me help from
resentment and the natural pride of my sex, I will not deny. But I was
not become indifferent to my husband. I loved the Antony who had been my
lover, more than I was angry with the Antony who forsook me and loved
another woman. Had he left Cleopatra and returned to me again with all
his former affection, I really believe I should have loved him as well as
before.

_Arria_.--If the merit of a wife is to be measured by her sufferings,
your heart was unquestionably the most perfect model of conjugal virtue.
The wound I gave mine was but a scratch in comparison to many you felt.
Yet I don't know whether it would be any benefit to the world that there
should be in it many Octavias. Too good subjects are apt to make bad
kings.

_Portia_.--True, Arria; the wives of Brutus and Cecinna Paetus may be
allowed to have spirits a little rebellious. Octavia was educated in the
Court of her brother. Subjection and patience were much better taught
there than in our houses, where the Roman liberty made its last abode.
And though I will not dispute the judgment of Minos, I can't help
thinking that the affection of a wife to her husband is more or less
respectable in proportion to the character of that husband. If I could
have had for Antony the same friendship as I had for Brutus, I should
have despised myself.

_Octavia_.--My fondness for Antony was ill-placed; but my perseverance in
the performance of all the duties of a wife, notwithstanding his
ill-usage, a perseverance made more difficult by the very excess of my
love, appeared to Minos the highest and most meritorious effort of female
resolution against the seductions of the most dangerous enemy to our
virtue, offended pride.

DIALOGUE XVI.

LOUISE DE COLIGNI, PRINCESS OF ORANGE--FRANCES WALSINGHAM, COUNTESS OF
ESSEX AND OF CLANRICARDE; BEFORE, LADY SIDNEY.

_Princess of Orange_.--Our destinies, madam, had a great and surprising
conformity. I was the daughter of Admiral Coligni, you of Secretary
Walsingham, two persons who were the most consummate statesmen and ablest
supports of the Protestant religion in France, and in England. I was
married to Teligni, the finest gentleman of our party, the most admired
for his valour, his virtue, and his learning: you to Sir Philip Sidney,
who enjoyed the same pre-eminence among the English. Both these husbands
were cut off, in the flower of youth and of glory, by violent deaths, and
we both married again wi