violent saue that I holde Caesars to be the harder for that hee was murthered in the Armes of Prosperitie and Pompey at the féete of Disgrace but being both dead vnto their Monuments Writers adde this Opinion Caesar in his life was more fortunate then Pompey and Pompey more honest then Caesar A proofe that some disgrace is the ground of Good Reporte and some good Fortune the Trumpe of Infamie therfore let no man yéeld to Aduersitie nor affie too much in Pompe and paynted Prosperitie for the one is but vexation the other vanitie and both in short time vanish A sodaine alteration as me thought made me to contemplate of these causes for that comming out of my lodging somewhat timely I entred the great Chamber with as strange a regarde as he that commeth out of a House full of Torch and Taperlights into a darke and obscure corner knowing that at midnight about which time I forsooke my company I left the place attyred like a second Paradise the earthly Goddesses in brightnesse resembled Heauenly Creatures whose Beauties dasied mens eyes more then the Beames of the Sunne The swéete musicke recorded the Harmonie of Angels the strange and curious deuices in Maskers séemed as figures of diuine Misteries And to be shorte the place was a verie Sympathie of an imagined Paradise And in the space of one slumbering stéepe to be left like a desart wildernesse without any creature saue sundry Sauage Beastes portrayed in the Tapistrie hangings imprest such a heauy passion in my minde as for the time I fared as one whose sences had forgot howe to doe their bounden offices In the ende to recomfort my throbbing heart I tooke my Citterne and to a solemne Note sung this following Sonet which I a little before composed vpon a quiet thought I possessed after my reading of Boetius of the consolation of Philosophie translated into Italion by Cosimo Bartoli FArewel bright Golde thou glory of the world Fayre is thy showe but foule thou mak'st the soule Farewel proud minde in thousand Fancies twirld Thy pompe is like the stone that stil doth roule SISIPHVS ¶ Farewel sweete Loue thou wish of worldly ioy Thy wanton Cups are spiste with mortal sin Farewel dyre Hate thou doost thy selfe annoy Therefore my heart no place to harbour in ¶ Enuy farewel to al the world a foe Like DENNIS BVLL a torture to thy selfe Disdayne farewel though hie thy thoughts doe flow Death comes and throwes thy Sterne vpon a shelfe ¶ Flattery farewel thy Fortune doth not last Thy smoothest tales concludeth with thy shame Suspect farewel thy thoughts thy intrails wast And fear'st to wound the wight thou faine wouldst blame ¶ Slaunder farewel which pryest with LYNX his eyes And canst not see thy spottes when al are done Care Care farewel which like the Cockatrice Doost make the Graue that al men fayne would shun ¶ And farewel world since naught in thee I finde But vanitie my soule in Hell to drowne And welcome Philosophy who the minde Doest with content and heauenly knowledge crowne During the time that my thoughtes swounded with the charme of my passionate Musick The Sunne decked in his most gorgious Rayes gaue a bon Giorno to the whole troupe and so many as were within the sound of my instrument were drawen with no lesse vertue then the Stéele vnto the Adamant In so much of the sodaine to beholde thē statelines of the presence I was driuen foorth of my muse with a starkeling admyration not vnlike vnto him that sléeping ouer a dying brand is hastelie wakened with the lightening of a thousand sparckles The offices of Curtesie discharged on euery part Segnior Soranso saied the Poets fayned not without reason that Amphions Harp gaue sence vnto stone Walles For so deuine quoth he are the operations and vertues of Musick A commendation of Musick as he that shall be bound to declare her particular Graces shall be no lesse troubled then the painter Zeuxes was in the counterfetting of Cupid Who after much trauell was driuen to draw him blinde for otherwise he had vnder taken Sisiphus taske because the twinckling reflections of Cupids eyes A faining how Cupid came to be called blind threw a thousand Beauties vpon his face and shadowed the worke of the Painter Thus through ignorance Cupid hath euer since béen reputed blinde and for his owne perfection is honored with the title of the God of Loue. The name of Loue gaue a large occasion of discourse but for that another time was appointed for those disputations and the morning was wholly dedicated vnto the seruice of God the question drowned in Soransos suggestion and the whole company silent in such affaires attended Quéene Aurelias comming who in change of gorgious and rich apparrell kept her accustomed howre to goe vnto the Chappell By that time seruice was ended and euery mans deuotion done dinner was ready to bée set vpon the Tables with such choice of delicate Viands as vnto the bountie of the feast there might nothing be added After that Quéene Aurelia and the rest had taken their ordinary places euery one helped the disgestion of their meate either in inuenting some ciuill merriment or in hearing it reported by another Bargetto all this while was neither heard to speake nor séene to smile Which perceiued by Franceschina Sancta his Mistres she moued with the spirit of compassion studied how with iustice shée might reuoke her sentence and vnstring her seruants tongue and to that end she demanded how thrée good turnes might be vnrewarded thrée offences pardoned A question to trie a quicke wit thrée iniuries left vnreuenged and in euery of these Iustice preserued This question passed through the table and returned without his true resolution In the end quoth Segnior Philoxenus Monsier Bergetto what is your opinion Sir quoth Bergetto my mistresse hath locked the tongue that should pronounce it Why quoth Franceschina these be no questions of loue and therefore you haue libertie to speake No Lady quoth Bergetto but his vertue may appeare in the answere Well quoth his Mistresse if you can cleare your trespas by one of these questions I must doo no iniurie to Iustice and therefore say your pleasure Vpon this warrant quoth Bergetto to your first thrée I answere Three good turnes may be receiued vnrewarded A Captaine may betray his charge which is a benefit to the enemie but the betrayer is not to be receiued as a friend for hée that will fell his countryman may not bée held assured to a stranger Secondly a Théefe that peacheth his fellowes dooth good to the common wealth and yet deserueth no reward for he that may priuiledge his owne theft in bewraying other mens will euer more steale vpon presumption Thirdly to win a mans money is a good turne and yet the loser is not to bée recompenced for his intent was to win the winners To your second thrée questions Three offencesmay with Iustice be pardoned a man may
your Maiestie quoth Andrugio and disconering himselfe shewed the preuidence of God and the meane of his escape and tendring his Sisters comfort aboue his owne safetie he prostrated him selfe at his Maiesties féete humbly to obey the sentence of his pleasure The King vpon the report of this strange aduenture Princes are bound to their word after good deliberation pardoned Promos to kéep his word and withall holding an opinion that it was more beneficiall for the Citizens Of two the least euill is least dangerous to be ruled by their olde euill Gouernour new reformed then to aduenture vpon a newe whose behauiours were vnknowne And to perfect Cassandras ioye he pardoned her brother Andrugio with condition that he should marrie Polina Thus from betwéene the téeth of danger euery partie was preserued and in the end established in their harts desire Madame quoth Soranso your good conclusion hath likewise preserued vs from a great danger Ruthfull tales raiseth remorce in the hearers for had you ended with the sorrow you began we had béen al like to haue béen drowned in teares Indéed quoth Katharina Trista you men haue had cause sufficient of sorrowe by hearing your kinde reproched with such monstrous euils By example of euill the euill are feared By example of the good the good are strengthened and we women frée passage to lament in beholding none but crosse fortunes to succéed the good indeuours of a vertuous Lady It is true quoth Fabritio but to participate of their ioye we men haue learned out of Promos example of euill for feare of his like punishment of euill to doo well and you women by example of Polinas vice and Cassandras vertue are both warned and incouraged to weldooing Indéede quoth Quéene Aurelia there are many Morall precepts in either Historie to be considered Good order is to be kept among such as haue beene late sick which I hope the company haue so regarded as there néedeth no repetitition And further because I will not be too bolde of the victory ouer my late distemperature we will héere end And therewith she arose and retired into her Chamber with charge that the company should attend her in the same place vntill Supper who obeying intertained time euery one with their speciall fancy The question that arose at Supper vpon the fourth daies exercise MAny prettie nippes passed betwéene the retyred Company this night at Supper as well on the Gentlewomens parte as of the Gentlemens insomuch as presuming vpon this Daies honour when the Table was readie to be taken away Aluisa Vechio tooke vpon her to maintaine a woman to be a creature euery way as excellent and perfect as man Comparison breedeth contention For naturall shape quoth she they are more beautifull of a better temperature and complection then men In valiant exploytes what difference was there betwéen Semiramis and her Husband Ninus betwéene the Amazon women and Alexander For constancie of minde Excellent vertues in women did not Loadice imbrace death with lesse feare then Mithridates her Husband Asdruballes Wife then Asdruball himselfe And what man hath kept a constant resolution of death so long as Lucretia In Vertues you men that read Histories and Cronicles of all ages shall finde women renowmed for learning gouernment and pollicie In Mecanicall Artes there are Women likewise experienced In the vertue of Diuining what man hath come néere the Sibils To be short what man hath béen so perfect in any vertue but histories make mention of a woman as perfect Yea quoth Dondolo but there be so fewe of these women Cauillers neuer answere directly as an easie wit may remember them But it will cumber your tung to report them quoth Katharina Trista The other Gentlemen although they were willing to giue place vnto the Gentlewomen in small matters A disgrace in honour a Gentleman may not beare with yet this comparison of equall soueraignty nettled them a little In as much as Soranso answered Madame Aluisa you haue made a bolde comparison and but a bare proofe Where you vaunte to be more excellent in shape and more delicate in substance then men It is an ouer ruled question that Women receiue perfection by Men Aristotles problemes and Men imperfection by Women then by how much the vertue is of more emprise that is simply of it selfe then that which is compound of an other by so far we excéede you in this perfection Your honour of valiātnes died with your examples and although there hath béen Women learned and experienced in Mecanicall craftes Extraordinary things are not to be compared with ordinary yet to heare a Woman plead at the Barre preach in a Pulpit or to sée her builde a house is a wonder and no example in vse How short your diuining Sybels come of the credit of the Prophets in the olde Testament is no question disputable Life is precious For your constancie at death you know not how precious life is which maketh you rash and not constant and in truth what you haue frowardly determined you will not be forbidden As she that had her Tung cut for calling of her husband Théefe would yet notwithstanding make the signe of the gallows Well sir quoth Quéene Aurelia Epicarias obstinacy Epicaria in the trembling pas sage of death was constant who endured to be rent in péeces before she would confesse the conspiracy against Nero would haue béene holden for a vertue of staidenesse in a man And what say you of Leena PLIN. Lib. 34. Cap. 2. that bit off her tung and spit it in the Tirant Hippias face because she would not bewray a conspiracy against him Madame with your fauour quoth the Doctor had she not had this foresight An enuious Suggestion it had béen like the Athenians should haue béene driuen to haue made a brazen bell as a Monument of her talk rather thē a tungles Liōnes as they did in honour of her silence for had she not mistrusted her imperfection she would neuer haue committed that tiranny vpon her self Had her tung béene venomed with your mallice it is like quoth Quéene Aurelia that the Athenians had verified your slaunderous opinion herewith she looked a skawse vpon her fauoured seruants as who would say I check the omission of your dutie in not defending of my right Vpon which warning and especially for the excellencie of this sex A man may praise a woman without reproching a man quoth Ismarito a man may doo iustice vnto an other without iniury to himselfe and sure without the reproche of men a man may commēd the excellencie of women in whose behalf although I wil not cōdemne Sir Soransos reasons yet in my opinion he erred in the first Article where he toucheth the perfection of Men and the imperfection of Women for neither of themselues are perfect Chaste talke ought especially to be vsed in the presence of women Aris. Prob. nor may haue
essentiall substance without the other But to dispute of this secret in nature at large were vnpleasing to their chast eares and bréefey too mistical for their vnderstandings But who so is so curious in search let him read that Philosophers probleames with an vnpartiall iudgement and he shal finde thē in substance euery way as perfect as meu and in that opinion of the eye The quality and not the quantity commends of al that sences who is the most perfect iudge they far excel man in purenes of complection where exception is taken to the few in number of fingulerly wel qualified women I affirme that it is not the quātity but the quality that commends a little salt relisheth more then a great deale of sugar Iudith with her owne hands atchiued a more honorable conquest then all the Cilisions besides Alexandra the wife of Alexander king of the Iewes whē the vnciuill multitude were ready for his tiranny to make the intrails of dogs a sepulture for his dead body yea to be further auēged to murther his two Sonnes by her swéet behauiour so mollified their cruell harts as loosing their resolutions they gaue her husband an honorable burial prostrated thēselues at her childrens féete which pacification the strength nor wisdom of her counsel could not obtain Eua. By what instrumēt did God first show the vigor of his vēgance by a woman And by what instrumēt did he show the vertue of his mercy Our Lady by a woman Soueraigne vertue is Femenine and I blush to tel it Yrkesome Vice is Masculine The Ladies laughed outright to heare Ismaritos difference But Soranso halfe angry answered that if Ismaritos countrymen were of his minde they might be ashamed that they were so effeminate Pardon me Where an iniury in words may be reuenged in words a Gentleman is not bound to his swoord quoth Ismarito it is their commendation to yéelde vnto women and to conquer men Tush tush quoth Bargetto to nip himselfe by the nose Ismarito is to be pardoned for his Captaine S. George is shackled in a womans garter It is true quoth Ismarito but thus fettered he hath many times chased S. Michael to his Mount Fabritio fearing that these crosses would turne to the Deuils blessing Discreete standers by pacifieth contentions studied how to accorde this contention and with that intent quoth he Ismarito you haue well deserued to kisse these Ladies hands for your honourable commendation of their sexe Vertue and vice both Feminine and Mesculine But where you say Vertue is the Feminine and vice the Masculine both men and women are vnderstoode in either The olde Diuines tooke Vertue to be God and Vice the Diuell and either to be both Feminine and Masculine Orpheus saide that Iupiter and Pluto were both Male and Female It is also read in Scripture That God fashioned both man and woman to his owne likenes Moreouer this word Homo signifieth both kindes so that since Man and Woman are not simply of themselues but compounded one of an other I blame this vnnaturall contention for excellencie for neither can obtaine Soueraigne victorie without dooing iniury to themselues The head among some is taken for the Man Note and the hart for the woman for both are of an indifferent gender and al the other members indifferently at their commandement Quéene Aurelia with a smiling countenance answered that she was content that a Man should gouerne as the head and women direct as the hart and because we will not doo iniury vnto our naturall vertue of Modesty we will giue place to you Modesty an naturall vertue in a woman in contention for Soueraignties and binde you to serue vs for our vertues and therewithall in rising she broke of this controuersie After Supper there was a little time bestowed in hearing of swéete musicke but for that Quéene Aureliaes late distemperature grew of ouer watching the company this night went vnto their lodging in a good houre MADONA AVRELIA Her fift daies pleasures Contayning a briefe discourse touching the excellencie of Man and a large discouery of the inconueniences of ouer loftie and too base Loue with other morall notes needfull to be regarded THe last nights good houre of repose was the cause of the companies this dayes early rising who by nine of the clock entered the great Chamber armed for any lawdable exercise And after an accustomed dutie of salutation discharged euery man bethought himselfe of some pleasing matter to entertayne the present time Soranso Ismarito were seuered from the rest of the cōpany vpon priuate discourse which being ended Soranso casting his eye aside beheld in the hangings the picture of Ixion herdled to his tormenting whéele Sée yonder The Fable of Ixion quoth he the worthy scourge of Ambition and withall reported the Fable of his presumptuous making of loue to Iuno Nay quoth Ismarito Ixion is rather the example of Vayne-glorie punished To be proud in vertues is commendable for Iupiter so well allowed of Ixions hie minde in that he represented his Image as hée raysed him from Earth to Heauen and because he should not perish in his affection he satisfied his desire with the embracement of a counterfeit Iuno The scourge of vainglory and so sent him backe vnto the Earth where vaine glorious Ixion Proclaymed that he was the Minion of Iuno and had Acteoned Iupiter for which arrogancie Iupiter threw him to hell with this pictured vengeance Questionlesse quoth Soranso this imagination of the Heathen Poet could not but be the trauell of a diuine spirit it exposeth such néedfull matter for Christians to contemplate of You néede not doubt of your opinion The soule trauaileth to bring forth diuine monuments in the heathen quoth Ismarito for after God had created Adam after his owne Image he scattered the séede of Adam vpon the face of the whole world and wheresoeuer the essentiall forme of Adam was there was also the Image of God which in the most barbarous Heathen creature laboureth to bring out hie and excellent things I beséech you quoth Soranso to enlarge this discourse I am not so simple to beléeue that we are like the Image of God in our outward shape yet my knowledge is not perfect in what vertues we resemble the Image of God Referring you A discreete exordium for young men that argue for your better knowledge to grauer iudgements quoth Ismarito I will only to satisfie your request say what I haue read and what in my opinion standeth with reason In our exterior body to say we resemble God were a grose ignorance The excellency of man throgh the vertue of the soule but in that our soule is closed within our body and giueth life and mouing to the whole body it is no absurdity to conclude the lesse within the greater to shewe how the soule resembleth God who consisteth in a Trinitie Notwithstanding she is but one yet
ariuall by occasion whereof the company left their determination to furnish the great Chamber The wittie deuice of Segnior Philoxenus to giue certaine Comedians a Theame to present some pastime in action the fift night after Supper BY that time Supper was done certaine Commedians of Reuenna presented their seruice to Segnior Philoxenus and his honourable companie who are not tied to a written deuice as our English Players are but hauing certaine grounds or principles of their owne will Extempore make a pleasant showe of other mens fantasies so that to trie the quicknes of the Gentlemen and Gentlewomens wittes to giue the Comedians a theame Segnior Philoxenus demanded the meaning of certaine Questions Segnior Soranso quoth he what passion is that that tormenteth a man most and hath least power to ouercome To thinke of a Womans Inconstancie quoth Soranso 1. Incōstancy which grieueth euery man and cannot bée subdued by women themselues Madam Aurelia quoth Philoxenus What thing is that which most delighteth and most deceiueth a Woman A mans dissimulation quoth Quéene Aurelia Which hath such a swéete passage 2. Dissimulation through his Tongue as it delighteth like the Sirens Songs and yet turneth to as deceitefull a conclusion as the Crocadiles Teares This yet was but quid pro quo so that neither one part nor the other was displeased The modest laughter being ceased Segnior Philoxenus demaunded of Ismarito what was the cause of most Deuotion and yet the greatest replenisher of Hell Ignorance quoth Soranso which causeth men to worship Stones 3. Ignorance and dishonour God Madam Maria what is that quoth Seginor Philoxenus that of men is least estéemed and of God most regarded Chastitie quoth Maria Belochy which is precious before God 4. Chastitie and a laughing stock among men Doctor Mossenigo quoth Segnior Philoxenus among men who is the most cruell A Dycer quoth the Doctor for he teareth God inpéeces 5. A Dicer This answere was both true and moued newe laughter although it were propounded to discouer the nature of the Enuious 6. Enuie who murthereth the liuing and the fame of the dead Madam Lucia quoth Segnior Philoxenus wherein doth a man please a woman best and displease himselfe most The modest Gentlewoman began to blush with great difficultie resolued this Question In the end by the tongue of Aluisa Vechio quoth she in giuing of her 7. Will. her Wyll It is true quoth the Doctor for her delight is to gouern wherein her discretion giueth others cause to laugh and her husband to hang the lyp Segnior Dondolo quoth Segnior Philoxenus what is the greatest friend to men at liberty and the most enemie to such as are condemned Hope quoth Dondolo which incourageth men at libertie to attempt great matters 8. Hope and maketh such as are condemned vnprepared for death Madam Helena quoth Seignior Philoxenus what is that which woundeth the heart and yet is worshipped of the eye Beauty quoth Helena Dulce for it pleaseth a mans eye 9 Beauty and pearceth his heart Segnior Bargetto quoth Segnior Philoxenus What is that which oweth most and payeth least and of all euils is the worst Ingratitude quoth Bargetto For that Monster receiueth good turnes and payeth vengeance 10. Ingratitude Madame Franceschina qd Segnior Philoxenus What is that which in louing too much baneth with Hate Ielousie quoth Franceschina Sancta which by ouermuch louing raiseth Suspition Suspition moueth Contention 11. Ielousie and Contention turneth to mortall hatred Segnior Faliero I demaund quoth Philoxenus who he is that profiteth his friends but by death is a Steward for other men and maketh his account onely with God A Couetous man quoth Faliero who while he liueth is enemie vnto himselfe 12. Couetousnes and therefore vnlikely to be friend to others also is but a Steward of his goods he gathereth for he spareth for others and spendeth little or nothing vpon himselfe and at the iudgement day before GOD must make account of all his deceit Madame Katharina quoth Segnior Philoxenus what is that which is coldest clad in Friese and warmest tired in precious stones Pride quoth Katharina Trista which hath no grace but in brauerie Louely guests quoth Segnior Philoxenus you haue so liuely diuined my meaning in your sharpe answeres as I expect wonders of your dayly disputation Sir quoth Fabritio we hitherto haue but exposed and refelled errours If you haue done so much quoth Philoxenus you haue made a fayre passage for the glorie of Trueth Vertue is commended by vice which by the refelling of Error you shall finde for euery vertue is commended by his contrary A Diamond séemeth the fayrer for his foyle Black best fetteth forth White Good is most praysed in the reprehension of euill and Trueth in the highest degrée is renowmed by the refelling of errour and therfore follow your purpose the conclusion cannot but be profitable Here Segnior Philoxenus stopped his digression and commaunded the Comedians to bethinke themselues of some action that should liuely expresse the nature of Inconstancy Dissimulation Ignorance and the rest of the passions before named Which charge being giuen while the Actors were attyring themselues for the Stage Quéene Aurelia and her attendants tooke their places with such aduantage as euery Gentleman had liberty to deuise with his Mistresse After the Comedians had put themselues in order they patched a Comedie together and vnder the recited names shewed some matter of Morality but a great deal of mirth who with their pastime kept the company vp so long as drowsie sléepe which delighteth in nothing but silence arrested the greater parte of them and caried them close prisoners vnto their chambers MADONA AVRELIA Her sixt daies pleasures Containing many needefull regardes for a Gentleman with a discouery of the inconueniences of Mariages where there are great inequalitie of yeares THe chearefull Sun which comforteth euery earthly Creature as the Lanterne of broade day so enlightened euery Chamber of Segnior Philoxenus Pallace as the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen to be auenged of the iniurie of Night who being the mother of cōfusion had separated them from their companions of pleasure hastily rose attyred themselues like vnto Partridges that howsoeuer they are seuered know retire vnto their méeting places presented themselues in the great Chamber The offce of ciuill courtesie discharged such as were coupled entertained Time with the deuice of their especiall fancies others contemplated of their priuate affayres and Ismarito among the rest in a quiet place was reading in Peter Mesier his Cronicle of Memorable things The rare Historie of Tamberlaine the Great Tamberlaine the great in the beginning a Pesaunt surnamed Flagellum Dei where he much admired the vertues of the man who of alabouring Pesant or in the best degrée of a poore Souldier by his vertues and inuincible valour became a great Monarch Yea and while Tamberlaine liued was as much feared as Alexander But
AVRELIA The Paragon of pleasure and Princely delights Contayning The seuen dayes Solace in Christmas Holy-dayes of Madona Aurelia Queene of the Christmas Pastimes sundry other well-courted Gentlemen and Gentlewomen in a noble Gentlemans Pallace A worke most sweetely intercoursed in ciuill and friendly disputations with many amorous and pleasant Discourses to delight the Reader and plentifully garnished with Morall Notes to make it profitable to the Regarder By G. W. Gent. R I HEB DDIM HEB DDIEV At London printed by Richard Iohnes 1593. To the friendly Readers both Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Wealth and Welfare GEntlemen Gentlewomē I present you here as I think a profitable vnpolished labor For he that is the Trouchman of a strangers toung may wel declare his meaning but yet shall marre the grace of his Tale And therefore Themistocles the noble Captayne and Philosopher of Athens compareth such forced speeches to Tapistrie Hangings rowled vp which being open appeare beatifull and foulded reserue their Vertue but lose their shew But I expect somwhat a better euent then may an Interpreter that is bound to a present Reporte for my Respit hath been sufficient to consider of Segnior Philoxenus and his honourable companies vertues and least by rash acquital of their fauours I should doe iniurie to their reputation I haue with well aduised Iudgement bethought me of such memorable Questions and deuices as I heard and saw presented in this most noble Italian Gentlemans Pallace the Christmas past and answerable to my weake capacitie haue exposed the same in such sorte as if you be not too curious may delight and content you and if not too carelesse may direct and benefite you And to satisfie you herein I giue you friendly knowlehge that Segnior Philoxenus reuerent regarde of the Queenes Maiesties high vertues is a president for you with a dutiful and vnfayned heart to loue feare and obey her Highnesse from whom next vnder God you receiue such blessings as throgh the whole world her excellencie is renowmed and your prosperitie enuied By this noble Gentlemans ciuill entertainement of straungers you may perceiue with what Garland Courtesie is principall crowned By the ciuill behauiours of Soranso Dondolo Bargetto and other Gentlemen herein named you haue a President of gouernment which will commend you and by well regarding their speeches you shal finde a discreet methode of talke meete for you Gentlemen The like benefite shall Gentlewomen receiue in imitating of Madona Aurelia Queene of the Christmas pleasures Maria Beloch◠Lucia Bella Franceschina Sancta and the rest of the well qualited Gentlewomen Besides a number of other Moral documents needful reprehensions and wittie sayings to perfect the commendation both of a Gentleman and Gentlewoman Courteous Gentlemen and Gentlewomen you haue here the honorable institution of Mariage so perfectly Anatomed as a very weake iudgement may see the causes which make housholde quarrels to resemble Hell Agayne the man which is willing to liue happily may here learne such directions and lawes as will change his priuate house into a Paradise on earth If ciuil Moral pleasures with al these benefites may make you entertayne this booke and report wel of the Author I assure you you shal be pleased and I satisfied But if you make your tongue enemie to your owne reputation you may detract but not reproch the work Iniure but not hurt the writer for both will liue and laugh such Calumniators to scorne when either are ready to doe the discreete Reader seruice Some wil perchance more of enuy to heare a stranger commended then of pitie to bemone my hard fortune or fowle vsage say I haue as iust cause to complaine of iniuries receiued at Roane Rome and Naples as to commend the vertues and good entertainmēt of Segnior Philoxenus But to giue such suggestioners a double good example both of patience and thankfulnesse I here protest that as these iniuries begunne with my hard fortune so they ended no wayes in my discredite And as I forgiue the causes of my mishaps so scorne I to recount them to receiue amends in a little pitie But for that they and all such as view my reporte may learne of me to be gratefull for receiued benefites I make it knowen that this trauel is Segnior Philoxenus due And I still his debtor and so shall remayne during my life reseruing a good affection to bestow on such as receiue his Vertues and my paynes to profite and commend themselues And in my opinion it is iust they doe so Wherefore to giue a disgrace to ceremonies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen I end as I hope to finde you friendly Your assured friend G. W. T.W. Esquier in the commendation of the Author and his needfull Booke EVen as the fruitefull Bee doth from a thousand Flowers Sweete Honie drayne and layes it vp to make the profite ours This Morall Author so to vs he doth imparte A Worke of worth culd from the wise with iudgement wit Arte. No Stage toy he sets foorth or thundering of an Host But his rare Muse a passage makes twixt burning fire and frost Such vertues as beseeme the worthy Gentles brest In proper colours he doth blaze by following of the best The Vertue is but rare and Vice not yet in vse That modestly he not commends or mildely shewes th' abuse Such matter in good words these fewe leaues doo reueale Vnforst or strainde as that it seemes a kindely common weale Of forced Mariage he dooth shew the fowle euent When Parents ioyne the childrens hands before their hearts consent And how these fortunes eke in wedlock seldome prooue Vnequall choyce in birth in yeares and Childrens hasty loue Yet he with learned proofes this sacred state dooth rayse As it deserues aboue the Skies in wordes of modest prayse More euery Page here doth present the Readers eyes With such regardes as helpe the weake and doe confirme the wise Which needlesse were to blaze in prayses to allrue The holy Bush may well be sparde where as the Wine is pure Verses translated out of Latine and deliuered by VRANIE with a Siluer Pen to Ismarito in a Deuice contayned in the seuenth dayes exercise placed in this Forefrunt for the excellencie of Pandora THe mighty Ioue beholding from aboue The mistes of sinne which from the earth arose In angrie moode sent Iris downe to moue Throughout the world the exercise offoes With vengeance armde who powred downe her Ire And with debates set Monarchies a fire Whole Countries burnde did dimme the Sunne with smoake The Canon noyse the ayre with Thunder rent The wounded men with shrikes the heauens shoke The Temples spoylde the Townes to ruine went Vnwilling yet to worke the Worldes decay Ioue Cyllen sent in part his wrath to stay Who hastes his charge with Wings as swift as winde But comming to the Region next the ground He could no way for clowdy darkenes finde And fearing in the Ocean to be drownde He houered till in fine he did espie Apharos
light which was a Phoenix eye Led by this Starre amayne he commeth downe And footing sets vpon a fruitful I le Where liu'd a Queene crown'd with the Worlds renowne Vpon whose rule Grace Peace and Wealth did smile Her Senate graue her Cities Mansions weare For such as fled for persecutions feare To whom he gaue the tokens that were sent Fayre Pallas forme and Venus louely face Sweete Pithos tongue and Dians chaste consent And of these giftes Pandora nam'd her Grace And ioynes withall Ioues blessings to the same To make her liue in euerlasting fame These monsters fell which publique order breake Dissention Wrath and Tyranny he bound This office done he thought as Ioue would leake To heauen he hyes and blessed leaues the ground Where this good Queene and Subiects quiet liue When ciuill warres her neighbor kingdomes grieue Euen this is she whose sacred fame is knowne Throughout the world in Enuie Feare and Loue Enui'd because she raignes in peace alone Fear'd in that she shielded is by Ioue Lou'd for desert whose vertues shine as bright As twinckling Stars doo in the frosty night This siluer Pen meete for a Virgins prayse Vranie here doth Ismarito giue With charmed charge this Queenes renowne to rayse As she in spight of Death and Time may liue Which right is hers the labour is but thine Then Iudging write as she may seeme diuine Vaticinium VRANIES A briefe Summarie of the principall Arguments handled in these seuen Dayes Pleasures 1 OF the difference betweene the Maried state and the single life 2 Of the inconueniences of forced Mariages 3 Of the inconueniences of rash Mariages 4 Of diuers speciall poynts concerning Mariage in generall 5 Of the inconueniences of ouer lofty and too base Loue in the choyce of either Husband or Wife 6 Of the inconueniences of Mariages where there are inequalitie of yeares 7 Of the excellencie of Mariage with many sound Lawes and laudable directions to continue loue betweene the Maried All which Principles are largely and pleasantly intercoursed with other Morall Conclusions of necessary regarde FINIS Madona Aurelia her first dayes pleasures Chiefly containing A ciuill Contention whether the maried or single life is the more worthy And after many good Reasons alleadged on either parte Sentence is giuen on the behalfe of Mariage AT what time the Earth dismantled of her braue Attire A description of the dead of winter lamented the absence of Dame Aestas company that faire Phoebus in his Retrogradation entring the Tropique of Capricorne and mounting in the Zodiacke licensed naked Hyemps to powre down her wrath vpon the face of the whole world through dread of whose boysterous stormes euery liuing creature by the direction of Nature retired himselfe vnto his safest succour as the Birde to his Nest the heast to his Couert the Bée to his hiue the Serpent to his hole onely Man excepted Man by reason inlargeth the bounds of nature within whose limites euery other creature liueth who being beautified with a diuine spirite and armed with reason farre aboue the reach of Nature scorneth to be chayned vnto any place through the violence or iniurie of Tyme In this dead season such were my Affaires that Necessitie sent me into a Countrey farre from home whereas I was no lesse vnacquainted with the people then ignorant of the waies This was the Forrest of Rauenna in Italie for the most part of pine Apple trees and hauing trauailed the great part of a Christmas Eue in a desart Forrest strayed out of knowledge I tooke me to a déepe beaten way which promised a likelyhood to finde out some spéedie Harbour and after I had iornied the space of an houre in a swéete Groaue of Pyne Apple trées mine eye fastened vpon a stately Pallace the brightnes whereof glimmered through the Branches of the younger woodde This Pallace was 10 miles from Rauenna towards the Riuer of Poe. The custome of Christmas not vnlike the Beames of the Sunne through the Crannelles of a wall assuring then my selfe to receiue best Instructions of the better sort of people such was my haste as I soone arriued at this sumptuous place but according to the condition of time in Christmas sooner to finde a friend feasting in the Hall then walking in the field other then a few of ignorant peysants I could perceiue no person The delight I tooke to beholde the scituation and curious workmanship of this Pallace made me so long forget the cause of my arriuall there as in the ende one of the well qualited seruants hauing knowledge of my being without in a seruisable order came and presented me with his Lords curteous welcome and reuerently requested mée to alight and enter the Pallace which imagined this entertainment to be but an Italion curtesie after thanks giuen by a modest excuse refused so great a fauour and onely craued to be directed the readiest waie to Rauenna the seruant cunningly replying that I could not bée receiued into the Citie without his Lords Bollytyne Bollytine a warrant of health without which no man may trauel in Italy and at this time he sealed no mans safe conduct without knowledge that his affayres required great haste in so much as won with his importunities and ouercome with wearinesse of Trauell I committed my Horse to the ordering of my man and accompanied this officious seruant to wards the Pallace and by the way ouer a large entrance into a faire court I might reade these two briefes in Italion Pisano é Forresterio A liberall welcome Entrate e ben venuto Which generall inuiting imboldned me so far as I hardly marched towards the great Hall the Skréene whereof was curiously fronted with cloudy Marble supported on euery side the passages Welcome and Bountie the porters with stately Pillers of Geate and ouer the thrée Portalls stood the Images of two men the one of Allablaster Marble bare headed representing the vertue of welcome the other of blew Marble attyred like a Cooke and by him were artificially painted Pheasants Partriges Capons and other costly Cates as the figure of Bountie at the entry of this stately Hall I was receiued by the Lord of the Pallace accompanied with diuers Gentlemen of good qualitie with so ciuill and friendly intertainement as his behauiour blazoned the true knowledge of curtesie before wée past any further I began to recount the aduenture which brought me thither and craued his honourable fauor for my dispatch why then quoth Segnior Phyloxenus for so for some cause I name the Lord of the Pallace I thanke your hard fortune for arriuing you here to do me this honor no hard but happy fortune quoth I if I may liue to honor you with any effectual seruice wel quoth he after your werie trauaile it is more néedefull to prouide for your repose then for a further iourney and so lead mée the way into a faire great Chamber richly hung with Tapistrie the roofe whereof was Allablaster
plaister embost with many curious deuises in golde and in sundry places in proper colours was ingraued his deuise which was A Holly tree full of red beries and in the same a fluttering Mauis fast limed to the bowes with this posie in french Qui me nourit me destruit And in verie déede the beries of the trée féedeth this bird and the barke maketh Lime to fetter her But I afterwards learned Segnior Philoxenus vsed this Ensigne as a couert description of desire A couert description of desire whose swéete torments nourisheth the minde but consumeth the bodie to the graue In this beautifull place I embraced the salutations of such a braue troupe of Gentlemen and Gentlewomen as the honour of the householde might well giue Enuie vnto some Princes Court. And least at my first comming I might bée abashed through small acquaintance Segnior Philoxenus emboldened mée with a familiar communication A ciuill foresight meete for a Gentleman and in the ende vppon a conuenient occasion demaunded of mée the name of my Countrie I answered him I was a Gentleman of England voluntarily exiled with a burning desire to sée the Monuments of other Countries A necessarie regard for trauelers the order of their gouernement and manners of the people And are you of that blessed Ile quoth he where the people liue in peace prosperity vnder the rule of a MaideÌ„ Quéene crowned with such diuine vertues The vertues of the Queenes Maiestie maketh the Iland of England famous throughout the whole World as the whole world may hardly containe her fame Sir quoth I your good testimonie of her worthinesse being a Stranger taketh all occasion from mée her dutifull subiect to inlarge her renowne O quoth he if Enuie durst detract her openly as she secretlie conspireth her ouerthrowe in these parts you should be driven to stop your eares or endure a torment to a faithfull subiect more violent then Death But the vertue of her Shielde Vertue stoppeth the mouth of Enuie but fireth her heart with malice I meane her graue Senate hath returned the Dartes of Enuie so thick vpon her shoulders as she hath no power to eclips her bright renowne whose vertue shineth in Enuies despight as a Diamond in an obscure place or as the Sune through small passages into the bowels of the earth so that happy and thrice happie are you the Subiects of the good Quéene of England whose gracious gouernement filleth your Cofers with wealth sealeth your dores with peace and planteth quietnesse in your Conscience so that blessed aboue other Nations you liue abroad without suspition of danger at home and at home fearelesse of enemies abroade Wherefore in honour of your Soueraigue whose fame armeth all true knights with an earnest desire to doo her seruice I am glad of the meane to bestow on you or any of hir nation the affection of a friend Sir quoth I the vertue of these honorable thoughts blaseth the true magnanimity of a noble minde which measureth not your fauour by the desart of others but with the royaltie of your heart The true Blazon of a noble minde and so binde thousands in recognisance of seruice among which debters I desire to be inrolled although I can discharge but little After we had bestowed a small time in these like spéeches he commanded some of his seruants to direct mée vnto a lodging if I pleased to be dispoiled of my riding attire who straight waies brought mée into a Bed Chamber so wel accommodated with euery necessarie pleasure as might haue serued for the repose of Cupid and his loner Ciches hauing a faire prospect into a goodly Garden beautified with such rare deuises as deserued to bée compared with the earthly Paradice of Tiuoly Tiuoly 12. miles from And to be briefe this Pallace with all her conueiances as well necessarie as of pleasure Rome where the Cardinall of Esta hath a most rare Garden Cardinal Furnesaes pallace in Rome fully matched the statelinesse of Cardinall Furnesaes Pallace builded and beautified with the ruinous Monuments of Rome in her pride so that the curiousnesse thereof was of power to haue inchaunted my eyes with an immodest gaze had I not remembred that it belongeth vnto a Gentleman to sée and not to stare vpon the strangest Nouell that is for bace is his minde whose spirit hourely beholdeth not greater matters then either beautie A necessarie obseruation for a Gentleman building or brauerie And certainely at this instant I delighted more to contemplate of Segnior Phyloxenus vertues then to regarde his sumptuous buildings who as I learned of one of the Seruants all the yéere opened his dores to euery ciuill Gentleman and at Christmas inuited all commers A worthie Custome as a customarie dutie so large was the prescription of his curtesie But which shined aboue the rest he was in his youth brought vp in the French Court where by the grace of God and labour of some good friend as his behauiours could not but win many hée learned to serue God with purenesse of heart and not with painted ceremonies H. was a Protestant as his superstitious Countrie men doe which was one chiefe cause why he spake so reuerently of the Quéenes Maiestie whose vertues make her enemies dumbe for malice will not let them say well and shame forbids them to speake amis of her sacred life by the time I had talked a while with one of the seruants and put my selfe in a more ciuill order then was necessarie for trauaile supper was in a redinesse which although it excéeded the common order of fasts yet it passed not farre the bounds of ancient custome for my place at the Table I had the priueledge of a stranger set aboue my degrée and with the same intertainment were Frenchmen Almain Duchmen and other Gentlemen Other strangers arrmed by the like adue ture A custome gâ—nerally vsed in France and in some places of Italy strangers intreated The Grand Master of the feast in words gaue vs one welcome for all but not so few as a thousand in affable countenances Supper being ended according to the custome of the place a Cake was cut in péeces to the number of the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen present and if the marked péece were allotted vnto a man he should bée King if to a woman she should be Quéene of the Christmas pleasures for it was agréede there should be but one to commaund and all to obay Madona Aurelia Sister to the Lord of the Pallace was crowned with the lot whose worthinesse was such as herein it séemed fortune obayed desert for there was no Gentlewoman in the troupe that Aurelia exrelled not in beautie and singularity of wit nor no Gentleman that her vertues inchaunted not with more admiration then the Sirens swéete songs the wether wearied Sayler so that of the one she was crowned with Enuie and of the other with Honor. But in as much as this was but the first
left his victualles to inlarge his feminine praises In the end tasting the goodnesse of the meate hée found prating very vnsauerie and therefore to recouer his losses his lippes laide on loade which Faliero and some other of the pleasant company perceiuing assayed to reward the Frier for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions Questions answered by monosillable which he euer answered in a monosillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding as quoth Faliero a question or two Master Frier I pray say quoth he who strikes with the sharpest rod God of all other who is most euill Diuell in distresse who deserueth most ruth Truth who is charged with most crime Tyme what holds the world in most imprice Vice who is the greatest lier Frier desire without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eate Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine when they could deuise no talke to put life in the Friers tongue doctor Mossengio demaunded why hée was so briefe in his answeres O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then quoth the Doctor it is good taking away this plenty of meate for cloying Frier Bugiardoes wit The whole company hearing the Frier beaten with his owne sentence turned into a contrary sence burst out into such an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of the Frier would not suffer him to swallowe one bit more of meate in so much as the boord was taken away and the Frier driuen to say Benedicite with an empty stomack an intertainement as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faithful seruant The office of courteous reuerence A good reward for Flatterie fully discharged the company retired towards the fire to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dinner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moned the disgrace of their praise master the Friar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by their enemy the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto said merisy that the friar had taught him such a cunning way to woo as to melt a woman into pitty he would wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to praise the thing they like Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercifull it is necessarie to bridle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue and questionlesse this paine set vpon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée things is great danger and smal discretion to play with fire to striue with water A profitable Note and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therefore he that will discouer his owne secret aduantage is worthie to haue his haire cut with Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was ready to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certaine of her chosen attendants whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for ancient customes profitable are better then new lawes incertaine she commanded the Eunuke to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Lute after a dutifull obeysance played and sung this following Sonnet in Italion TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bound Amid the Skies my wish I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the ground My eye sees Ioy my heart is gripde with paine I know my hurt and yet my good refraine But how these hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can giue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reach so farre outgoes As bound perforce he yeelds to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioy Hope dooth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownde as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To doe whose will Desire in me hath wrought A strength to runne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to stay It may suffise the wisest past my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to auoide digression which raiseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a repetition of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Whereupon quoth Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the causes why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish and take comfort in one anothers companie onely by the impression of nature and man and woman that are beautified both with the vertues of nature and reason many times matches together make a hell of this holy institution By Quéene Aurelias commaundement Reason giueth man souerainty ouer al creatures to answere Sir quoth Faliero the aduantage of reason with which you haue priueledged man and woman is the onely cause thereof no man will denie but that there is a difference of conditions There is diuersitie of condition in euery kinde in creatures of euery kinde some horse an vnskilfull horseman can hardly disorder and some in despite of his rider will haue a iadish tricke Some Bauke though she be euil serued wil not straggle forth some do the Faulkener what he can wil continuallie flie at checkes some hound by no meanes will be rated from riot and some will neuer forsake his vndertaken game euen so some man will filch if his hands be fast bounde and some hauing the aduantage of a bootie will rather starue then steale some woman with an houres libertie will offend and ten yeares louing sute cannot ouercome some other Reason findeth out the imperfection of nature Cause of misliking in mariage But the vice and vertue in euery creature by the opinions of many sage Philosophers procéedeth from the purenesse or the imperfection of nature which is not to be found but by reason and the vse of reason onelie belongeth to man now if by ouer sight in choice maried are deuided in desire differ in life and delight in neithers loue Reason that findeth out this contrarietie Causes of comfort in mariage soweth contention betwéene the vnfortunate couple in Matrimonie thus matched Againe when betwéene the married there is equalitie of byrth yeres and manners no difference in loue nor suspition of others behauiour reason that delighteth in vnitie maketh the ioyes of Mariage innumerable Therefore think I the opinion of Plato may be imbraced as a sound iudgement The whole assembly allowed Falieroes reason and Dondolo himselfe was reasonably well satisfied But quoth he since Mariage bringeth with her