WIFE. If to be born a Maid be such a grace, So was I born, and graced by Nature too! I did become a Wife! as others do. WIDOW. And if the Maid and Wife such honour have, MAID. That is the fault! That you have Maidens been; But, Wife! and Widow! if your wits can make Your state and persons of more worth than mine; Advantage to this place I will not take! I will both place and privilege resign! WIFE. Why, Marriage is an honourable state! WIDOW. MAID. WIFE. The Wife is mistress of her family WIFE. MAID. Much more the Widow! for she rules alone. Only the Wife enjoys the virtuous pleasure! The Widow can abstain from pleasures known! But th' uncorrupted Maid preserves such measure, As, being by pleasures wooed, she cares for none! WIFE. MAID. WIFE. MAID. The Wife is like a fair supported vine! So was the Widow; but now stands alone: The Wife is as a diamond richly set! The Maid, unset, doth yet more rich appear! WIDOW. The Widow, a jewel in the cabinet! WIFE. Which, though not worn, is still esteemed as dear. The Wife doth love; and is beloved again! The Widow is awaked out of that dream! MAID. The Maid's white mind had never such a stain! No Passion troubles her clear virtues' stream. Yet if I would be loved; loved would I be Where love, never enjoyed, is ever green! WIDOW. Then what's a Virgin, but a fruitless bay! And what is Marriage, but a tedious yoke! WIDOW. And what Virginity, but sweet self-love! WIFE. And what's a Widow, but an axle broke; Whose one part failing, neither part can move! WIDOW. Wives are as birds, in golden cages kept! MAID. WIFE. MAID. WIFE. WIDOW. MAID. WIFE. WIDOW. MAID. WIFE. MAID. WIDOW. But Maids are birds, amidst the woods secure! But free, unto themselves do music make! The Wife is as the turtle with her mate! The Wife's a soul, unto her body tied! And now t' as fair a House descended is! Wives are fair Houses, kept and furnished well! But marriage is a Prison during life; Where one way out, but many entries be! The Maid is ever fresh, like Morn in May! The Wife, with all her beams is beautified, WIFE. An Office well supplied is like the Wife! Which all the World have sought, but none enjoyed! WIDOW. Go, Wife! to Dunmow; and demand your Flitch! Alas, poor Maid! that hast no help, nor stay! WIDOW. Alas, poor Wife! that nothing dost possess ! MAID. Alas, poor Widow! Charity doth say, 'Pity the Widow and the fatherless!' WIDOW. But happy Widows have the World at will! WIFE. But happier Wives! whose joys are ever double! But happiest Maids! whose hearts are calm and still; Whom fear, nor hope, nor love, nor hate, doth trouble! Every true Wife hath an indented heart, Wherein the Covenants of Love are writ; WIDOW. But every Widow's heart is like a Book; MAID. But the Maid's heart, a fair white Table is, Which only GOD doth write, and Angels see. WIFE. WIFE. WIDOW. MAID. WIFE. WIDOW. MAID. The Wife is like a fair manurèd field! The Widow once was such; but now doth rest! Who would not die a Wife, as LUCRECE died! As all the Virtues, and the Graces, be! WIFE. Wives are warm climates well inhabited: But Maids are frozen zones, where none may dwell! MAID. But fairest people in the North are bred; Where Africa breeds monsters black as hell! WIFE. I have my husband's honour and his place! WIFE. White is my colour! and no hue but this WIDOW. But it hath been my fortune to renew My colour twice, from that it was before: And therefore now I mean to change no more! WIFE. Wives are fair apples, served in golden dishes! WIDOW. Widows, good wine! which time makes better much. MAID. But Maids are grapes, desired by many wishes! But that they grow so high as none can touch. |