I maruaile I haue not seene Dorio this Morning ; nor receaued any Sutors from her .

If it please you , I will goe for her , to know when she will come : or when you shall expect any Sutor .

I like him the better . But if I am not deceiued , it is Sophronius my old Friend , who hath been at Rome ; for I heard that he is newly returned home .

My Sophronius , my sweet heart , my desired Friend , welcome : I reioyce that you are returned in safetie ; I haue often wished your companie since your departure .

So mee thinkes ; for when you departed , you were beardlesse , but now you haue got you a handsome Beard . You seeme to mee also , to haue changed your Countenance ; for you had a merry & pleasant Countenance when you departed ; but now you seeme very graue and sober .

Are we not alone , sweet heart ? Heere is none but Parmeno my Pander , who hath been acquainted with our dealinges .

From whence commeth this new shamefastnesse ? I haue a Closet , wherein I lay my Head-attire and my Iewels , which is so darke , that I can neither see you , nor you mee .

How comes it to passe ( my Thais ) that wee should not be ashamed to doe that thing in the sight of Almighty God , and his holy Angels his witnesses , which we durst not for shame doe in the sight of men ?

Thais , I would intreat thee , if thou doest tender the saluation of thy soule , to heare mee a little what I will say vnto thee .

You confesse that we are in the sight of God : and we all should know , Pro. 15. 4. that Gods eyes are in euery place , beholding both good and euill . Heb. 4. All things are naked and bare to him , with whom we haue to doe . Wee cannot hide our selues from him , Psalm. 139. nor go from him ; for If we climbe vp to Heauen , hee is there : If wee goe downe to the Deepe , hee is there : If wee take the winges of the Morning , and fly to the vttermost partes of the Earth , yet thither shall his hand lead vs , and his right hand hold vs : If wee say the Darknesse shall hide vs , euen the Night shall be light about vs : Hee is round about our Bedde , and spieth out all our wayes .

My Thais , this is the scope of my speach ; that seeing our Witnesse is in Heauen , and our Record with the Highest : seeing that God is the beholder of all our actions , and neither secrecie of place , nor darknesse can hide vs from his sight , wee should take heed what we doe ; for he doth not onely see our actions , but he will also iudge them : for he can doe it , because he is Almightie , and he will doe , for he is iust .

God indeed is mercifull ; Psal. 130. but to them that imbracing his mercie , doe feare him : and not to those which abusing his mercie , Rom. 2. doe offend him .

You are become very precise , and growne monstrous holy : You should goe vp into the Pulpit , and then I would heare thee .

I doe not wonder that you scoffe at my good Counsell , for it is vsuall with the World to despise holsome and godly Exhortations : but I would not refuse to doe any good Office , that I might recall you from this shamefull and wretched life .

I wish ( my Thais ) that thou wouldest shake off this madnesse of minde , and awake out of thy securitie , and consider of the matter in good earnest .

I pray thee ( Sophronius ) keepe thy Sermon till another time : If I were sicke , or aged , I would hearken vnto thee : but let vs now be merry , and enioy our pleasure togeather .

O Thais ! hearken now vnto my good Counsell : Delay in all things is dangerous ; hee that is not fitte to day , may be lesse fitte to morrow : now thou art in health and thy senses are fresh , and thy vnderstanding strong , and thy memorie ripe ; if thy body were sicke , it may be sicknesse would weaken all these , and thy paine would make thee impatient . And whereas thou speakest of old Age ; Who hath any charter of his life ? Wee are Tenaunts at will , God may thrust vs out of our house and giue vs no warning : And this we haue seene often how sodainely many haue been taken out of this life ; as the Rich man that promised vnto himselfe many dayes , Luke 12. and gloryed in his abundance , and this sentence was giuen against him , Thou Foole , this night they shall fetch away thy soule . Therefore let vs not presume to repent when wee are old , but euen to day let vs repent , because we know not whether we shall liue till to morrow . Moreouer , thou wouldest haue me merry with thee , and enioy the pleasures of sinne : Let mee tell thee Thais , that I haue learned to be merry in the Lord ; for other mirth is but momentanie and transitorie : and I haue learned to renounce the pleasures of my Flesh , and of the World , because they are but for a little season ; but they doe procure eternall torment , as the example of the Rich Glutton doth teach .

My Sophronius , why doe you speake so much Scripture vnto mee , you know that I , and others of my fashion , little regard it , and care not how little we heare it ; for it reproueth our life , and doth ouerthrow our gaine ?

Indeed Thais , they which are euill , hate the Light , and loue Darknesse more then the Light , because the Light discouereth their euill deeds . But if you and others of your fashion ; yea , if al sinners would harken vnto the word of God and obey it , it would teach them to reforme their liues , and to escape out of the snares of the Diuell : heare therefore my good Thais , the word of God diligently , giue obedience vnto it ; neither thinke it will hinder your profit : but assure your selfe , that will it procure greater and much better gaine then you can thinke .

My Thais , the gaine you thinke you reape by this euill kind of life , doth nourish your body ; but the meanes is so euill , that it will destroy both body and soule , except you repent : But if you hearken to the Word of God , and reforme your life by it , it will teach you to saue both body and soule in the day of the Lord .

My Sophronius , this kind of life which I lead , is common ; yea , many Ladyes , and gallant Women commit the same fault , though not so commonly knowen as our life is .

It may be most true , but the more is the pittie ; yet ought not we to follow an e●ill example , no not in great ones : neither should we follow a multitude to doe euill .

Why then I pray you , Sophronius , doe you set on mee as if I were alone thus ill disposed ? Haue you since your returne , instructed any other of this life ? if not , you seeme to mee , to single out mee from all other , as if I were the greatest Sinner ?

O Thais , Thais ! I haue not talked with many since my arriuall ; but I first come to thee , because ( with griefe of heart I speake it ) I haue liued dissolutly with thee : and whereas I doe kindly admonish thee , thou hast cause to take it in good part , and make good vse of it . Neither doe I iudge thee to be the greatest Sinner this way ; but I know that you and I are great sinners : therefore let vs both repent , and craue mercie of God in the mediation of Iesus Christ .

If you wish mee well ( my Sophronius , ) as you pretend , and tender my saluation , as you say , speake on , and I will heare you gladly ?

Would you willingly doe that thing which is euill , to procure your owne destruction ; and to minister matter of ioy vnto them ?

You speake indeed like a naturall Woman , for before we be regenerate , Luke . we all Hate our Enemies ; we are ready to render euill for euill : we are eager to reuenge our selues ; but our Lord Iesus doth teach vs , not to resist Euill ; For Vengeance is mine , saith the Lord , I will repay . But to returne to that which you say , you would not doe , and yet you doe commonly .

Yes Thais , it is too euident , as hereafter I will shew you more at large . But tell mee againe ( Thais , ) Would you willingly doe that which should offende your deare Friends ?

I , but your euill and vncleane life , doth not onely greatly grieue , but much offende your Parents , your Breathren and Sisters , and your Kinsfolke : You haue renounced all naturall affections vnto them vnto whom by nature you are most neerely ioyned : they are ashamed of thee , and thou art ashamed to come in their sight .

Though I haue changed some few Friendes , and haue renounced my affections to them ; yet I haue by this kind of life which I liue , gotten me many more Friendes : whereof you are one , whom I esteemed all wayes as my Brother .

Let these wordes passe , and consider seriously of the matter as it is : You which thinke you haue so many Friendes , haue no Friend , ( beleeue mee my Thais , ) for they which come vnto thee , esteeme thee not for a Friend , but vse thee as a Harlot . Consider then thou miserable Woman , into what mischiefe thou hast throwne thy selfe . Christ Iesus the Sonne of GOD , esteemed thee so deare , that hee redeemed thee not with corruptible thinges , as Siluer and Gold , but with his precious Blood , that hee might make thee one of his members the Child of God , and an inheritour of the kingdome of Heauen ; And thou makest thy selfe a publike Sinke , in which euery filthy , vncleane , and scabbie person , doth discharge their filthinesse . And if as yet that infectious Leprosie which some call the Spanish Pip , some the French Pox , hath not touched thee , yet thou canst not long escape it : which if it come to passe , who can be more miserable then thou , though all other things else prosper well with thee . Weigh with thy selfe thy substaunce and thy report , what else shalt thou be then a liuing Carkasse . Thou wert grieued to obey thy Mother ; now thou seruest Dorio a shamelesse Baud. It wearied thee to heare the Admonitions of thy Parents ; but now often times thou art beaten of Whore-maisters & frantique Fornicators . It was irkesome to thee to doe any worke at home , whereby thou mightest get thy liuings but now , What watchings , what tumults , what intollerable indignities dost thou indure of these filthy & vnchast persons , to whom thou dost prostitute thy body ?

I le be sworne , Sophronius , you seeme to be new changed indeed ; for from a gallant youthfull Gentleman , you are transformed to a Puritane Preacher ; but I thinke if Dorio were here , you would turne your tale , and change your coppie : shee would hold you ●acke , and make you sing a new Song ; and I purpose presently to fetch her .

You speake Parmeno , as you are : you are a goodly Apple-squire , a Pander to such Punks as Thais is : you draw by one line , & are an vpholder of bawdry ? and though you fetch that old Baud , neither she nor you , shall make me goe from that truth which I haue spoken ; and if you make hast , you shall finde me here to auerre that I haue vttered . And now Thais , consider with me , that this flower of thy beautie which procureth thee Louers , it will shortly vanish away , for either sicknesse , or age , will deface it ; what wilt thou then doe thou wretched woman ? No Dung-hill will be abhorred more then thou . Then of a Harlot , thou must become a Baud , for such are the proceedings of your wicked trade : which if it happen , what can be more vile ? What can approch nearer vnto the Deuils malice ?

I confesse , ( my Sophronius , ) that all these things which thou sayest , are true ; but tell me I pray you , from whence you haue learned this holines ? You were wont to be a good fellow , and to delight in me : no man came more often to me , and more vntimely , then you . Come you not lately from Rome ?

I wonder not a little , that you are so transformed , my Sophronius ; for commonly they which goe to Rome , returne not better , but much worse ▪ how then are you growne so Godly ?

I will tell thee , my Thais : Because I went not with the same minde , nor after the same fashion that many young Gentlemen and others doe ; for they goe to Rome to see the Pope that Antichrist , Papastupor Mundi . the wonder of the world , to see and learne Italian trickes , to learne to court and serue their Mistris . And I will tell thee Thais , the occasions to make a man a Libertine , are there abundantly offered ; for a man may be there , what he will , so hee shew not any liking of godlynesse and honestie , and therefore no maruaile though they that haue been at Rome ( for the most part ) returne worse then when they went .

O my Sophronius , you forget your selfe , Rome is accounted a holy place , the Pope is called Christs Vicar ; they call others which consent not vnto them , Heriques , and professe them selues the onely Catholiques of the world .

I know , Thais , that Rome is accounted a holie place ; but I thinke they that esteeme it so , haue not bin there : for though it was some times an holy Citty where many of Gods Saintes did liue , yet now it is become an vnfaythfull Citty , a Cage of vncleane Birdes , a receptacle for perfidious and fugitiue personnes , and a sinke of al euill . When I diligently obserued how licentiously , how viciously , how inordinatly men liued there , committing most sinnes without checke , I did admire how they could call that place Holy , where men did lead such vncleane liues . The Pope is called Christs Vicar , and is borne vpon mens shoulders , and worshipped as a God ; but he doth not follow the steppes of Christ herein , but doth cleane contrary to the preceptes of Christ , and therefore he may rather be called Antichrist ; And whereas the Romanists call others Heretiques who dissent from them , I can assure thee Thais , that they hold and maintaine foule and shamefull Heresies , as I can proue by the holy word of God . And whereas they call themselues Catholiques , & appropriat that name vnto themselues , they doe but as some that called themselues Iewes , and were not Iewes , as S. Iohn doth teach , Reuel. 3. 9. for they hold many things contrary to the holy Catholique Fayth .

If this be true ( my Sophronius ) which you say , I doe the more admire that you should returne so holy from so vnholy a place ; We see that men generally are so besotted and inchaunted with the pleasures of this life , that they affect those places where they may most inioy them ; and desire rather to abide there where they may haue libertie to inioy the pleasures , of the flesh , then where men are warned to auoyde these Syrenes and haue the Iudgements of God denounced against them for their sinnes . I speake this from my owne experience . Tell me therefore ( my Sophronius , ) by what meanes you are so transformed ?

I will tell thee ( my Thais ) plainely , wishing that it may be as profitable to thee , as it hath bin gainefull to mee . I chaunced ( by the goodnes and grace of God ) to fall into the companie of a graue Father , who was a Protistant Minister , who had bin at Rome to seeke his Sonne , who secretly had slipt from him to see the Countrie , and to learne fashions ; but hearing that he was returned to Venice , he came backe againe , & as we trauailed togeather , he inquired of me of what Countrie I was ? I told him an English man : he demaunded of me the cause of my comming into those Countries : I answered him , to see Fashions , and to vnderstand the state of the Romish religion which I heard commended in mine owne Countrie ; and also to obserue the manners and fashions of the Catholiques which I had heard exceedingly praysed of our English Catholiques , in my owne Countrie . And when he had heard me to the end , he spake on this manner vnto me . My Son , saith he ( for so he called me , speaking in Latine ) Beware and take heed of those Popish Catholiques , which are the Sinagogue of Sathan , and thanke God that you are come out of Rome , yea out of Babilon , who exalteth her selfe as a Queene , and yet is that Strumpet spoken of in the Reuelation of S. Iohn . And beleeue mee , Poperie is a bundle of Iniquitie : For , haue you not seene how Curtizans are suffered & maintained vnder the Popes nose : yea , many of the Popes haue had their Paramours . The Stewes and Brothell houses are euery where alowed . They boast of the Scriptures , and yet they falsifie them , & keepe them from the people , that they may keepe them in blindnesse . They iustifie themselus , and yet are most wicked . Their Clergie liue in all manner of pleasures of the flesh . They hold it that a Priest liuing in Adulterie & Fornication , doth not sinne so much , as when he taketh a Wife . The Iesuites ( which is the last Order amongst them , and the worst ) doe hold it meritorious to kill the King of the Countrie , if he be not of their Religion : And therefore who soeuer holdeth the grounds of Poperie , is in a most dangerous estate . But my Sonne , search the Scriptures , as our Sauiour Christ exhorteth , and they shall reueale vnto you the misteries of our Saluation , and discouer all their iuglings & impieties . I gaue him great thanks , and haue followed his counsell : Since which time , I haue been studious in the Scriptures , and euery day I perceiue the grosse errours of the Papistes , their counterfait Holinesse , their deepe Hipocrisie , and their great Iniquitie . Now therefore , my Thais , if you tender your owne saluation , detest Poperie , and forsake this ill kind of life that you haue led : yet there is hope , if you earnestly repent , God will receaue you ; for hee would not the death of Sinner , but rather that he should repent . To day therefore , whiles God doth admonish you , heare his voyce , and harden not your hearts against God ; so shall you escape eternall condemnation .

If this kind of life ( my Sophronius ) be so euill , if it be so dangerous , and if so great a punishment doth belong vnto it , I maruaile that it is so common ; and I marnaile why some haue affirmed , that Fornication is but a tricke of Youth : and that it is no fault for a Young man to commit Fornication ?

I told you , that the vniuersalitie of a sinne , doth not make it to be no sinne , nor excuse a sinne ; for we ought not to follow a multitude to doe euill . And whereas some say , that it is but a tricke of Youth , to commit Fornication , & that it is no fault ; these are the words of Heathen men , which had not the light of Gods word : such euill Words corrupt good Manners . But the Word of God doth tell vs , Heb. 13. 4. ● Cor. 6. that Fornicators and Adulterers God will iudge , and punish . Neither shall Fornicators and Adulterers , enter into the kingdome of Heauen .

This is a heauie sentence , if it should be executed ; and indeed my Heart trembleth to heare it . If the state of this life which I haue ledde , be so odious to God , and lyable to so great punishment , I will , by Gods grace , forsake it . But alasse ( Sophronius ) how shall I liue ? How shall I maintaine my selfe ?

I am glad to heare that you feare the Iudgements of God , threatned to sinners in his Word . No doubt Gods spirit will rest vpon them that tremble at his Word ; and I hope that God will make me an instrument to conuert you . And whereas you demaund how you should liue ? how you should maintaine your selfe ? I will tell you what I would aduise you : You shall secretly and sodainly gather vp all your Apparell , & your Stuffe , and I will helpe you to conuey it to my House : and I would haue you , to serue some Lady or Gentlewoman , and I my selfe will helpe to preferre you : yea , and if I can preferre you to a good Match , I will giue a reasonable Portion to further it : and I will labour to reconcile you to your Parents , and to your Breathren and Kinsfolke .

Blessed be God ( my Sophronius ) that brought you hither this day , to giue mee this good Counsell : and I thanke God that I haue such a Friend , that is so carefull for my good and saluation : And that you may know how you haue preuayled with mee , I submit my selfe wholy to your disposition , and am content to be ordered by you in all things . But see , Dorio is at hand , and P.

I am at hand indeed , and I haue this good while heard your communication ; and your conclusion I vtterly mislike , and altogether distaste . Will you Thais , commit your selfe to Sophronius to be ordered ? Will you giue ouer this pleasant and gainefull kind of life ? No , no , ( my Thais ) let not him deceiue you , to draw you vnto Miserie and Penurie . What can you more desire , then you haue ? You haue the Pleasures of this life , you haue costly Garments , daintie Fare , Money at will , and the companie of lustie Gallants at commaund ; and will you leaue this kind of life , to waite and attend vpon others , who are now attended vpon ? Will you be at the commaund of others , who may your selfe commaund ? To doe so , were extreame follie . And you Sophronius , who seeme to be so altred from the man you were , when you went from vs ; I doubt not , but you will be as kind to Thais : as you haue bin : for if you haue not her to vse at your command , you will haue your haunt some where els : therefore play the good fellow , do as you haue done , and let it not be sayd , that you are turned Puritane .

Auoyd thou old Baud , I defie thee and thy counsell : I vtterly detest , & I do from my heart hate my former life , and doe flie vnto the mercie of God , in Iesus Christ ; And I tell thee Dorio , thou art an vncleane woman , and an Instrument of the Deuill to corrupt and destroy young persons , thy heart is full of Gall and bitternesse : Repent therefore , if so be the Lord will haue mercie vpon thee ; Or if thou wilt not , God shall punish thee in the end , as he hath done many , for the same fault .

Marie muffe Sophronius ▪ are you become a Preacher ? In sooth sir your yeeres are to young to teach me . I meane not to forsake this kinde of life yet ? I haue vsed it too long to leaue it , I will endeauour to bring young Gentlemen to Thais , to enioy their pleasure : Should not young men reioyce in their youth , & cheere their hearts in the dayes of their youth , and walke in the wayes of their heart and in the sight of their eyes ?

I confesse indeed , that I am young , yet my counsell ought not to be refused in respect of my youth , but rather it checketh your old age , continuing still in vncleannesse . And whereas you say , you will not leaue that filthy course of life yet , take heed that you harden not your heart against God , and so heape vp wrath against the day of wrath . And whereas you say , you haue vsed it too long to leaue it herein , you shew how dangerous a thing it is to accustome ones selfe to any euill ; It is an easie thing to fall into any sinne , but it is hard to get out of it . And whereas you say , you will be an Instrument to bring others to follie and to impietie , know this , that thou shalt the more seueerely be punished , for asmuch as thou doest not onely euill of thy selfe , but art a Soliciter and abettor of others in sin . Neither ought yong men liue laciuiously and dissolutely ; for if they doe , God will call them to iudgement for it .

I tell thee Sophronius , thou art become a precise Foole ; or rather I thinke thou doest but dally with mee and Thais , that we may know and vnderstand thy sharpe Witte . But come Sophronius , be vnto vs as thou hast been : for thou shalt not finde vs changlings .

Speake ( Dorio ) for thy selfe ; for I tell thee plainely without any equiuocation , that Sophronius hath so preuayled with me , that I disclay me thee , and vtterly detest that filthie and vncleane life whereunto thou hast brought mee : for had not GOD in mercie made Sophronius an instrument to reclayme mee , I had good cause to curse thee ; for thou didest draw mee to this abhominable life . Thou art shee that did procure mee to forsake my Parents , and their good counsaile , to practise this odious and wicked course : therefore I doe now defie thee , and all such leawde Women as you , which are the destruction of many young Women about this Cittie , bringing them into euill company , and giuing them leawd counsell .

Why how now Huswife , are you become so Holy ? It doth not agree with your profession ; Haue not you promised to be ordered and ruled by meet Doe not you call mee Mother , and confesse your selfe to bee my Daughter ? I thinke you dare not forsake mee on this fashion ; for if you doe , I will display your life , and make you to be poynted at in the streetes .

You may tearme mee at your pleasure , but your mockes and scornes shall not much offende mee : and though I promised to be ordered by you , I now see my follie therein , and am sorrie for it ; and I know that euill Promises are better broken then kept . And though I called thee Mother , I see now ( to my griefe ) that thou wert a wicked Mother to mee . And though you dare mee , and feare mee with discouering my follie ; I had rather be hated of thee & the World , & poynted at , then haue the displeasure of Almightie God ; but if he loue me , ( as I know he will ) if I loue him , and hate all iniquitie , I little care for the hatred of the World : For I now see that they which are Gods friendes , shall be hated of the World . And indeed , if you had your desert , you deserue to be poynted at , and to be seueerely punished for intising of young Maydes vnto follie : and I will make you knowne to others , that they may take heed of you , and others of your fashion .

Mary you are a goodly Gossip indeed , you will be shortly , one of the Holy Sisters ; I shall haue you shortly , one of the Family of Loue : I will obserue you , and marke your fashions ; and I sweare by my Honestie , if Sophronius were not heere , I would so beat thee , that thou shouldest not lift thine hands to thy head : But I shall find a time to be reuenged of thee for thy malipartnesse .

It is the manner of such as you are , to frumpe and mocke at such as forsake your euill life , and begin to serue God , and to make a conscience of their wayes : But you shall smart for it one day , if you doe not repent . And whereas you say , you will obserue Thais , and marke her life ; I would wish thee to obserue thy selfe , and seriously consider what an abhominable and hatefull life thou doest lead . And whereas thou swearest by thy Honestie , thou swearest by that thou hast not ; for such as thou art , are at defiance with Honestie , and wholly delight in dishonest and shamefull life . And whereas thou sayest that thou wouldest beate her if I were absent , and doest threaten to be reuenged of her , I tell thee , thou shamelesse old Baud , that if thou doest touch her , or doest any way wrong her , I will cause thee and thy companions to be punished .

Nay then I defie thee , thou proud Puritane , and if Parmeneo wil helpe me , I will scratch out thy eyes , for abusing me in this manner , but I hope , I shall be reuenged of thee , ere it be long . But Parmeneo come , let vs leaue them : let vs be gon , they are no companie for vs ; they are a couple of precise Fooles , and so they will proue .