noble Lord Zelauto taketh shypping into Persia. Astraepho séemeth to tell Zelauto of his bolde hâ—â—arding himselfe in such order Zelauto excuseth his boldnesse as well as he can They goe to supper Astraepho in the morning beginneth to talk with Zelauto desiring him to accept in good part his homely entertainment He showeth how he néedeth not to accept of coyne for because he hath Nobody to baâ—ter withal Money in Citieâ— causeth much mischéefe discencion among the commons discorde among fréendes such lyke iniuries Zelauto yéeldeth innumerable thanks for the great courtesies that he hath found béeing but in déede a straunger Astraepho desirous to heare the rest of his trauayles remeÌ„breth him of his former promise Zelauto his coÌ„ming to Zebaia in Persia to the house of one MaÌ„niko Rigustello who lodged ChristiaÌ„s The hostes of the house a Christian a Florentin The hostes and Zelauto conferreth together about his comming to that place and informeth him of the lawes orders of that City The hostes proffereth herself to be his fréend Zelauto giueth her great thankes for her courtesie She demandeth of what countrey he is wherfore his coÌ„ming is and whether hée minded to make his iourney Zelauto reposing a good beleéfe in his hostesse because shée was a christian openeth to her of whence he was how he had traueyled other countreyes and howe hée meant to traueile tyl his tyme were expyred She aunswereth him verie honestly ciuilly so it drewe at length to supper time The Hoste béeing at supper with Zelau knowing he was a Christian and had a good minde to the same him selfe entreth into talke with him The creation of maÌ„ Gene. 1. Manâ— made a gouernor The beastes to labour for him and to be his foode lykewise Man what a losse hee had MaÌ„ cast out of Paradise God yet would not leaue vs succorlesse but sent his Prophetes to preache to vs then his Christ to pay the rauÌ„some of our sinnes what greeuous tormeÌ„teâ— he did abyde for vs yet we do not seeke to amende our naughtie lyuing but dayly sinne more and more Zelauto telleth him what cruelty they vse to a poore meÌ„ber of Christes body when they take him Through waÌ„t of knowledge of God coÌ„meth this great tiraÌ„ny To knowe God is to do as we would be done vnto To knowe God to worship him only To know God to beleeue in his Christe To knowe God bringeth lyfe euerlasting The Hoste mooued in minde at the talke of Zelauto entreth into farder communicatioÌ„ with him The Hoste desireth to know how he might lykewise become a Christian. Zelauto glad to heare the Hosts good zeale yet desireth him to cease of that talke tyll some 〈◊〉 ther more conuenieÌ„nt tyme. The Hoste is wel conteÌ„ted with the reply of Zelauto falleth with him into other talke Zelauto telleth to the Hoste the cause why hée went thus in trauaile Mica Sheffola the Nephew of the Soldane came in â—erie sad and heauy The Hostes of the house taketh the Gentleman about the necke to comfort him Zelauto séeing the great sadnesse of the GentlemaÌ„ speaketh vnto him Zelauto séeketh by many and sundrie-examples to cause the GeÌ„tleman to leaue his great and sodayn sadnesse He applyeth his former allegatioÌ„s to the GeÌ„tleman He sheweth him howe his great lamenting dooth but bring all his sences out of quiet He courteouslie offreth him self to pleasure him by any means that lyeth in him to doo The GeÌ„tlemaÌ„ kisseth Zelautoes handâ— and then beginneth fréendly to talke with him The GeÌ„tleman openeth the cause of his sadnesse to Zelauto His syster for her christian beléefe appointed to death More of her fréends but for feare of suspition dare veÌ„ture to stand in her quarel Zelauto deuiseth what were best to be done in this doubtfull case Zelauto thinketh it a great shame for â—uer vnto him if he should not apply his paynes to set the Lady frée Summa virtutis Potestas est Mors non est foâ—midanda Zelauto replyeth to the demauÌ„d of the Gnetle man He giueth to Zelauto his hand to be a Christian and with him to taste of any troubles Zelauto desireth him in the morning to bring his armor and he wyll discharge his promise The Hoste rendreth thankes to Zelauto The Hoste speaketh to Mica Sheffola The Hostesse speaketh to Zelauto to Mica Sheffola The Hostesse her great good wyll to Zelauto Zelauto thanketh his Hoste and Hostes for theyr good opinion Mica Sheffola depâ—â—teth from Zelauto and goeth to the prisoÌ„ to his syster Zelauto coÌ„firmeth the Hoste in the Christian fayth Mica Sheffola returneth in the morning with the Armour for Zelauto He sheweth the great courage of his Syster to the death Mica Sheffola hearing the ioyful wordes of his Syster reioyced The words he spake to his Sister Zelauto after Mica Sheffola had ended his discourse sayth vnto him Zelauto so armed with so good a courage that hée doubteth not but to spéede well Terolfo the Soldanes son is he that must fyght against Zelauto Zelauto demaundeth at what tyme the Lady must suffer death The Hoste his wife coÌ„meth vp to Zelauto The order howe the Lady was lead vnto her death The departure of Mica Sheffola The comming of Zelauto to the place to fight for the Lady The woordes of Zelauto to the Soldane The Soldane aunswereth Zelauto Zelauto nowe setteth a good face on the matter not fearing the Soldane Zelauto his Oration Codrus yéelded him selfe to dye for the sauegard of his people Aglaurus by throwing himself from the walles of Athens redéemed his Countrey Iphigenia yéelded her selfe to be sacrificed The Soldane stroken into a great quan â—arie The Soldane replieth to Zelauto Zelauto talketh to the Lady bound to the stake The Lady replyeth to Zelauto Zelauto speaketh againe to the Lady Terolfo the Soldanes sonne speaketh to Zelauto Zelauto his replye Terolfo his reply Zelauto forgiueth Terolfo Terolfo forgiueth Zelauto Zelauto killeth Terolfo in fight The Ladyes and common people reioyce at the victorie of Zelauto The woordes of the Soldane to Zelauto Zelauto giueth his fare well to all the Ladyes and Gentlewomen Zelauto his Hoste were lead to prison Mica Sheffola awayted for Zelauto at the prison The Hoste apprehended must dye The Hostesse commeth to the prison to Zelauto Mica Sheffola returneth in the morning An notable deuise to helpe Zelauto out of prison The Hoste brought foâ—rth to death Oriana the Mistresse of the prisoÌ„ came vp to Zelauto Oriana telleth Zelauto how at night shée wyll coÌ„uey him ouer the garden wall Shée sheweth him the Monumentes of Brisaro de Saroto Shée commeth vp bydding him to prepare him selfe Zelauto goeth with Mica Sheffola away Zelauto departeth froÌ„ Mica Sheffola Astraepho giueth his censure on this passed tale and goeth to prouide dinner
shall and wyll be all contented to serue at your pleasure The Lady seeing the dutifull showe of submission in the Knight commeth to him saying WEll syr Knight in hope that your after seruice shall prooue so permanent as héere you haue auouched and that you euer hereafter in this péerelesse Princes cause wyll bothe lyue and dye I dare pronounce that you are pardoned and that your offence shall be no more remembred Caesar got him such a noble name through his great compassion and that made Cicero so much to commend him Licurgus when he had his eye put out by the neglygence of Alcander commaunded that his first offence should be forgiuen he would be more héedefull in the next Eusebius wounded to the death with a stone throwen from the hand of a Woman on his death bed forced his fréendes to sweare that they would not harme her for it I may lykewise alleage the woordes of Virgill to thée Forsan et hoc olim meminisse iuuabit and that the sentence of Euripides wyll byd thée beware Dulâ—e est meminisse malorum Nowe is thy first fault forgiuen in hope of amendment so that rather prayse shall be purchased by pardoning thine offence then that rigour should rule to exact on so penitent an offender Therefore behold when Iustice sayth strike Mercie by mildnesse dooth stay the swoord when a crime is coÌ„mited deseruing death Pitty dooth woork on the offenders behalfe Therefore whyle thou lyuest homage her whose mercifull minde wyll not reuenge with rygor for that Uertue hath caused her to pittie thine estate and thou and all that are her dutifull Subiectes say God saue our most vvoorthy Queene Therefore goe your way and fetche the rest of your trayne and so wyll I bring with me all my noble Ladyes and then will we goe together to procure some farther pastime After they had bothe brought theyr traynes they fell to a freshe Tournament and so ended this Deuise Zelauto Now syr haue I not wearied you with this long tedious discourse Tell me I pray you how lyke you of it Is it not woorthy to be caryed in remembraunce because it is such an excellent deuise Astraepho Credit me syr it is the proprest deuise that euer I heard of and if it shall please you to bestowe the same on me I wyll giue you as gallant a discourse to cary with you Zelauto Syr any thing I haue is at your commaundement and I would it were so déere a gyft as I could finde in heart to bestowe on you Astraepho I thanke you for your good wyll hartily But doo her noble Péeres and Lords that are about her often vse to recreate her person with such braue and straunge deuises Zelauto Syr those gallant youthes doo and haue bestowed aboundaunce in the pleasing of her Maiestie and are so well contented therwithall that surely it surpasseth any mans wit to giue them prayse according to theyr desert Astraepho But dyd you euer come in acquaintaunce with any of those noble Gentlemen Zelauto Yea Syr and am much bound to one of them in especiall who sure in magnanimitie of minde and valure of courage representeth in that famous Land a second Caesar to the view of all that know him And a lyttle before I departed out of that woorthy Countrey I wrote a few verses in the commendation of that vertuous Mayden Quéene and also I wrote a few other in prayse of that noble Lord to whome I am bound for his singuler bounty Astraepho I pray you Syr if those verses be not out of your remembraunce let me heare some part of them Zelauto That you shall wherfore marke what I wryt in the prayse of the English Quéene Zelauto heere telleth to Astraepho the verses that he wrote in the commendation of the Englishe Queene QVEL CHE MI. MOLESTAVA ACCENDO ET ARDO IF eyes may iudge and minde may full suppose the Vertues rare that I of late haue seene Then pen at large may perfectly disclose the seemely honour of a Virgin Queene VVhose perfect prayse deserues to be vnfolde And blasde abroade in trumpe of beaten Golde The Graces three attendant stand at beck Diana dooth her royall raygne support Vertue dooth stand all vice to countercheck and Modestie beares sway in all her Court Trueth rules aloft repelling darke debate Iustice dooth sway the swoord of her estate Prudence dooth stand on right side of this Queene and Temperaunce a Garland holdes before Then Fortitude standes ioyntly them betweene and Tryall he dooth garde her euermore Peace on the left syde Plentie on the other Thus seemely they adorne the Queene their mother Sobrietie dooth beare the flagge on hye Virginitie standes clothde in Vestall white Her trayne behinde borne by Humilitie Pittie lykewise waytes on this woorthy wight Thus euerie thing standes in so good a frame That farre and neere dooth spreade her golden Fame FINIS Astraepho Zelauto beléeue me I neuer heard in all my lyfe so many Uertues resident in a mortall creature But certaynly as I know your iudgement is excellent in such matters so I confesse agayne that had I not heard it of you I would not haue beléeued it But now Syr I pray you let me heare the verses which you wrote in commendation of that noble Gentleman whome you praysed so much lykewise Zelauto That you shall and I would I were able by pen to prayse or by paynes to requite his singuler great curtesie Heere Zelauto rehearseth the verses that he wrote in the prayse of a certayne Noble Lorde in the English Court. IF euer Caesar had such gallant Fame or Hanniball whose martiall lyfe we read Then in your Honour I esteeme the same as perfect proofe in vertue and in deede My pen vnable is your prayse to paynt VVith Vertues rare that dooth your minde acquaynt VVhat I haue found I neede not to expresse what you haue done I farre vnwoorthy was But Nature yet dooth cause me thinke no lesse but that with looue you dyd respect my case And such great looue dyd in your heart abound That straunge it is the freendship I haue found VVherfore for aye I Honour your estate and wishe to you to lyue Argantus lyfe And all your deedes may prooue so fortunate that neuer you doo taste one iot of stryfe But so to lyue as one free from annoy In health and wealth vnto your lasting ioy FINIS Astraepho Surely belyke Zelauto you haue found great fréendshippe at that noble Gentlemans handes But referring all other matters aside tell me what became of your CompanioÌ„ that went with you into England Zelauto Truly he was so farre in loue with the Countrey that I could not get him from thence when I departed And in déede so would I lykewise haue stayde if my Fathers commaundement had not bene such which caused me to hasten away because I would sée other Countryes Astraepho Then you dyd depart shortly after and left your Companion there Zelauto
aduenture Zelauto beeing come to the place where he must defend the Ladyes cause who stoode there before him ready bound to a stake and hauing talked with the Soldane as touching pardon for his bolde attempt thus beginneth to make his Oration in the presence of them all AFter I had well pondred the sharpe reply of the Soldane and that since I was entred before them all it behooued me to set a good face on the matter not dismay my self with any of their diuellish dealinges neyther estéeming the furie of the Soldane nor crauing the courtesie of any his companions aduaunced my selfe forwarde and sayd Since neyther promise may be proffered to purchase my pardon nor licence for that I shall yéeld vnto lybertie neither dismaying through doubt of your dealing nor fearing the chéefest â—orte of your furie I pronounce in presence what my minde giues occasion and wyll mayntaine the same with the losse of my life Beholde inuincible Soldane you noble Lords and you renowned Matrones a man bothe dead and a lyue a lyue to aduaunce the cause of this Lady and dead in that my victory returneth losse of my lyfe But yet remembring life is vncertayne death is so that each man may make accoumpt thereof I nought estéeme the likelyhood of my life but arme my selfe as one willing to the death Yet by perfect proofe we sée that the tallest Trée abydes many a bitter blaste the brauest Bulwarke by force is battered the hautiest Hart subiect to a fall and the proudest person at last maketh his Cabben of clay euen so your potencie may soone be peruerted and the vttermost of your tyranny cleane disapoynted Sée héere the guyltlesse doomed to death sée héere the lewdest suffered to lyue beholde where trueth is turnde out of all sée héere where falsehood boasteth in his brauerie But since rashnesse in spéeche maketh me run too farre the knowledge of my selfe calleth me backe againe I confesse it is not my part to disalowe of your dealings nor to contemne the principalitie which now you professe yet may I reprehend the abused aucthorytie ruled by rigor and not by indifferencie You will say that Princes are not to professe partialitie and that the Subiect should not meddle in the swaying of his dignitie yet ought the Prince to deale vprightly and not to pinche that partie that auoucheth most â—ayth and dutifull loyaltie Admit that the Prince may so farre ouer run him selfe that by ambicious heades double dealers and priuie enemies he condempneth the man that most dooth honour him yet is not his death to be prosecuted so hastily but to be considered of with wisdome and discretion This Lady for example no straunger but of your owne blood and no enimie to your Maiestie but rather one that wisheth you inestimable dignitie she by you is condempned for wishing you well shée committed to this mortall death that séeketh to saue you from eternall death What heart so hard can commit such crueltie and what beast so brutishe but dealeth more naturally If to your owne blood you will dealâ— so tyrannically how will you deale with me poore wretch of so meane estimation Me thinketh that though the extremity you vse to the vttermost Nature yet should mooue with an inward affectioÌ„ and though that iustly she deserued the death yet should naturall kindnesse procure you to pittie Also amoÌ„g so many gallant youthes none so ventrous to defend her cause nor none so inflamed with affection as to mittigate her myserie Me thinke noble Ladyes that some one of you ought to haue stoode her defender if no man had the courage to hazard his lyfe Admit that the estate of your CouÌ„trey consisted on this Ladyes well fare would you séeme so slouthfull as to suffer your whole Countrey to perishe rather then to make apparaunce of your manhood King Codrus béeing aduertised by the Oracle that except he were slayne his people should not vanquishe their enimies armed him selfe lyke a Soldier placing him selfe in the forefront of the armie and there by his death set all his people at quietnesse Beholde what great affection was in this noble Prince who more estéemed the sauegard and happy societie of his people then his owne life Aglaurus to shun the emminent daunger that was like to fall vpoÌ„ Athens seeing his death only might set it at liberty threw him selfe headlong from the walles of Athens and so ended the strife where else it should haue bene conquered But now attend you noble Ladyes and you modest Matrones let the excellent example of Iphigenia cause you to remember what care you ought to haue in the preuenting of such daungers as may happen and by some one of you may be easily escaped Shée I say séeing that her death would appease the rigor of her enimies yéelded her selfe to be sacrificed Oh admirable vertue oh singuler constancie her matche as rare to finde in these partes as to sée golden Goates to féede on gréene mountaynes yet wish I that all Women would prosecute her rare rule of life and that some one Iphigenia among you would hazard your hap to set frée this Lady But least in wishing you to be warriours I should séeme to â—hroude my selfe and that you should thinke I come to prate rather then to put my puissance in practise I wyll cease to trouble you with ouermuch talke vtter the cause wherfore I come First I come to sue and intreate if I may haue good successe which is that you would spare the life of this famous Lady and not cut of her dayes in her gallantest prime that you would remember the race shée is discended of and woorke no wurse to her then you would to your owne selues Next if youâ— Lawes be so extreme that they may not spare punishment and eke you your selues so wilfull that you must néedes woorke her wrack I thinke it sufficient that you put her in exyle with expresse charge in payne of death neuer to returne so may your rigor be verie well asswaged shée for her paines indifferently penaunced Thus in your Land shall you euer héereafter be magnified and all people wyll laude your Princely dealinges And lastly if neyther of these peticions may séeme to take place but that you must néedes execute the vttermost of your crueltie Héere am I by fore of Armes to defend her quarrell and against this your Champion will liue and dye in her defence This is the cause of my comming and this the dutie I haue to discharge With that the Soldane began to looke on his Lords and they on him the Ladyes all that were present was stroken into a great maze some for ioy clapped theyr handes and some on the other side began to wéepe the poore distressed Lady stoode all this whyle bound to the stake and the Tormentors ready to make the fire At last the Champion began to come néerer vnto me and the Soldane hauing taken good aduisement of my
woordes sayd as followeth The Soldane after he had well pondred the passed tale of Zelauto made his reply in this order as followeth SIr as we haue well aduised our selues of your woordes so are we to giue aunswere as wée shall thinke best and as your talke séemeth to giue occasion We are not to condempne you for that you haue spoken nor yet to commend you least you should receyue a priuate pride in your selfe also your manhood we are not to reprooue nor yet of your qualities we are not to accoumpt although bothe of them in you haue made a séemely shewe but as your manhood may misse when you thinke most surest so may your qualities be so craftie as at last may deceyue your selfe And where you haue alleaged that naturall affectioÌ„ should woorke in vs especially towards them of our owne Parentage I aunswere that were shee mine owne Childe making an offence shée is woorthy to be beaten and so shée altring from all her fréends Kinskolke and faith in our iudgementes shée is woorthy to taste the sharpest torments Farder you sayd that shée dooth it as an example in wishing our weale we aunswere That they which speak vs fayre and looue vs not We will speake them as fayre and trust them not and shée that would take no warning when shée might nowe if shée would we will not accept of it But belyke you are of the same opinion your selfe and that makes you heare so much with her in that respect if you be choose you the wurse will be your owne in the ende To 〈◊〉 vp the whole estate of your talke it were néedelesse and to trifle the time we doo not intend our aunswer is this neyther pittie shall procure vs to consider of her cause nor exyle shall be graunted to her for her offence but only the death whereto shée is adiudged Now win her and weare her shewe the best of thy manhood but take héede of the ende When I perceyued the Soldane so fully bent to bathe his handes in her guyltlesse blood and that nothing but her death might séeme to suffice him I went to the Lady and thus I vsed my talke Lady neyther can I warrant you lyfe or my selfe able to vanquishe your enimie but how euer it be of the death I doo assure my selfe wherfore neither faint with feare nor forgette your faith but as you séeme to be constant vnto the death so frame your peticions the better shall I spéede If I redéeme you it is the cheefest of my desire If I dye my selfe God will receyue my soule Thus neyther trusting to the one more then the other or more accoumpting of lyfe then I doo of death I enter the féeld to fortifie your faith and hazard my hap as shall please God to spéede me With that the Lady whose comely and swéete countenaunce me thinkes I yet beholde made aunswer vnto me as héere I shall tell you Most noble Syr I may thinke my selfe happy to haue so good a Champion and coumpt the féelde wonne how euer it spéede if you foyle my enemie I haue that I looke for yet if you dye your selfe my state is farre wurse then it was before rather had I to abyde the brunt and you to shéelde your selfe then to ende two bodies lyues where one may suffise so shall the enemie gorge him selfe with my blood your good wyll be neuerthelesse estéemed of Therefore good Syr content you and escape hence if you can for I am prepared to abide what it shall please them to lay on me Nowe credit me Syr these her woordes dyd so greatly encourage me that had it béene against Men and Monsters yea the furious féendes I would haue ventured what euer had betyde me So then I sayd vnto her No Lady what I haue promised shall be presently performed they shall not say that a Christian will eate his woorde but that he dare venture against the proudest of them And so fare well good Lady for héere goes your woorthy Knight who before hée returneth wyll eyther subdue thy enimie or loose his lyfe in the féelde When the Champion sawe I was returned he came vnto me saying Syr as you are a Knight at Armes and héere professe the same so nowe according to the order and custome of the Lawe I am to desire your name Trueth Syr quoth I and of my name I am not ashamed my name is Zelauto and I come to maintaine the cause of this Lady Nowe am I to request as much of you Syr quoth he my name is Terolfo I am sonne to the Soldane and héere am chalenger on the behalfe of my Father I trust you wyll pardon what shall passe betwéene vs héere in this place With all my heart quoth I and I am not in doubt but you will doo the like for if I am ordayned to dye in this place I franke and fréely forgiue him that dooth the déede so it be but one man And if you Syr quoth he are the man to dispatch my dayes with all my heart I forgiue you my death Then were the Coursers sent abroade to make roome the men appoynted to iudge the fyght euerie thing in order appoynted that belongeth to the matter we went about hée fetching his course one way and I an other and so we began a fierce and terrible fight Then began a valiant and fierce Combat between Zelauto and the Soldanes sonne Terolfo which was so excellently well handled on bothe sides that it was doubtfull to whome the victorie should fall but yet at the last after many fierce assaults Zelauto kylleth him in the open feeld and so redeemed the Lady from death and what happened to him afterward WE endured so long in daungerous and doubtfull fight that he had small hope to vaunt of any victorie or I any likelyhood to boast of the bargaine but credite me he for his part verie valiantly behaued him selfe and deserued rightly to be well estéemed of for neyther any feare could inforce him to faynt nor wearinesse of warâ—e cause him leaue of but stoutly and couragiouslie behaued him selfe manfully At last it was my fortune to strike the stroke that dispatched him the which was as great a gréefe vnto me â— as to any of his familiar fréendes for gladly would I haue conquered him saued his lyfe but not bothe vanquish him and bereaue his life But as you know your selfe a man in such affayres dealeth as best he can for the sauegarde of him selfe is his chéefest desire euen so I was warie least the lot should haue lyghted on me and so valiantly â—lew him before his father and all his fréendes But to sée what leaping what clapping of handes what throwing vp of Cappes and what great ioy was made of the Ladyes and the common people would haue reioyced you to heare Then was the Lady let loose and I commaunded to come before the Soldane who was not before so willing
kicke You haue béene bartering found all so déere in the market that no butter wyll sticke on your bread or belyke you haue sauced some body and payd swéetly for it But what maketh you to exclayme against women in this order haue you looued and not béene looued againe haue you sought for honny caught the Bée by the tayle or haue you neuer looued and wholy giuen your selfe there against if so you haue the harder is your happe for farre vnable are you to stand against the decrée of the gods and haue you not read of diuers that haue repugned against looue which haue béene inforced to fancie theyr inferiors Take héede Strabino least in your denying to looue some gallant Lady you be not procured to fācie som poore Fachine héere in Verona If you haue looued not béene looued againe you are to mooue your sute and if it be to such a one who is frée from all other and may well be your match there is no doubt but after many sharpe showers a gallant gale of winde will blow in the Skie that will send your ioyes on heapes to you I giue you the best counsayle that I can and I would my proffered paynes any way might pleasure you If either my woorde counsayle credite or ought else may preuayle you to her whome you lyke credite me you shall not finde me so ready in promising as I wyll be in the performaunce therof Now Gentlemen iudge you what sundrie seuerall quandaries assayled the assaulted minde of poore Strabino to heare such courteous talke pronounced by the person whome hée most honored and obeyed Yet doubted he that if shée knew the very originall and only helpe for his heauines shée would be as slowe to performe as she was ready to promise but yet buylding still on good hope of her bountie hée procéeded into farder talke My hope is quoth he my good Lady Mistresse that what hath passed in my presumptuous talke you will conster it at the best but sure as yet I am frée from that which you haue supposed only this I am to confesse that I loue lyke where I am neither refused nor yet entertained wherfore I cā not condempne vpon no occasion nor I can not prayse before it be deserued So that I am neither to vaunt as victor nor yet to yéeld as altogether conquered And why I haue enuyed against these sort of Women I can yéeld you some sufficient reason I haue known diuers of my fréends that haue wasted out theyr web of youthfull time in frequenting company with such wilfull Women As for example one déere fréende of mine who was tost turmoyled and vtterly made hauock of among those whome he thought had looued him déerest yea some that were of good name and credit that sucked him drye then matched them selues with other Therfore I say it is hard to know who a man may trust now a dayes for you Women are so craftie that a man cannot tell howe to deale with you In déede Syr quoth she though we be craftie you men are more deceyptfull It behooueth vs to stand vpon our reputation and to make the matter nice and coy to some for when they haue once caught vs they will vse vs as they lyst What sorrowe and care is it to be a maried Wife that which God hath ordayned to be a comfort and solace betwéene man and woman is made nowe a thing of most contempt for when we be maried then cōmeth our cares all at once how many frowning lookes how many crabbed countenances how many sharpe woordes beside how many continuall gréefes and sorrowes of the minde If our Husbandes be a lyttle displeased all the house must be out of quiet If he frowne then what is next hand flyes at the face of his Wife If he sée her but merily disposed in any company then is he ielous if she looke on any man then she lusteth after him Then is she watcht and spied in euery place where she goeth to catche her in a tryp the which vrgeth her sooner to doo it when before she neuer thought it What terror what diuellish mindes are these of men who when they come to wooing then plead they simplicitie then yea forsoothe and no forsoothe this shall be and that shall be when God knowes when it comes to perfection it is neyther so nor so Can you blame Women if they be so lothe to graunt to your requestes and can you thinke them so harde when you your selues are harder then the Adamant Can you say Women are ordayned as a plague vnto men when as you your selues plague them so cruelly O déepe dissemblers O prating Parasites What subtill Sophisters What faire mouthed fellowes are these What paynted sheathes fayre without fowle within Who would thinke that you could beare such a double heart about with you I hope you shall be fayne to say at length Ars deluditur arte Hencefoorth therefore neuer enuy at Women when you are wurse your selues nor neuer play the Crauens as Cockes of your owne dunghyll the shame wyll redound where it is woorthy and you shall be forced to crye Peccaui Ah Syrra though you haue all the learning God hath leant vs some wyt that wée should not be to much deceyued Therefore neuer vpbrayde vs with such Rhetorical gloses nor neuer fall out with those who are your best fréendes If you lyke vs loue vs if not let vs alone Strabino halfe driuen in feare of incurring his Ladyes displeasure and doubting least his talke had bread some cause of melancholie calles vp his wittes together to make amends for his former fault For thought he if now I comming to speake for mine owne auayle and to gayne the good wyll of my best belooued should séeme to apprehend or reprehend in such causes as willingly shee would not it might marre all my matter and throwe all my good Fortune into the fyre Wherfore euē as the childe when he hath made a fault commeth créeping on his knées with bytter teares willing to kisse the rod so to pacifie the yre of his Parents whome he displeased or as the Ape when he hath nipt one to the quick and séeeth the whip holden vp in signe of correction cōmeth with chattering the téethe holding vp the ten bones so to content his maisters displeasure conceyued Euen so méekely and mildly commeth Strabino to the loouing lap of his Lady and in sygne token of humilitie vttereth these woordes Déere Lady Mistresse not so wel satisfied contented with your reasonable replie as sorrowfull for suffering my tōgue so rashly to offend you Rather impute it therefore to obliuiousnesse of my selfe then to any willingnesse so incurre your anger More honour trulie shall it be to you quietly to put vp the chollorike woords of an impudent Scholler then to menace your anger where as sorrow sufficient is retayned It is a good Horse that neuer stumbleth he is verie cyrcumspect that
you should hinder them with the losse of one droppe of blood wherefore I pronounce no other Iudgement shall at this tyme be ministred Now was Truculento more mad that he could not haue his hearts desire for that he knewe he must néedes spyll some blood it could not be otherwyse chosen wherefore he desired he might haue his money and so let all other matters alone Nay quoth the Iudge since you would not accept of it when it was offered nor would be contented with so large a promise the money shall serue to make them amendes for the great wrong which you would haue offered Thus in my opinion is Iudgement equally vsed and neyther partie I hope will be miscontented Truculento séeing there was no remedy and that all the people praysed the Iudgement so woorthily accepted Rodolfo for his lawfull sonne and put him in possession of all his lyuinges after his disease Thus were they on all partes verie well pleased and euerie one accoumpted him selfe well contented If now this homely Historie may séeme to suffice you in recompence of my costes I craue nothing but your courtesie You shall haue the rest as possibilitie can permyt me and I remayne your fréend to pleasure you in ought to my power Take this in meane tyme though too short to be swéete and thus I byd Euphues hartily welcome into England Honos alit Artes. FINIS A. Munday Faultes escaped in the printing 1. In the .25 Page in Zelautos spéeche for vnderding reade vnderstanding 2. In the .32 Page in Zelautos spéeche for Timon reade Timantes The Lyon dooth easily conquer his yéelding pray Where as Fortune is so aduerse small hope is to be had Zelauto at last by faire woordes dooth séeke to win fauour After many clowdy showers yet shineth a fayre day Zelauto right glad of his delyuerie yéeldeth thankes Honest talk passeth away the time pleasauntly A fréendlie gratulatioÌ„ for curtesie receyued Ne ob diuitias laudaris virum indignum Cicero in partitionibus Orat. Cato Senior Lucullus Pompey An excellent priuie nyp giuen vnto Lucullus Aesculapius sonne to Apollo Tullie Zelauto dooth returne to giue his fréend thaÌ„kes for his lyberalyty Néede hath no law necessitie breaketh stone Walles A promise made may alwayes be claymed for a due debt Zelauto accordeth to his fréendly request Zelauto telleth his first trauayles Gonzalo Guiciardo Duke of Venice His trauelling to Naples Banditie called Outlawes doo wound Zelauto His hard escaping to Naples His bolde entraunce into an Inne Madonna Vrsula the Mistresse of the house Her fréendly entertainment Magarita la donizela A fréendly and gentle offer Madonna Vrsula her returne to Zelauto An Italian courtesie She commaundeth her maide to depart and beginneth her talke Madonna Vrsula her talke Zelauto his reply A fayned excuse to collour the matter Her encouragement giuen a freshe to Zelauto Signor Giouanni Martino a merchaunt in Naples Madonna Vrsula her courteous promise Astraepho telleth his iudgement on this matter Zelauto procéedeth in his discourse She returneth demaunding if he wil go to supper They goe to supper She proffereth to play with Zelauto A Chirurgion commeth and dresseth his woundes In the morning Madonna Vrsula coÌ„meth to see Zelauto They fall in talke againe Lactantius de vero cultu Chap. 12. Inholders Tauerners for coÌ„moditie Caesar in his Commentaries commeÌ„deth the Germaines Abraham Genesis Sodom and Gomorra Rahab deliuered from death for the same S. Ambrose as touching the entertainmeÌ„t of straungers Zelauto answereth her learned discourse Astraepho vnfoldeth his iudgement agayne Astraepho desireth to heare more of this matter Zelauto now goeth to breake fast She sendeth for her Lute Astraepho desireth to heare her song Zelauto reherseth it Astraepho amased at her singularity knoweth not what to say Zelauto goeth on with his tale The Chirurgion coÌ„meth and dresseth him againe The comming in of Signor Giouanni Martino Zelauto woulde néedes depart from his hostes Her sorow for his departure Zelauto departeth froÌ„ Naples Zelauto coÌ„meth to Valentia in Spaine and trauayleth with GeÌ„tlemen to Ciuill from thence to Lysbone where he happeneth on certaine Enlyshe MerchaÌ„ts with whoÌ„ he talketh as concerning their Countrey Their answer Zelauto goeth with the Merchants to S. Lucas so towards England Astraepho requyreth to know of England Zelauto came into England landeth at Douer He drincketh English Béere and merueyleth at the Language Zelauto traueth of the maister for a guide Roberto a very mery fellow appointed for a guide to Zelauto Zelauto is come to London to the Royall Exchaunge Zelauto is brought to Signor Giulio di Pescara of his Countrey Zelauto lyketh well of the seruyce in England Zelauto commeth acquainted with GeÌ„tlemen of the Englishe Court. He chaunceth to sée the noble Queene of England Timon AgameÌ„non Marques Vitelli Ambassador of Spayne Sappho Corinna Eriune Praxillae Telesilla Cleobulinae Pithogareans Diotima and Aspasia Titan. Tantalus The Pageant with all languages before â—e Quéen The Pageant with Apollo and the nine Muses The Ship before her Maâ—â—stie Astraepho falleth into admiration with him selfe The admiration of Astraepho at the passed tale of Zelauto Astraephoâ— earnest request compelleth Zelauto to procéede to déeper matters Zelauto to pleasure his fréend telleth him an excelleÌ„t and braue deuise doone in England The Lady beeing driueÌ„ into a great admiratioÌ„ at the preseÌ„ce of this peereles Princesse vseth her talke in this order The Orcacades the golden America the East and UUest Indias The Lady dooth suppose that no one deserued rightlye such condigne praise as this péerelesse Princesse The Lady doubteth whether this is the Princes or no at last looketh and espyeth the Champion The ChaÌ„pion speaketh to the Lady dysdaining her talk passed yéeldeth her great rebuke therfore He alleadgeth that women are apte to prayse their Sex He vseth threatning woordes thinking thereby to allay the corage of the Lady He séemeth to extol his Lady abooue the Princesse The Lady replietâ— to the ChampioÌ„ because he séemed so much to coÌ„mend his Polinarda The Lady biddeth battell to the Champion in defence of her cause The ChaÌ„pion taketh the offer of the Lady wylling to enter Combat The Lady prayeth for asistance She applieth her gifts equiualent to his kifts Uertulesse Gentillytie is wurse then Beggerie The Lady chargeth him with greater matters then he looked for The Lady héere learneth him a lesson The ChaÌ„pion scorning the Ladies good talke aunswereth The Lady hauing vaÌ„quished the Champion sayth thus The ChaÌ„pion ashamed of his bolde presumption desireth that they woulde heare his sorrowfull discourse He repenteth that he praysed so much his Polinarda The Lady commeth to the Champion pronouncing him pardoÌ„ in hope of his amendment Cicero in Oratione Pro rege Deiotaro Alcander who put out Licurgus eye Eusebius Virgill Euripides Zelauto telleth how much bound he was to a noble Lord in the English Court. Zelauto writ verses in the prayse of the Queen Astraepho merueyleth at this rare report Zelauto writ verses in the prayse of a
the fishes the fowles and all liuing beasts then made he MaÌ„ the Image of his owne lykenes and grâ—ffed into him reason and vnderstanding whereby he excelled all the creatures of the earth insomuch that he gaue him the domination ouer all other creatures as the Oxe bothe to labour for him and to be sustentation to his body likewise the Horse to beare his wearie carkase after his tedious labour and other creatures beside for his behoofe and nourishment But man amyd all his gallant ioyes receyued so sharpe and so heauy a fall that for euer he lost his paradisall pleasures Before lyuing at lybertie waÌ„ting nothing to his prosperity was now driuen into such a perplexitie that he must eate his bread in the sweat of his browes tyll the ground by his wearie labour beside sustayning the wrathfull countenaunce of his heauenly Creator that before was bent towarde him so loouingly nowe cast out vtterly ashamed to come before his Maiestie so horrible was his sinne iniquitie that the quantitie of his losse to vs is vnspeakable But what of that dyd God for euer after leaue vs desolate dyd he send vs no comfort to succour vs Yes yes his Prophets to preache to vs lastly his déere Sonne to ransome vs who when we were at the brinke of vtter destruction payed the price of his precious blood to redéeme vs. What mockings what scoffinges what raylinges what spytting in the face what whipping what crowning with thorne what nailing on the Crosse and what tyrannous tormentes dyd hée méekely patiently loouingly gently yea wyllingly suffer for our sinnes But alas how lyttle doo we regard it we that knowe there is a God a punishment due to our sinnes séeke not to amend our lyues You that lyue in darknesse and not able to attayne to so cléere lyght how wilfully how wantonly how wickedly you leade your lyues because you wyll not knowe this When you catche a Christian a member of that swéete body that suffred all these torments then triuÌ„phe you what mercilesse tormentes he must abyde alas my heart bléedeth for to thinke on howe tyrannically you can finde in heart to vse him And whereof groweth this great crueltie you vse only for want of the knowledge of God If you knew what God is you would then consider with your selues howe you should doo to an other man as you would be done to your selfe If you knewe God you would neuer call on such a vaine thing as Mahomet is but on the true God he which lyueth and reygneth euerlastingly If you knew God you would then beléeue in his Christe whose name you can not abyde and then you would consider what and how many gréeuous tormentes he suffered for you and then would you rather séeke to increase the members of his body then to make such hauocke and spoyle of them as you doo So that if you knew God you should be partakers with his déere chyldren in the kingdome of heauen Manniko Rigustello the Hoste reasoneth with Zelauto SYr quoth the Hoste by this your talke I am greatly mooued in minde First to consider the blindnesse in which I haue lyued Next to thinke on the happy and blisfull lyfe that you Christians haue But syr I haue coÌ„muned with a great many that haue come hether and they in déede haue tolde me part of that which euen now you sayde and haue hartned me verie much but none that euer came so néere the quicke as you doo well letting that passe I am to desire you to infourm me howe I might attayne to so swéete a comfort as you haue If my applyable paynes may ayde me to purchase it I vowe no occasion whatsoeuer shall hinder me Zelauto I am right glad quoth I to heare that you haue so good a zeale intent to the Christian faith and my dilligence shall not want to councell you therein but as of two extremities the least is to be chosen and of two euilles the wurst to be shunned So holde I it best that at this tyme we leaue to conferre of these matters least that when we least of all thinke the enimie come to subuert vs. At this tyme if you please let vs vse such delightfull talke vsed with moderation as may well recreate vs and no faulte be found therewith yet think not I desire you but that I will satisfie your requests in whatsoeuer you please you shall finde me to doo more for you then now I minde to make protestatioÌ„ of So if you are well instructed and I deuoyde of my peryll you shall winne your whole wishing and I purchase no disprofite How say you syr are you contented to graunt to that I haue spoken Manniko Rigustello the Hoste In déede syr you say trueth lyttle sayde is soone amended and where the hedge is lowest the beastes goe ouer soonest therfore we wyll ceaâ—â—e this talke at this time reason therof betwéene our selues secretly Therfore tell me I pray you what was the cause of your comming into this Countrey béeing such a soyle wherin they rather desire your death then wish your well fare and whether meane you from hence to trauayle Zelauto Sir quoth I you knowe that a youthfull minde is styll ventrous and desirous to sée new sightes and fashions euery day wherefore I béeing one more addicted to pleasure then profite and more desirous of nouelles then to continew styll in one song hazarded my selfe to all chaunces whatsoeuer and hitherto I haue out stoode them I thanke God well inough What shall followe I know not what is passed hath bene sufficientlie discharged but whether I trauayle from hence is vtterly vnknowen thus you knowe at large the cause of my trauayles We had now sitten at supper not fully halfe an hower but there came in one a verie goodly Gentleman who was Nephew to the Soldane of the Cittie named Mica Sheffola this Gentleman sate downe at the Table and gaue a verie grétnesse sigh at length looking on me the blood rose aboundantly in his face and the teares began to trickle downe his chéekes My Hostesse Dania séeing the pensiue plight of this Gentleman ran to him and tooke him about the necke saying Alas good syr what meaneth these mestiue motions What harme is happened that makes you so heauy Or what cause procureth you to lament in this sort O tell me good swéete syr and if any helpe lyeth in me credit me I wyll doo it to the verie vttermost of my power Ah good Dania quoth he I knowe right well if thou couldest remedy the matter thou wouldest doo it wyllingly but the case so standeth that it is farre from thy power to pleasure me or any that I knowe that is able to doo so much for me Then looked he on me againe and faine he would haue spoken but yet he was halfe afrayde which I séeing and hearing him say that a man might pleasure him in the cause of his so
great sorrow I sayd Gentleman Arte and inuencion of man hath framed for euery sore a salue for euery malladie a medicine for euerie disease a cause or remedy for the same Likewise God as he hath framed the mouth so hath he sent meate to sustayne the same with all and as he sendeth sicknesse to man so dooth he send him health againe Man of him selfe is placed among a multitude of myseries somtime ready to fall into this euill then into the yet is he not left desolate As God sendeth him myserie so sendeth he ioye againe a whyle he scourgeth and then he ceaseth a whyle he lowreth and then he laugheth The Phisition first ministreth a sharpe Salue to searche the deapth of the disease and then he the better and sooner healeth his cure The Prince a whyle frowneth vppon his Subiect to declare his authoritie and to make him to obey but afterward he vseth his dealinges mercifully The maister quickeneth vp the dull minde of the Scholler with sharpe woordes and stripes of the rodde at the first but afterward he looueth him and maketh much of him Euen so Sir it maybe that some sodeyne chaunce permitted by God hath happened as to depriue you of some of your déerest fréendes or else that some vnlooked for mischaunce hath happened which procureth your pensiuenesse souseth you in sorrowes and maketh you mone in such mestiue manner Iâ— so it be thinke not but he which hath sent this Crosse is able to take it away againe and that he which causeth you now to lament wyll at length cause you to laugh Therefore neuer wrap your selfe in woes nor waste your dayes in wayling For that can but cause the vnquietnesse of the minde distemperature of the body and lykewise bereaue you of your sences Pardon my presumption Syr I pray you in that I sâ—eme to meddle in this matter which to me nothing pertaineth and that I perturbe your patience with my friuolous talke I doubt not but it is as well taken as it is meant by me and spoken and as courteously construed as my poore self pretended I would be verie loth to haue any heauy although I can procure them small pleasure and I would be sorie to sée one in sadnesse if by my meanes I might mooue him to myrth Therefore Syr although you be to me a straunger and I haue no commission to examin you in this case yet as a fréend that wisheth you well and would willingly woorke your well fare if you please to vnfolde the cause that molesteth your minde and what you thinke is best remedy therfore I promise you on my fidelitie though it were to encounter with any enimie to procure you a remedy I would hazard it wyllingly In signe and token wherof that my déede shall make manifest my woorde I offer you the hand of a true and faithfull Christian. Mica Sheffold the Soldanes Nephew replyeth to the courteous offer of Zelauto WHen the Gentleman had well poÌ„dered my tale and béeing one as I was informed by my Hostesse before that I néede not to doubt of because he was a good Christian him selfe but he durst not be knowen therof tooke my hand and courteously kyssed it and then began to say Syr I am glad of your Christian company but sorie for your béeing in so succorles a soyle and although you be a straunger yet to me the welcommest man alyue I haue noted well your freendly talke and wishe I were able any way to requite it neuertheles you shall finde me more your fréend then I entend to boast of and I will awarde any extremitie that may héere séeme to hurt you in hope wheÌ„ you haue heard it you wyll doo your good will to helpe it It is so syr as your Hoste can credibly wytnesse that I am Nephew to the Soldane Neoreo who gouerneth this Cittie and one who with him am able to doo you a pleasure but at this tyme Fortune hath frowned so frowardly that she hath dasht the chéefe of my desires in the dust I haue a very gallant godly and vertuous Gentlewoman to my Sister who because of her Christian beléefe and constant auouching of the same is condempned by the Lawe and to morrowe shée must loose her life Yet hath the Soldane thus much graunted that if any one whatsoeuer dare venture him selfe against a Champion by force of Armes to set her frée shée shall vpon his good successe be restored at lybertie To take this case in hand I knowe no one dare be so bolde there are many which wyllingly would but that they doubt to be suspected thereby my selfe dare wyllingly venture the cause but that if I should conquere the enimie myne Unckle the Soldane would coÌ„spire my death by some meanes so that séeing no way to adiuuate this extremitie I am fully perswaded shée shall dye the death And to request you héerein I willingly would not for that I know it were the losse of your life which on my Christian fidelytie I would be lothe to heare of much lesse to be the procurer thereof Wherfore good syr tell me the best councell you can what may be done in this doubtfull matter Zelauto I hauing heard the Gentlemans sorrowfull tale and considered the distressed case of that famous and woorthy Lady thought that if I lost my lyfe in defence of my faith my Captayne Christe would purchase me the greater reward Again if the Lady were so constant to abyde such mercilesse tormentes as her owne kyndred and the residue of her enimies would wyllingly lay vpon her and all for the zealous Christianitie which remayned in her vertuous brest I should deseruedly reape a great reproche if I could and would not séeke to mittigate her miseries Therfore wholy committing the cause to Gods omnipotencie and not accoumpting of my life to set foorth his glorie I enterprised the matter courragiously in assured hope to foyle the enimie And if that afterwarde my death by any meanes should be conspired I would referre all to the wyll of the almightie for that death were vnto me aduauÌ„tage and life nothing meritorious The learned say Cui comeâ— virtus non est is animo facile cadit a fortuna percussus The minde therefore adorned with vertue wyll neuer be timerous of that which shall rayse his eternall honour for after death is the glory of a mans preter dayes wytnessed as it is rightly sayde Viuit post funera Virtus and euen so I encouraged through the good hope I had sustayned I made no accoumpt of this miserable mortality but addressed my selfe to set the Lady at lybertie and so turning to the Gentleman I sayd Syr as I am wylling to worke your well fare So am I doubtfull of my destruction and as I may pleasure you to your perpetuall profite so may I hinder my selfe to my helplesse harmes You say your selfe the aduenture is so aduerse that on bothe sides