The first of all our Sex came from the side of man, I thither am return'd, from whence our Sex began; I doe not visite oft, nor many, when I doe, I tell my mind to few, and that in counsell too: I seeme not sick in health, nor sullen but in sorrow, I care for somewhat else of, then what to weare to morrow. XI. _The Widdow._ My dying[143] husband knew, how much his death would grieue me, And therefore left me wealth, to comfort and relieue me. Though I no more will haue, I must not loue disdaine, _Penelope_ her selfe did sutors entertaine; And yet to draw on such, as are of best esteeme, Nor yonger then I am, nor richer will I seeme. [Footnote 143: In Sir Egerton Brydges edition of the Rhapsody this line stands "My _dying_ husband knew," &c. an interpolation which, though perhaps called for by the metre, does not appear to be justified by either of the four editions supposed to have been printed during the life-time of the original editor. Nicolas. [True, but as it _is_ found in an autograph MS. of the poem, it is inserted. See our Preface. G.]] XII. _The Maid._ I marriage would forsweare, but that I heare men tell, That she that dies a maid, must leade an Ape in Hell; Therefore if fortune come, I will not mock and play, Nor driue the bargaine on, till it be driuen away. Tithes and lands I like, yet rather fancy can, A man that wanteth gold, then gold that wants a man. (pp. 1-4.) II. A CONTENTION _Betwixt a Wife, a Widdow, and a Maide._[144] [Footnote 144: See Introductory Note to the first of these Minor Poems, _ante_. In Mr. Collier's History of English Dramatic Poetry, Vol. I. p. 323 _seqq._ interesting details are given of an Entertainment to the Queen at Sir Robert Cecil's "newe house in the Strand," at which she was "royally entertained." From Extracts from a Barrister's Diary among the Harleian MSS. adduced herein, we glean a notice of the present Poem, _e. g._ "Sundry devises at hir entrance: three women, a maid, a widow and a wife, eache contending [for] their own states, but the virgin preferred." In Nichols' Progs. of Elizabeth (iii. 601) the poem is also ascribed on authority of John Chamberlain to Davies (6th December, 1602). See Letters of Chamberlain published by CAMDEN Society, p. 169: December 23rd, 1602. Miss Sarah Williams, in her careful edition of CHAMBERLAIN'S Letters for the Camden Society, by an oversight, has annotated this reference _in loco_ as to Davies of Hereford. Chamberlain calls it a "pretty dialogue." The Barrister's Diary _supra_ [Manningham] has been edited for the Camden Society by the late lamented Mr. John Bruce of London. G.] _Wife._ Widdow, well met, whether goe you to day? Will you not to this solemne offering go? You know it is _Astreas_ holy day: The Saint to whom all hearts deuotion owe.