Sociable Letters 237 



and brutal wherefore time is a better reformer of the 

 appetites than reason. But madam, this is to let you 

 know the Lady W. C.'s wit, discretion, and temper, 

 which is more than most of our sex hath; and so 

 leaving her to her wit, and her husband to reforma- 

 tion, and his mistress's beauty to time, 



I rest, Madam, 

 Your most faithful friend and servant. 



ON SIR F. O.'S DISH OF BREWESS 



Madam, — I am sorry Sir F. O. hath undervalued 

 himself so much below his birth and wealth, as to 

 marry his kitchen-maid, but it was a sign he had an 

 hungry, or that he lived a solitary life, seeing no 

 better company, or conversed not with women of 

 quality ; or else he hath been too privately kind, and 

 was loth to have it too publickly known ; or he hath 

 tried her virtue, and so married her for chastity, 

 though many women will deny some, and grant to 

 others; or else he married her for beauty, or wit, or 

 both, although the inferiour or meaner sort of people, 

 especially women, are oftener owners of beauty than 

 wit, and if they have some wit, it is onely sharp 

 replies, which are a kind of a scolding; and I have 

 heard that the way or manner of courtship amongst 

 the inferiour sort of people in E. is scolding, they 

 scold themselves into matrimony, or at least, make 

 love in a rough, rude style. But perchance Sir F. O. 

 married his kitchen-maid in hopes she would make a 

 nimble and obedient which he might fear one of 

 equal birth would not be ; indeed he hath chosen one 

 out of the humblest offices, or household imployments, 

 for the kitchen for the most part is the lowest room 



