284 The Duchess of Newcastle 



open to love's pleadings, and her tongue was at liberty 

 to give her suters answers, whereas my work employes 

 all the faculties and powers of my soul, mind, and 

 spirits, as well as my eyes and hands ; and my thoughts 

 are so busie in my brain, as they neither regard, nor 

 take notice what enters through the ears. Indeed 

 those passages are so stopped up, or barred close, 

 whereas had Penelope's ears been so barred, her 

 lover's petitions, sutes, and pleadings, would have 

 been kept without doors, like a company of beggars; 

 they might have knocked, but not entered, nor any 

 of the mind's family would have asked them what they 

 desired; neither would the tongue, the mind's almner, 

 have given them one word of answer ; and then it was 

 likely her amorous lovers would have gone away, and 

 not stayed to feed upon her cost and charge, as they 

 did. But, Madam, give me leave to beg your pardon 

 for writing so long a letter, though it is your desire 

 I should, I will tire you no longer, but subscribe 

 my self. Madam, 



Your faithful friend and servant. 



ON SHAKESPEAR'S PLAYS 



Madam, — I wonder how that person you mention 

 in your letter, could either have the conscience, or 

 confidence to dispraise Shakespear's playes, as to 

 say they were made up onely with clowns, fools, 

 watchmen, and the like; but to answer that person, 

 though Shakespear's wit will answer for himself, I 

 say, that it seems by his judging, or censuring, he 

 understands not playes, or wit; for to express pro- 

 perly, rightly, usually, and naturally, a clown's, or 

 fool's humour, expressions, phrases, garbs, manners. 



