They are generally pleasant and
facetious company; but in this their women exceed, who seldom laugh,
and never loud; but the most witty in repartees, and stories, and
notions in the world. They sing, but not well, their way being between
Italian and Spanish; they play on all kinds of instruments likewise,
and dance with castanuelas very well. They work but little, but very
well, especially in monasteries. They all paint white and red, from
the Queen to the cobbler's wife, old and young, widows excepted, who
never go out of close mourning, nor wear gloves, nor show their hair
after their husband's death, and seldom marry. They are the finest-
shaped women in the world, not tall, their hair and teeth are most
delicate; they seldom have many children; there are none love
cleanliness in diet, clothes, and houses more than they do. They dress
up their oratories very fine with their own work and flowers.
They have a seed which they sow in the latter end of March, like our
sweet basil; but it grows up in their pots, which are often of China,
large, for their windows, so delicately, that it is all the summer as
round as a ball and as large as the circumference of the pot, of a
most pleasant green, and very good scent.
They delight much in the feasts of bulls and stage plays, and take
great pleasure to see their little children act before them in their
own houses, which they will do to perfection; but the children of the
greatest are kept at great distance from conversing with their
relations and friends, never eating with their parents but at their
birth.
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