Transcriber’s Note This document uses the “long s” character ſ extensively, albeit at times inconsistently, so is best viewed with a font containing that symbol. PARADOXES _and_ PROBLEMES _by_ Iohn Donne _with two Characters and an Essay of_ VALOUR [Decoration] _Now for the first time reprinted from the editions of 1633 and 1652 with one additional =Probleme=_ SOHO _THE NONESUCH PRESS 30 Gerrard Street_ 1923 _This edition is limited to 645 copies, printed and made in England for the Nonesuch Press in the 17th century Fell types by Frederick Hall, printer to the University of Oxford. The type has been distributed. This is number 9_ [Decoration] The CONTENTS ❧ PARADOXES 1. _A Defence of Womens Inconſtancy:_ P. 1. 2. _That Women ought to paint:_ P. 6. 3. _That by Diſcord things increase:_ P. 9. 4. _That good is more common then evill:_ P. 12. 5. _That all things kill themſelves:_ P. 15. 6. _That it is poſſible to find ſome vertue in Some Women:_ P. 17. 7. _That Old men are more fantaſtike then Young:_ P. 19. 8. _That Nature is our worſt Guide:_ P. 21. 9. _That only Cowards dare dye:_ P. 24. 10. _That a Wiſe Man is knowne by much laughing:_ P. 26. 11. _That the gifts of the Body are better then thoſe of the Minde:_ P. 30. 12. _That Virginity is a Vertue:_ P. 34. ❧ PROBLEMES 1. _Why have Bastards beſt Fortune?_ P. 40. 2. _Why Puritanes make long Sermons?_ P. 42. 3. _Why did the Divel reſerve Jeſuites till theſe latter dayes:_ P. 43. 4. _Why is there more variety of Green then of other Colours?_ P. 44. 5. _Why doe young Lay-men ſo much ſtudy Divinity:_ P. 45. 6. _Why hath the common Opinion afforded Women Soules?_ P. 47. 7. _Why are the Faireſt, Falſeſt?_ P. 49. 8. _Why Venus-ſtar only doth caſt a ſhadow?_ P. 51. 9. _Why is Venus-ſtar multinominous, called both =Heſperus= and =Veſper=:_ P. 54. 10. _Why are New Officers leaſt oppreſſing?_ P. 56. 11. _Why does the Poxe ſo much affect to undermine the Noſe?_ P. 58. 12. _Why die none for Love now?_ P. 60. 13. _Why do Women delight much in Feathers?_ P. 61. 14. _Why doth not Gold ſoyl the fingers?_ P. 62. 15. _Why do great men of all dependents, chuſe to preſerve their little Pimps?_ P. 63. 16. _Why are Courtiers ſooner Atheiſts then men of other conditions?_ P. 64. 17. _Why are ſtateſmen moſt incredulous?_ P. 66. 18. _Why was Sir Walter Raleigh thought the fitteſt Man, to write the Hiſtorie of theſe Times?_ P. 68. ❧ CHARACTERS