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

ACT V.

Scene 23.

Enter two Gentlemen.

1 GEnt.

All the young Gallants in the Town are preparing themselves with fine Cloths and Feathers to go a woing to the two rich Wi∣dows, the Lady Iantil, and the Lady Passionate.

2 Gent.

Riches are the Loadstone of affection, or at least professions.

1 Gent.

The truth is, Riches draw more Suters, than Youth, Beauty, or Virtue.

Exeunt.

Scene 24.

Enter two or three Gentlemen, Monsieur Comerade, Monsieur Compagnion, and Monsieur la Gravity.

Monsieur Comerade.

For Heavens sake let us go and address our selves to the two Rich Widows.

Monsieur Compagnion.

For my part I will address my self to none but the young Widow, the Lady Iantil, and to her let us go without delay.

Monsieur la Gravity.

It will be uncivil to go so soon after their Husbands Death, for their Husbands are not yet laid in their Graves.

Monsieur Compagnion.

If they were we should come too late, for I knew a man which was a great friend of mine, who was resolved to settle himself in a married course of life, and so he went a wooing to a Widow, for a Widow he was resolved to marry, and he went a wooing to one whose Husband was but just cold in his grave, but she told him she was promised before, so he wooed another whilst she followed her Husbands Corps, but she told him he came too late, whereat he thought with the third not to be a second in his Sute, and so expressed his desires in her Husbands sickness, she told him she was very sorry that she had past her word before to another, for if she had not, she would have ma le him her choice, whereat he curst his impru∣dence, and wooed the fourth on her wedding day, who gave him a promise after her Husband was dead to marry him, and withall she told him, that if she had been married before, it had been ten to one but he had spoke too late, for said she, when we are Maids we are kept from the free conversation of men, by our Parents or Guardians, but on our wedding day we are made free and set at liberty, and like as young Heirs on the day of one and twenty we make promises like bonds for two or three lives: wherefore I fear we shall miss of our hopes, for these two Widows will be promised before we address our Sute.

Monsieur la Gravity.

No no, for I am confident all do not so, for some

love to have the freedoms of their wills, for every promise is a bondage to those that make a Conscience to keep their promise, besides, it is not only variety that pleaseth women, but new Changes, for stale Acquaintance is as unpleasant as want of change, and the only hopes I have to the end of my Sute, is, that I am a Stranger and unknown, for women fancy men beyond what they are when unknown, and prize them less than their merits de∣serve, when they are acquainted.

Monsieur Comerade.

Well, we will not stay, but we will do our indea∣vour to get admittance.

Exeunt.

Scene 25.

Enter Madam Passionate as very ill, sitting in a Chair groaning, Enter Madam Jantil as to see her.

MAdam Iantil.

Madam, how do you find your health?

Madam Passionate.

Very bad, for I am very ill, but I wonder at your Fortitude, that you can bear such a Cross as the loss of your Husband so patiently.

Madam Iantil.

O Madam I am like those that are in a Dropsie, their face seems full and fat, but their liver is consumed, and though my sorrow ap∣pears not outwardly, yet my heart is dead within me.

Madam Passionate.

But your young years is a Cordiall to restore it, and a new love will make it as healthfull as ever it was.

Enter Doll Pacify the Lady Passionat's Maid, with a Porrenger of Cawdle.

Doll Pacify.

Pray Madam eat somthing, or otherwise you will kill your self with fasting, for you have not eaten any thing since the beginning of your sorrow.

Lady Passionate.

O carry that Cawdle away, carry it away, for the very sight doth overcome my Stomack.

Doll Pacify.

Pray Madam eat but a little.

Lady Passionate.

I care not for it, I cannot eat it, nor will not eat it: where∣fore carry it away, or I will go away.

Both the Ladies goe out.

Enter Nell Careless Madam Jantils Maid.

Nell Careless.

Prethee if thy Lady will not eat this Cawdle, give it me, for I have an Appetite to it; but I wonder you will offer your Lady any thing to eat, but rather you should give her somthing to drink, for I have heard sorrow is dry, but never heard it was hungry.

Doll Pacify.

You are mistaken, for sorrow is sharp, and bites upon the Stomack, which causes an eager Appetite.

Nell Careless.

I am sure weeping eyes make a dry Throat.

[She eats and talks between each spoonfull.]

Doll Pacify.

But Melancholy Thoughts make a hungry Stomack: but faith if thou wert a Widow, by thy eating thou wouldst have another Hus∣band quickly.

Nell Careless.

Do you think I would marry again.

Doll Pacify.

Heaven forbid that a young woman should live a Widow.

Nell Careless.

Why, is it a sin for a young woman to live a Widow?

Doll Pacify.

I know not what it would be to you, but it would be a case of Conscience to me if I were a Widow.

Nell Careless.

By thy nice Conscience thou seem'st to be a Puritan.

Doll Pacify.

VVell, I can bring many proofs: but were it not a sin, it is a disgrace.

Nell Careless.

VVhere lies the disgrace?

Doll Pacify.

In the opinion of the VVorld, for old Maids and musty VVi∣dows are like the plague shun'd of by all men, which affrights young women so much, as by running from it they catch hold on whatsoever man they meet, without consideration of what or whom they are, by which many times they fall into poverty and great misery.

Nell Careless.

You teach a Doctrine, that to escape one mischief they fall on another, which is worse than the first; wherefore it were better to live a musty VVidow as you call them, than a miserable VVife; besides, a man cannot intimately love a VVidow, because he will be a Cuckold, as being made one by her dead Husband, and so live in Adultry, and so she live in sin her self by Cuckolding both her Husbands, having had two.

Doll Pacify.

I believe if you were a VVidow you would be tempted to that sin.

Nell Careless.

Faith but I should not, for should I commit that sin, I should deserve the Hell of discontent.

Doll Pacify.

Faith you would marry if you were young, and fair, and rich.

Nell Careless.

Those you mention would keep me from marrying: for if any would marry me for the love of youth and beauty, they would never love me long, because time ruins both soon; and if any one should marry me meerly for my riches, they would love my riches so well and so much as there would be no love left for me that brought it, and if my Husband be ta∣ken Prisoner by my wealth, I shall be made a Slave.

Doll Pacify

No, not if you be virtuous.

Nell Careless.

Faith there is not one in an Age that takes a wife meerly for virtue, nor valews a wife any thing the more for being so; for poor Vir∣tue fits mourning unregarded and despised, not any one will so much as cast an eye towards her, but all shun her as you say they do old Maids or musty Widows.

Doll Pacify.

Although you plead excellently well for not marrying, yet I make no question but you would willingly marry if there should come a young Gallant.

Nell Careless.

What's that, a Fool that spends all his wit and money on his Clothes? or is it a gallant young man, which is a man enriched with worth and merit?

Doll Pacify.

I mean a Gallant both for bravery and merit.

Nell Careless.

Nay, they seldome go both together.

Doll Pacify.

Well, I wish to Heaven that Hymen would give thee a Hus∣band, and then that Pluto would quietly take him away to see whether you

would marry again, O I long for that time.

Nell Careless.

Do not long too earnestly, lest you should miscarry of your desires.

Enter Madam Passionate, whereat Nell Careless hearing her come, she runs away.

Madam Passionate.

VVho was it that run away?

Doll Pacify.

Nell Careless Madam Iantils Maid.

Madam Passionate.

O that I could contract a bargain for such an indiffe∣rent mind as her young Lady hath, or that the pleasures of the VVorld could bury my grief.

Doll Pacify.

There is no way for that Madam, but to please your self still with the present times, gathering those fruits of life that are ripe, and next to your reach, not to indanger a fall by climing too high, nor to stay for that which is green, nor to let it hang whilst it is rotten with time, nor to mur∣mur for that which is blowen down by chance, nor to curse the weather of accidents for blasting the blossoms, nor the Birds and VVorms of Death, which is sickness and pain, for picking and eating the berries, for nature al∣lows them a part as well as you, for there is nothing in the VVorld we can absolutely possess to our selves; for Time, Chance, Fortune and Death, hath a share in all things, life hath the least.

Madam Passionate.

I think so, for I am weary of mine.

The Lady goes out.

Enter a Man.

Man.

Mistriss Dorothy, there are two or three Gentlemen that desire to speak with one of the VVidows Maids, and you belong to one.

Doll Pacify.

VVell, what is their business?

Man.

I know not, but I suppose they will only declare that to your self.

She goeth out, and enters again as meeting the Gentlemen.

Doll Pascify.

Gentlemen, would you speak with me?

Monsieur la Gravity.

Yes, for we desire you will help us to the honour of kissing your Ladyes hands, thereon to offer our service.

Doll Pacify.

Sir, you must excuse me, for the Sign of VVidowhood is not as yet hung out, Mourning is not on, nor the Scurcheons are not hung over the Gate, but if you please to come two or three dayes hence I may do you some service, but now it will be to no purpose to tell my Lady, for I am sure she will receive no visits.

Exeunt.