Classic Poem

ACT . I. S CEN. III.

To them Eumela . Pan .

But hold, here comes Eumela . Cos .
Lady Secretary
Unto our future State, God give you joy. Eum .
You bestow Offices, as City Mothers
After their Travail, do give Flowers between
Their House and Juno's Temple, to the next
They meet, or as you do your Ribbands, to
Entangle, not Reward. Pan .
Then you are Wise
And Politique still — — Rho .
Of the Male-faction Lady? Cos .
And you will suffer by Prescription still?
But to be serious now; what do you do? Eum .
That which you would, if you should come to Rule:
Wake, Sleep, Rise, Dress, Eat, Visit, and Converse,
And let the State alone. Cos .
Y'are very short. Eum .
Indeed I am somewhat now in haste; I'm going
To meet a pair of Ladies, that would willing
Keep their own Sex, and not turn Lords. Pan .
You mean
Florina , and Malthora , those that are
Sad now, that one day they may be in History
Under the name of Turtles. Cos .
What Dialect may
Those Ladies grieve in? Dorick or Ionick?
Doe they make Verses yet? Eum .
Their Manners are
A kind of Satyr upon yours; though they
Intend it not, the people read 'em so. Rho .
'Cause they have laid aside their Jewels, and so
Blinded their Garments — — Cos .
'Cause they eat their sweet-meats
In a black Closet, they are counted faithfull,
The sole Penelope's o'th' time, the Ladies
Of the chaste Web i'th' absence of their Lords. Eum .
Your sadnesse would be such perhaps, if you
Would take the pains to shew the Art of Mourning. Rho .
Is there another way of grieving then? Eum .
This is not grief, but stands to be thought grief:
They are not of such vaunting popular sorrow;
Their Tapers are not dy'd in dismall hue,
And set in Ebon Candlesticks; they wear
No sad black Sarcenet Smocks, nor do they smutch
Their women, to be serv'd by mourning Faces;
This were to grieve to Ostentation,
Not to a reall friendship. Pan .
Is there friendship
Think you 'twixt man and wife? Eum .
You'll say, perhaps,
You, and your Husband, have not been friends yet. Pan .
Madam, you prophecy. Eum .
I might be thought t'have done so,
Had I foretold a truth to come, but this
Is History already. Cos .
If they do not this,
Nor wear the day out in a hoodwinkt room,
Where there's no living thing besides the Clock,
Nor yet take Physick to look pale, what doe they? Eum .
They grieve themselves, their Doctor grieves not for them:
They do that in the Absence of their Lords
That you would in the Presence of your own. Cos .
You see we look as fat, and fair as ever — — Eum .
Your Kitchin's warm, your Box, and Pencils fail not. Pan .
— We are as long in dressing as before — — Eum .
And have the same Romancys read, the same
Letters brought to you, whilst y'are doing it. Rho .
— Sleep, and take rest, as then, and altogether
Speak as much wit as we did before the wars. Eum .
And to as little purpose. Cos .
Fie Eumela!
That you should be so obstinate, as to hear
Wealth, Honour, Pleasure, Rule, and every good
Knock at your door, and yet not let 'em in. Eum .
Madam, I know my Looking-glasse wo'n't shew
The altering o'th' State, when it presents
The changes of my Face, and that I cannot
Order the Kingdome, as I do my Hair.

Enter Florina and Malthora . Pan .

Yonder's your business; Madam, there are three
Sad things arriv'd, two Ladies and a Lute. Cos .
But shall I write you down before you go
The thirteenth in the Rowl of the Asserters
Of Female Liberty? Eum .
If Liberty be the thing
You so much stand for, pray you give me mine;
I neither grant, nor yet deny; I will
Consider. Cos .
We dismiss you, Madam, then
Unto your serious Counsell. Eum .
Fare you well.