6 The Duchess of Newcastle 



authors, at which my readers did wonder, and thought 

 it impossible that a woman could have so much learning 

 and understanding in terms of art, and scholastical 

 expressions ; so that I and my hooks are like the old 

 Apologue mentioned in iEsop, of a father, and his son, 

 who rid on an ass through a town when his father went 

 on foot, at which sight the people shouted and cried 

 shame, that a young hoy should ride, and let his father, 

 an old man, go on foot : whereupon the old man got 

 upon the ass, and let his son go hy ; hut when they 

 came to the next town, the people exclaimed against 

 the father, that he a lusty man should ride, and have 

 no more pity of his young and tender child, hut let 

 him go on foot : then hoth the father and his son got 

 upon the ass, and coming to the third town, the people 

 blamed them hoth for being so unconscionable as to 

 over-burden the poor ass with their heavy weight : 

 After this hoth father and son went on foot, and led the 

 ass ; and when they came to the fourth town, the people 

 railed as much at them as ever the former had done, and 

 called them both fools for going on foot, when they had 

 a beast able to carry them. The old man, seeing he could 

 not please mankind in any manner, and having received 

 so many blemishes and aspersions, for the sake of his 

 ass, was at last resolved to drown him when he came to 

 the next bridge. But I am not so passionate to burn 

 my writings for the various homours of mankind, and 

 for their finding fault, since there is nothing in this 

 world, be it the noblest and most commendable action 

 whatsoever, that shall escape blameless. As for my being 

 the true and onely Authoress of them, your Lordship 

 knows best, and my attending servants are witness that 

 I have had none but my own thoughts, fancies and 

 speculations to assist me; and as soon as I have set 

 them down, I send them to those that are to transcribe 



