times and places doth brighten the Starres and maketh the Moone to shine Euen so the woman dependeth of the man and of him doth take hir nobilitie The King therefore thoughte the matche not mete for Ariobarzanes to marrie his daughter and 〈◊〉 red he shoulde incurre some blemishe of his house But for all respect and feare of shame the emulation whiche he had to be victorious of his forced curtesie did surpasse Wherefore he sent for Ariobarzanes to come vnto the Court. And he vpon that commaundement came And so soone as he was entred the Palace he repaired to do his reuerence vnto the king of whome he was welcomed with glad and ioyfull entertainement And after they had a while debated of diuers matters the King sayde vnto him Ariobarzanes for so much as thou art without a wife we 〈◊〉 to bestowe vpon thée a Gentlewoman which not onely we well like and loue but also is suche a one as thou thy selfe shalt be well contented to take Ariobarzanes answered that he was at his commaundement And that such choyse as pleased his Maiestie shoulde very well content and satisfie him Then the King caused his daughter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 attired to come before him and there openly in presence of the 〈◊〉 Courte commaunded that Ariobarzanes shoulde marrie hir Which with séemely ceremonies being 〈◊〉 Ariobarzanes shewed litle ioy of that parentage and in apparance made as though he cared not for his wife The nobles and Gentleman of the Court 〈◊〉 to sée the straunge 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 consideryng the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of their Prince towards his subiect by taking him for his father and sonne in lawe and greatly murmured to sée the obstinacie and rudenesse of Ariobarzanes towardes the King and the faire newe maried spouse much blaming and rebuking his vnkinde demeanour Ariobarzanes that day fared as though he were besides him selfe voide of ioy and mirth where all the rest of the Courte spent the time in sport and triumph the Ladies and noble women together with the King and Quéene them selues dauncing and 〈◊〉 vntill the time of night did force 〈◊〉 wight to retire to their chambers Notwithstanding the King did marke the gesture and countenance of Ariobarzanes and after the bankette the King in solemne guise and greate pompe caused his daughter to bée accompanied with a great train to the lodging of Ariobarzanes and to be caried with hir hir princely dowrie where Ariobarzanes very honourably receyued his wife and at that instant in the presence of all the noble men and Barons that waited vpon the Bride he doubled the dowrie receyued and the same with the ten hūdred thousand crownes giuen him by the King he sent backe againe This vnmeasured Liberalitie séemed passing straunge vnto the King and bredde in him such disdaine as doubtfull he was whether to yelde or to condemne him to perpetual banishment The King thought that the greatnesse of Ariobarzanes minde was inuincible and was not able paciently to suffer that a subiect in matters of Curtesie and liberalitie shoulde compare with his King and maister Herewithall the King conceiuing malice coulde not tell what to say or do An easy matter it was to perceiue the rage and 〈◊〉 of the king who was so sore displeased as he bare good looke and coūtenance to no man And bicause in those days the Persian kings 〈◊〉 honored and reuerenced as Gods there was a lawe that when the king was driuen into a 〈◊〉 or had conceiued a iust displeasure he shoulde manifest vnto his counsellers the cause of his anger who afterwards by mature diligēce hauing examined the cause 〈◊〉 finding that king to be 〈◊〉 displesed shold seke means of his appeasing But if they founde his anger displeasure to be iustly cōceiued the cause of the same according to the qualitie of the offence little or great they shoulde punishe either by banishment or capital death The sentence of whome should passe and be pronounced without appeale Howbeit lawfull it was for the kyng the pronounced sentence either in all or in part to diminishe the paine or clearely to assoile the partie Wherby it euidently appeared that the Counsellers sentence once 〈◊〉 termined was very iustice and the kings will if he pardoned was mere grace and mercy The King then was constrained by 〈◊〉 statutes of his kingdom to disclose 〈◊〉 to his Counsell the cause of his displeasure which parti cularly he recited The Counsellers when they heard the reasons of the king sent for Ariobarzanes of whome by due examination they gathered that in diuors causes he had prouoked the kings offence Afterwards the lords of the Counsell vpon the proposed question began to argue by inuestigation serch wherof in the end they iudged Ariobarzanes worthy to lose his head For that he woulde not onely compare but also goe about to 〈◊〉 him in things 〈◊〉 and to she we him self discontented with the mariage of his daughter vnthankfull of the benefites so curteously bestowed vpon him A custome was obserued among the Persians that in euery act or enterprise wherin the seruant endeuored to surpasse and vanquishe his lorde and maister albeit the attempt were commendable and praise worthy for 〈◊〉 of want of duetie or contempt to the royall Maiestie he 〈◊〉 lose his best ioynt And for better confirmation of their iudgement the Counsellers alleaged a certain 〈◊〉 sentence registred in their Chronicles 〈◊〉 done by the Kings of Persia. The cause was this One of the Kings of that Region disposed to disporte with certain of his noble men abrode in the fields went a Hanking and with the 〈◊〉 to flie at diuers gante Within a while they sprang a Hearon and the Kyng commanded that one of the Faulcons which was a notable swift and soaring Hauke shold be cast off to the Hearon which done the Hearon began to mount and the Faucon spéedily pursued and as the Hauke after many batings and intercourses was about to seaze vpon the Hearon he espied an Egle. The stoute Hauke séeing the Egle gaue ouer the fearfull Hearon and with swift 〈◊〉 flewe towards the Egle and fiercely attempted to 〈◊〉 vpon hir But the Egle very stoutly defended 〈◊〉 self that the Hauke was forced to let go hir hold In the end 〈◊〉 good Hauke with hir sharpe talands again seazed vpon the Egles neck with hir beake strake hir starke dead wherwithall she fell downe amidde the companie that waited vpon the King All the Barons and Gentlemen highly cōmended and praised the Hauke affirming that a better was not in the worlde attributing vnto the same such praise as they thought mete The King for all the acclamations and shoutes of the troupe spake not a worde but stode musing with him selfe and did neither praise nor blame that Hauke It was very late in the euening when the Faucon killed the Egle and therefore the King commaunded eche man to depart to the Citie The next day the King caused a Goldsmith to make an
caused the other dames to bury those two bodies in one graue O how happy famous had these two sisters ben if they had not bene the daughters of so wicked and cruell a father But parentes offence on Childrens trespasse oughte not to deface the vertuous déedes of their posteritie Two Romane Queenes ¶ The maruellous courage and ambition of a Gentlevvoman called TANAQVIL the Quene wife of TARQVINVSPRISCVS the fifth Romane King with hir persuasions and pollicie to hir husbande for his aduauncement to the kingdome hir like encouragement of SIRVIVSTVLLIVS wherin also is described the ambition of one of the. ij daughters of SERVIVSTVLLIVS the sixt Romane King and hir crueltie towards hir ovvne naturall father with other accidents chaunced in the nevv erected common welth of Rome specially of the last Romane Kyng TARQVINVS SVPERBVS who with murder atteined the kingdom with murder mainteined it and by the murder and insolent life of his sonne was with all his progenie banished The sixt Nouell ANcus Marcius being that fourth King after Romulus the first builder of that Citie there came to dwell in Rome one Lucumo a lustie gentleman rich and desirous of honour who determined to continewe his habitation there Thesame Lucumo was the sonne of one Demaratê° a Corinthian who for sedition fled his owne countrie dwelt in 〈◊〉 amongs the stock of the Tarquines and after he was maried he begat two sonnes one of them was this Lucumo and the other was called Arnus Lucumo was heire to his father for that Arnus died before leauing his wife gret with childe The father not knowing that his daughter in lawe was with childe gaue nothing in his will to his Nephewe for which cause the childe was called Arnus Egerius Lucumo being the sole heire of his father maried a noble woman named Tanaquil and bicause the Thuscans could not abide to sée a straunger growe to abundance of welth and authoritie she despised hir owne country rather than she would suffer hir husband in any wise to be dishonoured Wherfore she deuised to forsake the Tarquinians to dwel at Rome where she thought among that honorable sorte and newe rerected state that hir husband being stout and valiant should attaine some place of resiance For she called to remembraunce that Tatius the Sabine Numa borne of the stock of Curetes and Ancus brought forth by a Sabine woman all strangers did raigne and became noble and mightie Thus ambition and desire of honour easily doeth persuade any deuise Wherfore carrying with theÌ„ al their substance they repaired to Rome It chaunced when they came to Ianiculum as he and his wife were sitting in a Wagon an Eagle hoouering hir wings ouer Lucumo sodenly toke away his cappe which done she soared ouer the wagon with great force then she retourned againe as though she had bene commaunded by some celestiall prouidence aptly placed his cappe againe vpon his head and then soared away vp into the element Tanaquil conceiuing this act to be some Augurie or Prophecie being cunning in that knowledge as commonly all the people of Hetruria be imbraced hir husband and willed him to be of good chere and to expect great honour And as they were ymagining and consulting vpon these euents they entred the Citie and when they had gotten a house for him and his familie he was called Tarquinins Priscus His riches and great wealth made him a noble man amongs the Romanes and through his gentle entertainement and curteous behauiour he wanne the good willes of many in so much as his fame and good report was bruted throughout the palace At leÌ„gth he grew in acquaintance with the King him selfe who séeing his liberall demeanor and duetifull seruice estéemed him as one of his familiar and nere srends and both in his warres and also at home he imparted to him the secrets of his counsell and hauing good experience of his wisedom by his last will and testament appointed him to be tutour of his children Ancus raigned xxiiii yeres a man in peace and warre in policie and valiance with any of his predecessours comparable His children were very yong and for that cause Tarquinius was more instant to summon a parliament for creation of a king When the day was come he sente the yong children abroade a hunting and then ambiciously presumed to demaunde the kingdome being the first that euer attempted the like For the better conciation and obteining of the peoples good will he vttered this Oration I doe not presume to require a straunge or newe thyng that was neuer before put in practise nor yet am the first but the third straÌ„ger and foraine borne that affected and aspired to this gouernmeÌ„t For which consideration there is no cause why any man ought to muse or maruell more than behoueth It is euidently knowen that Tatius not onely being a stranger but also an ennimie was made Kyng Numa also was made King being altogether a foraine stranger borne not through his owne request but rather voluntarily accited and called therevnto by the Romanes but for my parte after I was able to gouerne my self I repaired to dwell at Rome with my wyfe my children and all my substance where I haue spent the chiefest porcion of my life specially after it was mature and able to execute ciuile magisterie which I chose rather to bestow at Rome than at home in myne owne countrey I haue lerned the Romane rites and lawes as wel such as be mete to serne abroade in the warres as also necessarie to bée practised at home at the hands of mine olde maister Ancus Martius your late king a maister right worthie and famous in all pointes to bée followed I shewed my selfe an humble and obedient subiecte to the King and in friendeship and familiaritie towarde others I contended with the Kyng him selfe When hée had spoken those wordes which in déede were very true with the whole consent of the people hée was saluted King And as all things succéeded his Noble requeste euen so after hée was settled in his Kyngdome hée gaue hym selfe to 〈◊〉 the common wealth Hée chose an hundred graue persons whiche he called the Fathers of the lesser countries He warred firste with the Latines and 〈◊〉 the Citie of Appiolas who bryngyng from thence a greater spoyle and bootie than was looked for ordeined richer and more gorgeous Playes than any of hys predecessoures Hée builded certayne Galleries and other places of assemblie aboute the Forum hée walled the Citie rounde about with stone And as he was doing these things the Sabines interuented him vpon the 〈◊〉 in so much as they were passed the Kyuer of Anienes before the Romane hoste was in a redinesse Whiche was an occasion of greate feare and stirre at Rome In the 〈◊〉 after the battailes were ioyned betwéene them bothe a cruell and blouddie slaughter was committed the victorie fallyng to neyther parte Then the Romanes sought meanes to renue their force by addyng to their armie a further
could not tell at the first face of what woode to make his arrowes and stode 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and surprised with a newe feare In the end notwithstanding playing the good fellowe hée went vnto 〈◊〉 Duke in whose 〈◊〉 smiling he whispered bicause he knew right well that the Duke was an indifferent good companion and loued so well his neighbors wife as his owne And sayd My Lord there is a prety wich within whome I do kepe and would not shewe hir to any liuing man but to you That is the cause I aske sayd the Duke let vs sée hir that I may giue iudgement of hir beautie tell you whither she be worthy of kéeping or not The maister of that house opened the chambre dore thinking to haue gained much and supposed to insummate himselfe the better into the fauor of the Duke but immediatly he saw himself farre deceiued of his accompt For the rauished and shamefast maiden comming for the of the Chamber with hir hair about hir eyes and hir garments berent and torne hir stomake and breast all naked and discouered hir face and eyes all blubbered with teares like a desperate woman threw hir selfe at the Princes féete saying Ah my Lord beholde héere and haue pitie vpon the moste vnfortunate wenche of all most wretched caytife women who shamefully and 〈◊〉 hathe bene abused and defloured by hym which impudently dareth to bring you into the place the wytnesse of his abhominable and wycked life The Duke séeing thys sight and hauing compassion vpon the maiden turned his face towardes the Gentleman and hys Companions which by chance were come thither as the Duke was entred into the Gallerie not wyth milde and pleasant countenaunce as hée shewed from the beginning but with a looke so graue and seuere as the hardest of the company could not tell what to do or what answer to make him Upon them then began the righteous Prince to vomit his displeasure saying 〈◊〉 this the 〈◊〉 of the bloud wherof thou art descended to rauishe thy neighbors daughters vnder mine obeysance and protection Doest thou thus abuse the familiaritie which hitherto I haue shewed vnto thée Thinkest thou that the lawes be peruerted by séeing some chaunge in the common wealth of Florence No I assure thée for so long as the soule shal reside within my body I will be hée that shall pursue the wicked wyth all extremitie and shall not indure the oppressyon of the poore enough afflicted with their owne proper misery O God could I haue thought that a Gentléman of my house would haue bene so prodigall of his honoure as to soyle his handes so 〈◊〉 by rauishing of them which ought to be required and to dishonoure them in place where their vertue ought to serue for a generall example I cannot tell what stayeth me from cutting of those curssed heads of yours from your shoulders like arrant traytors and théeues as you be Get ye hence ye infamous villaines and beastly Ruffians the troublers of your neighbours rest and the spoylers of the same of hir that is more worth than all ye together Then speaking to the Maide hée sayd Rise vp my wench and on me repose thy comfort for I promise thée by the Faithe of a Gentleman that I will doe thée such reason and vse thée so vprightly as bothe my Consciente shall be quieted thou contented and thine honoure restored for the wrong and iniury which it hathe receiued of these Gallantes And by and by hée commaunded the Miller to come before hym and all those whome hée had brought wyth him to assist his doings before whome hée caused to bée brought bothe the rauished mayden and the condempned of the rape vnto whom he said This is the praie my friends that I determined to take which I haue done without toyles nets or chaunting of the Dogs Behold I pray you the honor which my housholde seruauntes doe vnto my house as to ouerrun the simple Countrey people and rauish their daughters betwene the armes of their proper parents as to breake beate downe and ouerthrow the doores of their houses who liuing vnder the lawes of our city ought to enioy like priuiledge of libertie franchize If one respect which I will not disclose did not impeche stay me I wold doe such cruel iustice vpon the offenders as the posteritie should make report thereof Notwithstanding it shal suffise that they receiue this shame before you all by 〈◊〉 themselues banquished of a crime whych for expiation and reuenge deserueth most shameful death and to receiue of me for proofe of my mercy an vndeserued pardon of their fault with condition neuerthelesse that thou speaking to the Gentleman rauisher shalt take this maiden to wife for otherwise thou art not able to repaire the honor thou hast taken from hir and shalt loue hir so dearely as fondly 〈◊〉 she was beloued of thée I giue hir vnto thée to esteme and loue hir so much as if she were the very sister of me the Duke of Florence who commaundeth thée for the raunsome redemption of thy head presently to marry hir I will moreouer and ordaine by reason of hir fathers pouerty that for the wrong which he hath receiued of you thrée his daughter shal be indowed with two thousand Crownes by him that marrieth hir and with a thousand of either of the two other to the intēt that if hir husband die without heire she haue wherwith honestly to mainteine hir degrée and the honest port of hir house And hereof I will that without delay a contract be made and a publike instrument of good recorde in rolled swearing once again before thée that if I vnderstand that thou vse hir otherwise thā a wife ought to be by hir husband I wil deale such punishmēt and correction ouer thée as all men in time to come shal take example The Gentleman which expected no better méede than death ioyfull of that sentence fell downe prostrate before the Duke in signe of consent and the like did his Companions But the ioy of the Miller and his daughter can not be expressed who extolled the vertue iustice of their Prince vp into the heauens to whome wyth such humilitie they rendred their humble thanks as he wold doe that saw him self in so great calamitie and brought to such dishonor as earst they were sene to be by meanes of him that acknowledged one of them for his sonne the other for hir lawful spouse Thus was the mariage made in presence of the Duke with so great ioy and contentation of all partes as there was rage and trouble for that rape of the Bride The Duke being retourned to Florence the brute of this acte incontinently was 〈◊〉 almost throughout the Region of Italy this iudgement no lesse praysed than the sentēce which king Salomon gaue vpon that controuersie of the two harlots for the liuing childe which either of them claimed for hir own And for this cause was hée cōmended aboue any other
the rare excellencies wherewith the Citie is furnished there is none more famous than the monument of Rhomeo Iulietta Two Gentlewomen of Venice ¶ Two Gentlemen of VENICE were honourably deceiued of their wiues whose notable practises and secrete cōference for archieuing their desire occasioned diuers accidentes and ingendred double benefite wherin also is recited an eloquent oration made by one of them pronounced before the Duke and state of that Citie with other chaunces and actes concerning the same The. xxvj Nouel HEre haue I thoughte good to summon y. gentlewomen of Venice to apeare in place and to mount on stage amonges other Italian dames to shewe cause of their bold incountrie against the follie of their two husbandes that vncharitably against order of neighbourhode wente about to assayle the honestie of eythers wife and wéening they had enioyed others felicitie by the womens prudence foresyghte and ware gouernement were bothe deceiued and yet attayned the chiefest benefite that mariage state doth looke for so that yf searche bée made amonges antiquities it is to be doubted whether greater chastitie and better policie coulde bée founde for 〈◊〉 of an intended purpose Many dedes haue bene done by women for sauegarde of their husbands liues as that of Minyae a sorte of women whose husbands wer imprisoned at Lacedaemon for treason cōdemned who to saue their husbāds entred into prison the night before they shold die by exchange of apparell deliuered them and remained there to suffre for them Hipsicratea also the Quene wife of 〈◊〉 king of Pontus spared not hir noble beautie and golden lockes to manure hir self in the vse of armes to kéepe hir husbād company in perils and daungers and being ouercome by Pompeius and flying away neuer left him vnaccōpanied ne forsoke such trauel as he him self sustained The like also of Aemilia Turia 〈◊〉 Portia other Romane dames But that such haue preuēted their husbands follie seldome we reade sauing of Quéene Marie the wife of Don Pietro king of Arragon who marking the folie of hir husband and sorie for his disordred life honest iealousie opening hir cōtinēt eyes forced hir to seke meanes to remoue his wanton acts or at lestwise by policie wise foresight to make him husband culture his own soile that for want of seasonable tillage was barren voide of fruite Wherefore consulting with the lorde Chamberlain who of custome brought whom the King liked best was in place of his woman bestowed in his bed and of hir that night begate the yong Prince Giacomo that afterwardes proued a valiaunt and wise King These passyng good policies of women many times abolish the frantik lecherous fits of husbands giuen to superfluous lustes when first by their chast behauior womāly pacience they 〈◊〉 that whiche they bée lothe to sée or heare of and then demaunding counsell of sobrietie and wisedome excogitate sleightes to shunne follie and expell discurtesie by husbandes carelesse vse Suche practyses and deuises these two Gentlewomen whome I now bring forth disclose in this discourse ensuing In the Citie of Venice whiche for riches and faire women excelleth al other within the region of Italie in the time that Francesco Foscari a very wise Prince did gouerne the state there were two yong gentlemē the one called Girolamo Bembo and the other Anselmo Barbadico betwene whome as many times chaunceth amongs other grew such great hatred and cruel hostilitie as eche of them by secrete and al possible means deuised to do other shame and displeasure which kindled to such out rage as it was thought impossible to be pacified It chaunced that at one time both of them did marie two noble yong Gentlewomen excellēt faire both brought vp vnder one nurse and loued eche other like two sisters and as though they had ben both born of one bodie The wyse of Anselmo called Isotta was the daughter of Messer 〈◊〉 Gradenigo a mā of great estimation in that citie one of the procuratours of San Marco whereof there were not so greate numbre in those dayes as there be now bicause the wisest men best approued of life were chosen to that great and noble dignitie none allotted therevnto by bribe or ambition The wife of Girolamo Bembo was called Lucia that daughter of Messer Gian Francesco Valerio Caualiere a Gentleman very well learned and many times sent by the State ambassador into diuers countreyes and after he had bene Drator with the Pope for his wisedome in the execution of the same was in great estima tion with the whole citie The two Gentlewomen after they were maried heard of the hatred betwene their husbandes were very sorowfull and pensiue bicause they thought the friendshyppe and loue betwene them twaine continued from their tender yeres could not be but with great difficulty kept or else altogither dissolued broken Not withstāding being discrete and wise for auoiding occasion of their husbands offēce determined to cease their accustomed conuersation louing familiaritie not to frequent eche others cōpany but at places times conuenient To whome Fortune was so fauorable as not only their houses were néere together but also ioyning in the backsides wherof their gardens also cōfined seperated only with a litle hedge that euery day they might sée one another many times talke togither Moreouer the seruāts people of either houses were friendly familiar which did greatly cōtent the two louing Gētlewomen bicause they also in the absence of their husbāds might at pleasure in their gardens disport thēselues And continuing this order that space of iij. yeres neither of thē both were with childe In which space Anselmo many times vicwing and casting his eyes vpō Madonna Lucia fel earnestly in loue with hir was not that day wel at ease wherin he had not beholden hir excellēt beautie 〈◊〉 that was of sprite and wit subtil marked the lokes maner of Anselmo who neither for 〈◊〉 ne other cause did render like lokes on him but to sée to what end his louing chéere countenāce wold 〈◊〉 Not 〈◊〉 she séemed rather 〈◊〉 to behold him thā elswher to imploy hir lokes On the other side the good 〈◊〉 the wise order and pleasant beautie of Madonna Isotta was so excellent plausible in the sight of master Girolamo as no louer in the world was better pleased with his Ladie than 〈◊〉 with hir who not able to liue without the swete sight of Isotta that was a crafty wily wēch was 〈◊〉 hir quickly perceiued She being right honest wise and louing hir husband very dearly did beare that 〈◊〉 to Girolamo that she generally did to any of the 〈◊〉 or to other stranger that she neuer saw before But hir 〈◊〉 more more inflamed hauing lost that liberty of him self wounded pierced with the amorous arowes of Loue could not conuert his minde to any other 〈◊〉 to mistresse Lucia These two womē wonted to heare seruice euery day ordinarily at the church
nature and vnderstād how I can be requited on them which indeuor to gratifie me in any thing Hauing sayd so and euery man being set down he turned his talke to the reste of the companie in this wise I doubt not my 〈◊〉 noble dames but that ye much muse and maruell to sée me in this house so late and in your companie and am sure that a great desire moueth your minds to know for what purpose that cause and why I haue gathered this assemblie in a time vnlooked for and in place where none of oure race and kynne of long time dyd enter and lesse dyd meane to make hyther their repaire But when you doe consider what vertue and goodnesse resteth in the heartes of those men that shunne and auoyde the 〈◊〉 of mynde to followe the reasonable parte and which proprely is called spirituall you shall therby perceiue that when gentle kynde and noble heart by the great mistresse 〈◊〉 Nature be grifted in the myndes of men they cease not to make appere the effect of their doings sometyme producyng one vertue sometimes another whiche cease not to cause the fruict of suche industrie bothe to blowe and beare In suche wyse as the more those vertuous actes and commendable workes do appeare abroade the greater dyligence is imployed to searche the matter wherein she 〈◊〉 cause to appeare the force of vertue and excellencie conceiuyng singular delighte in that hir good and holie delyuerie whych bringeth forth a fruict worthie of such a stocke And that force of minde and generositie of noble hearte is so firme and sure in operation as althoughe humane things be vnstable and subiecte to chaunge yet they can not be seuered or disparcled And albeit it bée the butte and white whereat Fortune dischargeth all hir dartes and shaftes threatning shooting and assailing the same rounde yet it continueth stable and firme like a rocke and cliffe beaten with the violent furie of waues rising by winde or tempest Wherby it chanceth that riches and dignitie can no more aduaunce the hart of a slaue and villain than pouertie make vile abase the greatnesse of courage in them that be procreated of other stuffe than of common sorte which dayely kéepe the maiestie of their originall and lyue after the instincte of good and noble bloode wherewith their auncesters were made noble and sucked that same vertue oute of the teates of Noursses breastes who in the myddes of troublesome 〈◊〉 of Fortune that doe assayle them and depresse theyr modestie theyr face and countenaunce and theyr factes full well declare their condition and doe to vnderstande that vnder suche a miserie a mynde is hydde whiche deserueth greater guerdon than the eigre taste of calamitie In that dydde glowe and shyne the youth of the Persian and Median Monarch being nurssed amongs the stalles and stables of his grandfather the gentle kynde of the founder of stately Rome suckeled in the shepecoates of Princes shephierds Thus much haue I sayd my good lordes and dames in consideration of the noble courage and gentle mynde of Charles Montanine and of his sister who without preiudice to any other I dare to say is the paragon and mirrour of all chast and curteous maidens well trained vp amongs the whole troupe of those that liue this daye in Siena who beeyng brought to the ende and last point of their ruin as euery of you doth know and their race so sore decayed as there remaineth but the onely name of Montanine notwithstanding they neuer lost the hearte desire ne yet the effect of the curtesie and naturall bountie whiche euer doth accompanie the minde of those that be 〈◊〉 in déede Which is the cause that I am constrayned to accuse oure auncesters of to muche crueltie and of the litle respect which for a controuersie occurred by chāce haue pursued them with such mortal reuenge as without ceassing with all their force they haue assayed to ruinate abolishe and for euer 〈◊〉 that a righte noble and illustre race of the Montanines amongs whō if neuer any goodnesse appeared to the worlde but the honestie gentlenesse curtesie and vertuous maners of these twaine here present the brother and sister yet they ought to be accompted amongs the ranke of the noblest and chiefest of our Citie to the intent in tyme to come it may not be reported that we haue estéemed and cherished riches and drossie mucke more than vertue and modestie But imitating those excellent gouerners of Italie which helde the Romane Empire lette vs rather reuerēce the vertuous poore than praise or prise the riche gyuen to vice and wickednesse And for so much as I do sée you all to be desirous to knowe that cause and argument which maketh me to vse this talke and forceth mée to prayse the 〈◊〉 and goodnesse of the Montanines pleaseth you to stay a litle with pacience and not think the time tedious I meane to declare the same Plainely to confesse vnto you for that it is no crime of death or heinous offense the gifts of nature the beautie and comelinesse of faire Angelica here present haue so captiuate my mind and depriued my hart of libertie as night and day trauailing how I mighte discouer vnto hir my martirdom I did consume in such wise as losing lust of sléepe and meate I feared ere lōg to be either dead of sorrow or 〈◊〉 of my right wittes seing no meanes how I might auoyd the same bicause our two houses and families were at continuall debate and albeit 〈◊〉 were ceased and quarelles forgotten yet there rested as I thought a certaine desire bothe in the one and the other of offense when time and occasion did serue And yet mine affection for al that was not decreased but rather more tormented and my griefe increased hopelesse of helpe which nowe is chaunced to me as you shall heare You doe knowe and so do all men howe within these fewe dayes past the Lorde Montanine here present was accused before the Seniorie for trespasses against the statutes and Edicts of the same and being prisoner hauing not wherwith to satisfie the condemnation the law affirmed that his life shold recompense and supplie default of money I not able to suffer the want of hym which is the brother of the dearest thing I estéeme in the worlde and hauyng not hir in possession nor lyke without him to attaine hir payed that summe and deliuered hym He by what meanes I know not or how he coniectured the beneuolence of my déede thinkyng that it procéeded of the honest 〈◊〉 and affection which I bare to gracious and amiable Angelica well consideryng of my curteste hath ouercome me in prodigalitle he this nyghte came vnto me wyth his sister my mystresse yeldyng hir my slaue and bondwoman leauing hir with me to doe with hir as I wold with any thing I had Beholde my good Lordes and ye noble Ladies and cousins and consider how I may recompense thys benefite and be able to satisfie