Wife. Yet many virgins married wiues would be.
Widow. And many a wife would be a widdow faine.
Maid. There is no widdow but desires to see,
If so she might, her maiden daies againe.
Widow.[154] There neuer was a wife that liked her lot:
Wife. Nor widdow but was clad in mourning weeds.
Maid. Doe what you will, marry, or marry not,
Both this estate and that, repentance breedes.
Wife. But she that this estate and that hath seene,
Doth find great ods betweene the wife and girle.
Maid. Indeed she doth, as much as is betweene
The melting haylestone and the solid pearle.
Wife. If I were Widdow, my merry dayes were past.
Widow. Nay, then you first become sweete pleasures guest,
Wife.[155] For mayden-head is a continuall fast,
And marriage is a continual feast.
Maid. Wedlock indeed hath oft comparèd bin
To publike Feasts where meete a publike rout;
Where they that are without would faine go in,
And they that are within would faine go out.
Or to the Iewell which this vertue had,
That men were mad till they might it obtaine,
But when they had it, they were twise as mad,
Till they were dipossest of it againe.
Wife. Maids cannot iudge, because they cannot tell,
What comforts and what ioyes in marriage be:
Maid. Yes, yes, though blessed Saints in heauen do dwell,
They doe the soules in Purgatory see.
Widow. If euery wife do liue in Purgatory.
Then sure it is, that Widdowes liue in blisse:
And are translated to a state of glory,
But Maids as yet haue not attain'd to this.
Maid. Not Maids? To spotlesse maids this gift is giuen,
To liue in incorruption from their birth;
And what is that but to inherit heauen
Euen while they dwell vpon the spotted earth?