much _vice_ into _vertue_: For allow a man to be _diſcreet_ and _flexible_ to _complaints_, which are great _vertuous_ gifts of the _minde_, this _diſcretion_ will be to him the _ſoule_ & _Elixir_ of all _vertues_, ſo that touched with this, even _pride_ ſhal be made _humility_; and _Cowardice_, honourable and wiſe _valour_. But in things _ſeene_ there is not this danger, for the _body_ which thou loveſt and eſteemeſt _faire_, is _faire_; certainely if it bee not _faire_ in _perfection_, yet it is _faire_ in the ſame _degree_ that thy _Iudgement_ is good. And in a _faire body_, I doe ſeldome ſuſpect a _diſproportioned minde_, and as ſeldome hope for a _good_ in a _deformed_. When I ſee a _goodly houſe_, I aſſure my ſelfe of a _worthy poſſeſſour_, from a _ruinous weather-beaten building_ I turn away, becauſe it ſeems either ſtuffed with _varlets_ as a _Priſon_, or handled by an _unworthy_ and _negligent tenant_, that ſo ſuffers the _waſte_ thereof. And truely the gifts of _Fortune_, which are _riches_, are onely _handmaids_, yea _Pandars_ of the _bodies pleaſure_; with their ſervice we nouriſh _health_, and preſerve _dainty_, and wee buy _delights_; ſo that _vertue_ which muſt be loved for _it ſelfe_, and reſpects no further _end_, is indeed _nothing_: And _riches_, whoſe _end_ is the _good_ of the _body_, cannot be ſo _perfectly good_, as the _end_ whereto it levels. [Decoration] 12. _That Virginity is a Vertue._ I call not that _Virginity a vertue_, which reſideth only in the _Bodies integrity_; much leſſe if it be with a purpoſe of perpetuall keeping it: for then it is a moſt inhumane vice—But I call that _Virginity a vertue_ which is willing and deſirous to yeeld itſelfe upon honeſt and lawfull termes, when juſt reaſon requireth; and untill then, is kept with a modeſt chaſtity of Body and Mind. Some perchance will say that _Virginity_ is in us by _Nature_, and therefore no _vertue_. True, as it is in us by _Nature_, it is neither a _Vertue_ nor _Vice_, and is onely in the body: (as in Infants, Children, and such as are incapable of parting from it). But that _Virginity_ which is in Man or Woman of perfect age, is not in them by _Nature_: _Nature_ is the greateſt enemy to it, and with moſt ſubtile allurements ſeeks the over-throw of it, continually beating againſt it with her _Engines_, and giving ſuch forcible aſſaults to it, that it is a ſtrong and more then ordinary _vertue_ to hold out till marriage. _Ethick_ Philoſophy ſaith, _That no Vertue is corrupted, or is taken away by that which is good_: Hereupon ſome may ſay, that _Virginity_ is therefore no vertue, being taken away by marriage. _Virginity_ is no otherwiſe taken away by marriage, then is the light of the ſtarres by a greater light (the light of the Sun:) or as a leſſe Title is taken away by a greater: (an Eſquire by being created an Earle) yet _Virginity_ is a _vertue_, and hath her Throne in the middle: The