Compofition of Curiofity, as well as Neatness. She lets no Day flip, like Apelles, without fome Line or Lineament of her own making to fhew for it. She takes Time by the Forelock, and it cannot escape her curious Hands; but fhe must ftill be producing fome rare Sketch of her Ingenuity, or fome finer Draught of her Contexture, to forprize the most skilful Artisans, and increase their Wonder. In all the accurate Compofures, or Niceties of this ancient Art, fhe has the Preheminence; and only does not come up to Nature it felf, in the Perfection of her Workmanship, or other compact Devices, But nevertheless, fhe ftill appears like the incomparable Silk worm, as I faid before, among all other Women; and alfo becomes the true Ariadne of this Age. She is continually a-contriving, in the most faithful Manner, either for genteely winding-up the Clew of Business at the Bottom of her intricate Family-Affairs, or dexterously unravelling it, to lead her loving Thefeus through the Labyrinth of a miserable and diftreffed Life;involv'd perhaps in the Difficul ties of Love, Loyalty, or fome worse Compulfions of flying Abroad, leaving his dear Spouse be hind him, and abandoning his forlorn Habitation.

I. IN Tapestry, fhe fhews her wonderful Handy-work. Her Furniture is always of the finest Sort; neat and clean, but not pompous or vainglorious for Oftentation. It is not only famous, but also frugal; nothing but what common Decency allows, or a fashionable Neceffity requires. Her House never fails of being well-ftock'd with excellent Goods, magnificently modeft, and most of them of her own Make or Contrivance, to fhrew her glorious Frugality: infomuch that it looks more like a Work or a Ware-house of the

moft

moft valuable Commodities, as rich Cloths of Arras, noble Turkey Carpets, or stately Counterpanes, &c. fit for the Entertainment and Repofe of a publick Prince, rather than a private Husband. Such exceedingly curious home-made Hangings or Coverings, adorn'd with the livelieft Representations, drawn from facred and prophane History, fet-off all her decent Apartments with fo much Gravity, as well as Grandeur or Glory; that they make it appear like fome Royal Palace, fitted-up for the Reception of an Ambaffador, or a nobler Guest, as if it were indeed from Egypt to Jerufalem, upon an enfuing Pacification. However, be that as it will, by her great and dexterous Curiofities, fhe renders it the most amiable, as well as moft agreeable Dwelling-Place of her ennobled Sponfe. Thus The feems inceffantly aggrandizing, or modeftly embroidering, as I may fay, the very Happiness her Family, by the curious Works of her own Ingenuity. In fine, all her Houfhold-Goods are magnificently noble. But, after all, Virtue is her chief Ward-Robe and her Dreffing-Room.

II. IN Silks or Satins alfo, fhe likewife difplays the fuper-excellent Works of her Hands. They are the very Products of her own Ingenuity, as well as Labour. For fhe generally works what he wears; and adorns not only Her self, but her whole Family, with the Curiofities of her own Fingers. She evidently abounds in Purple and fine Linen, or the nicest Laces of all forts, that the Needle can perform; proper for arraying her Husband, Children, or Servants decently, according to their feveral Diftinctions, and different Degrees of Relation. She manifeftly makes all their Cloaths of the best wearing, and the most lafting Service. Infomuch

that

that her Spouse appears as eminently gay, as a Prince in his Purple-Garments; her Sons and Daughters look like fo many young beautiful Silk-worms themfelves, and her Bond Men or Women fhine in Liveries of little inferiour Glory. But her own Cloathing ftill makes the most admirable Appearance, for its graceful Modefty and exact Simplicity, in the beft Attire both of Art and Nature. She takes the unparallell'd Pattern from Her felf, not to be excell'd by any other Original. In fhort, fhe out-does the most lovely, lively, or unfading Beauties of Nature, in her unaffected Gaiety of Drefs, and native Simplicity of Garb: fo that the may, in fome Measure, be justly compar'd to the King's Daughter, that the Royal Pfalmift fpeaks of; who is all glorious within, and whofe Cloathing is of wrought Gold without; as internally illuftrious with her radiant Wifdom, as externally refulgent in her glittering Robes. But he wears her finest Silk and Purple ftill, without any Pride, For fhe knows that Vanity, Luxury, or Prodigality in Fashion, fpoils all good Furniture and Apparel. But, out of common Difcretion and Virtue, fhe neyer hangs her Rooms, covers her Bed, or cloaths her Body with any Magnificence, to the Prejudice of the Poor; either by neglecting their Needs, forgetting to relieve their Neceffities, or refufing to cloath their Nakede ness.

VERSE XXIII.

HER Husband is known in the Gates; when he fitteth among the Elders of the Land.

B

PARAPHRASE.

Y this glorious Text we may find, that her happy Husband's Robes alfo, comparatively Royal, are all of her own making, as well as the rest

of her Family's Rayments: in which he makes fo noble an Appearance, that he is prefently taken Notice of, at firft Sight, when he comes in Perfon, either to visit the Court, take his Place in the Council, or fit among the Senators of the Country. They cannot but think him highly bleft, with fuch a noted induftrious Houfewife, and will fcarce forbear envying his Hap pinefs: especially confidering the great Honour that she does him in his genteel Cloathing, as well as other Family-Affairs, by her careful HandyWorks, excellent Conduct, and wife Oeconomy. For the honourably takes upon her, to eafe him of all other domeftick Cares, or familiar Concerns, but those of publick Business, or a political Nature which, by her Wisdom, Diligence, and difcreet Management at Home, he may always be at his entire Liberty to attend Abroad, with the utmoft Satisfaction, Pleasure or Applaufe. Happy is her Husband then, to be fo publickly well known, and well-fpoken of in the Gates, or in the very Streets of a populous

and

and great City. He muft voluntarily acknowledge his growing Fame, Glory, Preferment, Reputation, Authority and All, in a great Measure, owing to his excellent Wife's Goodnefs and Virtue. When he takes his Poft among the Elders of the Land, or affumes his Seat among the chief Magiftrates in publick Affemblies, Courts of Judicature, and lawful Conventions of Government, they prefently know him, not only by his own Garb, Character or Behaviour, but also by that Comeliness of his Spouse's Adornment and Diftinction. Her prevalent Veracity, or powerful Intereft, is a fufficient Recommendation of his Perfon, to their Regard and Efteem. They receive him courteously for her Sake, as well as his own, with the utmoft Veneration of his perfonal Virtues. He finds himself had in much Honour by All that know him, for his fingular Juftice, remarkable Humanity, and renown'd Integrity of Principles. 'Tis fhe, in a great Degree of Partnership and nuptial Bliss, that makes him be fo much taken Notice of, or rather celebrated with Admiration, by Kings, Princes and Emperors; by Dukes, Grandees and Governors, as well as all other Ranks, and Orders of People, from the Highest to the Lowest for his fam'd Affability, Courtefy, and candid Deportment towards the meanest of Mankind, as well as his Superiours, the higher Powers, or the Elders of the Land. They all think him a Person of matchlefs Merit, worthy of his honourable Place, and highly deferving of the noblest Promotion in the Realm. In hort, through her virtuous Means and Mediation, as well as his own excellent Indowments of Mind, he comes at laft to be ennobled with Honours and Dignities