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

Scene 9.

Enter Madamoiselle Esperance very fine, and her Cousin Madamoiselle Tell-truth.

MAdamoiselle Esperance.

Am not I very fine to day?

Tell-truth.

Yes very fine.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

Do I look handsome to Day?

Tell-truth.

Yes very handsome.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

If I were a Stranger, should I attract your Eyes to take notice of me?

Tell-truth.

As you are my Cousin, and intimate Friend, and known ac∣quaintance, and see you every day, yet I cannot choose but look on you, and take notice of your rich Garments; but why do you ask, for you do not use to make such questions?

Madamoiselle Esperance.

I will tell you, when I was new Married, my Hus∣band took so much notice of my Dress, that the least alteration he observed; nay he grew jealous at it, and thought each curl a snare set to catch Lovers in; after I had been Married some little space of time, he condemned me for carelessness, and desired me to various dresses; and now drest, or undrest, he never observes; for were I drest with splendrous light, as glorious as the Sun, or Clouded like dark Night, it were all one to him; neither would strike his Sense; yet I observe he doth observe my Maids, as that one hath a fine Pettycoat, and another hath handsome made Shooes, and then he pulls up their Pettycoats a little way, to see what stockings they have, and so views them all over, and commends them, saying, they are very fine, when all these Garments he commends on them, were mine, which I had cast off, and given to them; when those Garments though fresh and new, when I did wear them, he ne∣ver took notice of; besides, when my Maids do come into the Room where he and I are, he strives to talk his best, as if he wisht, and did indea∣vour

their good opinion, when only alone with me the rubbish of his dis∣course doth serve the turn.

Tell-truth.

Madam, I perceive you do begin to be Jealous.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

Have I not reason?

Tell-truth.

No truly; for a Man may do such light actions, or speak merrily, or solidly, without an evill design, only to pass a way idle time.

Madamoiselle Esperance.

Lord how idly you speak Cousin, as to think men might idly pass away their time, when Nature allows life no idle time; for all things are growing, or decaying, feeding life, or getting food for to nourish life, or bearing, or breeding for increase; and man which only by his shape exceeds all other Creatures in Reason, Knowledge, and Under∣standing, and will you have him cast away these supreme gifts of Nature with idle time? would you have men follow the Sense only, like a Beast, and not to be guided by reason to some noble study, or profitable action? would you have them yield to their surfeting Appetites, and not indeavour to temper them? is Sickness less painfull than Health? is Disorder to be pre∣fer'd before Method, or Inconveniency before Conveniency, Warrs before Peace, Famine before Plenty, Vice before Virtue? all which would be if idle time wery allow'd; for Idleness never found out Arts nor Sciences, or rules of Government, nor the ease of Temperance, nor the profit of Prudence, nor the commands of Fortitude, nor the peace of Justice, which Industry produceth; but Idleness brings Confusion.

Exeunt.