The Duchess’s soul answered, she did not at all regard the censure of this, or any other age, concerning vanities: but, said she, neither this present, nor any of the future ages, can or will truly say, that I am not virtuous and chaste: for I am confident, all that were, or are acquainted with me, and all the servants which ever I had, will or can upon their oaths declare my actions no otherwise than virtuous: and certainly, there’s none even of the meanest degree, which have not their spies and witnesses, much more those of the nobler sort, which seldom or never are without attendants; so that their faults (if they have any) will easily be known, and as easily divulged. Wherefore, happy are those natures that are honest, virtuous, and noble; not only happy to themselves, but happy to their families. But, said the Empress, if you glory so much in your honesty and virtue, how comes it that you plead for dishonest and wicked persons, in your writings? The Duchess answered, it was only to show her wit, not her nature.