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

XXI.

MADAM,

I Am sorry that Mrs. P. L. hath had so great a loss at cards, as the grief of the loss caused her to weep; But Gamesters are like Merchant-adventurers, and for the most part have the same fate, as to die Bankrupts, for more are impove∣rish'd by their losses, than inriched by their get∣tings; but gaming was never so much practised by our Feminine Sex, as it is in this age, and by their losses, (I know not for their skill) they seem Masculine gamesters, and I believe they quarrel as much in their play, onely they fight not Duels, unless with their Tongues. But I observe that cards is one of the chief pastimes of our Sex, and their greatest delight, for few or none of our Sex loves or delights in Poetry, un∣less a Copy of Verses made in their praise, wherein for the most part is more Flattery than Wit; neither doth our Sex delight or under∣stand Philosophy, for as for Natural Philosophy they study no more of Nature's works than their Faces, and their greatest ingenuity is, to make them Fairer than Nature did; and for Moral Philosophy, they think that too tedious to learn, and too rigid to practise; yet I make no question but they have heard of Temperance, though few are acquainted with it, and Pru∣dence they scorn to accompany, they despise

her as a mean, plain Huswife, and Fortitude can get no entrance, for strong Fears keep her out; as for Justice, I think our Sex doth onely resem∣ble the Emblem or Moral, as Justice is blinded with a band to keep out Partiality, so our Sex is blinded with Ignorance, which keeps out Know∣ledge; and though our Sex holds no Sword in their hands to cut off Offences, yet they hold as sharp a Weapon in their mouths, to cut off good Fame, and will make more Offences, than the Sword of Justice is able to cut off; and as for the Balance of Justice, which is Judgement, they never use it, for they seldom Weigh any thing; and for Faith, Hope, and Charity, they seem to have no more Faith than to believe their own Praises, and their onely Hope is for pre-emi∣nence of Beauty or Title, for Place or Wealth, and for Vanities; and as for Charity, they spend so much upon themselves, as they have nothing left for the Poor; and they are so far from go∣verning their Passions and Appetites, as their Passions and Appetites govern and rule the whole course of their Lives; neither doth our Sex take much delight in true History, for na∣turally our Sex is too lazy to look back into past Times, neither have they the peircing foresight to see into Future times, they only regard the Present; neither doth our Sex take much plea∣sure in harmonious Musick, only in Violins to tread a measure; the truth is, the chief study of our Sex is Romances, wherein reading, they fall in love with the feign'd Heroes and Carpet-Knights,

with whom their Thoughts secretly commit Adultery, and in their Conversation and manner, or forms or phrases of Speech, they imitate the Romancy-Ladies: And our Sexes chief Pastime is Gaming of all kinds or sorts, but most Cards, whereby they lose more money than get reputation; indeed Carding is their Work, for they make it rather a Labour with long and tiresome Sitting, careful Playing, and painful Vexing and Fretting, than a Plea∣sure and Recreation; and our Sexes chief Exer∣cise is Dancing, not alone, amongst themselves, for that they hate, but in masculine Company, and this they love so well, as to dance them∣selves into a firie heat, if not a Fever; and their onely delight is in Love and Courtships, and their only pleasure Luxury, insomuch as they are for the most part Eating, whether Sitting, Walking, or Dancing. But leaving our Sex to their Banquets, Courtships, Dancing and Ga∣ming, I rest,

Madam,

Your faithful Fr. & S.