A treatise of the sports of wit

A treatise of the sports of wit

Table of contents

Title page

The Epistle Dedicatory. To all our Fair and Vertuous Ladies.

The Preface to the Reader: Of Wit, in order to these Sports.

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The Occasion of Writing this TREATISE.

Of the Original Of these Sports of Wit.

Of their ordering their Sports, and how they past their time.

The First Nights Sport Of ORACLES.

The Second Nights Sport Of DREAMS.

The third Nights Sport Of LOTTERIES.

The Fourth Nights Sport Of WONDERS.

The Fifth Nights Sport of WISHES.

The Sixth Nights Sport Of GIPSIES.

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Of the Mountebank and his Farce.

The Eclogue or Acting of Questions.

The Pastoral of Love in his Infancy.

The Play of Loves Kingdom.

The Mask, or Opera in Musick.

The Play of Laura Persecutée.

Of the Dutchesses Marriage with the Duke of Lorrain.

Of the Acting of Proverbs.

PROV. It is merry when Friends meet.

PROV. No true Pleasure in this World.

The Conclusion.

A List of some of their Proverbs.

The EPITAPH OF Beatrix, Dutchess of Lorrain, who died, An. 1662.

ADDITIONAL EPIGRAMS of the Year 1674.

Of our English Gallants lives, or the French disease.

To a Lady who was offended with him for praising Visdamera.

Good wishes to a new married Pair.

To the Countess of Shrewsbury, a pious reflection on Gods goodness.

Woolsey's complaint Paraphrased.

On the Death of an only Son, and his Mothers grief.

The Adue.

The Anagram. WALLER Anag. LAWREL

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ON HIS MAJESTIES Military Sports at Windsor.

Of Reformation.

Necessity excused.

Of Marriage and Mistresses.

A Riddling description of a Lady, who shall be nameless.

Love and Death's exchanging Darts, or the Dying Lover.

To the Dutchess of Portsmouth, on his Epigram of the Angelical Beauty. (Pag. 19.)

The Remembrance or the Petition Renewed.

The Dilemma.

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To LILY on his excellent Painting.

On Peoples Talk. A Dialogue betwixt Vizdamira, and the Author.

Against Idleness.

To the Lady Kilmurry, sitting at work with other Ladies.

To the Lady Elizabeth Gage.

Prologue for most of our Modern Plays.

On the Lady Rs, Nursing her own Children.

To the Dutchess of Monmouth. With his Play of the Noble, Fair, and Vertuous EMILIA.

Why I Write.

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A TREATISE OF THE SPORTS OF WIT.

Omne tulit punctam quae miscuit utile dulci. Hor.

Printed for the Author, 1675.

Inquire for them at Simon Neals, at the Three Pidgeons in Bedfordstreet in Covent-Garden.

The Epistle Dedicatory.
To all our Fair and Vertuous Ladies.

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Ladies,

I Present you here (as most resembling them) the Sports and Recreations of these great Ladies, who have so sublimed them by a Divine quality they have to convert all into Vertue, as Midas did all he touched to Gold; whence their very Sports are as vertuous as others devotions: Those melancholly Spirits then enemies of all chearfulness, who call such Sports as these, but idle things, seem wholly ignorant of their first institution, and very signification of their names. For wherefore were they called Relaxations, Divertisements, and Recreations, but for relaxing our over bended thoughts, diverting our minds from cares and troubles of this life, and recreating our Spirits when tired and spent with Worldly businesses. Whence to conclude, whoever in this mortal life can live without [Page] them, must either be a God, or else a Beast, above, or else below Humanity.

And so much for their Sports; as for the Ladies themselves, I suppose they are so well known to all, as I need, in this Epistle, to say no more of them; but that they had always a high esteem for our English Ladies; and therefore, I doubt not, but you will have the like of them. Be pleased then Ladies, for their sakes, to accept a Dedication of this short Treatise, from him who is naturally an enemy of all that is long and tedious, a friend to these Sports and Recreations, an honorer and admirer of all your Nobler Sex, especially of all Fair and Vertuous Ladies like your selves.

R. Flecknoe.

The Preface to the Reader:
Of Wit, in order to these Sports.

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IT is as hard to describe Wit in particular, as it is our Taste, they so vary with Time and Custom; the wit of our Ancestors being grosser then that we have now: And as the Age refines, so do the Wits of Men. However, this we will say of it in general, Wit to the subject it treats of, is, as the Soul to the Body, animating it with Life and Spirit, which else were but dead and dull; it is the quintescence of Conceit, extracted out of Words and Matter, as the Bee extracts Honey out of Flowers; and as out of dull Flint we strike sparks of Fire, so out of dull Matter we strike sparks of Wit. It is not so solid as Wisdom, but the less solid, the more Spiritual; and is so volatile, as it easily evaporates; but fixed by Judgment, and with a lay of Discretion, it surpasses bare Wisdom, as far as that doth Folly; and is in the Brain as Nobility is in the Blood; only one fault it hath, it is more pleasant to others, then [Page] profitable to its self; wherein it differs from Worldly Wisdom; but that wherein it differs from Divine, is its greatest Fault; Wit now being but a new name for an Atheist and Debauchée; but that is the fault of the Persons not of▪ Wit; for Wit is no ways scurrilous and profane. But finally, we may say of it, as the corruption of the best is the worst; so when good, nothing better; when bad, nothing worse. And so much for Wit, as it differences these Sports, from the old homely ones of Substantives and Adjectives, Questions and Commands, Cross Purposes, and the like; as much out of date, as the last years Almanacks, and scarcely deserving so much as the name of Wit.

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The Occasion of Writing this TREATISE.

THe Dutchess of Lorrain, with the Princess and Madamoseille De Beauvois, her Highness Sister (now Princess of Ar [...]mberg) retiring themselves to B [...]rs [...]ll, near Brussels, in the Spring time of the year fifty; where they passed their time in all sorts of innocent and delightful Divertisements, and amongst the rest, that of the Sports of Wit, being after Supper their ordinary entertainment: At which, both they and the Ladies of her Highness Court, were so excellent, as it was impossible to imagine a more Spiritual Assembly, I having the honor to be there amongst the rest (which I shall always account, not only the most honorable, but the most delightful moment of my life;) it pleased her Highness to command me to write this Treatise of the Sports of Wit, which now I publish at the desire of some Ladies, whose least desire has the force of a command.

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Of the Original Of these Sports of Wit.

WE read in Boccas, and other Italian Authors (to say nothing of the more Antient) that these Sports began in Italy about the beginning of the Last Century, both at Florence, Sienna, and other places, especially at Ferrara, when those of the most Illustrious Family of d'Este, were Dukes thereof. From Italy Queen Catherine de Medicis carried them along with her into France, a Fertile Countrey; where all that is rare in Italy, transplanted, grows better and more flourishing then in its Native Soyl. From thence about the beginning of their Civil Wars, they were transplanted into England, where, by the culture of Sir Philip Sidney, Sir Foulk Grevill, and other the prime Wits and Gallants of the times, and Ladies no less inclined to Gallantry, they flourished as much as in Italy and France, not only all the time of Queen Elizabeths Reign, but that of following Kings, till our Civil Wars likewise beginning here, they were not only neglected, but wholly irradicated by the Fanatick Rebels, Enemies of all Mirth and Recreation; till they begin to be Replanted, and take Root again under the happy Reign of His present Majesty.

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Of their ordering their Sports, and how they past their time.

FOr preparation to them some one, by lot, or otherwise, was chosen, for president, whose Office was to give out the Subject or Argument of the following Sport, and to distribute the parts for the next Assembly; that so betwixt premeditated and ex tempore, they might not come unto them wholly unprepared, but have the following night, and part of the following day, for their preparation. For the rest of the day, the time was thus distributed.

Having finished their Morning Devotions, they went to dinner, and, having dined, each one retired to their several Cabinets, till towards Evening, when either they rode abroad in their Coaches, to take the Air (which Promenade never ended without some Banquet or Collation) or walked out into the Garden, or adjoyning Woo [...], which seemed an Academy of Nightingales, is the Garden a Treasury of all Flora's choicest and rarest Flowers; when gather but one, and seven more sprang up in its place; whether it were th [...] Nature of the Soil, or Vertue of the Hand wh [...] gathered it, Heaven having so disposed this pl [...] sant [Page] and delightful place, should never fall but into the fairest and vertuousest hands of the Universe, (it being a part of the Apinage or Inheritance of Madamoiselle de Beauvais.) From thence they went to Supper, and having supp'd, retired into a large Appartement, illuminated by six fair Christal Branches, and bordered about with Silver Sconzaes, in which were inchac'd Concave Mirrors of Oval Form for better reflection of the Light. When the Dutchess, seated in her Fautvil, under a Canopy, upon an half pace higher than the rest, with the Princesses, Her Daughter and Sister, under Taborets, on either side of Her; the sports began as followeth:

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The First Nights Sport
Of ORACLES.

THis sport [...], when one amongst the rest stands for Oracle, and others in order ask Questions of it (the Dutchess first, and the rest following) which the Oracle answers briefly in the Laconick stile: As for example.

Quest. How should one do to be beloved?

Answ. Love.

Quest. Who is the fairest Lady?

Answ. Every one's Mistress.

And these Questions are easily answered, but the Oracle sometimes is hard put to't, when they ask it any captious & insiduous ones, as was his, who asked the Oracle, whither what he had in his hand were alive, or no; to which it answered, As you please, he grasping a little Sparrow in his hand, meaning if the Oracle said it was dead, to produce it alive, if alive, to crush it, and produce it dead: Which ambiguous answers and words of double sence, in such expedience, required great wit and dexterity in the Oracle; and at this our Oracle (Madamoiseille de Beauvais) was excellent.

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The Second Nights Sport
Of DREAMS.

THe sport of this is, when every one tells their Dreams, and some one Interprets them, who is not only to know the General Notions, (as how to dream of Pearl, signifies Tears, and Gold, Ill luck, &c.) But perfectly to understand the Art of Divination, and to have well read Artemedorus and Apamasar. Such as he, to whom a Lady coming once in great anxiety for her Lord, who was then actually in the Wars, saying, She dreamed the General was wounded in his right hand; he answered, The ill presage of that dream nothing concerned her Lord, who had a command of Horse; for the right hand of a General was his Foot, and the left his Horse, and the event proved this prediction true; for shortly after the news was brought (against the expectation of all) that Don Francisco de Melo had lost the Battle of Rocroy, most of his Infantry remaining, either slain or taken prisoners, whilst all the Cavalry escaped by flight. This made the Dutchess think him fittest to be president of that nights sport, which (though far more difficult then that of the Oracle) he performed to the general satisfaction of all; where note, they may shew as much wit, who ingenuously feign a Dream, as he who interprets it.

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The third Nights Sport
Of LOTTERIES.

ALL the Wit and Art of this Sport, is so to contrive the Lots in the Urn, as best may fit the qualities of every one. As to the Dutchess all Happiness and Felicity; to the Princess, nothing but Crowns and Scepters (then proposed as a match for Crownedheads) and to Madamoseille De Beauvais, her choice of Princely-Husbands, married not long after to the Marquess of Varanbon; who dying without Heirs, left Her Inheritrix of his Marquisate, and since married to the Noble Prince of Aremberge: Nor were the rest of the Ladies less fitted with their Lots, the Contriver of the Lottery to please them, hazarding the reputation of a Lyer twenty times, for that of a Prophet once: But all the Sport was to hear the inferior servants handsomely rallied for pastime of the Ladies. For example, Two waiting Women. (amongst the rest one who would needs lead Apes to Hell, and another, who would not go to Heaven without a Husband.) The Dutchess prohibiting all picquant Rallery, which, if any offered, she declared a dislike of it in a blush, a greater reprehension, then could be expressed by words, to those who understand the Language of the Face.

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The Fourth Nights Sport
Of WONDERS.

THe Sport of this is, when every one tells what they most wonder at, or the greatest wonder they have seen; not such as Lying Travellers report, or such as they father upon our Countrey-Man Sir John Mandevile; muchless such foul-mouthed, slanderous ones, as his, who said, The greatest wonder he had seen, was, a Woman honest when she was young, and handsome when she was old; but such witty ingenuous ones, as that Ladies and Cavaliers, who saying, The greatest wonder he had seen, was a constant Lady; she answered again, That the greatest she had seen was a discreet Cavalier. All in the way of Gentile Rallery without stumbling or falling foul on the Picquant, and at that Gentile Rallery these Ladies were excellent, who went on inoffensively, without ever making a false pace on their way; nay, they went farther yet, and converting their Sports and Pastimes into Devotion, one said what she most wondered at, was, That any Noble Woman could be otherways then vertuous, when Vertue was only true Nobility; another, That she wondered their could be any Atheists in the World, when every thing put them in mind of a Divinity; and a third more divinely yet, That she wondered how any one could breathe or stir a foot, without thinking on him, in whom we live, move, and have our being.

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The Fifth Nights Sport of WISHES.

THis amongst Gallants is one of their cheifest Sports; when striving who should wish somewhat most pleasing to their Mistress. One wishes himself Somnus, or the God of Sleep, to charm her senses into a sweet repose; another Morpheus, or the God of Dreams, to enter into her mind; and with some delightful dream insinuate the thought of himself amongst the rest: And a third wishing his Brest wholly transparent, that she might see through it, the pureness of his affection; with many such like Gallantries, but all in vain: For just as Water can be derived no higher then its Fountain head, so Earthly minds can think of nothing, but Earthly things, whilest these Ladies were so heavenly minded, as one wished her self a Bird of Paradice, to have no more communication with Earth; another soared higher yet, Wishing her self in Heaven; and the third, Wished her self an Angel there; and she only wanted Wings, having in an Angelical Body an Angelical Spirit too. And this, with more delight and chearfulness then others wished for all the Treasures in the World, well knowing this World, in comparison with the other, was less then a drop of Water compared to the Ocean, or Grain of Dust, to the whole Globe of the Earth; but not to be thought to undervalue this World too much, by those who have but too magnificent a conceit of it. We will say no more, but past to the next Nights Sport.

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The Sixth Nights Sport
Of GIPSIES.

THe Sport of Gipsies was excellent well represented by Her Highness servants, all properly habited with their Faces umbered over, supposed so many Doxies with their Solyman, who making their Entry in a Dance, fell to telling Fortunes, by Inspection of the Hand or Art of Chyromancy, as they pretended, though all their Art was to give such Fortunes as they imagined best pleasing to every one (like that Painter, when he could not make his Pictures like, made them Fair at least.) Giving young Maids good Husbands, Batchellors, rich Wives; and to every one long lives, and all prosperity; which the simple believed as Gospel, although as false as the Talmud or Alchoran. But this Sport differing only from that of Lotteries, in that, one is a dumb Fortune-Teller, and the other speaking ones; we will say no more of it, but only as they made their Entry, so they made their Exit in a Dance; after which, the rest made theirs too, and every one retired to their repose; and so they concluded the sixth Nights Sport, reserving the seventh day for their Devotions, if any thing could be added to the Devotions of the other days.

The end of this Weeks Sports and Divertisements.

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Of the Mountebank and his Farce.

WHilst they prepared for other Divertisements, that of the Mountebank and his Farce, was this Nights sport, performed by Her Highness servants, as followeth.

The Mountebank, with all formal gravity, mounting the Scaffold, made a long Oration of the marvellous Cures he had done, and of the rare and admirable Receipts he had; as if AEsculapius were but a Zany to him, whilst his Zany indeed, for greater sport, turned all to ridiculous that he said: As when he said, He had a Receipt to make them see as well by night as by day; the Zany answered, It was but putting out their eyes. And when he said he had another, That they should never die of old age; he answered again, It was but hanging them while they were young; with such like vulgar Buffoonry to make the Audience laugh. All whichended in one of the best of Scarramuchio's, and Harlequin's acted by the Doctor and his Wife, the Zany with all his antick tricks, and others of his followers who truckled under them.

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The Eclogue or Acting of Questions.

NOthing more declares a penetrating wit, which the French call Le point de l'esprit, then to enter into the depth of these Questions, nor a more perspicuous Iudgment, then to discern the nice and subtil Weights and Scales, required for determinating and deciding them; of which, I will only give you an example or two, and leave to others to furnish you with more.

Q. 1. Which of these two Lovers best deserve the Nymph, he who often obliged her, and disobliged her as oft; or, he who had done neither, but only loved her? When after many Arguments on either side, it was finally concluded for the first against the second, because he had done somewhat, at least, to declare his love, but the other nothing; and love is best declared by Deeds they say, for Probatio amoris exibitio est operis.

Q. 2. Which of those two Damsels lives the Knight should soonest save, (in eminent danger of death) hers whom he loved, and she not him; or hers who loved him, and he not her? And it was determined for the second against the first; for she loved him, at least, but the other not: And for his love to the other, that no ways went on the account of of her desert.

And now the Actors growing more numerous, a more particular Stage was requisite, which by the Painters and Carpenters skill was easily made

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The Pastoral of Love in his Infancy.

THe Birth-day of the Prince of Vaudemont, celebrated at Berseel, where he was born the year before, gave overture to the Theater, and subject to this Pastoral, where he was introduced in his Cradle like a young Cupid, the Graces nursing him; the Sports playing about him, and Nymphs rejoycing to have a Cupid now, as well as Venus Urania, promising to themselves all pleasure in a love so harmless and innocent, never imagining what pain he would cost them, when he came to riper years: But that which most added to the solemnity of the day, was our triumvirate of Ladies personating the three Goddesses, Venus, Juno, and Pallas, in a solemn entry of Ballet, Dancing, and Singing about the Cradle: In which qualities they were all so excellent, as for Dancing, the Musick of the Feet, and Singing, the Dancing of the Voice, they had few who equalled them, none who exceeded them. And for conclusion, by bearing the Cradle in triumph away, they gave end to the Nights Revels, and Days Solemnity.

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The Play of Loves Kingdom.

IN imitation of this Pastoral, made after the same Model, and cast in the same Mold, the Play of Loves Kingdom was made, with design to render Love so vertuous, and Vertue so lovely, as all should be enamored of it; which with much alteration, was after acted on the English Stage: But soon they found they took their measures wrong, for the Times were too vicious, and it too vertuous for them who looked on Vertue as a Reprehension, and not a Divertisement; and Love without Lust, was like Meat without Sawce to them whose Appetites were depraved with more vicious Food. So leaving the English Stage, it returned to Berseel again, where Vertue was always welcome; but for love one should as soon be drunk in a Chrystal Fountain, as have the least vicious thought in so vertuous company.

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The Mask, or Opera in Musick.

THis Mask or Opera in Musick, represented Latona with her two Children, Apollo and Diana, in the Floating Isle of Delos, incessantly tossed up and down, and exposed to all the storms of Fortune, with this Motto, ‘Diu fluctibus agitata.’

The Hyades or Sea-Nymphs bewailing her sad condition; till the Scene changing, represented the Island fixed, and her with her Children in all tranquillity, the Word or Motto, ‘Tandem Requiescit.’

The Dryades or Land-Nymphs rejoycing at her happy condition: The first alluding to her former state, without any certain habitation; the second by way of Prophesie, promising their restauration to their Countrey again; which, though Poets are said to be Poets and Prophets too, wants yet its wished success, Fortune still continuing to persecute her, and the Dukes unfortunate genius predominant still over her more fortunate one.

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The Play of Laura Persecutée.

IN regard of which, Her Highness chose to act that excellent Tragy-Comedy of Laura Persecutée which She did so naturally, and to the life, as you might well perceive She acted Her own fortune under anothers name; like that excellent Actor, who being to weep over the Urn of I know not whom, to do it the better, brought forth with him on the Stage, the Urn of his own dearly beloved Child, celebrating a feigned Funeral with Real Tears.

Mean time, as nothing was wanting to the excellency of the Acting, so nothing was wanting to the compleating the Theater, but only a greater Audience, for a nobler it could not have; the Actors for the most part being Auditors and Spectators too; though sometimes the great Ladies, and chief Nobility, would come over from Brussels, to behold their sports, and went away unwillingly again, envying their happiness who still remained there.

And now having mentioned the Dutchess misfortune and persecution, I shall briefly declare the beginning, progress, and would I could the end of them.

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Of the Dutchesses Marriage with the Duke of Lorrain.

HEnry, Duke of Lorrain, dying without Issuemale, leaving only two Daughters, the Princess Nichole, and Princess Claude; the Father of Charles, now Duke, cheif of the House of Vaudemont, by vertue of the Salick Law, succeeded him; who, better to confirm his Title, forced his Son, on pain of disinheriting, to marry the Princess Nichole (as his Brother had the Princess Claude) which he did at last with protestation of the force, and with all signs of aversion lived with her till his Fathers death, when by mutual consent they parted; and not long after, he publickly married Beatrix de Cusance, the young Widow of the Prince of Cantecroix, a Lady of incomparable Beauty, and Birth, and Fortune, answerable every way, by whom he had issue Anne, now Princess of Lorrain, whose Legitimation none ever doubted of. In this Marriage they lived many years with great tranquillity, till a Storm was raised against them by the See of Rome, for Marrying without Dispensation, &c. by the suscitation of the Crown of France, who had espoused the Interest of Princess Nichole, as the Emperor had that of the Princess Claude. Which proceeded so far, as they were forced to separate on pain of Excommunication, till the cause might be decided by the Court of Rome, which the Nuntio, promised should be in a [Page] year, at least. This time expired and nothing done, the Duke following Plinies Rule, Never in what you resolve to do, to ask Counsel of those who may hinder the doing it, went privately to the Dutchess again, and begat the now Prince of Vaudemont; for which (when known) he was easily absolved, and so had been of all the rest, had he not neglected, for some Reasons of State, to sue out a Divorce from the Princess Nichole, so long as she was in state of bearing Children, not to set her at liberty to marry some Foreign Prince, whose Issue might dispute the Dukedom with the House of Vaudemont (the Law Salick not being so clearly received in Lorrain, as it was in France.) This then was our Dutchess misfortune, this her persecution, and this finally that Marriage which has caused so great rumor in the World, by those who know not how Marriages made by force, bind no longer then the force continues; whilst those made voluntarily, bind till death, nor by any humane force can ever be dissolved again.

And now after this serious Digression, let us return to our Sports again.

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Of the Acting of Proverbs.

THe next Nights sport, and that of many Nights after, was the Acting of Proverbs, a sport of so great variety, as you might often repeat it, and never twice the same again; where note, That as there are divers sorts of other sports, some which cause laughter without any Wit, others more studious then delightful as Ridles, Rebus's, and Anagrams; or half witted Paradoxes, as, A Chandler can least hide his own knavery, for all his works must come to light. And, a Shoomaker would make the best Constable, for he can put any Man in the Stocks, and take him out at last. So there are divers sorts of this, some acting Proverbs in Dancing; others in dumb shew and mimick gesture, and the like; which may be sports, but not sports of Wit, or but dumb wit at most; whereas, that of these Ladies, added words unto action: Of which, we shall give you an example or two, not doubting, but if the Ladies be delighted with it, there are wits enough to furnish them with more.

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PROV. It is merry when Friends meet.

THe Scene was supposed an Inn where divers Friends met, as by chance, and recounted their several adventures on the way; some more dangerous, others more pleasant; every one making a several Novella, and all together a delightful Variety. Amongst the rest two persons arrived so disguised, that they seemed strangers both to themselves and all the rest, who recounting their adventures, were soon known to be a pair of Noble Lovers, who on the eve of their Nuptials, were severally made Captives by strange adventures; and by as strange, delivered from Captivity again, to their incredible joy, and little less of all the Company, as they declared by their Congratulations, Embracements; and all the signs of joy and gladness, which are usually shewn on such occasions.

Another, but in a more Spiritual kind, is that which followeth.

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PROV. No true Pleasure in this World.

TO confirm this, they took for Argument that Moral Fable, how Jupiter, in the first Creation, sent Pleasure down from Heaven, for the consolation of poor Mortals here on Earth; of whom, they soon became so great Idolaters, that they offered more Sacrifice to it, then to all the Gods besides. At which, the Gods offended, recalled Pleasure back to Heaven again, who ascending, threw off its Earthly Garment; which Dolon or Deceit finding, put on, and ever since hath passed for it; Men foolishly adoring as much the shadow of Pleasure now, as they did the substance of it before. When Jove, pittying they should be so deceived, sent Mercury down to undeceive them, and discover the Imposture and Deceit. But soon he found his Embassie was in vain, and that all his eloquence was lost upon them, who would not believe, though a God did tell them so, That there was any other Pleasure, but what they had. When Jove seeing he must create the World and Men anew, to make them better and wiser, resolved for their punishment, to leave them to the pleasure of Beasts, who would not have that of Angels, though they might.

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The Conclusion.

ANd now I cannot better conclude this Treatise, then by giving you a short Character of the Ladies, chiefly mentioned in it; (and to say nothing of the Princess, who was yet so young, as she only promised to be what her Mother was, and no doubt, but in time, she will make good her promises.) The Dutchess was one of the greatest Beauties of the times, and her Sister no less; but in a different kind, the one Fair, the other Brown; the one clear Sun-shine, the other a Delightful-shade; and as their Beauties, so their dispositions were alike; the Dutchess with all becoming freedom of one that was married, her Sister not so free, as one not married yet. The first all gay and chearful, the second not so gay, but with a chearfulness as far above light Mirth and Laughter, as Elemental Fire above Squibs and Crackers: For the rest, they were both so far from Pride, as nothing could be more humble, yet so majestical, as they appeared the higher by their Humility; and were in all so equal, as together, you knew not which to prefer; asunder, you always preferred the present to the absent, till she returning, set the ballance even again. In fine, not to enter so far into their praises, as never to get out again; in their presence, you were so ravished and transported, as you would as soon be weary of Heaven, as of their Company; and it was a species of the Beatitude, of the other Life, only to enjoy their conversation in this.

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A List of some of their Proverbs.

PRoverbs must have the stamp of Custome, to make them currant with the World; but every one for their private use may coyn what ones they please, as are these following.

Who spends all his life in getting maintenance for it, is like him who sold his horse to get him Provender.

Death and Absence differ only in this, That Absence is but a short Death; and Death a long Absence.

Who gives soon, redoubles the benefit; and he that is long a giving, diminishes it as much.

Vice and Vanity differ only in this, that Vice lays the Egg, and Vanity hatches the Chicken.

An uncertain Nature, is like a Sea with shifting Sands, where thereis no Sailing without a Plummet in hand; or like a Weapon loose in the Hilt, there is no using of it with any confidence.

Distracted Prayers are like Penelopes Web, always to begin anew, and never ended.

Without a little dispute, one can never enter into discourse; and with too much, one can never get out again. Note: * The Rule is never to pass the third Reply.

Who takes every acquaintance for a Friend, is like him who takes every Pebble Stone for a Diamond.

[Page]A Friend is a Cabinet-piece, to be sought all the World over, whilst we find acquaintances▪ in every street.

The greatest Wisdom, is to know how much Thought▪ we are to give to every thing,

Who cheaply sells anothers Fame, makes but the Market to buy his own.

Noble Women are like Sacred Relicks:

Beheld with reverence, but let Men come

To touch them once, their reverence is gone.

Men were never more easily Cannonised then now;

When he may be counted a Saint, who is not altogether a sinner.

Who thinks to help the truth with a lie, is like him who helping his Master on Horsback, threw him quite over on the other side.

Innocence were an excellent Iewel, if it were not so easily counterfeited, and so hard to know the true from the false.

Every one flatters Fortunate Princes, but only hope flatters the Unfortunate.

The faults of Princes, are like sore eyes, made worse with handling.

Of all Devils, bless us from those who play the Devil for Gods sake.

God help you is only an alms for those that sneeze.

To injure one, and then ask him pardon, is a Bastonado with a Courtesie.

Many cry, A merry life, and a short; who, if they knew how short it were, would not be so merry as they are.

[Page]It is a good World for the Devil, when every one speaks ill of one another, and no body speaks ill of him.

Your Conscience-mongers have a dangerous trade of it, who go so far to keep others from falling into Hell, as they often fall into't themselves.

A generous Nature more esteems an ounce of Honor, then a pound of Profit.

Fair looks often deceive us; as Brass guilt, looks fairer then Gold it self.

He who cut off all who were too long for his Iron Bed, and rackt out all who were too short, was a less Tyrant then they who would force every one to their opinions.

Love without Fear is childish, and Fear without Love is slavish; both together make the best composition.

Whilst sickness is but a dying life, or living death; none truly live, but those who are in health.

Men may force our actions, and aw our words; but none can force, or aw our thoughts.

A Complementer, or, as the French say, An accomplé menteur, is the Rack of conversation, that sets every ones Ioynts a stretching where he comes.

Truth goes the nighest way, whilst falshood goes always the furthest way about.

The vulgar are Iudges without judgment, and Authors without authority.

In Women the first thoughts are the best, but in Men the second.

[Page]Youth invents better, but Age perfects the Invention.

Wit is ripe, when grown to Wisdom, and Wisdom rotten, when grown to Craft.

The Dignity of Obedience is lost, when we dispute what is commanded.

Every one is artificer of their own Fortune, but Fortune like Mercury is not made of every Wood.

The Wise spare their words, the witty spends them; but the Fool casts them away.

Who wears French Cloaths, without French behavior, look just like Dogs in Doublets.

Iealous States hold one another like Woolfs by the Ears, and only fear keep them from hostility.

Who foolishly imitates, is like that Ass; who cutting off his Ears, to become more like a Horse; became neither good Horse, nor Ass neither.

Honesty has almost lost its English signification, and signifies, as with the French, only Courtly behavior.

The more Danger, the more Honor; but the less Danger, the more Prudence.

Whe Wise wonder at nothing, the Fool at every thing.

Who counts the World an Inn, and not their Home, make no great difficulty of leaving it.

Better Religion in the lump, then Wyer drawn, as it is, and in the whole piece, then minced into so many Sects.

The manner of giving more then the gift endears [Page] the benefit; and some oblige more in denying, then others do in granting.

We are all but sucking Children of this World, and have need of Wormwood, to wean us from it.

As North and South, which differ only by an Individual Line, may be made the whole Heavens distant, by going to the extremity of either Pole; so Modern Controvertists, &c.

Who believe well, and live ill, or live well, and believe ill, are culpable alike.

Pleasure is as it is fancied; and a Beggar takes as much in scratching, as greatest Princes in what they fancy most.

Education is double refined Nature, and the Soul of the Soul, as the other is but the Soul of the Body.

Spiritual and Corporal Physitians, make their Medicaments too bitter, if they would sweeten them a little, they would have far more Patients and Proselytes.

There is as small choice in—as in rotten Apples; none better then the other, and you know not which is the worst.

Pleasure in Excess, is like a Boor when they are drilling him: A question, whether the pleasure or pain be more.

Who have deceived you, bid them good morrow, and good d'en; but for the rest of the day have no more to do with them.

The way of doing things now is, first, I'll warrant [Page]you, and then who would have thought it, Repents when it is too late.

Promises without Performance, give the lie unto themselves.

A little Pride well becomes great Ladies, and begets Reverence, but too much is only for petty Persons, and makes them but less esteemed.

Though the World be foul and dirty, yet they may walk clean enough, who but carefully pick out their way; but who runmadly, dash, dash, seem neither to care how they bespatter others, and defile themselves.

It is easie to throw ones self into a Precipice, but not easie to get out again.

Our Bodies being but the Chariot of our Souls, wherein we run the race of this mortal life; serves but for little when the race is run, and we arrived to immortality, but only as a Trophy of our Victory.

Wit without Discretion to manage it, is but a wild unruly Colt, that instead of carrying us a gentle pace, oft runs away, and breaks the Riders Neck.

Who never consider the end for which they were created, live not the lives of Rational Creatures; but rather of Sensual Animals, who only eat and drink and sleep.

We being to go to the other World, when we have passed through this, How can we hope to find the way thither, and to be welcome when we come; when we never inquire after it, nor after those who are there?

[Page]It is a happy misfortune to be driven by storm the sooner to their Port.

Sensual persons are as unfit to judge of Spiritual things, as the Blind of colours, or the Deaf of sounds.

Pleasures are like poysonous Baits which catch Fish sooner; but render them nothing worth when they are caught.

It is to hedge in the Cuckow, to seek to make a Maid honest against her will.

An indiscreet person gets more enemies by telling truth, then others do by lying.

Under Officers care for no body in Court, and out of Court, no Body cares for them.

Who knows what it is to marry, would be as long in chusing a—as Scogan was a Tree to be hanged on.

Who seeks to be more feared then loved, shall find themselves more hated, then feared at last.

Who seeks his own interest, and nothing else, is no more a part of the Universe, then a loose Stone in the Wall, a part of the House or Building.

Detractors and Calumniators, as Clippers and False Coyners, are punishable alike.

To honor any Man for riches only, is to worship the Golden Calf.

Money is like muck, which spred abroad, doth good; but hoarded and heaped up, is like a stinking Dunghill.

While every one wants something, he is happy that can live on little, because he can never want much.

[Page]Every one hath somewhat of a Fool, and he is wisest who has least.

The Itch of Lascivious Love, being the Scab of Poetry; he is the best Poet, who scratches it the least.

These, and many more, they had, as far from Vulgar Spirited, as were those who invented, and those who acted them; nor was it fit, persons, of their condition, should go to the frippery for old Proverbs, when they might have new when ever they pleased.

The EPITAPH OF Beatrix, Dutchess of Lorrain, who died, An. 1662.

SHe who alive, all Vertue and Beauty was,

Th'one in Her Brest, and th'other in Her Face.

Now that She's dead, just reason w'have to fear,

All Vertue and Beauty too, are dead with Her.

FINIS.

ADDITIONAL EPIGRAMS of the Year 1674.

[Page]

Of our English Gallants lives, or the French disease.

WOnder! our Gallants ne'er consider how

They wast their lives, with living as they do,

While just like Tapers, they at both ends light,

'Twixt Wine & Women they're consumed quite.

Amongst the rest the French disease is that

Which most consumes their Persons and Estate.

From which there's scarcely any one that's free,

Who but pretends to modern gallantry.

Nor may we wonder 'tis so easily gotten,

When almost all their Wenches now are rotten.

By whatsoever Name or Title known,

From those wear Vizard-Masks, to those wear none.

Mean time I can't but pitty their condition,

Who stand in need of Surgeon or Physitian.

Who with their Galen and Hippocrates

But make the Cure as bad as the disease.

And this is that (thanks to their Wenches for't)

Our Gallants call a merry life and short.

While they're not only infected with the Fashions,

But the diseases too of other Nations.

[Page]

To a Lady who was offended with him for praising Visdamera.

I See you envy Visdamera's praise,

For excellent parts and qualities she has.

Whil'st other parts and qualities y'have none,

But bare and simple honesty alone.

That's but a Cipher, Nothing, less ye add

Some Vertue to't, by which 'tis Somewhat made.

Or like a single Unite at the best,

That but foundation is of all the rest.

Mean time I can't, but wonder how it came

To Honors title, and to Vertues name.

When Honor and Vertue in it, there is none

But only in Imagination.

Cease then in vain, your Honesty to boast,

That's but a Negative Vertue at the most.

And like the Quakers Spirit seen by none,

But we must take your word for it alone.

And know, if't make you proud, 'tis better be

The Publican, than the proud Pharisee;

Who whilst they think th'ave priviledge to condemn

And judge all others who're not like to them:

Like such as you, in fine, do nothing else

(Whilst they judge others) but condemn themselves.

[Page]

Good wishes to a new married Pair.

IF joy does from enjoying take it's name,

And happiness be said to be the same;

How happy are this newly married Pair,

Who now arriv'd unto enjoyment are?

To whom whilst every friend some present brings,

Good wishes only are my offerings.

Which though they seem but offerings of the poor,

Angels from Heaven do often bring no more.

May he and she live long and happy then

Envy of Women she, and he of Men.

The pattern of all happy Husbands he,

And of all happy Wives, the mirror she.

Enjoying all the Blessings whilst they live,

That Fortune and Felicity can give;

And like Elias when they die, so blest,

To be translated only unto rest.

This and all other happiness beside,

I wish the Noble Bridegroom, and the Bride,

[Page]

To the Countess of Shrewsbury, a pious reflection on Gods goodness.

HOw good is God! whose love of us transcends

All that of Parents, or of dearest Friends;

Nor that of Spouse to Spouse could ere express

So great a love, so dear a tenderness.

He knows our weakness and infirmities,

And when we fall, helps us again to rise.

And when h'as lost us, seeks us all about;

Nor ever rests until he finds us out.

When he's so far from chiding us, he's more

Indulgent to us, than he was before:

So as without presumption we may boast,

We had been lost, unless we had been lost.

And all this Madam, y'are experienc'd now,

In Gods dear love, and tender care of you.

Who'd then be so ungrateful to offend,

So dear a Spouse, a Parent, and a Friend?

Rather who'd not endeavor all they cou'd

To please so great a Lord, so good a God?

[Page]

Woolsey's complaint Paraphrased.

BAnisht, and so well known, where ere he went,

He scarce cou'd find a place for banishment!

As on his way he sorrowfully past,

Coming to Leister Abby at the last:

Opprest with weight of grief, as well as years,

Woolsey to the Abbot said with many tears.

Behold, a poor old Man (Lord Abbot) I

Am hither come in Banishment to die.

Who this may truly say, That, had I been

As careful to serve God, as serve my King.

For all my care, and all my service past,

I'd ne'er been thus rewarded at the last.

Let all ambitious Men learn then by this,

How to serve God, highest Ambition is.

And none in serving Kings, comply so far,

As to forget how they Gods servants are;

For Kings and Princes are above Men 'tis true,

But God's above both Kings and Princes too.

And who serve others, are but slavish things;

But 'tis to Reign, to serve the King of Kings.

[Page]

On the Death of an only Son, and his Mothers grief.

HEr only Son was dead, and such a Son,

As never yet was a more hopeful one.

When his sad Mother, (Mother now no more)

Did not, the common way his death deplore;

Nor wou'd the common way be comforted,

Of other Mothers when their Sons were dead;

But does so piously his loss deplore,

She shows she lov'd him well, but loves Heaven more:

And, knowing 'twas the Will of Heaven, does bear

It so, she needs no other Comforter.

So th'Royal Prophet, when his Son was dead,

Like her ceas'd mourning, and was comforted.

And t'other in as great a loss could say,

'Twas Heaven that gave, and Heaven that took away.

These of all Fathers may examples be,

But of all pious Mothers, only she.

[Page]

The Adue.

NOthing but Storms and Tempests? then 'tis time

To seek for shelter in some Forein Clime,

Where I may hope to find the happiness,

If not to live, at least to die in peace.

What Halcyon on such Seas wou'd build its Nest,

Where for continual storms it ne'er could rest?

Or Bird wou'd chuse in such a Land to sing,

Where it may ne'er enjoy a quiet Spring?

When Winter comes, y'have certain Birds which flie

To Forein parts, one of those Birds am I.

Who joy to sing in Sunshine, but give o'er

When I like them can see the Sun no more.

And banish'd as I am the sight, o'th' Sun

'Tis time to go, my singing days are done.

Mean while before my life be wholly past

And like the dying Swan, I ave sung my last,

Whilst others ask His Majesty, to give

'Em means sufficient handsomely to live.

All I desire is, that His Majesty

Would give me means but handsomely to die.

R. F.

[Page]

The Anagram.
WALLER Anag. LAWREL

LAwrel and Waller so agree,

And Individuals seem to be;

As look but on the Anagram,

You'll find it in his very name.

The end of this Quaternium.

§

§

[Page]

ON HIS MAJESTIES Military Sports at Windsor.

AS artificial Fireworks and Light;

Are best beheld i'th' darkness of the Night.

The Moon was set, no Stars ith' Skies did shine,

But all was dark, as favoring their design.

When straight behold, in Military sport

How some assail, others defend the Fort.

Brave York & Monmouth lead their warlike Bands,

Whilst Royal Charles a glad Spectator stands,

To see'm shoot, and no Man harmed by't,

Nor any hurt or wounded in the Fight:

So, as if any, has the Charm, 'tis He

To render People Shot and Weapon free.

Who does not bless the while His happy Reign?

Who does us in this Peaceful State maintain,

Whilst others plunder'd, harras'd, ruin'd, are

Expos'd to all calamities of War,

As we were heretofore; and but for him

Shold be expos'd unto the like agen.

Happy, thrice happy in Him then, if we

But only our own happiness cou'd see.

Of all the Kings that are, or ever were,

A Prince the most benign and debonair.

[Page]

Of Reformation.

THis Reformation has a specious name,

But yet the World will always be the same.

And those who try, will see when all is done,

'Tis easier finding faults then mending 'em.

Mean time there's no Men, who are more unfit,

Then th'people are, for the Reforming it;

Whose tamp'ring with't, has always had this curse,

Instead of mending things, to make them worse.

They see perhaps somewhat might mended be,

But hundred things they'd mar by't, do not see,

Best way to mend 'em were, for every one

To mend themselves, and let the rest alone.

The World and Men are chiefly govern'd by,

That Golden Chain depending from on high,

Links Men to God, and Subjects unto Kings,

With like dependance of all other things.

And when their Subjects chance to break this chain,

Kings are to look to make it whole again.

Unto whose charge Heaven chiefly does commit,

The Government of the World, and care of it.

The World will ne'er be better a this fashion,

When th'people undertake this Reformation.

Who, as by clear experience we see,

Are chiefly those who shou'd reformed be;

And cry the Worlds not well, for nothing else,

But only 'cause they are not well themselves.

[Page]

Necessity excused.

I Would not be so dull a thing as I

Should be, if 't were not for necessity.

Mother of Arts, Invention and of Wit,

Th're then injurious should speak ill of it.

We often blame necessity, when we

Are more in fault then is necessity.

Which sometimes may perswade, but near inforces

Any to take dishonorable courses,

Against her will, a Woman may be poor,

But none against her will, can be a Whore.

Nor Man a Knave, whether he will or no;

But 'tis his own dishonesty makes him so.

Cease then to blame and lay the fault (in fine)

Upon Necessity, which is chiefly thine.

There's no Necessity to do that which we

Sho'd never do for no Necessity.

[Page]

Of Marriage and Mistresses.

THe Marriage Knot which use to bind so fast,

Its bonds and ties as long as life did last,

Is now become like Iuglers Knots, none knows

They re tied so slack, whether they're fast or loose,

(What Man say they) who loves his liberty,

To any Woman so much slave wou'd be:

This to their Wives, but to their Mistresses,

They care not how they loose their Liberties.

To whom by th' Scriveners help they're bound so fast,

They're Bonds at least as long as life do last.

And th' Marriage Bonds they break with ease, but they

Can't break the Scriveners Bonds so easily.

So Dalilah held Sampson in her Bands,

Until he fell into th' Philistians hands;

Where he in Prison all his life did lie:

This is the end of such Mens Liberty.

And they no better end deserve then this,

Who leave their Wives, to follow Mistresses.

[Page]

A Riddling description of a Lady, who shall be nameless.

THis Lady has one of those dull handsome faces

Which never sacrific'd unto the Graces.

And Person, with as little gracefulness

As has her motley face, if not with less.

A thing made up in hast, all in a bundle,

Just like a Bowl as round as she can trundle.

Her Bum the byass, whence you'll easily guess,

She's naturally inclin'd to idleness.

And her becoming'st posture may be sed,

Or riding in a Coach, or lying a Bed.

As for her other parts, I'll say no more,

But only she's, nor scould, nor slut, nor whore.

And this in any Woman is enough

To make a Wife, though not a Mistress of.

Who this is now, for me shall ne'er be known,

Unless she name her self, for I name none.

And of this size so many Ladies be,

None can unriddle, or till which is she.

[Page]

Love and Death's exchanging Darts, or the Dying Lover.

LOve and Death o'th' way once meeting,

Having past a friendly greeting.

Sleep their weary eye-lids closing,

Lay them down, themselves reposing.

Love, whom divers cares molested,

Could not sleep, but while Death rested.

All in hast away he posts him,

But his hast full dearly costs him.

For it chanc't that going to sleeping,

They had given their Darts in keeping

Unto Night, who Errors Mother,

Blindly knowing not one from t'other.

Gave Love Death's, and ne'er perceived it,

Whilst as blindly Love receiv'd it.

Since which time their Darts confounding,

Love now kills, instead of wounding.

Death our hearts with sweetness filling,

Gently wounds instead of killing.

[Page]

To the Dutchess of Portsmouth, on his Epigram of the Angelical Beauty. (Pag. 19.)

Madam,

YOu being all admirable as you are,

No wonder at first, I never cou'd declare,

But only in silence as admirers do,

The admiration which I had for you.

Until 'twixt speech and silence without name,

I writ at last that tassid Epigrame,

Of th' Angelical Beauty, meaning you,

Although I never nam'd you until now.

When unto all the World I here declare,

You only that Angelical Beauty are.

And now if any at this offended are,

To spight 'em more, I once again declare.

The Angelical Beauty is not only you,

But th' Angelical Disposition too.

[Page]

The Remembrance or the Petition Renewed.

WHo in the late Dutchess of Lorrains days,

To all their mirth, so instrumental was

His Majesty never danc'd, nor Dutchess sung;

But he with's Lute or Viol still was one.

Counting it highest honor cou'd befal

To delight them, who're the delight of all.

Now aged grown, does in some hermitage,

Desire to end the remnant of his age.

And that His Majesty for Viaticum,

Wou'd favor his retreat with some small Sum:

Who never ask'd him any thing before,

Nor after this shall never ask him more.

But be His Beadsman all the rest of's days,

Who then His Poet and Musician was.

The Dilemma.

IF what I write does please, I hope (in short)

His Majesty will give me somewhat for't.

If not, I hope, (as Caesar did before)

He'll give me somewhat for to write no more.

The end of this Quaternium.

§

§

[Page]

To LILY on his excellent Painting.

HOw I admire thee Lily, and thy Art,

That to dead Figures doth such life impart?

Nature and thee do seem at gentle strife,

Whose Figures shou'd be most unto the Life;

Only as in some other World they were,

They do not live such lives as we do here:

But rather such as deathless shadows do

I'th' blest Elyzium fields and shades below.

So like to ours, as it may well be sed,

The dead are living, and the living dead.

As out of Chaos, all the World was made,

When first it neither Form nor Figure had:

So out of Chaos, of thy Colours thou

Do'st make whole Worlds of beauteous figures now.

To see and to admire the work th'ast done,

Whilst all the World unto thy house do'st come.

Who wou'd not think thee by so great resort,

The King of Painters, and thy House the Court.

[Page]

On Peoples Talk.
A Dialogue betwixt Vizdamira, and the Author.

A.

THat I defend you where soe'er I come,

From ev'ry slandrous and malicious tongue,

Is but an Act of Iustice which I ow

Unto the Truth, as well as unto you.

What shou'd I do?

V.

Why do like me, contemn

Their base malicious talk and pitty them,

Who only bark like Dogs of Villages.

And when they are contemn'd will hold their peace.

A.

Ah never! such as they will ne'er give ore,

But more they are contemn'd, do bark the more.

V.

Then let 'em vent their malice as they do.

It does not trouble me, why shou'd it you.

A.

Pardon me, when I hear 'em speaking ill

Of those, I love, I must defend 'em still.

V.

I thank your love, but yet my cheif defence,

'Gainst slandrous tongues, must be my innocence.

To live well, is in power of every one,

But hinder peoples talk in power of none.

[Page]

Against Idleness.

To the Lady Kilmurry, sitting at work with other Ladies.

BLest be the hands, and blest be they who taught

This work at first, which now these hands have wrought

So Rainbow colour'd, as Thomantias Bow

Cou'd never more Celestial colour show.

Work is the Life, and Idleness the Death,

Of every one who lives by vital breath.

Live Ladies then, and by your work declare,

You only, of all others, living are:

Whilst others can no testimony give,

More then the dead, that ever they did live.

And live till for the work on Earth y'have done,

You be rewarded when to Heaven you come,

With Crowns of Glory, and for robes may wear,

As glorious ones of your own working here.

Happy, the whilst, who live and work like you,

Both in this World, and in the other too.

[Page]

To the Lady Elizabeth Gage.

Madam,

I Will not say y'are so surpassing fair,

As none with you for beauty may compare.

Nor that all others, for pure flesh and blood,

Compar'd to you, seem only Painted Mud.

For this of every Lady may be sed,

Whose Beauty's but a little white and red.

Although of none more truly then of you,

Whose colours are no Painted ones, but true;

But I will praise you in a higher kind,

For vertue, and for beauty of your mind.

And say, the outside and the inside too,

Never agreed in any, more then you.

Continue Madam then, but as you are,

As excellently good, as you are fair.

We well may say, your beauty and vertue's such,

As none can praise, none can admire too much.

And this, when others beauty's fade and die,

Is that shall live and last eternally.

[Page]

Prologue for most of our Modern Plays.

YOu'd have new Plays, and when you have'em you

Do by 'em as Children by their Puppets do.

Tear 'em and mangle 'em strait, then cry for more,

And use 'em just as you did those before.

And, reason of this is now, if truth were known,

You are not curious, but fastidious grown:

Nor is it Iudgment in you, but disease,

That no new Plays, though ne'er so good, can please.

And this is all, thanks and reward he has,

Gives Children Puppets, and who gives you Plays.

And now they serve you in your kind you see,

For most o'th' Plays are only Puppetry.

And you as unto Puppet-Plays do go,

Not for to hear the wit, but see the show:

The curious Painted Scenes, which Wit you call

With Cheapside-Pageantry, and that is all.

[Page]

On the Lady Rs, Nursing her own Children.

HOw like to Charity, this Lady stands?

With one child sucking, t'other in her hands.

Whilst Bounteous Nature, Mother of us all,

Of her fair Brests, is not more liberal.

Those Ladies, but Half-mothers, are at best,

Who while they give their Wombs, deny their Brest.

And none but such true Mothers we may call,

Who give, like you, their Wombs and Brests, and all.

Mirror of Mothers? in whom all may see,

By what you are, what others ought to be,

Ready like Pellicans for Childrens good,

To give their very lives, and vital blood:

For so do you, if Milk be Blood (though white)

Who shew your self great Straffords Daughter right;

Both alike ready for the publick good,

You for to give your Milk, and he his Blood.

What must the Children be the while, that come

From such a Pious Brest, and Noble Womb.

[Page]

To the Dutchess of Monmouth.
With his Play of the Noble, Fair, and Vertuous EMILIA.

Madam,

WHen Poets wou'd a Heroina make,

Does all perfections of her Sex pertake,

They make her Noble, Fair, and Vertuous too:

All which perfections Madam are in you.

Emilia then is but a feigned name,

And you are only really the same;

Or if their's any difference, this is all,

She's but the Copy, you th'Original.

To whom then should I dedicate my Play,

O'th' Noble, Vertuous, Fair Emilia.

But to your Grace, who is without compare,

More Noble yet, more Vertuous and Fair.

[Page]

Why I Write.

WHilst some do write for profit, some for praise,

And every one some end in writing has:

I only write to please my noble Friends,

And when I've done but that, I have my ends.

For th'vulgar I so much their praises slight,

I wou'd not have their favor, though I might;

Because, I know, none ever had it yet,

But only such who viciously have writ.

And now if any think this cowardize,

To flie their praises, as I do their vice.

I must confess, he's valianter then I,

Who dares be damn'd for writing viciously.

He's vicious enough, does evil do;

But double vicious, does and writes it too.

The end of the Quaternium.

[Page]

Information about this book

Title statement

A treatise of the sports of wit

Flecknoe, Richard, d. 1678?

Edition statement

1675

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A39728

ID [STC]

Wing F1237

ID [STC]

ESTC R20266

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

12043915

ID [OCLC]

ocm 12043915

ID [VID]

53071

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A39728)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 53071)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 67:26)

Source

— A treatise of the sports of wit, Flecknoe, Richard, d. 1678?.

Extent

32 [i.e. 36], 8, 8, 17-25 p.

Printed for the author,. [London] :: 1675.. (In verse and prose.) (Attributed to Richard Flecknoe. Cf. DNB.) (Place of publication from Wing.) (The pages after p. 32 have running title epigrams.) (Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.)

Creation

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