Of Women in generall .

QVi alium sequitur , Sen. Ep● . 33. nihil sequitur , who makes alwayes examples his Copie , shall many times erre from the rules of discretion . Should I tread in the steps of our precisest Methodists , in defining my Subiect , I might seeme with Didymus , to write that which each one knew , and giue a new testimonie of that old and highway Adage , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , to burne Candle at noone day . For what so ignorant a Licinius , whose darke capacitie is not enlightened with this little candle of knowledge , to know what man is ( for euery one knowes man in generall , though few in particular themselues ) from whom woman differs , onely in a materiall designation , hauing one and the same specificall essence . Now the golden Ball , which their deserts do challenge , is not honour , nor riches , nor beauty ; but vertue . I striue not to make them excell men , as Caesar did Pompey in dignitie , or as the Lydeans Dames did their Husbands , in masterie ; but as Seneca did his Father , in vertue : Haec ista honesta contentio ; this is an honest contention , or contentious honestie .

It is true , at first , when there was but two actors , vpon this Theater of the world , woman was the Syren , that allured man vnto euill : but now each man with Tiresias , is metamorphosed into a woman : pleasures and delights , are the ingendring Serpents , that haue womanized their affections : Men were the more perfect by nature : but women now then they , by industrie , ( and it is more difficult to re-obtain vertue , then to keepe it . ) Eue then tempted Adam , but now Adam tempts Eue : and it is better to bee conquered by Nature , then by Art . It is Catulus his saying , 〈…〉 . that he could in those things , which nature gaue to man , suffer patiently himselfe to be subdued , but not in those that might be assequuated , and got by our endeuours . Liu. Dec. 3. For to be delinquent or faulty by nature , that is not ours , but natures fault ; but to be ill by corruption , that is not natures , but our fault . What if she were an instrumentall cause of our fall , was she not as much the cause of our rising ? But wee all sooner forget benefits , then iniuries : we are Eagle-eyed in espying their faults , but dark sighted Owles , in perceiuing their vertues . But not to make them all alike vertuous , ●i● . Dec. 3. as Mantuan would haue them vicious , there are of women three sorts : The first are those who haue both a Theoreticall and Practicall knowledge of vertue by themselues , Suct . l. 12 : vnderstanding those things that are good , and willingly desiring to effect them : and these may I condingly entitle , as the Romans did Titus , deliciae humani generis , the delight of mankinde : Paterc . pag. 125. each one of these is a Scipio , qui nihil in vita nisi laudandum , aut fecit , aut dixit , who neither speake , nor doe any thing , but which is commendable ; so apt to all goodnes , that they seeme with Cato to be borne to all actions they vndertake . The second , are those who though not so excellent , yet laudable : for although we maruell at the greatest , yet wee praise those that are lesse : Sen. ep. 101. non statim statim pufillus est , si quis maximo minus est : hee is not presently a Pigmy , that is lesse then a gyant . In transcendent things those are great , which are next to the best : those , I say , who with Bicinus haue neede of one to direct them to goodnes ; although they know not that which is honest by themselues , yet they obey others rightly admonishing them , and admoneri velle secunda virtus , it is a second vertue , to indure reprouing : for it argues a willingnesse to bee good : and pars magna bonitatis est , Sen. Epist. 34. velle fieri bonum : the next degree of goodnes , is the desire of goodnes : these may I tearme , Diod. de Jamb. as Plutarch doth Alcibiades , Camelions , from their facilitie of manners , whose mindes bend like the bones of the Iambulans , whither you will force them . Cereus in vitium flecti , Horat. de Ar●e Poet. as the Poet saith of yong men , easie to bee drawne either to vertue , or vice . But natura suis neruis pulcherrìmum corpus , Euph. Sat. Apollo . as perfect there is no so heauenly a body , in which doth not hang some clouds of corruption . Non datur sincerum aliquod sine mali admixtione : Phar. in prada Mar. there is nothing so sincere that hath not some admixtion of euill . In this Attica and pleasing field of woman , there growe some Thistles among the Violets , and these are the third sort , the dregges and scumme ( as the Latines said of the Romanes ) of woman kinde : obstinate Hera●litcs , who neither know good themselues , nor condiscend to others admonitions : Arist. Eth. l. 1. c. 3. These I exclude ( as Aristotle doth them from his Ethicks ) from vnder the shield of my defence , although your foule-mouthed Mantuans take occasion to make these the Axeltree , on which the wheele of their tongues do continually run : who , because their deserts could neuer seate them in the fauour of any vertuous women , therefore they empty the dregs of their stomacks vpon all , with the Romans , for one Tyrannicall Tarquinius , to hate all Kings , like expert Logicians , out of particulars , concluding an vniuersall . Aske them what woman is : and you shall haue them speake contradiction ex tempore : they are mala necessaria , necessary euils : as though euill could be necessary : Since whatsoeuer is needful , appertaines either to the esse , or bene : Esse of man , and there is nothing necessary either to his essence or perfection that is ill . But lest if I should suffer the Planet of my wit to wander in the whole heauen of woman , and runne at randome in the ample field of their vertues , it might stray perhaps from the path way of Iudgement ; I will now teather and confine it within the ground-plot of each of their particular qualities .

Of their religious Piety .

REligion meritoriously challengeth to act the first part of their praise : Osorius lib. de Christi Nobilit . and Osorius tels me , that whom we would make immortall , we must proue religious . Hall . Our Matilda Sancti Brigit Hildegard , the first accusers of the Romish Religion ; the learned sister of Nazianzen , Paula Saluina Celantia , Fox lib. de Mar. Pillers of the Church : Holy Apollonia , whose celestiall fire of zeale extinguished the smart of this earthly and culunary fire : Vrsula , who with eleuen thousand Virgins suffered Martyrdome , seeme to obiect enuy vnto me , in concealing theirs and innumerable other pieties : but , alas , I want not the will , but the power . The Poet bids me looke : Horatius . Quid valeant humeri ? And I finde the shoulders of my inuention too narrow to beare the burthen of their due praises for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Hom. ad Il● . lib. 2. If I had as many tongues as Briarius had hands , I could not enumerate the praises due to their deuotions : and it is better your pieties be conceal'd , then insufficiently reueal'd ; whiles we praise by halues , we disgrace : an ill Instrument may shame a good worke : the vnworthinesse of the agent many times curses a good enterprise . Caesar his warres had better beene inueloped in obscurity then diuulged by botching Labio ; Truth is better hid , then wronged by telling .

Of their Continency and Chastity .

COntinency is defined by the Prince of Philosophers , Aris●o . Ethi . lib. 7. cap. 1. Ausoni . hoc solum fecit nobile quod perut . when we immoderately desire pleasures , and yet abstaine from them . This definition lookes like Otho his life , onely good in the end : the sweet of it , which makes continency a vertue consists as the honey of the Bee , in the Taile ( for Vbicunque desines , si bene desines tota est ) too immoderately to desire pleasures , that argues weaknes : but to be able to cast the cold ashes of restraint , on the burning coles of desires , that the strongest vertue : the obiect then of continency is pleasures in generall ; giue mee leaue to restraine them onely to Veneriall . The first part of this vertue , viz. to immoderately desire , I doubt not but the greatest Mysogunians will grant vnto them : for the oracle of our beliefe doth testifie it , tearming them the weaker vessels : and weaknesse alwayes is the most subiect to gape after pleasures , and in their bodies ( if it may not seeme superfluous ) to adde the Sunne of verity the candle light of humane reason . Aire ( saith the Philosopher ) doth predominate , and where most aire is , there is most Humidum radicale : being both of one nature , indifferently hot and moist , where there is most Humidudum radicale , there is most ability of body , and where the body is most able , there naturally should be most desire .

Now if any obiect as a fault , Tulli. de O ratore li. 1. the natural pronenesse of their bodies , Ciceroes answere to the Romans refusing Murena to be consul , because he had liued in Asia , shall be mine , telling them , that was not commendable in Murena , that he had neuer seene , but that he had liued continently in Asia . What if their bodies be an Asia , full of delights ? that is not discommendable : but that their soules , a Murena , should liue chaste in the Asia of their bodies , that s laudable ( as Seneca saith of Leuanus ) Hoc multo fortius ebrio ac vomitante populo sobrium esse ; by this they are most vertuous , that their mindes should be sober , amongst the riotous pleasures of their bodies . It is the chiefest part of Continency , that it can , but will not doe ill . Now to proue their voluntary abstinence from those their desires , examples must be my only Medium , which although they bee not demonstrable arguments to proue a truth , yet they are probable , for ( saith Cicero ) vt habet in aetatibus authoritatem senectus , sic in exemplis antiquitas : ancient examples to present times should be as venerable , as old age to youth . Sen. Epis. 18. Optimum ex praeterito consilium praesentis venit , wee may best iudge of the present by things past . Lucretia , being asked of her husband , when Tarquinius had offered her violence , how shee did ? answered , Liui. Deca . 12. Quid salum est multeri amissa pudicitia ? What can be safe to a woman , when shee is bereaued of her chastity ? The Romane Lady that neuer kist man , but her husband , did therefore deemed all men like vnto him , to haue obnoxious & noysom breaths . The Thebane maide , before Nicanor should be the caruer vp of her virginity , chose to be her owne boistrous Butcher . Our Matilda , Speed Chron. ere she would assent to the vnlawfull sute of King Iohn , fled to a Monastery , and there suffered death . And what was the reason that the ancients constituted them the mouthes of their Oracles , and gouernors of their Temples , but for their chastity and sanctity ? and whosoeuer shall read histories , or looke into these present times , shall find many chaste Orythyas , for one Carneades , many continent Clea's for one Socrates , and on the contrary many a lasciuious Caligula , for one Messalina , many an incontinent Tiberius , for one Liuia● but that which giues the most luster of their continency , is , that men who as I haue proued should be naturally most chaste , are assailants , whereas they should bee defendants : but now custome hath made it no fault in them , for Multitudo peccantium tollit peccatum , the multitude of offenders takes away the offence , and faults are no longer feared , then that they are rare , but our English so Seneca tels them , Halt . that offences are much greater , as they are more vniuersal . Do they not obserue houres , dayes , and all occasions , to batter the wailes of their chastity ? And what will not importunity and opportunity effect ? which as they aggrauate the fault in the agent , so they extenuate , though not excuse it in the patient . Certainely , if they should vse the like meanes , to obtaine men , a Nay would bee as seldome as treason in the mouthes of most men . Yet so iniurious are the censures of these our times , that if a Ioue vanquish but , or vitiate or in or in vanquishing , viciate a silly Io , a graue Cato , a light or tender Virgin , black infamy shall ouercloud , and brand her reputation , not once touching his . Juuena . Sat.

Ille pretium sceleris , tulit hic Diade●●a . Of he fault poore she shall beare the blame , When he 's crown'd with a Diadem .

As sweetely sings a Lady in our English Ouid. Drayton Poet.

To men is granted priuiledge to tempt : But in that Charter , women be exempt : Their fault it selfe serues for the faults excuse , And makes it ours , though yours be the abuse : And howsoeuer , although by force they win , Yet on our weakenesse , still returnes the sinne .

If women bee vnchaste ,

Jncontinem semi-malus Arist. Ethi . l. 7.

Continentia melior Tem. Arist. Ethi . l. 7.

they are but incontinent , and therefore but semi-malae , but halfe euill : If man be vnchaste , he is vntemperate , & therfore totaliter malus , wholy euil , if they be both chaste , shee is continent , and he but temperant , and therefore more to be praised : Sene Epis. for Quamuis acundem finem vterque peruenerit , tamen maior est laus , idem efficere difficiliore materia : although they both attaine the same end , yet it is the more laudable to effect the same in a more difficult matter .

Of their Fortitude and Magnanimity .

ALthough continency bee the best fortitude , and it is the greatest conquest , when the body is the Chariot , that carries the minde triumphing ouer its affections : therefore Laelius told his friend , Liui. deca . being insnared with the beauty of Syphax his wife , that it would be a more noble victory , to conquer his affections to her , then in subduing the husband : Maximum est imperium imperare sibi , and he is most valiant that conquers himselfe : yet because you shall not deeme them inferiour to you in warrelike fortitude , take Seneca's iudgement of them , Sen. ca. 1● . Quis dixerit naturam maligne cum mulieribus egisse , par illis mihi crede vigor , &c. who saith , that nature hath giuen her fauours sparingly to woman , they haue the same vigour , and can , as well tolerate labours , as men , if they be accustomed to them . To omit the men-conquering Amazons , there is none I know so obscure , to whom the trumpet of fame hath not blowne their valors . 〈…〉 Xerxes ( he that was alwayes last in the field , and first out ) seeing Artemisia brauely fighting amongst his Captaines , sayd ( for euen the vicious thinke well of vertue ) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : ●s there is in man womanish feare , so there is in woman virill audacity .

The Romanes had no lesse fight with the women , 〈…〉 then with their husbands , in conquering the Cimbrians Semiramis receiuing ignominious speeches from the King of the Indians , D●●orus de antiqui . renunciated and sent him word , she intended not to fight with words , but with swords . Cam. Brit. The ancient inhabitants of this I le , the Brittaines , Vaodicia being their General , shaked off the Romane yoke , and most of their prosperous battels were when women did leade them . Ya●●tus Anna. 4. And was not France wholy ouerrunne by our English , Grim. his Fran. vntill ( as the French brag ) that valorous Ioane gaue life to the French , confronted our braue Bedford in the field ? And what was the Phoenix of her time , our euer to bee renowned Queene , Elizabeth , at whose frowne Kings trembled ? And that fiery-spirited Blanch , Dutches of Orlean●e , when King Philip had giuen her disgracefull words , replyed , that if ( to vse my authors words ) she had a paire of _____ , Fren. Hist. hee durst not so haue reuiled her . But thou wil●●●y , they may haue couragious minds , but they want force . Oh! men are stronger then they . So are many beasts stronger then men , Senc. Corpus si magnas habet vires , non aliter quam furiosi validum est : Valour consists in the minde , not in the body ; not Megasomity , but Magnanimity , is the vertue : it is the minde that extols deiected things , illustrates base things , dehonestates great things . They yeeld to men to haue windes like Dionysius that strong-sided Trumpeter , A●●●us Hist. who with his breath could puffe about Wind-Mils .

So that they haue minds able to blow away all base feares : Hom. 〈◊〉 . l. 3. And what more euident signe of their valor , then their loue of it ? Homer induceth Helena complaining of Hymen , that hee had espoused her to one , who durst not defend her against the enemy . The Laconians seeing their husbands feare , lending them wings to flye from the field , asked them if they intended to obscond themselues in their mothers bellies ? Tiphane perceiuing her beloued Bertrand , Fren. hi. for the sweet of her companie , to let his desire of Martiall affaires quaile within him ; told him she should the entirelier loue him , if he did stil prosecute the honour and reputation of Chiualry . Drasm . Rhetor. Damatria her sonne complaining of the shortnesse of his sword , bid him stand neerer his enemy . Venus did more affect bloudy Mars , then timorous & fairefac't Apollo . And how many Katherines chose rather to bee courted with conquering Launces , then Court-like Rapters ? I might heere a posteriore ( as the Logicians tearme it ) from the effects inferre their fortitudes , women beeing the cause of that calor caelestis , the heauenly fire of loue , which burnes , as it did in Lepidus , all ignoble , and seruile feares from mens hearts , the whetstone ( as one saith of Anger ) that exacuates and sets an edge on mens obtuse and blunt affections : the Lapis Alchimicus , the Philosophers Stone , that conuerts Leaden passions , into any golden sweet content : but that many pens haue testified the same , and I am loth to bee a Broker of other mens wits .

Of their constancie and true loue .

THere is a greater Sympathy of affections in friendships , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , betwixt man & woman , then man and man . For you shall not reade of aboue foure or fiue couples of men that were linkt together in the bands of faithfull friendship , when Authors swarme with sexamples betwixt the other . Similitudo morum , 〈◊〉 . 250. the similitude of affections , as Otho obtained Neros , is the cause of virall friendship : but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , nature it selfe , is the foundation of coniugall friendship . It is Iucunda amicitia , that is the cause of this vera amicitia . It is pleasure , that tyes the indissoluble knot of true friendship ; delight begins it , honestie confirmes it : for where pleasure is , there is desire of societie , and that s the key , that locks their thoughts together . Shee then that is espoused to one whom shee doth not affect , if shee loue another , ca● not be said to be inconstant , but incontinent . For inconstancie is a negation of constancie : they must then first loue , ere they bee inconstant . If then ( courteous Reader ) thou doest but ballance the scales of thy iudgement with impartialitie , duely waying the nature of inconstancie , thou wilt not hereafter so rashly accuse them of instablenes . What if there be one Helena amongst all the Graecians ; one Liuia amongst all the Romans ; one Cleopatra amongst all the Egyptians : wilt thou therefore shoot the arrow of thy fame-wounding iudgement against all , the Graecians , Romanes and Egyptians ? There is no motion , but circular , that is alwayes perfect . All are not Starres , fixed in the Orbe of constancie , there must bee some straying Planets . Just. l. 18. Elisa Queene of Carthage , her Husband being murdered , and afterward beeing sollicited of many for her loue , praecipitated her selfe from a Sky-kissing Turret , Just. l. 18. saying , I come , my Sychaeus , I come . Theogena , wife to Agathocles , refused to depart from him , when all his subiects had relinquisht and forsaken him , saying , Se non prosperae tantum , sed omnis fortunaeinisse societatem , she was as wel married to him in aduersitie , as in prosperitie . And not to stand particularizing , Diod. the Getoi women would not be sent from their husbands besieged : but would participate of the same fortune they did . D●od . It beeing a custome amongst the Indians , that the women should be buried quick with their husbands , if the thred of their liues were first cut , they so willingly condiscended vnto it , that many times one man hauing two wiues , they would be at mortall strife , who should be interred with him . Martia , the Daughter of Cato , being demanded when she would surcease from mourning for her deceased husband , Cum & vitae inquit : When I cease to liue . The wife of Philo , when shee was asked why shee did not adorne her selfe with Iewels at publike solemnizations , answered , It sufficeth me , that I haue for my ornament the vertue of my husband . The Wife of Po●●pey slew her selfe vpon his dead corps , from whom , I thinke , the Tragedian took his sentence , Sen. Trag. Mors misera non est , commori cum quo velis .

Pale death to life is oft of those preferd , Who are with those , whom they doe loue , interr'd .

Should I stand to enumerate all the regular Matrons that mooue within the speare of fidelitie ; I might seeme by a Logicall Induction , in reckoning vp all particulars , to inferre a generall . Women , their mindes are crystall , which writ on by the Diamond of loue , the slubbering fingers of Time can neuer obliterate or blot forth : Like the state of the world aboue the Moon , where there is no change . Their minds perhaps , as ( Seneca saith ) a wise mans , may wauer , but neuer alter .

Of their contempt , and freenesse from Gluttonie .

THere is none , I thinke , Rick . Rhet. so scrupulously malicious , vnlesse hee resemble the Philosopher , who doubted whether he were a man or a woman , and therefore would haue it decided by disputation , that will suffer any thought to mooue within the Zodiake of there imaginations , which doth not in this giue Woman the preeminence . Peruse thou all Authors , that haue in there writings disgorged and spet forth their venemous rancour against them : and if thou canst finde two of them that were addicted to Gastrimorgisme , I will grant thee to inferre that they are all dishmongers , when the streame of Autors beares floting on their Pageants , innumerable mens names , who by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haue brought both bodies and purses into consumptions . Philoxenus wished his necke were as long as a Cranes , that hee might the longer feele the sweetnes of his meat : and he ( qualis vita , finis ita ) hauing taken a mortall surfet , by deuouring almost a Polypus of the quantitie of two Ells , desired to comfort his empty stomack , that death should separate his leane soule , from his fat body , that he might eat the remainder . Aclian . l. 12. Sminderides , whose eyes were sixe times as long shut with Gluttonie , as Endymions was with sleepe , from beholding the Sunne , and then forsooth by Loue , being awaked from his sluggishnes , he rode a wooing , brauely attended with a thousand Cookes , as many Fowlers , and so many Fishers . How many Nero's shall you finde banquetting , and swilling , from midday , to midnight , with Vitellius , making ( as one saith ) their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : and honestum et parum est , cui corpus multum , whose belly is his god , honestie most commonly is his slaue .

Of their dextericall Wits .

IF the acutenesse of wit doe follow , and be seene by the purenes of the temperature of the body ▪ as without doubt it is : for it heere is vsually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the most exact sense of feeling and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , a soft temperate flesh , where there is a smirke and quicke wit : women ( being they are most commonly imbued with those corporall fauours ) should by a consequent bee the best 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , haue the most actiue , and excelling wits : and when Aristotle prefer's the more obtuse and melancholy wit , before the dextericall ; it is in affaires where there is time for deliberation : otherwaies the prae-wit excels the post wit , as actions performed in season , doe those which are out of season . For many times , when occasion is offered the prae-wit takes it by the forehead , when the other whiles the time away it : doth search the corners of the braines , for the oyle of inuentions , stayes till the doore of answering be shut against it : Like the messenger that came to tell Cassius of the victory , Paterc . pa. 122. when hee had already slaine himselfe in despaire of it : Pers●us . and elleborum frustra ●umiam cutis aegra tumebat .

In vaine we to inuention flye , When occasion 's past , for to reply .

Socrates tearmeth perspicuitie of wit , aurum diuinum , diuine and refined gold , whose Mine is the minde of a woman : And therefore the Muses , the fountaine of all wit , were women : The Sybils , quarum quot verba , tot Oracula , whose words as an Oracle to the Romanes , were women . The quintessence , the A per se ( as one saith of Poets ) of wit : Aeneas Syl. the euen flowing Euripus of faculty , learned Sapho , a woman . The daughter of Tully being asked in scurrility , by Metellus who was her Father ? replyed , It would be hard for thee to answere it , by reason of thy Mother , ( for shee was esteem'd none of the honestest . ) It was a pretty extemporarie sleight of Semarimus : who , A●lia●● 7. when the Indian King caused her to ascend his Throne , and gaue her authority to command the Souldiours , to doe what she would ; she presently bid them kill the King himselfe : and so she obtained his Kingdome . And whose eye is not blinded with malignitie , may see the floud of their wits still to flow in these our times .

It is a more then probable signe , that they excell men in the actiuenesse of wit , in that ( as I haue prooued ) they are lesse incident to Gurmandizing : Lab. in I●●● . for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : and as a modern Poet pithyly Englisheth : Fat panches make leane pates , and groser bits Enrich the ribs , but bankrout quite the wits .

Of their Wisedome .

PErspicuitie of wit is of the Moralifts made the chiefest part of wisedome , Mag. in Ar●s . l. 3. differing solely from it : as pars doth a toto : as the part from the whole . Indeed , wisedome is nothing but a perfected wit , it being onely necessary by nature : the other parts got by experience . If then women haue actiuenesse of wit , reason will tell you , they most easily attaine to prudence , which is ( because the knife of occasion , will not suffer me to shred it into all his parts ) either Oeconomicall , or Politicall . Concerning the first , the whole multitude cryes , as they doe to Kings , Regnant , regnant : Let it appertaine to the Sexe feminine to gouern the house , and so their politikes prudence , who knowes how to guide a little , will quickly learn how to gouerne much . Our politike Prudence sprung first , from Oeconomicall . And domus ( saith Aristotle ) est quasi parua quae dam ciuitas , & ciuitas quasi magna domus : a house is , as it were a little Citie , and a Citie , as it were , a great house . But let one , who with Diogenes could neuer afford woman a good word , speake for them , saying , that nature had denied vnto them strength : for other wise , their courage beeing corroborated by policy , would bee vnconquerable . Antipater was accustomed with his Daughter Phila , to consult of his most serious and warlike affaires . 〈◊〉 . D● . 3. Tannaquill , that politick Romane Dame , obtained by the sleyts of her wits , two Empiredomes . Agrippina , when al the Captaines could not asswage the raging of the people , 〈◊〉 . 6 with her sweet and Nectar-flowing words of wit , calmed and pacified them . Heluna , the Mother of Seneca , was expert in all Sci●nce : The Armenians expulsed their King , to haue a Woman sway the Scepter of their Monarchy : shewing , that there are women both more wise to iudge what is to bee expected , 〈◊〉 and more constant to beare it when it is hapned . But I may say of their vertues , as one saith of vices ; 〈◊〉 4● . Multarum latent virtutes , quia imbecilles sunt , the clouds of obscuritie , many times ouershaddow the Sunne of their Vertues from shining : and haud distat inertia caelcita virtus . Vertue concealed , is esteemed little better then sluggishnes . They may haue nature which begins ; Art which directs ; but they want vse , which per●ecteth . Generosos animos Otium corrumpit : want of imployment , corrupts the brauest spirits ; the fountain of their vertue , corrupts by standing . Want of vse , causeth disabilitie ; but custome , perfection .

Of their Beauty .

ALthough it bee a Tenent amongst the Stoicks ( who would haue men impassionate , Diad . l. de Ant●q . & without affections , as Diodorus writes of some Arabians ) that there is no externall good , addes perfection to a man : Yet the Peripateticks hold them , although not necessarie , yet requisite , as one distinguisheth , not absolute : sed respectiue , they doe not concurre to perfection , 〈…〉 as it is perfection , but as it is mans perfection : and of all aduentitiall , and extraficall goods , Aristotle giues the principalitie to pulchritude , which doth not cause vertue , but graceth it . Plutarch accuseth Seneca of inconsiderate Iudgement , in that he accuseth Virgil of errour , in saying that Gratior est pulchro veniens ecorpore virtus .

Plac't with beauty , vertue 's like Rich Pearle set in a Margarite .

Non satis est ( saith Galatcus ) bene quid facere , Cal. de Mor. nisi etiam fiat venustè . It is not sufficient to performe actions so wel , 〈◊〉 vnlesse also decently . Sumus omnes ( saith Osorius ) natura concin●tatis , appetentes : wee all naturally desire neatnes , & concinnity . Beautie is call'd of Plato , a prerogatiue of nature , accidentall to few : Of Theophrastus , silentem fraudem , quod absque verbis persuadebat : a silent fraud , that perswades without words . Of Carneades , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : 〈…〉 a Kingdome without a guard ; because it commands without compulsion . And therefore saith the Philosopher , If there were any amongst the gods , that did excell in externall lineaments , the rest would deeme it meet that they should gouerne . 〈…〉 The Catharri chose them to be libertie free , who were of a comely proportion , the rest they made seruile . 〈…〉 And if I may not come within the reach of Iuuenals lash , the primus Motor , the abstract of fairenesse , entitled ( with reuerence be it spoken ) his Spouse in the Canticles , by the name of faire : Intimating the Adamantine and winning power it hath , with mortals . For beeing the species of each obiect , & impressed in the sence , before it bee in the vnderstanding , it is a good consequent , that whatsoeuer is most delightfull tothe Organical sences , the Intellectuall parts are most willing to receiue . I neede not set inuention on the racke , to proue their Prerogatiue in corporall feature , as I haue in their internall and mentall forme , since our sensible eyes doe more easily see● , then our intelligible vnderstand . I haue need of a Sapho's wit , to describe the Rose of their beauty ; not an Aristotles Iudgement , to proue it . Let each ones sences bee the glasse , in which they view beauty ; and then , I thinke , there will be none so hypocriticall , or false , that will not reflexe some shaddow of their pulchritude , by which they may see them to surpasse men . Quantum len . ta solent inter viburna Cupressi , as much as the lofty Cypresse doth ouerpeere the limber shrubbe : or , Achil. Tac. lib. 8. as one saith of Ephesius , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as faire not amongst , but aboue men ; as Rodope , aboue the Virgins . The Crasis of their bodies , comes neerest to the Physicians temperamentum ad pondus . Although selfe-tormenting enuie , which alwaies , ●anquam ignis summapetit , a perpetuall companion of vertue , seek to congeale vapours in the sky of beauty , with the noisomnesse of its breath , by obiecting incontinence vnto it , as a Poet sings :

There is no name ( if she be false or not , ) But being faire , some enuious tongue will blot :

As if nature were an Hypocrite , to candie ouer the bitter Pils of the minde , with sugred outsides . No , no , their externall feature doth striue ( as Paterculus saith of Victinius ) with the excellencie of their mindes ; whose vertues being a Iewell , inveloped in the siluer O●e of their bodies , like Achilles , of whom Maximus Tarrhus saith , Not onely to bee extold for her golden looks , but because he was adorned with all vertuous qualities . D●●ge . La●r . 〈…〉 The cord of society ( as Chrysippus nominates it ) or pulchritude , is described to bee a proportionable commixtion of the foure elements in mans body , & where no one element doth predominate in the body , there no one passion doth captiuate the soule : 〈…〉 for , Cuius in vllo elementi portio praeualebit , inde moris erunt , the minde deriues his passions from the preuailing clement in the body : where Frigidity doth predominate , their t●morousnes ; where Calidity , there choler : wherfore Plato would haue children prohibited , and yong men in the hot Meridean of their age , to abstaine from Wine , because by califying the body , it inflameth also the minde .

And whereas we see many with Lepidus , to haue fairer bodies then minds , leaden Rapiers , in golden Sheathes , like Diogenes young man , a Momus wit in an Apello's body , like Nereus Beard in a painted Box , it is not by the instinct of nature , but by the corruption of it : and on the contrary , when wee see many golden qualities placed , as Aesops Iewell , in in the dunghill , in Leaden bodies , as in Galba , of whome Cicero said , his wit had an ill lodging ; nature doth not imbue them with them , but industry obtaines them , as S●ere●●s and our last Cardinall confessed of themselues , The temperature of the body doth but beginne and inchoate our affections , custome and vse are of most validity , wherefore generally wee may iudge , as an Epigrammatist doth of a slow paced Lordane : Tardus es ingenio , vt pedibus , natura etenim dat Exterius specimen , quod latet interius . Thy leaden heeles no golden wit doe shew : For in-bred gifts by outward limbs we know .