University of Virginia Library

Scena. 4a./

Enter Dorotea Constance alone./
Yf to relate of haracanns, or spouts
or other dangerous accidents at sea
in Halcyon weather: yf of perfect health
after a lingringe sicknes: yf of woundes
after a bloodie warre, may be a Cause
of some small Consolation: Then may I
after such fierce assaults, such golden offers
to sordid prostitution, take some Comfort
though not exempted from assiduall feares.
Nor was yt I, but my good Genius
that made this happy opposition./
Giue me the spiritt of perseuerance
yee all-good-giuinge heauns, else of the twayne
twere better to be yll, retayninge hope
[to be hereafter good: then to be good]
[of purpose to be yll. I come alone]/[You may thinke me the last, because alone./]
(more haples I) yet am I not alone:
and neuer less alone, then when alone.
You seeinge me alone, perhapps will saye
what one? to make apologie for all?
know (gentlemen) that I am not alone,
wthin this brest are seamens honest wyues
then am I not alone, for who'is alone
that hath pure truth for a Companion.
Am I alone the seamans honest wyfe?
no. there are thousands more that may, Canne, will,
mayntayne yt to my face that they (as I)
are spotles, free from action, nay from thought,
& may the number of that number, more
& more encrease vnto the seamans ioye./.
Alone, or not alone, from you alone
wee must attend a Censure good or bad.
I am a woman, & no Com̄on woman,
I cannot, will not, must not, dare «no»t begge,
Let the austerest Criticke censure me
or yf Antisthenes himselfe be he[are]re
let him not spare to snarle. as for the Mim̄icke
(yf any such there be) his bolt's soone shott.
nor will I longe molest your patience
wth tomes, & tropes, & doubtfull ambages,
But breifly thus. I hope[st not] no honest heart
will hatch a iudgment so preposterous
as to Condemne all seamens wiues, for fewe
Be as propense to censure well, as yll:
Let not surmise & bare opinion
(the surquedrie of the base multitude)
be your Conductors to presumption.
I now am but the [shadow] semblance of that substance
so longe discust: yet I would haue you knowe
what we haue but presented to your view
our authour knowes, & will mayntayne is true.
Happy the Woman that leades such a lyfe,
and blest the seaman that hath such a wyfe./

Exit./