Page:The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women (1622).djvu/29

 King Menelaus was the firſt that made loue vnto her, as hee was marching to the warres of Carthage, and ſpent more money vpon her, then in conquering his enemies.

But as ſhe was of a noble race, ſo it is ſaid, that the neuer gaue her ſelfe ouer to meane and petty company, as the other two did; but ſhee had a ſcroule ſet ouer her gate, the tenor whereof was thus, King, Prince, Emperour or Biſhop, enter this pallace and welcome: neither was this Flora ſo greedy of gold, as the other two were; for on a time one of her familiar friends asked her the cauſe why ſhe did not make price of her loue? ſhee made this anſwere, I commit my body to none but to Princes and Noblemen, and I ſweare there was neuer man gaue me ſo little, but that I had more then I would haue asked, or that I looked for; and furthermore ſhe ſaid, that a noble woman ought not to make price of her loue: all things are at a certaine rate, except loue, and that a woman of great beauty ſhould be ſo much eſteemed of, as ſhe eſteemes of her ſelfe. Shee dyed at the age of fortie yeares, and the wealth ſhe left behinde her in Rome, was valued to be ſo much, as would haue builded new walles round about the City, if there had beene no wals at all.

Was not that noble City of Troy ſacked and ſpoyled for the faire Hellen? and when it had coſt many mens liues, & much blood was ſhed, and when they had got the conqueſt, they got but an harlot. By this and that which followeth, thou ſhalt ſee the power of women, how it hath beene ſo great, and more preuailed in bewitching mens wits, and in ouer-comming their ſenſes, then all other things whatſoeuer. It hath not onely vanquiſhed Kings and Keiſars, but it hath alſo ſurpriſed caſtles & countries; nay