A friendly apology, in the behalf of the womans excellency together with some examples of women-worthies : as also the character of a virtuous and accomplished woman : wherein ladies of pleasure are taxed and admonished / written in verse by J. Golborne ... Golborne, John. 1674 Approx. 120 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 36 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A41370 Wing G1009 ESTC R6976 12143982 ocm 12143982 54895 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A41370) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 54895) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 597:13) A friendly apology, in the behalf of the womans excellency together with some examples of women-worthies : as also the character of a virtuous and accomplished woman : wherein ladies of pleasure are taxed and admonished / written in verse by J. Golborne ... Golborne, John. [2], 68 p. Printed for Henry Mortlock ..., London : 1674. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Women -- Poetry. 2007-08 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2007-08 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-10 Pip Willcox Sampled and proofread 2007-10 Pip Willcox Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Friendly APOLOGY , In the behalf of the Womans Excellency : Together with some Examples of Women-Worthies . As also the Character of a Virtuous and Accomplished Woman : Wherein Ladies of Pleasure are taxed and admonished . Written in Verse by J. Golborne , sometime Fellow of Trinity Colledge near DVBLIN . Si Natura negat , facit admiratio versum Qualemcunque potest . — LONDON , Printed , for Henry Mortlock , and are to be sold at the Sign of the Phoenix in St. Pauls Church-yard , and at the White Hart in Westminster Hall. 1674. TO THE Most Virtuous AND Pious LADY M rs . Katharine Booth . Madam , SInce famed Laureates never durst Adventure on the noblest Themes at first , But were so modest doubtfully to peep Out of their private Cells , and then to creep In arguments much lower , till well how To trust their wings they knew , from bough to bough Of various subjects flutter'd , judging best So to attempt that danger might be least , Till arts had been more lib'ral thought , they might Not safely venture an Heroick flight . Pardon this boldness , that presumes to try First hand on piece of Curiosity ; Which better would deserve the richest vein Of smooth conceipt , out of the pregnant brain Of one , to whom kind Nature first had been Of much more virtue than the Hippocrene . My fancy ( not well vers'd when first put to 't ) Would not perswaded be to stir a foot On other subjects ; yet did freely run , That her due service might in part be done Unto your sex ; and if she limps , the fault She calls her own : lameness doth make her halt , You cause her move ; and what is to express Her gratitude , will make crime somewhat less . In this Essay , I have sought to no Fairy , Call'd Muse , that keeps her wild haunts at Canary . Your mind is sober ; nor durst I think fit To offer you poor gathering of wit. You need not such collection , which is more Fit for those persons , that in worth are poor . Grant very small allowance : bate the Verse That waited on your pious S●sters horse : And charge not some choice sentences which you Know well , to whom their service best is due ; And what is stoln will not amount to be Fit to be charg'd with Pettit-larceny . Should I call women Deities , you 'd be Displeased ( Madam ) with the blasphemy : Or phrase them nobler creatures than men are , You likewise might , condemn the flatterer . Should I pass bounting Lasses and the Jigs Uncivil , of the City-whirligigs ; Their pride , their luxury , their antick dresses , Their bare necks , painted faces , and their tresses , Whereby they would ensnare their wanton tongues In lovesome Catches and lascivious Songs ; Their going unto Church , bringing no more From thence , than what new dresses Gallants wore ; Frequenting Playes , lest therein they should do Too little , there becoming Actors too . I should unworthily at least suggest That you so little baseness do detest Of shameless Hippia's , as not to admit They should be lash'd by Scorpions of wit. Whereas I know you loath that hateful Crew That brag of breeding , brave , and fruitful too , Use broad words , and large liberties as seat Of gallantry , the way to become great - Belly'd , that they may bear their shameful sin , And suffer plague of birth and lying in . Should I forget my Gossip , that can tell How to turn over tongue a spic'd-cup well , With whose loud tittle tattle those folks are Troubled , that deal not in such peddling ware ; But mind their own concerns , and do not pry Into concerns of the next family : Should I pass her , whose spungy lungs , as sayls Are swoln , but not when dry , with telling tales Of private merriments , scarce Civil jars Familiar talk , and of Domestick wars ; Where will be next , and where was the last wedding , And all the pretty passages at bedding ; How Madam Hasty gave to little Grace Her chamber-maid , a blew and broken face , Because she came not at first call ; how ill Her Master took it , that shew'd his good will ; How Nell came to mischance by Knavery Of Will ; how Joan beat silly Ralph , and why : Not to chastise such gross defectives must Shew me more Civil to the Sex , than Just Unto the virtuous , who bear others shame , B●ushing at boldness of the wan●on Dame , And their impertinence vain , that are grown Knowing in all concernments , but their own . To set off virtues of your sex , a whole Venus if painted , will but make a mole . Apolles when he drew his master-piece , And summon'd in the Paragoas of Greece For beauty , as their excellence did very Unto his pencil to be tributary , Venus her mole forgate not ; but did place , And make , her comely with it in her face . Praise of a sex , without exception , may Fit only people of Utopia ; Cannot sincerely be adapted to The state of sinful mortals here below , Where those few persons do appear most rare And excellent , in whom least vices are . They cannot be from Adam of th' whole blood , That are without all humane faileurs good . Let idle brains make silly sport to vex , And force their fancies to disgrace your sex With all the virtuous ; vainly they do try To level at the Stars which are too high . This most will fret them , and stir up their gall , That they provoke , and move you not at all : When unconcern'd you gain the victory , And overcome them by your passing by . The Rustick that all day hath toyl'd at plough , Puts off his clogs at night , begins to woo At a strange rate ; in Complementing Amy He takes up phrase befitting Academy . Not single flow'rs of Tropes will do , but cluster'd , That with conceit do make him fouly fluster'd , And strangely elevated : he scorn now To term her Pigsney , darling , Ladicow . His heighten'd fancy longer will not truckle , In pleasing her his Primrose , Honeysuckle . The Gardens fair sweet ; serve him not in prose ; Talip , Clovegilliflower , Lilly , Rose . Out of the Sun , Stars , and the brightest Rosie Blushes of morn he gathers her a Posie . And if he gets some little Scribe to write , He makes small matter , matter to endite . Hearing of Po'sie , she thinks to disclose Meaning , by holding letter to her Nose ; Or sticking it in bosome , knows not well , That paper flow'rs are for the sight , not smell . The frantick gallant eyes his Ladies look , More than young Chanter doth his Singing-book : Dancing attendance most officiously After the lessons of her fidling eye : Like Statue stands in admiration of Each syllable , st●p , frown , smile , glance , and coff . The sacred Laurell he will need invoke , That never learnt so far as Holioke ; To celebrate grace that was never in her , And yet condemn himself a mortal sinner For his Omission : but that is not it Makes him so bad : but what he could commit . How like a Malefactor doth he sta●d , Expecting sentence ? What is her command ? Shall he or live or dye ? Upon one breath Depends his happy life , or woful death . Great Empress she , that with a pleasant I ? Can make him live ; and with a No to dye ; Though much dejected , and cast down erewhile , Yet she can set him up with a kind smile . When his brains thin'd are almost into ayr Turned by Sun-beams of her face , he 'l swear He plainly sees the tippling Graces sip Nectar distilling from her ruby-lip : Though dazzled , Angels yet that he espyes Sporting within those Crystal Spheres her eyes . There 's no such Musick in the heavenly Spheres As in her voyce , which alwayes charms his ears . She 's in each sound , he hears no ring of bells , But what of her some pretty story tells . The little chirping s●ngsters in his thought Speak her so plain , as if they had been taught To sing their Sapp●●i●ks ; and her praise in Rhyme His head well stuft with fumes doth learn to chyme ; All this is nought , he is below his Theme Unless he be right Artist to blaspheme . What is his heaven here on earth ? her love ; And there 's no heaven that he seeks above . Were not his admiration without True object , you would think him Saint devout . He cringes , and with superstitious fear Standeth , as her Divinity draws near . Good cause , if you believe his precious stories Of the strange brightness , and celestial glories He sees incircling her , these witness'd by Those that are sick of his love lunacy . The man thus Planet-stricken , gives full rein Unto his fancy , th' utmost he can feign Of Complements bestows , runs on the score , Until his Worship can take up no more . If she contract her countenance , and frown Upon him , that is death , he 's tumbled down From all his hopes , and happiness , which now He did enjoy in smoothness of her brow . How wretched is the man , since faln from grace , And excommunicated from her face ? He hates the light , his life , you cannot give Greater affront , than wishing him to live . What can you love him , and be so unkind To wish him bear such torments in his mind , As while he lives he must ? Then snatches sword Kisses it as dear friend , that will afford Deliverance : but stay , before good night Pray give him leave to take up Pen and write Some doleful Verses of his faithful love In his brave death for Phillis , which may move Her to relent , and to vouchsafe a tear , Or shew her more unkind than Marbles are . He orders Ceremonies to attend , And lively to set out a Lovers end In his last Will and Testament ; forgets His soul to God to bequeath . And what lets ? She was his only Deity , alone To her he payed his Devotion . What hence will follow , reason must not tell , His madness doth suppose a milder hell Than her displeasure : this this makes him snatch His sword again , resolved to dispatch Himself : but that he wisely thinks withal He shall not have a Christian burial As felo de se , and he scorns to be Guilty of any act of Felony . Is he content to live ? fye on 't : he 'l go Unto some forreign broyls , and force his fo To do , what friends would not , though beg'd , and ten To one time , wars do make him wise again . But if quite desperate he seeks relief , And with his Rapier makes a vent for grief What hazard runs he ? leaving friends this sad Ground for their charity that he was mad . Phrenetick passions of such men may serve Those that do not know what it 's to deserve Sober affections , would not well resent Any thing , that were truly excellent . Let the inamoured ●ress painted Jayes , Address them to the Idol of their praise ▪ Here the design is honest , to give due Honour to Ladies , that be such as you Are , and would be ; not living just by sense Of some folk good esteem ; but Conscience . Not pleasing humour of that sort who have Great fear lest that they should be thought too grave . Discretion you make not to withstand Civility , but give it more command ; Obligingly that it may entertain The civile person , and ●ongue-tye the vain . Such was deportment of the English Dame Of old , which gave a lustre to her name Over the world : but with disdainful brow Is look'd upon as out of fashion now . Amongst vain Gallants strait lac'd modesty Is ill b●ed , rustick ; too precise , too shye . Amongst parts of Philosophy we range Ethicks , and with the rest they bear a change . As some young Empiri●ks their skill must try Body to pu●ge of Physiologie , Which they say Physick wants , and principles Her bodies head , are head of her disease . Though purged soundly , her they think not sound Enough , until with her the world turn round . It may be visit Mistris Dialectick , Feel her pulse , find her in a fearful Hectick : Her Terms are naught ; her Syllogisms all Obstruct her , they must out both great , and small . Sorites fears he shall be laid in chains ; And Violent●m looks for horrid pains : Exemplum to be made example : scorns Cause poor Dilemma to pull in her horns . Celarent wishes she were safely hid . Festino runs in danger to be chid . And Barbara the best of all abus'd , Fears to Bocardo she shall be reduc'd . But F●rio will not be baffled so , If he must out , he 'l leave a parting blow . Thus Physicking of her , they 'r find no season To end , until they leave her void of reason . So have some wantons quite rejected old Moral Philosophy , as dry , and cold : Question'd all principles , and practice too Of antient● virtue , and set up a new Model of modesty , which you presents With much more strange , than safe experiments . They say , a place that 's fortified doth s●eak The outward strength , but City to be weak . That City's strong , that hath not its defence From walls ; but valour of the Citizens . Strength of their virtues only way to try , Is to expose it to the enemy . If you 'l believe , their honour by the tryal Is brighter ; for they ●empt to m●ke denyal . Their husbands living they contract and call It innocence ; may pass the Ordeal , Run through hat coulters blindfold , safe and sound ; And yet not fear the danger of a wound . These can mistake their husbands beds , and be Not to be charged with disloyalty . Such resolution , that can make defence At disadvantage , is the quintessence Of virtue : if you can , you may believe ( Like Tutia's on tryal ) in a ●ieve , That they can water carry , lead and bring A ship b●sanded by their ap●on-string , As Claudia , have heaven standing by And witnessing unto their chastity . They must give leave to fo●k to be more wise , To judge by charity of sober size , And then their virtue in Heroick sense Elixar is of highest impudence . Your virtue ( Madam ) taketh it all one To forfeit , and to give occasion To folly ; and for med'cine doth not lye At the Bethesda of worlds charity . A most heroick , and approv'd repute , Neither makes way for baseness , or dispute . The Libertine , before that knew no Law To curb him , must confess your power to awe Into Civility feign'd ; what he hates , Charm'd by your presence , yet he personates . Asham'd you are not piety to own Amongst so many , when a scorn it 's grown : And for Religion publickly appear , To practise which , in private some do fear . May I presume , here to present to view Beauties , such as Apelles never drew : May I adventure to defend their Rights Of old , that try'd the Chivalry of Knights , To plead their cause , since they are made unfit For want of Learning , not for want of Wit. May this my Pencil venture on a face , Where ev'ry taking feature is a Grace . May this not seem in vain , which seldom done , Yet is the duty of each Mothers son . May these few Rhymes ( Madam ) accepted be , And gain your Licence , but to publish me , Your humble Servant , JOHN GOLBORNE . THE WOMANS EXCELLENCE . WHen man against unclean concupiscence Had a pure mind an adamantine fence , And heart more cleanly , than which doth possess The breast of most Religious Votaress , Without so much as thought of vain desire , And spark of that base culinary fire : Alone , it was not good that he should be Without a woman , and good company . When Sophy , Prester , and Imperial Highness , with Monarch Oecumenical , Were summed up in Adam ; yet a she Is made to peer him in his dignity . The glorious Angels , those bright morning stars Too high were , to be his familiars . The plants , and sensitives were not thought meet For him , as being set below his feet . But Eve created is , and made his Bride , First taken out of , then unto his fide , To be one with himself , that he may see In her a rational Imagery . Pictures are dark resemblances , they can Give outward form , and figure of the man. Glasses afford obscurely ( save the shape Of man ) scarce any thing but Antick Ape . She is the lovely glass , where he may find The lively picture of his noble mind . Likeness of outward frame , and inward too Creates affection , makes the wise man woo . Not without likeness of the same soul can The outward feature make help meet for man. Who can then think , that any man should be Besot●ed with a piece of Masonry , Or marble ? that Lot's Wife petrify'd , Should chance to have been courted for a Bride ? That man so monstrously should play the Ape , Upon a cloud , as to commit a Rape ? Yet is it certain , flesh , blood , shape affects The most , much more than reason of the sex . Men gaze at colou●s , and neglect the coal From heaven that is sent , a prudent soul That suffers not by time ; but pure doth last , When feature and complexion are defac'd . He sheweth not least part of man , to whom A marble Madam is companion . And with incestuous Pygmalion Carveth the Statue that he dotes upon . Though what her husband did command to be Done , or undone , he found her alwayes free : And silent she could bear , what heart of stone Would mo●e , to be call'd Slut , foul Carrion ; Though this rare property were in his Bride , In all her time she ne're was heard to chide ; Nor with some costly Dames was at vast charge , That she might follow each new Mode at large ; Nor with new fashions keep an equal pace ; Nor had brave Flanders prancing on her face ; For back or belly though she rais'd no score , And like good huswife , ne're stir'd out of door : Yet since she wanted reason , sense , and life , She could not make a comfortable Wife . That Gallant is not half so wise as nice , That is afraid of wisdom in his choice . Is she a wise woman ? That makes him start , As if she were a Mistris of Black Art. He fears she will be proud , and learn the foul Practice of some Wives , Husbands to controul With sweet advice , which makes the Bedlam roar , Fret , fume , swear , ban , and so much rage the more . For to his great disparagement she 'l be Not without cause esteem'd more wise , than he . Give him a Wench that knows no more than how Her cloaths to put on , when he speaks to bow With reverence ; and not without a Sir Before his Worship suffers tongue to stir ; And as well disciplin'd doth understand How to obey what he 's pleas'd to command ; That 's troubled with the softs , and while he tires His wiser hearers , stare● , gapes , and admires At every sentence ; this , this is a Lass , That for a most obedient Wife may pass : She stirs not , though he have her not in string : At a proud word hath learnt to fetch and bring : A creature tame ; and therefore thought more meet , Because she lyeth couchant at his feet . Who , though all manhood he hath qui●e withdrawn , And spit●eth in her face , begins to fawn , They that say women have no humane souls If true ; they are not men , but may be foals Of some wild Ass , and should they be ally'd As husbands , they would be quite brutifi'd . And more like beasts than Centaurs were , and then They might beget a monstrous race of men , Much worse , than where the pye-bald issues sight Presents with Negro's black , Europa's white . These from themselves do only differ in The outward colour , in a spotted skin . But they are preternaturals , at best A sort of Mongr●lls strange , half man , half beast . They may deny them souls , and judgement too , If that they think those men are ●it to woo , And make their applications with success In complements , and humours that profess By all their carriage in their lovesome fits That they are mad , and quite beside their wits . Else certainly they could not be so base In face so foully virtues to misplace , Where beauty playster'd wantons to invite , Is but a Pict , and odious hypocrite . She 's odly self-conceited , that thinks praise He throws at randome on her , what he brayes , Rather than speaks of virtue , to be due ; Or ( if perchance it should ) that he speaks true , That keeps no measure in his passions heat , Nor aims to speak what 's suitable , but great , Nothing doth limit whose invention vain ; But that he cannot reach an higher strain . She that hath real worth , and sober thought Of it , must needs disdain the fancie brought , Upon pretence ( forsooth ) to make her more Admired ; some think upon another score . Whereas blew envy could not have spit forth Venome that 's more malignant to her worth . Enough amongst most to have this effect To make them real goodness to suspect . As drones do very much i fest the hive , Eat what by labour of the Bees would thrive . So , though these Humble-be●s devour , and bring Nothing ; yet what is strange , they have their sting . What thinks , the wild phantastick ornament Of virtue , needs a flatterer to invent ? Cannot she be with virtues ●ully stor'd , Unless made object fit to be ador'd ? True honour strictly looks for this its due , That all its praises ( if not great ) be true . Is not beholding as a Popish Saint For glories , not to vertue , but the paint . Would he be credited ? that cannot be , Unless she forfeit all sobriety . If not , he doth his folly but proclaim , And maketh it not hard to know his Name . Alas , ( good Madam ) be not too severe , To call him knave , or fool , and domineer Over his weakness ; for desire to have Your love , doth make him in such fashiors rave From the first sight of you , some influence Hath quite bereft him of all sober sense . Do you not see in yonder secret grove , Him Courting the Idea of his Love ? How one while he creeps poorly , proudly stalks As antick straight , stands silent now , then talks Unto himself in a low voice : see how He doth his honour in a Civil bow , Since he hath mist it in some point , he 'l try Do it with much more curiosity , To please himself and ●●ncy : then accosts The shrub , where he can find no painted post , And to it speaks words in an humble mutter , More sweet than honey , and more soft than butter . What is it thus transports , dejects him too ? It s fancy ( Madam ) which is type of you . He cons how Civilly he may address Into your presence , and with life express The passions of a lover , what will be Your answer ? How to make a safe reply , And those odd postures which you so admire , Are but the strange fruit of that frantick fire You kind'ed in him : for you speak no word But what he treasures up , and doth afford Matter of thousand thoughts : with what a Grace You did oblige ; What Majesty took plac : In your commands ; how with your looks you read Lectures at once , to make him hope and dread ; How sweet was such a smile corrected by Too harsh a Mistris your severity ; How killing were your frowns : and thus in pain He 's toss'd with thoughts of favour , and disdain . He clasps the air contain'd you : not to look On your track serveth him , unless he snook On saucy servant , when you do bestow Flap on the lips for talk , to make her know Her distance ; wonders that she takes it ill , To be so dealt with : if she had his skill She would deserve more ; he doth understand It no unpleasant kissing of your hand Would you not ( Madam ) bring him to despair ? Then you must be more kind , or else less fair . Let pity move , wherelove will not , t' impart A smile , or sorrow soon will break his heart . And can you think your triumph glorious , If you destroy a Vassal-lover thus ? How cruel , and hard-hearted need must you Appear to all the world , if it be true , That you wou'd not be at small cost , and pains Of one good word , to keep him out of chains , And Bedlam ? for some hink could he obtain , No doubt he would be his own man again . You may command his reason ; for he 's bent Not to be cur'd , unless you do consent . Your harmony will set him right , they say Thus of the man stung by Tarantula , That would to death dance , were he not cur'd by The vertue of harmonious melody . If you resolve to be wise , and to laugh At all his follies , are not catch'd with chaff Of vain pretences ; if you think it true , When cur'd , he will revenge himself on you For all his folly past , and will not pause Upon his bondage base , but hate the cause . Yet let me beg one kindness , to advise The Gentleman , to let you be more wise : If he will not himself , then think it fit To entertain that love , which spoils his wit : And to condemn the incivility That wishes you may be as mad as he . The horrid Courtships that did pass between Nero , and Sporus his he-concubine . The T●umpetter , and Gracchus as they break Natures chaste tye , so they forbid to speak Their shame ; for nothing can be worse than thus , Unless the wedding of an Incubus . He truly doth deserve the term of wise , Whom no perfections outward do surprize , To make him forfeit ; since they may adorn A shameless Messaline , and be a scorn To time , like flower fading , which doth last Small time , and at its prime is almost past Its glory ; yet when wither'd quite , and gone , Gives hope of budding resurrection . But Beauty is a superficial thing , That , when by age decayed , knows no spring . What folly many men so far bewitches , To make them fondly Court an heap of riches ; And vainly wish , that they were bless'd with such A faculty as Midas in his touch ? And then be sure , they soon would change the mold Of their dear Dames , and turn them into Gold , That those whom they look'd not upon to prize , But with disgust , might be lust of their eyes . How do they Court you Ladies ? Is your faith So easie to what this , or that man saith ? Can you believe , what their pretences vain Make shew of ? when they truly do but feign Love to your persons fair , and virtues : Money ! O that that is their Dear ; and that 's the honey That may be help meet for them if they speed . That 's double help , which is an help at need . And their estates in deep consumption call For present help , and the best cordial Aurum Potabile is , all agree , For weak estates not past recovery . Your Lands their Chymistry can soon dissolve Into some ready Cash ; or else involve In deep incumbrances with your consent : Nor will their servile kindness quite be spent , Till all is gone ; and then , however large Your portions were , you will be thought a charge . He that with vile submission did approach As humble Orator erewhile , did crouch And bend like any Willow , will revoke His kindness , and be stiff , as any Oak , To your requests , when he hath in his hands Your thousand pounds of portion , or your Lands . Now you are costly , now the man begins To grudge you money , but to buy you pins . And if more kind , yet what he doth , must be Reputed as an act of Charity . So by your soft belief , you 'l soon be grown At his command , and beggars of your own . With silly easiness thus you contrive To give the loaf , and after beg the shive . Yet him , if covetous , you shall not stir , Although you come with I beseech you Sir. It may be , what less tolerable is He can the charge bear of a costly Miss . Nor is it rare to find these two agree , One paltry hard , and prodigally free . There are accomplishments of higher kind Such as do give a lustre to the mind , Are not less pretious , though they latent are , Contribute much to make the person rare . A quiet frame of temper , and a meek Demeanour , which occasions still doth seek To please , and keep all calm ; and modesty Not too adventurous , nor weakly shye , More than meer bashfulness , that blossoms cast , If once saluted by unwholsome blast . An holy temperance , which taketh place Of Nature in its strength , and is a Grace A prudent soul to comfort , counsel , prove Reproof may be an argument of love : Where through a waspish , and weak rage are bred No words so hard to break her husbands head , But soft as oyle ; and if the oyle be warm , It may do much good ; but if scalding , harm . And her discretion understands the art To dress the wound , and yet prevent the smart . Romes triple-headed Cerberus , so fell Against a marry'd li●e doth loudly yell , With resolution never to dispense With state so well befitting innocence , In any of his Clergy : yet these Masters , Or Fathers rather , are but Demicasters Of Chastity : but read you some Popes lives , You 'l find it safer to keep Whores , than Wives . This chaste Divinity ( long since foretold The Devils Doctrine ) is not grown so old , But it can yield a Nephew now , and then The bastards of the Romish Arch-flamen . It is mysterious that one should be His Holiness , and yet want honesty . Pope Joan is wonder stranger than the other , An Holy Father , and dishonest Mother . Thus Cretan Town-Bull in the Fable odd Bore Bacchus in his thigh , was feign'd a god . Tom Dove the traveller will tell you news . What 's that ? at Rome the Pope admits of Stews , Some hundreds of foul Bawdy-houses . How ? Such places can his Sanctity allow ? What else , when they their annual rents disburse , And only do their pennance to his purse ? The man of Miracles beyond his strain Of skill must stretch , to make this honest gain . Are women by his Highness here below , Taken to be no higher than his Toe ? Great Toe indeed ! Would it disgrace his pride If women were advanced to his side In Matrimony ? without charge of Trope Adam we call much greater than the Pope ; Whose Holiness with baseness tax't hath been , And to be perfect is not such a sin . What though he pleads Infallibility , That when set in the Chair he cannot lye ? He lyes in that , or else pretence must go For quibble good sensu Composito . So Merchant brought to very hard condition , Payes off his debts by broken Composition . We say for Adam thus with reason good , That then he could not fall , just when he stood . By the Popes Holiness we safely mean With mental reservation what is clean ( contrary . ) I would not have Eve plead her nobler birth , Sith she was made of man , and man of earth . Nor ( as from bodies Politick is bred ) Argue that she sprang from him as an head ; That she may rule , a stranger Title bring , His Mother was a Subject , hers a King ; Nor have her daughters to press instance , since Xerxes of old that was the Persian Prince , Because his Brother to a private man Was born , he to the same as Soveraign . Nor would I have them due subjection call Forbidden bowing of the knee to Baal : Since that in Paradise the social state Did stand with reason of subordinate . There 's no pretence to say , that God did give To male , and female , power alternative . Profanely think not , that to work his bane , God did create the woman for the man : That the wise , just , good , Orderer of all Made her an help meet , but to cause his fall : That man himself had never fal'n so low Without her , since the Word tells us not so . Contemn her not , that was since man , but rather Consider , who was Mother to the Father Eternal : she was from the man her Brother , Of the same Father , grant that he , as Mother , Had such a Daughter , what else do we find But him to bear the praise of womankind ? Blush then to urge that pitiful pretence , A crooked , cross-grain'd piece of innocence . Since she was ta'ne out of his side , that he Hath been stitch't by an irksome Pl●urisie . By such little conceits play not with wit , Lest that it chance thereby thou forfeit it , And fall to cry out with a Gotham-brother , That thou art troubled with fits of the Mother . Why may it not be likely ? to say true , Toy wit is ill of the Greensickness too . Her , whom thou ought'st to pity , cease to call Dam of damnation in the dreadful fall , The woe of man , the ever cursed Eve To all the black dayes of our saddest grief . 'T is true , she did procure the fall of men : The womans seed doth raise us up agen . Some are elaborate , and mighty pains Take needlesly , to shew that they want brains . This is the most they bring from learned Schools : With reason they can act ingenious fools , And argue stifly : Eve was kept alive , Her native reason only to survive : That it is lawful , in the Logick tree , Man should have one side , and the other she , As 't is in Eden pictur'd . Did the men Impropriate all Wisdom : surely then Children half-witted are ; yet will they call Their Mothers fools , for fear lest naturals They should be thought ; when they that are most fit To be thought fools , do want their Mother-wit . The Pagans were more humane far than these , Of famed Ladies that made Goddesses , Would have three Graces female , and did feign The wise Minerva sprang out of Joves brain . Invoke no more the Muses : none will side With thee , to mother thy foul Matricide In wronging of this S●x ; make haste , and run : Timon may chance t' adopt thee for his son ; For sweetness of thy Nature , thou maist be Made to inherit his humanity . Thy slender wit true wisdom ne're begate , No learned School will it Matriculate , If it be Alma-mater . Learn agen What petty Scholar means by Epicene , Or fall out with haec Homo ( if you can ) To save the head of Mr. Priscian . Correct you Lilly's candour , that doth render ? Dux , Praesul , Pugil in the Common-gender . Were women all ( Leaena-like ) among Grateful Athenians without a tongue , That chose to be ador'd , for being Mutes , They justly might be pictured as Brutes , As she was , for her praise . Debasing thought Of their discourse , though sober , solid brought Reproach that they are wordy , if they go Beyond the narrow bounds of I , and No. The want of learned rules , their misery Is call'd their fault , and great infirmity Of Nature . Had their fit endowments been Favour'd by men , as Nature , we had seen Scholars divided into Sexes , and Some Females challenging the better hand Of them for wit , that do vouchsafe to call Them creatures but made up of tedious braul , And empty noise ; with fury ( when they dye ) In Vulcan's quiet anvill choose to lye , For fear of clamour ; lest their Oratory Should vex them in that silent Dormitory . Some such wise Rabbies surely did invent , That on a time the bounteous Heavens sent Ten quarts of Speech into the world , and men Got to their share but one poor part of ten : Women the rest . If that the case were thus , They cannot but be thought too gluttonous , To take nine cabs of pra●t●e , when a quart Is not scarce half enough to make a part For the good men , that lavishly estate Spend in good fellowship , and endless prate . Gownmen are not all speechless , nor the Hall Of Justice freed from their litigious braul . Had it been so : then the loud wranglers had For all their joyful Hilaries been sad . That Ens of reason Sophomore not able Had been to make a tedious empty squabble About some Logick nicety , nor sp●nt So many hours in eager battlement With strange Chimaera . Then what should the men Have done , that are stout Champions at the pen ; Whose worthy parts must not be sized by The Childish seventeens , but seventy ; Whose skulls are so well futur'd , that not any Air can offend them through the smallest crany To make them vain ; yet fight Antagonists With rayling Rh●torick to save their fists . Their mighty reason scarce presents a For , But such as drops from the Posterior , Scornful disdain . The dealing is not square That men should be advanced to the Chair , And women not such Scolds by far to rule Their lavish tongues presented to the stool . Women have got no priviledge to write Books stuft with slander , base contempt and spite , Which purged of their choler might be meet As skeletons bare for a winding-sheet . Although their words are spightful , keen men can Yet get them reckon'd as Patritian Sobriety : so well have some men sped To have their malice meekness Christened . Brag'd of tame tempers : such tame creatures be Safely presented through a grate to see : On sweetness of their temper true Comment Is Pius , Clement , Urbane , Innocent . The privacy of womens narrow sphere Domestick , makes their virtue less appear . Wa●ing occasion their parts buryed lye In the dark vault of base obscurity , That have not only unconquered charms Of winning beauty , but affrighting arms . It therefore is unhappiness of state So much embases word effeminate , And keeps their spirits under : Had they wayes And opportunities to get them praise : Were they inur'd to hardships , they 'd outvye Those that do hold estates in Chivalry : Or have done brave Knights-service , and afford More gallantry than those that were ador'd . Though mention of their due praise envy call A Tattle more than Hyper-prodigal , And the surmise of feats that might be done In arms by them , an idle Fiction : For what they have atchieved nobly , fame Will ever stand indebted to their Name . And if they do not sue the jangling Lass , It is because amongst them she doth pass Not worthy of regards , too base to be Sought unto by their true Nobility . Yet famous men have Courted much her honour , Of fawning titles cast whole leads upon her , Were humble suitors they might be among Those , who had interest in her idle tongue , Promising they would be her Champions bold To do great feats : but only to be told . When slattering fame commended did not cry Out with this womanish Loquacity , Let her be packt out of the way , and go Seek place in Psittacorum R●gio . Amongst the Vegetables , nobler trees Fruitless have been , we read , without their shee s : So on the Erythrean barks , for wa●t Of other dwellers , noble Palms do plant And grow in couples ; shewing that th' entail Of Honour runs not to the issue male In special ; he would have a barren root , But that the gen'rous female bears the fruit . It 's reasonable women have as well The pra●se , as they have power to excell . They that deny them honour , must profess , And likewise seem to prove their worth is less . Would they attempt it , they 'd desire no more To make them see their Heresie before ; And shew them that a Volume should be spent , And not a single Sheet when they repent . Are faults and blemishes in them so thin Scatter'd , that works of God must be clapt in To make crimes more : that his works are so large To them , is full enough to ground a charge Against them ; whereas had he but less spent On them , they had been judged innocent . Since their great beauties to some become snares ; Fault ( Tarbox ) straight must be concluded theirs . If this be Logick , let us borrow tools From Crafts-men of the Chair to make us fools , Condemn the light , because some over-wise By staring at it chance to hurt their eyes . We 'l strain our fancies , and conceipts to think Aqua Coelestis , which the Stars do drink Too lib'rally , makes them to blink , and keep Their heavy eyes scarce ope for want of sleep . Dark●n the lustre of those radiant lights , That we may favour weakness of our sights . If in the womens feature crime be known , The fault of right should not be call'd their own : This noble fabricks beauty must reflect Upon the goodness of the Architect , That made the work so rare , as to entice To folly curious spectators eyes . Good form by wise men hath been made to go For that , which is Dignum Imperio , Teaching in outward features how to find A correspondent beauty in the mind . Let them smart under cens●res , that delight To walk , in habits like Hermaphrodite ; That by their manlike looks , garbs , fashions rare , Make it a question of what Sex they are ; Debasing thus Virago's nobler sence , And making it to hide their impudence . May they be hateful to all modest sights , That turn into almost half Adamites , Whose visage must not Natures power express , But their pride , and affected wickedness ; Despising nature of their sex they call A meal-mouth'd-modesty , base , rustical . Talk what the ears of wantonest might load To make their wanton tongues too Alamode . May those slye cheats ( that modesty do own For nought , but base immodest ends ) be known : Who baiting with a pretty sober look , Make the young fool to swallow down the hook . In men and women when the fault is same , How cometh it to pass they share not blame By equal moieties ? In men a Beam Is call'd a Mote ; a Mote , a Beam in them . Upon what ground taketh the saying place ? This fault is bad in man , in woman base . Shall we thus aggravate ? they 've wisdom more : But very few will charge them on that score . Precedence by none will be granted in Knowledge , although it were to lessen sin . Is it their inclination less to vice At first unto the scandal that gave rise ? They that to wickedness are less inclin'd Must be acknowledg'd to have purer mind , Which makes spots more conspicuous : oftentimes Better the persons are , the fouller crimes Appear in them . Deformities are not Observ'd in darker bodies ; when each spot Shews it self in the brighter ; thus we soon Espye the spots , that do obscure the Moon . So Authors Venus mole do Memorize , So least pearl blemisheth the brightest eyes . If this will not be granted , all must say , That men in somethings , and in others they , Plead excellence . Let guilt , as equal then Be charg'd upon the women , as the men . Yet women , knowing freedom doth not lye In what is but licentious liberty , Are well content with honour of their state , That doth their crimes so highly aggravate . Hath Brittain suffer'd any prejudice , By being called Womens Paradise , Giving them thirds , the highest seats , and wall So Civilly , with so great share of all Their husbands lands ? This they return agen , Their free-born children make the bravest men . They cannot have their souls scarce half so brave Where Father is a Tyrant , Mother Slave . In vain Italian women are kept fast By Husbands Jaylorship to make them chaste . How many vex'd , and tempted by the thought Of Jealous-pated-men have been made naught ? Thinking disloyalty would nothing cost More than what had been quite already lost In his esteem : setting more vainly by A good repute , than real honesty . Security for virtue , if undone By wrongful , and but bare suspicion , Is small ; if what the Husband doth invent , Is cause enough for Wives imprisonment . On as good ground the poor might be bereft Of all their liberty for fear of theft . Here by Lucretian chastity might fall Under the black rod of foul Criminal ; That cannot testimony give confin'd , Before the fact , to honesty of mind . The felons prison , shackles , bolts impart What is according to the mens desert ; It 's not enough against him to alledge , By witness , that he looked o're the hedge ▪ In Goal , when he is laid , we make no doubt , But as he stole in , so he would steal out . These Dames for nothing else , but being Wives , Are made the closest prisoners for lives , Never but in the Husbands death to see , Or their own death , a Goal-delivery . Barbarian X●●ifs-concubines , escape , 'T is said , if they but see a man , a rape ; Before their count begins they must cry out , For what ? to bring their honesty in doubt , Rather than shield it . He who them espyes By chance , is not beholding to his eyes : Whose case ▪ ( Actaeon-like ) presents strange kind Of misery , which is not to be blind . Proud Masters think their rule entrenched on , If the good Wives their reasons dare to own . When they make question whether musty Must Of canker'd spirits should be born as Just , Or with due reverence beseech , and pray , They may not be expos'd as f●ols in play . This boldness makes the sottish soul invent A plot , and wish an Act of Parliament , That each man in his house may rule , and be Invested with a full authority To domineer , command , controul , make Laws Void of all reason ; but a proud because . Scripture without a Word of God they bring To justifie their tyranny . The King A●a●●erus cited is : the Queen Vasthi arraign'd , as grosly overseen , That would not shew her self ; make Majesty , She did partake of with the King , to be As picture shew'd to subjects ; and moreover In this command they think the King was sober : That a decree so necessary was Fit to be made a Monument in brass . I leave them with Memucan to prevent Imperiousness , the woman never meant , And to sue out the formallest decree Against what never was , will never be . The thing call'd Matrimony thus beguiles , And makes a John a Nokes , a John a Stiles , To swell with mighty titles : for his Cur-ship To his proud hasty humours pleads for worship , With prayers , tears , she our John may not assault , When dub'd Sr. Walter Walter Knight of Malt. Sarah call'd Abraham Lord ; his Wife must do So to his honour , he 'l be Baron too . If she thinks , all her livelihood too much is To be exposed to his greedy clutches , Since he reels all away , that she can spin , Spends faster than hard labour can bring in : Her chests , and coffers , boxes straight he breaks Open , to shew his Licence to play Rex . If Caj●tanes vote carry , he may hope To be elected as Donestick Pope ; That , sith the womans head is man , doth call His power by title that is Mystical , Hard to be understood : what doth infer As Mystick something , that he 's Mystick Sir. The toyling Wife may give her self the case , And judge it fit that Peter keep the keyes In his power o're her , children , servants see Mark of the Beast a Triple● Soveraignty , And be forbidden ever for to own That she believes the story of Pope Joan. If he do tyrannize , and reason fail For what he doth , he puts on Coat of Male , Pleads he 's an husband : so right , or behoof , Or promise shall not pierce him : this is Proof . If Layship cannot well absolve the man , Nor give indulgence , Mystick Headship can . This speckled creature , without charge of pelf , May do wrong , give a pardon to himself . We need no antient Histories to tell us , That meaner sort of Dames may grow good fellows , Follow the trade of Gossippings ; they can Toss jovially their pots like any man : If the poor Gaffer have weak jacks , their wills May not be serv'd without their lustier Gills ; Whose spirits make them keep most woful rackets It may be fall hard on their husbands jackets If so Viraginous , that must allow What such Wives say , or do ; cannot tell how To help it ; scarce may think that expence sad , Which beggars families , and makes them mad . For me , Xantippe ne're shall be too old , To bear the stigma of an odious scold . As punishment just let her alwayes be Under the tongue-strappado Railery . Yet this may sober Civil women vex , That faults , not general , upon the sex Are cast . What made Philosopher to load us With silly p●ssinus habendi Modus ? Was there no matter for the wise to write Upon , but womens eager appetite To men ? by slender matter first begot To serve , they say themselves , they know not what ; The most for which this poor conceipt can bid , Is little something called Nescio quid . What means unkind Dilemma , that sayes women If beautiful , must therefore needs be common ? Such base Dilemma's alwayes in dispute Deserve to bear the Odium of Cornute . Leave off your tyranny , you pievish elves , Whilst you do harm your Wives , you wrong your selves . Making their grieving hearts through eyes express , What tongues would not , the great unhappiness Not to be suffer'd , that they are brought to , Endeavouring most vainly to please you . What can you swagger , storm at , and confine Them wrongfully , and call it Masculine Thus to insult ? It is but foolish mind , Seeks to advance the Sex , debase the kind . Is 't mercy to thy family to make Subsistence of Wife , Children lye at stake , And run a sad adventure ; when they All Must be exposed by a doubtful fall , And but uncertain cast at Dice ? wherein She suffers much , although thou chance to win . But ( if some unexpected hap do cross Thy greedy aims ) she must sit down with loss . When all is cast away , may she not gain The liberty of losers to complain ? Canst thou think to run through all in thy sport , And not endure thou shouldst be blamed for 't ? Or make it run through thee by drunken fit , And yet not suffer her to grieve for it ? Women-Worthies . EXamples croud upon us , lest the flaws Of some irregulars should wrong their cause , The innocence of others blemish , and the blame Of envy should be charg'd , I 'le further name Out of those many , thought to equal best Of men , some few , that did outshine the rest . Since the great Amazonian Ladies seats Are mention'd by good Authors , and their feats Of War , successes , progress , and the Dates Of these related with Confederates , Their government , declensions , and last Queen , But to suppose they have not been , is spleen In them , in questioning that make us know , They are ashamed much that it should be so . The greatness of the things they did atchieve , Puts the world so much to it to believe . Others do talk at a prodigious rate , And that which noble was , call desperate . As though their valour in first gallant fight Were to be thought a better sort of flight . Were we dispos'd this reason to allow As likely , possibly who could tell how To vindicate great Warriors ; for men , When desperate , fight their way back agen . In dangers vilest Recreants are made stout Only to make way to creep poorly out . But they consult not safety to make peace , Which soon might have been done ; since cause did cease ▪ For their exile , and sufferings : but go on , Leaving their names to fame Thermodoon . Revenge was not the main cause ; for that lamp When flash is over , soon is quench'd by damp Of fear . Their courage in the proof was clear , If not from wild-fire-rashness , yet from fear . Not a few ages puts this out of doubt , Wherein their valour through defeats held out . Many Commanders courage did commence Famous , at the Acts of Experience , That need not be ashamed to confess , They owed almost all unto success : Or yield they have deriv'd their famous spirit From Ancestors success , which they inherit . Successes caus'd not valour , but from hence , Their native courage , sprang experience . Their Mothers victories , got in late fight , They could not look upon as their own right . Or sith their husbands prospered in Deed Of arms , think therefore they must need succeed . Had success only rais'd their spirits , then Some few defeats had beaten down agen . They that are bred under the tyranny Of long , and hard oppression , will be shye To own their Native-freedom , have no thought Higher , than to do what they have been taught : In time are brought to this degenerate sense To think their reason piece of Impudence . They have Heroick Spirits , truly great , Whose mettle loseth little by defeat . If over-powr'd by force , yet can maintain Their minds so high , that Victors scarce shall gain . Thus may we find the valiant Amazon , Conquer'd , and conquering , to seem all one . Not that subjection , since first sin began , Adjudg'd a curse of woman unto man ; Not weakness of her sex , made weaker by Her liberty to rule but Infantry ; Not banishment from friends , and native s●oil , Not murder of her husband ; not her spoil ; Not inexperience in war that can Daunt courage of the Amazonian . These in their first engagement bravely know The way to fight , and how to overthrow , Turning the Distaff into Lance : the Wheel They cast away ; get Gorgets made of steel , Having their minds most stout ( as bows were ) bent To make a strange unheard Experiment . Whether their nature , or condition brought Them to subjection , and so dreadful thought Of wars ; when they assault the enemy Think it securest way for life to fly Not in a Complement ; but forc'd give place , As if the Asian bounds were but a Chase , Where they do follow pleasant warlike sport , And each one carries in her heart a fort . All other forts they leave , and Champion By them is fittest to be trod upon . By providence they seem to have a Charter To rule o're men . The strongest spirit of Tartar , Was weak to theirs . Now we read of a Quarum . To put in Maps Insulam foeminarum Is no great courtesie . It seems they meant To prove the world but narrow Continent To their desires . Maragnon banks do pay Honour to their Names in America . And the supposed head of Nile will dare To challenge that they once were seated there . Euxine looks black at that , supposing thanks For them , was chiefly due unto his banks . Where ere they came they made Crowns use another Phrase ; and great Kingdom to obey their Mother . Of Menalippe . GReat Hercules for ever famous is For all his labours , and not less for this With Menalippe that engag'd to fight , Who could not be match'd but by such a Knight . The Victory with hardship she let go At last , and glad was he he go it so , Not by pure valour ; then my Author lyes , That gives the greatest part unto surprize . If most renowned of the Greeks comes here As chapmen , she will sell them conquest dear . The Conquerors by Chariot that lead Their Vassal-Kings might be thus vanquished With honour too : 't is credit more by some To get a foyle , than elsewhere overcome . Of Penthesile . PEnthesile brought ( with a kind intent Of helping Priam ) her Maid-Regiment As some affirm , and had she sooner come , Despairing Greeks with shame had ridden home On Wooden Horse . They now that dare to tax Troyes folly , yet do dread the Battle-ax , Which she invented : heart was fully try'd Of great Achilles Son before she dy'd . Such brave Virago's not by smoother words Of Complements , were overcome , but Swords . The gallant Grecian yonkers , that did Court , Before they wan their love , fought stoutly for 't . Of Artemisia . HAlicarnassus Queen her self did shew Fit to command the Archipelago . While Persians stand at gaze , the Grecians are Forc'd to make way for more than Men of War , Which she conducted ; as though she would glory , And make the Sea part of her Territory . The Persian-Carpet-Knights with courage cold Run , to secure themselves , into the Hold : Giving Achaians leave to understand , Ships overcharg'd with such , were poorly man'd . The ink may blush , and Scribes , that are to write At her stout heart of Oak , their wings for flight . Xerxes spectator is asham'd to see The Queens top , and top-gallant-gallantry . More are the Greeks enrag'd , that overcome , And scarce can carry - half the honour home . Her most renown'd Mausoleum could not be For braveness half such wonder as was she . What was for honour of her husband meant Of her great praise is made the Monument . Of Zenobia . WE 'l boast Zenobia in triumph led , Yet by Aurelian not conquered . Not having life ; nor begging pitteously , To live not blushing , nor asham'd to dye ; For when her army 's broken and command , She more undaunted , than the Victor stands : Though outward splendour must be left behind , She will reserve the greatness of her mind . Of the Queen of Sheba . ARabia the Happy boasts of her , That by her wisdom made it happier ; And from Saboean-land did come upon Errand , of proving wisest Solomon With questions hard , she questionless gave much Assurance , that she was another such . The greatest Warriers were prov'd , we see , By women in the feats of Chivalry . The wisest meer man in the Holy Writ Is said to be try'd by a womans wit. With men in noblest exploits they 'l compare , That in the wonders of the world had share . Are they so equal ? We may therefore render Acts , that are glorious , in the Doubtful Gender . Of Deborah . WHen oppress'd Israel did sadly moan Under their losses , which they might not own : When government was needful to ●ppease Those , who in restlesness take greatest ease : When by what Laws command , and Rulers say People take pattern how to disobey : When Malefactors need make no defence For their outrages , but more violence : Then Deborah is rais'd ; for none so free From fear , so wise , so stout , so good as she . Here Widows , Orphans , strangers freely might Have their cause pleaded , and receive their right Assoon as richest ; for she knew right well How to give Judgement ; but had none to sell . No tedious demu●rers here ; no witty Cobweb-exceptions , Courts of foolish pitty . For Chancery , no argument she draws From Topick of the person , but the cause . They that stood by her could not but invoke God , when they heard the Oracles she spoke . Nay bifront Ja●us could not put a face Upon 't , if there to deny her the place . Barak gives her right hand , is glad to be Beholding for his branch to her Palm-tree . She gave first blow in the attempt , and lead The host , and Jacl knock'd nail to the head . Of Esther . THe proud Amalekite fate daily at His Pur Pur , like a Melancholly Cat , Blood●mad and rageful that straight at his call The lucky lot did not prepare to fall . Since Mord●cai to bow refused , he Seeks by Jews downfall to revenged be . Thirst of his malice cannot be by blood Of one man quenched , he can drink a flood Of tears and go●e : therefore Esther adventures Though with the hazard of her life , and enters Into the presence against Law : the Queen Redeems lives that were purchas'd for his spleen . Since he 's not tall enough , doth still aspire , ●he will advance him forty cubits higher . Haman will not be a man , yet his fate With twist doth take away the aspirate . Thus under God the Feast of Purim may Be ●eckon'd as the Jewish Esther day . Of Judith . WHat to distress'd , despairing , Israel was Too much to think ; Judith doth bring to pass . Proud Holofernes thought his words so stout , Enough among the Jews to make a rout . Wishing them heart to make resistance great To heighten his courage , and their defeat To aggravate , she silenceth those boasts , And at two blows , stoutly beheads an host . No petty Forts assails , but chief of all , Their main strength , and soon takes the Capitoll . When to Bethulia she returns , and calls , There straight arise some statues on the walls . So great amazing joy in every one Made them seem part of th' wall turn'd into stone . So once Medusa's beauty left no vigour Of men to the beholders , but a Figure . She fear'd not living Monster , some do doubt From the fierce head lest body should grow out As heads of Hydra from the body ; seeing Dead Tyrant them she scarce can keep from flying . Bago's with shame doth find his Master dead , And proves a trusty keeper of his head . Assyrian camp in great confusion stands . They that want head , have little use of hands . Women in triumph walk that day like host , And they have greatest right to rule the roast . Judith led Van , and she the Olive bore The other branches as the Dove before . Of Queen Elizabeth . WOnder of women , and of Queens , the breath Of Englands glory , was Elizabeth . That quenched bonefires , which loud did proclaim The Popish cruelty with tongues of flame . To Protestants when she brought liberty The Friar-Bacons in their grease did fry . That she deceiv'd their wicked art , and fell Not within power of their Magick spell , And Romish Bats afraid of Gospel Light , As much asham'd , pull out their eyes for spight . They to their private Masses run , one reads He knows not what , yet stifly plyes his beads , Sayes what he mindeth not ; but makes a patter When he poor soul knows nothing of the matter . By Delver now are English Bibles found , And brought to light , that were hid under ground . Now are the clouds dispel'd of that dark night , Wherein the Word must not be brought to light . From bondage Protestants are brought , before They did lye under , promise have of more . The Pope grows horn-mad , he will disannull All by ( like wicked Holiness ) a Bull. Spain ( as most dutiful ) the office bore To be accounted best Son of the Whore , And did appear with stout Rodomontado A sudden , great , invincible Armado : Close link'd together : but the powe'rful One Design'd to break them by their Union . The winds do blow till they are out of breath , The seas are troubled threatning their death That cross'd them , and with proud intent durst come Of joyning Narrow Seas to Sea of Rome . By envying command in them they gain This fort , she will be Lady of the Main . Their intercepted , laden , ships amount To their fear , loss , shame , and to her account . Denmarkian name was not a little bound To her for riches , glory of its Sound . Through her sincerity Batavian , When others lose by forreign aids , did gain . This was rare instance , for no o●her end , To help distressed , but them to befriend : When we are taught in Machiavellian School , First give assistance , after take the rule . French Protestants the bounteous God do bless With seasonable succours , and success . No more ingrate , than miserable they , First disoblige her , then become a prey . Merchants , that Convoys slight , to Pyracies Become an easier , and so richer prize : So silly sheep , when once the Shepherd's gone , By lurking Wo●ves may soon be fed upon . When 't is too late they know to be more wise , And learn the treach'rous Leaguers cruel Gu●se . The forreign Lands , that bosomes had , have been Most joyful there to lay our Merchants in : That making their discoveries , did pass Through dreadful Lands of Ice , and S●as of Glass , And what is strange scarce suffered Terra Australis to remain In●ognita . Of Navigation in each point did try To make a perfect Encyclopedye . Of Mary Magdalen . OUr Saviour hath foretold , the lu●gs of fame Should still indebted be to Ma●ies name ; That mirror of Gods mercy , once possest By many evil spirits , made a blest House for the Holy Ghost . The blackest night Of sinful state turn'd into glorious light . Do not upbraid her that her crimes were such : All was forgiven , and she loved much . The costly Spicknard which she poured forth Upon his head , did not come near the worth Of her great love . To those , who grudged there At needless waste , Christ was not half so dear . This humble handmaid judged it most meet To sit , as a Disciple , at his feet , And gather up the precious words , that fell From the mouth of Rabbi Immanuel . His feet she bathes in fountain of her eyes , Them with the flaxen of her hairs she dryes . Her sober sadness he blasphemes that jeers , From her derives the cheat of Maudlin-tears . And she as holy women did supply With purse the humbled Alsufficiency . And follows him at last , with drowned eyes And broken heart , beholds him as he dyes ; Who at his death , and after was most dear , His last care first appearance makes appear● Venus a female Planet so doth run Her course , to wait upon the setting Sun ; And she again gives notice by her bright Rayes , of the coming of the Monarch light . Of the Blessed Virgin Mary . FEmales the holy Virgin did advance , In bringing forth the worlds deliverance , The blessed Child , of whom it's only said , Because he could not lye , not credited ; Whose innocence , works , Miracles and all Made him esteem'd a greater Criminal ; Whose ho●test service , and souls anguish great , We read in Rubrick of a bloody sweat ; More deep concerns for man , than those that rise , And freely spout out of the blood-shot-eyes ; Whose sufferings ineffable impart , Through pierced side , view of a weeping heart ; Who tasted bitter sowre , that we might meet In greatest troubles , but with bitter sweet . Methinks at the report of thy Child's fame , I see worlds wonders wonder , and to blame Their builders proud , and costly folly , which When he was made so poor , would make them rich . When Lum●narie of the day draws near , The lesser lights cannot for shame appear . So greatest Wonders at his coming fall , Own him as Wonder greater much than all . The stately Pyramids , the Memphian pride , 〈…〉 abashed seek to hide , 〈…〉 of sight and mind ; for shame 〈…〉 blusheth into flame . 〈…〉 Pi●my seems to be , 〈…〉 him that is Immensity . Aegyptian Pha●os wou'd officiously Hold candle to this Wonder passing by : But that poor watch-light nothing could confer , To help the brightness of the Morning Star. Olympick Jupiter like Statue stands , For empty shew , with eyes , ears , mouth and hands . In thee was Master-piece of Heaven aid ; Most curious work that ever Heaven made . Had there gone out tax on the wit of all Men on this Globe , wisdom Angelica● , They could have carv'd with curiosity , But better shap'd piece for Idolatry . The Father hath express'd his Image on Pure Virgin-wax , and ta'n to Union With God the second Person ; hence our true Service , and adoration are due . The Carian boast Ma●soleum dare not call For any Rights , but silent burial In rubbish ; for its greatest pride can go For nothing more than Worms S●raglio . Much greater wonder is the Virgin Tomb , Where never man was laid before . The womb That bore him is more glorious ; when the ●right Sun for nine m●ne●hs in Virgo lodg'd h●s light . The strong , and stately 〈…〉 Compar'd to him ●s no defence at all . He 's wa● , much stronger than one made of st●●e , Or brass , impregnable salvation . To take the height of which , requ●res much rather Than a poor Jacobs Staff , a Jacobs 〈◊〉 . The Character of an Accomplished and Virtuous Woman . THy mind is happy , being seat of wit , More happy since discretion governs it : The former is the pretty fable , this Discretion grave the useful Moral is . As there irrationals do speak what suites With solid reason , that men turn not brutes : So here child 's taught the riddles to unfold Of gravity , a stripling to grow old . It stains not freshness of thy youth to have , And to deserve the Epithete of grave , Hated by them , whose bodies now grown cold , Make them in all respects , but prudence , old : But much concerns thee , time runs on so fast With winged feet , and thou no better haste Canst make in judgement , that thy tender age By Antedate of prudence may be sage . Leavest them to blush at their idle fears , That reckon it as Int'rest in their years , To seem discreet , but yielding viler rate To Ladies , that are worn quite out of Date . Thou think'st not gravity doth then look best , Exposed when to laughter in a jest , Or that becoming wit , which doth afford To make the author of it more absurd . Thou seek'st with grandam-virtues to adorn Thy self , when youthful vanities are worn By persons much more aged , to yield strong Presumption to the world that they are young : That seem to reckon it as an excess Either to practise virtue or profess : Admit into their Ethicks modesty Apocope'd , without a Civil tye : Serving all wanton modes : thus pievish wag Spoileth the lace by pulling off the Ta● . Those , that in too great freedom draw not near Occasions foul , are judged too severe : As though plain Modesty deserv'd no thanks , Careful , how it approaches nigh the banks Of foulest baseness : their presumption thinks , It 's want of resolution fears the brinks . A vulgar unapproved innocence Deserving not at all Heroick sence . They 'l have you think , if you have faith enough , They 're innocent as child new born , although They tempt the wanton Reveller to try What guard is kept upon their honesty . Strength of thy resolution is bely'd , If it be thought to be less fortifi'd Because of caution : rather might it tell , Against wild storms it is impregnable . If any , in repute grown outlaw'd , comes , Assaults with levity , and beats the drums Of thy chaste ears , he finds there is no charm To win thy heart , but make thy virtues arm , Vileness of his attempts exposed lye Set out in colours of Vermilion-dye . That he may see his rudeness , take the shame , Thou lend'st the Taper of thy modest slame . When exhalations thick the air do muddy , So the bright Ruler of the morn looks ruddy . If highness to debase upon the stage , And folly mask with an abstemious rage ; If to feed corrupt fancy with the veins Of ●evity in some Romantick strains ; If lo●ty traversing must be alone Accounted gallant education ; Thou wilt take up with grave , and antient sort Of b●eeding , and not be less nobler for 't . The Lillyes candour , and the blushing Rose , A temper neither frolick , nor moiose , Pleasantness mixed well with gravity , A grace deportment , ma●ron-like , and free ; The sweetest condescension , not abject , Or sordid to command , and to affect Obliging carriage , which admired makes Rather than feared , as it was it takes , Not too high , nor familiar , to prevent Both the extreams of hatred , and contempt Are thy true glories , not for shew , but use , Need not bear judgement true , or beg excuse . Let losty Mounters proudly scale the ●kye With fr●zled , sparkling bravery , and dye . Let M●t vis with exhalations fed , Glutted with vapour , be soon famished . Let Potentares be swoln up big with Titles In Honours Volumes but the smallest tittles . Let proud Phantastes much admire his Minion A ragged , ba●e , and beggarly Opinion . Thy praise is in thy self , not put to death By spiteful stopping of anothers breath . To thee , without true excellence , 't is naught , Great , and right Honourable , to be thought : Since it is more to be , than only seem ; To merit glory , than to have esteem . To appear great to world dost not aspire , But ( if to vulgar sight less ) to be higher , Whil'st haughtiness fo●dly advancing Crest Th●'eth her own Fools-Coat the Noblest , Because it 's gaudy : Scripture He aldry Gives the much better plain Humility . Thy self-denyal is a noble feat , For greatest Alexander far too great ; Too high for them whose soaring aims were bent To gain the title of Magnificent . It 's truly honourable to despise That which the greatest Monarcl●s idolize . Ambition lawful is , and the intent Blessed , in goodness to be excellent ; After good facts performing to Commerce , And take the high degrees of Eminence . The touring thoughts of pride , that do advance Their lofty heads by Gospel Ordinance , Thou batter'st down . Pray'r , fastings do confer To make thee humble , a self Leveller . Before thou wast since that thy power to be Depended on Gods Alsufficiency ; That could produce . Thy futurition stated Was from the will , and virtue that created . Beauty , wit , greatness , honour thou'lt confess , But as they are deriv'd from God , are less Than nothing in act safely canst maintain Them less than less than Nothing told again : Nor are nor can be real , but hang on The judgements greatest Contradiction . These realliz'd thou thankfully dost own , Because that they are thine , and not thy own ; Thine , as to payment of a grateful mind ; Thine , not to free from duty , but to bind ; So not thine own a worthiness to raise In self , but what redoundeth to his praise . In this God must be sole without compare , Since it is granted , Nothing hath no share . Beauty so many envy , and admire ; Honour few seek to merit , but acquire . Riches that suffer not the owner sleep ; Health many seek to Court , but few to keep . Thousand degrees are short of parallel To Grace , wherein thou strivest to excell Transcendently becoming humble , so What most advanceth thee , still makes thee low , Thy native vileness truly to confess ; And real greatness makes thee so much less In the esteem of self , yet on this score Thy worth and modesty deserve the more . Thy speeches pithy , solid , give a light Composed to instruct , and to delight , Serious , and pleasant , witty , pertinent , Grave , pat , and proper , fit for each intent , With pleasure hearer , that may entertain And recompence with profitable gain . Much unlike theirs , who troubled with the lask Or loosness of the tongue relate , and ask , Not with desire to be inform'd , or break Somewhat material to be known , but speak What savours ill . Let men pretend their fears How to such lavish tongues they lend their ears , Pleasant their fancies too in laying ten To one they never have them back agen , Or not without the wrong of foul abuse . Thou payest precious ear-rings for the use Of some few short-liv'd Minutes , what is heard From thee , shall be their pleasure , and reward . Thy words as they imploy so do they whet , Both exercise attention , and beget , They satisfie , not cloy . By what is said Hearer indebted it , as well as paid . Thy Counsels are resolving Medicines , Swasions , attractives , reproofs , Anodynes , Where the discreet , and tender management Make not the smallest part of Argument . Whilst vain talk Melancholy doth increase ; Instead of helping , adds to the disease , Lifts up the spirits in transports , withall By their depression gives the sadder fall . Good Cordials skilfully compounded hit The cause , and so alleviate the fit : So thy well temper'd speeches are more sure Way to give ease , and to effect the cure . Thy prudent humble meekness best can tame Anger , when fury would the more inflame . When over-hasty Romans do oppose The stronger cunning Carthaginian grows , And more successful , but soon melts away By greater force of Fabian-delay . Quitting is stratagem to win the field , The way at once to overcome , and yield ; Never the base regarding , petty harms Shall cast disgrace upon thy Coat of Arms. Thy Victories are not dishonoured , As where the Conquerour is vanquished . They of true triumph want the greater half , That conquer other Monarchs , but not self . You that will have your nature judged by Laughter at good ( some Ladies property ) Come see the ugly face of your offence , In Mirror of unmoved Patience . By wrong would you provoke her ? That doth move Her to provoke you so much more to love . Or will you calumn●es cast ? Her defence Is not the like reproach ; but Innocence . In vain contend you with her , whose contest Is ( not to get the better ) to be best . She knows , they who by passion most have won , Will so much sooner prove to be undone . They run in debt , that sltrive to give offence To others , owe the greater recompence , An undeserved taunt or wicked curse Can make her virtue not a jot the worse , What malice casts upon , whilst not within , Is the reproach of others , not her sin . Were talk true Judge , the good then only might Be good by favour , and be bad by spight : Whilst some do in their needless visits rome , Till they be greatest strangers to their home ; Gadding as though they to the world were sent To be imploy'd in what 's Impertinent ; As if their birth did priviledge by right Them to cast off the care , and oversight Of house-concerns : thou keep'st thy wonted ●rack Through each task of thy painful Zodiack . Like the bright Champion of the day , that rowls His flaming eye toward the distant Poles Arctick Antarctick , vieweth both the Tropicks , The Seas Tartarian , and Aethiopicks . Thou art accomplished with quickest sense In wise forecast , and careful Providence , With memory fitly to recollect , And care in all things makes thee circumspect . Not suff'ring Medler in thy house to grow That 's open-headed , nor unuseful slow : For slothful servants should there be no blame When idle , lazy thou wouldst force for shame By thy example them , that wait on thee , To be affected to good huswifry . They in their orbs must take their light from thine , So they are made to serve , as well as shine . By friends perswasions , or thy fancy catch'd , To some prodigious temper art thou match'd , Or marry'd rather , to draw out in care Thy vexed life with a familiar ; One that proves most unsuitable , whose gall O'reflowing fills the house with hateful braul . Thy Physick is not usual by keen Reproofs , ill-savouring to mend his spleen , Repress his choler , sweetly to endure Thy Ethicks tell thee is the way to cure . Where bombards cannot any breaches make , A milder fiege is found the way , to take . Assoon the shackles of the Persian King , Or idle Ceremony of a Ring Presented by Pope to his Zani , may Bind Hellespout , oblige rough Adria To calmness , as sharp quips , loud blust'ring can Correct the madness of the chur●●h man. This piece of rigour , Nabalisme , rage , If curable , thou'●t break by Saxifrage Of patience , and discretion . When dint Of reason cannot , meekness breaks the flin● . But , if some passion break forth , 't is thy strong Desire , endeavour that it dye when young . Thou wilt not be at fruitless pains to nurse That , which as it grows elder groweth w●rse . Is he with fury charcoal'd , of desire That softest breath makes him spit sparks of fire . Thy silence from his rage shall take supply . Anger , as fire , if 't have no air will dye . If glitt'ring pretences do'nt abuse The can dour of thy judgement ; but thou choose With love that is not blind associate , That may yield double comfort to thy state . Not Cynical , nor worthless passions sl●ve , But with a sweet complaysance that is grave , Whose gentle nature more designs to draw With most obliging carriage , than to a●e With stern looks , insolent commands : then you Cannot but hit the Golden Rule of two In Matrimonial fellowship , where one Heart , joy , concern , care , tongue make U●ison . No emulation , who shall be above To govern , rule , command , controul ; but love . Strive who shall please most , and contention Is strong on both sides that there may be none . Thy snares are harmlesly to gain . Each gin Discreetly by thee laid is but to win . In joy , success , his sorrows , losses too Thou challengest for Joynture half as due . With his content thy cheerfulness will mingle ; Thy person is not , nor are crosses single . By Catechizing , good instruction To help fault of the first Transgression , And sad fruit thence arising to redress To most things steril : but to barrenness Thou dost endeavour , that those of the earth May be made happy by a second birth To holiness ; and thus thy pray'rs , and toyl May be rewarded by a fruitful soyl : With the sincere milk of the Word dost nurse To make them blessings , and take off the curse , Whereby they growing up afford the gain Of joy much greater than thy former pain . So toyling husband-man beholding fate And curse upon the earth degenerate Grubs up the shrubs , thorns , bryars , and then ploughs , Harrows , and sowes his seed with sweating brows ; And thus by manifold encrease obtains Against the curse , what will reward his pains . Midas may wish for golden showres and Mountains , Atla●tick hortyards and true Crystal fountains , That all his Roms might bear as precious fleece , As that which was fetch'd by the youths of Greece . His fields were Or , and Argent , nought to breed But precious money-wort , and silver-weed ; Or pray that all his Cockle Oyster-shells With precious pearls were fil'd , and nothing else ; That he may keep his Lent upon each fish , As rich as that in Polycrates dish . Thy earnest prayer is a great deal wiser , Than what obtain'd would alwayes make a Miser . Therefore dost thou implore the power above , Thy heart may be good soil for Johns-wort-Love , Contentment which yields hearts ease , and true hope Directed unto Christ as Heliotrope ; With resolution which still groweth best , As famous Palm the more it is oppress'd , And sober temper , wherein doth consist More virtue than in precious Amethyst . As Corals colour's said to sympathize With the distemper'd wearer , that thine eyes May Weather-glasses be , whereby to shew , Whether with Gods Church it be high or low . Thy Alms are stirring , not to get a Name , As other people do to do the same ; Turning what is by bounteous Heaven sent , Not into pity by a complement . But thy Compassion joyn'd to Gods command Enlarge thy tender heart , make lib'ral hand . An heart without good works , is in true sense , No part of charity , but a pretence . Where is ability , the poor have part , And a large share both in thy goods , and heart . Many do pamper up themselves in lust , With dishes , which Apician fancy must Be tortur'd for , the Appetite to fill , Whilst they make Reason basest Manciple . Yet when the poor are almost famished , Can nothing more afford than Be ye sed Have guts , no bowels to receive the cry And moans of pining hard Necessity . But what is debt , thy wisdom makes a Loan , Which layeth out for him what is thine own ; Knowing for his that be dispos'd is just , Which no way's thine , but only upon trust . When wanton Venusses do plait their hairs , With frizled tresses make pernicious snares , Whilest these Ara●●nes weave their Cobweb thin Better to catch unwary Gallants in ; Disfigure nature , and deform themselves , By patching , painting to take lovesome Elves ; With Heliogabalus Monopolize Adventures of the strangest rarities ; Torment Phantastes brain , till he can find Out modes , and fashions changing with their mind ; Put the Cameleon to 't , and Proteus too To put on shapes , and colours that are new ; Take Adders hearts to raise their jolly strains ; Drink Viper-wine , till it drink up their brain , To keep them fresh : By Cleopatra taught , Swallow ten thousand drachmas at a draught ; Thus vainly giving up into the hand Of viler Corporal the chief Command , About the body taking chiefest care , Make it appear , how idle souls they are , No pains , no cost is thought too much , that can Contribute to enrich the inner man With glorious excellencies , and impart A● greater gracefulness unto thy heart . Thy wise concern is deeper than the skin , Truly to be all beautiful within . Thy ornaments are such , as we are told , Were made the Matrons bravery of old . If things be duly prized , when they are The farthest fetch'd , and dearest bought ; how rare Are they , which from the throne of Heaven sought , By no less than the blood of God were bought ? If things have value , which do so much please The eyes of men ; how precious then are these , That take Gods heart , whose approbation Gives worth unto the things which else have none ? Eastern , and Western Indies , that entomb So much admired riches in their womb ; The great adventures which were purchas'd by The Romish Catholick humanity , And fill'd the Spanish coffers , are much less Than what from Heavens gift thou dost possess . Ten thousand millions , if sum'd up , are small And nothing , when compared to thine All. Most precious Diamonds to fight can bring But dazled lustre , or weak glimmering . The Queen of Heaven , Constellations bright Make not the day , but mend the dismal night . When Heavens Champion doth but shew his face , Affrighted darkness soon resigns its place . Thou art thrice happy , that receivest ray Of Christ the glorious Sun , that makes thy day . What did the Learned Heathens once advance But subtle piece of splendid ignorance ? Led by the Taper of their Reasons light , That farthing-candle mended but their night , That had no saving knowledge . Argus's eyes Less power have , than this one to be wise . The pleasant picture seems to sport , and play With wanton glance converted ev'ry way , Or stand before , or turn to either side , Look at it , and you seem to be espy'd : So carnal minds seem great things to espy , Yet all but with a dead , and painted eye , Compar'd to thine , where the most real sight Proceedeth from a clear celestial light . Dives with delicates was daily fed Yet he poor soul did want thy daily bread , Who set at Wisdoms table dost enjoy Dainties , that do refresh , feed , fill , not cloy . Worldlings like Serpents , or Cameleons , are Nourish'd with clogging dust or empty air : Desire insatiate hath painted dishes , That more inflame the heart with idle wishes . As riches multiply upon men ; so The dropsie of their greediness doth grow , And vastness of estate doth make them scant , Greater the fulness is , the greater want . Thy lowliness of mind , doth make thee higher ; By want thou art enrich'd with good desire ; Which makes thee after Living God to pant , To gain more plentiful estate by want . The greatest Monarchs would much richer be , Were they enriched by thy Poverty . The baser sons of earth do fall upon Ignoble game , and feed on carrion . Thy nobler mind aspireth to attain , Though at expence of losses , more to gain Of the Angelical , and pleasant food Most satisfying , and eternal good . Nor will thy strong desires cease to ascend , Until enjoyment to hope put an end . Circumvolution of few sliding hours In season less benign fade sweetest flowres ; The mighty works of Architecture pay At length their debt to Nature in decay , And Hieroglyphick Serpent that sets bounds To mortals beings with its numerous rounds , That will have gnaw'd to pieces in some while The world , though it were mettal hard as file , Hath bury'd tombs , and monuments shall be The spoil and triumph of eternity . Thy ornaments are of celestial mould By longest tract of time that grow not old , Not subject to the thief , moth , rust , or waste , Or to be lessen'd by the time that 's past ; Still shall be fresh , have no relation To the vile worm or base corruption . To thee that makest it thy care to look For happiest estate in Doomesday Book , And waitest for the everlasting bliss , A Term too short Fee-simple ever is . Each gate of th' heavenly Jerusalem Is represented by a precious Gem. How glorious then shall daughter of the King Appear ? whose grace will have eternal spring And perfect growth ; who treading on the Moon , Shall be compleatly clothed with the Sun Of righteousness ; to whom Don Phoebus bright That rules the day , affords but Gloworm light : When there shall be no shadow , nor decay , No showres , no clouds , to stain the perfect day . Here learn you to be wise , whose careless care Is to sleep , dress , feast , chat , and take the air ; Whose idle work when rarely set upon , And to do nothing almost are all one ; Whose planetary lives are chiefly spent In the Exchange of frothy Complement . With you the antient virtues are much more Grown out of fashion than the clothes they wore : Your shame is to be fix'd amongst the Stars , By vanity of your lewd Jupiters , That much admire you , to ensnare their eyes , As do the painted , powd'red Butterflyes Some little children , and for nothing else To be admir'd by Merchants ; but your shells Like scented Panthers that destroy , and please And poyson , as the bright Cantharides . Why so high born brave Dames ? None of you can Draw out your lives inch longer than the span Design'd . Why swell you big with thoughts of birth ? The Worm 's your Sister , and your Mother Earth . Are you with travel of your Mother grown Noble ? The labour then was not your own Or doth your honour come by being march'd ? That light is borrow'd from the fool you catch'd . Do you your selves by fame , that 's common , prize ? That , when the giddy humour 's over , dyes . As bubble swoln with empty ' air doth last ●●me thoughts , not many , longer than the blast . One breath blows up , and breaks this wat'ry bail , And half a Minute is its Spring and Fall. What , is it not enough , some to imploy To Indies most remote , to fetch a toy , Or precious tr●fle , yet all this to dress , And to equip your rotten carkasses ? But that the Artist black must run to Hell To fetch your fortunes , and return to tell ? Shall wandr'ing Gipsies , and that wicked Crew Of Vagrants , that pretend as if they knew Future Contingents , have your charity , And be rewarded for the●r cheating lye ? Whereas the godly Ministers that bear Affection to your souls scarce gain your ear ? When they declare the woful state of sin , And misery you are involved in By nature , shew restor'd you cannot be To sight , unless you know you do not see ; And send you to the Son of God , whose bright Rayes to the Saints in Heaven give a light . They tell you you are dead in sin , and give This token of their love , to wish you live . Direct you unto Christ , your life , whereby You may have health , wealth , and true liberty . Since you will know the things that are to come , Out of the Word they read the dreadful Doom Of all that have no interest in him , If they continue in their death and sin . Shall yet a costly patch amount to more Than what ye ever gave unto the poor ? Shall they that sighing do reprove you , have No better thanks than Clown , or saw●y Knave ? May your faults acted be , and not be told ? Will you not be perswaded you are old ? Or so shall be e'relong ? Why bring you down The rate of A●e which is a glorious Crown In righteousness ? Would you have death to come And Complement your Honours to the Tomb ? Or will you bid him stay below ? For why , You are not yet in humour brought to dye . And to prevent his visit , send to tell , That you are busie , or not very well . Death is a Doctor , such you 'l scarce endure , That killeth all ; yet not a few doth cure . Will you like Jezabels your faces paint , And think withal , that Serjeant grim to daunt With your imperious looks ? In vain ye do'● ; He 'l not be scar'd , but tread you under foot . Thy body to neglect , thou 'lt not endure ; And must thy soul be then a sine Cure ? O foolish thoughts , pains , wishes vain , which are Not to be holy , humble , meek , but fair ! For shame let not such golden seasons pass Upon your boards , beds , sports , or looking-glass . Cut off some minutes toward the concern Of what the world despiseth sempitern . Why look you on Religion as a Dame , That is too homely , beareth not a name Amongst vain Ranters ; with severities Of mortifying zeal doth blear her eyes ; Deforms her visage , and forbids all airs Of merriment to pine her self with cares , And dreadful thoughts in a tormented life , That none but fools would choose her for a Wife , Gallants will scarce afford Civility , To serve the Custome of a Cap , and knee . Her noble quality well understood , Would shew her great , and of the Royal blood . It 's not below best of most Princely house , To Court her Ladyship , and to espouse . So excellent is beauty of this Saint , It cannot be worse injur'd than by paint . Her vast estate is not confined by The bounds too narrow of Geography . All the Gold , Silver , Pearls , Fruits this Globe bears To one of many Jewels that she wears , Bear no compare in value ; if not you , Yet this the wisest Merchants have found true , The testimony of good Conscience , That there hath been a thorough sight , and sense Of odious sin , so pow'rful as to make The soul , with hatred , sin and self forsake , And cleave to Christ , resting on him alone , With constant holy life reflected on Through Gods great mercy do afford more true , Lasting , great , cordial joy than that which you Conceive to be had by the loosing reins Of Civil temper , to run into strains Of jollity , screw'd up to highest pin Of madness , that you may not feel your sin : Yours is but heartless laughter ; for your sinning , Maketh a foul , and but convulsive grinning ; Not unlike the Sardinian herb , whereby Men only seem to laugh ; but surely dye . You say Gods mercy you rely upon : Is it good hope , or bold presumption ? Speak out your meaning ; and be understood : Will you be wicked , because God is good ? And is it gratitude , so to abuse The mercy , which you thankfully should use ? To serve the perfect Being with decayes , And him that 's alwayes present , with delayes ? At distance pleasures of the earth appear Greater ; grow lesser much , as they draw near . Their promises shifting delayes you find , Why do you not then serve them in their kind ? Say , this were granted , you might on still run In vanity to your Declining Sun , And meet with no arrest to stop career Of mirth , or cause the sadness of a tear . What will the end be ? Will dry bones , dim eyes , Decrepit acts , be fit for Sacrifice ? Is it meet , Sin , World , Devil have the prime Of vigour , beauty , action , strength , and time ? And he that for all mind , heart , might doth call Have most deformed , weakest part of all ? Will you present the first fruits unto sin ? Leave the poor share , and gleanings unto him ? And what , I pray , are offers like to get , When you are old , but a prolong'd Not yet ? Although to act your follies , nought can move With so much pleasure ; Will you cease to love The vanities you cannot act ? What force Must be requir'd to make a full Divorce ? Is it too much , to be at small expence Of some few minutes cost in reference To soul-concerns ? when frightful death draws near To do its work Repentance will be dear . A true Repentance never is too late : But true Repentance seldom bears that Date . What person in her wits , if once begun , Would prosecute the thing must be undone ; Make work for sorrow , run upon the score ; Strive to have less to pay with , owe the more ? Did the oppressor , or the filcher own Necessity of Restitution In his Repent●nce , 't would do more than brand , To cure him of the felons in his hand . Real belief would cause you to prevent What being done , doth call you to repent . When pious women ready are to give Account of life , then you 'l begin to live . Amendment you resolve on , make that good , And that you are reformed I 'le conclude . What thou dost purpose from a sincere heart , Not what thou wilt be shews , but what thou art . Thus to design , will make thee God advance Above the world in brightest Circumstance , And dost thou thus the world despise , when it Advantage hath , to gain thy Appetite ? If not , to pleasure thou art but in thrall ; For all pretence , thou lov'st not God at all . Two wayes , that come to one , of saying Nay To the words Now I 'le never , or delay . Suppose thy mind still same to Heavens call , Not yet will prove the same , as not at all . To promise then is gross impertinence , Forsake thy wicked life , or this pretence . Behold one , that hath swagger'd in the world With riches , honour ; great retinue buri'd Into a loathsome prison , there to see His folly past , and present misery ; And view thy destiny . His higher rate Of living , makes the sadness of his state : His former plenty makes his want the more : If not so rich , he had not been so poor . His titles that gave splendour to his name , Remembred now , do but augment his shame . Thy matchless beauty , whileome which espy'd Begat the lovers do●age , and thy pride ; ( When nothing thou canst find consulting glass , But ruines only of one form that was ) Will render thee far more despis'd , and be The aggravation of deformity . Affected blemishes , and spottings were The wicked artifice to make thee fair : Now wrinkled age will glory in her spoil To rising beauties making thee a foil . Wisdom hath more trust , and esteem when sage : And Reliques too gain credit by their age : But thou must be con●emned and forlorn ; Deserving subject for the Gallants scorn ; Not able to bear up against disdain ; Or to redress by turning young again . Shall I black Mantle borrow of the night , To wrap thy dismal case in ? 'T is too slight . Or midnight-sable-robe , although Without Moon , Stars ? 'T would not be sad enough . Nothing mans mind affords so black to tell The blackest darkness of thy state , but Hell. Thy soul is solitary wilderness , A fearful shade of saddest wretchedness . Thy thoughts are Vultures . Conscience with her sting Torments thee : Sa●yrs dance , as Scriech-Owls sing . The pleasant fancies , that refresh thy mind , Are Fairy Devils , each sad thought black Fiend : Enjoyment 〈◊〉 of honour , pleasure , pelf , Cannot 〈…〉 from the dread of self . How wilt thou bear Gods wra●h ? Men paint not fire So fai●tly as that fierceness of his ire . To slight that mercy , do not then presume ; Which , if it may not win thee , will consume . Let trust in mercy this at least impart Unto thy Conscience , that thou serious art . The Satyrist condemns thy vain ( I will To morrow ) that will be to morrow still . To morrow which thou beggedst yesterday , Is lost , yet without blushing thou canst say To morrow yet : but were it lent , thou 'dst pray To have the leisure of another day . As hastening hinder-wheel , doth seem in Coach To promise it will make more near approach Unto the former ; when rowl'd o're and o're , Yet keeps same distance that it did before : So thou , although thou talkest of to morrow , That gain'd , would'st be at no less need to borrow A further day : purpose and to amend , Would keep an equal distance to The End.