359 [from The Dreame]
Disswasion hearing her assigne my helpe,
(And seeing that consent I did detect)
Did many remoraes to me propose,
As dulnesse, and my memories defect;
5 The difficultie of attaining lore,
My time, and sex, with many others more.
Which when I heard, my minde was much perplext,
And as a horse new come into the field,
Who with a Harquebuz at first doth start,
10 So did this shot make me recoyle and yeeld.
But of my feare when some did notice take,
In my behalfe, they this reply did make.
First quoth Desire, Disswasion, hold thy peace,
These oppositions come not from above:
15 Quoth Truth, they cannot spring from reasons roote,
And therefore now thou shalt no victor prove.
No, quoth Industrie, be assured this,
Her friends shall make thee of thy purpose misse.
For with my sickle I will cut away
20 All obstacles, that in her way can grow,
And by the issue of her owne attempt,
I’le make thee labor omnia vincet know.
Quoth Truth, and sith her sex thou do’st object,
Thy folly I by reason will detect.
25 Both man and woman of three parts consist,
Which Paul doth bodie, soule, and spirit call: I. Thess. 5.23.
And from the soule three faculties arise,
The mind, the will, the power; then wherefore shall
A woman have her intellect in vaine,
30 Or not endevour Knowledge to attaine.
The talent, God doth give, must be imploy’d, Luke 19.23.
His owne with vantage he must have againe:
All parts and faculties were made for use; I Sam. 2.3.
The God of Knowledge nothing gave in vaine.
35 ’Twas Maries choyce our Saviour did approve, Luke 10.42
Because that she the better part did love.
Cleobulina, and Demophila,
With Telesilla, as Historians tell,
(Whose fame doth live, though they have long bin
dead)
40 Did all of them in Poetrie excell.
A Roman matron that Cornelia hight,
An eloquent and learned style did write.
Hypatia in Astronomie had skill,
Aspatia was in Rheth’ricke so expert,
45 As that Duke Pericles of her did learne;
Areta did devote her selfe to art:
And by consent (which shewes she was no foole)
She did succeed her father in his schoole.
And many others here I could produce,
50 Who were in Science counted excellent;
But these examples which I have rehearst,
To shew thy error are sufficient.
Thus having sayd, she turn’d her speech to mee,
That in my purpose I might constant bee.
55 My friend, quoth she, regard not vulgar talke;
For dung-hill Cocks at precious stones will spurne,
And swine-like natures prize not cristall streames,
Contemned mire, and mud will serve their turne.
Good purpose seldome oppositions want:
60 But constant mindes Disswasion cannot daunt.
Shall every blast disturbe the Saylors peace?
Or boughes and bushes Travellers affright?
True valour doth not start at every noyse;
Small combates must instruct for greater fight.
65 Disdaine to bee with every dart dismayd;
’Tis childish to be suddenly affrayd.