Sociable Letters 219 



shapes, yet all three so equally handsome, that neither 

 judgment nor reason can prefer one before another: 

 also their behaviours are different ; the one is majestical, 

 the other gay and airy, the third meek, and bashful; 

 yet all three graceful, sweet and becoming : also their 

 wits are different ; the one propounds well, the other 

 argues well; the third resolves well; all which 

 make a harmony in discourse. These three ladies are 

 resolved never to marry, which makes many sad 

 lovers; but whilst they were here, in comes the Lord 

 S. C. and discoursing with them, at last he asks them, 

 whether they were seriously resolved never to marry ? 

 they answered, they were resolved never to marry: 

 But, ladies, said he, consider, time wears out youth 

 and fades beauty, and then you will not be the three 

 young, fair Graces ; You say true, my Lord, answered 

 one of them, but when we leave to be the young fair 

 Graces, we shall then be the old, wise Sybils. By this 

 answer you may perceive, that when our sex cannot 

 pretend to be fair, they will pretend to be wise ; but 

 it matters not what we pretend to, if we be really 

 virtuous, which I wish all our sex may be. 



And rest, Madam, 

 Your very faithful friend and servant. 



ON SIR F. O.'S PAPER COFFIN 



Madam, — In your last letter you sent me word, 

 that Sir F. O. was retired to write his own life, for 

 he sales, he knows no reason, but he may write his 

 own life as well as Guzman ; and since you desire my 

 opinion of his intended work, I can onely say, that 

 his life for anything I know to the contrary, hath been 

 as evil as Guzman's. But whether his wit be as good 

 as Guzman's, I know not, yet I doubt the worst, and 



