A DIALOGUE Concerning WOMEN, Being a DEFENCE Of the SEX.  
Written to EUGENIA.  
LONDON, Printed for R. Bentley in Russel-street in Covent-Garden, and I. Tonson at the Judge's- Head in Chancery-Lane. 1691.   

PREFACE.  
THE Perusal of this Dialogue, in defence of the Fair Sex, Written by a Gentleman of my acquaintance, much surprised me: For it was not easy for me to imagine, that one so young, could have treated so nice a Subject with so much judgement. 'Tis true, I was not ignorant that he was naturally Ingenious, and that he had improved himself by Travelling; and from thence I might reasonably have expected that air of Gallantry, which is so visibly diffused through the body of the Work, and is indeed the Soul that annimates all things of this nature: But so much variety of reading, both in Ancient and Modern Authors, such digestion of that reading, so much justness of thought, that it leaves no room for affectation, or Pedantry, I may venture to say, are not overcommon amongst practised Writers, and very rarely to he found amongst Beginners. It puts me in mind of what was said of Mr. Waller, the Father of our English Numbers, upon the sight of his first Verses by the Wits of the last Age, that he came out into the World Forty Thousand strong, before they ●ad heard of him. (Here in imitation of my Friends Apostrophe's, I hope the Reader need not be told, that Mr. Waller is only mentioned for Honour's sake, t●at I am desirous of laying hold on his Memory, on all occasions, and thereby acknowledging to the World, that unless ●e had Written, none of us could Write.) I know my Friend will forgive me this digression; for it is not only a Copy of his Stil● but of his Candour. The Reader will observe, that ●e is ready for all ●ints of commending merit, and the Writers of this Age and Country are particularly obliged to him, for his pointing out those Passages which the French call Beaux Endroits, ●herein they have most excelled. And though I may seem in this, to ●ave ●y own interest in my eyes, because ●e has more than once mentioned me, so much to my advantage, yet I hope the Reader will take it only for a Parenthesis, because the Piece would have been very perfect without it. I may be suffered to please myself with the kindness of my Friend, without valuing myself upon his partiality: He had not confidence enough to send it out into the World, without my Opinion of it, that it might pass securely, at least amongst the fair Readers, for whose service it was principally designed. I ●● not so presuming, to think my Opinion can either he his Touchstone, or his Passport: But I thought I might send him back to Ariosto, who has made it the business of almost Thirty Stanza's in the beginning of the 37th Book of his Orlando Furioso, not only to praise that Beautiful part of the Creation, but also to make a sharp satire on their Enemies; to give Mankind their own, and to tell them plainly, that from their envy it proceeds that the Virtue and great Actions of Women are purposely concealed, and the failings of some few amongst them exposed with all the aggravating Circumstances of Malice. For my own part, who have always been their Servant, and have never drawn my Pen against them, I had rather see some of them praised extraordinarily, than any of them suffer by detraction: And that in this Age, and at this time particularly, wherein I find more Heroines than Heroes. Let me therefore give them joy of their new Champion: If any will think me more partial to him than really I am, they can only say I have returned his Bribe: And the worst I wish him, is, that he may receive justice from the Men; and Favour only from the Ladies.  John Dryden.  

A DIALOGUE Concerning WOMEN. Written to EUGENIA.  
'TIS a dangerous thing, Madam, it must be confessed, this Conversing with fair Ladies; and it draws us into Inconveniencies, of which we do not at first see the Consequences. I little thought, when I talked with your Ladyship, of the Virtues of your Sex, that you would have commanded me to have given my Sentiments upon that Subject in Writing. I grant you, Madam, you might have spoken to several of your Acquaintance, who would have undertaken the business at first word, with all the Courage imaginable; But to me, who never durst take Pen in hand to write any thing beyond a Billet, the Enterprise seems very terrible. I confess, when you spoke to me of it first, I was well enough pleased with the Design; for I thought a Defence of the Sex, would be a means of obliging all of the Sex, who were worth defending; and therefore looked upon it as the writing a Circular Love-Letter to all the fair Ladies in the Kingdom. But as Men generally mix Interest with Honour, so, upon second thoughts, I considered what I should get by it, besides Fame, if it should succeed; and I found, if I persuaded all Men to be as passionate Servants to the Ladies as my self, I should make but a very indifferent hand of it: Thus, Madam, you would engage me in a Controversy, where it would be a Scandal to be vanquished, and a disadvantage to overcome: For I, who could never succeed in an Amour where there was any Fool pretended besides myself, should have great hopes indeed, when I had persuaded all Mankind to be my Rivals. After all, Madam, there were your Commands to encourage me to it; and the Commands of a fair Lady are to me beyond all the Arguments in Nature; I therefore resolved upon the undertaking. But as 'tis no new thing to see people undertake a Business that they are altogether unable to perform, so I must own, I found a thing of this nature quite beyond my strength: You may believe, Madam, I was very melancholy at it, and 'twas then that a Friend coming into my Chamber, asked me the occasion. As I never love to conceal any thing that afflicts me from a Friend, so I presently told him the Business, That a Lady had commanded me to write her a Treatise in defence of Women. If that be all (said he briskly) I am come to your deliverance; for this very morning have I been at a Conversation, where the Question concerning the Virtues and Vices of that Sex, has been handled as fully as can be desired. Thou appear'st to me, my dear Friend, (said I, embracing him) like my better Genius, and therefore, without any farther Ceremony, sit down, and give me an account of the Conference.  
Taking a walk (said he) this Morning in St. James' Park, with several of my Acquaintance, there was one amongst the rest who was all the while, either gazing upon the Ladies as they came by, or speaking with that indifference to us, that made us very plainly see, he did not mind the Subject of our Discourse, tho' we talked of all the most considerable things that offer themselves in such Conversations. (A very strange Man, this, Madam, who was thinking upon some Mistress, I warrant, when they were r●ising Taxes, and beating the French.) A●nother, who was a pers●● of excellent Sense, and had a particular Friendship for this, tho' they would o●ten dispute about their several thought of Women, in which point they could never agree; (I wonder they should dispute about that, Madam, for the greatest disputes in those cases 〈◊〉, when they do agree) began to rally him upon this Subjects which he did so handsomely; that he pleased the rest of the Company very well, without displeasing his Friend in the least. Philogynes ● (which was the Name of the fi●st as Miso●●nes was of the other) (Here, Madam, I must confess, I fancied my Friend put false Names upon me; for besides, that I remember neither of these Families in England, the one you must know, signifies a Woman-hater, and the other, a Woman-lover) cried to Misogynes, Tho' I allow you to rally me as much as you please, and am glad of any occasion I ●an give you, to exercise a Talon you possess in so eminent a degree, ye● I hope you do not in earnest think the Conversation of Women so ridiculous as you would make us believe. Ten times worse, said Misogynes, than I can represent it; and since we have often had slight skirmishes upon that occasion, and we have now time enough to fight it out, if you have the Courage to lose one Morning's gazing at 'em, I challenge you to the private Walk by the Canal-side, to defend their Cause; and these Gentlemen, if they please, shall be our Judges. Tho' I am very unwilling, answered Philogynes, to lose a Morning that has called out all the best Company of the Town, yet since 'tis in defence of the Ladies, and you so boldly challenge me, I take you at your word, upon condition, that if I get the better in the Judgement of these Gentlemen, you shall engage to be in Love by to morrow morning. Upon condition, that if I overcome (said Misogynes) you will engage to be out of Love by the same time, I agree. That is no equal stake, replied Philogynes, for 'tis to lay Happiness against Unhappiness; however, I am so well satisfied of my Cause, that I will undertake you, even upon those odds.  
Upon this agreement we walked all to the other side of the Park, full of expectation of the event of the Debate; when we were come thither, we found we had the whole Walk to ourselves, and so Misogynes, who gave the Challenge, began in this manner.  
The Propagation of Mankind being the only way to preserve it from Extinction; and the Copulation with Women being the only means that Nature has ordained to that end; there is no doubt but all Commonwealths ought to give any reasonable Encouragements to it; I have therefore always admired the Wisdom of those Governments that incited, or compelled their Subjects to marry, as a thing so much more necessary to Mankind in general, than pleasing to any one in particular; but that a man should, out of a mere act of Judgement, run after Women, that he should find delight in their company, is so very extraordinary, that the wise men of old thought it hardly possible, otherwise they had had no need of making such severe Laws to force 'em to it, as they did.  
Your Ladyship, who is so well versed in Greek and Roman Authors, knows, that amongst the 
1 Plutarch in V. Licur.  Spartans', they who lived long Bachelors were condemned to ignominious punishments, and debarred the privileges of other Citizens. That the 
2 Strabo Lib. 10.  Cretans had a Law to compel all the handsomest young Men to marry; as the 
3 Diod. Sicul. L. 1.  Thurians had to invite 'em to it, both by Honours and Rewards. That 
4 Lib. 4. and again L. 6.  Plato ordains, that whoever lived a Bachelor to the five and thirtieth year of his Age, should be capable of no Honour in his Commonwealth: And that the 
5 Aul. Gell. l. ●. c. 6. Sueton. in vit. August. Dion. in vita e●usd. Lucius Florus. Livy L. 59  Romans did not only take all care imaginable, to encourage People to Marriage, but frightened 'em into it by punishments, if they refused.  
Notwithstanding this, had you a design of marrying 'em, I should not altogether so much condemn you; nay, had you but a design of enjoying 'em without it, there might be somewhat still alleged in your excuse. How unjustifiable soever such a design may be, as to the Moral part, the action itself is very agreeable to the Natural. But to pick'em out only for the benefit of their Conversation, to fall in love with their Understandings, and to leave the company of Wisemen for Handsome Women, is just the same thing, as if you should choose rather to eat Jays and Parrots, than Woodcocks and Partridges, because the Feathers of the former make the finer show.  
It is a very good, as well as a very general way, to guests at People by the Company they keep; and thus we may give a great Judgement of the Female Sex, by a view of those with whom they are the most pleased of our own. Well, let 'em appear then; what do you find? Fine Coats, large Cravat-strings, and good Periwigs I must own, but for any thing else, they, and their Periwig Blocks are Critics alike. 'Tis true, to do 'em justice, they talk most learnedly of Points and Ribbons; have most Mathematical Heads for the erecting of Lady's Topknots, make as considerable Figures, talk as loud, and laugh more than any in Drawing-rooms, and Playhouses; and those who know nothing of their Language, would take 'em, by their Gestures, to be the wittiest persons in Christendom; but if unluckily you understand 'em, you will find it only false Fire, and that all this violent laughter is produced by no jest. Then take 'em out of their own Element, begin a Discourse of any thing that is worth knowing, they are dumb; out of Modesty? No; but they hate to talk of things that are grossier; and the Pedantry of Scholars, and Gravity of Men of Business, is utterly unfit for a Gentleman.  
Were it nothing but the company of such sort of Creatures as these, it would be enough, I should think, to frighten a Man of Sense from 'em. Can you see these Fops, as much as you are used to 'em, without laughing? except it rather makes you blush to think you should bring yourself into competition with such Tools as they are: I am far from blaming them for following the Ladies: They avoid the company of Men who despise 'em, for that of Women who admire 'em: Nor do I find fault with the Ladies, for being pleased with them; for since Likeness, they say, breeds Love, what wonder is it they are fond of those Men whose Follies make 'em most like themselves; but for a Man who has some pretences to Wit and Learning; for one who might be acceptable to men of Sense, to run after 'em; nay, for a man who spends all the Morning in the study of Homer and Aristotle, to spend the Afternoon amongst the Impertinencies of Women; puts me in mind of the Mountebanks Stages in Naples, where the Jesuits and Jackpuddings entertain the Spectators by turns  
'Tis possible, you will say, that all this makes for you; that the faults of your Rivals render your Virtues the more remarkable, and that there is no doubt, but a man of Merit may succeed in any place where a man of no Merit may pretend; but, alas, Sir, you deceive yourself very much, if you encourage that Opinion. Had you fit Judges, there is no doubt but you were in the right: But if the fairest Lady in Christendom were amongst the Indians, where they paint the Devil of her Colour, do you expect they should do her Beauty Justice? Or if a slender man were amongst the Muscovites, do you think they would admire him for being well shaped, where they thought none but big-bellyed men to be so? Credit me, Sir, a man who leaves his Parts to the Judgement of Women, is very near the same Circumstances: Will you not believe me in that case, because I profess an enmity to 'em? You do well: but will you believe themselves? View all the Town, take good notice: Amongst all the young Heiresses who run away from their Guardians, is there any one who does it with a man of Sense? Amongst all those Widows who ruin themselves by second Marriages, is there any one who does it with a man of Sense? Amongst all those Ladies who Cuckold their Husbands, is there any one who does it with a man of Sense? We see 'em do these things every day, with Chaplains, Dancing-masters, Butlers, and Footmen. Who are the men that show the tender Billets received? What are they who boast of the Favours of all the finest Women in Town? Are they not the most despicable of Mankind? Are they not such whose Conversation is the jest of men of Sense? And have they above one thing about 'em, that distinguishes 'em from the other Sex?  
After all, Sir, are not the Women in the right in this point? Or do they ever show more Judgement, than when they pitch upon such men? What do they look for in a Husband, but one who will admire 'em, who will be governed by 'em, and upon whom all their little tricks will pass? And who but Fools are fit for that? What do they propose in a Gallant, but giving 'em Pleasure without Scandal? And to the former part they have a received notion of the Ability of Fools: Then for the Scandal, who so likely to give none as those men, whom the World will hardly believe were favoured by 'em, tho' they took their Oaths upon it? For notwithstanding Experience teaches us the contrary, yet People are apt to fancy, a man of Sense must succeed before a Coxcomb; and will rather believe the former are favoured, tho' they swear they are not; than the latter, tho' they swear they are.  
But alas, Sir, men of Sense they think know 'em, and that they take, as well as I do, to be a sure means to hinder their being in Love. 'Twas upon this account that 
1 Chap. 7. and in several other places.  Solomon gives such severe Characters of 'em in his Proverbs; that 
2 V. Stobaei Senten. cap. de Vituperio Mulierum.  Euripides represented 'em so faithfully, as to get the name of the Woman hater; that 
2 V. Stobaei Senten. cap. de Vituperio Mulierum.  Simonides has distinguished 'em into so many sorts of evil things; that 
3 See the Dialogues of the Courtesans, and that of Love.  Lucian has so naturally described their tricks; that 
4 Homille upon the beheading St. john Baptist.  St. Chrysostom has made such a severe invective against 'em; that 
5 Sixth satire.  juvenal has given his Friend such Counsel against having any thing to do with 'em; and, in fine, 'tis upon the same account that all the Epigrammatists, Comic Poets, and Satirists are so continually exposing 'em to the World, making their Follies ridiculous, and their Vices odious. 'Tis upon the same account likewise, that to call a man Effeminate, has always been reckoned such a reproach; and that to say a man is governed by a Woman, has been one of the worst Characters you could give of his Understanding.  
See here a dreadful Army, Madam, against us● I asked my Friend what these Gentlemen had said upon this Occasion; he told me, Juvenal had written a very severe Sa●●● against Women, which I should see very much to its advantage, if I would ●wait● for a Translation of it, with which Mr. Dryden is ready to oblige the World. For Simonides, he told me, he had written lambicks against 'em, in which he divides 'em into ten sorts. The first he said was descended from a Sow, (you will find very Noble Families amongst 'em, Madam) and she was sluttish: The second from a Fox and she understands every thing, and has a great deal of good in her, and a great deal of ill too: The third from a Dog, and she is prying about, and snarling at every body: The fourth is made of the Earth, and she understands nothing but how to fill her Belly, and sit by the Fireside: The fifth of the Sea, and she is changeable and inconstant; sometimes in a calm, and then on a sudden in a storm: T●● sixth is made of Ashes and a Labouring Ass, (An odd Composition you will say) and she is scarce driven to her business with threatenings or force, but crams herself night and day, and lies with every one that comes; (now whether she takes this Quality of lying with all who come, from the Fathers-side, or the Mothers-side, I cannot absolutely determine.) The seventh was descended from a Polecat, and she is nauseous an● stinking: The eighth from a Mare, and she never cares do to any work, and minds nothing but appearing neat and fine: The ninth from a Monkey, and her ugliness is a jest to every body: The tenth from a Bee, and she makes an excellent Wife. 
1 Camerar. Hist. Med. L. 3. C. 1●.  There is a Story also of this Simonides, that being asked about a Wife, he said, she was the Shipwreck of Man, the Tempest of a House, the Disturber of Rest, the Prison of Life, a daily Punishments a sumptuous Conflict, a Beast in Comp●●●● a necessary Evil. And 
2 Upon the 19 th'. Chapter of St. Matthew.  St. chrysostom, besides the Homily upon the beheading St. John Baptist, which is almost all an Invective against Women, says in another place, What is a Wife? The Enemy of Love, the inevitable Pain, the necessary Evil, the natural Temptation, a desirable Calamity, a domestical Peril● a pleasing Damage. Thus you see these Ancients, Madam, had a very commendable faculty of calling Names: What think you, might not the Matrons of Billingsgate improve in their Conversation? But it is natural, when People cannot convince our Reason, to endeavour to move our Passions.  
I know you will object against these, Anacreon, Theocritus, Catullus, Tibullus, Ovid, Horace, Propertius, and all those Poets and Wits, Ancient and Modern, who pleased themselves whilst they lived in the pursuit of Women, and have rendered themselves immortal after their Death, by the Trophies they raised to 'em. 'Tis confessed, that spending their time upon the Sex, they ought to know 'em best; but on the other side, to excuse their own spending their Time, aught to represent 'em as favourably as possible; and yet, pray what is the account they give us of 'em? Do they not all with one consent complain, either of the Cruelty, or Falsehood of their Mistresses? Are not their Books full of Quarrels, Piques, and Jealousies? And do they not show the Levity, Perjury, and Lewdness of the Sex? Does not 
1 Od. 44. 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉   Anacreon, and a hundred more, tell you, they mind nothing but Wealth? (This Complaint of the Love of Wealth, and Invectives against it, has been very ancient, and very general amongst the Poets; besides this Greek● 
2— fore enim tutum iter & patens Converso in pretium deo. Lib. 3. O. 16. speaking of jupiter and Danae.  Horace, 
3 L. 3. El 8. 
Ingenium quondam fuerat pretiosius auro;  
At n●nc barbaria e●t grandis, habere nihil.  
Ecce recens dives, parto per vulnera censu,  
Praefertur nobis, sanguine factus, eques.  
Curia pauperibus clausa est. Dat census honours.  V. Amor. etc.  Ovid, 
4 L. 2. El. 4. 
Ad dominam faciles aditus per carmina quaero;  
At mihi per caedem, & facinus sunt dona paranda.  
Sed precium si grande feras, custodia victa est,  
Nec prohibent claves, & canis ipse tacet.   Tibullus, and 
1 L 3 El. 11. 
Nulla est poscendi, nulla est reverentia ●an●i,  
Aut si qua est precio, ●●llitur ipsa mora.  
Aurea nunc verè sunt saecula, plurimus auro●  
Venit honos, auro conciliatur amor.   Propertius make 'em amongst the Romans; 
2 
Da te chi se defend?  
Quâ pensier fermi, e casti  
Non atterri, e non guasti?  
Chi teco unqua contend?  
Chi vinto non se rend●●  
Qual non cade, o non cede  
Fort cor, salda voglia, intera fedé?  
Anch ' egli amor lo str●l●  
Già d'oro, e d'or lo cocca  
Onde qual honour lo scocca,  
E beila Donna assale,  
Stamp● piaga ●ortal●  
Là dove ogni altra punt●  
D'impiombate quadrel fi spe●za, e spu●ta.  Mar. Rim. par secunda Canzon. ●●. L'oro.  Marino, 
3 Le Richezze, li Tesori Son insensati Amori Past. Fido. Chor. del● Atto 2 do.  Guarini among the Italians; 
4 
De tus flechas por ser d'oro  
Ninguna lei se deffiende.   Conde de Villa mediana, and 
5 
El Rico està en t●da parte,  
Siempre a proposito viene,  
No ay cosa que se le esconda,  
No ay puerta que se le ●●●erra.  Quev. Thal. Rom. 37.  Quevedo amongst the Spaniards; 
6 
Celuy deuroit mourir del'Eclat du Tonnerre  
Qui premier descouvrit les Mines de la Terre.  Ronsard. El. 8.  Ronsard among the French; and 
7 'Tis all against the love of Money.  Cow amongst us: For you must know, Madam, these Poets were a sort of People who were never very remarkable for their making large jointures; their Estates generally lie upon Parnassus, where Land sets worse than it does in Ireland: Nor do I remember to have read in any History, of Poets who deferred the enjoyment of their Mistresses for the drawing of Writings.) Does not 
1 Idyll. 3. 10, 11, 14, 20.  Theocritus make continual Complaints of the Cruelty of his Mistress? Does not 
2 
Illa Lesbia quam Catullus unam  
Plus quam se atque suos amavit omnes,  
Nunc in quadriviis, & angiportis  
Glubit magnanimos Remi nepotes. Catul. 59   Catullus tell you, that his Lesbian lay with all the Town? and 
3 
— mulier cupido quod dicit amanti,  
In vento, & rapidâ scribere oportet aquâ.   that what any Woman says to her Lover ought to be writ in Wind, or running Streams? Does not 
1 Lib. 1. El. 7. 
Ipse miser docui quo posset ludere pacto  
Custodes, eheu nunc premor arte m●●.   Tibullus complain, that he had taught his Mistress to deceive her Guards so long, that she learned to deceive him too? Does not 
2 Lib. 3. L. 11. 
Ergo ego nescio cui quem tu complexa tenebas  
Excubui clausam servus ut ante domum.   Ovid lie at his Mistress' Door all night, whilst an inconsiderable Fellow is got into her Arms? Does not Horace complain of the 
3 Lib. 1. Od. 23. L. 3. Od. 10. 26.  Cruelty of two Mistresses, and the 
4 Lib. 1. Od. 13. Lydia Lib. 2. Od. 8. Barine. Lib. 3. Od. 9 Lydia again Epod. 15. Neaera.  Perjury and Inconstancy of three or four more? And does not 
5 Lib. 2. El. 18. upon Cynthia's falsehood. Lib. 3. El. 17. De incontinentiâ muli●rum.  Propertius, besides his own Cynthia's falsehood, cry out of the Incontinence of the Sex in general? I know not what your success in Love may have been; but till you tell me the contrary, I can hardly believe it better than these men's. For what Qualification can there be to make a Woman kind and constant, that they had not? Anacreon appears to be one of the gayest humoured men that ever was born; Theocritus the most t●nder and natural in his Poems; Catullus was without a Rival the greatest Wit of his Age; Tibullus was not only the smoothest, and delicatest of the Roman Poets, but also the most beautiful Person of his time; Ovid and Propertius, as neither of 'em wanted Love, so never had any a more soft and tender way of expressing it; and Horace, besides the talon of crying up his Mistresses, and pleasing their Vanity that way, had the pleasantest manner of exposing the Follies of his Rivals, and the severest of revenging the 
1 See Lib. 1. Od. 25. Lib. 3. Od. 15. Lib. 4. Od. 13. Epod. 8. 12.  Falsehood or unkindness of his Mistresses, of any man in the World. And yet none of all these could, by their own Confession, keep a Woman to themselves, or even teach 'em cunning enough to jilt 'em so, that they should never find it out; which 
2 
Non ego ne pecces cum sis formosa, recuso;  
Sed ne sit misero scire necesse mihi.  Lib. 3. El. 14.  Ovid tells us frankly, was all he desired from 'em.  
From this, Madam, you may please to observe, that jilting is no such new thing as some people would make us believe, tho' methinks these Poets are dangerous persons to jilt, since 'tis remembered against their Mistresses, near two thousand years after.  
And in effect, what but Ruin and Desolation proceeds from 'em? Who was the Betrayer of 
1 judge's Ch. 16.  Samson, but Dalilah? Who was the cause of the Destruction of 
2 V. Homer.  Troy, but Helen? Of 
3 Velleius Lib. 1. Euseb. Chron. Soph. in Electra. Euripid. in Oreste.  Agamenmon's Death, but Clytaemnestra? Of 
4 Ovid. Metam. L. 8.  Herculeses, but Deianira? Who advised the burning of 
5 Quint. Cur. Lib. 5.  Persepolis, but Thais? Who ruin'd 
6 Livy Lib. 3. Dec. 3.  Hannibal's Army, but the Capuan Women? Who lost 
7 Plutarch in Vit. Anton.  Mark Anthony the World, but Cleopatra? Why should I burden you with Instances, when every Country can furnish Examples enough of their own? What made such Confusion in 
8 Procop. Ar●c.  Iustinian's Court, but Theodora? What caused the Revolt in the Low-Countries, but the Government of the 
9 Strada. Bentivoglio. Garnier, etc.  Princess of Parma? Who made such dreadful disturbances in 
1 Buchan. Knox.  Scotland, as their Queen Mary? And who raised the greatest Persecution for Religion, that ever England saw, but our own Queen of the same Name?  
But certainly they must have some very great Perfections to make amends for all these Faults: Well then, let us see what they are? Let us view these pleasant Confits that are to make the Poison go down: Let us enjoy a little of that Conversation, that is diversitive enough to make People neglect all their Danger. Sat in one of their Drawing-Rooms all day; observe the Discourse that passes; is it not a tedious Repetition of the same Impertinencies over and over again, to every new Visitant? and is not one half of that spent in censuring all the Town? and the other half in railing at those who Censure? Do they not inveigh against the Lampooners, and at the same time talk as scandalously as they can write? The horrid Affection, the ridiculous Vanity, the gross Dissimulation, and the inveterate Malice that appears in all their Discourse, are things for which I should think all the paint on their Faces could not make amends. For m● own part, I confess, I have been Fool enough to be in Love too, and have followed Women upon that account, but to another sort of End, than you say you do: But when that End was once satisfied, to talk with 'em afterwards, was as great a penance to me, as it would be to sit in a greasy Cook's Shop, when my Belly was full.  
This Misog●nes is a very rude Fellow, and I am sure your Ladyship will be of my Opinion, that his last simile was very fulsome. 'Tis a sign he hates Women; for had he conversed with them, they would have taught him better manners.  
But there are doubtless, you will say, Women of Understanding: Pray where are they? Is it your Prudent Woman, your good Housewife, who is plaguing all the World with her Management, and instructing every body how to feed Geese and Capons? Or is it your Politician, who is always full of Business, who carries a Secretary of State's Office in her Head, and is making her deep Observations upon every● days News? Or is it your Learned Woman, who runs mad for the love of hard words, who talks a mixed Jargon, or Lingua Franca, and has spent a great deal of time to make her capable of talking Nonsense in four or five several Languages? What think you, Sir, do you not wish for your Visitant again, as the more tolerable folly of the two? Do not you think Learning and Politics become a Woman as ill as riding astride? And had not the Duke of 
1 Essays de Montagne L. 1. C. 24. Mad. Gournay L'Egalitè des deux sexes.  Britain reason, who thought a Woman knowing enough, when she could distinguish between her Husband's Shirt and his Breeches?  
Do not you, in answer to these, fetch me a Sapph out of Greece; a Cornelia, the Mother of the Gracchis, out of Rome; an Anna Maria Schurman out of Holland; and think that in showing me three Learned Women in three thousand years, you have gained your point; and from some few particular Instances, proved a general Conclusion: If I should bring you half a dozen Magpies that could talk, and as many Horses that could dance, you would not, I suppose, for all that, choose out the one to converse with, or the other to walk a Corant.  
But would you see 'em to their best advantage? Would you have their Wit, Courage, and Conduct displayed? Take 'em upon the business of Lust● That can make Sapph witty, Aloisia Eloquent, a Country-wife Politic; That can humble 
1 V. juvenal. 6. Sat.  Messalina's Pride to walk the Streets; can make tender 
1 V. juvenal. 6. Sat.  Hippia endure the Incommodities of a Sea-Voyage, can support the Queen of 
2 1 King. 10. 2 Chron. 9  Sheba in a Journey to Solomon, and make 
3 Quint● Cur. L. 6.  Thalestris search out Alexander the Great: In this particular, I must confess, we ought to submit to 'em, and with shame allow 'em the preference. I cannot reflect upon the Stories of 
4 Diode Sicul. C. 2.  Semiramis' lying with all the handsomest men in her Army, and putting 'em to Death afterwards; of her offering her Son the last Favour; of 
1 juven. 6. Sat.  Messalina the Empresses prostituting herself in the public Stews; and of Queen 
2 This Bath is now shown in the ruins of her Palace, a little way out of the Town of Naples.  joan of Naples providing a Bath under her Window, where she might see all the lustiest young men naked, and take her choice out of 'em, without such an admiration as their Heroic Actions de●erve. 
3 Lilius Giraldus Dial. 9 de Po●tis.  Sapph, as she was one of the wittiest Women that ever the World bred, so she thought with Reason it would be expected she should make some additions to a Science in which all Womankind had been so successful: What does she do then? Not content with our Sex, she begins Amours with her own, and teaches us a new sort of Sin, that was followed not only in 
1 See his Dialogue between Cleonarium and Leo●na.  Lucian's time, but is practised frequently in 
2 See Tavernier's Travels.  Turkey at this day. You cannot but be sensible, Sir, that there is no necessity of going so far for Instances of their Lewdness, and were it civil to quote the Lampoons, or write the Amours of our own Time, we might be furnished with Examples enough nearer home.  
Here, Madam, I could not forbear telling my Friend, that his Disputant grew Scurrilous. He told me, considering him as a Woman-hater, he thought 'twas no more than his Character required; and that if I compared his Discourse with what others had said against 'em, I should think him a very well-bred Man.  
After this to talk of their Levity or Babbling, what were it but trifling? All the Lovers and Poets who have had any thing to do with 'em, can furnish themselves with Instances enough of the first; and any man who will give himself the trouble of reading any one History, shall find Instances enough of the other, if his own Wisdom has hindered him from making 'em at his own cost. 
1 Plutarch de Garrul.  There being a Senate called in Rome, upon some very extraordinary occasion, one of the Senators was desired by his Wife to tell her what it was; he replied, he was obliged to Secrecy; she swears it shall never be known to any one by her means; upon that promise he informs her, that there was a Lark seen flying over the Senate-House with a Golden Helmet on his Head, and a Spear in one of his Claws, and that they had thereupon called the Soothsayers together, to know what it portended. No sooner was the Husband gone, but the Wife tells it, under a Vow of Secrecy too, to her Maid; she to another who was her fellow Servant, who told it to her Lover; so that, to be short, it ran so fast, that as soon as the Senator came into the Marketplace, one took him aside, and told it him for a great Secret; away goes he, and tells his Wife she had undone him, in divulging what he had trusted with her: She denies it with a true feminine Impudence: How could it come to be known then? says he. Alas (replied she) are there not three hundred Senators, and might it not come from any of 'em, as well as you? No, says he, for I invented it on a sudden to satisfy your Curiosity, and thus had I been served, if I had trusted you with the Secret. 'Tis such another Story they tell us of young Papirius to his Mother, who ask him what had been debated that Morning in the Senate, told her, they were making a Law for men to have plurality of Wives. But it is somewhat a more Tragical Relation Plutarch gives of Fulvius. Augustus' complained to him, that he was dissatisfied with what he had done, in adopting Livia's Sons, and disinheriting his own Nephews; Fulvius goes home, and tells it his Wife, she tells it to the Empress, who upbraids the Emperor with it. Augustus, when he saw Fulvius next, checked him for it; by which he perceived himself ruined, and therefore went immediately, told his Wife what she had done, and that he resolved to stab himself; But certainly the Wife's answer was very sufficient; Nor did you deserve less, said she, who having lived so long with me, did not know I could not keep a Secret.  
But omitting these, whose Actions are recorded to their Infamy, let us see a little of those who are quoted as the Glories of their Sex. And who more cried up amongst 'em than 
1 jud. C. 13.  judeth? What Action more celebrated than her murdering Olofernes, when he had treated her with all the Kindness and Respect imaginable in his Tent? For my part, I must own my Virtue does not arrive to so high a pitch; and should rather have suffered my Town to have been ruined, than have been guilty of an Action that appears to me so barbarous; but I confess that of 
2 judge's C. 4. v. 17.  jael is yet worse, to invite a man into her Tent, promise him Protection, and when he had trusted his Life in her Hands, to murder him whilst he was asleep. What shall we say to Penelope, who is instanced as a Pattern of Chastity, and Conjugal Love? I will not with 
1 
Penelope vires juvenum, tentabat in arcu,  
Qui latus argueret, corneus arcus erat.  Ovid Amor. L. 1. El. 8.  Ovid and 
2 
Ad vetulam tamen ille suam (speaking of Ulysses)  
properabat, & omnis  
Mens erat in cunno, Penelopea tuo.  
Quae sic casta manes, ut jam convivia visas,  
Vtque fututorum sit tua plena domus.  
E ●uibas ut scires quicunque valentior esset,  
Haec es ad arrectos verba locuta procos:  
Nemo meo melius nervum tendebat ulysse,  
Sive illî laterum, seu fuit artis opus.  
Qui quoniam periit, modò vos intendite: qualem  
Esse virum sciero, vir sit ut ille meus.  Priapeia.  Virgil (if the Priapeia are his) make malicious Reflections upon her trying her Lover's strength in a Bow; but take the Story as it lies in the Odysseys, I am sure she would hardly pass for such a Saint in our days; and if a Lady had her House full of Lovers for twenty years of her Husband's absence, and if her Husband were forced to fight all these before he could have his Wife again, 'tis possible the Lampooners of the Town, would not have represented her Case so favourably as Homer has done. But what shall we say to 
1 V. Domin. in Ovid. El. 8. L. 1. See also Seneca's Epistles.  Lycophron even amongst the Greeks, who speaks of her as a most profligate sort of Woman, or to 
2 Lilius Giral. Hist. Deorum Gent. Pan.  Duris Samius who asserts her to have been so very common as to have lain with all Comers during her Husband's absence, from whose promiscuous Copulations Pan was born, and therefore took the Name. (Pan, your Ladyship knows in Greek signifies All.) For Lucretia I shall not insinuate, as a 
3 Sir Charles Sidley in the Translation of the 8 th'. Elegy of the 1st Book of Ovid.  great Wit seems to do, that she stabbed herself, rather than return to the Embraces of a Husband, after having been so much better pleased by a Gallant; but if she were one who valued her Chastity so much, and her Life so little, as they would make us believe, 'tis somewhat odd that she should rather let Tarquin enjoy her alive, than a Slave lie in the Bed with her when she was dead, and that she should choose to commit the Sin, rather than bear the Shame.  
But let us forgive 'em all these things I have mentioned; and since 
1 L'Art. de connoistre les Hommes. Ch. 1.  Le Chambre assures us, that there is no Beauty in a Woman, but what is a sign of some Vice; let us attribute it to Nature's fault, not theirs; and reckon that the more vicious they are, the nearer they come to the perfection of the Sex; and indeed, not spending much time in their Conversations, I will pardon 'em all their Levity, Babbling, Malice, and Impertinence; and, being unmarried, shall not be so severe upon their Lusts and Adulteries; provided they will stop there. Let Helen run away from her Husband with a handsomer man; but let her not suffer all Troy to be ruined for the keeping her there: Let Clytaemnestra lie with another man, during her Husband's absence; but let her not murder him for it when he comes home: Let 
1 Diodor. Sicul. L. 2.  Semiramis make use of all the handsomest Fellows of her Army; but let her not put 'em to death for fear they should tell tales: and tho' I would forgive her, yet her own Sex would never pardon her being the first maker of 
2 Ammian. Marcellin. Lib. 14.  Eunuches; Let Phaedra and Fausta invite their Husband's Sons to supply their Father's defects; but let 'em not accuse 'em, and have 'em put to death for refusing: Let joan of Naples make use of all the men in her Kingdom; but let her not strangle her Husband for his imperfections in a point that he could not help: That Cruelty and Barbarity, I confess, is what provokes me so much against the Sex: I can see Tibullus' Mistress jilt him, for a Fool who is not half so handsome; I can see Ovid waiting all night at his Mistress' Door, whilst another man is in her Arms; and I can see half a score Impertinent Women plaguing you with nonsensical Stories, and be very well diverted all the while: but I confess I cannot hear of Medea's cutting her Brother in pieces, and strewing his Limbs in the way to stop her pursuing Father, without horror and dread; nor of her treating her own Children after the same manner, to revenge herself upon jason, without a like emotion: I know not how other People may bear such things; but for my part, when I see all the Murders and Barbarities they commit, to revenge themselves on their unconstant Lovers, to get rid of their Husbands for some one they like better, or to prevent the discovery of their Lewdness; but my Hair stands on end, my Blood shrinks, and I am possessed with an utter detestation of the Sex. Go but one Circuit with the Judges here in England; observe how many Women are condemned for killing their Bastard Children; and tell me if you think their Cruelties can be equalled; or whether you think those who commit such Actions fit for your, or for any Civil Conversation. But I see by your looks you are convinced, I see you abandon your Cause, and I shall cease to expose any farther a Sex, of whose Patronage you seem already ashamed.  
Here Misogynes left off, and Phylogynes began to answer him; But I must beg your pardon, Sir, said my Friend, for my time is come, and I must necessarily be gone. The Devil you shall, said I; you would engage me in a pretty Affair; I promise a Lady a Defence of her Sex, and you will make me send her a satire against it. Truly, my dear Friend, said he, I designed to have told you all, but 'tis later than I thought, and I have Business waits for me. No Business, said I, can be so considerable to you, as the satisfying a fair Lady is to me, therefore sit down, and bring me fairly off what you have told me already, or you and I shall be Friends no longer. After all, Madam, to tell you the truth, tho' there is no great matter in this speech of Misogynes, yet I can hardly believe he made it upon a sudden; 'tis possible tho' they two having discoursed the matter as they told us before; might have provided themselves each with Arguments. But supposing that, I can scarce believe, one man would be suffered to talk so long without interruption; at least I am sure, some who we know were none of the Company. But 'tis possible, that he who told me, might leave out all that was spoke by others, for brevity sake, being as you see in haste.  
If you are as apt to be mistaken in your Judgement of Things as of Looks (replied Philogynes) 'tis no wonder you should make such strange Conclusions. Whatever seriousness you may see in my Face, does not, I'll assure you, proceed from any distrust of my Cause, but an astonishment at what strange Arguments the Invention of man can suggest against the best things that are. I say, The Invention of man, for I am far from believing you in earnest in this point; I have too just an opinion of Misogynes to think he does any thing but put on this humour for a trial of skill; and I no more believe you a hater of Women, for the Invective you have made against 'em, than I believe Erasmus a lover of Folly, for the Encomium he has writ upon it. If you have therefore any thing more to urge, forbear it not upon any supposed Conviction you see in my Countenance; for, notwithstanding that I think you have handled the Subject as fully as any one who has undertaken it, yet I'll assure you I cannot submit to your Arguments; and therefore am very ready to hear any thing you have further to urge. No, says Misogynes, I am sensible I have troubled the Company long enough about a trifle, and 'tis very fit you should have your turn of speaking now. Part of the Company was already convinced by his Arguments, the other part thought he had said as much as the matter would bear, and therefore both agreed in desiring Philogynes to speak what he had to say, which he did in this manner.  
I confess, Sir (said he smiling) when I saw the Associates you allotted me at first, I began to despair of my Cause; I own I was ashamed of my Company, and resolved to pack up Baggage instantly, and quit a Trade in which none but Fops and Fools were engaged; but when I saw the Anacreons, the O●ids, and all the Wits, Ancient and Modern, in the same circumstances, I e●en took Heart again. Courage, said I, the Business is not so bad as I thought, and 〈◊〉 possible his Heart may relent, and allow us some better Company than he condemned us to at first. At least, thought I, if 'tis a Folly to converse with Women, 'tis some comfort that he owns it to be a Folly of which the greatest Wits of the World have been guilty before us; And when I saw all Greece, and the greater part of Asia venturing their Lives for one Woman, I thought I had somewhat the advantage of them, whilst I ventured nothing but my Rhetoric for 'em altogether. And when you named Samson, Achilles, Annibal, and Mark Anthony, I enquired who those Gentlemen were; for certainly, thought I, if they were such brave men, and great Soldiers, as I have heard 'em represented, we have no reason to despair of the Victory when we have them to lead us on.  
You might have spoken more generally of 'em ●oo, if you had pleased; you might have told us, that there never was a great Soldier who was not as famous for his Amours, as his Battles; that a 
1 Cowley's Preface.  Poet was scarce thought free of his Trade, who had not paid some Duties to Love; and you might have added to these all the Wisemen and Philosophers of the World; You might have informed us, that David, tho' a man after God's own Heart, was not contented without some share in the women's. That Solomon, who knew the Virtue of every Plant, from the Cedar of Libanus ● to the Hyssop that grows upon the Wall, took as much pains to have as general a knowledge of the Ladies. That 
1 For these three Philos. see Diog. L●●●tius in their Lives.  Socrates, who was the ugliest as well as the wisest man of his time, would in spite of Nature aim at Love too, and, not terrified by one ill Wife, would try to mend his hand in another. That 
1 For these three Philos. see Diog. L●●●tius in their Lives.  Plato, whom Antiquity has called Divine, did not spend all his time in erecting Commonwealths, but that some of it was bestowed upon the Xantippe's and Archeanassa's. That 
1 For these three Philos. see Diog. L●●●tius in their Lives.  Aristotle, whom Philip made Governor to Alexander, made himself a Slave to his Mistress; that this was not an effect of his Passion alone, but of his Reason; 
1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: Diog. Laert. in Vit. Arist●t.  That he said Love was not only upon the account of Copulation but Philosophy; and commands his Wiseman to be in Love, before he bids him meddle with the Commonwealth. And in fine, that this great man, who fathomed all Arts and Sciences, who has given us the best Rules of Philosophy, Politics, Poetry, etc. did also not think it unbecoming his Gravity to write one Treatise of Love, and four Amatory Theses. You might have mingled Sacred Story with Profane. You might have told us that St. Peter was married, that St. Paul defended the leading about a Sister; that we owe one of the most celebrated 
1 St. Austin converted by his Mother.  Fathers of the Church to the Endeavours and Conversion of a Woman; and that St. jerom had so great an esteem for the Sex, as to dedicate a great part of his Works to some of 'em. You might have added to these a thousand more, which you see I purposely omit to avoid Prolixity, and mention none but whom you will allow to be the most celebrated of their profession, without doing your Cause any injury in the least; for after all, it is but showing us a Drawing Room of Fops, reading a Dialogue out of Lucian, seeing a Scene of a Play, quoting a Sentence out of Solomon's Proverbs, searching all History for two or three ill Women, and the business is done, the Cause is gained, let the Trumpets sound, and Io Paean be sung for the Victory.  
I am sorry, Sir, that I cannot be as civil to you, as you have been to me; It goes against my Conscience to place you with so bad Company, considering with what you have obliged me; and of those few great men whom you have seduced to your Party, I am concerned that I must take the better part from you. I fancy, after what I have already said of Solomon, after reflecting upon his History, you cannot think him a true Friend to your Cause; and therefore will not I hope depend too much upon him. I shall say nothing of his Wives and Concubines, I shall not as much as mention his Canticles, which 
1 Est autem— It is a Dialogue between Solomon and the King of Egypt's Daughter; two Chorus', one of young Men, the other of Virgins, who lay near the Bedchamber, speaking between. The Nuptial Secrets lie hid here under modest words, which was the Cause the ancient Hebrews would not suffer this Book to be read, but by those who were near Marriage. Grotius upon the Canticles  Grotius, as well as I, affirms to be a Love-Poem, and which 
1 Rapine de Carmine Pastorali.  Rapine reckons both the first and best of Pastorals; but I shall attack you at your own Weapon; I shall oppose Proverb against Proverb; if he has been severe in 'em upon ill Women, whose Cause I do not undertake, he has spoken as favourably of the 
2 The last Chapter of Proverbs, and in several other places.  Wise and the Good, for whom we appear; in like manner, if Euripides has represented Women so in his Tragedies, as to get the Name of the Woman-hater, I appeal from his Writings to his Life and Conversation, which show him far otherwise. If Simonides gives you severe Characters of several Women, he gives you one at last that makes amends for all; one in whom no fault can be found; and if you think that is not enough to take him off from your party, if you are still so very fond of him, we will tell you, that Men who are deformed and ugly, as 
1 Girald. in vit. Simonidis. Plutarch in vit. Themistoclis.  Simonides was, naturally declare themselves Enemies to Women, because they fancy Women are Enemies to them; and upon that account, not upon the account of his Wit, we will allow him to you. As for St. Chrysostom, tho' we have all the respect imaginable for a Father of the Church, and upon that account shall not enter into the Merits of the Cause betwixt 
2 V. Socrat. Scholar Sozomen. Evagr.  him and the Empress Eudoxia; yet this we shall say, Sir, that as Fathers of the Church are Subject to Passions, as well as other men; so it is no wonder that a man, who is used very ill by one Woman, and converses with few else, should conclude 'em all alike. Thus after having taken two of your Patriots from you, and if not taken, at least disabled the other two from being very credible Witnesses, you are reduced to Lucian and juvenal. For the former, if I should quote you what the old Fathers say of him, if I should tell you, that he did not only abuse the Christian Religion, but even his own; that he rallied all the Philosophers, Orators, and Historians of his time; that not content with that, he falls foul upon those his own Religion taught him to worship as Gods; I fancy you would not think what such a man says of any great weight; but truly, Sir, there is no need of that in this case; What does this Lu●ian do, pray? Why 
1 See the Dialogues of the Courtesans.  he describes the Bawd's Griping, Covetous, and encouraging their Daughters in Lewdness; ●is: Courtesans False, Jilting, and true Courtesans throughout. And what of all this, pray? what does this make for you? 'Tis not the Cause of Bawds, or Courtesans that we undertake; tho' even amongst them he represents a great part Easie, Loving, good-natured Fools, and used accordingly by their Lovers. But does Lucian pretend that there are no good Women? Does he fall upon the Sex in general? or does not he bring in 
1 In the Dialogue of Love.  Charicles in one place defending 'em, and does not he make the greatest Encomium that can be of Panthaea in another, and speak with abundance o● esteem of several other Women in the same? And if he does introduce Callicratides in one of his Dialogues railing at the Sex in opposition to Charicles, h● does it in the defence of a Sin, which ● am sure you will scarce think it civil to name. What shall we say to juvenal, but what Plato did to Xenocrates, bid him Sacrifice to the Graces. He is always Violent, always Declaiming, always in a Passion; and what wonder if he falls upon the Women in one of his Fits? After all, you will make no great matter of him; for if he has writ one satire upon the Women, he has writ fifteen upon the Men. For the Comic Poets and Satirists, whom you mention in general, when you name 'em in particular, I shall give 'em particular answers. And now truly, Sir, see yourself reduced to a miserable Equipage; some old Husbands, and jilted Lovers; some men with ill Faces, and worse Meens, may possibly stick to you still; but that is all; I am sorry to see a man so well made, of so much Wit, and who has been so successful amongst the Ladies, rank himself with such a Tribe; but you do it, I suppose, by way of variety only; and so let Misogynes appear, at the Head of his Regiment, that makes a worse Figure than Sir john Falstaffe's; let 'em be encouraged with stummed Wine and muddy Ale; let 'em give Fire to their Mundungus, and so let the battle begin, whilst we with all the Heroes, Wits, and Philosophers, see how we can defend the Cause we have undertaken.  
I am sensible, Sir, that I have broken the order of your Discourse, and I beg your Pardon for it; But I thought it was necessary to dististinguish our Enemies from our Friends, before the Armies joined, that so we might know whom to attack, and whom to spare; and having done that, I shall now confine myself to your Method, and follow the Course that you please to lead me.  
Though I perfectly agree with you in the esteem of the Laws made for the encouragement of Marriage, and consequently cannot but regret the want of 'em amongst ourselves; yet I must beg your Pardon, Sir, if I wholly descent from you, in the inference you would draw from it; For ●tis very apparent to me, and to any unbiass'd Person else, I suppose, that those Laws were never made, as you fancy, for the forcing men to the Love of Women, to which all Coun●ries were naturally enough inclined; ●ut for the restraining 'em to particulars; that whilst they followed the general pleasures of the Sex, they might ●ot lose the useful part, which was the procreation of Children. Had there ●een so few Virtues amongst 'em, as ●ou please to imagine, there had been ●o need of this; When we have but one Dish of Meat that we like, we fall upon that without any deliberation; but when the fancy is distracted with variety of Dainties, we often lose more time in the making our choice, than would otherwise be requisite to the satisfying our Appetites.  
'Tis true, Sir, it is a very good way to judge of People by the Company they are fond of; but 'tis not a certain way to judge of People by the Company that is fond of them. There was a Tailor in love with Queen Elizabeth, but it does not necessarily follow that Queen Elizabeth was in love with a Tailor. If there are Fops, if there are ridiculous Fellows who follow the Ladies, before we run down the Ladies for it, let us see if they do not laugh at 'em, as well as we ourselves. And I cannot think their pursuing 'em an● reason at all for Men of sense to avoid ' 'em. You would think it very hard, that Alexander and Caesar should quit the Art of War, because some Thrasoes and bragging Bullies pretended to it as well as they; and Virgil and Horace would take it very ill, that you should damn all sorts of Poetry, because of the Bavius' and Maevius', who set up for it; and whatever reason you would give against the being a Minister of State, I dare say Sir Politic Woudbee's aiming at it, would be none. (Here Philogynes ●seems to me not to understand the right use of that considerable part of Mankind called Fools; For it is only the Half Wit that is intolerable, and a true Fool, is next a true Wit the best Company in the World; for as a Noble Author has extremely well observed, 
Wit, like Terce Claret, when't begins to pa●●,  
Neglected lies, and's of no use at all;  
But in its full perfection of Decay,  
Turns Vinegar, and ●omes again in Play.)   
After this I need not tell you, Sir, that 'tis very ill judging of People by their outside; and as I laugh at those who like a Man only for his being well dressed, so I fancy you will allow them to be as ridiculous, who run him down only for the same reason. It was objected against 
1 Diogenes Laertius in vit. Aristot.  Aristotle and 
2 Plutarch in vit. Ciceronis.  Cicero, that they were too sumptuous in their Apparel, and overcurious in their Dress; and without doubt there were deep 
3 See Verres' Jests upon Cicero for his Effeminacy. Plut.  Critics in those times, said they minded nothing but making themselves fine; who yet, without any offence to their Learning, we may suppose could not give so good an account of their Studies, as these two great Men have done of theirs.  
(Courage! there are two good Precedents for the Beaux.)  
After all, Sir, I know there are a great many of these gay Coxcombs, of these eternal pretenders to Love; and I have nothing to say in their behaves; let 'em even shift for themselves amongst the Thrasoes, and Bavius'. But they do not only pretend (you say) they are successful too; 'Tis very possible, Sir; I do not know but there may be Fools enough of the other Sex, to like the Fools of ours. But it is with the best sort of Women too (you say) that they succeed. And who tells you so, pray? They themselves. I swear, Sir (though I have a very great esteem for those Gentlemen) yet I must beg their Pardon for my faith in this point; I can never think a Woman whose Wit we all allow, can be fond of a Man whose Folly we all see: On the other side, I know how natural it is, for every one to avoid contempt; and when a man is despised in one place, what so reasonable as to make you believe he is esteemed in another. And I hope the Gentlemen themselves will take it for a Compliment, when I tell 'em I do not believe a word they say in this point; since certainly a Man of Honour would rather of the two, tell a Lie to the prejudice of a Woman who uses him ill, than a truth to the utter ruin of one who grants him all the favours he can ask.  
But let us judge 'em by their Actions say you! Do not most of the young Heiresses run away with pitiful Fellows? If they do, Sir, it should rather deserve your Pity than your Anger; or if you must be angry, be angry with the Guardians whose severity frighten 'em away, and yet hinders 'em the sight of any Men of merit to run away with. 'Tis no wonder that one who has never seen any Town, but where he was born, should think that the finest in the World; and you cannot blame a Woman for being in Love with a Man who does not deserve her, if she never saw any who did. All that we can reasonably expect in that point is, that she should make some satisfaction when she see● the World better; and if she shows her contempt of her Choice then, 'tis as much (if not more) than can be required. In like manner you cannot say a Widow makes an ill Choice, except you prove she was offered a better. If a Man, who is obliged to ride a Journey, does it upon an ill Horse, you will be very well satisfied certainly, when he tells you, 'tis the best he could get. (I confess, Madam, this seems to me but a very indifferent excuse for the Widows; for he would make us believe, 'tis but next Oars with 'em; and so I told my friend; but he replied, I must consider, 'tis only those Widows who make an ill Choice, about which he is to speak; and as he cannot say of them, as of the young Maids● that it was for want of seeing the World; so they must be contented with this excuse, or make a better for themselves.) For the Wives, who you say Cuckold their Husbands, there may be somewhat more to be said. Modesty being almost an inseparable Quality of wit, there is no wonder that a Man who is possessed of that, should so seldom succeed in these Undertake. Whilst Fools, by their natural impudence push on the thing; and Married Women are a sort of Forts that are sooner taken by Storm than Treaty. So that this shows rather the great confidence's of the Man, than the little judgement of the Woman; who 'tis forty to one had much rather a Man of sense was possessed of her, if he would take the same methods to gain her as the ●●her had done.  
(After all, Madam, I think no●e of these Excuses Extraordinary; therefore if I were worthy to advise the Ladies, they should rather make use of Men o● Wit in all these Capacities, than put their Friends to the trouble of inventing such pitful defences for 'em.)  
Now, Sir, as I cannot see any reason why Women should naturally love Fools, more than Men of Wit, so I shall very hardly be brought to believe they do. In a Husband I suppose they propose a Man whose Conversation shall be agreeable as well as his Person; and who shall have wit to entertain 'em, as well as wisdom to direct 'em; and in whom can this be found, but in Men of the best Sense? If in a Gallant, as you say, they propose Pleasure without scandal, 'tis very hard the heat that warms a Man's Brain, should so entirely settle there, as to render him incapable of pleasing'em otherways; though 'tis possible, by reason of his having variety of thoughts to divert him, he may not give himself so entirely up to those pleasures, as People less capable of thinking do: and for the scandal, who so proper to hinder that, as those who have prudence to manage things so as not to be found out, and wit enough to turn it off if they are? Whilst a Fool by his want of Sense shall quickly make the thing public, if there be an Intrigue, or by his vanity brag of one, though there be none. Add to this, that when a Woman seems pleased with a Man of wit, every body is apt to attribute it to the pleasure of his Conversation; whereas, when she is fond of a Man, in whom we can see nothing to be liked, we naturally suppose she likes him for something that we do not see: and though 'tis possible it may be only want of Judgement in the Lady, yet the world is apt to Compliment her Understanding in that Case, to the prejudice of her Reputation. And to conclude, Sir, though I do not believe all those Men successful who say they are not, yet I am very much inclined to believe all those Men not to be successful, who say they are.  
For your Examples of Women Haters, I have sufficiently I think replied to them already; and for your other Arguments, if it be an affront to call a Man effeminate, I hope you do not think it any great Compliment to tell a Woman she is Masculine; and had that Argument been urged against you, I dare answer for you, you would have said, that that only proved the Perfections of the Sex's different; and as Man was made for the ruder Labours, it was requisite he should be strong and course; and the Women, being made for the easier things, aught to be soft, tender, and delicate: And as for men's being governed by their Wives, tho' the being hectored by 'em is not so commendable; yet it 
1 V. Alex. ab Alex. L. 4. C. 8.  was observed by 
2 Plutarch in vit. Cato.  Cato of the Romans, that they governed all the World, and that their Wives governed them: Amongst the 
3 V. Leges Connubiales.  Assyrians it was a Custom introduced by Semiramis, (who had Ruled that Kingdom with so much Glory) that the Wives should have Dominion over the Husbands; The same Custom prevailed likewise among the 
4 Nicholaus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and from him Stobaeus. Serm. 42.  Sauromatae; and the 
5 Diodor. Si●ul. L. 1.  Egyptians had an Express Law to that purpose. We know how much the 
6 Aristot. Politic. L. 2. Cap. 7.  Spartans' (the bravest Men of the world) were Commanded by their Wives, and that all the care and management of Domestic Affairs was committed to them. So that I can not imagine how a thing should be so very scandalous, that was practised by most of the bravest People under the Sun.  
Here are very good Precedents for Married Women, which it is to be hoped they will lay up in their hearts, and practice in their Lives and Conversations.  
I have as great a veneration for those Poets you mention, as any Man can; and upon that account I shall not believe all the ill they say of their Mistresses, because I suppose they would not have me: As I have been a Lover myself, so I know very well that People are apt in those Cases to take suspicions for realities, and surmises for matter of fact. Does not 
7 See the Tragedy by Mr. Dryden.  Aureng-zebe call Indamora Faithless, and Ingrate? and yet I believe he would be very angry that you should call her so too; and would not any one who came in when he was in one of his rants, conclude, a Man who loved so well, would not be enraged against a Mistress at that rate, unless her falsehood was very apparent? And yet when we come to examine the Cause of this disorder, what is it, but Morats giving him his Life at her request, or his leaning upon her Lap when he died. I rather mention this than any of the Poets you spoke of, not only because all the motions and Passions of a Lover are described with as much Art and Delicacy, as in any of those Ancients, but also, that seeing the whole business before you, you may judge of every little cause of his disorder, as well as he himself, which in Odes and Elegies you cannot do; You see the Lover there in a fury, but what cause he has to be so, there is no body to tell you, but he who is in it. Add to this, that a Man often feigns jealousy of his Mistress, to hinder her from being so of him, and will upbraid her falsehood to defend his own. (That is a thing now I confess, Madam, which I can hardly believe.) And it is evident, they had not really any such bad Opinion of Women, since with all this they did not cease to run after 'em. However, if you think these general Answers not sufficient; let us see what we can say to particulars. For the Complaints of Cruelty and Scorn; I look upon 'em as things of course, and therefore shall say nothing to 'em. If Anacreon's Mistress did ask him nothing but money; why did he choose one whose necessities drove her upon it. And if other Men have made complaints of the women's minding wealth more than Love; I desire to know whether Women have not as much reason to make the same Complaints of the Men. And for those who talk of their Mistress' inconstancy, let us see first whether they were Constant to them. For Ovid, he does not pretend to put it upon you, but complains in 
1 Eleg. 1 L. 10. 1.  one place of his being in Love with two at once, and tells you frankly in 
2 Eleg. 4. L. 1.  another, that he was in Love with all the Town. For Horace, Suetonius, (or who ever it was that writ his Life) informs you that he was intemperately given to Women; and what wonder then, that a Man who tried so many, should find one or two false. Tibullus had two 
3 Delia. Nemesis  Mistresses whom he Celebrates by name, and there are some more Elegies that it does not appear whether they are writ to them or others; and tho' he tells, us the 
4 
Rumor ait crebro nostram peecasse putam,  
Quid miserum torques Rumour acerbe ●ace.   Report was that his Mistress was kind to other men; yet the Report gave him so much torment, that he desired it should be stifled; if therefore you have any friendship for him, endeavour to fulfil his desire in that point. For Propertius, besides his 
3 
Aspice uti caelo modo Sol, modo Luna ministrat,  
Sic etiam nobis una puella parum.  2 Lib. El. 18.  intemperate Love of all Women, he tells you his 
4 Lib. 4. El. 9  Mistress caught him with two Wenches at the same time; and confesses that he rails at the incontinence of Women, only because she upbraided him with his. Thus whatever qualifications those Great Men had, Constancy you see was none; and tho' we allow you, each of 'em had merit enough for any one Woman, yet one Man can hardly have enough for half a score.  
Now if Ruin and Desolation has come to Great Men, and States, from Women, it showed they had a good Opinion of the Sex in general, that they would suffer for 'em; and had they not been sensible the greatest part were good, they could never have been imposed upon by the bad. Then as for those Ill Women whom you have mentioned, as I suppose you will not undertake to defend all the Actions of Tyrants, and Murderers; so I do not think myself at all obliged to defend all the Women who have been guilty of some of their Crimes. The Dispute is not whether there have been any Ill Women in the world, but whether there are not more Good. And when I have told you that the same Book that condemns Dalilah, cries up Deborah, and jael; That if Homer has represented Helen guilty of some faults (for you will see that Homer does not represent her Cause so violently bad) he tells us of Hecuba, and Andromache, and a thousand others who were very good ones; That if Clytaemnestra was false to Agamemnon, Penelope was as Famous for her Truth to Ulysses; and so put you Example against Example, which I forbear to do, only because it is so very easy; should I, I say, do but this, you could not complain that your Arguments were unanswered. But truly, Sir, we might carry the thing much farther; we might defend some of those Women you mentioned, and excuse the rest. For Dalilah I shall say nothing, out of respect to the Scripture, that represents her as an Ill Woman; 'tis possible, were she alive, she might tell you in her own defence, that what account you have of her, is from her professed Enemies: That however taking the thing as they tell it; if she did commit a piece of treachery, it was against an Enemy of her Country; and that it was very hard she should be so much run down for the same thing they have so much admired in jael and judeth, as well as every body else did in Marcus Brutus; she would perhaps push her defence further, and tell you, that though she delivered Samson to the Philistines to be kept Prisoner, yet she neither drove a Nail through his head, nor cut it off. But for Helen, give me leave to tell you, 'tis a great dispute amongst the Historians, whether she was forced away by Paris, or went by her own consent; several are of the former Opinion; and 
1 Prologom. ad Apollon.  Hoelztzim says plainly, he wonders Homer will put such a ridiculous Story upon the world, as to make her the occasion of the Trojan War. (Menelaus, it must be confessed, Madam, if the Story be true, was a very easy good natured Husband, who would be at so much pains and charge to fetch back a Wife who run away with another man. I do not remember, in my own memory, to have known above Five or Six Examples like it) And 
2 In Phaedr.  Plato speaks as if the belying her were the cause of Homer's blindness, as well as of Stesichorus'; but that the latter understood the way of expiating his fault better, and made his recantation, to this effect: That there was not a word of truth in the Story of her going to Troy. If Clytaemnestra was consenting to her Husband's death, yet it was Egisthus, a man, who gave the blow: And if Tha●s did advi●e the burning Persepolis, yet it was not less a Person than Alexander the Great who put it in Execution. And as for Deianira and Cleopatra, whatever fatality arrived to their Lovers from 'em, may certainly be very well excused upon the innocence of their Intentions, and their punishment of themselves afterwards, the one Hanging, the other Poisoning her sel●. I● the Capuan Women destroyed Annibal's Army, they destroyed a Body of Enemies that all the men in Italy could not. In like manner, for your other Instances we might tell you that Procopius, who tells those terrible Stories of 
1 Anecdota.  Theodora, is so very passionate all along, and mixes such ridiculous Fables with what he tells, that there is no great credit to be given to him. (This Procopius was a Soldier under Justinian, and has writ amongst other things a Secret History of those Times; In this he represents the Empress Theodora more like a Devil than a Woman; he makes her and the Emperor converse frequently with Spirits, and makes her put 'em to an Employment, that savours more of the Flesh than the Spirit) Tho' granting she was as lewd as he represents her; what wonder is it, that one who had been a stroling Play-wench, and common Strumpet before the Emperor married her, should not turn Saint after? If the 
1 See Bentivoglio, Strada, Garnier.  Princess of Parma embroiled Flanders, she did it by the command of Philip, for whom she governed. And as for your two Queen mary's, 
2 In the Holy Court.  Caussin you know makes a Saint of the one, and Parsons of the other, with whom I leave you to fight it out, not thinking our dispute very much concerned in it.  
Then, Sir, if there are impertinents, if there are ridiculous Persons of the other Sex, I hope you do not think they are all Plato's, nor all Aristotle's of our own; And I will undertake, for every Woman who plagues you with her business, for every Woudbee Politician, and for every Pedant amongst them, to bring you double the number of the Men. If Olivia is impertinent in the Plain-Dealer, I hope there are Novels and Plausibles who keep her Company; And if I should carry you to a City Coffeehouse, and there show you a parcel of People talking of things that they understand nothing at all of; and settling the Governments of Countries, which they never saw as much as in a Map: From thence to a Playhouse, and show you the pert and insipid raillery of the Sparks upon the Vizard Masks: From thence to a Newmarket Course, and enter you at a Table, where you should hear nothing talked of but Dogs and Horses: From thence to a Tavern; and show you a set of men in their Drunken Frolicks: I fancy you would wish yourself in your Drawing-Room again, as a more agreeable ●olly than any of those I have mentioned. And I appeal to you whether Lucian in his Timon, Boileau in his Eighth satire, and my Lord Rochester in his upon the like Subject, say not as much against Mankind, and make 'em as ridiculous as you can do the Women. And I'll assure you, Sir, I am far from being of the Duke of Britanie's mind, that Learning is unfit for a Woman; and shall, without any offence either to him or you, continue of the same Opinions till you have answered Anna Maria Schurman's Arguments in their behalf, and till you have taken away her ●elf, who is one of the best Arguments.  
This Anna Maria Schurman was ● Dutch Lady of Utrecht, of whom yo● will hear more anon. There was a long Dispute between her and Rivetus, whether Learning was fit for Women? 'Tis Printed in her Works in Latin. Here, Madam, there follows a tedious Chapter, of Women who have been famous for Wit and Learning; which though it may be convenient for those who question their Abilities that way, yet I do not see of what use it can be to your Ladyship, or to any who have the honour of being acquainted with you; therefore if you please, Madam, we will cast off here, and take hands again at the bottom.  
Nor need you fear that I should search three several Countries, and three several Ages, to furnish me with a Learned Woman apiece. No, Sir, even Greece itself, to go no further, had Nine Muses, Nine Sibyls, and Nine Lyric Po●tesses, if you are delighted with the number Nine, which is three times three. And if you have more mind to particulars, we will show you there 
1 Vossius de Poet. Grecis.  Megalostrate the Mistress of Alcman, who had a gift of Poetry as well as he; the Daughters of 
2 Lilius Gira●d. in Vit. Stesich.  Stesichorus who were as good Poets as their Father. We have also an Eretrian Sapph, as well as she who was in Love with Phaon; Erinna, and Demophila, the first the Mistress of Sapph, the other equal to her, who flourished all four in the same time. After these we have Theano, the Wife of Pythagoras, who undertook his School when he was dead, with two others of the same name (if you will believe Su●das) whereof one was a Lyric Poetess, the other a Thurian, who writ of Pythagoras. We have also about the same time Cleobulina (the Daughter of Cleobulus one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece) a Poetess, and Corinna who had the Surname given her of the Lyric Muse. We have presently after Telesilla an Argive Poetess, not only Famous for her Wit, but for her Inspiring her Country Women with so much Courage, as to make 'em put to Flight the Spartiates, who came upon 'em in the absence of their Husbands. At the same time lived Praxilla one of the nine Lyrics, and of whom we have a Copy of Verses to Calais yet extant; What will you say to Aspasia Milesia, who is Celebrated as a Sophistress, (you know the word 
1 Plutarch in Vit. Themistocl.  Sophister was not then abused) a Teacher of Rhetoric, and a Poetess? There was also Hesti●ea, mentioned by Strabo, Anyte by Tatian, and Nyssis by Antipater Thessalus, of the two last of which there are some things yet extant; if you have a mind to see what they did after they turned Christians, we will produce Eudocia the Wife of Theodosius, instructed in all sort of Learning, and who writ several Treatises, very much cried up by Photius. I have not said a word here of Lasthemia the Mantinaean, nor Axiothea the Phliasian, tho' they are mentioned amongst the Disciples of Plato by Diogenes Laertius; and I own I forgot Hipparchia, whose Life he writes, and commends bo●h as a Philosopher and a Writer of Tragedies, and Hedyle the Poetess, whom Athenaeus quotes, and 
1 Vossius mentions neither of these two in his Book de Poetis Grecis.  Vossius it seems has forgot 'em as well as I. I question not but there are several others, whose Names we want, and I question not but that there are several named whom I remember not: However this is enough to let you see we are not so hard put to it as you imagine, since one little Country can furnish us with all these. What say you, Sir, are you yet satisfied there are Women of Wit and Learning? or shall we fetch you the 
1 Quintil. l. 4.  Cornelia you mentioned, 
2 Sallust. Bell. Catil.  Sempronia, 
3 Vossius de Poetis Latin. for the rest.  Cornificia, Polla Argentaria the Wife of Lucan, and who assisted him in his Poem; Sulpitia, Proba Falconia, Helpine the Wife of Boetius from amongst the Latins? Or if these are not enough, shall we bring up our Reserves of I●alian, Spanish, French, Germane, and English? And if you are not yet contented, because I fancy every body else is, I shall refer you to jacobus a Sancto Carolo's Library of Women, Illustrious for their Writings; or to Anna Maria Schurman, who was indeed a Library herself, since you mention her. Pardon me, Sir, if I detain you a little longer than ordinary with this Woman; and though you may think it lost time, because you knew it before, yet 'tis possible every body does not know, that she was very well skilled in the Hebrew, Chaldee, Syriack, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, Latin, French, English, Italian, Spanish, Germane, Dutch, and Flemish Languages; that she had a very good faculty at Poetry and Painting, that she was a perfect Mistress of all the Philosophies, that the greatest Divines of her time were proud of her judgement in their own profession, and that when we had this Character of her she was not above Thirty years of Age. What think you, Sir, is not this Woman sufficient of herself? Or shall we refer you to Mademoiselle 
1 L'Egalite des Deux Sexes.  Gournay among the French, or 
2 Nobiltá delle Donne.  Lucretia Marinella among the Italians, who have both writ in defence of their Sex, and who are both Arguments themselves of the Excellency of it? I shall not as much as mention any of those Ladies whose Wit Balzac and Voiture so much admire; I shall say nothing of the Mesdemoselles Scuderie and Le Feure, to the first of which we do not only owe several excellent Treatises published under her own name, but who is said also to have had a great share in those that appear under her Brother's; and to the latter of which we are obliged for so many admirable Versions, and judicious Observations upon most of the Greek and Latin Poets. I shall not as much as trouble you with our own Country Women. I shall say nothing of Sir Thomas More's Daughter's, about whose Education 
1 Epist. ad Bude●m.  Erasmus has written; I shall pass by Sir Nicolas Bacon's, who were as learned as they; shall say nothing of Sir Philip Sidney's Lady Pembroke, nor as much as mention Mrs. Philip's, or any of the rest of our English Poetesses; but I can hardly forbear saying something of the Lady jane Grace, of whom all Nations else speak, and whose Fame is more celebrated in Italy, both for her Learning and Piety, by the account that Michael Angelo has given 'em of her, than it is here at home. Should I reckon up all those Ladies whose Wit and Learning has been Celebrated by our own Poets; should I but enter upon the praises of Queen Elizabeth of England, or Mary of Scotland, in that particular● I should never have done. But I can hardly omit two Ladies who are strangers, and however I am straitened for room, yet methinks I ought to be just to those who were civil to me, since therefore I received particular favours from the Procurator Cornara, during my stay at Venice, let me not pass over in silence his Daughter, for whom most of the greatest Princes, and Learned Men of Europe have testified such an esteem. This Lady, besides her Skill in Rhetoric, Logic, Music, and Astronomy, writ and spoke perfectly well Seven several Languages; and made the course of all the Speculative Sciences with so much success, that She might very well profess herself a Mistress of 'em; and all this before she was thirty Years of Age. Her Sister, whom I had the honour to see (she herself being dead some time before) is likewise a Person of very singular Endowments; and all this whilst they are one of the best Families of a Town, where the Nobility seem almost as proud of their Ignorance, as their Liberty. The other I shall mention, is Christina Queen of Sueden, a Princess whose Accomplishments are so generally known, that it is enough to have named her; a Lady of that true Judgement, that she knew how to esteem Wit and Learning at the same time that she despised Crowns; and seemed to be Born as a sufficient recompense to the Commonwealth of Letters, for all the mischiefs her Predecessors the Goths and Vandals had done it before; I am satisfied it is impossible for me to add any thing to a Glory so established as that of this Princess is; yet as I never passed any time either with greater benefit, or greater satisfaction, than what I past in her Conversation; so I am very well pleased methinks with any thing that gives me occasion to call it to my remembrance. There might be as advantageous Characters perhaps given of some Ladies of our own Country now living, did not their Modesty, that inseparable Quality of Wit and Women, deter me from it.  
We might tell you further, Sir, that this Modesty too often hinders 'em from making their Virtues known; That they are not of those eternal Scribblers who are continually plagueing the World with their Works; and that it ●s not the Vanity of getting a Name, which several of the greatest men of the World have owned to be the Cause of their writing, that is the Cause of the women's. Had not Sapph been so much in Love, 'tis possible we had never heard any mention of one of the greatest Wits that ever was born; had not Cicero and Quintilian given us accounts of Cornelia, and the Daughters of L●lius, and Hortensius, they had never done it themselves; had not jane Grace been put to Death, her Virtues had never been so much taken notice of; Had not the Portugueze Nun been deserted by her Gallant, we had missed some of the most passionate Letters that these latter Age's have produced; and had not Anna Maria Schurman's Works been published by a Friend, without her consent, we had lost the benefit of 'em. We may tell you too, that 't●● no● only in respect of their own Sex that they are admired, but even of ours. That of those two Odes we have yet of Sapph, we owe one to Dionys●us Halicarnassaeus, the other to Longin, the two best Critics of Greece, who cho●● 'em out for Examples to their Rules, before any of the men's; That the Epistle of Sapph to Phaon, which is esteemed the most delicate of Ovid, 's is supposed to be taken out of her Writings. That Corinna was five times victorious over Pindar the best Ly●ick Po●● of our Sex. And were we here in England as forward in Printing Letter's, as they are in France and Italy, we might furnish Volumes of 'em written by ou● own Ladies, that would make all the Women-haters blush, or make all Men else blush for 'em.  
Here, Madam, I must own to you I grew jealous, for I could no● imagine that Philogynes would have said this, without having seen some of your Ladyship's Letters.  
We may tell you too, that granting the equal Capacities of both Sexes, 'tis a greater wonder to find one Learned Woman, than a hundred Learned Men, considering the difference of their Educations. If you should go into Greece, and, seeing the ignorance is amongst 'em at present, tell 'em their Country men were incapable of Learning, would you not be very well satisfied, when they told you of the Plato's and Aristotle's of Antiquity? And that if they had not as Famous Men now, it was because they have not the same Advantages they had then? And pray why may not the Women be allowed the same excuse? Will you by all your Laws and Customs endeavour to keep 'em ignorant, and then blame 'em for being so? And forbid all Men of Sense keeping 'em Company, as you do, and yet be angry with them for keeping Company with Fools? Consider what Time and Charge is spent to make Men fit for somewhat; Eight or Nine Years at School; Six or Seven Years at the University; Four or Five Years in Travel; and after all this, are they not almost all Fops, Clowns, Dunces, o● Pedants? I know not what you think of the Women; but if they are Fools, they are Fools I am sure with less pains● and less expense than we are.  
Upon second thoughts I hope, Sir, you will allow, that Women may have Wit and Learning; for their Courage and Conduct we may possibly say more anon. But for Heaven's sake, do not aggravate their faults always at that rate; for whatever Sappho's Life and Conversation were, there is nothing in her Writings, but what represents the most tender, and delicate passion in the World: And as for Aloisia Sigaea (I give you thanks for putting me in mind of 
1 Vasaeus Chron. Hisp. Thuanus.  Aloisi● Sigaea, who was as remarkable for her Wit and Learning as any of the other) I am very well assured you do not believe that infamous Book which goes under her Name, to have been written by her; 
2 V. Eloges ●es homnes Illustres de Monsieur de Thou.  all who speak of it assure us the contrary; and that she was so far from writing it, that she 
3 V. Biblioth. Hispan.  never published any thing; On the other side, all Historians represent her as remarkable for her Virtue, as her Learning. For the Queen of Sheba, there is no mention in Scripture of her Travelling for any thing but to be satisfied with the wisdom of Solomon; however, if you will believe she went to him, for the same reason that 
5 V. Quint● Curtius, L. 6.  Thalestris did to Alexander the Great; it was no such great matter, in Countries where it was thought no Sin, if the one had a mind to have a Child by the wisest man in the world, and the other by the bravest. After all, we must own if there are l●wd Women, they endeavour to conceal their lewdness they do not brag of it, nor fly openly in the face of Religion; and if they once come to be publicly discovered, they are rendered infamous to all the World, and their nearest Friends and Relations avoid their company: Whilst there are several Men who boast of their iniquities, value themselves upon their being thought lewd, and what is worse, find others to value 'em upon it too; nay by their incitements and encouragements to wickedness, often bring themselves to that pass, that the least part of the Sins they are to answer for, are what they have commit●ed● themselves But not a word more I beseech you of Sapph, nor her new Crime, le● Lucian be forgotten for putting us in mind of it, and let it be Cloistered up within the walls of a Turkish Seraglio; I speak not this in behalf of the Female Sex, but of our own; for if they should once hear of this Argument, and fall upon us with 
1 Socrates was in Love with Alcibiades.  Socrates, 
2 Plato writes Verses to A●ter a Boy, with whom he was in Love.  Plato, and all those Heroes of Antiquity, whom Plutarch and Lucian produce in defence of a like Sin in our Sex; should they mention Anacreon, Tibullus, Martial, and all those Poets who have eternised their Infamy in their writings; and after that show you what progresses this Crime has made, not only in the Turk's Dominion, but even in Spain and Italy, I am sure, Sir, you would wish you had said nothing of a point, that may be so severely made use of against ourselves.  
Now tho' you are pleased to quote the Lampoons, yet you think as well as I that such things are not worth any bodies taking notice of; we both know there are a sort of people about this Town, who please themselves with Defamations; One of these, if they see a Man speak to a Woman, make their little signs, their politic winks, and possibly when they meet him, in their insipid way of Raillery, tax him with it: If he is angry at 'em, than he is piqueed, and afraid the Intrigue should be found out; If he says nothing (as it deserves nothing) than he is out of Countenance● and cannot say a word; and if he laughs at 'em (which is all the answer a man would make to such stuff) than he is pleased with the thing; so that every way the poor Lady's Reputation suffers; and these Sparks shall no● fail to blow it about Town, that there is an Amour; not that they think so of you, but that you may return the Compliment, and say so of them, when they speak to any Lady themselves.  
For their Garrulity, if you would see things which are against you, in that Treatise of 
1 De Garrulitate.  Plutarch, from whence you bring two of your Instances, you might have been furnished with enough of the men's. But tho' 'tis lawful to forget Stories that are not for you, yet methinks you ought to tell out those you do mention; and when we have heard that the Wife of Fulvius, seeing what she had done, showed her Husband the way to avoid the Consequences of it, by stabbing herself first; we must certainly own, that such a Woman had Virtue enough to make amends for all her faults. And if in answer to the instances you bring, I should mention the 
2 Plutarch de Clar. Mulierib.  Melitish, or the Saxon Women, who tho' they were all engaged in Plots with their Husbands, yet not one discovered it; If I should show you 
1 P●in. L. 3. Plutarch de Garrul.  Leaena at Athens, or 
2 Tacitus Annal. Lib. 15.  Epi●haris at Rome, who being both engaged in Plots, one against the Tyrant Pisistra●us, the other against Nero, yet could not by all their Tortures, be brought to discover 'em; and that the former for fear her Torments should make her reveal it, bit off her Tongue, certainly, Sir, you would have a better Opinion of their Taciturnity. But we need not go so far for Instances; our own Country, and our own Time, will furnish us with ●now. In all the Plots we have had continually on foot, tho' we have had Women engaged and accused; tho' there was One Pilloried in the first; Three Executed in another; and Sixteen or Seventeen excepted in a General Pardon; though there have been several seized upon like accounts since, yet you see there has not been one of 'em who ever made a Discovery. Give me leave, Sir, to commend 'em for their Virtues at the same time that I am far from defending their faults, and though I have a very good Opinion of those Men who discover a Conspiracy upon remorse of Conscience, yet I must take leave to believe that there are some at least, who do it upon another account; and without any sorrow at all for their design, except that it did not succeed, think to save their own Lives, by the Sacrifice of other People's; and make amends for their Treason against the Government, by their Treachery to their Friends.  
But no wonder you are so severe upon the faults of Modern Women, when you fall upon those whom all Antiquity has reverenced. 'Tis hard that jael and judeth, whose Actions have been so long admired, should be called to account for them so many Thousand years after. It would be an injury to their Cause, to say any thing in their Defence; and a presumption in me to justify Actions, that the Scripture has Celebrated so much. But must poor Penelope fall under your displeasure too? I am sensible how much she is like to suffer, who is defended by so dull a Fellow as Homer, against those most ingenious Gentlemen, who are the Lampooners of our Age: However as their Ability in scandal needs no foreign aid; and as I am satisfied they would think it a disparagement to 'em to be reckoned with Virgil and Ovid, let us free 'em, pray, from such unworthy Companions. For the former I believe you are fully satisfied the Priapeia are none of his; and as fully satisfied that the authority of such ●ort of Verses is not extremely much to be depended upon; And for Ovid, if in the person of a Bawd, who he tells you was a Liar, he gives you a reflection upon Penelope, yet he makes her very sufficient amends, when 
1 
Penelope mansit, quam vis custode remoto,  
Inter tam multos intemerata procos.  Ovid. Amor. Lib. 3. El. 4  he speaks in his own person. And taking the Story as it lies, that her House was always full of Lovers whom she could by no means get away; Laertes being too Old, Telemachus too Young to encounter 'em; it certainly shows her Virtue so much the more: For as there is no great Courage required to keep a Fortress in the time of Peace, so a very little Virtue is sufficient to preserve that Chastity which no body ever thought it worth his while to attempt. Now if Lycophron and Duris Samius represent her as a lewd Woman, as I understand not how they should come to know it, all the Writers who lived before 'em giving so very different an account; so for Lycopron, 'tis no great wonder a Greek and a Poet should lie; or that Duris Samius, seeing the Etymology of the word Pan come so pat, should feed us with a story upon it, of his own invention. (Pan you remember, Madam, in Greek signifies All, and who would no● tell a Lie for so pretty a Conceit?) You may observe also, that this Author was not of so established a Reputation as Cicero would make us believe, since 
1 In Vitâ Alci●iades.  Plutarch who quotes him once, does it only to contradict him in a point of History, that he ought to have known better that this. For Lucretia, observe of Sir Charles Sedley, as of Ovid before, that he only makes the Bawd say it, and if you consider the fear in which she was, you will find that that passion often makes People run into a greater danger to avoid a less, of which you have instances enough in our own Plantations, of the 
1 Ligon's History of the Barbadoss. p. 50.  Slaves who hang themselves, to avoid their being beat.  
After all this, Sir, if you still think with Le Chambre that Men have a greater natural inclination to Virtue than Women, yet I hope you will grant they have taken a very becoming care to overcome that Inclination; and if Nature has not given so large a Talon to the other Sex, yet they have improved that Talon much better than we have done ours. Then for your Instances of some few Ill Women, I tell you, as I did before, that the Cause in general is not at all concerned in 'em; and when I show you an Atreus cutting his Brother's Children in pieces, and giving 'em to him to eat; a Phalaris roasting people alive in a Brazen Bull; a Busyris murdering all his Guests; a Nero ripping open the Womb of his Mother, to see the place where he had lain● and so for every Crime of that Sex, show you how far they have been outdone by some of our own, as that 
1 Lucretia Marinella. La Nobiltà e Peccellenza delle Donne, con deffetti e mancamenti degli Huomini.  Italian Lady I mentioned does in her Treat●fe upon a like occasion, I am sure you will find a very great disadvantage of your side. But I take you at your word, let us go a Circuit with the Judges, and if you find not six Men condemned for one Woman, I'll pay the charges of the Journey; 'Tis true, indeed, as most of the Women who are condemned, are so, for a Crime which they commit to prevent their Shame; so the care of that, and Hypocrisy, are two faults of which our Sex is not so generally guilty. Now tho' I do not think myself obliged to say one word for any of those Women you have condemned; and shall therefore leave Phaedra and Fausta to your Mercy, tho' neither of 'em expected the Cruelty of their Husbands should have carried things so far; and shall not argue much for Semiramis, tho' certainly her having all the Bravery, Wisdom, and Virtues of our Sex in the greatest perfection, might move you to forgive her the having some of our faults; and for her putting men to death, I am contented that every one who boast of Lady's Favours should be served in the same manner; (Here, Madam, I cannot at all agree with Philogynes, because it might be severe upon some honest Gentlemen, whom all the Laws against Adultery and Fornication would never reach.) Yet methinks I have an Inclination to say somewhat for Queen joan of Naples, because she is generally represented so very ill. The common 
1 Essais de Montagne. L. 3. C. 5.  Story is, that having married Andreossa an Hungarian, and her Kinsman; and not finding him so capable of satisfying her, as his Youth and Beauty promised, she caused him to be strangled in a Silk Cord of her own making. The first and chief Author of this Story is Villani a Florentine (for 
2 Istoria di Napoli. L. 5.  Collenuccio takes it from him, tho', as such things use, it has lost nothing in his Hands) who tells you that he had it from a 
3 V. Annotazione e Supplement all Istoria di Collenuccio per Costo.  Relation made to his Brother by a certain Hungarian who had been a Servant of Andreossa's; and in his return to Hungary passed through Florence. Now the Author of this Story being an Hungarian, one of those of whom Petrarch writes so much ill, and also a Servant of the dead King, he ought to speak passionately against the Queen, of whom they were professed Enemies; You may observe also, that the 
1 Inordinata vit a praecedens, retentio potestatis in regno, neglecta vindicta, vir alter susceptus, & excusatio subsequens, necis viri tui ●e probant fuisse participem & consortem.  Letter which Lewis the Brother of Andreossa writes to her at the time that he came with a Potent Army to revenge his Brother's Death, speaks of her being privy to it, as a thing that was suspected, rather than a thing that did plainly appear. On the other side, 
2 Casi degli Huomini Illustri.  Boccace, who lived a great while in that Court, throws all the blame of the Action upon the Conspirators, and none at all upon the Queen. After all, believe as you please, and do as you please with all these Women who have offended you; If Helen runs away from Menelaus, let all Greece arm, and fetch her back again; If Clytaemnestra consents to the kill Agamemnon, let Orestes kill her for it; If Semiramis puts the men she has made use of to Death, let her own Son serve her in the same manner; If joan of Naples causes Andreossa to be strangled, let Durazzo cause her to be strangled in the same place; Let not your Severity stop there● but let their Infamy live when they themselves are dead● and let the Euripides, the juvenals, and the Misogynes', set out their Actions in their true Colours. But let the business go no farther, I beseech you. Let not Hecuba nor Andromache suffer, because Helen is a Wanton Woman; nor Penelope be run down, because Clytaemnestra is an ill Wife; and if joan of Naples strangles her Husband, let not all those who have died for theirs, fall under the same condemnation. 'Tis one of the chiefest Ends of Punishments to distinguish the Good from the Bad, do not you therefore by Punishments confound confound. If Tibullus and Ovid's Mistress' jilt their Lovers, let it be remembered against 'em two thousand years after; and if Misogynes' serve him so, let him show his Resentment in as severe a manner as he pleases. Let him disdain the mean revenge of malicious Whispers, and nameless Lampoons, and the much meaner way of railing at all, because one has injured him; but let him boldly hunt her out from the Herd; let him publish her Infamy in lasting Characters; tho' she is free from Conscience, let her be plagued with the Stings of Shame; and let all Women be terrified by her Example from being false to men of Wit, or kind to Fools. But let him have very full satisfaction of the Matter of Fact first; let him not go upon dubious Grounds, nor jealous Surmises; let him not believe the Vanity of some, nor the Malice of others; let him consider the Story's of● 
1 Orlan. Furioso. ●ant●● 32.  Bradamante in Ariosto, of Aurestilla in Consalo de Cepedes, of Othello in Shakespeare, and let him see how far Jealousy may seem reasonable, whilst nevertheless the person of whom they are Jealous may be innocent. After all, I give you even in that greater power than I should care to take myself; I would rather by other people's Faults correct my own, and should think the noblest Revenge a Man could take upon a Woman who injured him, would be the doing some Action ●●at would make all the World admire him; I would have every body upbraid her with my Wrongs whilst I myself was silent: 'Tis true, if by the Injuries she did me, there were any Aspersions cast upon my Reputation; there Justice to myself would oblige me to make the Story public: But I would certainly endeavour to reclaim her by Mildness, before I made use even of that Severity; and as I should scorn any Favour that was the effect of Fear, so if I once broke into an open War, all the Submission she could make should never bring me to an Amity again, though perhaps my own good Nature might in time prevail upon me for a Forgiveness.  
This, Sir, is what I thought necessary to reply to what you said; in which I see we have quite exceeded the bounds of a Dialogue, and turned that into Declamation, which was intended only for Conversation. I have troubled the Company so much already, that I dare trefpass no farther upon their Patience, and shall therefore omit some other things, which I intended to have said upon this Occasion.  
You are like those people, cried Misogynes, who when they have provided all the Dainties they could get, make an Apology at the end of the Treat, for their having got no more; If I am not altogether convinced of the goodness of your Cause, yet I am very well convinced that you have said all that the Cause will bear.  
Tho' perhaps I should have no great Mercy upon you, replied Philogynes, yet I have too much for these Gentlemen, to detain 'em so long, as to hear all that I could say upon so glorious an Occasion. Should I make a Collection of what is written by the best Authors of Antiquity in their praises; should I but refer you to what Stobae●s has Collected for 'em, since you mention what he has done against 'em; should I but transcribe what 
1 De claris Mulier.  Plutarch, 
2 De Faminâ Christian.  Lodovicus Vives, 
3 Dial●ghi delle Donne.  Speron Sperone the most Learned of his Countrymen, 
4 De la Gloire Imm●rtelle d●s Dam●s Illustres.  Ribera, 
5 Eloges des Dames Illustres.  Hilarion de Costè, 
6 Femme Heroic.  Scuderie, and a thousand others have said of 'em in Treatises written expressly in their Praises; should I but search all the Bibliotheques for a Catalogue of those who were famous for their Writings; Should I afterwards tell you of those who were remarkable for their Piety, Conjugal Affection, Penitence, and Contempt of Worldly Vanities; should I but repeat the Names of those who have died for the preservation of their Chastity; should I show you a 
1 See Bernier's History of Indosthan. Tavernier's and Mandelso's Travels.  Country even at this day, where they cannot by any severity hinder Women from burning themselves with the Bodies of their deceased Husbands: Should I mention the Women of 
2 Plutarch de Clar. Mulieribus.  Cios, amongst whom for Seven Hundred years there never was the least mention of any Adultery, or Fornication; should I tell you that the first of those Sins was so little known amongst the Spartans', that they did not think it worth their while to make any Law against it; (Now, said my Friend, whether this were not as good an Argument of the Men's Chastity as the Woman's, I leave you to judge; but really I think not, Madam; for besides Intrigues with their own Sex, which were common enough amongst the Men in those Eastern Countries; I do not doubt but the Men being Men of Honour would ask, though the Women being Women of Honour would deny.) Should I but give you a List of the Martyrs of that Sex, from those who suffered under Tiberius, to those who suffered under our own Queen Mary; I fancy I should make you ashamed of your Simonides, your juvenal, and all your Satirists put together. Should I after this defend 'em in the Virtue to which they are thought to have least pretences, which is Courage; should I but name those who have been famous for their Warlike Achievements; should I tell you of Deborah, Penthesilaea, Thalestris, Camilla; should I show you a Country 
1 See Acosta's History of the West-indies.  of Amazons, even in our own Time: Should I carry you into France, and show you a Warlike Virgin (at least an Unmarried Woman) whose Memory is still annually Celebrated by one of their Chiefest 
1 Orleans.  Towns, and who, besides her Fame in their Chronicles, has given a Subject to one of the most Famous 
2 La Pucelle de Monsieur Chapelaine.  Heroic Poems which that Nation has produced; Would you not after all confess they might very easily be defended, even in this point too? But I shall wave that; I am satisfied with the Care Universal Custom has taken of 'em; and as Seamen in a Storm, to preserve their things of greatest value, throw away those of less; so I am very well pleased that Mankind should be exposed to the hazards of War, whilst the Fair Sex is preserved in safety at home, whose Smiles are the Noblest Reward a Brave Man can desire for all the hazards, and fatigues he has endured in a Campagne.  
But it is generally agreed that all Virtues are requisite for those who Govern well; and since there are some Countries where Women are Excluded from the Throne, and no Country where they are not postponed, it would be convenient methinks to see what they do, when by accident they are placed upon it. I shall not trouble you here with Deborah, nor Esther, nor as much as mention Semiramis, though you have mentioned her upon another occasion; and yet certainly the bravery of most of her Actions ought to make us forget the faults of some few; but I shall confine myself within the bounds of our own Country.  

1 Tacitus in Vita Agr. and from him Sammes in his Brittania. Illustratâ.  At a time when the Britain's groaned under the Servitude of the Romans; when the King, by thinking to Oblige the Emperor, gave him an Opportunity of pillaging his Country; and that their patience under their Sufferings, was only a means of making them more; When their Houses were robbed, their Wives and Daughters Ravished, and their Sons taken away from 'em; then Boadicia aro●e, and by her Courage, as well as Eloquence, inspired her dispirited Countrymen with a Resolution of throwing off that Yoke which was grown intolerable to be born: 'Tis true, indeed, the End was not answerable to the Successes of the Beginning; nor to the Glory so Heroic an Undertaking deserved; however as it was neither want of Courage nor Conduct in her, so we ought to render her that veneration which is due to so resolute an Enterprise.  
But as one of the greatest attempts the Britain's made for their Liberty was whilst they were led by a Woman; so we must own the greatest Glory our Nation could ever boast, was under the Government of one of the same Sex. It was in the time of Queen Elizabeth that this Island arrived at that pitch of greatness, to which it had been ascending for several Ages, and from which it has been declining till very lately ever since; 'Tis the Name of this Princess that is dearer to all Englishmen, than the Names of all the Monarches since the Conquest besides, and the only one whose Birthday has been Celebrated after her Death, by the voluntary gratitude of the People.  
But however we may forget things that are past, let us not oversee that which lies before our eyes; and since the occasion is so very fair, I know not how we can omit the showing our Sense of those Virtues, of which the whole Nation has demonstrated so grateful an acknowledgement by the Body of their Representatives; and never were they more truly their Repre●entatives before. Yes, Sir, without going to foreign Countries, without searching the Histories of our own; we have even in our own Time, and our own Country, a Princess who has Governed to their general satisfaction, a People the most curious to pry into the faults of their Governors, of any People under the Sun. A Princess, who though she never showed any fondness of Vainglory, or Authority, yet when the necessity of the Kingdom called her to the Helm, Managed Affairs with that dexterity which is very rarely found in those who are the most ambitious of Command. Every thing during that little time of her Government, was ordered with that Courage, Conduct, and Prudence, that her greatest Friends cannot find Eloquence enough to commend, nor her greatest Enemies the least pretences to condemn. Though she had a Husband venturing his Life in another Country, with a Bravery equal to what has made us suspect the Stories of Antiquity; Tho' our Fleet, the Bulwarks of the Nation, was managed in a manner the Courage of the English Seamen was utterly unacquainted with; Tho' a Monarch, who thinks himself able to contend with all Europe together, seemed to make his utmost Efforts against a Princess, who had nothing but the Universal Hearts of her Subjects to defend her; Tho' all Christendom was in suspense to see the Event of the Undertaking; and every little Prince had forgot his own danger, to contemplate hers; Even at this time did we see her look with all the unconcern imaginable, and whilst every body else was alarmed for her Safety, she only seemed to have known nothing of the Danger. Not that this unconcern proceeded from any ignorance of her Condition, or unreasonable Contempt of her Adversary; No, she provided against their Attempts with all the prudence could be wished for, at the same time that she looked upon the Danger with all the Courage in Nature.  
But however great these Virtues may appear, when they are set off by the Lustre of a Public Command, yet they are in effect much greater, when they teach People to despise all such dazzling Trifles. Here it is, Sir, that we have a fresh Field for Eloquence, when we see a Lady dissatisfied at that Glory which she had to every body's satisfaction beside, and grudge herself that Authority, which she owed to the absence of a Husband whom she loved so much better than that. What think you, Sir, of that alacrity, of that joy with which she resigned up the Government? Does it not put you in mind of the Old Roman Generals, who quitted their Blow to Command an Army, and when the Victory was gained, returned with greater content to their Blow again? This is that Wisdom which we should admire; this is that Virtue which we should adore; and we ought to despise all those little Pretenders to Business, who thrust themselves into the Management of Affairs against every bodies will but their own; and h●ving neither Virtue, nor Prudence enough to retire from it at the Universal Murmurs of the People, are generally made Sacrifices at last to the just Resentment of an Enraged Nation.  
These are those Blazing Comets, whose fatal Glories portend Destruction to a Government, whilst the Virtues of the others, like those of the Sun, give it Life and Heat, by their benign influence. Much more, Sir, might be said in defence of the Sex, which I shall purposely omit, because I am satisfied I can never conclude with a more Illustrious Example.  
FINIS.