CCXI sociable letters written by the thrice noble, illustrious, and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

CLIII.

MADAM,

TH' other day the Lady M. L. was to Vi∣sit me, and by her sad Countenance I per∣ceived she was full of Melancholy, ready to be Delivered of the Burden, as to Vent her Grief through her Mouth, but I Observing she could

not Readily make her Complaints, did as a Midwife, Help them forth, by asking her what the Cause of her Sadness was; with that Tears Flowed forth her Eyes, as Ushers to her Com∣plaints; said she, although I was a Joyful Bride, yet I am an Unhappy Wife, for on my Wed∣ding day I Joyed, because I had Married such a man as had Proved himself to be Valiant, Ge∣nerous, and Wise, all which I thought was a Greater Honour, to be the Wife of such a Wor∣thy man, than if he had been Rich, Handsom, and Dignified with Title, although he did nei∣ther Want those, which was an Addition to my Joy; nor did I think my self Unhappy, that he Married me not through his Own Choice, but his Friends Perswasions, or that he did seem not to Love me, for I thought when Time had Proved my Virtue, Duty, and Obedience, Ju∣stice would have Perswaded him to have Loved me; neither did I think my self Unhappy, that he Endeavoured to make me a Servant, nay a Slave to his Mistress, because I thought he de∣sired by this means to keep me from Jealousie, and to learn me Patience; neither did I think my self Unhappy, that he Tortured me, nay Threatned Death to me, to Force me to Serve his Concubines, because I took more Comfort in that my Resolution was so Strong, as neither Pain, nor Fear of Death could Alter it, and Glo∣ried more in my Sufferings, than Grieved for my Pains, as that I would rather Die than do a Base Act, as to be a Bawd to my Husbands

VVhores; But my Unhappiness is, that my Husband will be Divorced from me, which Di∣vorcement is far VVorse than Death, or Bodi∣ly Pains in Life, for in the Grave I shall lie in Rest and Peace, and if I be not Remembred with Honour, yet I Die not in Disgrace; and for the Pains in Life, it Learns me to Practise Moral Philosophy; but to be Divorced, is to Live in Disgrace and Scorn, which is VVorse than any Pain, or Death, for he having got the Reputation of a VVorthy Man, the VVorld will think I am a very Unworthy VVoman if he Forsakes me, and that he knows me to be guilty of some Notorious Faults, but that he will not Divulge them, for Fear of his Own Dishonour, or out of Respect to the Female Sex. Thus, by a Divorcement, I shall be left to the Censure, and Scandal of the VVorld, whilst he will be thought a Wise man for Parting from me, as being not Honourable for him to Live with me; with that she Wept, as if her Eyes had been two Perpetual Springs, and mean'd to make a Deluge of their Tears, and with seeing her, my Eyes began to Drop too; at last I told her, I did verily believe her Hus∣band did but Pretend a Divorce, only to Fright her to what he would have her, and intended not a Divorce to Grieve her, for though he was a man that did take a liberty of Variety of VVomen, knowing that Liberty could be no Dishonour to the Masculine Sex; and though he loved a VVanton Mistress, yet certainly he

was not so Unjust, or Unwise, as to Hate a Chast VVife, or to Part from a Virtuous Wife, for the sake of a Lewd Mistress, and therefore I thought she might take Comfort, and the best Remedy, at least, Cordial, for Grief, was Patience, for though her Husband was an Independent to Amour, yet he was an Orthodox to Honour, and Moral Honesty, only he wanted some Temperance, at which she Smil'd; by that I perceiv'd her Com∣plaints and my Opinion had somewat Re∣moved the Heavy Oppression of Melancho∣ly, and after some time, she took her leave of me, giving me Thanks both for hearing her Discourse of her own Grief, and for Com∣forting her; and by this Relation you have as it were Received the same Visit, as also a Visit from me, so as we have been both with you, onely a Letter doth Carry us to you in∣stead of a Coach. But now I think it is time to leave you, and rest,

Madam,

Your very faithful Friend and Servant.