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

Scene 5.

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

TEll-truth.

I pitty poor Madamoiselle Bon.

Spightfull.

Why so?

Tell-truth.

Because she is forsaken.

Spightfull.

I cannot pitty a Fool.

Tell-truth.

Why, she is no Fool.

Spightfull.

Yes Faith but she is, to be constant to an unconstant man.

Malicious.

The truth is, I think that woman wisest that forsakes before she is forsaken.

Tell-truth.

But how and if she meets with a constant man?

Detractor.

That she cannot do, for there is no man constant; for they are all false, and more changing than women are.

Malicious.

If any should prove unconstant to me, I would Pistoll him.

Tell-truth.

Yes with the Gunpowder breath, the Bullets of words, and the Fire of anger, which will do them no hurt.

Spightfull.

The best revenge I know against an Inconstant Man is, to despise him.

Tell-truth.

He will not care for your despisements, but Patience, Patience is the best remedy, for then a woman will be content, although she hath not her desires.

Malicious.

Can any Creature be content without the fruition of desire?

Tell-truth.

Those that cannot, must be unhappy all their Life.

Detractor.

Then all Mankind is unhappy, for I dare I swear, there is not any that can be content without the fruition of desire; for desire is so restless, as it gives no time for content.

Spightfull.

The truth is, content only lives in words, but never lives in deeds; for I never heard, or saw any one truly content in my life.

Tell-truth.

The truth is, Content is like the Shadow of a Substance, or the Thought of an Act, and therefore let us leave it, as we would idle, or vain Thoughts, or vading, or vanishing Shadows.

Exeunt.