An apologie for vvomenkinde

AN APOLOGIE for Woman-kinde . MVses diuine which on Pernassus dwell , Bathing your selues in Pegasaean well ; Infuse high thoughts into my dullard sprite . And guide my trembling hands , whilst I indite The sacred honours of your fellowe Sexe , Which mens vnlawfull tirannye doth vexe . And you three Sisters whome we Graces name , Fayre spotlesse Virgins without fault or blame , Bestowe some beautyes on my rugged rimes That they may please our more then carping times , And in full health preserue themselues ( at least ) From sharp-tongue dartes of many headed beast . Immortall Nectar in my minde distill , That I may write ( with fauourable quill ) Womens admired gloryes and then praise . That may be read in our next Nephewes dayes . And you bright Lampes which to the world giue Light , ( Mightie Commaunders of the greatest might ) Braue Ladyes , sage Matrones , comely Damoselles , Whose armed thoughts resist all wicked spelles , Be you my Load-starres , guide me without sayle , Direct this little Barque ( wherein I sayle ) That it may scape the sandes of high disdaine , And to the Porte of fauours safely game . Full well I wot , this subject was more fitte For peerlesse Homers or for Virgils witte , The Florence-Petrarkes , Tassoes , or Ronsardes , Sidnyes or Spencers ; vnto whome , rewardes , Garlands of Bayes by Poets graunted are . Yet sithence one whose temples still are bare , Whose fruitlesse braine is like a barren rocke , A stonye ground , or ouer-dryed stocke , Could thus much sing : what might some others say ! Swannes notes excelling on their dying day . Nor is it pride that makes me thus presume A great Atlanticke burthen to assume . A labour which might Hercules beseeme , Or one whose same the world should more esteeme . It 's iust dutie , to a cause neglected , By all abler persons vnrespected , That makes me take this Pencill in mine hand ( The most vnskilfull Paynter in our Land ) And on this playned table vndertake , Of your high worth some portraiture to make . Would God I had renoum'd Apelles skill , Then might my worke well answer to my will . But why doe I the artes of men desire Who Chymons are , vnlesse first set on fire , By kindely heat , whence all their science flowes , Which afterwards so bright resplendent showes ? Within this Laberinth I hope to tread With fearlesse foote led by your beauties thred , So as no vglye Minotaur , of spight Shall dare with hellish mouth at me to bite . Nor gainst me snarling dog tooth'd Momus barke , But say I chaum like to the morning Larke , In musique straines a measur'd harmonye For women-kinde , Natures Epitomye . And as for me : one louing kinde regarde , Or freindly looke , shall be my sole rewarde . Now muse no longer stay , thy race beginne , Declare dame Euahs state before her sinne Was by the Thunder-darter punished , By paines enioyn'd vnto all women-head . Shewe what in Edens garden she hath beene , Let at the least her gloryes past be seene . When other creatures God created had , And sawe that all were good and none were bad , Al 's carelesse man , whome he as best did prize Seated to dwell in earthly Paradize : Then , there he framed passing faire the rest With knowledge and with wisdome chiefly blest . Woman replenished with excellence , Conceipt , and gloden streaming eloquence . Her splendent hayres were Amber coloured . And like fresh flowers in Aprill sauoured . Her smooth forhead that no arte did borrowe Was like the sea which no winde doth furrowe , Her vaulted eyebrowes made of Ebeny , The horned Moone resembled in the Skye . Her sparkling eyes as two cleer starres did shine , Full of sweet grace and maiestie diuine . Her cares , whose shape my thoughts doe farre surpasse , Were like two Roses in a Christall glasse , Her white pretty Eagle-nose descended , As a mount amidst a plaine it hanged . Enuie herselfe beholding it had shame , Because therein she-nothing found to blame . Two red flowers set in milke , her cheekes did seeme , Where his strong holde the Shooting-Boy did deeme , Her mouth which did embalme the aire about , At Corrall lippes did send hersweete breath out , Shewing two ranckes of pearles well polished , Which hedg'd her tongue by Suada furnished . But what meane I , in short wordes to comprise , That which in ample theame I might deuise ? Her body beauties store-house , God did make And not from mudde , but Adames side did take , The matter whence he did the worke compose , ( Durt was ore base a subiect to be chose . ) So as her essence , though not different , ( As two times flood ) was more excellent Then Adams was , my speech I will confirme , Least that I seeme it vainely to affirme . Being the first thinges God did onely giue , The second plancals life the third did liue , Endu'd with sence : reason the fourth obtaind , And so the last more worthinesse still gaind . This certainely well vnderstood the man , When at the first sight boasting he began To say , out of his flesh she had been tooke : ( So soone as from his brasen sleepe he wooke . ) This perfectly the subull Serpent knew , When her he tempted , with his : Is it true ? To winne the man he thought it was no doubt , That was his feare the woman would stand out . Wherefore to her he did addresse his wiles , Wherewith mankinde hee daily still beguiles . Who though at first she did well shun his sleights , Yet ( ah ) at length he catch'd her by his baites . Well what did Adam ? he did not deny , But cat the fruite forbidden readily , And after deem'd his case could not be bad , Telling by Euahs meanes he sinned had To high lehouah punisher of vice , Which cal'd them foorth hidden in Paradice , And tooke the rule out of the womans handes , Making her thrall vnto subiections bandes . That was before mans pow'rfull gouernesse . His mistresse , loue , his wife , his Empresse . Yet did he not her cast in slauery , Nor any baser foule seruilitye . But lest her guidance to her husbands will , Onely for order yeilding to him still So Abell was subiected vnto Cain , Yet Cadets Iudge th' authoritie is vaine . And 't is a point that euery one can tell , The younger borne , most what doe farre excell . Now let some Tyger-bred clowne speake his minde , Rayling his fill against all women kinde , Terming them wanton , lustfull , letcherous , Mincing decemblers , slye , fine , vicious . Let some grimme Syre his Dame in furye strike , Which is his pleasures mate , his half his like , In whose faire face Roses and Lillyes meet , Whose looke is smiling and whose speech is sweet . Sith gainst all lawes and iustice such doe deale , From malefactors well may one appeale . Yet would I fayne their proper vice once learne , Which makes mens talke to be of them so sterne . Are they accustom'd to that filthy sinne , Which is extol'd by beastly Aretin ? The shame of Greece , Spayne , Italy and France , Where men gainst kinde doe spend their cheuisance . Ah , ah noe . Nor is it Venerie , Men brag of that in greatest brauerie : But faultes in diuers subiectes alter not , A blame in one in each one is a blot . Besides , the men are causers of those crimes . That women weakely doe commit some times . Witnesse their carefull suites , their instruments , Their Syrens Songes , their silent allurements . Bribed speakers , inuentions curious , Iustes , daunces , presences , letters amourous , their fained frenzies , harder heartes tomoue , Their oathes , their vowes , their sickenes growne from loue Doth one deny all these and lend none care ? With some base Peasant she dooth make good cheare . Plasso reportes , which sought to make her sinne , T is must keepe out , there is a key within . So as to hinder sinister bad talke , Many doe chuse full secretly to walke . In wickednesse : thinking faultes hidden small , Though eyes there are which plainly see them all . Well ; sundry times of women I haue read , Which for their honours , now long since are dead . As Lucia and chaste Lucretia , The Damesels Hyppe and Orythia ▪ But of one man as yet I neuer heard , Who for his chastitie tooke such reward . Then fondlings cease the female sexe to blame , None truth can speake that turneth to their shame . Their very paines by God to them enioyn'd , Shewe how their mindes to goodnes are enclin'd . For 't is a rule ; God sends his troubles such As be his creatures able , lesse or much . Atlas alone hath chargd the heauens to bear , Rich Carbuncles in golde men onely weare , And vertues vnto women proper are . Are you affected vnto pietye , Deuouter godlinesse or charitye ? Example take the Virgin bless'd Mary , Whose wombe conceiu'd our healthfull mistery . Here might I say women did honour more , Christ lowe abas'd , in all appearance poore , Then his Disciples or Apostles durst , 'T is manly wisdome still to seare the wurst . And here to tell , the labour were not spilt How many Schooles and Hospitalles are built By womens wondrous liberalitie , The true perfect patternes of high bountie . Als' ' might I well from Pagan writers shewe Who onely rules of blinded reason knewe The famous zeale which they in women deem'd , And therefore iudg'd them by their Gods esteem'd . Hence in large sorte to honour them they raign'd , Many the place of Goddesses had gain'd . As Iuno , Cibell , and Minerua , Venus , Themis , Ceres and Diana . Hence some aliue to heau'n they haue vp borne , Whose blessed mindes this earthly mudde did scorne . Hence all the vertues female haue they nam'd , As , Peace , and Iustice , Truth , with Faith vnblam'd , And honestye which neuer makes asham'd But I an hundreth other poynts doe see That in my iudgement farre more needfull bee . And now me thinks my selfe am like vnto Some one who doth into a Garden goe , Of greene hearbes a Posie for to gather , Yet there knowes not which to take most rather . So I the best thinges striue for to propound , Yet which are they my wisdome cannot sound ' Wherefore me pardon deere Mineruaes brood , If that my choyse or order be not good : Of womens loue to men first will I tell Reasons apparent why to prize them well . For by these two Gods lawe is full defin'd , Loue vnto him and vnto humane kind . And of this loue our Countrye claimes chiefe part , The next our Parents looke for in our hart . Yoke mates and Children doe a third require , The fourth our neighbours at our hands desire . Now in all sortes women more loyall are Then any men . Long circumstance I spare : Eke many Histories I will omitte , Which to declare this argument are fitte . To ayde her Countrye , faire Macaras Her life did spend also Protogeus , Pandora , Pleria and Theopa , Pasithea with braue hair'd Eubula Did lesse respect their owne prospertie . Then their deere Countries sweet felicitie . The beautifull Dame Cratissiclea , ( King Cleominos mother of Sparta Her selfe an hostage dared to present , And vndergoe a willing banishment From seruitude her Citie for to saue . Such actes as these , some lostye straines do craue . Where were the men which voluntary dy'd When these occurrents fearfull did betide ? Where were become their big Thrasonicke wordes , Their glistring armours , and their thrilling swordes ? 'T is true I see , as I haue seene most ofte : The hart 's most hardy dwell with tongues most soste . Solynus saith , there was a Roman wife Who with her dugges preseru'd her mothers life , Into the prison hauing leaue to enter , Dayly to viewe her poore staruing mother . So Nicon olde Xantippe nourished Her Father , whome the Iaylor famished . Shewe me more loue , shewe me more constantnes In any men : shewe me more faithfulnes . I silently passe by Hypsipila , With hundreths more like young A●igena , That haue excel'd in trusty loyaltye , The very band of all societye . Chelon● is by Plutarch honoured , For perfect freindship to her spousall bed . Who more esteem'd her husband then a Crowne , Wa' st euer seene mens pride did so come downe ? The Spartane Dames their Theseaus did conserue , And from deaths present daunger them preserue : Changing their garments with them secretly , And so restoring them to liberty , Remain'd themselues fell , feirce rage to endure , ( For nothing else to looke for were they sure ) Alcestis did to saue her husband dye , Admetus King of wealthy Thessaly , Canna no longer cared for liues breath Then that she might reuenge Sinatus death . Saxo the Dane , Gunilda doth extoll , Porcia the Romane , Liuy doth enroll , Pliny doth praise the fickely fishers wife , Who for to ease his paines despisde her life . So Alexander ab Alexandra , And Aelian , commend full many moe , Which for to worke their husbands case and joy ; Their owne griefe nought regarded , or annoy . But vnderstand , it is not mine account The Sunnes bright beames in number iust to count . Likewise a Fountaine that is neuer drye , Doth need many buckets it to emptye . Further how Children deerly they affect , Or else their neighbours friendly doe respect ; For me to shewe were meere simplicitie , Sith all confesse thereof the veritie . To proue that fire hath heat , or water colde , Is in no dout or danger to be bolde . Wherefore I le túrne me to another theame , Long while enough I sowed haue this seame . In Prudence , Iustice , Liberalitye ( Whereof Kings boast ) and Magnanimitye : Hereby some short examples i le declare That in no poynt women ought wanting are . Those that can gouerne well , no vertues want , But of braue Queenes the number is not scant That in times past with glory and renowne , Many a Kingdome rules haue and towne . The warlike Almaignes this doe testifie , So doth the Carthaginian Historie . The Blacke Moores brag of hardie Meroe , The Bohemians of their Valasque , Large Siria commends Zenebia , The grim sterne Goths their Amalasuntha . Sage Theodora did the Empire sway , And men vnworthy , thence did chace away . Semiramis drye Egipt did possesse , Whome Nilus ouce-flowings still doe blesse . And doth not England sing Eliza's prayse , Who farre excelled all before her dayes ? Was neuer Prince which ruled with more peace , Or did more gently subjects paines release , And terrors vnto proud high mindes encrease . Out Zoylus and all thy hellish traine , 'T is not foule spight that can pure vertue staine . Whiles Sunne and Moone their courses keep in vre . Womens heroïcke prayses shall endure : Well haue their woorthy sp'rits this merited , In whome all fine inuentions first were bred . The seauen Artes that men call liberall , Were by the Sisters nine first found out all . Gesture seemely and demeanours comely , We attribute to the Graces onely . Cumea wrote the Romane policye . Sapho neuer like for Poesie . In Rome a Statue dedicated was To Gracchus mistresle that wel speaking Lasse . Pithagoras learned of Theocia , Wi●e Socrates of faire Diotina , Plato none indged like Archenassa . With thousands more , which men themselues do note And I it needlesse iudge them all to quote , Whose famous science was by men admit'd , As if that God their knowledge had inspir'd . Yea at this day how many may we see , That heere in England now still liuing bee , Whose pennes and tongues ( when as it is their will ) Farre doe excell each other humane skill ? I silently of purpose passe their names , Sith nought my speech can adde vnto their fames . Ah but men blame all womens secrecye , Their fearfull mindes , changing and cowardly , 'T is true that malice neuer wants a marke , And huge great fires arise oft from a sparke . For if by reason we this matter trye , We nothing finde therein saue forgerye ; Not that I meane all women to excuse , Al 's for some fewe I would not all abuse . We say in sinne he sildome ought to moue , who fitly can another well reproue . What thing more common then disloyaltie 'Mong greatest friends professing amitie ? Ours is the golden worlde : the loue of golde Is more this day then it hath beene of olde . A somme of Coyne buyes honours , loue and freinds , Men are no longer wolues to men , but fiends , that which you tell to him is to a stone , Yet all he babbles so soone as you are gone . But in times past , that hardy female band , Which in one night , of Danes did free our land ; She who from kinde Pisistratus conceald , That which her torments might haue well reueald , The banquet Cryassau , and Brutus wife , Shew in what silence they can spend their life , As for to fall together by the eares , With Gunnes , and Swordes , with Halberds or with speares For some small toyes not worth the speaking off , A icast in mirth , or merrie nipping scoff , It is not womens custome I professe , Ill should I doe a truth not to confesse , T is true they judge the fight of armes is least , Man by his reason differs from a beast ; Likewise Sage nature hath not wrought so strong , Their Corpes , nor armes , ne yet their legges so long , As mens she hath : but framed them moste fit , To entertaine each combatte with their witte , And mids ' a thousand merrie pretty sweetes , Repell an onset twixt a paire of sheetes , Their handes are made for musicke instruments , Not for to brandish warlike complements , Further I deeme such hommasse fortitude , In woman kinde small vertue doth include , Better doth Venus kerchiefe to them sit , Or lunoes state , with wise Minerues witte , Then brutish , rude , and cruell killing armes , Of bloudy Mars , from whom comes naught but harmes And truth to say , without all spight or hate , Those mannish quean sare moste degenerate : Yet if some others aske for hardinesse , With stout courage , and vndaunted bouldnesse , Well can I shew , so as each one will graunt Women at neede can be full valiaunt . Call me to minde braue lasses of old daies , Who gained pryses in Olimpicque plaies , Remember we their greene banke Tritonida , For fencing , for ryding Themerinda , Where also 't was their ordinary guise , To wrastle , runne , and leape for excercise . Forget not we how Archidamia With her great crue , beat Pyrrhus from Sparta . Nor yet the same of one-dugd Amazons , Who in large compasse planted their Cantons . who hath not heard of lewish Deborah ? Iudith , and Iael that slewe Sisara ? I blush to name the maid of Orleance ( Ah shame ) which drest our armyes out of France . The fixt King Henryes daughtet of our land , Preseru'd her father from a murth'ring hand . But what meane I to sayle thus farre from shore ? Stormes ofte arise , which none did doubt before . If that a thousand tongues possesse I might , And eke ten thousand hands well skild to write , A brest of strong brasse with some Steutors voyce , Yet would I rather if I had my choyce , The Startes and sandes to number vndertake ; Then of all women true rehearfall make , Which for admired vertues mertit praise , A subiect large to taske an hundroth daies . Better I think it heere to stay the course Of my weake pen , vntyr'd in this discourse , Mens hardines I pleased am to sed , Their knowledge , strength , and wisdome liketh mee , Their massye corps I meane not to dispraise , Nor ought besides whence prayses iust they raise . Yet when they needes comparisons will make , And womens gloryes violently take . I say that valour with magnificence , honoured vertue and all excellence , In that sweet kinde doe principally shine , Ca●sing it seeme to be the most diuine . Therefore wise men that choose in verite Wiues , amore , n●●e , ore , et re Ought them as equals in each point t' esteeme , And but for order them inferiours deeme , Wherefore fine Ladies , graue Mattons , Damesels , Let your pure mindes withstand al wicked ipels , Yeelde you your selues to ordinance deuine , That your high worth may still more brightly shine , And thou Dame-Fortune neuer doe them blesse , Which by iniustice doe thy sexe oppresse . FINIS .