Fragmenta aurea A collection of all the incomparable peeces, written by Sir John Suckling. And published by a friend to perpetuate his memory. Printed by his owne copies.

Madam,

I Thank Heaven we live in an Age in which the Widdows wear Coulers, and in a Country where the Women that lose their Husbands may be trusted with poison, knives, and all the burn∣ing coals in Europe, notwithstanding the president of Sophonisba and Portia: Considering the estate you are in now, I should reasonably imagine meaner Physitians then Seneca or Cicero might ad∣minister comfort. It is so far from me to imagine this accident should surprize you, that in my opi∣nion it should not make you wonder; it being not strange at all that a man who hath lived ill all his time in a house, should break a Window, or steal away in the night through an unusual Po∣stern: you are now free, and what matter is it to a Prisoner whether the fetters be taken off the ordinary way or not? If insteed of putting off handsomly the chain of Matrimony, he hath rude∣ly broke it, 'tis at his owne charge, nor should it cost you a tear; Nothing (Madam) has worse Mine

than counterfet sorrow, and you must have the height of Womans Art to make yours appear o∣ther, especially when the spectators shall consider all the story.

The sword that is placed betwixt a contracted Princesse and an Ambassador, was as much a Hus∣band, and the onely difference was, that that sword laid in the bed, allowed one to supply its place; this Husband denied all, like a false Crow set up in a Garden, which keeps others from the fruit it cannot taste it self: I would not have you so much as enquire whether it were with his gar∣ters or his Cloak-bag strings, nor ingage your self to fresh sighs by hearing new relations.

The Spanish Princesse Leonina (whom Balzac delivers the Ornament of the last Age) was wise; who hearing a Post was sent to tell her her Hus∣band was dead, and knowing the Secretary was in the way for that purpose, sent to stay the Post till the arrival of the Secretary, that she might not be obliged to shed tears twice. Of ill things the lesse we know, the better. Curiosity would here be as vain, as if a Cuckold should enquire whe∣ther it were upon the Couch or a Bed, and whe∣ther the Cavalier pulld off his Spurrs first or not.

I must confesse it is a just subject for our sorrow to hear of any that does quit his station with∣out his leave that placed him there; and yet as ill a Mine as this Act has: 't was a-la-Romansci, as you may see by a line of Mr. Shakespears, who bringing in Titinius after a lost battel, speaking to

his sword, and bidding it find out his heart, adds

By your leave Gods, this a Romanes part.

'Tis true, I think Cloak-bag strings were not then so much in fashion; but to those that are not Sword-men, the way is not so despicable; and for my owne part, I assure you Christianity high∣ly governs me in the minute in which I do not wish with all my heart that all the discontents in his Majesties three Kingdoms would find out this very way of satisfying themselves and the world.

I. S.