XXI. A PRAYER-BOOK.

Your fortune may prove good another day;
Till Fortune come, take you a Book to pray.

'Tis summer yet, a Snuftkin is your lot! But 'twill be winter one day, doubt you not.

XXIII. A FAN.

You love to see, and yet to be unseen;
Take you this Fan to be your beauty's screen.

XXIV. A PAIR OF BRACELETS.

Lady! your hands are fallen into a snare,
For CUPID's manacles these Bracelets are.

XXV. A BODKIN.

Even with this Bodkin you may live unharmed,
Your beauty is with Virtue so well armed.

XXVI. A NECKLACE.

Fortune gives your fair neck this Lace to wear;
God grant a heavier yoke it never bear!

XXVII. A CUSHINET.

To her that little cares what lot she wins,
Chance gives a little Cushinet to stick pins.

e Explained in Archdeacon Nares's Glossary to be a muff, in which work this example of the use of the word is cited.

XXVIII. A DIAL.

The Dial's yours; watch time, lest it be lost
Yet they most lose it, that do watch it most.

;

XXIX. A NUTMEG, WITH A BLANK PARCHMENT

IN IT.

This Nutmeg holds a blank, but chance doth hide it; Write your own wish, and Fortune will provide it.

XXX. A BLANK.

Wot you not why Fortune gives you no prize? Good faith! she saw you not,-she wants her eyes.

XXXI. A BLANK.

You are so dainty to be pleas'd, God wot,
Chance knows not what to give you for a lot.

XXXII. A BLANK.

'Tis pity such a hand should draw in vain ; Though it gain nought, yet shall it pity gain.

XXXIII. A BLANK.

Nothing's your lot, that's more than can be told,
For nothing is more precious than gold.

XXXIV. A BLANK.

You fain would have, but what, you cannot tell.
In giving nothing, Fortune serves you well.

I. D.

A CONTENTION

BETWIXT A WIFE, A WIDOW, AND A MAID.

WIFE. WIDOW, well met; whither go you to-day?
Will you not to this solemn offering go?

WIDOW.

You know it is ASTREA's holy day,

The saint to whom all hearts devotion owe.

Marry, what else? I purposed so to do:
Do you not mark how all the wives are fine,
And how they have sent presents ready too,
To make their offering at ASTREA's shrine ?

See, then, the shrine and tapers burning brigh!
Come, friend, and let us first ourselves advance;
We know our place, and if we have our right,
To all the parish we must lead the dance.

MAID.

WIFE.

But soft! what means this bold presumptuous

Maid,

To go before, without respect of us?

Your forwardness, proud maid! must now be staid :

Where learn'd you to neglect your betters thus?

Elder you are, but not my betters here :
This place to maids a privilege must give ;

The Goddess, being a maid, holds maidens.
dear,

And grants to them her own prerogative.

Besides, on all true virgins, at their birth,
Nature hath set a crown of excellence,
That all the wives and widows of the earth
Should give them place, and do them reverence.

If to be born a maid be such a grace,

So was I born, and grac'd by Nature too;
But seeking more perfection to embrace,
I did become a wife as others do.

WIDOW. And if the maid and wife such honour have,
I have been both, and hold a third degree;
Most maids are wards, and every wife a slave;
I have my livery sued, and I am free.

MAID.

That is the fault, that you have maidens been,
And were not constant to continue so;

The fall of Angels did increase their sin,
In that they did so pure a state forego.

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. And widowhood is a reverend degree!
MAID. But maidenhead, that will admit no mate,
Like majesty itself must sacred be.

WIFE. The wife is mistress of her family:

WIDOW. Much more the widow, for she rules alone:
MAID. But mistress of mine own desires am I,

When rule others' wills, and not your own.

you

WIFE. Only the wife enjoys the virtuous pleasure : WIDOW. The widow can abstain from pleasures known ; MAID. But th'uncorrupted maid observes such measure, As being by pleasures woo'd she cares for none.

WIFE. The wife is like a fair supported vine;
WIDOW. So was the widow, but now stands alone;

MAID.

For being grown strong, she needs not to incline.
Maids, like the earth, supported are of none.