with a Mistresses frown; for though sorrow, sighs, ••ears and Humility be∣come all Heroick Spirits very well, and expresse a Noble and Generous Soul, yet not in such a cause: for tears become all Heroick Spirits, for the Death or Torments of Friends, or for the sufferances of Innocents, or Vir∣tue, yet not if only themselves were tormented, or to dye, or•• for any mis∣fortune that could come upon our own Persons or estates, or for any obstructi∣ons to their own pleasures or delights, but it becomes all Heroick Spirits, to tremble for fear of their Honour, or losse of their Fame, and expresses a generous Soul to grieve and to mourn in a general Calamity, and to hum∣ble themselves to the Gods for those in distresse, and to implore and kneel to them for mercy, both for themselves and others, as for to divert the wrath of the Gods; but not to weep, sigh, tremble, kneel, pray, for their Effemi∣nate pleasures, delights, or Societies; nor to grieve or sorrow for the losse of the same.
Also some VVriters, when they are to describe a Bashfull and Modest La∣dy, such as are Nobly and Honourably bred, describe them as if they were simply shame-faced; which description makes such appear, as if they came meerly from the Milk-boul, and had been bred only with silly Huswives, and that their practice was, to pick VVorms from Roots of Flowers, and their pastimes to carry and fling crumbs of Bread to Birds, or little Chick∣ens that were hatched by their Hens ••heir Mothers gave them, or to gather a lapfull of sweet Flowers, to Distill a little sweet VVater to dip their Han∣kerchiefs in, or to wash their Faces in a little Rose-water; and indeed, this harmlesse and innocent Breeding, may be Modest and Bashfull, or rather shame-faced, for want of other Conversation, which Custome and Com∣pany will soon cast off, or wear out, and then print Boldnesse on their brow; but true modest Souls, which have for the most part Bashfull Countenances, proceed•• from a deep Apprehension, a clear Understanding, an ingenuous VVit, a thinking Brain, a pure Mind, a resined Spirit, a Noble Education, and not from an ignorant obscure Breeding; for it is not Ignorance that makes Modesty, but Knowledge, nor is it Guiltinesse that makes Bashful∣nesse, but fear of those that are guilty; but as I said, many VVriters that would make a description of Modest and Bashfull women, mistake and ex∣presse a shame-faced Ignorance and obscure Breeding; and instead of ex∣pressing a young Lady to be innocent of Faults, they expresse her to be one that is ignorant of Knowledge, so as when they would describe a Modest, Bashfull, Innocent Virgin, they mistake and describe a simple ignorant shame fac'd Maid, that either wants Breeding or Capacity.
Lady Speaker.
Yes, although not in their Behaviour or Condition of life, but in her Virtue and Constancy; for a chast Married wife is as Modest and Bashfull as a Virgin, though not so simple, ignorant, and shame-faced as a plain bred Maid; but as I said, VVriters should describe the wooing of gal∣lant Heroicks, or Great and Noble Persons, to woo with a Generous Con∣fidence, or Manly Garb, a Civil Demeanor, a Rational Discourse, to an honest Design, and to a Virtuous end, and not with a whining Voice, in pit∣tifull words, and fawning Language; and if it be only for a Mistriss, as for a Courtezan, Bribes are the best Advocates, or to imploy others to treat with them, and not to be the Pimp, although for themselves.
Also VVriters should when they describe Noble Virgins, to receive No∣ble