Page 565
Scene 8.
Lady Censurer, pray what think you of the Lady Retorts wit, hath not she a great wit?
Oh fye, she hath a Chamber-Maids wit.
What wit is that Lady?
Why a snip snaply wit.
Indeed I have heard many Nursery Maids give so sharp and quick replies, as amongst some would be judged to be great wits, yet come to discourse seriously with them, and they were not much wiser than Beasts; but what do you think of the Lady Sharps wit?
Her wit fetches the skin off of the Ears, it corrodes the minds of the hearers, more than Vinegar the tongues of the tasters.
How approve you of the Lady Courtlyes wit?
Her wit is tedious, as all Complementing wits are, they tire the Ears of the hearers.
What say you to the Lady Stronglines wit?
Her wit is costive, and is delivered with labour, difficulty, and pain.
What think you of the Lady Learnings wit?
Her wit is an Alms Tub, it yields nothing but scraps, frag∣ments, and broken pieces.
What think you of the Lady Subtilties wit?
Her wit is Lime, Twigs, Snares and Traps to catch Fools in or with.
How like you the Lady Fancies wit?
Her wit indeed is a true Natural wit, it 'tis sweet and delight∣full, easy and pleasing, as being free and unconstrain'd.
How like you the Lady Contemplations wit?
Her wit is wise, and distinguishing well: for all Comtemplative persons judge, weigh, and measure out the right and truth of every thing, and find out the easiest and profitablest wayes, by the help of consideration; yet Contemplative persons when they come into Company, or publick So∣cieties, their tongues do as Boys, that having been kept hard to their studies, when once they get a play day, they run wildly about, and many times do extravagant actions: so Contemplative persons when they are in Company their tongues speak extravagant words, and their behaviour for the most part is unnatural to their dispositions; but of all wits the Contempla∣tive wit is the best, by reason it is a neer Neighbour to Poetry.