To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
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.
THE ACADEMY OF Complements.
VVherin Ladyes Gentlewomen, Schollers, and Strangers may ac
A Worke peruſed and moſt exactly perfected by the Author with Ad
And a TABLE expounding the hard ENGLISH words.
LONDON, Printed by T. Badger, for H. Moſley, and are to be ſold at his Shop at the Princes Armes, in S. Pauls Church-Yard. 1640.
Ladyes and Gentlewomen; ſince it can arive at
Prometheus, who made a ſtatue faire in appearance, but without motion; which could not be animated without Celeſtiall fire: it is eloquence which adornes our diſcourſe, gives a grace and life to our actiAdieu.
SIr, Your conceptions are ſo ſtrong, that they tranſcend my ordinary imaginations.
Sir, You honour me, as if you did erect me a thouſand Statues.
Sir, You are above Fortune, which muſt ſtoope to your honours.
Sir, Your deſerts draw admiration from your very enemies.
Sir, I ſhall ever as really as at this houre, remaine your creature.
You honour mee ſo farre, that I imagine my ſelfe to be ſome other thing, then I have beene.
I doe repute my ſelfe happy, to be valued by a perſon, who is able to give a true eſti
Sir, Your judgement doth amaze vulgar wits, ſince in you alone all thoſe perfections are found, can be ſought for on earth.
Lady, Your forme doth ſo raviſh behol
Blemiſh not your mind with ſuch deteſt
Sir, If you proceed to be ſo profuſe of your treaſures, mines of gold will not main
Good Sir give me leave to feare leaſt ſome ſiniſter ſtormes of fortune ſtiffe the ear
Sir, The toyiſh conceits of your youth
Sir, There is a confuſed Chaos of contrary
Give mee leave Sir, to gaine that from your experience, that otherwiſe all the trea
Sir, Should you continue to be thus ex
Bee not ſo inconſtant in your affections,
Leave mee Sir, whilſt I learne to deſpiſe ſuch Gnathoes and to ſhake off ſuch flatte
Theſeus faire one did never more triumph at his deliverance from the perillous Laby
Fortune and fate place thee in the Pa
So rarely accompliſht that it was hard to know whether vertue or beauty held ſupre
Sir, being incenſed by your ſingular com
Pardon my rudeneſſe faire creature, ſince neither love nor fortune delighteth nor ca
Madam, You are the Saint to whoſe ſhrine I daily offer up my ſcalding ſighs.
For your Beauty miſtreſſe I may name you Venus, for your comelineſſe Pallas, for your port and honour Juno.
If I want an Apology faire creature, Let love and neceſſity plead for me ſince they are tyed within no bounds.
Madam you are an object beautified with the richeſt gifts of nature, poliſht with more then terrene perfections.
Tis you alone faire one that have made a breach into the Bull-warke of my breaſt, where like a gorgeous goddeſſe you com
Feare not Sir, Love and fortune favours thoſe that are bold.
Sir, To grant you this one poſition is to admit of innumerable abſurdities.
Madam, It is the perfection of your ex
Miſtris, Deceive mee not, leaſt while I Juno, I catch a cloud.
Madam, Take heed of uſing Cupid ſo Venus is a woman and will ſeeke revenge.
Sir, It is impoſſible that her heavenly beauty ſhould be eclipſed with cruelty.
Madam, Though I have fought never ſo valiantly under the flagge of affections, yet except you crowne my indeavours with a voluntary yeelding I can never prevaile.
Miſtris, If you take mee for franticke blame love, which as it comes from you as the cauſe ſo it conſumes without reaſon.
Who can degenerate, faireſt of women, or dare to entertaine baſe thoughts, when he views ſo glorious an object?
Sir, I am deſirous to be ſuſpitious of thoſe felicities, I feare, I ſhall not long enjoy.
I am out of love with my ſelfe, that I may admire your vertues.
I cannot looke upon your face, but I am perſwaded to reſigne my ſelfe up to you, as a wreath of victory.
That which blacks the Moores, and burns Libya, hath not ſo powerfull a luſtre, as the beames of your beauty.
Halfe the Court is engaged to your ex
Mistris, Your breath is as ſweet, as if you fed only on Pinkes and perfumes.
Sir, I cannot degenerate ſo farre from mine owne happineſſe, as to forget you, to whoſe deſires alone the events of all things are ſutable.
Let me beg of you to take notice of thoſe advantages are beſtowed upon you, above the reſt of men.
Sir, If in your imagination, I am worthy to be eſteemed of, it muſt be by your wiſdom only, which can ſet a value upon my defects.
Sir, Your favour is the foundation of all my fortunes.
Sir, It is your preſence only can diſſipate the clouds of my blackeſt melancholy.
Sir, In the midſt of all my felicities, I ſhall have need of you to make mee happie; for without you, I ſhall ever eſteem my ſelfe abſolutely miſerable.
Sir, I will rather put my reputation to the adventure, then refuſe to act any thing you ſhall command me.
Sir, I have ever reflected on you, as on an extraordinary perſon, and have ever paſſio
Sir, I am ſo taken with you, that I am even ſicke at the relation of your indiſpoſi
Sir, I ſhall not be backward in the expreſ
Sir, You ſhall never be able to accuſe this Tenent as erronious, ſince I have never fal
Be carefull faire one, leaſt being lead cap
Sir, I will endeavour hereafter to incoun
Sir, I ſhall indeavour to countervail ſuch paines with a princely Liberality.
Sir, The trumpet of your royall fame hath moved us who are but ſubjects of your ge
Madam, There is no object can allure my wavering eyes as your Venus-like beauty.
Madam, The force of your beauty hath over-powered the weakneſſe of my fancie ſince the exquiſite perfections of your ver
Madam, Were you as wiſe as Minerva or as gorgeous as Iuno, yet the accounts of your beauty being caſt up, the gaines of his affection might be put in the eyes of your Lover.
Coy one what happineſſe inſued the chaPenelope, nay rather what miſeries purſued not the vertues of a Lucretia? how
Ʋenus or Diana, ſince love is a fatall care, hate a finall calamity?
Blame me not faire one, though my fixed fancies once abuſed turne to a fury.
By thoſe ſmiles of your beauty your crea
Miſtris, Pardon my rudeneſſe for trou
Certainely Madam, if the gods as Poets ſay, made beauty, they skipt beyond their skill, ſince they framed it of greater force then they themſelves were able to reſiſt.
Faire one, let the ſhowers of your mercy mitigate the fires of my fancy.
Cruell one, if love be onely remedied by love, if fancy by mutuall affection, give me leave at leaſt to appeale to your grace and fa
Faireſt it is impoſsibility to perſwade me to breake that league I made with my fancies.
Sir, I am a mortall foe to affection, and now to vow my ſervice to Venus is unpoſDiana.
Sir, Whoſoever readeth the records of the faithleſſe proteſtations of men, their perjur'd promiſes and fained loves, cannot but view a poore Ariadne abuſed, a Medea mockt, and a Dido deceived.
Faire one, your beauty and vertue either by fate or fortune is too deepely ſhrined in my heart.
Be pleaſed at laſt faire beauty, to accept me for your ſlave and ſervant, and to admit me into your favour, as that I may freely in
Faireſt, if my deepe deſires merit no bet
Madam, There is a civill aſſault within me, by which I feele a certaine reſtraint of my owne liberty and affections.
It is impoſſible faireſt of women, for any one to view your features, and not to be ſet
Miſtris, I feele ſuch an alienation of my ſences, ſuch a metamorphoſis of my minde; that it is unpoſſible for mee to become any other then a ſervile ſlave to fancy.
How can I feare to enter a Parly with Cupids faireſt creature, ſince there is ſuch hopes left of victory by the happy preſage of your auſpicious ſmiles at the beginning of our loves conflict?
Sir, If I may continue to ſhare in your favours, there ſhall not any under the Ca
Sir, It is for the good of the world that you enjoy your vigorous health, ſince you are ordained for the ſervice of Kings, and the conduct of people.
Sir, I will reſerve to ſpeake of vertue, till your great workes come to light.
Sir, That which others call vertue, is the naturall habitude of your worthy perſon.
Suppoſe not I uſe the Court language, when I aſſure you I am more than any man living, Sir, Your moſt humble ſervant,
Sir, When I forget to confeſſe my ſelfe yours, you may juſtly ſuppoſe I ſuffer a per
Sir, I will make uſe of all occaſions, to teſtifie how paſsionately I am yours.
Sir, There is no other thing remaining for me, ſave the onely glory of humilitie and obedience.
I ſhould ſhew my ſelfe inſenſible of rari
Sir, Your heroicall qualities ſhine forth in you, as bright as day.
Madam, They that doe undervalue the comelineſſe of your perſon, dare rob Nature, and bereave Lilies of their beauty, or the Cryſtall of his clearneſſe.
Sir, The vertues of our forefathers are to be eſteemed as vices in compariſon of yours.
Extremities are in other things reprove
Sir, You are never ſo excellent a Poet, as when you ſpeake of me, ſince you have Art to invent new Fables.
Sir, Thoſe fine words, and quaint diſ
Sir, You goe through all imployments with as good fortune as noble reſolutions; neither can there bee any thing above your ſpirit, ſince all things ſtoope to doe you ho
Who can diſtill ſleep into the eyes of lo
Love, Art thou but a vaine name and no eſſentiall thing, that haſt thus left thy pro
Reaſon, What art thou which canſt fore
What is muſicke to mee, but a dolefull voyce accompanied with the various diſ
O Love, Wilt thou now at laſt offer me phyſicke which art my only poyſon, or wilt thou doe me ſervice, which long ſince haſt brought me into eternall ſlavery?
How long ſhall my languiſhing ſickneſſe wait upon the triumphs of my paſſions?
From whence can theſe neceſſities proLady, are they by your comCupid hath ſuch a command over mortals; of a certaine it is from you, whoſe faire aſpect accompanied with ſo im
Cruell one, how long can I make an oſtenLeander, a Pyramus, or a ſociety of abuſed Lovers.
If thou art faire, is it to preſent thee cru
Moſt certaine it is faire creature, thy love may make me to ſacrifice my life at thy feet, and I may puniſh that body, which could ſo unjuſtly wound my once free and ſerene mind: but alas wherein canſt thou glory? not in thy beauty, for that will vaile it ſelfe at ſo blacke an Act; not in my ruines, for they will purſue thee with ſome direfull re
Faireſt, bee no longer ſo great an enemy
I cannot expreſſe the leaſt diſobedience to your commands, but rather hope my paſt diſpleaſures may deſerve pity, if not my fu
Ponder my merits in the balance of your mercie, that the unworthineſſe of my de
It is a ſinne to ſuſpect ſuch vertue which glories to arme it ſelfe againſt all deceits.
Faire one, you have a wit which delights not to judge it ſelfe, and a beauty that glo
Faire one, what unremoveable ſuiter ec
Perfection of my deſires, with one deter
That my deſires to injoy you are more
Madam, The eyes of a raviſhed Lover cannot but have vertues aid ſo ready in him
By the memory of our forepaſt affe
Can you Sir weare a Marſes heart in a Cupids body, ſince the eyes of all ſpectators judge you fitter for the pleaſures of the Court then the tents of war?
In him it ſeemes Nature was not miſta
Sir, It is a degree above humanity and therefore requires the admiration of your friends that your wit ſhould ſo far out-goe your age.
It is not ſtrange ô thou cruelſt of wo
Sir, I am moſt infinitely bound to you for this ſo rare and noble a curteſie.
It is you, and none but you which I am bound to love, and therefore though I am preſented with a likenes of your beauty, yet likeneſſe of another, cannot make the ſame eſſence of your perſon, much leſſe can diſ
The very image of your countenance and outward expreſſions of your behaviour are ſutable to the vertuous reſolutions of your mind.
Faireſt, grant me this happineſſe to have my poore affections raiſed to a Lordſhip o
Violence of love leads mee into this diſ
Armies of objections riſe up againſt my accepted opinion.
Sir, Though I were to paſſe through all the ſplendors of the world to meet with you, my pen could not reach you.
Sir, Nature in you hath laid deep founda
Sir, Your imagination, when you ſpeake in ſuch high tearmes, cannot but move me to believe great improbabilities.
Sir, How happy ſhould I account my ſelfe, were the Characters of your Vertues im
Sir, No imaginary jealouſies ſhall divert me from mine inclination to that good
Sir, I have an intereſt in your proſperity ſo farre, that I will not complaine of For
Worthy Sir, You know your ſelfe too well, to ſuſpect me of flattery.
Vertue and Eloquence are beſtowed up
Sir, I could not have the ambition to ſup
The contemplation of your vertues amaze mee.
Sir, I find in you, whatſoever may give a reputation to the Courts of Princes.
Sir, I am reſerved for your ſake, that no
Sir, You are the man whom the neceſſi
Opportunities would wax old, ſhould I neglect this preſent to ſerve you.
All ſpirits will prove favourable to you, ſince you have convinced them by your me
Your generous diſpoſition hath permitted me a longer audience, then your affairs could well permit.
Worthy Sir, Reflect upon your crrature, with the bright beames of your generous diſpoſition.
I cannot allot more moderate limits to my ambition, or wiſh my ſelf a greater hap
Your heroicke acts ſucceeding Hiſtorians ſhall crowne with Laurels.
Sir, For your ſake I will paſſe beyond the
Sir, There is no happineſſe on earth, but is included in your ſelfe, or in what concerns you.
Sir, Your goodneſſe doth bereave me of a voice to expreſſe your vertues.
Sir, You cannot blame me, though I hate ingratitude, ſince even beaſts are capable of acknowledgement.
Sir, If you withdraw from me your pre
Sir, I ſhall fall ſicke, for want of a capa
Sir, Whatſoever you undertake, permit nothing to your ſpirit, which may wound your reputation.
Sir, Of all men I dare free you from this crime, of violating the chaſtity of lan
Sir, I owe too much honour, to the me
Sir, For your ſake, at the ſame time I both enjoy pleaſure, and endure paine.
Sir, I muſt beg of you hereafter to have a
Sir, The whole Court is ſenſible of ſuffe
Sir, I am ſo far from hiding my owne de
Sir, I have neither power nor ability left me, but only to expreſſe, I am yours.
Sir, You have anticipated me of all Rhe
Sir, Inſtead of requitall, of thoſe vowes you offer me, I am put to a ſtand, what to anſwer you.
Miſtris, I deſire to paſſe my life in the pleaſing dreames of your perfections.
Your Courtly voyce is like an Oracle, ei
Sir, I am none of thoſe, who ſlight the be
Sir, I cannot light upon that accent,
Sir, All my thoughts are your reall inſpi
Sir, I have no ſervile dependency but upon your conceptions.
Sir, In matters of Eloquence you ſeek out ſingularities, hitherto unknowne to any.
From the firſt minute of my acquain
Sir, I entertaine theſe paſſions, to the end that you may appeaſe me.
Madam, If you ſtill perſevere to dote thus on your beauty: the time will come, when your face will ſcare you, more than a judge doth a fellon.
Sir, I have quitted all complacency, and there is no meanes ſhall make me ſilent.
Faireſt, There is no part of the world ſo remote, whither my curioſity, in your ſearch ſhall not cary me.
Lady, The morall of my affection, is to inſtruct you to make uſe of your youth, and to gather Noſegaies, before the Roſes wi
Sir, Suffer your ſelfe to be convinced by reaſon, ſince you cannot reſiſt the ſame, but to your diſadvantage.
Sir, You muſt excuſe me, ſince I know not in what manner to ſuffer ſo wounding a diſ
Sir, All the water in the Sea can never purifie me from this offence.
Lady, You have no more beauty, then wil ſerve to excuſe you from being extream
Sir, If you grant mee this favour, you ſhall elevate mee to a more ſoveraigne for
Sir, It were as great a crime to be igno
Miſtris, In my moſt ſolitary walkes it ſhall be my ambition, to preſume only to re
Sir, In you alone I muſt commend the
Sir, In all ſhapes, and under the moſt dreadfull aſpects that can appeare, I am yours.
Sir, To returne you complements for ſuch excellent favours, were to undervalue their worth; ſince my language is too poore, and unable to lend mee wherewith to pay you.
Sir, I feare I ſhall be indebted to you all my life, for the favours I have received of you.
Sir, It is the height of my deſerts, to bee paſsionately, as I am, your moſt faithfull ſer
Sir, My paſsions cannot ſo far tranſport me, but that I ſhall remaine, as I have ever beene, yours.
Sir, I intend not to commence any reall warre againſt you; for I acknowledge my choller to be artificiall, which I am ready to lay downe at your pleaſure.
Faire Creature, Painters and Stage-play
Sir, I am not ſo curious as to condemne
Sir, I will dilate my ſelfe no farther in my expreſſions; leaſt I diſhonour your good
Sir, Mine eloquence will come too late, ſince there is no precept in all humane wiſ
Sir, The conſolation I have, next to the aſſurance I have of my innocency, is the li
The principall object of my intentions, hath ever bin the glory of your name.
Sir, I doe profeſſe my ſelfe yours, with all thoſe proteſtations, which are able to make truth appeare inviolable.
Sir, I proſtrate all my preſumption at your feete.
Sir, I can no longer conceale my thoughts; ſince you have an intereſt, both in mee and them.
Sir, I never gave you a viſit, which cu
Sir, How often with your golden elo
Sir, You alone can conduct mee to the higheſt pitch of accidentall perfection.
Sir, The beames of your eminent vertues, have diſcovered to me mine owne imperfe
Sir, Inſtead of all thoſe high expreſſions, you have beſtowed upon me, I muſt only anſwer you, that I am your humble ſervant.
S
There can be no acknowledgement that I can make, can bee anſwerable to the obligations I owe to your honour.
Sir, You miſtake my diſpoſition, if you ſuppoſe I affect praiſes, with the like intem
Sir, Should I forfeit ſuch occaſions, my friendſhip would never appeare, but re
Sir, The World would end, and Nature prove unperfit, if there were not ſuch men to maintaine her honours.
Continue to expreſſe your ſelfe what you are, that your vertue may be its owne cata
Faireſt, My thoughts are not ſo often here, as where you are.
The Phyſitians have not ſo farre exhau
Madam, Put on thoſe rayes of your beau
Sir, I confeſſe I was never more aſtoniſh
Sir, You are adorned with all the excel
Sir, There is not one part of your body, whereof another is not maſter.
Sir, It is not in my power to diſpoſe of one ſingle haire, ſince I am all yours.
Madam, You draw the eyes of all to ad
You are the Cabinet, in which Nature hath lockt all her miracles.
Sir, Though I receive injuries from you, it ſhall be my humility, not to take notice of them.
Sir, I would viſit thoſe parts of the world, which avarice it ſelf hath not yet found out, rather then looſe your ſociety.
Sir, It is impoſsible for mee to conceale my ſenſibilities.
Sir, What violence ſoever I offer to my anger, I can no longer containe it.
Sir, You do ſo heape your favours on me, that you will not ſo much as ſuffer mee to ſeeme miſerable.
Sir, Your innocent actions carry their warrant with them.
Sir, You doe not ſo much expreſſe your wit, as your Tyrannie, in inflicting ſuch tor
Sir, Be not confident; leaſt he whom you have ſo often injured, do at laſt grow weary of his ſufferings.
Sir, You are the man, with whom alone I deſire to paſſe the moſt pleaſant houres of my life.
Sir, If you pretend excuſes for ſo poore a trifle, know, I am no longer your affectionat ſervant.
Sir, I ſhall hold mine eloquence as per
Sir, You uſurpe a more abſolute authority over wits, then is lawfull, or reaſonable.
Sir, You ſmell too much of your Muske
Sir, My conceptions are popular, and to be intelligible among women.
Sir, Your conceits are too far fetcht, and they tranſcend the ſubject, on which you beſtow them.
Faireſt, Let me raviſh a kiſſe from your hand.
Sir, My affections ſpring not from the diſ
M ſtris, You have a power to infuſe love and fidelity into the hearts of Barba
Sir, You cannot beſtow your favours a
Sir, You muſt give me leave to admire your judgment, which appeares to be farre more excellent, then your fortunes.
Sir, Let me not ſeeme to incurre a crime, ſince I am forced to extoll your generous li
Sir, You vary your ſhape, and change your perfumes, according to the diverſity of ſeaſons.
Let it pleaſe you, out of your nobleneſſe, to afford me to be your Graces moſt obedi
Sir, You have all thoſe excellent qualities, that are neceſſary in a Prince.
Sir, I meaſure the neceſſities, and fatalities of this world, by your contentments, or diſcomforts.
Sir, In this exigence of my fortunes, I am forc't to admire your vertues; ſince you ſtill ſet ſo high a value on your creature, who is loſt to all men, but to your ſelfe.
Sir, Your goodneſſe is as unlimitable, as the deſire I have to ſerve you.
Sir, In you are comprehended all the riches, that Nature beſtowes on her moſt glorious creatures.
Sir, I ſpeake this ſeriouſly, with my beſt ſenſe; you may reduce me to any forme.
All, who have either eyes or ſpirits, muſt place them on ſo deſerving an object.
Faireſt, Caſt one glance of pitty on me, leaſt you deprive me of all conceits of mer
Sir, You are the embleme of terrour, and you furious lookes are able to conſume a Woman.
Sir, Lift mee not ſo high with your fa
Faireſt, Let not your heavenly beauty, ſeated in it's royall Majeſty, draw forth the ſword of diſdaine, to the ruine of your crea
Faireſt Creature, Since I am the patterne of all ill fortunes, by the force of your af
Sir, You hit mine inclinations ſince to recompence ſuch vertues, were a work moſt worthy of all generous ſpirits.
Sir, Your refuſall of the title of eloquent, proves your modeſty to be moſt unjuſt; ſince your tongue long ſince did bereave you of all excuſes.
Sir, I dare not enter the liſts with you, in reſpect of your elegancies of ſpeech; for when I would become moſt perſwaſive in
Sir, All your Rhetoricall arguments are out like blew flowers amongſt the Corne; which though they may ſeeme pleaſant to the eye, prove moſt unwholeſome to the body.
Sir, I ſhall alwayes acknowledge the moſt artificiall language, to be like a Gentle
Faire One, can I pervert the powers of the planets or reſiſt the force of the Stars? you may then conclude, I can repell theſe affections.
I am yours Sir, and will be yours in de
Madam, Your excellent qualities and ex
Mistris, Since Cupid doth ſo fitly favour the cauſes of his clients, Let us not let ſlip ſo happy an opportunity.
Madam, If the wiſhes of a poore mortall may be heard above, I queſtion not but hea
Madam, Though I have not hitherto by dutifull ſervices made manifeſt the loyaltie of my heart, yet ſince I firſt framed in my fancy as in a mirror, the ſhape of your ſur
Fairest, There is none upon earth doth with a more loving duty reverence your perſon and vertues then I doe
Madam, In conſideration of my poore fortunes, let my affection appeare ſo much the more excuſable, ſince I ſo farre eſteeme of your divine beauty and exquiſite vertue as I would thinke my ſelfe moſt unworthy, though I were Prince of the world, to poſ
Sir, I have learnt to know that it is the religion of lovers to ſweare and forſweare.
Madam, The parching heat of Summer makes the coole ſhades more pleaſant, and the frowns of lovers make their ſmiles more delightfull and cheerefull.
Mistris, I muſt never hope ſo intirely to love as by my affections to requite your loy
Sir, She which builds her fancie upon fa
Faireſt, As a pledge of my proteſtations thou ſhalt have both my heart and hand to be thine in duſt and aſhes.
Sir, You have a heart as large as the Sea, which containes in it a capacity of all the ornaments that uſe to dignifie Princes.
Strive not Sir, to bereave me of the repu
Madam, The beames of your ſunne-like beauty with their lively luſtre and ſparkling flames dazle the eyes of your amazed lover.
Madam, In the ſhady darknes of this Ar
Having diſpoſed ſo many affections to do you ſervice, feare it not faireſt, your ſervant muſt of neceſſity viſit you.
Faire one, whilſt mortals injoy your heavenly beauty, the luſtre of your reſplen
Sir, I cannot be inſenſible of your miſe
Sir, I am reall and uſe not to entertaine my friends with dreames and illuſions.
Sir, This your inhumane uſage of your creature ſhall never ſeem ſtrange to me ſince the moſt fervent affections of the world of
Sir, Wee equally ſhare of one anothers diſcontents and diſſolve our hearts together as one would melt one peece of waxe into another.
Faireſt, Thoſe eminent qualities which nature as a dowry hath beſtowed upon you, like flowers ſpread themſelves forth by the rayes of your bright beauty, cauſing thoſe courtſhips ſervices and admirations which ſo ſweetly adorne you.
Miſtris, Ladies of honour to expreſſe the ſincerity of their affections have breathed forth their lives on the Tombes of their de
Madam, If I am conſumed by the fires of Cupid, blame me not, ſince your eyes enkind
Madam, Exerciſe not the extremity of your rigour upon him that ſuffers ſuch miſe
Know faire creature that a bright day may at laſt inlighten my innocency, when revengefull lovers ſhall ſearch into my aſhes to find our truth there buryed.
Sir, Theſe glorious progreſſions of your vertue will at laſt mount you to the higheſt pitch of admiration.
Madam, Shut not up theſe eyes from the light of your beauty, leaſt they be perpetu
Madam, It is unpoſſible you ſhould ever draw to you a reputation of honour ſigned with the effuſion of my bloud.
Madam, There are thoſe will deplore my aſhes and ſtrew ſome ſilly flowers on the place impreſſed with the prints of your pu
Faire one, when my ſoule ſhall be ſeparated from my body, it ſhall every where wait on your purified ſpirit as the ſhadow of it.
Madam, If you ſhould pleaſe to con
Faire one, though death may ſeparate our lives, yet love ſhall unite our aſhes, and we ſhall preſerve the immortality of our affecti
Madam, Seated thus on your faire pavili
Madam, Your goodly ſtature, well pro
Faire one, your haire negligently diſ
Faire creature, caſt not thoſe eyes down, neither colour your face with thoſe modeſt
Sir, I deſire to end my dayes on the theatre of Kings in their glorious ſervices.
Madam, Heaven hath created me ſuch an one, as you ſee full of good will, though of ſlender fortunes and meanes.
Sir, We have continually lived together as one ſoule, divided into two bodies, ſince our amities have taken roote in a mutuall temperature and correſpondency of hu
Faireſt, Our breaſts ſhall bee ever inter
Faire one, diſſimulation or contradiction cannot approach the ſinceritie of our loves.
Faireſt, Let mee embrace you with the openneſſe of my heart and the profuſion of my love, that our ſoules may evaporate themſelves into affection.
Sir, Your favours create me againe, and give me a new being.
Sir, I ſhall never pretend any right to
Miſtris, The grace of ſpeech dwels on your faire lips.
Sir, Hereafter ages ſhall take Palmes and Lillies to Crowne the relikes of your ho
Faireſt, Theſe eyes of mine, are but em
Madam, Spred not that Cipreſſe vaile ore your face, leaſt you benight your beauty and darken the bright rayes of your owne curio
Madam, Your beauty is a divinity left on earth to bee knowne and beloved of mor
Let not my remotenes change your pur
IT is as unpoſſible for me not to love you; as it is for the Sunne to forget his ordinary courſe.
So am I raviſhed with your beauty, that it will prove harder for me to forget you, then it would prove difficult to reſolve for death: and know for a certaine, that I ſhall ſtill be rather content and diſpoſed to con
Your fight may be forbidden me, and you may hinder me from ſpeaking to you, but not to have the effigies of your divine beau
I Should have thought I had too much fai
Vanquiſhed by your beauty, I have yeel
Nothing ſhall take from my heart, but death it ſelfe, the faire Image of your divine beauty.
IT is your goodneſſe that hath ſupplied my ſmall merit; which could not have durſt to promiſe me the favours you afford me.
LOvers in deſpite of abſence, looſe not the remembrance of their Loves: they are as the Flowers; which, though trod on, do reſume their luſtre at the Suns approach.
To forſake mee, when your company is deareſt to me, is no ſigne of true friendſhip, which parts not at death it ſelfe, ſince love remaines for ever.
Take pitty on all thoſe bloudy ſorrowes, which the apprehenſion of your abſence makes me already ſo miſerably to feele.
IT is better to love with ſeverity, then to deceive with ſweetneſſe.
I would forbeare to write to you in this manner, were it not, that the affection I beare you, doth force, and by its authority, draw all theſe words from my heart, and mouth.
Miſtris, The Bees are not hated for their ſtings, no more ſhould you hate me for the ſharpneſſe of my circumſtances.
We muſt not praiſe our ſelves, for being better than the worſt; but rather blame our ſelves, for being worſe than the beſt; ſince then I faile in my merits, give me leave to mourne for my imperfections.
I Muſt depart from you, yet ſhall not mine obedience be deprived of your ſervice.
Adieu faire Sunne of my life, I leave you for this preſent; but be alwayes aſſured, that my minde, and my deſires, ſhall never de
Deare Love, I know not which way to begin to bid you farewell, nor how to finiſh this diſcourſe, which once ſilenced, admits of our diſconſolate abſence.
Woe is me, muſt I needs wander away from all my felicities at once, looſing with the happineſſe of your ſight, the moſt perfect object of my beatitude?
Madam, be alwaies fortunate, whilſt I ſhal languiſh unhappy, though moſt conſtant.
YOu can never doe ſo much for me, but that the affection wherewith I adore you, and the faith I have impoſed in you, will prove far greater.
Miſtris, You are the firſt, to whom my affectionate heart hath beene offered; and ſhall (if you pleaſe) be the laſt, that ſhall have the poſſeſſion of it.
Doe but let me once diſcover my affecti
You are the eye of mine eyes, and thought of my thoughts, the perfection of my de
Beare well in mind mine affection, that though I bee removed from your faire eyes, I may not be ſo from your favours.
I Shall in loving you, manifeſt ſuch an affe
My conſtancy may eaſily ſhew you, that it hath as good an heart to dye for you, as it had a mind and deſire to live and love you.
Earth ſhall ſooner diſpoſſeſſe Heaven of his place, then that any one ſhall boaſt of lo
I ſhall make it appeare to after times, that I am the man, who for your ſake hath made himſelfe the invincible rock of ſtedfaſtneſſe: for I ſhall ſtill hug my conſtancy, and never let it ſtirre from me, till my laſt gaſpe.
IT is your courteſie that lends me the fa
LOvers live alwayes in more feare then hope, and will ſooner conceive of their ſorrowes, then credit their joyes.
The feare I have, leaſt my ſlender merit ſhould take away your good mind to wiſh me well, doth in a ſort make all thoſe joyes imperfect, which this ſweet thought of mine, made me to judge ſo full and entire.
FAireſt, Be but as deſirous of my content as I am of your ſervice.
My deſires make mee as carefull to pleaſe you, as I am bound by duty, and compelled by inclination to ſerve you.
I wiſh, Heaven that gave me the boldnes
THis I dedicate, conſecrate, and offer up unto you, with the ſame heart, where
I had rather preſent you with ſome ſmall thing, and ſo be reputed ignorant, then un
Regard more the affection, then the me
YOu ſhall know one day in effect, what you now have but in imagination.
One day you will come to know the con
YOur eloquence is able to ſteale the ſoule out of ones heart, and carry it whither it would goe.
One is no more able to overcome you with good words, then with good actions.
The eloquence of your ſweet words ſtop my mouth, and bind me to perpetuall ſilence
IN excuſing your unjuſt feare, you ſeeme to accuſe my boldneſſe.
I pray you heare my reaſons patiently, and judge without paſſion of my juſtifications.
It is for great minds to excuſe great faults.
I Have ſo much experience of your good will, that it only remaines, that you make
I have had ſuch tryall of your friend-ſhip and fidelity, that I hope you will not faile me in time of need.
THe wonders of your face, made mee your Captive, as ſoone as I ſaw you; and that rare grace of yours, which makes you excell all others, retained me your pri
IF you judge, or deeme me worthy to fa
I am ignorant what ſervice might ſatisfie, for the favours I have received of you.
I can have no meanes, dutifully to ac
FOrtune ſtrives now to make mee pay the intereſt of thoſe pleaſu
Dame Fortune is too covetous, and uſu
I Do not think (though I ſhould give you occaſion to hate me) that your good na
Courteſie dwelt on your fore-head, but malice reſided in your ſoule, and lay concea
YOu uſe your friends, as one doth flow
I perceive that ardent affection which was wont to keepe mee ſo alive in your thoughts, doth now no more raigne in you.
I Could not, without making my ſelfe guilty of irreverence, ſpeake otherwiſe to you, then in a way of praiſe.
Madam, To live with you, is to live with all the graces; for Nature hath made you the example of her liberalities.
DOe not that wrong to your true love, to let him ſlide out of your memor,y for then he muſt appeale from your judgement, to your goodneſſe.
Keep me alive in your thoughts, as I hold you in the moſt ſenſible part of my ſoule.
I Could never doe ſo great a thing, but would bee too ſmall for your merits and my deſires.
Your merits drive me to love you, my hu
The praiſes you attribute unto me, proceed from your will, and not from any merit of mine.
THe neceſſitie of love is moſt mighty in the world: for it overcomes all.
There is nothing more inſupportable, in a neceſſitated perſon, then niceneſſe.
O how happy a thing is that neceſſitie, that enforceth us to ſuch good things?
I Shall not all the dayes of my life have a will, which ſhall not obey yours.
You know the power you have over me, and that I am ſo much yours, as you can wiſh me.
ALL the honour and ambition I aſpire at, is to ſee my ſelfe employed in your ſervice.
Your beauty alone is able to witneſſe the affection I beare you.
All that is mine, is no leſſe yours, then are your thoughts and words.
The moſt favourable gift you can offer me, is your friendſhip, which I preferre before all other treaſures.
HEaven, which heares the vowes of the faithfull, bleſſe and content your de
God make you the happieſt woman that lives; even as he hath made you the faireſt, and moſt accompliſhed.
I Doe ſo bewaile our ſeparation, that no
The greateſt griefe I carry along with me, when I part from this place, is, to ſee how I am for ever deprived of your faire preſence.
IF I have done you any acceptable ſervice, thinke it was but the ſhadow of what I deſire to ſhew you, by reall effects.
I take this benefit from you, but as bor
Though the ſervice I have done you, bee but ſmall; yet the deſire I have had to ac
YOur faire eyes have too much majeſtie to ſerve for baites, or allurements of a diſſembling love.
Doe not deceive him, that will outbrave death it ſelfe, to inſure your life, and with
MY life is a Comedy, and therefore no matter how long it be, ſo that it be well acted: Sweeteſt, if the laſt Scene be Tragicke, your crueltie muſt be the Nemeſis.
YOur eyes flaſh ſo much lightning, that like Suns, they dazle the ſight of all ſuch as dare behold them.
You have ſo eſtabliſhed your Soveraignty over my ſoule, that the leaſt twinckle of your eyes, diſpoſeth mee of the ſtate of my life.
IT may appeare great boldneſſe in me, al
Yet encouraged by yout royall goodnes,
THat which hath beene imagined of a golden age, as an Idea of all perfect happines, was but a propheſie of your gra
THough I cannot worthily deſire, nor deGalaxia, or milkwhite path, through which you travell in your happy governe
Sir, If vertue and loyalty were not to be found in ſome of ordinary quality, I ſhould bluſh and tremble at my owne forward de
THe ſame ſervice and obeiſance which I offered unto the King, I doe now with as great ſtrength of paſſion and affection tender unto your Majeſty; and as I am His loyall ſubject, ſo to be Your faithfull ſervant, ſhall be the height of my glory.
Madam, My ſervice and obeyſance is ſo
There are no words ſtrong enough, to expreſſe how much I honour your Royall perfections, which render you beloved and reſpected of all the world; while I make it the chiefe imployment of my life, to attend upon your command; whom to obey, is perfect happineſſe.
IN regard of the many favours which your Honour hath heaped on me, I am bound, firſt to acknowledge my happineſſe therein, and alſo to deſire that you would alwayes
As it is a great happineſſe for me to come to your preſence, and offer my devotions to your Excellency, from the Altar of an hum
It will become me, amongſt others, to ac
MOſt noble Lord, as I hold it for a prin
My Lord, the ranke you hold with the great and ſingular ornaments of vertues, in you, doe oblige me to offer unto your Lord
Moſt honoured Lord, if your excellency will be pleaſed to permit me to exerciſe my
I Muſt entreat you to pardon my bold
You have much honoured me by your comming, and by your words, as through a Per
The occaſion of my comming, was for no other reſpects, but thoſe due unto your merit, and by an humble addreſſe of ſervice, to bring my ſelfe acquainted with you whom I honour, and am ready to ſerve.
You owe me no ſervice, but I am ready to embrace your friendſhip, evidently d
Then I ſhall acknowledge my ſelfe moſt happy in my bold viſitation; for to gaine your amity, is to me a chiefeſt felicity; not only in regard of your naturall worth, flow
I dare not acknowledge that which you aſcribe unto me, your praiſes are but the effects of your love; but if my company, or friend
I cannot give you thankes enough for your great love, expreſt in that kind
What I did, was even wrung from mee
It is your worthineſſe, that you will not acknowledge your own noble and ver
Thoſe words would become me better in acknowledgement of your worth, wherein you farre exceed mee; yet in reſpect of amity, J will not yeeld, but ever maintaine a conſtant af
I will alwayes retaine in memory your good deſerts in my behalfe, and you ſhall know, that you have not ſowed your benefits on a barren ground, that will yeeld you nothing; for your love ſhall alwayes reape the fruits of my ſervice.
Thereby you will oblige me, for I must acknowledge the number of your benefits doe binde me to ſerve you; but I never did you any kindneſſe deſerving your acceptance, much leſſe meriting to bee remembred by you; yet here
That you have done already, and I doubt not but you will perſevere in your af
It is I that am troubled to imagine how I may acquit my ſelfe for your former courte
You ſhall not need to contend, ſince the former courteſies you have done me, do require that I ſhould yeeld my ſelfe to bee, your humbleſt ſervant.
I Have brought you to a rude Chamber, but I am much beholding to you, for taking paines to grace me and my lodging; and am only ſorry, I ſhall not give you ſuch entertainment, as you deſerve; let me bid you welcome with a kind ſalutation.
Indeed, Sir, You have an hand
I hope you are confident in mee, that my intents are faire and noble, for J will not offend you with moving any thing that may tend to your diſgrace, ſince my chiefest deſire is to enjoy your company, and to diſcourſe a while with you; here we have place and opportunitie.
But thoſe are enemies to our Sex, yet I hope, you will bee right and ſquare in all your actions.
May I never proſper, If I ſeeke any thing but your owne contentment; for if I ſhould make any baſe motion, you may with a frowne command mee to ſilence, and your diſpleaſure would be to me above all torments.
I doe not feare your honeſt intent, but theſe wanton Pictures are Emblemes of your roving affection; yet one of them I like very well, and would requeſt it of you, if modeſty would permit.
Alas! theſe are but ſhadowes wherein the Painter hath expreſt ſome skill, but if you pleaſe to make choyſe of the beſt of my Chamber, it ſhall be at your command.
I dare not preſume ſo much, and though I ſhould embrace your offer, it would grieve me, that I could not make you ſome requitall; it does not become mee to be too much beholding, by treſpaſſing on your free bounty.
Alas! What is it that I can deny you? Pray eſteeme mee at your command, and you ſhall favour me, if you make yonder picture worthy of your acceptance.
I thanke you; it may be, I will be ſo bold to ſend for it. Now it remaines, that I muſt thanke you for your kind entertain
Since you will not be detained, I will wait upon you to your coach, and acknowledge my ſelfe infinitely obliged for your favour, in daigning this kind viſitation.
Pardon mee, if I, moved there
Sir, Though it would ſhew a ſcornefull mind in me, not to accept your love tendered unto mee in ſuch a viſible manner; yet I am ſorry you ſhould bee at ſo great and needleſſe charges: for wherein can I ſerve you to make requitall?
It is you that make this unworthy preſent precious, for if you deigne to let it encircle your white finger, it being a Diamond Ring, will ſparkle moſt in the darke, ſhewing that love, like a clouded Star, ſhines lighteſt in the night of misfortune.
Well, Sir, I am obliged by courteſie to receive it, and ſince you pleaſe to conferre ſo rich a gift, on my unworthineſſe, J will weare it for your ſake.
Then you honour me above my deAmor circulus, love is a circle without end.
I muſt acknowledge your bounty, and my ſelfe your ſervant, in beſtowing on mee ſo rich a gift.
The ſparkling luſtre thereof, cannot compare with the light beames of your eyes; but honour mee ſo much to cary it on your finger.
I promiſe that, and more, acknowledge my ſelfe-infinitely beholding to you.
Enough is ſaid, concerning ſo poore a matter: yet in your acceptance of this trifle, I bleſſe my own happineſſe.
LEt not my love be miſconſtrued for preſumption, if I once again ſtrive to warme your affection, by declaring unto you, how much I honour your perfections; pray at laſt be mercifull, and doe not ſtill reward my love with cold diſdaine.
Sir, I know that men have powerfull language, but I am none of thoſe young ones; you are deceived, if you think that fine muske words can ſweeten me up to betray my ſelfe; and for my beauty, I would not have you doate on that: it ſuffices me, without commendation.
Should J not commend what all ad
Sir, Wiſemen admire nothing, for if I were beautifull, What is beauty, but a fading flower, blaſted often, with too much breathing on, and cannot grow ſafely upon the ſtalke of virginity, becauſe every one wil be reaching forth to gather it? Pray excuſe mee if I prevent danger, for love and I are quite fallen out.
Let me reconcile you to a good opinion of a chaſt Love, there is no greater happineſſe than the ſacred union of hearts, eſpecially when long and humble ſute conquers diſdaine, and ſo J hope perſeverance will at laſt crowne me with your love, and bring you to entertaine my deſire with a mutuall affection.
Sir, If you would be more thrifty of your breath, you might ſpend it to better purpoſe, for you may intimate your deſires, and make tedious diſcourſes: but in a word, I ſhall never love you.
O ſay not ſo, you know not how much miſery thoſe few words would bring upon me, for hope, grounded on your gentle diſpoſition, hath hitherto kept me alive, and makes me walk like a faint ſhadow, while in my Chamber I am like a mourner, with a taper by me, watching my owne funerall, and I dwell there in a miſt of ſighs; and all this is for your ſake.
Well I hope you will not accuſe me of your death, pray ſhake off this love, and I will then acknowledge your kindnes in ceaſing to trouble me with complaints. Learne wiſedome, that will cure all diſtempers.
Yet while I live, I will attend upon you,
Elyſium, and I am gone.
Well, ſince you are ſo reſolute, I will ſtrive to give you a better anſwer at your next returne.
In confidence of that happineſſe, I will preſume to viſit you againe, and live to bee your ſervant.
COme, why will you be an enemie to your ſelfe, and let modeſty keep you ſtill in the ſtate of virginity? I came to offer my ſervice to helpe you of this trouble.
You are very kinde; but I like my preſent eſtate, Maids are happie.
Alas! poore Ignorance, doſt thou talke of happineſſe? I tell thee, untill thou art marryed, thou art but a Cypher, and of none account.
ô Sir, You are deceived; our hearts,
free from the paſſion of love, retaine a world of happineſſe, being exempted from any wanton knowledge; for maids, dying in their preſent condition, doe all goe to Heaven.
You are deceived, their puniſhment is to lead Apes in Hell; and therefore to a
What offer?
Leaſt it ſhould rayſe a bluſh upon your cheek, I will whiſper it into your eare, you underſtand.
I heare too much, thy infectious words have betrayed a baſe ignoble mind.
Why? I did but tell you a truth, I had thought you had bin more intelligent, and would not have ſtarted at a bold word.
Nay farewell.
Pardon mee, all I have ſpoken was to try your temper, and having found you both wiſe and wittie, I will deſire you in a faire manner to grant me your love, which I only deſire; and though I did appeare raſh and wanton, you ſhall find mee worthy of your affection.
NOw, our Love hath arrived to an happy concluſion, the ſtormes raiſed by your diſdaine, being blowne over, the union of our affections making a ſoft and gentle har
With as true an affection I doe give over my ſelfe into your poſſeſſion, and freely beſtow on you, my love, which ſhall never know alteration, but remain ever firm and conſtant to you now it is expedient that you obtaine my friends good will, according to your promiſe; and till then we muſt remaine only contracted in affection.
Heaven, I beſeech thee beare wit
SIr, When the newes of your returne had arived to my knowledge, J was pained with an earneſt deſire to behold you, and prevent other of your friends, by the firſt tender of my ſervice: that as my love towards you doth exceed theirs, in true, perfect ſincerity: ſo it might in place obtaine priority, and ſhew how ambitious I am of your favour.
Sir, You ſtill continue your former noble
Sir, You make too good an interpretation of
Sir, I want words to expreſſe my mind,
Sir, Some of them have undergone change
Sir, I am wonderfull glad to heare of it,
Sir. Travell hath not wrought much change in you, but I detaine you, I feare, from your reſt.
Sir, Were I tired with travell, as I am not, yet your company would very much refreſh me.
Sir, I will crave your pardon at this time, I know to tarry longer, would be troubleſome unto you; but to morrow I will wayte on you againe.
Sir, I Am moſt glad to ſee you, though I have no other entertainement for you, but a kind welcome.
Sir, I expect no more, I come to enioy your
company, and to be happy in your ſociety; for in the generall, I doe find none that can ſuite my condition, ſo well as your ſelfe.
Sir, Take of me what pleaſes you, I am vowed to your ſervice; and your loving vi
Sir. All that I acknowledge, is a will to doe you ſervice: but I haue beene ſlow in producing the effects, hereafter I will ſtudy to deſerve.
Sir, it is your ingenuous goodneſſe, to decline the acknowledgement of your owne vertue and deſerts, farre ſurpaſſing my me
Sir, It is I that am obliged to you, by many ſtrong tyes of affection, from which the ſervice of my life cannot diſengage mee; but I have treſpaſt againſt manners, pray take the chaire.
Sir, Pleaſe you to ſit firſt, for it becomes me to waite your leaſure.
J am provided, but if it may not appeare too much boldneſſe, what was the Adamant, or occaſion, that made you thus kinde, to viſit my lodging?
Sir, Shall I tell you? I came not to bor
Sir, You have choſen a bad opportunity, my affaires carry me away from my friends; beſides the obligation of my word to a Lady, to attend upon her this day.
Sir, I will chooſe ſome other time, to at
Sir. J will attend upon you, if J might know the place, and houre, where to meete you.
Sir, I will not put you to that trouble, it will become mee rather to waite on you.
Sir, Pardon me, I am much obliged to you.
Sir, I am your ſervant.
Sir, I am the ſervant of your ſervants, pray remember my reſpects to all our friends.
Sir, I will be yours in that, and all other ſervices.
PArdon me, I pray, if I preſume to ſpeake, what I have hitherto, with much affliction, hid from your knowledge.
There is a Gentleman that hath beheld your outward beauty, and by his judgement clearely diſcerned your vertues, the ornament of your mind; theſe have produc'd in him a ſtrange effect, ſo that in ſpite of his owne Reaſon, or diſſwaſion of friends, he is violently compell'd to ſpeake truth.
Sir, Call you this an affliction? Tis unhappineſſe to ſpeake, and heare truth.
Doe you hold that opinion?
Sir, I am ſorry that you have made mee the obiect of your love, I know your birth and perſon may deſerve one of greater account; and therefore I am amazed at the unexpreſſed novelty of your motion, not imagining, but your boſome had been free from any flame: let your wiſdom then ſuppreſſe it, leaſt your love becom fruitleſſe in the event.
I will not be diſcouraged by your firſt anſwer, for neither are you beneath me in quali
Sir, I would not have you cheriſh any uncertaine hope, nor build any aſſured foundation, where you have no ground given: love cannot be compelled, but muſt flow from
the ſpring of naturall deſire; but I find in my ſelfe no inclination to entertaine your affection; therefore you muſt pardon me, if I deny your ſute, which I cannot grant.
Nothing is impoſſible to love; for if you would beleeve that I beare a noble and con
Sir, I am confident, that your affection is right and perfect, not ſeeking, under a faire and colourable pretence, to betray me: yet I cannot force my ſelfe to conſent to your motion, I being utterly ignorant in Love matters; therefore excuſe me, till time, and conſideration ſhall enforce me how to anſwer your deſire.
I am comforted, that you have not utterly denied my ſute; I hope at my next vi
GOD ſave you, Sir, You are moſt happily met. How fare you?
Sir, I am the better to ſee you well and luſtie, why will you not doe me the honour to viſit me at my Chamber?
Sir, I muſt confeſſe I have often broken promiſe therein, but buſineſſe would not permit me, otherwiſe I had long ſince waited on you.
Sir, I ſhould rather account my ſelfe obliged to waite on you, for I am bound unto you for many favours; eſpecially, for the laſt courteſie you did me in a matter which concerned me much. Will you now doe me the kindneſſe to beare my reſpects to a Gentlewoman?
Sir, If ſhe be honeſt, I am ready to goe on your errand. I hope you will not put me on a diſgracefull peece of ſervice.
Sir, I hope you have no ſuch bad ſuſpition of me, for ſhe is both a faire and vertuous Gentlewoman, and hath a nimble wet: but I know you can deliver your mind in an excellent way.
Sir, It is you, whom Mercury the god of wit hath adorn'd with a gentle amorous ſpeech; but I will ſpeake in your behalfe, in as good and effectuall tearmes as I can remember.
Sir, You ſhall doe me then a moſt perfect favour. Tell her, I am her ready and willing ſervant, and that the power of love hath given her my heart, which I will come to fetch, in hope ſhe will give it me backe, and till then keepe it warme in her owne boſome. But what need I inſtruct you, who are all Love and Courtſhip?
Sir, I will performe your comGenius ſhall prompt me, but I have heard it ſaid.
That in way of love and glory, Lovers best tell their owne ſtory.
Sir, Pardon me, J know whom I doe entruſt with this buſineſſe, I am aſſur'd of your fidelity, and that you can deliver your mind in a powerfull maner, eſpecially, to Gentlewomen.
Sir, It muſt be my love to you that muſt inſpire me: but I promiſe you, I will ſtrive to ſpeake my beſt.
Sir, I am confident in you, and at your returne
from my Miſtris, I will prepare thankes for this great peece of ſervice, and reſt, yours obliged.
Sir, It is but my duty, I am happy to be imployed in any ſervice that concernes you, ſuppoſe this done.
MIſtreſſe, I doubt not but that you will judge me as raſh as bould: but I beſeech your divine beautie which glittereth in your faire eyes, to excuſe my audacity, and to pardon my temeritie, which have emboldened mee to come and preſent unto you my most humble and moſt affectionate ſervice.
Sir, I am very ſorry that I have not the honour to know you: and I mervaile that you will offer ſervice to mee, that of all am moſt unworthy.
Miſtris, It is the ſweetneſſe of your natu
Pardon mee Sir, I ſpeake nothing but I know to be moſt true.
Lady, This ſingular modeſtie which I ſee to the life expreſſed in your words, gives me a hope that you will entertaine my intentions not as harſh and diſconſonant, but as agreeable and conſonant, and that in time I ſhall obtaine ſome one of your favours and graces.
Sir, if there were any graces in me, they were yours: but I have not any, you can expect none.
Miſtris, It is that, which obligeth mee to a greater estimation of you, and makes you more amiable, and mee more affectionate to
I humbly thank you Sir with my beſt affection; as alſo for the paines you have taken for one that no way merits ſuch favours, I being your very humble ſervant.
Lady, It is I that am ſo deepely engaged to you, that I am diſenabled to quit my ſelfe of the obligation, and therefore (moſt faire Mi
Farwell Sir, and I give you humble thankes for this your loving viſit.
Sir, So farre as your intentions ſhall continue good, and your ſuits lawfull, you ſhall alwayes finde our dores open, and alſo to Gentlemen like your ſelfe, who ſhall not want our beſt entertainement according to our beſt poſſibility, and in that regard you ſhall no oftner come then be welcome.
Lady, J do aſſure you that I now goe to elon
You ſpeake ſtrong lines Sir, but it may be you are not ſo paſſionate as your words pretend. Farewell Sir, till our next meeting:
Miſtris, you doe a wrong to your beauty, and to my love which is faithfull and loyall: but I hope that time will make me appear more large
SIR, I have alwayes had an earneſt deſire to make my ſervice viſible unto you, and therefore I am bold to preſent unto you this Ring; deſiring you, not to value the gift, but the affection of the giver, who doth ſacrifice this unto you, from the Altar of an humble heart.
Sir, This is an addition to your many other favours, you are mindfull of me above my merit; how ſhall I make you requitall?
Sir, Your acceptance thereof is the chiefe ayme of my deſires; I would have you thinke, that true love uſes by dumbe ſignes and tokens to expreſſe it ſelfe.
Sir, Beleeve mee, ſo rich a gift as this
hath a moſt powerfull language: if it had been meaner, it would have ſufficed me, who muſt reſt beholding unto you, till I have opportunity to declare my ſelfe farther.
Sir, It is your worthines that makes it appeare ſo worthy: but I know no gift can be above your merit, nor ſufficient to de
Sir, J beſeech you doe not extenuate your ſelfe, nor it.
Sir, This Ring is but the embleme of my ſervice, which ſince you are pleaſed to receive, I muſt give you many thankes for your acceptance.
Sir, Jt is eaſie to perſwade the receit of a thing of ſuch value, but I will merit it as the oblation of my love.
Sir, For that I muſt remaine eternally your conſtant, faithfull friend.
Sir, I am yours in all reſpectfull ſervices, to be commanded.
Sir, You oblige me too much both in words and deeds, I am all yours.
SIr, as neceſſity hath no law, ſo it hath no ſhame; for, contrary to my diſ
Sir, Name it, it muſt be ſomething more then I know of, which I can deny you, who are alwayes modeſt in your requeſts.
Sir, I feare I ſhall give you no occa
Sir, I doe not well underſtand you, pray interpret your ſelfe, and diſguiſe not your meaning.
Sir, I would deſire you to diſpenſe with mee, it is a matter that concernes me neare, I am to beare away the Vſurers Daughter, and cary her where ſhee ſhall re
Sir, J will be ready to aſſiſt you, and
ſince your fortune cannot proceed without my Horſes legges, if he were the Muſes Pegaſus he ſhall be your ſervant, it is but to cary away a peece of live Veniſon, and that's a meane treſpaſſe; Cupid has enough in his Parke.
Sir, I am glad you are ſo pleaſant, and doe ſo well apprehend my intents. I was afraid, leaſt my purpoſe being knowne, which was manifeſt in mee to deliver, I ſhould have ſuffered repulſe, and have beene blamed by you for my bold attempt.
No, Sir, I doe account it in you a bravery of minde, that dare aſpire to reach a fortune, and plucke the golden Apples of Heſwatch't by the old Dragon the Ʋſurer: but I would not have you loſe time in talke; I will bid the groome prepare my horſe ready for your employment.
Sir, The whole ſervice of my life can
Sir, I will pray that your attempt may be proſperous, for I ſhall rejoyce in your happineſſe, as much as in mine owne; Therefore my good wiſhes ſhall bee your good Genius, to waite on
you; while my Prayers ſolicite heaven, for your happy ſucceſſe.
Sir, You have expreſt your ſelfe a no
Sir, I deſire nothing, but that you may thrive in your deſires.
Sir, Next my intended purpoſe, my chiefeſt glory and ambition is, to thrive in your favour.
I proteſt to you my faireſt, that I could never have beleeved that the tor
Is it poſſible Sir? ſurely I can hardly believe it.
Miſtris I beſeech you to beleeve
Sir, It may very well be, for you ſeeme very paſſionate in your actions.
I proteſt that it is unpoſſible for me to take any complacency in the world, but in that only that flatters my affection, and in the aſpect of your rare forme and moſt excellent Beauty.
Sir, It pleaſeth you to terme it ſo; content your ſelfe in laughing at mee, as you may at one that injoyeth not the leaſt glimpſe of beauty in my ſelfe.
Wherein my deereſt, ſhould you conceive ſo of me? J doe aſſure you with the betLADIE, that you ſee a man that is wholy yours, and deſires not to live but for you, and to doe you ſervice: but that which troubleth mee moſt
Idea of your beauty with perfect reſolution of obeying you, and ther
Sir, I infinitely thanke you, and bid you alſo adieu, wiſhing you a ſafe returne.
It is time, Suſan, that I ſhould now diſcover my minde unto you, we have beene long ſervants together, and ever ſince my firſt comming, I have borne you good will, which I would deſire you to ac
For that you muſt pardon me, for J doe not intend to marry, and therefore let that
ſerve for an excuſe, ſince I would be loth to diſcourage you, and ſay, I cannot love you.
I hope you will not, for ſince I firſt beheld you, I have admired your perfecti
You know, affection cannot be compel'd; therefore I thanke you for the good will which you have hitherto borne me, but as for your love, I cannot accept of it.
Then I perceive you love ſome other.
I deſire you to excuſe me, I cannot frame my minde to fancy you, though I know you deſerve my betters; but for mee to ſettle affection where I cannot love, would bee an endleſſe miſery: the Bryer and Honey-ſuckle cannot well agree.
Then you compare me to a Bryer, but I will with all humility put up your diſ
The utmoſt I can doe for you in requitall of your love, is, to give you thankes, and counſell to ſuppreſſe your deſire, and not to proceed any farther in this ſute, which at last will become fruitleſſe.
I ſhould be ſorry then: by this kiſſe which I preſume to take, none hath power over me but your ſelfe, I love you all over, and if you would licence my heart to ſtray about, how happy ſhould I be?
Nay, then I perceive your love is but a raſh and wanton deſire; neither can I ſtay with you any longer, leaſt my abſence out of my Mistreſſes Chamber might breed ſome ſuſpition.
Stay, I will hold you in the priſon of my armes, and if you will get your free
Nay, pray be not rude, nor give mee cauſe to ſuſpect that your love is diſhoneſt, I had formerly better opinion of you, but now I am jealous of your good intent.
Pardon mee, if love have made me of
Come pray let me be gone, I ſhall be angry if you hinder me.
Well then, I obey your deſire, but let me prevaile farther with you at our next meeting.
SIr, I am very ſorry that my affaires doe compell me to take my leave of you, from whom I have received ſo many benefits, which have bound me in many tyes ever to ſerve you, neither have I any way left to ſatisfie my ſelfe in requiting your former kindneſſes, but to acknowledge them farre above my requitall, and to deſire you, that you would both receive the tender of my humble ſervice, and command me in ſome
Sir, I cannot chooſe but grieve that you must now bee divided from us, by a tedious journey; yet ſince he loves himſelfe better than his friend, that will not yeeld to any thing for his good, I am content in that regard to looſe your company a while, wiſhing you both a proſperous journey, and that in your abſence you would remember me, who will alwayes in my daily prayers ſollicite heaven for your ſafe returne, deſiring
to be excuſed for your poore entertainment, which perhaps makes you deſirous to be gone.
Sir, Pardon me, the entertainment I have found, was farre above my deſert, for which I render you a million of thankes. There re
Sir, I intreate you make not ſo great haſte to be gone.
Sir, I could willingly defer my journey, to enjoy your company; but the winde ſtands faire for France, therefore let us con
Sir, Since we muſt diſpenſe with your departure, I pray doe us the courteſie to revive our drooping mindes, with the good tydings of your ſafe arivall in France.
Sir, Be aſſur'd I cannot be unmindfull of you, nor of my other friends, to whom I pray you to commend mee, ſince I cannot take my leave of them all in particular.
Sir, J am glad you will doe mee the fauour to give me any imployment in your abſence, I will performe your deſire.
Sir, I can but thanke you, and for your love in bringing me to my Shippe, which is a trouble, that you would take upon you,
Sir, I am happy to ſerve you in any thing, God ſend you a proſperous journey.
Sir, I doubt not but I ſhall arive in ſafe
Sir, Since you will needs have it ſo, I will bid you, farewell, with all the affection of a conſtant friend.
PRay let mee prevaile ſo much with you, to entreate your company to dinner.
Sir, I humbly thanke you for your courteſie, but my buſineſſe will not permit; therefore I deſire to be excuſed.
Nay good, Sir, Let me not be denyed, I muſt confeſſe indeed your cheare will not bee worthy of your ſtay; but you ſhall be heartily welcome.
Sir, I would willingly obey your deſire, but I feare to be too bold.
Sir, You ſhall be moſt welcome; you ſhall command in my houſe as in your own.
Your offer is ſo large and courte
Sir, You will finde but courſe fare, but ſuch as it is, pray eſteeme your ſelfe moſt heartily welcome, and in a reall manner without complement.
Sir, Here is much plenty, and you wrong your ſelfe to excuſe your fare, whereNoah's Arke, I know not how it could be mended.
It is your favour to commend and accept of any thing, but pray excuſe me, once more I deſire it: if I had beene certaine of your honouring my houſe with your preſence, I would have made better preparation for your entertainment.
Sir, I deſire you rather to excuſe my boldneſſe, in putting you to ſo much trouble, you may perceive that I thinke my ſelfe welcome by my liberall feeding: I am
I beſeech you ſpare not, J am glad to ſee you ſo pleaſant, and to increaſe your mirth, I will drinke to your health in wine, in hope you will pledge me.
Sir, They ſay there is truth in wine, and if there be truth in wine, I will finde it out, let the health bee nere ſo deepe.
Thanke you for doing mee this peece of juſtice: pray ſee if you can make a homely Dinner, otherwiſe J know not how to be excuſed for inviting you.
Sir, To decline ceremony, you have moſt worthily feaſted me, and honou
GEntlemen, Pray take your places, I know not how to direct you. But firſt let us waſh.
Pray begin, for it is fit that we ſhould follow you.
In this matter, Ceremonies are needleſſe; but you will doe nothing without my ex
Then in obedience to your deſire, we will waſh with you.
I beſeech you Gentlemen, to ſave me a la
Sir, Wee expect your ſitting downe, and afterwards, we will not contend much for prioritie of place.
Come, M. Getting, you are my old ac
By no meanes, that is not my place, heres a Gentleman deſerves to be ſeated there.
Sir, I have deſigned you this place, pray let me rule ſo farre.
Sir, J ſhould bee loth to be too troubleſome, and yet J would not preſume before my betters.
Sir, You are too full of excuſe, you may yeeld to take your due place, otherwiſe I ſhould wrong you.
Sir, I beſeech you then to excuſe me, and account it your fault, if J tranſgreſſe the bounds of manners, in aſſuming a place farre above my deſert, and which is of right belonging to theſe other Gentlemen.
We might have ſpar'd this ceremony, for the appetite loves good dainties better than Complements Now pray ſerve your ſelves,
Sir, Wee will not put you to any trouble in helping us, we know that manners will allow us to make a dinner, we come to treſpaſſe on you.
Sir, I deſire you to excuſe your meane fare, and ſlender entertaine
Your reall kindnes hath bin ſuch and ſo unexpected, that I cannot give you ſufficient thankes for your courteſie and kinde entertainment: all that I can render, is to promiſe, that I will ſnatch an opportunity to expreſſe my gratitude.
You have honoured me enough, in
Pardon me, Sir, the world runs about mee while I ſtand unmov'd, never marking the motion thereof, and therefore I am altogether ignorant in Novelties, it may be you heare more.
Indeed Sir, I have ſo many affaires, that I can enquire after none, I thought you could have given us ſome good intelligence.
Sir, I deſire you to excuſe me, for I hold it a fruitleſſe imployment, but yet to ſatisfie your requeſt, if I knew any freſh newes, that were not yet in print, J will be bold to tell you ſomewhat, ſince you deſire it.
I will not importune you any far
Sir, Then I muſt really thanke you, you have made me bold with you, J will accompany you a while to the fire, and then take my leave.
Seeing you are alone, I would offer you to attend on you, if you would accept of my ſervice.
It is more than J deſire, or deſerve; and it would appeare boldneſſe in me to accept of a ſtrangers company.
It is not for me to accept all ſhewes and offers of kindneſſe, I can but thanke you for your good will, I am not farre diſtant from my owne home.
Pray let me beare you company, and by the way make me happie in ſome diſcourſe, reſolve mee one queſtion; Were you never in love?
Though it be no manners to anſwer one queſtion, with demanding another; yet I will preſume to aske you, If you were never in love?
Faire one, from thence ſprings my un
Pray ſpeake in plaine tearmes, I am ignorant of your meaning.
I deſire you then to know and be
Sir I know not in this caſe how to give an anſwer, that may procure your content, but I deſire you importune mee no farther, but grant me time to conſider your motion, this is my Fathers houſe, whither, if pleaſe you to come hereafter, I will ſtudy to reſolve you, howſoever you ſhall be welcome.
But before I loſe your preſence, which is my chiefe happineſſe, let me tell you, that when you goe in, you beare away my heart with you, and I ſhall onely languiſh in ſorrow, tell I viſit you againe.
Pray, Sir, doe not hold me longer
I muſt obey, honour me with an ordinary ſalutation, and I will vaniſh like a ſhadow, that will returne again to wait on you, who are the ſubſtance of my life.
I would entreate you (faire Widdow) not to diſcourage mee in my firſt ſute, ſince your modeſty and vertuous cariage in your Husbands life time, hath made mee bold to plead for affection; and to cheriſh a certaine hope, that I ſhall obtaine my deſire.
Sir, I would not have you imagine, that my love to my former Huſband was written on a Table booke, the Letters whereof may bee ſoone wiped out againe; no, it was engraved upon my
heart, and there doth remaine to informe mee that I ought not to wrong him with a ſecond marriage.
Nay, Widdow, I muſt ac
It is my full reſolved purpoſe, and therefore let not any wanton opinion concerning me, give you hope of obtaining my love; Alas! Since his departure, I am dead unto the world, and doe but only live, to ſigh, when I remember that I had ſo good a Husband.
His goodneſſe is gone with him, but for my part, I will be your living active ſervant; come, come, put off griefe and falſe imaginati
You ſpeake unhappily, but pray be ſatisfied that I intend not to marry, yet I reſpect your good will, and other matters will remaine ready to requite your love.
For other matters I am ſatisfied, but your love is the mark whereat I aime, why ſhould you thus ſtrive to become a virgin againe, and forget the conceit of former pleaſures, which are yet freſh in your remembrance; fie, fie, you doe not well to make your ſelfe ſo dull of ap
You ſpeake myſteries; but I deſire if you love me, ſhew it in ceaſing to proſecute your ſute; for I muſt tell you plainly, it will prove fruitleſſe, and of none effect.
I cannot beleeve, but that I ſhall bee more fortunately happy to obtaine your fa
Perſwade your ſelfe to it, but I ſhall never give you cauſe to thinke ſo, yet I will ever reſpect you, and be ready to doe you any uſuall courteſie.
Well I thanke you that I have
Your hope is built upon a falſe foundation, and had I knowne your intent, I would not have held diſcourſe with you ſo long; I muſt leave your company.
Let me rather take my leave of you, and ſeale a kiſſe upon your lippe untill I vi
I muſt acknowledge I was ſomewhat too bold to enforce a kiſſe from you, in the preſence of other friends; but I pray excuſe my paſſion, and let your mercy be ſhewed in pardoning, as my folly was in offending.
Sir, It was ſo great a treſpaſſe, and ſo directly aym'd againſt my white fame and reputation, that no repentance can ſatisfie for a fault of that nature.
It cannot exceed the limits of for
Nay, you may enjoy that kiſſe violently tooke from mee before ſo many witneſſes; but never any more.
I muſt confeſſe it was my raſhneſſe, but if you will that I repay it back againe, I will give you intereſt for that one, and vow unto you, never to offend your patience in the like kind.
Well, ſince you are ſo willing to repent, and to ſhew unfained ſorrow, I muſt needs accept them for preſent ſatisfaction, deſiring you hereafter to be more carefull of my credit, and never againe to make ſo bold an offer.
You have charmed mee to obedi
ALas! Sir, is this the houre then, when the ſevere rigour of your abſence muſt eclipſe my dayes of their bright beames? Oh how this ſad newes doth fire my ſpirits! and not without reaſon, ſince you to whom I had wholly conſecrated my ſelfe, will not deigne a mercifull eye on my ſufferings for your abſence.
Miſtris, Feare not, but reſt aſſured, that ſo long as life will give mee leave to enjoy the Suns brightneſſe, never ſhall any other have power over me; doe me onely the favour, that having given you theſe new aſſurances of my fidelity, you will bee pleaſed to render mee ſome reall promiſes of yours. Beſides, I proteſt to you, Lady, I will never acknowledge any other light then yours, no more than the Earth doth other then the Suns.
Sir, They are no falſe promiſes that I have made you, but true aſſurances,
If Miſtris, you love mee thus, let your minde bee confident of an equall troth from mee; and ſhould you doubt of my affections, I will give you my ſoule for pledge, and my heart for ſacrifice, to ſhew you that my words are unfained, I pray you therefore accept of this ſmall gift, not as a thing worthie of merit, but onely as a ſufficient teſtimony of my good will, fidelity, and faithfull love towards you; and being a thing ſo ſmall and unworthy of you, it will therefore be the more commendable in you to accept of it.
Sir, I give you infinite thanks, and withall doe beſeech you alſo to receive this in requitall, for a remembrance of me, which is of ſmall value, but be mov'd to take it in good part from her, who from hence
Thanks to you, ſweeteſt, the gift truly is pleaſing to me, but the giver much more.
But, Sir, Is there, no meanes to ſtay you for a little time, that I might enjoy your preſence, which ſtands me in ſtead of light and life, therefore your abſence will envelope me with darkneſſe, and bring up
Miſtris, I hope, not ſo, for I am conſtrained through neceſſitie of my buſineſse to depart hence.
Oh, I ſee now too well, that that conſtancy of yours, which I truſted to for remedy of my troubled thoughts, is vani
Miſtris, I ſweare to you, my heart is alike touch'd with ſuch ſtrokes for this our parting, that I can hardly breath for griefe of it, and doe already ſee I have loſt my eye ſight, in the loſse of the ſight of your Star-like beautie. For ſure I am, that once abſent from your luminous aſpect, each pleaſure will be to me a ſubject, of griefe and ſorrow. However, ſince
deare Miſtris, live ſtill happie and content whilſt I languiſh, unhappie though conſtant: let not that my remoteneſſe alter your mind, no more than it ſhall ſhake the reſolution I have long ſince made to live and die yours; for, for mine owne part, I ſhall not thinke my ſelfe abſent from you, ſo long as I ſhall keep a room in your heart and memory.
Farewell, Sir, you poſſeſſe my ſoule; and I doe even leave it in your power conSir, and even con
I vow to you, Miſtris, I will give you ſo
many Letters, for confirmation of my loyaltie, and the love I beare you, that you ſhall have no cauſe to diſtruſt. And ſo J pray God to make you the happieſt alive; even as hee hath made you the fairest, & moſt accompliſhed: & that he alſo give you the grace, to conſerve me in your moſt deſired favour, that I may be able continually to witneſſe, how violent my affection is towards you.
Heaven grant you may be as faithfull to me, as I am to you; and give you as much quiet and contentment, as you take from me. But what ſhould I ſay more? I muſt ceaſe remembring you of the force and heate of my affection, and entreat you to pitie my martyrdome, and that whereſoever you are, you will bee mindfull of me. And ſo once more, I pray God grant you ſuch proſperi
Reſt aſſured, ſweet Miſtris, to bee beloved, though not equall to your merit, to whoſe height it is impoſſible my affection can raiſe it ſelfe.
QVeſt. What is Love?
Anſw. It is the receptacle of penſive mindes, a paſſion that binds the ſpirits.
Queſt. What is the greateſt recompence a woman can make a man?
Anſw. To reveale to him her ſecrets, and make him Lord over her body.
Queſt. How muſt a man behave himſelfe amongst Ladies?
Anſw. He muſt be bold and hardy.
Queſt. Why is Love painted blinde?
Anſw. Becauſe the actions of love can
Queſt. Why be the ſecrets of Love ſo eaſily kept?
Anſw. For the great ſweetneſſe men find in them.
Queſt. Who is moſt ſecret in the ſports of Love?
Anſw. Women, ſince it ſo neerely touches their modeſty.
What is the meat of perfect Lovers?
Anſw. Sighes and teares.
Queſt. Why have old men the repulſe of young women?
Anſw. Becauſe they have not wherewith to eaſe them of their griefe.
Queſt. Why doe Lovers wax pale?
Anſw. From the paſſions of the mind.
Queſt. Why doe they picture Cupid with wings?
Anſw. Becauſe the deſires of Lovers doe tend alwayes to high things.
Queſt. Why do Lovers write amorous ſonnets one to another in Rime?
Anſw. Becauſe Poetrie is the friend of Love.
Queſt. Why do women love them moſt dearly that had their maiden heads?
Anſw. Becauſe by the conjunction of the men they gaine perfection.
Queſt. Wherefore are amorous women more tickliſh then others.
Anſw. Becauſe their skins are moſt looſe, ſoft and delicate.
Queſt. How cometh it to paſſe that women newly maried the firſt night are ſo loth to goe to bed, and riſe the next day ſo luſty and joyfull.
Anſw. It proceeds from the perfection of the man, which they having acquired to themſelves, they then know they are wo
Queſt. Why doe men kiſſe the eyes of them they affect?
Anſw. Becauſe they were the firſt begin
Queſt. Why doe many love fervently, yet are not beloved againe?
Anſw. By reaſon their complexions can
Queſt. Why ſhould wee not place our loves on tho
Anſw. Becauſe they are ſo inconſtant and evermore curious of new ſervants.
Queſt. How comes it that hee that is ſoone taken with love doth ſoone forget it.
Anſw. He is like one who rides a galop, and by and by, waxeth weary.
Queſt. Why do men ſay that Love is a perfect muſitian?
Anſw. Becauſe he tuneth the ſpirits that before had no agreement.
Queſt. What is the greateſt pleaſure that a true lover can feele?
Anſ. To thinke that he is borne to ſerve and pleaſe his Lady.
Wherefore be all things more diſpoſed to love in the ſpring time, then in any other ſeaſons?
Anſw. Becauſe then the humours doe move themſelves and the bloud doth wax hot.
Queſt. Wherefore are the Angers of Lovers of ſo little continuance?
Anſw. Becauſe they fall out for trifles.
Queſt. Wherefore doe the Ancients paint Love with flowers in one hand and fiſh in another?
Anſw. To ſhew that Love is Lord both of Sea and Land.
Queſt. Why are men rather Amorous then women?
Anſw. Becauſe they are of hotter com
Queſt. Wherefore be all the joyes of Lovers uncertaine?
Anſw. Becauſe in Love are divers caſu
Queſt. Why is it that ſecret Love is more burning then that which is diſcovered?
Anſw. Becauſe in the one a fire doth con
Queſt. Whether is more conſtant in Love, the man or the woman?
Anſw. The man being both of body and ſpirit more firme.
Queſt. Wherefore have Lovers feeble voyces?
Anſw. Out of the feare they have to diſ
Queſt. Wherefore is it that a man being touched with Love cannot rid himſelfe of that paſſion by any dexterity?
Anſw. Becauſe a certaine ſweet motion doth tranſport him to the thing he deſires, and with a certaine admiration winds him into the nets of Love.
Queſt. Wherefore are Lovers for the most part ready to weep?
Anſw. Becauſe by nature they are ſacre
Queſt. Why be women ſo prone to yeeld to Love?
Anſw. Becauſe nature hath indued them with a delicate touch, with complexions hot and moyſt, things moſt requiſite for the recreations of Venus.
DEſiring to refreſh the memory of your good will.
I thanke you for the courteſie I received at your hands.
I pray you honour me ſo much, as to beare my Neece company.
Let mee requeſt this courteſie at your hands.
I muſt intreate you to have me excuſed.
I am wonderfully taken with the read
Sir, I am not ignorant of the affection you beare to me.
There ſhall be nothing wanting in mee who have beene alwayes tender of your ho
Sir, I have well conſidered of your friend
Sir, Let me adviſe you, not to let ſlip this opportunity.
Excuſe me, if my haſte force me to be too familiar with you.
VVHerefore I pray you adviſe me, or give me counſell, ſince in all things you may diſpoſe of me.
Wherefore be pleaſed to excuſe me.
Wherefore I doe againe deſire you.
I will employ all my power in it.
The beſt intereſt, or uſe which you ſhall have for the money you lent mee, is, that I will here confeſſe and ſubſcribe my ſelfe, your, &c.
So as you will have a little patience, I will doe you reaſon, or, I will doe all that ſhall be fitting.
When you ſhall have need of my ware, or of any thing my ſhoppe affords, it is at your command, or ſervice.
In any thing, wherein I ſhall have the
If you have need of mee, I pray you ſpare me not ſince I am alwayes yours.
If you thinke good, I pray you ſend for it, for it is at your command.
I ſhall acquit my ſelfe therein, as I ſhould doe in my owne buſineſſe.
You ſhall find me alwayes ready to obey you.
If you deale well with me now, you will give mee occaſion to pleaſure you another time.
If you ſend not the ſumme you owe mee, you will conſtraine mee to take ſome other courſe.
I pray you adviſe me in it.
I will ever doe it with all my heart:
I will not faile to advertiſe you.
All that I have, it is at your command.
I will take the boldneſſe to ſalute you, with my moſt humble recommends.
I ſhall doe it with as good a will, as I now recommend mee to your good favour, with my prayers to God, to give you even what your heart deſireth.
Deſiring God to give you the continu
Praying to God for your contentment. Even ſo I take my leave.
And ſo I reſt or remaine for ever, everYours, &c.
SIr, Theſe ſtrokes of my hand, ſhall ſerve to intreat you to honour me with yours, and to confirme to you anew the purpoſe I have alwayes had in my ſoule, which is a perfect will to live faithfully, that I may die conſtant.
SIr, This my duty ſhall confirme the reſt, which I deſire to yeeld you by my ſer
SEE, Sir, I doe not forget you, witneſſe this preſent, and a thouſand more evi
SIr, If I can tel how to crave of you, much better can I obey you: but for lacke of your commands, I make my prayers to you
Sir, as
MY paſſionate deſire to doe you ſervice emboldens mee to take pen in hand, to beſeech you to doe this friend of mine a favour; the matter is but ſmall, but the acknowledgment ſhall be great. I ſhall expect this courteſie of you, as you from me will looke for all manner of ſervice, ſith in very deed Sir, I am
I Honour your requeſts too much to reSir, I am,
SIr, I am ſo deſtined to obey you, that I ne
SIr, Your requeſts are effected, and by conSir, from
SIr, Though you were deprived of my Letters, you were not of my rememSir, ſave only, that I am alwayes
SIR, Being aſcertained of your ſickneſſe, I was no more in doubt of mine owne harme, ſith the leaſt you feele, is to mee an extreame griefe. Now if my prayers can doe any thing for your health, and conſe
YOu binde mee and unbinde, pardon me faireſt, if this word offend thee, when you tell mee you love mee, can I have any greater obligation? the offence is not ſmall that you had not written to mee, but that you promiſed me, for I am indebted to your promiſe, and not to your loue: remember I beſeech you that I am not yours, becauſe I have promiſed you, but becauſe I am truely yours, and that I deſire not Letters for the conditions that are betweene us, but for the ſole witneſſe of your good will not wel-comming them as merchandizes, but as be
SIr, ſince I am conſtrain'd by my fathers commands, I muſt intreate you to end that love which heretofore I conjured you
GOe paper more happy then him that ſends thee, accompanied with thy blots inſtead of teares kiſſe her hands, which ha
SIR, I received your Letter and withall peruſed thoſe undeſerved commendations of my perfections as you call them, to which you annexed the proteſtations of your ſervice, which you muſt give me leave to queſtion, for I ſhall alwaies doubt whiSir, upon theſe warrants and your free offers of ſervice, I binde you by a courteous requeſt to con
MY deereſt, if the diſſembling which you injoyne me to, be to cauſe me to dye of griefe, you may eaſily doe it with a frowne, and then my death will give you a ſpeedy and deplorable demonſtration how truly I have loved you, Farewell.
IF there be any thing in you that pleaſes me, your death is the leaſt: the acknow
Faireſt, I left thee with griefe, but am re
IF I have not alwaies loved you, let me ne
SIr, I much rejoyce at the ſucceſſe of your buſineſſe, and even ſo, as if it had arrived to mee, I could not more celebrate it in my ſoule; ſo much doe I tender your content: but this is but a duty, to the friendſhippe I owe you; and a neceſſity, to the zeale I have to your ſervice, wherein I doe but ob
SIr, an irkeſome neceſſity deprives me a long while from the honour of your pre
SIr, If lawfull excuſes exempt duty, I am abſolved of the promiſes I have made you, through the importunity of affaires that have befallen mee: it grieves mee neverthe
SIr, The honour of your alliance is ſo deare to you, that I ſhall never thinke me more happy, then when I ſhall deeme my ſelfe capable to deſerve it. This duty will witneſſe to you, how conſiderable you are
SIr, The honour of your friendſhip ſo ob
SIR, you ſtill delight in obliging ſuch as are moſt beholding unto you; I am wit
SIR, Your words offend much, and your deeds much more; I pitie them both; the one makes you ſeeme milde, and the o
MIſtris, It is long ſince, that too much diſcretion hath kept me from writing to you; and it may be too much boldneſſe permits it me now: I pray you therefore pardon me, before you judge me guilty: that ſo I may bee rather abſolved, then accuſed: for although I had no other purpoſe, then to tender you my ſervice, as now I doe, with my faith to boote, for aſſurance of my fideMiſtris, Ther's my Name and Sur
MIſtris, Sith at the ſole aſpect of your eyes, my heart ſighes for love, as taMiſtris, But alwayes in this qualitie, of your moſt affectionate Servant.
MIſtris, When to admire you I ſtaid mine eyes at your object, my heart inſenſiblie taken, bewailed her captivity; ſo as I found my ſelfe in love, before I had
LAdy, I have ſuch an inclination to your love, that I muſt neds be deſtined for your ſervice. Now if it be a fatall inſtinct in me, that my obeiſance ſhould waite upon the honour of your commands, is it not ne
MIſtris, If admiration have onely eyes for your beauty, and if Cupid be not blinde, but to eſchew hurts from you, can I
Miſtris, I have too much honour, in be
MIſtris, This inſtant letter will tell you I am your ſervant. If you aske me the cauſe: It is your merit, and the effect ſhall be my obedience, if you deeme mee as worMiſtris to my wiſh, and by conſequence, am
MIſtris, I am yours: for having no
SIth your eyes have wounded my heart, the wound is mortall. If I muſt die, it ſhall be for love. Happy death, happy cauſe! I will have no remedy, for my heart is too noble to crave a cure. Confeſſe onely you have vanquiſhed me, and I ſhall confeſſe my defeate, being it proceeds from the moſt perfect creature on earth.
SOmtimes Love, at this time the deſpaire of Love, hath put the pen into my hand, with a purpoſe if it returne mee no redreſſe, to change it into a ſword, which promiſes mee a full though a cruell healing; the blanke paper which you have ſent mee, for an an
DRaw from your evill the knowledge of your good: if you had not bin belo
MAdam, who doubts of my innocency ſhall bee guilty and offend againſt truth, cloſed eyes ſee not the light, though without a ſhadow it ſhine on them, eſpeci
SIR, The wounds of the body are not al
FAire Miſtris, had I vertue to perſwade you as you have power to make me love
Venus hands, that you ſhall thus much I ſay, though I place no confidence in my owne wiſhes, becauſe they convert to ayre, yet I preſume of my own indeavours, for that I have vowed my life to death, to do you ſervice, of which you can have no better aſſurance, than to imploy me, nor I a higher favour than to be
GOod Madam, Martyr me not with doubts, ſince my affections are ſo vio
MOre of zeale to do you ſervice, than deſire I have to live, I here preſent you my conſumed ſelfe, onely kept alive by the light of your faire beauty, that ſitteth crow
I Am not cruell, though with difficulty I conſent to love; and for thSir, that being over
FAireſt, ſince it is a common thing to love and a miracle to ſubdue affection, Let it not ſeeme ſtrange that I am a ſlave to your beauty, nor wonder though I ſue for grace, ſince the lover like a ſick patient, is inforc'd to ſeeke comfort of his miſtris: to prove that I love you, needs no other teſtimony then the witneſſe of your rare perfections, for the preſent I balme my wounds with a hope that I ſhall kiſſe your gracious hand, and that your anſwer wil returne an acceptance of the ſervice of him
Whoſe heart waiteth on your Beauty.
FAire Nimph, May all contents and plea
FAireſt, If your eyes were as full of va
IF you have regard to the preſumption which hath forced me to love, my death which followes it, ſhall revenge it on you; but if it be indifferent to you, I aſſure my ſelfe, that this laſt act of my affection ſhall gaine ſomwhat more in your ſoule: if it fall out ſo, I ſhall cheriſh the reſemblance of your beauty more than my birth, ſince by it I came into the world to be troubleſome to you; and by the other, I go out of it, and leave you.
MIstris, My heart is yours, my obedi
MIſtris, From the time that with your beautie, I had the knowledge of your merits, I felt ſome ſecret power, which ſweetly enforced my will to honour you, and my heart to aſpire at nought but your love. If ſo be then, that my ſervices, where
SIR, I have received, by way of duty, the honour of your Letter; whereby I have ſeen the ſubmiſſions of ſervices which you do me, but unfittingly, for which I am more beholding to your courteſie, then to any merit of mine: Now to accept of them were without reaſon; as to refuſe them would be held diſdainfull; I doe therefore receive the proffer, but leave the effects to your ſelfe, that ſo you may not ſerv
SIR, If the ſervices which your honeſty will needs yeeld mee, gather only life from my merit, or beauty, they have but their name; for there can be no defect, if there be no cauſe: So that I never having
Sir, but I am yours in deed.
SIR, If my duty have entertained yours, mine honeſty hath refuſed your offers, as too worthy of me, and I am unworthy of them. I ſhall nevertheleſſe, for mine owne ſake, reſerve the honour to my ſelf, Sir, who am
SIR I accuſe my duty for your ſatisfactiSir, who is the moſt affeServants.
ALbeit one ſelfe ſame cauſe makes us pardonable, for having beene alike ſi
SIR, Although my merit be not ſuch as may preſume to deſerve the honour I have to write to you, yet the deſire never
IT is impoſſible to ſee you without loving you, but much more to love you without being extreme in that affection, ſo that if for my defence it ſhall pleaſe you to conſi
IF perfection be not in the world, but to make you admired; if love be not love, but to make you be beloved; if ſacrifi
SIR, It is needleſſe for me to ſay I love you, ſince my actions hitherto have given you no teſtimony to the contrary. Truce then for my words, I will that my deeds ſhall ſpeak, and tell you that in effect I will during life be
WHat worthy acknowledgement can I give to your obligations, when their extremitie bereaves me of the hope: my dutie remaines penſive at the ex
SIR, With what kind of duties ſhall I acYour moſt humble ſervitour.
SIR, I have nothing, yet I owe much. To preſent you with wiſhes, for effects, were but too weak recompences. I will therfore give you mine endeavours, for all your courteſies; honouring and ſerving you whilſt I live; all which life of mine is de
SIR, Your courteſies have too much obli
SIR, I can honour your merits by reaſon, and acknowledge by duty your courteſies which have too much obliged me, to be un
SIR, Deſirous of your contentment, as of mine owne, I have taken pen in hand, to tell you whatſoever hath paſt. Now you have ſeene what is new, take the old with it: which is, that I am alwayes,
Shall I conceale ſuch an exceſſive happiMy deere? Or ſhall I publiſh it, to make it greater? No, no, my ſilence may honour it, yet my words ſhall make it the more gloriIdea. And ſo bleſ
MIſtris, Since the day of your deparMiſtris, which is the faireſt of the world, and I the moſt afflicted of all your ſervants.
MIſtris, Sith for counterpoiſe of my love, I ſuffer the griefe of your abMiſtris.
IF thoſe griefes, which are ſtill preſent, ſince your abſence did not make me hope for a ſpeedy death, I ſhould bewaile the birth of my dayes, that doe enlighten me without thining, for deprived of the bright
MIstris, If the ſorrow which your ab
SIR, What kinde of trouble can ſuch an indifferent abſence bring to your conSir, of deſerving the ſtile and quality, of your ſer
SIR, I can give but fained remedies to an imaginarie torment like yours, for mine abſence is of too indifferent a nature to cauſe
IF love and crueltie bee two contrarie things, your love muſt needs be fained, ſince your rigour is reall. Ceaſe then to make me ſuffer, and I ſhall believe you love me, for my paine and your crueltie are too oppoſite to perſiſt together: Adieu my deare, and though too cruell.
SIR, You complaine of my abſence, and I of yours: you would enjoy my pre
TO ſee you without admiration, is paſt my power; to admire and love you, is a neceſſity; but to love and indure yours, is a conſequence for you have ſo much merit, that one can hardly deſire, much leſſe hope for the honour of your good favours. Iudge then who can but worthily ſerve you? Sure he is yet unborn, nay, in earneſt, i'le pawne my ſoul on't, yet with your leave, Miſtris,
TO deſpiſe ſuch as honour you, to diſ
MIſtris, Albeit your actions, in appea
SIR, Our Sex is not alwayes accuſed of inconſtancy, and yet do I now take that law from you: you, I ſay, whoſe oathes gave ſuch faithful teſtimonies of affection, that I durſt not doubt of it, for feare of offending my ſelfe: And yet hath the winde caried away your words, but not your love, for you never had any: ſo that now when I blame my ſelfe for having believed you, I praiſe my ſelfe withall, for imitating you, but alwayes with the ſorrow of not being your example: for it was fit I ſhould preMistris,
MIstris, It is well to be ſeene that you have no love, ſince you have eyes to ſee my unworthineſſe. Love is blinde, you ſhould be ſo too in regard of my merits: let it ſuffice you that I love you, and that I a
THere is no creature Madam, ſo bereaDictamum, and recovers; but man hath no ſecret ſalve ſo excellent, nor plaiſter ſo perfect by whoſe ſecret vertues he
Madam I now know by proofe, and therfore ſpeak by experience; for your divine beautie and the perfections of your mind have kindled ſuch a flame in my heart that by no meanes I can quench, but it will turne my body into dry earth, and cinders; unleſſe by the drops of your pity, it be ſpeedily extinguiſhed: thereMadam, let the ſweet balme of your benevolence ſalve the ſore which ſo painfully afflicteth my carefull conſcience, and with the dew of your grace redeeme him from miſery whoſe life or death ſtandeth in your an
IT is impoſſible Sir, to ſtraine moyſt liquor out of the dry flint, to procure a heat in that which is key cold, or to force the ſturSir, you are the man I loath, but cannot like; make therefore a vertue of your neceſſity and aſſwage the flame your ſelfe, which I know not who elſe will quench, by an importunate perſiſting in thy purpoſe where no hope is, thou proveſt thy felfe rather a deſperate ſot, then a diſcreet Souldier: take my nay therefore for an an
ADmire not though I raile againſt thy follies, ſince thy mercyleſſe minde hath miſled me by thy ingratitude, & thy imper
WOnder not Sir, though you ſee an anſwer to your franticke letter, do you thinke by brawling like a begger to beSir, as I know your knaDiogenes doctrine, you Cinicall Dunce, what felicity can you have in byting thoſe of whom otherwiſe thou canſt not be reveng'd? Indeed gentle Balaams Aſſe; if I had bin ſo light to have loved you, for feeding my fanSir dunce, the more you miſlike me, the better I love my ſelfe, whilſt I account it the greateſt felicity of S.M.
MAdam, as my cares proceed from your cruelty, ſo let the effects of your cour
THey who have the honour to ſee you run a dangerous fortune: if they love you, they are ſaucy; if they love not, they are without judgment; now faire creature, I have choſen that which is moſt after my humour; and from which it is impoſſible for me to withdraw my ſelfe, thinke it not hard Cruell Diana, that having ſeene you, I love you: if this boldneſſe deſerve puniſhment, you cauſed it, and it is no more in my choice, for I muſt while I live, be your ſer
I Write not now to tell you that I love, for you have believed it but too well, but to aſſure you that I ſhall love you no more, perhaps you may be amaz'd at this alterati
SIR, It was your arrogancy perſwaSir, it is no ſmall happi
IT is not to complaine of you Miſtris, that I take up my pen, but only to deplore my miſfortunes which make me ſo contemned of you, ſince at other times you were not wont to uſe me in this ſort. I am the ſame man that have ſerved you in all reſpective ſubmiſſion, and you are the ſame that at firſt were mine, ſince you received me for yours. I am become no leſſe, nor you greater; if it be ſo, why doe you not judge me worthy of the ſame entertainement? I have called my ſoule to an account for her actions, ſince it pleaſeth you, I will diſplay them all before your eyes: for my part, I cannot accuſe any one of them, if you ſhall judge otherwiſe
IF love taught me as well to ſpeak my torMiſtris, for my quality is,
SInce your merits cauſe my torment, I will never complaine: the more rigorous you ſhall be, the more conſtantly I will oppoſe all my reſpects, to your neglects; my ho
TO have no ſoule, but to adore you; to have no heart, but to love you; and but one only life, for your ſervice; have you not cauſe to complaine? You, whoſe beauty, hath ſo many charmes; and merits, ſo many baites, that one would deteſt this name of liberty, to die your ſlave. Should one talke of miracles, you are the example; in diſ
IF for deſiring death, one were to looſe his life, I ſhould have beene gone long ſince: for too much love, makes me hate my ſelfe: but mee thinkes the more I live, I ſtill lengthen my daies: and that being wret
TO love, and not to be loved, is to live without hope, and by donſequent, to die. Have you reſolved my death, and by diſdaining my ſervices, to forget them for requitall? It is too much rigour, for your beautie: you will confeſſe it one day, but too late for your repentance, for I ſhall no longer by conſequence ſubſiſt, as I am for the preſent, Miſtris, The moſt humbe of all Your ſervants.
MIſtris, Thus to forbid me to love you, and to will mee not to honour you, what would you have me doe (my deares) I muſt change my heart, if I would change my Miſtris; and Nature muſt give me other inclinations, to deprive you of my reſpects, and of my obedience: forbid me to live ra
IT is you, faire creature, that have gained this advantage upon me, that I forget my ſelfe, to remember you perpetually. Do not thinke, that unleſſe I ſee you ſhortly, I can longer ſurvive, whereby I might continue the affection of my ſervices to you. So that two things will infallibly bring mee to my grave; your abſence, and my griefe, for not
(faire ſoule) whether you had rather have me dead for your content, or to ſee mee daily offer you up the fruits of my ſervices, upon the altar of your merits, in the quality of
SOme one that is envious of my happi
I Thinke it was no inviolable vow that was betwixt us, when we ſware ſo ſo
MIſtris, the honour I received in the late viſite I made to my deare Cozen at your houſe, hath ſo obliged me to both of you, that I thought I ſhould commit a hai
FOrſake that Maide, that forſakes you, and no more remember her forgetful
THe ſmall ſhot of your beauty, doth eOrleans wine of my devotion, when you will get none elſe, but ſome tart wines of faining, which will vexe the tongue of your knowledge. But if you rid your hands of that vicious horſe of your diſtruſt, I beBibets of my thoughts, which hold the bridle of conſtancy. What ever befals, the Pilgrims of my deſignes, deſiring the Scollop-ſhels of your friendſhip, will be ſtill grobling in the dirt of good courage. But if the feet of my offers, take bladders of refuſall, farewell Cupid's voyage. The vintages of my ſervices will be ſoone done, if the haile of your pride blaſt the grape of my purſuite. But whilſt the ſythe of your judgement, moves the graſſe of your rigours, I ſhall ever kiſſe the hands of your perfections, and make my ſelfe an everlaſting wood of the fire of your beauty.
YOu have made me feele, faire Caliſtena, the ardent ſparkles of your friendſhip; the memory whereof I ſhall ſtill honour, and eſteeme my ſelfe a great deale the more happy, if my happineſſe may prove more extreame, when I ſhall burne in its flames, wherein my ſoule ſhall live with a thouſand delights, and my heart reſume new life in its aſhes. And that I may be condemned to this wiſhed puniſhment, doe not let your faire mind conceive any doubt of my loves eternity, ſince conſtancy ſhall bee ever its faithfull companion, and that the fire which kindled it, can never be quenched, ſhould it be combated by the Ice proceeding from that feare you might have of your enviers. And if it were ſo, yet would it melt, as ſoon as you ſhould but contemplate the Sunne-beames of my diſcretion. You may as well aſſure your ſelfe of the effect of my words,
YOur deſires are my lawes (deere Floridon) and your loyalty cannot finiſh but with mine: they ſhall both alike ſhine bright over our lives, and nouriſh them
IF my ſtedfaſt love were not anſwered by yours (deare Caliſta) I ſhould have reaſon to complaine of you, and my complaints would be ſo ſtout, as not to give way to ought, but torments. But muſt I needs open the gaets to ſorrowes, when your Letter is an article of my faith, and that you ſuffer a thouſand tortures for my love? I doubt not, but envie hath beene buzzing ſomething in my Parents cares of our loves, and that Felicity her ſelfe, as iealous of our content
PLeaſures are of ſhort continuance, and their faire dayes are too ſoone eclipſed, wee cannot promiſe our ſelves a long enIEHOVAH. It is conſtancy that gives us happineſſe, af(deare Floridon) but now your preſence ſerves mee for Sunne-beames: though indeed ſome doubts of future obſtacles doe even bury mee in an obſcure night of anguiſh. And were it not that joy followes ſorrow, I had ere this skipt over the ſtep of this life of mine, to bee freed of my paine. But, time will one day give us the happineſſe to make each other amends, by recei
Sir, May it pleaſe your Majeſty.
If you write in forme of a petition to the King.
Sir, May it pleaſe your Majeſty to under
Madam, May it pleaſe your Majeſty.
On the Superſcription of ſome buſineſſe, directed both to the King and Queene.
To the moſt Excellent, and moſt Mighty, Caeſar Auguſtus.
To the moſt Excellent, moſt mighty Lady the Queene.
A Stile uſed by Men of Quality, when they ſpeake to the King.
Sir, May it pleaſe your Majeſty.
Madam, May it pleaſe your Majeſty.
Stiles uſed to the Nobility in our Superſcrip
To the moſt Reverend Father in God.
To the right Reverend Father in God.
To the Right Honourable.
Or otherwiſe.
To the Honourable.
To perſons of inferiour degrees.
To the right worſhipfull.
Otherwiſe.
To the worſhipfull.
AMorous, loving Letters.
Morall, civill Letters.
Oeconomicall, houſehold Letters.
Politicall, witty Letters.
Petitionary, Letters of Requeſt.
Gratulatory, Letters of Thankes.
Nuncupatory, Letters of Newes.
TO the High and moſt Mighty Mo
Your Majeſties moſt faithfull and obedi
To the Right Honourable.
Your Honours moſt humble devoted.
To his Honourable Lord.
Your Honours in all duty and ſervice.
To the Honourable, and his highly reſpe
Your Honours to command.
Or, Your Honours devoted.
To the worthy and Noble.
Ever yours to ſerve you.
To the right Honourable and his highly eſteemed Patron.
Your Honours obſervant.
Your obedient Sonne.
To his dearely beloved Wife.
Your moſt loving Husband.
To his loving Vncle.
Your obſervant kinſman.
To the honourable Colonel.
Yours ſworne to worthineſſe,
To the onely life of his deſires.
Your afflicted friend.
To the fulneſſe of his contentment.
Your living and dying friend.
To the onely hope of his fortunes.
The honourer of your matchleſſe perfections.
To the noble and truly vertuous Gentlewo
Yours in death it ſelfe.
To his beſt choyce.
Yours, in the midſt of feare.
To his virtuous, and dearely beloved.
Yours ever reſolved.
To the Miſtris of his thoughts.
Yours, dying in Conſtancy.
To his beloved friend.
Yours aſſured.
To the lovingeſt of all my friends.
Yours inſeparably.
To his highly eſteemed friend.
Yours, as I have profeſſed,
To his tried and truſty friend.
Not living without you.
To his honourable friend.
Yours in true friendſhip.
To his newly diſpleaſed friend.
Yours, if you wrong her not.
To her beſt reſolved friend.
Yours whereſoever.
To his well adviſed friend.
Yours, and vertues.
To his loving, and long expected friend.
Yours, with good wiſhes.
To his reſpected friend.
Yours, well aſſured.
To his approved friend.
Yours in true liberty.
To her much diſquieted friend.
Yours in honourable love.
To his loving Neece.
Your affectionate kinſman.
To his deareſt Brother.
Yours in all occaſions.
To his well experienced and much eſteemed noble friend.
Yours as you can deſire.
To his well diſpoſed friend.
Yours to truſt onely.
To her deareſt Husband.
Your ever loving Wife.
To his much diſordered friend.
Yours in reformation.
To his unkinde friend.
Yours, if you will have it ſo.
To his ill adviſed Sonne.
Your displeaſed Father.
To his miſerable rich friend.
Yours, if you can be your owne.
To the worthy Lady.
Yours, as a lover of Honour.
To her unkinde Husband.
Your true Wife till death.
To his perjur'd, and lacivious Wife.
Your Husband if you do not divide him.
To her jealous Husband.
Yours in her very thoughts.
To his ſuddenly diſpleaſed friend.
Yours, when you conceive aright of me.
To his well reſolved friend.
Yours, whilſt mine owne.
To her unkind friend.
Yours, and yet diſpleaſed.
Yours, if you thinke me worthy.
To his well eſteemed friend.
Yours moſt dutifull if you will accept of Humiliation.
To his true helping friend.
Yours recovered.
To his worthy friend, adventurer in the Straites.
Yours individed, though farre off.
To his noble and conſtant friend.
Yours, though amongſt Infidels.
To his reſpected and worthy friend.
Yours, as you have made me.
To his carefull friend.
Yours, mindfull of you.
To the worthy Doctor.
Your ſicke Patient.
To his honourable Captaine.
Yours, though we never meet againe.
To his approved friend.
Yours in all places, and at all times.
To his eſpeciall friend.
My owne, if in your memory.
To the moſt perfect of Women.
Yours in the midst of temptation.
Yours, ready for all dangers.
To his well deſerving friend.
Yours unfainedly.
To his over ſuſpicious friend.
Yours, to truſt only.
To his wilfull, and ſeduced friend.
Your poore abuſed friend.
YOur carefull Father.
Your dutifull Sonne.
Your loving Maſter.
Your obedient Servant.
Ʋſque ad aras.
The unfortunate.
Your well wiſhing friend.
In all humble duty.
Ever thine.
Thy diſcontented friend.
In all obedience.
Thy true friend.
Yours, more than mine owne.
Never leſſe his owne.
Thy moſt conſtant friend.
As you ſhall determine of me.
Affectionately devoted to your ſervice.
Your loving Landlord.
Your Worſhips poore Tenant to command.
Thy ſometimes friend.
Yours not ſafe till I enjoy you.
Yours irremovably.
Yours prepared to ſuffer.
Yours, in boundleſſe affection.
Your ſervant.
Your Honours friend.
Yours moſt paſſionatly, loyally, and perpe
Yours, as farre as modeſty will ſuffer me.
Yours, if you pleaſe to accept of me.
Yours, as I find cauſe.
Your beſt Counſellor.
Your injured Miſtris.
Your affectionate poore friend.
Once thy Friend.
Your entire Vaſſall.
Remaining your friend.
Yours, as a lover of vertue.
Yours, fearefully loving.
Yours, well affected.
Your plaine and true friend.
Your Worſhips to be commanded.
Your friend to his ability.
Animae dimidium tuae.
Yours in unutterable affection.
Your loyall Wife.
Your impriſoned friend.
No longer your friend.
Yours wholly, and onely, if you will.
Yours, ſo I may be my owne.
Thine, or not his ſelfe.
Your diſtreſſed Debtor.
Yours, as you ſhall deſerve by your ſervice.
Your ſorrowfull friend.
Yours, what you will.
Your forſaken friend.
Your vowed ſervant.
Your enemy, till death.
Your friend, whether you will or no.
Your true love.
Yours ever.
One, alwayes yours.
Thine owne from all the world.
Your friend confirmed in all fidelity.
Thine to the end.
Deſirous of your reformed imagination.
Yours, more ſorry for your ill conditions, then for the wrong you have done me.
Your faithfull and ready friend.
Your moſt humble and paſſionate Servant.
Yours, in the infringable bonds of affection.
The ſervant of your worthy virtues.
Yours, moſt reſpectfully engaged.
Your ever friend and Servant.
Your Lordſhips unfained honourer, and loyall Servant.