252 The Duchess of Newcastle 



insomuch that there are more customers that go to 

 Hymen's markets, which are churches, playes, balls, 

 masks, marriages, etc. than there are husbands to be 

 sold, and all prices are bidden there, as beauty, 

 birth, breeding, wit and virtue, though virtue is a 

 coin whereof is not much; but husbands are so scarce, 

 especially good ones, as they are at such great rates, 

 that an indifferent price will not purchase any one. 

 Wherefore those that will buy them, must be so rich 

 as to be able to bestow an extraordinary price of 

 beauty, birth, breeding, wit or virtue, and yet much 

 ado to purchase any one, nay, some cannot be had 

 without all those joyned into one; but Venus 's 

 markets, which are also publick meetings (for all 

 markets are publick) are so well stored of all sorts 

 and degrees of titles, professions, ages, and the like, 

 as they are as cheap as stinking mackrel, and all coins 

 are current there, but virtue, wherefore that is ever 

 offered. 'Tis true, the markets of Venus and Hymen 

 are in one and the same city or place, yet H5mien and 

 Venus sell apart, like as several grasiers bring their 

 beasts to one market or fair; I call them several 

 markets, to make a distinction of which belongs to 

 Hymen, and which to Venus; but for better distinc- 

 tion's sake, I will put them into shops apart, or into 

 as many pews in one church, or compare them to 

 several scenes in one mask, several acts in one play; 

 for as many stalls or shops there are in one market, 

 and several magistrates in one city, so many shops 

 hath Hymen and Venus in one market; but the 

 cheapest that are to be sold out of Hymen's shops, 

 are young novices; and although there is much 

 scarcity in Hymen's shops, yet the price of gold or such 

 riches, if they be offered, buyes any man that is 

 there to be sold, which are batchelours and wid- 



