divine are not com∣mon; and certainly you are a thing illuminated beyond Natures Art, and are the only delight of Mankind.

Amor.

Men take no worldly delight in Coelestial Creatures, but with Earthly; wherefore the most refined and illuminated, is oftenest rejected.

Adresser.

No Lady, they are not rejected, but as Angels, they will not reside with us.

Amor.

Sir, for fear I should lose the Angelical opinion you have of me, I will depart soon as Angels do.

Exeunt.