V CHAPTER since served to convince him of meere ignorance, and to divorce him from his wife. Besides, this Upon some allegation is of no great worth: For, there is nor verses of Virgil continencie, nor vertue, where no resistance is to the contrary. It is true, may one say, but I am not ready to yeeld. The Saints themselves speake so. This is understood of such as boast in good earnest of their coldnesse and insensibility, and would be credited with a serious countenance: for, when it is from an affected looke (where the eyes give words the lie) and from the faltring speech of their profession (which ever workes against the wooll) I allow of it. I am a duteous servant unto plainnesse, simplicity and liberty: but there is no remedie, if it be not meerely plaine, simple or infantine; it is fond, inept and unseemely for Ladies in this commerce: it presently inclineth and bendeth to impudence. Their disguisings, their figures and dissimulations cozen none but fooles; their lying sitteth in the chaire of honour; it is a by-way, which by a false posterne leads us unto truth. If we cannot containe their imaginations, what require we of them? the effects? Many there be, who are free from all strangers-communication, by which chastitie may be corrupted, and honestie defiled. Illud sæpe facit, quod sine teste facit. -MART. vii. Epig. Ixi. 6. What she doth with no witnesse to it, And those whom we feare least, are peradventure most V verses of There are effects, which without impuritie may CHAPTER lose them their pudicitie; and which is more, without their knowledge. Obstetrix virginis cujusdam Upon some integritatem manu velut explorans, sive malevolentia, Virgil sive inscitia, sive casu, dum inspicit, perdidit: A Midwife searching with her finger into a certaine maidens virginity, either for ill will, or of unskilfulnesse, or by chance, whilest shee seekes and lookes into it, shee lost and spoiled it. Some one hath lost or wronged her virginity in looking or searching for it; some other killed the same in playing with it. Wee are not able precisely to circumscribe them the actions we forbid them: Our law must be conceived under generall and uncertaine termes. The very Idea we forge unto their chastity is ridiculous. For, amongst the extremest examples or patternes I have of it, it is Fatua the wife of Faunas; who after shee was maried, would never suffer her selfe to be seene of any man whatsoever. And Hierons wife, that never felt her husbands stinking breath, supposing it to be a quality common to all men. It were necessary, that to satisfie and please us, they should become insensible and invisible. Now let us confesse, that the knot of the judgement of this duty consisteth principally in the will. There have beene husbands who have endured this accident, not only without reproach and offence against their wives, but with singular acknowledgement, obligation and commendation to their vertue. Some one that more esteemed her honestie then she loved her life, hath prostituted the same unto the lawlesse lust and raging sensuality of a mortall hatefull enemy, thereby to save her husbands life; and hath done that for him, which she could never have beene induced to do for her selfe. This is no place to extend these examples: they are too high and over-rich, to be presented in this luster: let us therefore reserve them for a nobler seat. But to CHAPTER give you some examples of a more vulgar stampe: V Upon some verses of Virgil Are there not women daily seene amongst us, who for the only profit of their husbands, and by their expresse order and brokage, make sale of their honesty? And in old times Phaulius the Argian, through ambition offred his to King Philip. Even as that Galba, who bestowed a supper on Mecenas, perceiving him and his wife beginne to bandy eietrickes and signes, of civility shrunke downe upon his cushion, as one [oppressed] with sleepe; to give better scope unto their love; which he avouched as pretily: for at that instant, a servant of his presuming to lay hands on the plate which was on the table, he cried outright unto him; How now varlet? Seest thou not I sleepe only for Mecenas? One may be of a loose behaviour, yet of purer will and better reformed, then another who frameth her selfe to a precise apparance. As some are seene complaine because they vowed chastitie before yeeres of discretion or knowledge: so have I seene others unfainedly bewaile and truly lament that they were vowed to licentiousnesse and dissolutenesse before the age of judgement and distinction. The parents leaudnesse may be the cause of it; or the force of impulsive necessity, which is a shrewd counsellor, and a violent perswader. Though chastity were in the East Indias of singular esteeme, yet the custome permitted, that a maried wife might freely betake her selfe to what man soever did present her an Elephant: and that which some glory to have been valued at so high a rate. Phedon the Philosopher, of a noble house, after the taking of his country Elis, professed to prostitute the beauty of his youth to all commers, so long as it should continue, for money to live with and beare his charges. And Solon was the first of Grece (say some) who by his lawes, gave women liberty, by the price of their honestie, to provide for their necessities: A custome which Heroditus reporteth, CHAPTER Pone seram, cohibe; sed quis custodiet ipsos -JUVEN. Sat. vi. 247. Keepe her with locke and key: but from her who Her Keepers? She begins with them, her wits so deepe. You What advantage sufficeth them not, in this so skilfull age? Curiosity is every where vicious; but herein pernicious. It is meere folly for one to seeke to be resolved of a doubt, or search into a mischiefe; for which there is no remedie, but makes it worse, but festereth the same: the reproach whereof is increased, and chiefely published by jealousie: and the revenge whereof doth more wound and disgrace our children, then it helpeth or graceth us. waste away and die in pursuit of so concealed a mysterie, of so obscure a verification. Whereunto how pitiously have they arrived, who in my time have attained their purpose? If the accuser, or intelligencer present not withall the remedy and his assistance, his office is injurious, his intelligence harmefull, and which better deserveth a stabbe, then doth a lie. Wee flout him no lesse, that toileth to prevent it, then laugh at him that is a Cuckold and knowes it not. The character of cuckoldrie is perpetuall; on whom it once fastneth, it holdeth for ever. The punishment bewraieth it more then the fault. It is a goodly sight, to draw our private misfortunes from out the shadow of VOL. III. H 113 V Upon some verses of Virgil CHAPTER Oblivion or dungeon of doubt, for to blazon and proclaime them on Tragicall Stages: and misfortunes which pinch us not, but by relation. For (as the saying is) she is a good wife, and that a good mariage, not that is so indeed, but whereof no man speaketh. Wee ought to be wittly-wary to avoid this irksome, this tedious and unprofitable knowledge. The Romans were accustomed, when they returned from any journey, to send home before, and give their wives notice of their comming, that so they might not surprize them. And therefore hath a certaine nation instituted the Priest to open the way unto the Bridegroome, on the wedding day, thereby to take from him the doubt and curiosity of searching in this first attempt, whether shee come a pure virgin to him, or be broken and tainted with any former love. But the world speakes of it. I know a hundred Cockolds, which are so, honestly and little undecently. An honest man and a gallant spirit, is moaned, but not disesteemed by it. Cause your vertue to suppresse your mishap; that honestminded men may blame the occasion, and curse the cause; that he which offends you, may tremble with onely thinking of it. And moreover, what man is scot-free, or who is not spoken of in this sense, from the meanest unto the highest? —tot qui legionibus imperitavit, Et melior quàm tu multis fuit, improbe, rebus. -LUCR. iii. 1070. He that so many bands of men commanded, Seest thou not how many honest men, even in thy presence, are spoken of and touched with this reproach? Imagine then they will be as bold with thee, and say as much of thee elsewhere. For no man is spared. And even Ladies will scoffe and |