the vnhappy Lauro's body but so swolne dis-figured and putrified that as well in this respect as also that the flesh being naked it was in many parts eaten and deuoured by vvilde beasts they doubted whether it were the same they looked for till looking more narrowly vpon the corps it was knowne to those that passionately bewailed the Owner by a certaine marke it had which parted the left side of the beard So without more adoe wrapping the body in a blacke Herse they returned backe to Cesarina where when Gerardo's secret imprisonment was knowne the whole town vvas in an vproare especially the grieued Nise's trouble was incomparably the greatest when comming to the Tower to speake with him the carefull Warders hindered her and withall said they were chiefely charged to deny her entrance which made her thinke all was betraid vnto her Father and Vnkle whose rigour for her offence shee began not without cause to feare yet loue to Gerardo animating her tender heart gaue her valour to expect for his sake a thousand deaths resolued to die rather with him for company then for any liuing respect to forsake him a determination in woman brauely Masculine if in the performance the vsuall variable condition of her sexe had not intermeddled Gerardo in this extremitie stood vndaunted for innocent of Lauro's death for any other ground of his imprisonment he reioyced that by his danger Nise might know his affection and at how low a rate in respect of that he valewed life The two Vnkles arriuing about midnight with their Nephewes bodie the two sad Louers vvith the frightfull newes gaue respite to their wandring imaginations and Gerardo was now openly pronounced the bloody homicide who innocent seemed not to be much sensible of his imprisonment saue of the vvrong those Gentlemen did him to diuulge him the Murderer throughout all Andaluzia vvanting proofes for it vvhereas indeed in all equity considering the Lawes of friendship his former wrongfull imprisonment they ought now to haue proceeded with more reall iustification This not a little troubled him though neither from Don Antonio or his Brother he could receiue the least satisfaction vvho onely sought to satisfie themselues with his bloud and so hauing speedily caused Lauro's body to be interred they dispatcht a Messenger to the Village of Mora for the seruant that wrote the Letter and another to Corduba for the Slaue deferring in the meane time a more important diligence These things were not so seuerely carried but that vvithin three dayes Leoncio had notice of his Brothers danger whereupon accompanied vvith some of his kinsmen and friends he tooke Posts for Cesarina Arsenio onely absent then from Seuill came not or rather an vnluckie chance as disastrous as the present of Gerardo kept him behinde the which before the end of this first parts last Tragicall discourse we shal onely to auoid prolixiâ—â—e touch at Leoncio and his friends as soone as they came to Cesarina alighted at the first Inne they met with not holding it safe to accept of the Castle offered by the two Brothers vnto them from whom Leonciâ— vnderstood the cause of his Brothers imprisonment without any mention of Nise vvhich more for infamy then vncertainty was pretermitted Leoncio vvas inwardly glad to consider how weake proofes they had against his brother but this he kept secret and rather in words and gesture expressed great shewes of grieuance vrging how ill they had complied with their loues to his Brother and him since so slightly onely with a Letter and bare presumption from one that in more likelihood might be guilty they had moued the poise of their iudgement To this he added more reasons so bitter and full of indignation as made Don Antonio ready to haue clapped him vp with his Brother which had they done all had beene marred considering how vvell Leoncio and his friends came prouided so Don Antonio comming neere vnto him said Looke you Signior Leoncio if your Brothers imprisonment so much distaste you thinke you my Nephewes bloudy murder as much grieues not vs The truth ought to be sifted out neither take I your selfe to bee so cleere as to speake so freely in so weighty a cause Gerardo is your Brother and vvho knowes whether his intents were made knowne or not to you and therefore rest contented for hitherto there hath been no indirect proceeding and perhaps what may seeme but slight and triuiall to you may erâ— long put you to your Pecke of Troubles More vvould the passionate Gentleman haue said and worse had hee beene answered but that Don Henrique lesse blinded vvith choller that more esteemed of Leoncio for his friend preuented them by stepping betweene And Leoncio without further stay went to his lodging where thorowly conferring touching the busines vvith his friends the vpshot was that according to custome in matters of consequence they should petition to the great and feared Tribunall of Iliberis to haue the cause and tryall remooued thither assured that if the iustice of it were left to Don Antonio's arbitrement it would haue but a disastrous issue since he being absolute Lord ouer such as hee might name for Iudges in Cesarina they would doe nothing but what he should direct them in The aduice seemed good to all and was quickly put in execution Gerardo first appealing from his vniust imprisonment and some necessarie diligences vsed after in that High Court of Chancerie hee was by order of those supreme Iudges sent for thither In the meane while he that went for the Slaue was returned and hauing brought him in sure hold as soone as hee was come into Don Antonio's presence not once expecting to be demanded the cause of his flight falling prostrate at his Masters feete and desiring his eare in priuate he plainely deliuered as much as he knew of Nise's secret affection and of the Letter committed to his trust for Gerardo an Act fit for so base a creature and worthy to light heauy on her that would commit so important a secret to a Slaues brest Here Don Antonio seeing how impossible it was that his dishonour should now any longer be concealed like a Tormented Bull toared out alowde his hard misfortunes his Brother also suspecting the worst grew almost to as badde plight Nise no sooner heard of the Slaues arriuall but fearfull of the danger forgetting her amorous resolution suddenly fled from her Fathers house taking Sanctuarie at a Nunnery which had in former times beene founded by her Ancestors from whence she gaue notice to the angry old man of the Change who now with extremitie of sadnesse had no sence of feeling left of his disgraceful troubles But since their Causer was in his power the certainty of his Reuenge did a little reuiâ—e him which was also increased by the comming of Lauro's seruant whose declaration taken agreed iust with the presumptions of his former Letter and though by the Slaues deposition there were a plaine difference contradiction between them
shoulders they went toward their Village In this manner they marched through the intangling Wood till such time as skilfull they got out of it and willing to take a narrower path which serued them as a shorter cut to the neighbouring Village somewhat out of the rode way they might heare great cryes humming of Slings barking of Dogs such a noise as made them thinke verily all the Mountainous Inhabitants were vp in Armes But first let mee shew the cause of this notable Vproare which though needlesse suffice proceeded from those rude and barbarous Mountainers You heard how the three Shepheards with their fearfull flight frighted the swift Horse who by his Masters hard fortune was there loose grazing in the Desart Mountaine It hapned next as these charitable mens 〈◊〉 luckes would haue it that the furious speed of the swift Beast awoke certaine Keepers that belonged to the Woods to looke to the Game and such recreations as were committed to their charge who straight stood on their Guard supposing somewhat else to bee the cause and breaker of their rest when 〈◊〉 risen from the ground and looking what way the bloudlesse body was brought toward them seeing so many lights 〈◊〉 doubtlesse their feare made them seeme flaming Aetna's to them and not knowing what might bee the cause or who should vvalke in that vnseasonable time and manner full of astonishment and like mad-men though wanting courage to expect the issue not staying one for another they ranne to the neerest Village to cry out for help and this with such howling and strange clamour that they raised all the neighbourhood and adioyning Farmers vp in Armes and the hurry was so much the greater at what time crying out for help the fearefull name of the King and his Iustice was interposed for then Men Women and Children some with Halberts others with Launces or Swords at the Bels ringing ranne which vvay the Keepers affirmed there were some setting the King his VVoods on fire who conducting the troupes brought them speedily to the place from whence the poore carelesse Shepheards were vvalking faire and softly in prosecution of their charitable office sometimes exchanging their burdens otherwhiles resting vpon the bare and naked Rockes so that ere they could get to the Village these cruell people were ready to encounter them and these were the cries and noises the secure Shepheards heard vpon their sally from the inclosed Mountaine No sooner saw the Sauage Crue those strange lights when straight as by aime they discharged a thicke showre of stones making the hollow Valley resound with their wouen Slings wherefore the poore men seeing themselues so hardly intreated and that though they cryed out to the others to hold their hands 't was but in vaine since they could not bee heard left their burden and fell to their defence at what time it grew to bee toward day-breake againe restore and so with some comfortable remedies the Surgeon applide the Gentleman came a little to himselfe onely for feare of the worst it was ordained that none should trouble him with speaking to him till hee might more strongly recouer his Sences vvithout which he remained most part of that day When hee grew at last to be better and considered in how different a place he now vvas from that vvhere hee receiued his vvounds he could not but extremely vvonder and calling to minde his misfortunes grew somewhat passionate and addressing himselfe to the Noble Gentleman that neuer so much as once parted from his beds-head requested him to tell him in what place hee was or how brought thither In which the Noble Leriano for so was the compassionate Gentleman called louingly satisfide him desiring him withall not to grieue himselfe with the thought of any thing saue health which hee and his seruants were as carefull of as their owne At which the vnfortunate Gentleman vvas somewhat more couragious and yeelding his due thankes thought fit to be silent and so as much as his wounds would permit him rested ioyfull seeing his lost and dead hopes of recouering new life so much bettered It pleased Heauen after to restore him wholly reseruing him to other innumerable vnfortunate accidents and misfortunes and now within some few dayes hee vnderstood more largely from Leriano in what manner hee found him vvho told him likewise that himselfe was a Branch of that Ancient Stocke of the Noble Perafanes de Râ—bera and borne in the Royall Citie of Seuil Spaines Babylon from whence he was trauelling about certaine Law suites to the Citie and Court of Valladolid which voyage he now more willingly deferred out of the care of his health then vndertooke that hee might be feasted and welcomed by his kindred and friends Heere the vnknowne Youth was as thankefull as contented at such true and faithfull professions thinking now his miseries and wounds well inflicted since by their sad occasion they acquainted him with so worthy a friend Not long after he was able to rise but not so boldly as to venter out of his Chamber where hee wanted nothing to entertaine time with or diuert Melancholly which by fits exceedingly afflicted him and at one time amongst the rest in Lerianos absence who was walked into the Towne falling into his sad Dumpes and willing to beguile his fancy he called for a Lute which cunningly tuned with a cleere Voice and pleasing Dittie he mustered vp his lifes former passages in the insuing Verses Soule Since she hath prou'd vntrue Leaue to loue her bid Adieu Hope for nought from such an ill But to be a Prisoner still Can she euer be reclaim'd That hath thus her honour stain'd Vanish vanish my desire Loyall thoughts like lingring fire You consume me Hence Away Since your Mistris went astray Soule Remember to forget Her whose falshood haunts thee yet Try no more nor longer prooue What it is to liue in Loue Least so like a suddaine Theefe Thou bee'st seis'd by winged griefe Say with sorrow shee should pine 'T was no base neglect of thine Caus'd it her fault sets thee free Reason bids Take libertie Soule Thou mai'st forget I know Iustly her thy cause of woe Who abhor'd thee Nature weake Passion though would gladly speake Sayes I lou'd her once T is right But then wanton appetite More art thou my wronged soule And maist flesh blood controule They are mortall but thy name Still must haue a purer fame Soule No longer weepe forbeare Patience bids to shead a teare Cruell she that lost all troth Well may teach thee now to loath Blame no birth or crosser Starre But their sexe that faithlesse are Soule yet weep though stillament All my life in woe be spent Least forgetting to complaine Thou be drawne to Loue againe Soule Clarinda and sad moane You that ne're leaue me alone You to heare me weary still But content and pleas'd to kill Now you heare a grieued Louer All his former hopes giu'n ouer Promise to forget which way Shall I tâ—en forget Soule Say I
a Calenturâ— seiz'd me which holding on me a good space bereaued mee of all appetite and in foure dayes brought me to extreme danger and the fift being giuen ouer by Physicians I began to thinke my fatall houre was at hand My Masters griefe was farre greater then the cause of my infirmitie deserued in all the time of sicknesse he did not once stirre from me rather neglecting all his affaires he was only carefull of cherishing me and applying the best helpes for my recouery but both he and the Doctors ignorant of my malady the remedies they vsed put me into more danger for no drugs are able to restore Loue an ill incurable that onely wants an Auicen In fine towards night which prooued to me the saddest gladdest that hitherto I enioyed the Lawyer hauing most vrgent occasion to be from home because hee would not leaue me all alone as fearing the swift approach of my fit calling his Wife most louingly to him he intreated her to keepe me company till his returne With much perswasion she grew as I might heare at last contented for euen in occasions of charitie she loued to shew a nice-rigorous disposition Though my sicknesse were terrible yet had it not captiued my sences for they stil free might now perceiue how neere they were to their cruell Owner who at length Heauen willing to preserue my life either pittying to see me brought to this low weaknesse and my frollicke youth turned to a sad picture of death or belike acknowledging the purenesse of my loyall affection or for both for indeed no woman loathes to bee loued and few or none there are which at last yeeld not sending foorth most tender sighes and sitting her downe vpon my bed taking in her faire hands mine she beganne to powre this balme into my wounded heart Is it possible discreete Leandro that hee who for an vncertaine Relation of my poore beauty tooke on him the hardinesse of hoping to possesse it should in the first onset faile and shew such weakenesse in the first resistance Beleeue mee Sir did not your generous proceeding lowdly publish your noblenesse this present cowardize would make mee much doubt it Take courage Leandro for if when first you declared your amorous intent to me I should haue been wonne or should my words or countenance haue giuen the least strength to your imagination she that is now affected by such a facilitie and lightnesse might haue been iustly reiected for that Fort which with valour and perseuerance suffers one and many assaults by an enemie ought to bee more prized then that which yeelds vpon a bare Parley neither could you haue made a conquest where you should haue found no painefull resistance to make your glory the greater For the Torments you haue vndergone in my affection I am as well satisfide as a gratefull acknowledger of the debt for whose paiment I desire no longer forbearance then the time of your healths recouerie More would my faire Mistris haue said but that shee was cut off by the vnexpected returne of her Husband an occasion that turned my ready answer into weeping eyes He found me notwithstanding contrary to what he looked for much reuiued since the little time he left me perceiuing my weak colour strangely bettered which I suppose he attributed to some more miraculous cause But what wonder if to my pois'nous infirmitie that Superiour Antidote were opposed as a vvholesome remedy which might onely preuent it Now friend Gerardo my happy life or fatall destiny vvas subiect to the faire Violante's absolute commaund and her crueltie that brought mee almost to deaths doore at this time with her compassionate discourse so farre beyond expectation not onely restored my vvasted body to health but left also my minde full of vnspeakeable content wherby within a few dayes though faintly I was able to rise out of my bed my desired and deserued reward adding courage to my feeble spirits This inward amorous desire of mine often drew me from my Chamber and sent me not without my accustomed feare into my Mistrisses presence to enioy her pleasing sight yet neuer had I the heart to put her in mind of her promise for still the awfull respect she had gotten from me seiz'd on my tongue causing as since I haue found the same trouble and bashfulnesse in my Violante but my passion making me conceiue it was the vsuall punishment of her rigorous disdaine was like to haue driuen me into a relapse of losing by such coldnes the little health I had gotten from the comfort of her promised recompence In this time of my conualescencie it grew to be Sunday when by reason of some indisposition of body or other important occasion my Lawyer could not stirre from home nor Violante consequently goe to Masse at her early accustomed houre wherefore the Morning being somewhat spent it seemed good to her husband to bestow for once his owne Office of Squiring her vpon mee and willing to make knowne his intent said Friend Leandro my not beeing well all this night hath kept me within doores and Violante too from going to Church which troubles her and I cannot helpe it except thou wilt doe so much as supply my want by vshering her Prethee take so much paines and giuing her thy hand she may also serue for a stay and proppe to thy weaknesse It was scarce possible for me here to dissemble my excesse of ioy well I obeyed and with vnspeakeable content tooke my Mistris by the hand and now promised full libertie to my cares By the way I resolued to signifie the iust complaints that my soule might forme for her neglect to which purpose mee thought I was rarely prouided to make her relent But scarce durst my dastard brest send forth a sigh fearing more to anger her with my speech then to see my selfe by her coldnesse irremediably perish With this grieuous reseruednesse I accompanied her to Church and in the same manner had returned home if an vnexpected fauour of hers had not emboldened me the more that as vve came backe my Mistris looking now more comfortably and faining an occasion of taking off her Gloue without it returned me her beautifull white hand the sudden but ioyfull astonishment I esteemed a sufficient recompence for all my former distastes I vvas now so heartened with seeing my selfe Owner of that cristall piece that I could not chuse but vvring her hand vvith mine the amorous act answering so happily to my intents that I no sooner put it in execution vvhen my Mistris paying mee in the same coyne said How long loued Leandro shall your slacknesse and my modestie be thus at oddes or doe you expect with dumbe silence and frostie proceeding that my person should first carouse to you this is more proper to men then practised amongst vs. I know you vvill excuse your fault by laying it vpon my rigorous condition and though not long since your seeing me lesse cruell might preserue me in your better opinion
went fearefull therefore to offend by chusing and yet more fearefull of an offence to both in not obeying he made choyce of the former but as warily as hee could that one of them might not haue too iust a cause of resentment With this good forecast though she whose secret influence attracted him vvas already set downe in his heart he sent these last Lines to the faire Dames who with much ioy gaue them welcome and a view as followeth Heauen knowes faire Lisis and Aminta I had rather diuide my heart and lay it at both your feete then see my selfe in this confusion I now am in but the necessitie of obeying you beates downe all difficulties of feare obliging mee to the performance of your forcible commands My affections I know not by what happie Starre conducted are particularly inclining to the miraculous subiect of But passe not on my Quill how my hand shakes and my heart trembles timorous of the incertaintie of this matter Pardon me sweet Pledges that I suspend my cowardly determination in a businesse whose important well-speeding doth so much afflict me let me onely first perswade you that you both being euery way equall and conformable as well in the maruellous parts of minde is rare and excellent features of body no singularitie that way hath mooued mee to make choyce of one more then the other but onely the performance of your willes and beleeue therefore I beseech you that as it happens when wee see Gamesters we desire some one whom we know not or happely neuer so much as saw before should winne so my soule and all her faculties are strongly inclined and wholly yeelded vp to The diuine Lisis And thus haue I desiring to appeare worthy of her noble thoughts declared mine and complied with your commands I begin then from this instant faire Lisis to serue you protesting on my part a most humble permanent slauery a singularly inuiolable faith and a minde euer subiect to Loues lawes whilst life shall last most thankefull Aminta vvas she of the two whose hard fortune it vvas to read the Paper but so lothly that as soone as shee came to Gerardo's declaration vnable to dissemble longer her trickling teares made knowne the inward sorrowes of her heart vvherewith retiring to her Chamber she left her Sister alone but so glad and ouer-ioyed a creature as if Gerardo had obtained her some famous victorie whom shee determined to reward vvith the glory of her conquest-expressing thankfulnesse by instant vvriting how pleased shee was vvith his election enlarging her Lines vvith frequent iterations of gratitude in such discreet Phrase as made Gerardo rest most confident of his happinesse A successe that amongst all those which I haue set downe of this Vnfortunate Gentlemans seemes to me worthy of the greatest admiration for though the inconstancie of his prosperous and aduerse fortunes vvith their incredible euents doe oft amaze me yet this easinesse in Lisis and her facile inclination doth stupefie my consideration there being no reason to proppe with reason so inordinate an affection Lisis was courted long serued loued by Liseno yet shee could neuer affoord him though a deseruing Gentleman the least looke of acknowledgement this day satisfied vvith two or three smooth papers her open minde is vvholly giuen vp to a man incompassed vvith chaines and bonds vvhose liberty is as vncertaine as his conuersation vnsecure from which conuersation they that are best acquainted vvith loue say the firmest loue is ingendred but alas vvhat conuersation haue they had vvhat actes either to oblige or to perswade from vvhence shall we conclude this affection to proceed or whereon happened this Loue the firmest that hath beene knowne as vvill appeare in this Discourse There is no way to know no way to search or penetrate the cause of womens wilde and violent affections In fine from this moment the happiest for Gerardo that might be in stead of darknesse that obscured his sad Prison Lisis her two Sunnes with their powerfull rayes enlightned it turning his night also into brightest day and now vvith his present glorie he forgat all his former miseries and this fortunate employing his affections not onely bettered his Estate but totally as you shall heare occasioned his desired freedome and libertie Thus diuerting himselfe with the sight of Lisis hee past the greatest part of the daies and Time which before in euery minute of his seemed too prolixely tedious was now in-sufficient with his short houres for answering his Mistrisses amorous Tickets with which though they wanted meanes of neerer discourse his affection most pleasingly encreased and howsoeuer the limitation and curbe of his imprisonment kept him from expressing the great seruices he desired to performe yet he laid hold vpon all good occasions to expresse his loue and gratitude and to this purpose vnderstanding that Lisis was exceedingly affected to the sweet delightfulnesse of Musicke many a night paying from his Window the humble tribute as it were of his voyce he sought to increase it though the vnsauourinesse of the matter was such that he must not expresse the least part of his affection in Poeticall amorous Conceits in respect of the warinesse it behooued him to haue in his proceedings and so he durst not once offer at a Loue-straine for feare of giuing any motiue of suspition to some ouer-curious listeners which made him for the most part sing some short Satyricall toyes and one night amongst others for want of better matter hauing first tuned his Violl he sung these ensuing Couplets whose contents were to disswade an old Dotard from marriage Wool't old Colt what all this while Single now at length beguile Age and after Sixtie odde Serue the little blind-fold god Well since trust thou wilt no friend No sharpe knife or strong ropes end Goe for once be youthfull Woo Speedily and marry too But thy fortune truth must tell Shee 's no Gypsie listen well Is the party faire and young From a noble Kindred sprung Beauty much may comfort thee I but youth will ne're agree Long with Age to whose cold roome Quickly shee 'l prefer the Groome Birth to thy posteritie Lustre addes and dignitie I but breake her of her will Pow'rfull friends shee 'l mention still Or when thou to sleepe art laid Thee with fortunes shee 'l vpbraid Is she one of tougher yeeres Thirty vpward that appeeres One since first she new was nam'd Frequent child-beds well haue tam'd Or withall the neighbours knew She to first good-man was true Is she loyall is she chaste Neuer so too much embrac't I but silence go along Must for chaste with too much toung That 's as thou shouldst in thy meat Three parts Gall one Sugar eate Still she wrangles still shee 'l scould Brawle and word it vncontroul'd Nay when thou the Act hast done There 's a quarrell new begunne Sweet-hearts keepe she two or three Know not thou the mysterie Be she any thing allowd Whore so still not honest loude
disposed of but not long after in the diuision he fell to Ferru his share so to his great griefe and discomfort he vvas conueyed vvith others that fell to the Turkes lot home to his house His manly presence had much pleased his barbarous Owner who promising to himselfe that Gerardo must needes be some person of qualitie hee made sure also of a large Ransome at least a good Composition for the best part of their gaine consisting in Prisoners the Turkes of small matters make mountaines boasting though they know the contrarie that their Prisoner is some Prince or Lord so they that buy a Slaue of them first informe themselues what he is and though some pre instructed conceale their condition yet it little auailes them for inquiring if the day they were taken they were well clad let them bee otherwise neuer so truly informed they straight baptize them for Titular persons and the ill lucke is that so a poore Cobler if he were but indifferently clothed at his beeing taken passeth for such and straight-way they call him tell him they are well inough informed of his qualitie and know him to be Brother or Kinsman to such a Duke Marquesse or Earle which comes first into their heads and that therefore 't is bootlesse to deny it which done they presently clappe a strong Chaine or Shackles vpon him in such manner that he can scarce stirre And if seeing himselfe in this extremitie the poore slaue make answere protesting they are deceiued or mis-informed it nothing helpeth for they still obstinate will haue them to bee such as they fancie them whereby many are for euer depriued of libertie wanting meanes or ability to pay the price of the others vaine estimation in which these Barbarians many times settled are not ashamed also to send young Youthes to Constantinople presenting such to the Grand Signior and his Basha's or other Viceroys and great Potentates in those remote parts giuing out that they are the children of great Personages and such as will bring huge Ransomes Thus it happened in the time of Gerardo's Câ—ptiuity with three poore Souldiers who taken prisoners in certaine Vessels of Ragusa and comming into the Viceroy of Argiers his hands the one a Spaniard and the other two Flemmings he sent them to the Turkes Generall his Patron with the titles of great Personages but the ieast beeing by him discouered he caused them to be sent backe againe to Argiers writing ioyntly to the Viceroy that since those Gentlemen were so noble and their Ransomes like to be so great hee should suffer them to be redeemed and send him the monie a tricke that for a long time after much disgraced and shamed the poore Viceroy but with many other Captiues it falles out lesse happily since with this tyrannous vanitie they are oftentimes perpetually banisht from their natiue Countries for hauing once such titles bestowed on them they are kept vp close in their Bathes Prisons or Towers of the Blacke-Sea from whence they neuer come out againe rather baited with the intolerable waight of their Chaines hunger miserie and deadly stench and where none can know or relieue them they end their sad and loathed liues Gerardo passed not this ill fortune yet though in part he had some taste of the vnsauourie afflictions that in such occasions oft torment a noble and generous spirit for in the night of that bitter day he was equally shut vp with his other companions in a dismall obscure Dungeon in which he till next morning remained accompanied aswell by vncleane and nastie creatures as sad and lamentable cares now considering with what barbarous rigour he beganne to to be treated and then acknowledging that if hee should make knowne what he was the price of his Ransome would be so enhaunced as should bee impossible for him euer to procure it so that determining till some happier time to dissemble and conceale what he was in the midst of these afflicting cogitations the Dungeon was opened and hee remooued carried to the presence of his new Master whom he found dressing himselfe in certaine spatious vpper Roomes but void of any furniture or houshold-stuffe for euen the best and richest of those Barbarians neuer vse any all their mooueables and ornaments consisting onely in a Bed with two or three hard Quilts foure Sheetes two Blankets two or three Cushions and three or foure Shirts a man with as many paires of linnen Breeches a couple of Towels three Handkerchiefes a Carpet or two and as many Mattes to sit downe lie or eate on a couple of Turbants the men and as many Coyfes after their fashion the women and with some scrappes and pieces of different colour'd Silkes the Roomes are hang'd where they ordinarily sit vpon two Cushions This as I say belongs only to the best and richest of them for for the rest there needs no longer description then that most penuriously base they liue promiscuously like beasts Gerardo here making a low obeysance to his Master standing aloofe expected his pleasure by whom hee was presently in reasonable good Spanish demanded who and vvhence hee vvas adding vvithall this following speech Christian from the very houre that thou wast taken I had a purpose thy presence liking mee to haue thee for my Slaue though for the effecting my desire I vvas in exchange forced to forgoe two others for thee in vvhich I suppose I haue not done amisse for if thy gentle presence and good Clothes deceiue me not thou art doubtlesse a Gentleman of vvoorth if so 't is in vaine to deny it for besides the incurring my iust displeasure thou vvilt also be the cause of thine owne ruine by beeing either bound at an Oare or put to some other most laborious toyle This I am willing to make knowne vnto thee because knowing my mind thou maist also procure thine owne good and Ransome accordingly I say accordingly for I am not ignorant of thy qualitie and the Maile that was found with thee in the shippe as the Master of her and some of thine owne companie confessed vvas of good value in Iewels and Apparell vvhich clearely testifie the truth Besides diuers letters and papers found in the same not onely declare thee to be a Gentleman vvell descended but likewise thy name calling thee The Spanish Gerardo Here Ferru ceased and our sad Gentleman much wondred at his strange and craftie diligence and therefore seeing how bootlesse it vvas to deny himself he neither would nor durst conceale the truth though disguizing it all hee might informing his Owner largely of his life and long imprisonment he told him also that by meanes of that he and his kindred were vtterly impouerished but in conclusion put him in hope that if he would be pleased to come to reasonable agreement he could make meanes in Spaine for his ransome at vvhich the Turke much pleased looking more cheerefully vpon him replied that hee vvas glad of his resolution and that they would not disagree of price and so
thorowly satisfied crying out interrupting the relation and pittifully fixed vpon those hoarie lockes he said Peace good Father for Heauens sake forbeare the prosecution of my lifes torment Wretched and vnfortunate man that at length art arriued to such growne ills to be a witnesse if not of thy best friends death yet at least of his grieuous disasters of his tragicall story and ignorantly with thy rude foot-steppes to presse his quiet Graue He could no more for teares but his brother Leoncio who with better temper vnderstood the successe perceiuing plainely that the deceased Hermit was their ancient friend Fernando hee could no lesse then hold fellowship with his brothers sighes they also that were ignorant of the first Parts successes were strucke into greater confusion but not long remained they in these dumpes for the godly old man ghessing as well by the sad extremes of both as the speech of Gerardo onely that they two were doubtlesse the Gentlemen of whom he had heard so many things from his dead companion he requested them that mitigating their passion they vvould affoord him a second better attention vvhich they agreed to so that seeing them in more quiet this following discourse he first framed to their comfort Scarce could I this night considering your vnexpected arriuall so full of desperate passages credit mine eyes in the truth before them but hauing this present occasion to know you I am not onely vvell apaid but rest also most assured and satisfied that God Almighty was pleased out of a particular goodnesse to direct you to this house that the prodigious life and late death of this Gentleman comming to his chiefest friends notice might not be buried in the obscure silence of these remote Desarts and therefore though hitherto I not condemne your iust resentment yet from henceforward it were a fondnesse to embrace it for knowing his valorous determination holy election and happy ending these should rather make you reioyce at his maruellous actes and vertues since they are rather vvorthy of admiration and enuie then lamentation and teares such are fitter to be vsed to the Author of his happinesse to be sorry that we liue behind him in a world of miseries vse teares to him or rather feruent prayers to make you like your dead brother and beleeue for certaine that this arriual of yours guided against a naturall and ordinary course hath beene disposed to the intent that hearing these your friends admirable successes from my mouth they may serue you as examples shunning their bad to attaine by his like repentant penitence so happy an end as that of his life in which I now with your good pleasures will proceed and so much the more willingly since I suppose the Relation may not be vnprofitable for some one present among you Leoncio and Gerardo had no replies left which made him the more contentedly turne to his Storie and so rehearsing the greatest part of that amorous tragicall Discourse of Gerardo and Clara mentioned in the first Part and pointing at the actions in which Fernando as his familiar friend shewed himselfe on his behalfe at length hee concluded them saying that the parents and friends of Fernando's Mistris allied to the deceased Don Rodrigo and Segundo Octauio seeing him sided with their contrary Faction not only contradicted his suite but altogether auerse from what so much concerned them the more to spight him they wrought so effectually with her that in fine they perswaded her to a Nunnery where though Fernando laboured by all possible meanes to disswade her at the end of her yeeres Probationer-ship taking the holy profession vpon her shee cut the thred of his intents This wound of Fortune sayd the reuerend Hermit our affectionate Gentleman so painefully felt that his griefe now desperate without all consideration hee suffered himselfe to be carried headlong on in such sort that with the continuance of his passion his complaints comming to Camila's notice so hight his quondam Mistris perceiuing though late better then formerly her lost Sweet-hearts affection and calling to mind some ancient passages of their amorous meetings vnable to resist the strong temptation of her thoughts she at length vvilfully plunged her selfe into them and sent these following Lines vnto Fernando Though well I might had you any reason to blame my determination find a iust excuse from the necessarie obedience due to my Parents yet it shall be needlesse there being no occasion that I desire you to admit any since you can neither haue the face to deny your selfe to haue beene the cause nor can I want courage to complaine of your coldnesse Your friend Gerardo was more happie whose affaires 't is well knowne you preferred before our affection smoothing all difficulties to make his party good against my friends and Allies who not vniustly that beeing the greatest harme they meant you haue taken what reuenge on you they might Consider then whether I haue not reason to bee sensible of what is past satisfaction and you shall soone perceiue that my complaints are more warrantable then those of yours I am told of which might better be concealed which that they may I shall not much need I presume when you shall haue read these Lines to request you my desire is onely to see you and receiue my satisfaction which Camila better then your selfe deserueth Any Medicine comforts and reioyceth the poore sicke man that panting for desired health oft couets those most hurtfully preiudiciall Fernando's heart was vvrung by his blind passion and so though his cleare vnderstanding might haue preuented a greater danger the sharpe pricke of his scorching affection checking the free vse of reason spurred on his swift determination and oppositely crossed his more considerate iudgement vvhich made him to gaine an amorous conquest aduenture at one bold Vye his soules perdition But Religion had little to do vvhere Fernando still ledde by blind passion followed his affection vvho by Camila's order vvent often to the Nunneries Grate to visit her and had those cold Barres in stead of hardnesse tongues they vvould no doubt haue lowdly vvarned him from the detestable pursuite of that subiect in that place At this time he before an afflicted Louer had lesse cause to complain for Camila with his presence had more satisfaction then euer vvhich made them fall backe into their former loues or to limit my selfe to a kind of new deuotion vvhich long disposed warily might haue lasted but as such stations are much in fauour of our common Enemy so is hee more carefully punctuall more strong and powerfull to enflame the mind trouble the sences and adde Fewell to the fire It seemed his subtiltie found best accesse to the vveaker vessell by the readier way Camila's heart which hauing heauen so permitting possest stirring vp by degrees her brutish appetite and fyring her inward concupiscence shee was at last quite vanquished No longer could her determinate will for any danger of her close retirement deferre the vnchaste execution for
beginne for that 's the most Leaue to Loue since all faith 's lost Whil'st he was yet euen in the middle of his Song Leriano entred but loth to interrupt him staid till by a scorching sigh with which his Song had end he knew the Musicke had wrought in him her accustomed effect of sadnesse so he came neerer where he found him laid on his bed and his eyes distilling teares which in vaine he sought to hide from his deare friend who comming toward him with open armes said There is no reason gentle Sir that from a stranger and one that shewed so much good will as my selfe you should conceale that griefe which by vvhat now and at other times you haue demonstrated I conceiue to be very great and if I till now haue not beene very earnest to demand the cause you may know it was not willingly to reduce such pittifull accidents to your memory as might happely haue endangered your health in which you are now so forward You must not but satisfie me and let mee know vvithall who and whence you are For I vow to Heauen and you that bee it necessarie for your sake and reuenge I vvill hazzard Honour Life and Fortune I rest fully assured replide the concealed Youth Noble friend Leriano of the pure affection you haue shewed me mouing you to saue my life by restoring it and giuing me the being I now enioy which next Heauen I owe to your selfe and though the remembrance of my past disasters be most grieuous to me yet in respect of my engagements to your selfe and because I would you should perceiue how much I desire to fulfill your commands though I renue old sores vnrip auncient wounds I will satisfie your wish giuing a short account of my inward thoughts youthfull dayes and yong imployments as forerunners of my present stormes and shipwracke I cannot sufficiently expresse Leriano's gratitude to heare his friends willingnesse to the thing he so heartily desired and thinking each minute an Age till he began the promised Discourse he commanded his seruants to â—â—ue them and with a cheerefull countenance and still attention gaue eare to what followeth My name worthy Friend is Gerardo The great and famous Village of Madrid most vvorthy Mansion of our Catholike Monarks my loued Country the common generall Mother of different people and remote Nations Neere her high-reared walles by whose ruines her ancient strength is yet seene is the house of my Ancestors ennobled as well by their births as it 's owne Antiquitie there was I borne there first bred It vvere needlesse to enlarge my Discourse by recounting the tender exercises of my infancie therefore I will begin from my yeer's of fifteene which accomplished I was forced to obey my Father by accompanying him to one of the best places of Gouernment in Castile which his Maiesty had as then newly bestowed on him My elder Brother Leoncio went also along with vs a valiant yong fellow of towardly hopes all of vs were most iocund with our Fathers new fortunes our iourney vvas short for in foure dayes we arriued where according to custome we were solemnely welcomed My Father tooke possession of the Gouernment and to the general satisfaction went on in his Triennium This was the famous City of Talâ—ora one of the best most populous in the Kingdome of Toledo whose situation is fructified with the siluer streames of gold-bearing Tagus and makes it one of the most pleasant and delightfullest vpon all his Bankes the Inhabitants are louing courteous and affable particularly the Gentry of the best qualified houses of Spaine most worthy Pillars to so ancient a foundation Here me thought I was euer at home vvith friends of mine owne Age and ranke our exercises for the most part were riding running at Buls at the Ring Maskes Barryers and the like with which delighting the multitude wee made our selues cunning practitioners In the field Hawking and Hunting vvere our sports for both which that Country is plentifully prouided These the others that took vp our whole times were my chiefe delights to a heart yet vntouched by loues flames which made me as contented as free as satisfied in my selfe as by others enuied Yet not long could I so boast not long was I thus ioyfull how soone from a freeman became I a bondslaue From merry to melancholly from tractable to the contrary from happy to vnfortunate Sooner then I could with deare Leriano shall you heare the change Amongst many other shewes and Triumphs we vsually had one drew neere appointed by our Citie in honour and commemoration of the blessed Virgin Maries happy Nuptials much celebrated throughout all Castile at which time an infinite number of common people and great concourse of Gentry resort thither as well from the Court and the Citie of Auila as the Imperiall Toledo and other parts of the Kingdome The wished day came on being the sixe and twentieth of Aprill duskish and cloudy a season naturall to that Climate or belike Phoebus knew his beames might well bee spared where so many so beautifull lights would appeare We were two and thirty Gentlemen that in seuerall colours entred the Market-place my selfe performed the office of Stickler betwixt my Father and Brother Leoncio The sport began the Bulles were let loose and chased the whole solemnitie to the generall good liking and applause of the Spectators ended in a well-ordered skirmish of Canes on Horsebacke there hauing hapned no disaster or mischance at all saue mine which considering the state it hath now brought me too was the greatest could arriue At my first passing ouer the place on horsebacke my carelesse eyes chanced to glance at a Bay-window where certaine Gentlewomen strangers were placed they pawsed a little as being attracted no lesse by the noueltie then the goodly presence Backe I went with some other friends and Gentlemen that I might re-enioy a suller sight of â—hose beauties and faire and softly as prauncingly as our Horses could pace we drew neere passing to and fro with more turnes and windings then doth a poore prisoners restlesse imagination in a loathsome dungeon Neither had we thinke I till this time quitted the place had not the Gentlewomen seeing all ended raised themselues vp to goe downe to their Coaches that attended them beneath Heere my foundation failed and from this instant beganne the ruines of my fiered Troy One there was amongst those Ladies that till the present still masked discouered so rare a beauty in so yong a body that wee were all suddenly astonished Me thought vnaccustomed to such brunts the faire creature euen tore and parted my heart to make it part of her tender owne For sure I am by the effect any one might iudge how ill I was wounded so powerfull piercing was the soueraigne glaunce of her eyes At her rising vp shee approached so neere the iron window that sâ—eing her lay her faire hands on the fore-part of the Bay â— was bold to tell her The hardnes
of those barres faire Mistris is not safe from being softned by those snowy hands if happely they partake with the vertue of your scorching eyes since with their rayes you melt the most obdurate flinty-hearts These and such amorous flashes I imperfectly blundered out she onely answered with a gracious smile and paying our salutations with a Curtsie followed her company At entring her Coach I alighted to haue held the Boote to vvhich neither her selfe nor another Dame I knew since to bee her Aunt would by any meanes consent onely as they entred I passed a complement and they returned thankes I asked them whence they were They told me of Auila had it not beene for being noted I should haue knowne their lodging the end and limit of their Voyage I could scarce take leaue that Angell had so transported me but seeing there vvas no remedy was forced to patience They were gone and left me so amazed that I had scarce memory to get to Horse or to perceiue that my friends expected me Yet vp I got and gaue order to a seruant to watch where the Coach stopped and to learn truely who they were that went in it This done wee gaue a turne about the ioyful City though the distemper caused by the late accident I felt within me made me weary of my friends irkesome company of whom faining my selfe not well I tooke leaue By the time I got home it was night so I shifted cloathes and my minde brooking no delaies went into the street and Senabria with me so was the seruant priuy to my secrets called him I vvilled to direct me to the house of my beloued stranger and likewise to tell mee what hee had heard of her qualitie vvho said she lay in one of the richest mens houses in the Citie whose Neece she vvas and that she vvho accompanied her in the Coach vvas her Aunt that they vvere within two dayes vpon a iourney of Deuotion to the Monasterie of Guadalupe So that now thinking I had relation enough for my purpose I would needs fetch a turne in the street hoping that the very sight of those walles that concealed my Sun from mee might giue me some comfort But one of my neerest friends preuented mee who hearing I vvas not vvell came to visit me wee straight saluted imbracing as if 〈◊〉 long time wee had not seene each other Hee vvondred at the noueltie and hauing power of commanding friendship on his part soone forced from mee the cause of my malady Fernando so vvas my best friend called was glad in his soule that my sicknesse vvas no other then vvhat I made knowne and indeuour vvith his best perswasions to diuert me from my purpose telling me by vvhat I had let him know of the sudden departure of those Dames how small hope there vvas to obtaine my desire But finding me fixed it behooued him to giue vvay so together vvee went to the street and house of vvhich Senabria had informed me and passing vnder the vvindowes I might see at one of them being the lower-most the North-Starre that guided mee her eyes contending to giue light vvith those rayes that shewed in the still night She and another Dame of like stature and in likelihood yeeres were discoursing together that partie vvas knowne by Fernando to be Francisca Daughter to Segundo Octauio owner of the house vvhose qualitie vvas before mentioned Faine vvould I at the instant haue spoken but Fernando thought it not fit too suddenly to affright the game so wee drew neerer by degrees onely so long till we thought vvee might be discouered by the Moones light and they seeing vs make a stand vvould haue broken off their Discourse clapped to the vvindowes and retired had not Fernando as hauing more freedome stayed them by saying Let not our boldnesse hauing so good a discharge as the â—ight of your beauties interrupt your pleasing Conference or if this may not serue for an excuse you may punish vs as you vvould houshold seruants Francisca a little frighted thus answered If it vvere lawfull for vs to make longer stay wee should not greatly complaine of your boldnesse the rather since your humilitie hath thus satisfide onely the growing late makes vs of force retire Nay but said I remouing vvith this occasion you cannot but leaue vs doubtfull of your displeasure vvhich I shall esteeme as my greatest vnhappinesse All this while my Diuine stranger was silent vvhen applying my selfe to her I thus said I beseech you faire Mistris be not you of that Ladies rigorous minde since your sweetnesse is shortly to leaue vs to make so long stay from this Countrey Doe you know me quoth she vvith a gracious disdaine or that my departure shall be so soone Francisca now demanded of Fernando vvhom she knew vvho I was and so I had leisure to speake more freely to my Mistris saying If faire creature you remembred but so well him that this afternoone kissed your hands and to them rendred a heart more firme then these irons as he in his inflamed brest hath the rare image of your face engrauen sure I am you could not so neglectfully answere me I vnderstand not your meaning said shee though me thinkes euer since your beginning to speak I should know you but the habit you now weare is so different from vvhat you had on in the afternoone that you neede not suppose me to be forgetfull Loth I vvas to spend the short time in fruitlesse Discourse and therefore to the purpose demanded saying When is your sad departure or to say truer my suddaine death and this vvith so faint and pittifull a voice that my Mistris touched vvith my feeling with some little earnestnesse though smilingly answered I should thinke you vvere sorry for my departure but that I ghesse you can dissemble I haue neither time nor place faire Dame said I to expresse my iust sorrow in which is such vvhen I thinke of your absence that if I follow you not the being mine owne desperate executioner must be my latest refuge seruing as an Antidote against the poison that burnes and consumes me You doe much endeere your sicknesse said she giuing as it were to vnderstand that I flattered her vvhich if it be such as your presentment shewes my knowledge is small and my abilitie lesse to apply a briefe remedy though I suspect that as you grew quickly sicke you will the sooner recouer for it is the fashion of you men to make things farre difficult vvith vs and for your aduantages to facilitate and leuell Mountaines of impossibilities Let 's haue plaine Song if you wil haue me agree in the tune that you may know I vvould not vvillingly contradict you nor proue nice to the much good wil you professe vnto me you shall vnderstand that two dayes hence I am for Guadalupe and hope my returne may be this way and both now and then if 〈◊〉 any thing I may serue you beleeue and command me and see whether I be
secret meetings This said I and my not knowing vvhether the past skirmish haue caused any alteration in Segundo Octauio's house makes mee melancholly and vnsauoury to my selfe this night therefore without doubt must I be resolued 'T were well said he your desire could take effect though for Clara to come to the window vvithout any aduertisement I hold it very difficult Let vs but goe thither quoth I and perhaps my desire alone may bring her and that which fals not out to day may to morrow happen better Without thinking on our way and busie in discourse wee vvere ere aware got into my Mistresses streete when my selfe not thinking to be so happie lifting vp my eyes toward the window might see my Mistris leaning on the grate as sad and pensatiue as I vvas vpon the way she beckened me with her hand to stay wherefore most ioyfully obeying Fernando and I stood talking and making as if we looked another way till Clara returning to the vvindow brought a paper in her hand and looking to see if the street were cleere of Spies cast it downe when taking it vp and withall a short leaue we got vs two or three streets off where opening the Ticket I might reade these Contents I know not deare loued Sir what excuse you can make for so long forgetfulnesse neither can I attaine to the cause that your most firme and true Slaue hath giuen you worthy such rigour so great crueltie 'T is now twenty dayes since I last saw you and two thousand yeeres that my soule longs for you May I deserue this night to see you and know from your owne lips what mortall dislaste keepes you from me Scantnesse of time quoth Fernando hath made her forget to firme her name to which said I. Thinkes my best friend that these lines haue not fuell sufficient to adde to the flame that consumes me I am all sadnesse till I satisfie her for my slacknesse I vvonder replide hee that Clara should be ignorant how important our absence is though loue be painted blinde and a very child runnes thorow all hazzards euen to cast his followers headlong By this time it grew to be night and Moone-shine so by the accustomed time we went toward the street where we found my Mistris in expectation and looking about vs to see if all were sure with my friends vsuall helpe I mounted and taking my afflicted Mistris in mine Armes soone satisfide her vniust complaints telling her withall how impossible it was to auoid the late encounter Shee gaue me to vnderstand how much that businesse had scandaliz'd her friends and how vehement Segundo's suspition was that the cause of Rodrigo's vvounds liued in his house and other matters to this purpose that much troubled me though desperate loue that bereaued me of my vnderstanding faculties made me set slightly by all accidents and determined still to goe on in my loue tooke leaue for the present willing her thence-forward to excuse such another bickering that though she chanced to see any body vnder her window she should neither call nor make signe till she perceiued the pulling out of a Handkerchiefe so finding Fernando who stayed for me we returned to our seuerall homes In this manner I repaired many nights after to my Mistresses shelter but variable fortune that began to shew her vsuall condition holding it high time to cast me from the Throne whither to make my fall the greater she had raised me would not that my delights should any longer proceed in the same calmenesse that hitherto and therefore bred a curious itching in the imagination of some neighbour who busied with thinking of the past conflict his superfluous diligence gaue him an open view of my night-walke and frequent entrance which soone after began to be common talke in euery mans mouth howsoeuer I presumed vpon the secret and one time amongst others being carelesse enough of any such matter my good friend taking me by the hand told me how necessarie it was to endeuour by all possible meanes that the prosecution of our loues might be by some more hidden place or if this could not bee that I should resolutely suffer or altogether retire my selfe from Clara's friendship for in the contrary he fore-saw a Tragicall euent I much wondred and was not a little angry at the speech and so requested him to tell me plainely the cause that moued him to this harsh counsell to forget her without whom it was impossible for me to breathe a minut longer and speaking this somewhat passionately Fernando perceiuing my sudden alteration with his accustomed discretion thus stayed me Friend Gerardo If my true affection and that you are perswaded of it did not fully credit my intention I would not so rudely as you may thinke diuert you from the dangerous course you hold nor giue you those particular motiues I haue for doing so If your loue egresse time place and each circumstance were not publike I should not aduise you against what were iust due to your Mistresses faith Your loues indeed that you goe in out at Clara's Chamber are euery where notorious Many haue told me so much though I fained to know nothing we are both forewarned you are wise thinke this to be a happy lot and chiefly my Gerardo beleeue that my care is onely of your safety for for mine owne part if your minde bee to proceed I must not leaue you till death So he ended leauing me in the confusion you may wel imagine Doubt of my friend I had none no more had I any answer I heard how reasonably he spoke and perceiued how fit it was I should follow reason on the other side her affection was so rooted in me that but to thinke time might as a thing mortall and perishable consume it strooke me into an Extasis of extremities It was mee thought impossible to leaue her nay the least thought of her so with a deepe sigh sprung from my secret soule I thus answered My heart best friend hath not felt a blow of more wounding paine then your reasons haue giuen it besides the despaire of remedy hath brought mee to that wofull passe I know not what to say I see a miserable and aduerse ruine threatens my affaires nor finde I so much as a Prop to stay vp my weake frame I see I runne headlong that my thoughts my discourses are all to pieces and my cleere Iudgement formerly guided by reason now faint and feeble without a Superiour power though I know this to be most true yet know I not how to follow what you aduize Well this night will I see whether Clara can light vpon any better sally for our businesse and accordingly must we shape our course With this resolution day passing on Fernando tooke leaue till the prefixed time by when wee came better prouided then formerly to my Mistresses street The night was as cleere and calme as might be so deafe and husht as bred in me a most secure
and fidelitie of an old trusty seruant whom hee loued as an adopted sonne which and the being a loyall Biscayner by birth made the discomfortable Gentleman rely the more vpon his faith and honesty His good fortune afterward or rather my ill starres brought him to the end of his intended Voyage and hauing made sale of his few commodities seeking vvithall some kinde of imployment as presuming vpon the ability of his good parts he came in a fit coniuncture at such time as my Father hauing lost his Bailiffe and Ouerseer of his Herds newly dead was hearkening after another and by accident they both met my Father as well satisfie vvith Leonardo's person and presence as the other with his affable and generous disposition wherefore striking vp on both sides for the manner of seruice and recompence he remained with him and so carefully discharged his dutie that in short time my Father might see the increase of that estate that was vnder his hands with so plentifull an income that now he himselfe though present began to forget and giue ouer all toile dis-burdening his cares vpon Leonardo's shoulders with whose vigilancie hee liued at ease All this while our Bayliffe forgets not the intent of his Voyage nor those Pledges that expected him at home for with his owne stocke together with my Fathers bountie he had now gotten a good estate of money and goods together multiplying the same yeerely by the great and rich fraights that yeerely passed betwixt Spaine and the Indies so that before his seuen yeeres were accomplished he was esteemed one of the richest men in the Kingdome which made him thinke vpon his returne and Countrey and in this minde one-day as my Father and he were alone he made knowne his purpose vnto him which vvhen hee heard I cannot expresse the resentment it caused in his passion and hoping yet that his entreaties might disswade Leonardo he sought all he could all in vaine to diuert him and yet the other fearing to bee thought vngratefull for so many benefits receiued if he should not something satisfie with the iust cause of his departure after hee had made knowne his right name and qualitie withall what Pledges he had left behinde that long looked for his returne so effectuall and powerfull were his reasons that my Father had not a vvord to reply against them and the discharge hee gaue caused not this effect alone in my Father but obliged him also to beare him company awaking in his heart the dead affection of his house and home And so resolued on their Voyage against the going of the next Fleete in the Interim they had leisure to exchange sell and put off all their goods and cattell which to an incredible number they had in those parts so that not long after with two Ships richly laden and a prosperous Voyage they arriued at the famous Port of Saint Lucar of which we his kindred hauing had former notice by the arriuall of a Barke of aduice vvere there in a readinesse to receiue him My Father before they came on shore taking him whom hee held as his best friend to him in priuate thus discoursed Most assured I am friend Leonardo that you are sufficiently perswaded of my loue and affection as I of yours in which particular you cannot exceede me I would therefore that no humane accident should dis-linke this our amity or that by absence it should any way be slackned To make it the more lasting and perfect I haue thought vpon a meanes your selfe consenting that shall make that not onely whilst we liue firme but strengthen it in our posterity by mixing our blouds and conforming with my desire by giuing your only daughter to my only son Roberto Milanes for such is my vnfortunate name to Wife which may soon take effect if Heauen haue been pleased to blesse these our Pledges with the life that we desire I shall bee glad herein to receiue your resolution Leonardo's answere was to cast himselfe at my Fathers feete his eyes starting out teares of content and mustering vp the seuerall delights of his soule with words worthy his noblenesse after he had extolled my Father in his actions he not onely offered him his onely Daughter which he demanded for me but ioynd to it a new transcendent protestation of goods life and honour and so embracing each other on shore they came to our infinite content that expected him who had now beene eighteene yeeres from his natiue soyle my selfe being about sixe yeeres of Age when he left Spaine I forbeare to expresse my owne ioy which he may onely conceiue that knowes what it is to bee the sole sonne of a Father Wee stayed not long in the Port for such was my Fathers longing to see his desired home that we were quickly at Seuil where I being acquainted with his minde touching the match disposed my selfe like a dutifull sonne to obey his command preparing my selfe vvith all alacritie to the iourney in the meane time that a Post was now returned sent by Leonardo as soone as he came on shore to his City and home with the newes of his landing and the Posts returne as it gaue my Father-in-Law infinite content by hearing of his deare Wife and Daughter so it caused no lesse in me to bee informed by the Messenger to the full of my desire of my Spouse her excellent parts and admirable beautie which made mee stand vpon thornes till I might depart though my Father-in-law lost no time for vs both and sending before him the best part of his goods and treasure and after taking a passionate leaue of his dearely intimate friend my Father setting downe the day of my setting forward by such time as we should heare of his arriuall at home hee betooke him to his way and comming in few dayes to his iourneys end Consider worthy Gentles if at his welcomming those ancient teares for his departure might be renued though producing at present a more different effect My Father-in-law with the generall encrease he found in his house aswell of the small estate hee left as the rare beauty and discretion of his beloued Isdaura health and content of his Wife seruants and whole Familie Iudge whether he could chuse but rest most thankefully obliged to gracious Heauen to whose goodnesse yeelding a due acknowledgement he gaue notice to his Wife of the intended match and finding her conformable to his wish to the generall gladnesse of his houshold and friends hee began to prepare for the ensuing Nuptials The day of my departure now at hand with my Fathers blessing and a leaue taken of yours and my deare friend Leriano accompanied with a seruant or two in foure dayes Posts I came in sight of the ancient walles of Toledo my Wife and her Father Countrey and Mansion where beeing arriued and at the house in stead of a ioyfull receptable I found it nothing but a harbour of griefe teares and confused sadnesse a thing that caused great
amazement in mee though when the owners knew of my arriuall I was by them ioyfully welcomed my presence being an euident comfort to the sorrow that afflicted them of which I needed no other information then to see the dead body of their old seruant the trustie Biscayner shewed me which was laid vnder a blacke Herse strooke thorow with fiue cruell wounds found early that morning laid at the street doores threshold and wrapped in a bloudy sheete not any so much as imagining who how or when hee should be thus lamentably butchered though extraordinary search had been made to finde out the Author They told mee how they had brought him vp from a little one how much they loued him for his good seruice how faithfull hee had beene in his Masters absence and what a misse by his death they were like to haue of him so that all considered me thought their griefe was not exorbitant and satisfide for that which otherwise had been somewhat of the slightest my welcome Thus by this accident my marriage was two dayes longer adiourned which to me were yeeres of tedious prolixitie for hauing gotten a gracious sight of my new Mistris my ardent desires incited by so much beauty increast in me with more violence At length the prefixed day came together with the wished night in which hauing to my vnspeakeable ioy reaped from my Bride the sweet fruit amorously passing the rest of it at length out bodies mutually in each others Armes enterlaced we fell asleepe But not long were our weary limmes laid to soft rest when my Wife with her hands and sudden affrighting shriekes awoke mee and lowd lowd cries raised mee to the helpe of her Fathers house that was now all on a light flame at which I was so astonisht that without so much as a question taking my night-gowne I nimbly leapt out of the Chamber vvhere the smoake and sparkles of the vntamed Element that euen now mounted vp to it's owne Sphere euen blinded me and running vvhere the flame was greatest I might see my Father and Mother gotten thither and the rest of the house also by which time the Bels had giuen their accustomed signall of the danger whereupon the neighbourhood and Citie all in a confused vptoare vvith their helpe the mercilesse flames vvere soone humbled All our house vvas nothing but noise vvringing and wailing in midst of vvhich I might most lowdly heare my wiues scrieches that fearing lest some disaster had befalne her finding her quickly out by the eccho of her shrill cryes I might view her supported by her Mother hauing falne in a deepe swoune into her Armes not farre from a deep Well about vvhich diuers of the seruants were gotten together vvith much stirre vvhereupon seeing my Isdaura in so sad plight my torment increast and the more vvhen they told me the cause of her sudden dismaying no lesse vvofull then the lamentable end of the vnhappie Biscayner for a handsome discreet maid-seruant of hers following his vnluckie fate a little before I came hauing been earnest to draw water to quench the fire whether vvith some fright or other accident falling in in an instant there being no meanes to saue her vvas drowned and beeing within a vvhile after drawne vp my Wife and Mothers moanes were againe renued and so extremely in respect of their loue to the poore Wench brought vp frō a child by them that I thought it impossible to comfort them especially for me that in such cases needed it as vvell as much my selfe But time cured in them their griefes though with mee they are still present neither can I forget those propheticall boadings of my vvretched marriage vvhich thus accomplished and not long after my Father with diuers Letters hastning our departure taking leaue of my Isdaura's friends with much griefe wee parted hauing the good Leriano in our company who vvas now returned from Court bound vvith vs for Seuil from whence some little vvhile after me he had formerly absented himselfe Hee came thus seasonably to Toledo and so we had a most pleasing iourney vnderstanding from him by the vvay your vnhappie misfortunes At last wee arriued at our home where we were still expected and by my Father welcomed vvhere Isdaura with the dainties and varietie of the place quickly forgot her absent Parents and kindred And hauing for our better freedome taken a house to liue in apart from my Father we vvere often visited by my worthy friend Leriano so vvell and happily liued I with my loued wife that I could scarce be from her sight a minute those faire eyes beeing the Adamants that attracted my vvhole content But cruell fortune would not allow mee many yeeres of this prosperous estate as enuious of the firmenesse of our amorous quiet At this time Leriano's friendship and mine vvas as strict as on both sides equally requited not a day escaped vs in which one of vs saluted not the other either he comming to my house or I going to his lodging our loue so reciprocall as had one vvombe at first owned vs or the selfe-same blood giuen vs nourishment One day amongst others in which it was not possible for Leriano to see me or for me to meete with him each of vs Louer-like iealous of each other and both attributing to neglect were willing with the same intent to meet in our obligations So somwhat late at night I went to stay for him at his lodging he to my home to expect me where he found that my loued Isdaura hauing not beene very well was gone to bed and entertaining the time with her in my absence stayed thus expecting mee till night beganne to bee very farre spent when I perceiuing also his stay remitted for that time my hope of seeing him and returning to my house found the doore locked a thing vnusuall I from home and hauing diuers times knocked wondring at the delayes and suspitious for so slight a matter I peeped at a small chinke of the doore to see what might bee the cause but would Heauen I had beene blinde vvhen I was thus curious a shee slaue I might see comming downe staires to let mee in and behinde her a man vvho being beneath crossed toward my Garden doore which bred such an astonishing alteration within mee as you may easily suppose in this amazement as soone as I was entred I rushed after into the Garden where I might perceiue the partie running to hide himselfe amongst certaine thicke Myrtles which sooner then my speed were the cause of his vntimely death for being intangled in those thicke boughes vnable to stand vpon his Guard with my sword drawne I gaue him three desperate thrusts not heeding his calling me by name or crying out to hold till falling to the ground I knew him whom so inhumanely I had laid at my feete to be my best of friends my Leriano And being fully assured of it letting fall the weapon from my angry arme I remained as neere death as hee that
lay before mee who now with a faint and languishing voice desired me to get a Confessor to him I lost my sences and with the wicked Act was readie to runne madde at such time as in these last accents of his I might heare mine owne mischiefe and my friends innocence How hath heauen suffered deare Roberto that at this time your friendly sword should become my homicide in what had your Leriano offended you that you should take so rash a reuenge on him But alas why complaine I of you whom I pardon my death an vnnecessary diligence of mine owne gaue way to it sprung from a wary care of your vvife vvhose faith to you hath equalled my loyalty the vvhich heauen can witnesse towards you hath euer been inuiolable But his swift Fate allowing him not a minute longer to expound his intricate meaning clozing his eclipsed eyes he gaue vp his spirits in my armes mine being so much tormented that sure I had then followed him had I beene fully satisfied in the iealous doubts that afflicted me to vvhich end leauing my dead friend to my Wifes chamber I went whom neither there nor any where else I could find onely the squeaking and noyse of her maydes euen rent my heart who crying out on their Mistris doubled my distraction and still increast it when one of them said Isdaura had cast her selfe out of the vvindow in her smocke assoone as she heard the good Leriano cry out and the vnhappy newes of his innocent death fearing iustly her owne from my indignation vvhich though faultlesse might light vpon her I began to demand the cause why Leriano hid himselfe they told me 't was at her instance for being as you heard in discourse vvith her when she heard me knocke at the doore knowing it to bee shut though through the forgetfulnesse of her seruants thinking the noueltie and Leriano's vnreasonable company might ingender some base suspition against her honesty not calling to mind that brotherly affection betweene vs she grew so timerous that vvithout better aduice by pure intreaties she commanded the vnwilling Leriano to that miserable shift for thus euer rashnesse drawes on such heauy mischiefes Consider Gentlemen I beseech you whether my hand were faulty or his indiscretion rather that vvould suffer it selfe to be guided by the fearefull counsell of an afflicted vvoman Heauen can witnes for me that as oft as I resolue in my sad fancie the disastrous end of my deare friend I am willing to inflict the like on my selfe though in all equity and rigour I am reserued from it But the loue I bore him obligeth me to such a determination since I may truly affirm that the knowne affection I ought my louing vvife had no aduantage ouer his and mine of her I neither heard or knew any thing and for inquiring was saued a labour being necessarily inforced to shift for mine owne life which I did getting assoone as I could out of my troubled house into a charitable Couent of Carthusian Monkes by whom I was most courteously receiued assuring mee that I should remaine in quiet Sanctuary with them free from any trouble for my misfortune There I was for some dayes visited by my friends aswell as spyed and hearkened after by mine enemies for though euen in their passion my innocence might haue saued me yet they would not affoord mee the least credit in my accidentall mishap A while after I had thus rested in Sanctuary my wife I heard had also taken refuge at a Monastery of Nunnes called Bethlem for hauing as you heard that night leapt into the street not knowing whither to go shee entred the first house she saw open and being receiued by the owner when they knew her and vnderstood of the pitifull accident and vvithall the strict search that aswell by my order as necessary obligation of Iustice was made for her they thought best to conduct her to that Monastery from whence I had present notice and then my mind began to recouer some small rest though it continued but awhile considering how my hard fortune began againe to torment me These grieuous and scarce to bee imagined disasters so vvrung the tender heart of my beloued Isdaura that hastened by the terrible bruise she receiued in her fall vnable now to auoid Heauens decree shee fell into a desperate sicknesse vvith vvhich and the continuall remembrance of her tormenting thoughts terribly assaulted considering her selfe now in the tongues of the giddy Multitude her honour and reputation in the dust the pangs of death hastened vpon her a little before her end she called the Abbesse to her and giuing her a Letter closely sealed earnestly desired it might be safely conueyed vnto me vvheresoeuer I vvere vvhich came to my hands iust as the newes of her lamentable death to my eare I need not here paint out my soules griefe or losse of sences for certainly the beeing depriued of them vvas the defence of my life vvhich as yet is but a liuing death for the owners greater punishment and now to giue some reliefe to my memory vvith the desired end of this miserable Story the remainder you shall haue in these last Lines of hers vvhich Paper for a deare pledge in remembrance of the Writer shall serue me as a companion till Destiny vvith her mortall stroke diuide vs. And this said to the wonderfull cōpassion of the suspencefull Auditors vnbuttoning his coorse haire-cloth weed he drew out of his bosome a neatly-wrought siluer Boxe and from within that a Letter vvhich vnwrapping and vvith some sad teares kissing he read out in this manner following Isdaura to Roberto THe time at length is come Deare Spouse that I must pay that vnpardonable debt from whose rigorous execution none can be exempted and though as mortall I feele and feare the affrighting trance yet he knowes vvho expects to be my Iudge that the for-euer leauing your amiable company is the greatest torment that on earth afflicts my soule vvhich vveepes at this bitter farewell it cannot see yet and a little inioy your selfe the better to satisfie your doubtfull opinion and confirme my inculpable loyalty vvhich from the first houre of our Matrimony hath euer beene inuiolable And since it is now high time to deliuer truthes the discouery of my sad hearts secrets being so necessary to my soules saluation it shall be fitting loued Owner mine that the vvorld and you now at length be priuy to a secret which to the too long preiudice of my soule and conscience I haue hitherto concealed Passe but your eyes ouer these last Lines and you shall be satisfied touching an offence of mine if that might be thought so to your honour vvhich was executed against my will and consent and without the interuention of Matrimony though I part assured of your good construction and mine owne innocence in this particular for vvith you and the world mine honour shall rest in its true worth vnblemished I presume loued Roberto you haue not
themselues to bloud againe No eu'ry my full veine Runnes in bad humours high From the continuall current of my ill So that for want of roome let vm soare still Vp to the lofty sky Or with their torrid heate where they forsake Their wings a second fi'ry Region make If thus the wounded Aire on a light blaze Some thunderbolt chance frame Vn-erâ—ieg let it strike where euer fall Iacinta Ah no but may the noise amaze As if it spoke her name Or backe againe did warne or lowdly call And flash on her withall Birds change your warbling notes That as my sighs oretake you in the aire Leauing those chirping Songs you may prepare Your more vn-tuned throates With sadder accents as you fly along To publish the curst Author of my wrong You quiu'ring Leaues that shaken with the wind Each other gently kisse While the Sunne enu'ous to behold your shade Pries to and fro till for his beames he finde Where freest entrance is Then way from bough to bough his rayes haue made Though some boughes thicker staid And stopt his piercing eye Grieue with your murmure at my wretched moane When with the frequent hoarcenesse of your tone Best lesse melodiously You boughes when Zephirus doth make you meet And twinde each other with your kisses greete You little Peebles of the Fountaine late Teeth of Narcissus white Then Iuorie but hard'ned now to stone Now are you no Tongue-helpers to relate Ought of that cruell sight How by red veines turn'd to a spring was shewne A fault selfe-loue to owne Beauty short Tyrannie Oh let the Eccho's of your Center cold Repeate no stranger griefes but mine vnfold My lost felicitie Without Iacinta iealousie disdaine My present ills make all past goods seeme paine Thus he lamented the absence of his fugitiue Mistris till seeing his folly and the impossibilitie of finding her there he determined to goe backe to the place where he missed her where when he came he was as farre to seeke but at last casting more temperately with himselfe hee supposed that the morning he left her she seeing his long stay her womanish feare in that dispeopled place might cause her to retire to the towne there to expect her Gerardo whither with this new vnprofitable ghesse of his he resolued forthwith to go and putting it in practise about Sun-set arriued there and in the distraction you may imagine left not a street or house vnasked for his Loue till weary of trudging or rather of knowing no more then hee did his faint body forcing him to desire some rest hee alighted at an Innedoore within which he was no sooner entred wheÌ„ suddenly at least twenty men grappled with him and crying out for more aide without hearing him a word dragged him along to a strong Prison where when he came the cause of his apprehension was made knowne and imputed to him that he was not onely a high-way Robber but particularly the Author also of those cruell and barbarous wounds giuen the poore woman whom he left in confession with the Fryers they seeing he returned not assured of their suspition resolued to conuey her to the towne and to giue account to the Iustice of what hapned which they did leauing all the people thereabouts much scandalized with the terrible fact though iust Heauen permitted not that the poore Wench should dye of her wounds since they also of the towne caused her health to bee carefully looked to And so as Gerardo lesse carefull of his present danger then his former afflictions went to and fro enquiring thorow the vproar'd towne for his Mistris and many knew by the Fryers Relations the signes and habit he wore his enquiry too being for a womanâ— one suspition ioyned with another gaue them warrant enough to lay wait for and as you haue heard apprehend him Gerardo was much troubled at his new imprisonment not so much for his lifes danger as being hindred from his search and inquirie But since there was no helpe for his misfortune a punishment hee acknowledged due for his sacriledge he endeuoured the best hee could to giue his discharge and not to suffer himselfe perish in that vvretched manner but his endeuours had been fruitlesse had the wounded Maid dyed in this occasion of her misfortune but heauen giuing her life his trouble soone ended and the cause was knowne by her declaring two of her Brothers accessarie to the wounds who angry that a fellow of meane condition had enioyed their Sister and after to their publike affront demanded her to Wife bent wholly to reuenge the better to effect their purpose drew their Sister from the Citie froÌ„ Barcelona of whence they all were to go with them towards Denia to see as they pretended certaine kindred of theirs and comming one night to that Mountaine stripping her there naked they performed that barbarous piece of crueltie related For all this the Iudges would not giue Gerardo present libertie rather besides making him purge himselfe cleerely of the suspitions his habit and Pistols of being a Thiefe brought against him they to his cost enforced him for the verifying her confession to send to Caâ—aluniâ— which being not long after confirm'd for certaine by the absence of her Brothers from Barcelona they thought fit to set him at liberty Heere hee remained foure moneths in this lingring in which time all hee had to any value was consumed and spent so that being to depart hee could hardly make shift for so much money as might fit him with a Moyle which hauing at length euen scarcely effected proposing his iourney to some friends he knew at a place not farre off called Denia one morning he forsooke the towne sufficiently warned by the wracke of his fortunes there and though hee were on his way hee could scarce thinke himselfe yet thorowly at libertie All that day hee went on with a Boy his Guide till the next that neere a lone Inne he ouertooke one who alone was trauelling his way so after they had dined and passed the dayes heat together in that house they kept vpon the way in good conuersation and hoped that night by spurring a little the harder to arriue at their iourneyes end Denia In all that way as being indeed no great Roade they met not a creature till towards foure of Clocke in the afternoone in midst of certaine thicke Brambles as they carelessely rode on two men stept before them who as well by their persons as fashion and Armes soone made knowne what they were One of the two that indeed seemed rather an infernall Minister then a mortall man bade stand and fastning on Gerardo's reines with his Pistoll clapt to his brest gaue way to his companion to doe the like to the other When the foot-boyes saw this perceiued the danger of their Masters not expecting the euent they betooke them to their flight The good Gerardo doubtlesse though in so knowne a hazzard would haue aduentured his person if at the very instant hee had not
seene other sixe rise out of the thicket of those bushes one of which as vvell by his difference of habit as goodly presence seemed to be the Captain of the rest vvho thinking the poore trauellers vvere somewhat of the slowest in forsaking their Saddles with a hoarse and dismall voice turning to the two first said Raskals what doe you with those wretches do you carry your Pistols for shew only would you haue me kill the poore snakes And thus saying and aduancing his Petronell in the same instant the poore couple tumbling at those speeches to the earth gaue way to those furious men to disarme them with such violent search also as had they beene their mortall enemies lastly they stripped them euen to their shirts Yet this cruell proceeding neuer so much as wrought the least impression of resentment in Gerardo who now as much desired to die as to liue in his miseries and in this hardie resolution concealing his present hard vsage with a firme and constant behauiour expected the issue of this sad accident all which in his companion was quiete contrary who in a thousand wofull extremes his eyes flowing teares sought to mollifie the bloody flint-hearted Captaine who looking somewhat wistly on his face straight knew him and seeing him prostrate at his feet vvith an arrogant and haughty licence bade him rise saying Art not thou happely Vincente Arbias for if mine eyes do not deceiue mee I haue here before me the party to vvhom I owe no lesse then life To this the quiuering Valencian like one raised out of a trance lifted vp his eyes and hearing himselfe called by his name somewhat more encouraged vvith a faint voyce made answer that he was that party and by profession an Atturney for Causes in Valencia though in all this while it vvas not possible for him to call to his remembrance him that spoke thus to him vvho obseruing his feare replied Let not the seeing me affright thee nor the beholding these my companions for thou mayest safely go thy vvaies And know that now thy friend Pedrasa hath for it is hee that speakes to thee complied vvith the obligation he had since by thy honest care hee vvas freed from prison in Valencia take thy garments and turning to his company proceeded And you returne him the money taken from him to a denier and accompanying him to his safety leaue mee to your recompence These words vvere like Angelicall salutations in the fearefull Vincente's cares and vvanting sufficient phrase as he thought for his greatefulnesse he recast himselfe againe at the Captaines feet and in a trice clothing himselfe got afterward to his Moyle and returned to his iourney accompanied part of his way by those ministers of Cacus Gerardo thought verily that since thus they retained him they meant to make a bloody sacrifice of his youth and in this imagination lifting his eyes to all-pittying Heauen vvith his heart hee begged mercy and releasement from those present mischiefes and hearing those men command him to follow them he began to goe after thorow the thicket and roughest part of the Mountaine iust as the Sunne was declining to the West They had scarce gone halfe a League in that Desart vvhen comming to a deepe and hidden Brooke that on one side serued as a ditch to a clouen Rocke thereby and keeping their vvay on the brinke of the same vvithin a while they entred into a Strait from vvhence crossing a little they mounted the staring Rocke in midst whereof vvere certaine thatched Cottages which serued them as a harbour and bulwarke against all weathers Assoone as their trampling and noise was heard by those vvithin there issued out some doozen persons of the same hiew and profession vvith the rest and foremost mongst these one of a briske and liuely presence who with his pleasing sight gaue no small comfort to Gerardo though as then hee could not vvell perceiue whether his countenance vvere answerable to his presence for besides the broad brimme of a military Hat that shadowed his face the being darkish too did hide it The party was clad in a rich cloth of siluer doublet and ouer it a Gaberdine of greene Veluet set thicke vvith Buttons and Loopes of siluer suteable hauing on the top of his right shoulder sloping a faire Belt studded and embroidered with Gold two curiously vvrought Petronels hanging at it his Breeches were suteable Damaske his Stocking shooe and garter white Plumes of feathers white and greene all which so set out his gracefull personage that Gerardo forgetting his troubles vvas now wholly fixt vpon the gallant obiect To whom the Captaine with open armes directing himselfe the pretty Youth offering his hand with a kind of neglect at his brest stopping his proceeding said Why how now Pedrasa so empty and craue an embrace Forbeare for since you returne without a Prize I am not indebted the least fauour To this hee smilingly replyed No more my Generall be not too rigorous till you heare my discharge and turne but your eyes to my company in their increase you shall see a spoile from whose woorth I dedicate to those faire fingers a rich Ruby At this the comely Youth more heedily looking backe might perceiue the vnfortunate Gentleman who from the instant that he heard that voice supposing he knew it his sorrowfull heart was ready to leape from his brest But when hee plainely saw the disguized Youth was his Iacinta hee had like to haue falne to the earth where as his couragious mind was deeply strucke he but faining wearinesse sate downe The vngratefull cruell woman had not forgotten the countenance and presence of him she once loued Lord of her affection but she made no shew of change at all rather seeing him thus disroabed halfe naked was not a ioâ— mooued but making as if shee had not knowne him turning to her new Louer said I like him well 't is a good handsome strippling your gaines will bee the greater and our friends that buy him will haue no bad penniwoorth Away with him to the Caue in the meane time let vs thinke of supping And so taking the Captaine by the hand they returned to Kennell together Oh passe not on compassionate Reader but suspend a while thy grieued eyes and now that with thy presence it is impossible supply yet with thy imagination so great woe as at present the sad and dis-consolate Gentleman might feele Thinke but how basely now his once best treasure is imployd Behold him poore disrobed deiected in the hands of homicides bloud-suckers Land-Pyrats apprehend but truely this and each line nay each letter may attract a teare Many a time was Gerardo ready to haue flung himselfe amidst that brutish rowt and could haue torne them peice-meale vvith his teeth for reuenge were it not that despaire more then feare stopped his resolution preuented also by foure of those fellowes who raising him from the place vvhere he sate carried him along with them and descending towards the bottome of
the Rocke one of them disioyning a broad blacke Slate which serued as a stopple to the Caues mouth though so euen set in the cunning could scarce be perceiued commanding him to enter they without shutting the doore returned from whence they came leauing Gerardo in that darke and dismall den so straightned and afflicted that he verily supposed they meant there to starue him to death which made him heartily repent he had not put his vengeance in execution Thus he remained a long houre at least vvithout passing on thinking there was no more danger saue vvhere he vvas But at the instant hee might heare some speaking further in and vvithall a voice fearefully resounding thorow the whole Caue insomuch that he verily beleeued himselfe to be at Hels mouth The voice seemed to come neerer so that hee might more distinctly heare these vvords To all this howling Captiue miserable man giuest thou no answere why com'st not downe vnto vs since thy vnhappy starres directed thee to be our vvofull companion what doest thou what canst thou expect hath thy vitall breath failed thee or beginnest thou to repine at the taste of such bitter foode as is our best comfort in this blacke mansion Wonder not for this is but a beginning of misery yet thou shalt haue the chiefest comfort companions These finall accents of the voice came to Gerardo's eares iust as a man appeared before him vvith a lighted Brand of Rosind Pine in his left hand flaming and a small-fruit Reede in his right that serued him for a Rest and Guide so leane pale and altred that the suddennesse amazed him Hee thought verily the Ghost of his dead enemy Rodrigo was transformed into that Goblin for in such cases feare doth neuer present lesse horrid affrightments to the imagination Hee knew not what to answere neither could hee vnfold his lips which hee that rose from the Caue perceiuing and how much he was astonisht beholding him with some pitie drew neere and taking him by the hand said Let not my faint presence vnfortunate Young man dismay you for how-euer you see me in this most miserable plight not long since you might haue known me as strong as able as your selfe but the wretched Mansion where wee liue and the barbarous crueltie and scarsitie with vvhich the cursed Owners entreat vs who by ounces giue vs a miserable and nasty sustenance doth cause in me and twenty others that there below expect vs the same effect that your eyes behold Blame me not replide the vnfortunate Gerardo that your presence hath so daunted me since the nouelty of this place may well excuse me therfore pardon me I beseech you the trouble I haue put you to in calling me since as you say I haue so many companions in my misery let vs on Gods name goe where they expect vs. This said they both began faire and softly to descend passing at least twenty winding staires ere they came to the Caues bottome in which spacious dungeon Gerardo saw at least twenty persons of the same hiew and in no better plight then hee that accompanied him all of them set about a poore almost extinguisht fire by whom if any ioy may be in such griefe he was ioyfully receiued Euery one particularly demanded his ill fortune Gerardo satisfide all vnderstanding from them likewise their vnhappy successes which had brought them to so great extremitie hee likewise knew of them how they came so speedily to heare of his imprisonment being so farre as he perceiued from any commerce which was that receiuing at a small hole from the top of the Caue their ordinarie allowance of Rye-bread for their sustenance there beeing a Loafe extraordinarie they knew they had some new companion and now the time of rest drawing neere all of them lay downe on certaine heapes of strawe that serued them in stead of daintier beds onely Gerardo though he most needed yet slopt not nor tooke any rest in all that night the most tedious that euer he passed There vvanted not one to accompany him in this waking and in a manner with equall sorrow one of his most vnderstanding companions whom as it oft fals out by particular simpathy he did most affect Hee then that lay neerest our poore Gentleman seeing him much disquieted moued to pitie and interrupting his owne calamities said 'T were fondnesse my new friend and companion to demand the cause which keepes you thus waking for where there are indeed so many euident it is that any one were sufficient to breed the greatest discomfort I am onely desirous to know if any particular accident doe adde to this your knowne misfortune if so by communicating the same the greatest inconuenience that can happen is to oblige me to your succour as much as lies in this poore and weake abilitie of mine therfore let me request you in some sort to grant my desire With which the captiue was silent when Gerardo not a little admiring his piety and good language with a low voice not to disturbe such as tooke their reâ—â— thus answered Discreet companion though our fortunes be equall in the present misery I bewaile yet assuredly in the circumstances that brought me to it they are farre different these make me madde impatient full of griefe soule and body so increasing vpon me that nothing but death may ridde me of my paines I giue you all possible thankes for your desires God giue you your merits and so you shall be sure not to want In him said the Prisoner I am onely confident though when I consider that this punishment is iustly for my sinnes inflicted doth cause in me a sad discomfort and perswades me that the qualitie of them being so odious they are past all helpe These last words he vttred so passionatly that the curious Gerardo laying hold on them as thinking them to sauour of despaire cut him off saying The opinion of your vvisedome yet wils me to desire you not so speedily to forfet the same and it is much more necessarie for your soules health not to be cast headlong with such thoughts for relying as you first noted on heauens mercy from that let me safely promise you as a remedy to greater misfortunes pardoÌ„ for very great sinnes repent the committing them that truely performed Heauen will dispose all for the best Heauen comfort you said the Prisoner as I am by you comforted And Gerardo willing to know more of his griefes extended his comfort by giuing him a Summary Relation of his owne as thinking by that meanes diuerting and cheering him ioyntly he might oblige him to make knowne his life vnto him as indeed his discreet presumption succeeded right for hauing past some time in his owne briefe discourse the afflicted Captiue wondring at such remarkeable euents after hee had with no small commiseration endeared Gerardo's mishaps inuited by them hee could not but begin to set forth his owne at such time as the calme night was in the midst of her sad course
the Musicke of an ill-shap't Rebecke When fixt Calisto giues vp her cleere light And Courtiers lye like Lead In sinking Featherbed Then make I ready nets for my delight And with the smiling morne take glad some flight Setting each bait and ginne That Fish and Fowles doth winne To nibble caught and coozen'd with my slight Then doe I finde and follow too Grey hound and flying Hare Ho-loo Grey-hound that scarce leau'st print in grasse Let then th' ambitious flatt'rer his time spend Waiting on foote so like a Taper end He enuies me I know poore Asse The Song ended had not our Gentleman beene on his legges his eyes broad-waking and his whole selfe leaning to the Barke of a greene Willow doubtlesse his fancie might as a fained dreame haue shaped the Cottage Shepheard Voice and Song which suted well to his liking as hearing it conclude with the praise of a Country life but this was not the greatest effect it wrought for he transported with the tones eleuation beganne to fall backe into the remembrance of his past misfortunes and losing himselfe as being wholly intangled in them without all helpe vanquished by the oppression of his woes fetching a deepe sigh his sences forsaking him hee fell downe vpon the springing Grasse causing no small alteration in the carelesse Swaine with the sudden noise of his fall who after some pawse and thinking on the cause of it casting the shrill Instrument away straight ranne to him that was falne and settling his head on his knee considering withall his goodly presence solitarinesse and dismaying could not but much relent and desire to know the party together with the cause of his malady and so leauing him a while vpon the ground entring his Cottage and bringing out with him a neat cup of Red Tamariâ—ke he filled it from the Cristalline Fountaine which not farre off sprung froÌ„ the center of a stony Rock and turning speedily to the fainting Gentleman sprinkling part of the water on his meager cheekes hee brought him by degrees to himselfe crying out with inward grones and this following with a faint voice How long confused thoughts will you torment my sad soule representing still her past griefes More he would haue said if taking notice of the charitable company and vvondring at his owne successe he had not turned his commenced sorrow into gratitude for his succour giuing the Swaine due thankes who with the following discourse and a smiling countenance cut him off saying Truely Gallant Youth your sudden distemper hath caused such a resentment in my heart that I could well beare a part with you so I thought it might any way ease you of the inward griefe with which I see you afflicted take courage man and if possible expell the originall of your sad complaints for knowing how hurtfull they are you doe ill to admit of their vniust company and if you please let vs in to my Cottage where as well to me as to the rest of my company who wil not be long from vs with our homely plainenesse you shall be heartily welcome and this I can freely promise Gerardo was not a little pleased with so louing an offer and therefore returning his best thankes to so worthy a courtesie he thus made answere Impute not courteous Shepheard my hearts weakenesse any way to want of courage in my minde nor that my late accident grew from a corporall necessitie for such were they neuer so painefull my patience vvould weare them out or time might in time happely relieue them Onely beleeue and pardon this as a passion and infirmity of my soule in which it is so anciently rooted so entirely the very selfesame thing with it that it is past all remedie euen growne eternally incurable But not all the griefe I feele or sorrow I must lastingly endure shall make me euer forget how much I owe to your fauour done me though my slender abilities must leaue to the Superiour powers the due recompence and satisfaction for your good will in offering me your company or rather accepting mine which since you please to esteeme of my faithfull protestation shall be to serue you as long as you like to admit me The ouer-ioy'd Shepheard would haue replide when not farre from the Cottage fiue men appeared who drawing neerer all gaue a kinde of reuerence to him that was with Gerardo which made him perceiue hee was their chiefe as true it was for he had many great flockes to vvhich those fiue looked too and many Herds of Cattell that grazed vp and down in the Forrest where they were Now all of them beeing set at the doore of the thatcht Cottage hauing the naturall pleasant greene in stead of more olorous Diaper they fell cheerefully to Supper so merrily welcoming their new ghest as his fare had beene lesse contentfull at a great mans Table Celio for so hight the worthy Shepheard could not suppose that such a subiect as Gerardo being adorned vvith so good parts of humanitie could want the knowledge of delightfull Musicke and therefore offering when Supper was ended the Rebecke to his hand said It is not possible good Sir that he who is so complete should bee defectiue in this worthy qualitie and therefore let mee request you on the behalfe of these present that you be pleased to giue vs a touch of your Musicall skill and Voice since you haue heard mine already and remaine my debtor Here Gerardo seeing himselfe so reasonably obliged returned to Celio this answere How-euer my fresh affaires rather prouoke my minde to dolorous sighes then to suspend them with sweet accents yet the desire my heart hath to bee confirmed in your friendship shall vvinne something from my griefes to obey you with confident that your loue will make vp what wants in skill and so tuning first the Instrument and after his Voice he sung this Dittie including somthing to the company and the rest to his owne mishaps The rugged Mountaine from a friendly veine yeelds to the greedy Merchant plenteous store Eu'n till his bagges be full of prec'ous Ore Or the Red bloud he drinkes till burst againe The knottie-footed corne of golden graine From yellow neck and pregnant eare yeelds more To the glad husband-man then fils his floore Reward to former paines in plowing tane Yet doth not gold the crauing appetite Of Merchant cram nor wheat of grumbling clown For these the more they haue more couet still Like such am I their steps I tread a-right For though I reape desires fruit yet cast downe My good is lessen'd with increase of ill The Song ended and the short mention of his griefes so begat true ones in him that though hee meant to haue gone on vvith some other more pleasing Ditty for his new friends it was not possible for him besides that they also much taken with his sweet voice desired to re-enioy it But seeing the iustnesse of his cause they would not ouer-presse him so that growing now somewhat late they betook them
vsed for their apprehension 't was bootlesse as also that of the seruants in Cloris search by vvhom Don Antonio vvas aduertised of the successe vvho at this time leauing her in his faire Daughters company going backe to the house where she first entred vvas informed in what manner Gerardo came with her and of his garment of painted skins Nise at this time as earnestly sought to know from her Cousin the manner of her vnfortunate iourney who largely satisfied her not so much as concealing her dishonour onely kept secret her desperate attempt you before heard of The two cousins were not so priuate in their Discourse but that a little Page of the house vvas not farre off from them who when Don Antonio returned told him their whole conference so that his exorbitant griefe and passion transporting him beyond all iust reason without expecting to be confirmed by Clori he was fully perswaded that he vvhich brought her to Cesarina vvas Author of the Rape wherefore blinded with rage accompanied by some of his seruants lightly mounted he vvent out after him and all of them taking different wayes they scowred the whole country bearing perfectly in memory those signes that were giuen them of Gerardo whom some of them ouertooke not farre from the Cottage and hauing seene him were ready to haue trod him to pieces with their horses such was their indignation but desirous to bring him aliue to their Mr they only seized vpon him and bound him fast with strong cords neither could the poore Gentleman by entreaties learne the cause of this their anger which yet his minde euen presaged vnto him as soone as he had parted from Cesarina vvhere being now carried by these men when he arriued he might see the whole towne in an vproare as if an enemy were neere and passing thorow they reuiled him as he went by to the Castle where Don Antonio without giuing eare to his discharge or to what Clori would alledge to free him as thinking it was her goodnesse to saue his life in spight of her and the faire Nise that knew well enough his innocence he commanded him to be fast shut in a strong Tower in the greatest extremitie that might be Here hee remained all the next day and part of the darkesome night as sad and mournefull as in any his former misfortunes yet the sorrow of the two kinswomen was not inferiour and Clori seeing that for her sake Gerardo was in so much danger could not abstaine from weeping in lieu of that gratitude in which shee stood engaged neither could the louely Nise affoord her the least comfort but she her selfe gouerned by a more particular accident was not altogether a stranger to Gerardo's misery rather making it partly her owne and affectionate to that noble and generous proceeding of his toward her cousin more then any the good parts of his person whom as yet shee had not seene or knowne accompanied her in her dolorous resentment and with a minde as compassionate as a heart resolute not to let him perish bidding Clori follow her hauing signified her intent she went into the roome vvhere her father lay and stealing the Keyes of the Prison from his beds head prouided also with some Viands to refresh the captiue Gentleman they ascended to the Tower and hauing softly opened the doore perceiuing their forgetfulnesse to come without lights Clori was forced to go down for some and in the meane time Nise sitting downe to expect her might heare Gerardo with a sweet voice and distinct notes tune this Dittie to the sound of a great chaine to which he was tyed in which he cleerely chanted the tenor of his misfortunes When yong Aprill once a yeere doth with Em'rald face appeare Then giues he to each Riuer he can see By Winters frost imprison'd libertie White and yellow flowers are seene Trees and Fields are clad in greene The wilde beast leaues his den And Snakes grow young agen Then the mournefull Nightingale Sings or sweetly seemes to rayle On him that basely in a Brothers shape Transform'd her by his well-reuenged Rape Thus Beasts Birds and euery thing Ioyes vpon th' approaching Spring But I the more reliefe I seeke the more 's my griefe To vvhich and his sad complaints she gaue an amorous listening and as his Song ended Clori was come backe vvith a vvhite Waxe Light in her hand and so shutting the doore to them they both entred in vvhere our passionate Gentleman had newly made an end of his singing lamentation vvho when he saw such comfortable companie approach rising vp vvith all respect vvondring at Nise's extreme beauty but more at her boldnesse yet suspecting Clori to be the cause of her comming thither turning first to her he thus began Neuer O gracious Clori could my minde thinke that in the troubled Sea of my present misfortunes you liuing my latest should arriue especially hauing such a Protectresse as shee that accompanies you in whose blessed appearance I am confident my life shal haue a secure Hauen Onely at present I beseech you let mee know what hath caused my imprisonment for if it be as I may ghesse for hauing done you seruice though perpetuall I shall hold it welcomely imploide The most beautifull Nise all the while Gerardo vsed these speeches to Clori stirred not her faire eyes a minute from looking on him and now felt her selfe so wholly his that fearelesse of the incōueniencies that might happen as the not knowing what he was then the vncertainty of his libertie losing all respect of honour or reputation she determined with her selfe to hazzard life a thousand times for him and with this amorousnesse preuenting Clori she first made answere The noble and courteous disposing of your good works hath so much engaged vs as I on my behalfe and so likewise on my Cousins doe assure you that did not your innocence make vs doubtlesse of your good successe of libertie this very night it should bee bestowed on you though some one perhaps might smart for giuing it but you must perforce haue patience till such time as my Father her Vnkle lesse passionate allow of your discharge and bee thorowly informed in the infallible truth for the suspition only that you are the Author of my Cousins wrong hath moued him to this hard vsage towards you wherefore I most earnestly intreat you that you be not troubled in any wise for your griefe as long as you remaine in this estate will be as much ours as your owne to which purpose the gentle Clori vsing also her best Rhetoricke desired him to fall to eat some of those iuncats they brought him and so leauing him the light something to lessen the places discomfort fearing to be missed they returned Gerardo remaining most thankefull for the pleasing visitation which he also had two other nights insuing there hapning after betwixt him and the diuine Nise most amorous and wittie passages But neither of the gentle Dames could bee so gracious with
the incensed Don Antonio as to perswade in the truth of the Prisoners innocence rather hee vvas prouoked to more choller and fury by seeing in Clori so earnest a desire of his freedome and therefore purposing to make short worke conferring with a Iudge whom hee had appointed for the businesse in Cesarina by his aduice by reason there came no proofes against him they resolued hee should be racked and so the fourth day of his imprisonment hee was brought out and hauing first caused the frightfull engine to be set before him and the accustomed Interrogatories to be read notifying withall that he should if he meant to escape the torment plainely confesse the truth of vvhat he was charged vvithall seeing their intent failed them and that he professed innocence they began to haue him stripped out of his cloathes but vvhen the newes was brought to the Gentlewomen their griefe vvas such especially Nises that shee could vvillingly haue inflicted a desperate punishment vpon her selfe as thinking she was the cause of Gerardo's for not giuing him his libertie vvhen she might so inward was the paine they both felt for him that his feeling of vvhat vvas threatned by the pittilesse Executioner could not exceed it But that vvas preuented by the opportune and vnexpected arriuall of Don Henrique vvho hauing as he entred the towne informed himselfe of what passed at the Castle desirous to stop the iniustice since by what followes you shall know Gerardo's innocence and comming to his Brothers presence vvith his Slaue that had a man vvith him fast bound and manicled hauing louingly embraced one another without proceeding further hee desired that his Neece Clori might be brought vnto him vvho fearefully trembling though incouraged by Nise came and threw her selfe at his feete I omit for breuity the resentment on both sides so Clori looking about her toward the Slaue and the fore-mentioned party brought Prisoner as soone as shee viewed knew him to bee the Author of her dishonour whereupon vnable to reserue till some fitter occasion the expression of her strong passion with a lowd and fearefull shrieke shee would haue flowne at the Rascals face had not her louing Vnkle kept her in and deferred her weake reuenge till by Iustice it might be inflicted on him that for so detestable an act thorowly deserued it to which iust heauen and his offence brought him by the way that hee thought best to haue escaped which was by going toward Portugal whither if you remember the wrong'd well-satisfied Don Henrique held also his course whom this wretched Villaine meeting neere the Riuer that diuides the two Kingdomes and Don Henrique appearing to him to be a person of worth and quality that in such an occasion might best supply his wants without more ado he resolued to sell him some of the Iewels he had taken from the abused Clori and in this thought stepping forward hee proposed his intent to Don Henrique telling him that want of money forced him to sell some things of good value if he pleased to buy them to which he as attentiue as vvilling to haue a good bargaine vvhich aswell in respect of his Merchant as the occasion he might expect in such manner answered That the traitour satisfied first shewed him an enamelled neck-Lace of Gold and Pearles and next two curious eare-Rings set and bordered with rich Emeralds and precious Rubies with other pieces neatly wrought all which vvithout further vvitnesse or information Don Henrique much amazed instantly called to mind to haue sometime belonged to his loued Clori and the suddennesse of the matter did so perplexe him that supposing her vntimely end for certaine vvhich that fellow after hee had abused and robbed might haue brought her to vvithout enquiring a vvord more of him crying furiously out and setting spurs to his swift horses flanke the Villaine vnable to auoid him he ranne him ouer and ouer and turning the reines vvith the same speed the second time trampled on him leauing him so bruised and vvounded that he vvas not able to stirre hand or foot and seeing him in this taking vnwilling till he knew vvhether he had left Clori aliue or dead to make an end of him commanded his faithfull slaue vvho astonisht beheld vvhat passed to alight and bind him strongly and so leauing the maine rode-way shadowing theÌ„selues amongst certaine spreading Okes Don Henrique threatning the fellow to kill him if he confessed not the truth demanded of him vvhat became of the Owner of those Iewels vvhich the fearefull vvretch satisfying telling him all that passed and how Clori purposed to goe toward Cesarina vvithout staying a minute longer the valiant slaue by his Masters command setting the fellow athwart the Sadâ—le before him they returned in all haste thitherward and in three dayes came to haue a sight of Clori And now Don Antonio's cruelty vvas vvell asswaged knowing the originall of the offence he thought fit to absolue the poore prisoner of his vniust accusation so Gerardo after he vvas free giuing due thankes to Heauen for the fauour done him making first his excuse to Clori taking both her Vnkles aside in priuate he gaue them vvithout any reseruation entire notice of the horrid and strange successe of her desperate resolution in the solitarie Forrest desiring them in fine that out of the care of their pure affections they would take some course for their Neeces important remedy from her selfe he vnderstood that she would be willing to end her dayes in some religious Monastery When the two louing brothers heard this acknowledging how much they stood indebted to Gerardo and the harsh recompence he had receiued with noble and compassionate teares striuing who might first imbrace him they heartily craued pardon the like also did Clori as hauing most reason to be sensible of his misfortunes in the meane time they commanded that the wretch should bee put in Gerardo's Tower from whence hee was not many dayes after brought out and dispatcht to his Graue And dinner being now ready with equall ioy on all sides especially of the peerelesse Nise they sate downe to the Table giuing the best place to the vnknowne Gentleman ouer-ruling his refusall with their courtesie which the thankefull Brothers in such manner expressed that both at dinner time and afterward they extraordinarily importuned him to remaine in their company and to leaue the rusticke Shepherds and rurall life the gracefull Nise too adding her intreaties wrought so effectually that with the sweetnesse of her earnest courtesie she brought him from his solitary resolution and therefore obliged aswell by those seuerall inuitements as supposing also that as much in Countrey as Citie his misfortunes were euery where the same he accepted the fauourable offer giuing from this instant new beginning to his third last Tragicall Discourse of his Histories first Part. To the seuerall ioy and applause of Don Antonio his Brother Clori and Nise was the pleasing intertainment of their new Ghest admitted who to giue ful content
pleased and contented on vvhose part the Iudges declared the Victory sending him the vvaighty Chaine and commanding Lauro also to set his name vnder Gerardo's Challenge which grieued him farre more then his losse But of necessitie he must approch the great Tent out of which the Shield was brought him and the opinion of him in whose hands hee firmed to it who seeing Lauro so passionate casting his armes about him said Let not Fortunes various euents diuide friend Lauro our affections and depriue me of the fauours I haue still receiued from you and from which I acknowledge the present Victorie proceedes and to confirme you in this truth behold here the reward appointed by your selfe to whom it is fitter to returne it and so taking the Chaine out of a great siluer Bason he put it about his necke Lauro vnable to resist his noble courtesie To which thankefull as he had reason the other answered Certainly Signior Gerardo you haue this day gained on my thankefull mind a greater victory then that which should haue redounded by this onely exercise of Iust by your courteous proceeding and so from hencefoorth in all occasions I professe my selfe Yours by Conquest and since touching the Chaine you haue wonne you will without beeing one make your selfe a loser lesse reason it were I beeing really so should possesse it if therefore you please to giue mee leaue my opinion is that it bee bestowed vpon the Dame that best deserues it It shall infinitely content me replyed Gerardo that you please so well to employ it at what time the passionate Lauro leauing him directed his way toward the louely Nise that now expected what would be the issue of the two Knights their Complements and comming neere with a low obeysance as well to her as the rest of the Ladies and Dames also he tooke the Chaine first kissing it and putting it on the point of his Launce and lifting it vp toward his faire Cousin vsed the ensuing Phrase Though the hauing so meanly defended your cause may make me so great an vn-deseruer that you to fauour mee might refuse this small trifle from me yet that pure affection of mine and the desire I know he that gained it hath to serue you may haply supply my defects if you will vouchsafe to honour the poore pledge with your faire necke Here he ceased expecting Nise's answer who dissembling the more suspitious point of his speech yet cheereful made him vnderstand his bold excesse saying Truly Cousin if our firmenesse be but all this day as well defended as hitherto the Challenger may rue his boldnesse and his rash opinion will be sufficiently punished and therefore in satisfaction of the seruice you haue done all these Ladies and Dames present I will receiue from you the Chaine but so that when you shall thinke fit to aduenture it againe you may know where to find it Here a fire of passion breaking out of his countenance Lauro had not the heart to reply a word but got him shamefully out of the place iust as from another street there entred in the lofty and flaming mount Aetna of Sicily vomiting at a huge mouth or breathing place made at the top of it so many seuerall flashes and flames together with such hideous noyse as if all Hell had beene vvithin it the rest of the Mount was all of an adust burnt browne the vvhole moouing most slowly on vvith notable artifice not leauing so much as the least signe or tracke of it on the ground on vvhich it went till comming neere the vvindowes vvhere the Iudges and Ladies sate the Engine stood still and the flames increased so violently that the ayre condensed all on a thicke smoake the people could hardly see one another till the cloud and vvhole Aetna vanishing together in the stead there appeared two Gentle and gallant youths differently mounted who inclosed in midst of twelue fierce Saluages their braue and sightly colours caused great content in as many as admiring also their inuention pleasingly beheld them They were Moore-like clad in Cloth of Siluer Cassocks wrought vvith crimson flowers and long Robes of red Sattin vvith white flowers both so artificially drawne as if the flowers had beene naturall and onely strewed on them their bonnets were red Veluet and Hat-bands twisted siluer their high Plumes of feathers in colour sutable and their sleeues of delicate transparent Sendall embroidered and set with rich stones their horses Swan or snow-white with clothes and Caparisons of Crimson Sattin vvith all their embroidery of Siluer Scarfes and Feathers sutable to those of their Owners vvho iust then mooued on most artificially encompassed by their twelue Saluages vvho cast round about the seuerall papers and this â—ame-following Motto If as equall we appeare In our valour in our blood Loue would work vs equall good Then we both immortall were Hee vvho seemed elder of the two though both young enough carried at the end of a big Launce a small red and vvhite Streamer in midst of which was this Motto embroidered If death must be my remedie If loue that must procure me her Long he her comming doth deferre The second also had in the little Streamer of his Launce this ingrauen Motto From Loue my life beginning takes Therefore to Loue my life I giue Since without Loue I cannot liue Foorthwith the lustie Saluages began to play vpon diuers Instruments which they carried in stead of their heauie Clubbes whose sound and harmony gaue motion to the Knights But no sooner were they gotten to the Lists when by all that beheld them they were knowne to be the two renowned and valiant Sayavedra's brothers and branches of that illustrious Stocke which hath many Ages giuen Owners to the Towne of Castellar who willing with their presence to honour Cesarina thus expressed their valour and themselues whom when our Challenger sawe he was not a little doubtful of his Victory and so hauing done the accustomed reuerence to the Iudges and Ladies the elder Brother taking the first occasion began in this manner to him The opinion Sir Knight you hold I might perhaps with as much iustice on my part maintaine the forfeit therefore if I for want of skill chance to lose shall not onely be barely firming to a Tenet I already approoue but you shall also gaine this precious Emerald Though this replied Gerardo might haue beene excused yet to animate me to gaine the pledge of such a Knight I accept willigly the condition and so the Aduenturer hauing deliuered the rich Emerald in a little Ring to the Iudges they returned backe each of them choosing the best Launce he could light on and Gerardo comming to begin the Carreere parted like winde running the point of his Launce vpon the vpper part of the Ring that though hee tooke it not it was euen as well for nothing but taking it could win froÌ„ him so turning to his Tent from thence he expected the successe of his Contrary who couragiously spurred
content of Don Iohn that onely at parting desired Fabia to conceale and content her self with his promise till such time as their marriage might be effected without distaste to his friends and kindred to which she easily condescended as willing in all things to satisfie him like an obedient wife With this warie secrecie the Louers held on in their priuate meetings till such time as Fabia grew to be with child and her Gallant without all feare of heauen to a treaty of marriage with a dainty Dame and neere Kinswoman of his which in short time without Fabia's notice was effected But what hand may rule my weary Pen if I should goe about to set downe the mocked Fabia's griefe What tongue would without faltring expresse her soules immense sorrow as soone as she heard the bitter newes of his faiths breach that was her onely Owner 'T were to take fresh breath to begin a new Tragedy may her teares and sighes then rest in the Readers consideration which as abundant and continuall so hard they were to be concealed from her parents to whom as her womanish feare would permit her she discouered the state shee was in of being two moneths pregnant they accompanying in her mournfull discomfort sought rather wisely to marry her then by impossible pleas more to defame her And therefore without many delaies married her to a person of their ranke but one that had good meanes with whom her defect one way and excesse another vn-noted shee passed for a maid and some eight moneths after was deliuered as legitimate of a lustie Boy and so quickly with the Infants pleasing company she blotted out of her mind the abhorred remembrance of the true periur'd Father Some ten yeeres vvere expired after the childs birth in all which time iust Heauen blessed not the vngratefull Don Iohn with any issue to his no small griefe for that one of his brothers whom he deadly hated was necessarily to succeed him in the Estate And now quite desperate of any fruite by his wife he proposed to himselfe the Boy hee had by Fabia for his heire and hereupon not content to haue most trecherously wronged her but trusting to wealth and friends insensible of the poore Fabia's disgrace hee sought by Law to recouer his sonne and to this purpose petitioned to an ordinary Iudge who for admitting so scandalous a demand deserued an extraordinary punishment And so his seruants bringing in witnesse of the close meetings that were betweene them as also of the iust computation and time of her deliuerie by sentence of Law the Iudge dispossest him that loued the Boy as his owne and adiudged him to be restored to the periur'd false yet true Father With the affront done him Fabia's poore husband and fell into a desperate sicknesse and soone after died so she poore soule remained without honour sonne or husband such are the cruell effects of an vnrelenting proceeding The wicked Sire was now most iocund in his new sonne called likewise Don Iohn and causing him to bee most tenderly cockered and brought vp but the Boyes owne good inclination to all vertuous qualities made him in few yeeres grow to that towardlinesse that hee was generally beloued and so highly commended that euen in his owne father it begat enuie For the step-Dame there needes nought bee said since their hatred and malice is their generall inheritance yet the prudent Don Iohn as discreetly boare his mother-in-lawes ill-will as from so tender yeeres might bee expected neither did hee in all the plenty and fortune of his new Estate shew the least forgetfulnesse of his old habitation where euery day once at least his owne poore Mother was by him seene and serued but his father and step-mother so much stomacked this that they wholly repented them of claiming him and next making little or no reckening of him withdrew all manner of allowance either to sustaine or clothe him whereupon the young Gentleman was forced to sue them according to Spaines custome for meanes which by sentence were allotted him to the value of seuen hundred Crownes to bee annually payed him But the vertuous youth considering his mothers wants needed more reliefe then his owne was content to part with his annuity to her which done he went with a kinsman of his fathers that dearely loued him to the City of Lisborne where that party was prouided of a place of good credit in the Kings Gallies There Don Iohn in his kinsmans company liued happily enough till vnderstanding by Letters from his mother how hardly his cruell father proceeded in the paiment of her monies his duty hastening him hee returned thither Well knew he that begat him the cause of his so suddaine arriuall neither did his wife ignore it who like a curst step-Dame desired nothing more then the poore young mans ruine which was soone after effected for her diuellish intent finding sufficient admittance to her husbands dis-affection was made knowne and finding in him no lesse desire of his sonnes riddance they both resolued and the future Filicide parted with this bloody purpose toward the great City of Seuil where he might without any difficulty finde choice of murderers to dispatch his onely sonne And so hauing by chance lighted on the foure fore-mentioned Rogues agreeing with them to kill him for two hundred Crownes of which fiftie were to be payed in earnest they returned backe together and entred that night Tartesia where the diuellish father informed of the sonnes being in his mothers house instructed them for the manner of his dispatch and so leading them on to the vnfitting sacrifice and house thus sayd That before is the doore there 's no more to bee done but one of you knocke aske for Don Iohn and as hee comes out the rest may so deale with him that he may saue himselfe a reuenge and giue mee satisfaction There wanted not by Heauens prouidence some one to ouer-heare these last words and witnesse against this accursed Iudge that pronounced so sharpe a decree vpon his owne blood and this was a poore old woman who not dreaming of any such accident stood as then at a close Lattice-window from whence she might also view how that hauing as they were instructed asked for the innocent Youth iust as he came out of his mothers house they gaue him his deaths wound But he died not very soone after which bred no smal distemper in his trecherous father as fearing his wound was not mortall enough or belike his pleasure done he repented him of the fact but from hence he tooke occasion to pay with some twenty Crownes ouer-plus the inhumane murderers telling them he agreed for his sonnes death which they had not effected but onely giuen him some slight hurts for which they had already receiued sufficient recompence There wanted no replies from the impatient men who now repented them they had not first â—laine him by the way But seeing how much it concerned them all to be secret cursing his base proceeding
But woe is me Noble Sir that now lose my liberty when I most need it would Heauen had pleased that my base enemies weapons had first ended my abhorred life More had he said and more amazed Gerardo had he not beene preuented then by one that clapping him with his hand vpon the shoulder as if they had beene old acquaintance said What are you here Sir astonishing the poore Prisoner with this kinde of demaund vvho vvith some admiration yet answered him in his own strain You may be sure I am here if you see me though the question had been more proper if I had voluntarily come hither To this vvithout more pawse the party added I know indeed you are heere for a resistance and therefore might haue saued a labour of asking but if that bee all Laugh at it Peace Giue me money and I 'le free you instantly The Notary is my Friend and the Iudge my Gossip wee are all in all No sooner had hee ended when another Youth of his owne ranke and profession cut him off from further speaking vvho without any respect to the by-sâ—anders looking scuruily vpon the th' other and plucking him by the Cloake proceeded 'T were fitter Goodman you you vvould let alone my Prisoners and meddle vvith your owne since you know according to our agreement this Gallant belongs to me I marry quoth his opposite if it were matter of accident but the case is altred here for this Gentleman is an especiall friend of mine and no man ought to haue interest in him but my selfe So they grew to the Prisoners no small admiration to some words and from thence to blowes biting and banging each other in such pitifull sort that in a trice there was neither Hat Cloake nor Ruffe that partly trod vnderfoote or wholly rent to fitters acted not a part in the Tragi-Comedy The noise Peace-makers and skirmish as pleasant as well performed might haue ouer-madded a modest man and burst him with as outragious a laughter as it drew from Gerardo vvhich vvould haue beene farre greater had not his long being vsed to these kinde of bickerings depriued him of the nouelty Hee had seene a hundreth of them and now thought best to retire vvith the innocent party which they did into his Chamber leauing the others and their owne vvearinesse to be their best Vmpires yet there vvere some Prisoners vvho tooke no little paines to part them each threatning with a criminall accusation his Contrary and so after the short spurt of passe-time they departed I shall onely touching these fellowes giue the Reader a briefe Item as first That their stile is no other then Prison Droanes their practise meerely to cheate in which they are so cunning that no sooner is a poore Prisoner entred but they haue his name his Birth Offence Notary Iudge and what not Whereupon with this strange phrase of Are ye here Laugh at it Giue me money I 'le free you by little and little they sucke the poore Nouices dry with such their sweet and sauourie language and then vanishing out of sight they see them no more till happely their friends or kindred effecting their liberties they then draw neere and tell them that by their care and diligence they haue beene freed but if they chance to lye longer they straight alledge that the Notary was not well pleased or the Iudge ill informed still by one means or other wringing iuice out of very Rocks and so escape and laugh at the wretches they haue thus betray'd They deserue not so much as the names of Sollicitors but meerely the former title and may this suffice to see the extremitie to which poore Prisoners many wayes are subiect The desire Gerardo had to cheere vp his new Ghest made him preuent dinner time by prouiding it the sooner to which together with part of his lodging hauing inuited him he with more acknowledgement of gratitude then presumption accepted the courteous offer they satisfied their hungry necessitie and afterward Gerardo hauing as vvell by intreaties as gifts preuailed with the Iaylor that they might remaine together diuided with him his owne Bed and affoorded him all his best comfort In this manner they remained some dayes in one of vvhich as their priuacy gaue fittest occasion Gerardo desiring to know the cause of his Camerad's imprisonment earnestly intreated him to communicate it to him furthering his wish by giuing the other first a Summary Relation of his owne mishaps and for vpshot of all making knowne his name and quality vnto him but without these respects his owne merit had wonne so much from the Prisoners affection that lesse entreaties might haue sufficed to grant so friendly a request and therfore without more adoo gladly condiscending to his friends will a gentle sigh only the Auant-courrier to his truth he began 'T is now iust sixe moneths since I left the Citie of Corduba my natiue soyle where by the name of Leandro I am knowne as by a reasonable good Estate the Inheritance my Father there left mee the forsaking my Countrey was caused thus The Young fry and Gallants of our Cities quarter where I liued did vsually after Masse resort to certaine Portals and Seates in our Parish to discourse in which wee most commonly limited the power and actions of the Great Turke the Forces of the Hungarian vvith the seuerall states of Italy and Low Countries nothing vvas amisse wherein we might censure and gouerne the whole World according to our fancies But one time amongst others a different Card prooued Trumpe and obuious enough to our youthfull conditions the conuersation grew hot about the chiefest beauties of our Spanish Dames each vsurping to himselfe the priority of place which might most suite to his owne aduantage Some said the Granadinians were extraordinarie faire but these were by others contradicted who to the Toledanians gaue the Superlatiue as well for beauty and feature as sharpnesse of wit and discretion others there wanted not that to make good a partie would preferre the carelesse quicke sprightfulnesse of our Court Dames before all This was the more generall opinion and yet another not much inferiour of the Seuilians whose naturall and sweet browne complexions set out by their curious neatnesse made no small adoe for absolute deciding of the Controuersie which was ended by one that in all our opinions was thought to haue the best Iudgement most modesty and stayed aduisednesse in his conuersation who offering to speake forced vs all to silence with the following Discourse What neede you weary your selues with vaine contradictions or mee who know that all the perfection and beauty in the world liues within twelue Leagues of this place not in any great Citie but in a small Village of Andaluzia called Osuna There liues the rarest Creature this day in Spaine in which happy situation not so much as knowne to the towne-dwellers her warinesse with her Husbands iealousie equall to her beauty this miracle is inclosed He that will satisfie his owne
Is she one cal'd doubly good Chaste and silent vnderstood More then birth or to be faire Meerely toyes and termes of ayre I but though her tongue lie still She hath hum'rous trickes at will Which wil vex thee more then flowres Often wet by April showres Is she widow that is knowne Ioyntures two or three to owne Old and rich good signes of health Soule be merry thou hast wealth I but hard it is to sift Her Estate who Deed of gift Made before to kindred they Carry coyne and mirth away Say thou die first no such art She will of thy goods haue part And out-liue she must to bring Euery ioynt a wedding Ring Goe be youthfull then and woo Speedily and marry too As vvell had Lisis her Louers presence imprinted in her heart as the pleasing sound of his voyce engraued as it were in her eares and therefore though she vvere asleepe awaked by the Ecchos of that she vvould instantly get to her Window accompanied by Aminta vvho now lesse passionate vvas well enough satisfied vvith her ill fortune Gerardo well perceiued the fauour she did him and vvould willingly haue expressed his thankfulnesse but fearing lest some ouer-busied eare might hearken he refrained the like also happened in the beautifull Sisters in respect of their parents and family by vvhom they vvere not causelesly obserued and the more at this time by reason of the ensuing accident Liseno vvho grieued with the rigour of Lisis as you heard left his home and Countrey some foure moneths after the time that Gerardo spent in his amorous conquest with the ancient infirmitie renued by his absence returned againe to Granada and consequently to his pre-accustomed watchfulnesse and so continuing his night-walks about Lisis her vvalles and Gerardo's Tower his care was by Gerardo soone discouered and himselfe also and his pretension quickly knowne vvhich made the imprisoned Louer not a little suspect and feare and the more distastfully vvhen his reason represented to him the aduantage Liseno might haue ouer him for a Corriuall he free to prosecute his sute and himselfe with his hands bound without freedome to make his party good with him Besides it did not a little torment him to thinke that Lisis in honestie and loyall affection had precise obligation to make the relapse of Liseno's affection knowne vnto him in which hauing failed his scrupulous thoughts formed no small exceptions which Lisis vnderstood by a Letter from him though beeing as indeed she was faultlesse she easily satisfied with her innocencie the assurance of which so long rested with Gerardo as the passionate Liseno appeared not but hee once returning to his old haunt the suspitions increased and she was still put to a fresh purgation So that in short time Gerardo had many distastes against the poore harmelesse Dame thinking it impossible for Liseno without some incouragement from Lisis so long to continue his sute Hereupon it happened that as the two Louers were after this both at their windowes now better reconciled for the cause of Gerardo's distaste had beene some time absent vpon the sudden they might see Liseno mounted vpon a lustie dapple Courser so gallant as might well haue bred strong ielousie in the brauest Competitor Gerardo was somewhat astonish't with the vnexpected sight which when Lisis perceiued and his trouble she grew to such an outragious distemper that hurried on with the blindnesse of passion not once considering how much she might preiudice her selfe and her poore prisoner minding nothing though but his satisfaction and beholding Liseno with the terriblest aspect that Disdaine could frame she thus sets vpon him How long foole-hardy Liseno shall this vnmannerly presumption last how long shall my fond silence suffer your infamous pretension to be the motiue to my dishonour Betake your self the sooner to some other course or beleeue it I shall not want some that will reuenge the iniurie you goe about to doe me And so furiously clapping too the leaues of her Window in she went leauing the good Gerardo all hush't confusedly timorous and the vnfortunate Liseno quite bereaued of his sences and the poore beast his horse too it should seeme was charmed when she began to speake neuer so much as stirring all the while the storme lasted But when the forsaken Louer perceiued that aswell at his Mistrisses Window as many others of the neighbours there appeared diuers persons incited by the loudnesse and noise vnwilling to prooue a spectacle to the street all bashfull and ashamed he returned backe againe toward the Citie leauing now his amorous sute behind him in the hands of her cruelty and contempt so that within awhile after an effect euer incident to such cases Loue which brought him to these hard extremities was turned to mortall hatred and deepe desire of reuenge and therefore supsecting the good parts and neighbourhood of our Prisoner as also hauing at times seene him narrowly prying at Lysis her window and hauing found them surprized vnawares that very day in the stealth of some amorous signes made him rest fully assured that her desire onely the more to oblige her Louer and no other cause had incited his Mistris to her heauy rigour and disdaine This and his iealous rage together blinding him he was now resolued to vn-piece the amorous engine and to seuer the couple chusing as the surest means thereunto to make knowne to her Parents what passed by the stratagem of a fained Letter in which setting down the whole state of the businesse as dangerously and bloudily as hee could hee caused it to be deliuered but without setting any name vnto it so that this and some other suspitions of the Parents of Lisis conferred together they made meanes to haue Gerardo's recourse to those windowes hindered which accordingly when hee least suspected any such matter were dammed vp which was to him so strange a nouelty as besides his feare that their other conueyances of Letters were made knowne bereaued him almost of his vnderstanding Touching Lisis no more needs bee said but that poore she like one vn-accustomed to these brunts grew to such extremes that had not Gerardo plyed her with fained hopes of his liberty shee had quickly made an end of her selfe There is nothing more cheeres a passionate soule then the diuerting her restlesse vnsettled faculties for with the variety of seuerall entertainments shee is much dis-burdened and miseries make no settled impression in her all which to one depriued of these succeed quite contrary as appeared in Gerardo whose blinde loue had turned his heart wholly into Lisis that forgetting with strange neglect the importance of his liberty all hee spoke or thought was no other thing but his Lisis finding no content at all in any thing now he was depriued of her deare and precious sight The desire of which hoping it might attaine to some good effect though he was farre from dreaming a more happy one drew neere made him one day descend into certain lower
was at this time in a strange distraction of ioy and feare for vnaccustomed to such cares the expectation of my pleasure was much lessened and happely this vnquiet alteration in me might bee the fore-runner of the sad successe you shall straight heare I know not how it came to passe but from the first day of my Leandro's being with vs there was a great league of friendship betweene him and the Vicar of our towne by whom he was for his vvants supplyed vvith moneyes and now and then visited This Vicar hauing been absent from him all the time of his sicknesse comming home as that night from a iourney and vnderstanding by his people in how great danger Leandro had been supposing he performed not the part of a good friend if he did not as soone as he had knowledge of his sicknesse see him leauing his owne house immediately he came to ours vvhere though the doore was shut hee called out and my Husband hearing his Voice presently rose and opened vnto him I could not in any time know vvho it vvas for carelesse too of any danger the desire only of seeing my good-man laid to rest kept me awake and thus I wanted meanes to shift Leandro away for whom the Vicar asked and for all his sicknesse and desire of rest vvas made knowne vnto him yet he would not be satisfide nor away vvithout seeing him whereupon my Husband not vvilling to gainesay his will was glad to obey him vvhen calling at the Chamber he no sooner touched the doore but he might see it open and Leandro missing so that with no small alteration hee vvent downe and told the Vicar so much assuring himselfe he must needs be within doores besides his iealous condition easily egging and perswading him on at last he traced out the truth and our hard fortune and so hastily dispatching away the Vicar vnable longer to keepe in his torment he instantly came running into our Chamber vvhere finding me at my wits end and my colour quite lost for the discouered businesse had left me like a dead body confirming his suspition he began to pry vp and downe the roome Imagine good Gerardo to vvhat extremitie I was brought that though my imminent danger was so neere I had not the power or strength to runne into some place of safety My husband hauing espied Leandro ranne at him with his sword but hee perceiuing before-hand his danger had presently gotten to the light and putting it out had meanes to slip by the thrust but his persecutor running blindly on stopped not till hee had clozed with him so that I might now perceiue they vvere both grappled together though my faint heart durst now no longer stay to expect the issue and supposing the worst running suddenly down to the street doore I left my house and stopped not till I was gotten into the fields fortune being in this more fauourable to me then my misfortunes could expect for falling accidentally vpon the high-way to Ilberis a Coach passed by thitherward with passengers who when I had recommended my miseries with a world of sighes and teares to their pitties were so compassionately charitable as to take me along with them to the aforesaid Citie whither as soone as I arriued making sale of those few Iewels I wore at my eares necke and hands with the moneyes I might for some time relieue my necessities Heauen likewise was pleased to affoord me the happinesse and company of certaine vertuous Gentlewomen with whom after I had some few dayes remained I dispatcht a secret Messenger to Osuna charging him strictly to inform himselfe of my vnfortunate affaires and giuing him likewise a Letter for my Leandro if to my griefe and suspition he had bin that night taken Prisoner which indeed could not otherwise be considering how subiect I left him to my Husbands clutches and cryes All which effected and the Messenger returned I vnderstood by Leandro's lines what had passed from the very instant that my fright sent me packing at which time as my husband and hee were stuggling together Leandro perceiuing that if either he got the aduantage himselfe was sure to be slain or that the other with his noise might call vp the watch so that his danger vvas euery way equall relying wholly vpon his naturall defence of life and forced as it were to a desperate course he stabbed my Husband with a Ponyard he had on whereof vvithin few houres he dyed Leandro tooke Sanctuary in the first Church he could finde open where being by diuers persons laid vvait for as a stranger they persecuted him and the Iustice of the place taking notice of the businesse causing a strong Guard to watch about the Church hindred his sally yet his friend the Vicar stucke close to him as had the case beene his owne resisting their going about to take him from the holy refuge vvhich indeed at first they sought to haue done de facto My soule euen melted vvhen I read these wofull passages as well for hauing liued so long in my Husbands company as in respect also of the tender affection hee alwaies bore me and lastly considering him by my light proceeding so vnhappily made away could not but in a brest of Marble haue caused a lamentable effect But my passion shall not prolong my Story which not longer to trouble you or afflict my selfe I much desire to end And therefore Noble Sir considering my being alone for want of my Louer and the impossibilitie of souldring my errour determining to seeke his protection that was the cause of it I vvrote to him a second Letter desiring him by all meanes to leaue the place vvhere he was and come to me making knowne vnto him the better to dispose him to the iourney my great affliction which he no sooner receiued when not without great danger furthered by his friend the Vicar he accomplished my desire But Heauen or my aduerse fortune permitted not that it should take effect for Leandro had no sooner set footing on the threshold of my doore when encompassed by officers though he did all he might to defend himselfe he was seized on and carried to Prison so farre preuailed the vigilant sagacitie of my Husbands kindred who following him that night hee left Osuna and keeping aloofe till hee was alighted had leisure to prepare Officers that following him to my lodging he was no sooner come thither I hearing his voice rising to let me in but hee was beset with clamour and noise Wherefore seeing my new danger instantly crossing our Turrets and Tyles of houses I got mee into safety in which I was not a little happy for they left no place in my house vnsearched induced by their suspitions of Leandro's comming thither To declare the torment this second disaster bred in me were to begin a new Tragedy and therefore leauing it as superfluous you shall heare the rest of our successe My courage was not lost rather after some few considerations began more to
causing a great vvhite loafe to be brought out with some fruites and hony cakes he bad him fall to and commanded also that two of the oldest Captiues should goe abroad with him into the Cittie to see it and recreate himselfe Gerardo vvondred not a little at his new entertainement vvhich seeming to him by what he had heard very vnusuall amongst those Infidels hee could not but in his mind render thankes to high Heauen and much more might he haue wondred at this singular proceeding had he knowne by what meanes the higher Powers guided his affaires and the manner how his Owners brutish and cruell mind vvith such contrary testimonies of his bloody nature vvas made thus tractably propitious The barbarous Pirate had in diuers Dungeons Bathes and places of Tillage aboue three hundred Christians and within the house where he liued almost an hundred more who hearing of Gerardo's courteous vsage incompassing him round thought they could neuer haue sight enough of him nor time to demand the cause of this noueltie For they who had a long time beene subiect to his more tyrannous condition could not but thinke in what he now did there was some particular mysterie These and other extremes pondered those poore soules as they gazed vpon the afflicted Gentleman and not without cause for none of them doubtlesse had receiued not onely no such fauours but not a word that sauoured of the least humanitie from his vnhallowed lippes nor was he accustomed to make knowne at all to the partie hee would haue ransomed his pleasure they rather seeme to faine an vnwillingnesse to the intent there may bee intercession made and so they more largely enhaunce the price which if the parties accept not or flie backe from their promise they double their Chaines and Yrons increasing more and more their torments and miseries So that they thought this proceeding quite contrary to their Masters fell disposition and therefore their admiration was not to be wondred at which might very well too be so much the more when they vnderstood he had a reasonable handsome Chamber furnished to his mind appointed for his Lodging The next day after dinner Ferru commanded two Christians to goe out with Gerardo and shew him the most remarkeable things of the Citie and causing likewise his Bolts to be knockt off he made him put on some of the Clothes which had beene formerly taken from him this increasing in his poore companions their former astonishment the least they could coniecture was that the Turke enamour'd on his goodly presence would with that gentle vsage disswade him from the Christian Faith that so he might turne Infidell but others of more settlednesse remitted all to the successe of Time Gerardo not a little comforted with these fauours went ioyfully out with his two new companions to see the Cittie of which hauing precisely viewed and obserued it he might easily in his remembrance set downe a briefe and exact description aswell of the forme situation and edifices as Inhabitants their habits and the Strangers of different Nations which for the Readers more delightfull varietie I haue thought fit not to passe ouer in silence The City of Argiers being the chiefest and of most fame in all Barbary hath in it some thirteene thousand houses inclosed with a strong wal and is in manner of a strung Crosbow The Fore-front Harbor Turrets and Galleries stand exposed to the North-wind The hinder-parts which make the aforesaid Bow ioyne to a huge hill partly steepe part otherwise in such sort that as the houses are built in ascents they stand so one aboue the other that the first though spatious and high hinders not the prospect of the rest the latter The lowermost part of the Cittie becomes the String of this Bow which stands so neere to the Sea that the waues furiously beat against the Walles There reacheth naturally from thence a long necke of Land into the Sea vvhich inuited Cairadin Barbarossa to build a Harbour there to make the hauen more secure and ioyne to it a little Island neere the Cittie vvith a goodly Rampire The whole Circuit is of most strong Lime and Stone and after the ancient manner battlemented and in height it hath some thirtie handfuls yet towards the Sea as being founded vpon high Rockes it is much higher In thickenesse it may be some three yards and a halfe and besides vpon the Rampire that cuttes off the distance from the Cittie to the Island there is another strong Curtaine of a Wall about some three hundred paces in length This Counter-circuit was built to resist the swelling furie of the deuouring waues vvhich beate terribly on that side when the West and North-west windes doe blow to the intent also that they hinder not those passengers that walke vpon the secure Wharfe The Cittie hath nine goodly Gates to it and vpon them and the rest of the Wall Watch-towers and Bulwarkes in which there is vsually great Artillerie though the chiefe defence relies not on them but consists most in three Fortresses which the Turkes haue made the first neere the Gate called Babaluete founded by Vthali the second vpon a little raised Mount neere the Castle made by Mahamet Basha and the third and last neere the very self-same place where that renowned Prince and Emperour Charles the fift in his vnluckie enterprize pitcht his Royall Pauillion at what time he layd siege to that denne of Rascals a siege though memorable vnfortunate for the successe Within the Cittie all the houses poore and rich one with another may containe vpon the aforesaid number for though the circuit bee not very spatious and that no house hath passing one court to it yet the streetes are so streight and narrow that a man on horse-backe can hardly passe them or for two a-breadth on foote it is vnpossible except in the Market-place the principall street called the Coco that thwarts the whole Cittie In fine the whole and all of it lies so compactly close and in-wouen together that it rather appeares a confused Maze then humane habitation They haue neither Bay-window or any other that lookes into the street for their ielousie ouer their wiues and daughters permit not the vse of such The Inhabitants are Turkes Moores Renegates Iewes besides the greatest part Christian captiues which are sometimes a strange number neere fiue and twenty thousand persons The naturall Inhabitants are some of a reasonable good complexion but the most swartie all passing well fauour'd The vvomen are generally white and many of them braue and very handsome all of them clothing themselues according to their calling or indeed rather their abilities somtimes in died Linnen cloth of seuerall colours Silkes and Taffeta's and otherwhiles in Damaske or Veluets All which when Gerardo sawe together with an innumerable number of poore Christian slaues that dragging their long Chaines after them and busied in base drudgeries couered the very streetes and Gates his heart could not but yerne considering how God for
amongst the rest were tumbled into the Sea But Mahomet came in so opportunely that beyond expectation hee freed eight or tenne Moores that were yet aliue and captiuated seuen Christians who fought in that desperate manner with the others for their liberties but this their purpose so vnluckily frustrated our Captaine without difficultie seizing them into his power desirous to be informed of the successe vnderstood from some of the Moores in the Shallop that hauing in the late storme lost a Frigot in which their Captaine and many others with a great booty of Spanish Goods and Prisoners perished at the instant when she was sinking hauing the Shallop ready and taking some of the Christians for companie they cast themselues into it and made to that place for shelter where they had beene thus furiously set vpon by those they saued that had they not bin so fortunately by him succoured not a man had escaped with life This successe though told with many other circumstances vvhich I haue quite forgotten much pleased our Captaine aswell for hauing succoured and deliuered his Countrimen as to haue remained by this meanes with the Christians they carried for his owne these hee tooke with him leauing the Shallop to the Moores to bring them in safety afterwards to this Cittie Himselfe the next day safely landed here where making sale as the manner is of his Prisoners amongst others he parted with this woman wee now treate of vvho by reason of her disguize in mans apparell vvas not presently knowne till such time as our Patrons affection discouered her so hauing bought and brought her home vvith him putting her into a Moorish habit befitting her Sex he himselfe grew vnexpectedly to be as well captiu'd by her beauty as she his Slaue by couetous purchase At this time too Zanaga ridding himselfe of some vnprofitable persons vvho by reason of sicknesse were no longer able to serue at the Oare my selfe one of the number vvas sold to our Master here by which meanes it was not difficult for me to know vvhat became of the faire Christian and by degrees I came to vnderstand more then I should haue presumed on as being not only told of Ferru his violent affection but also of her stoute constancie with which fearelesse of death oft mentioned vnto her she resisted his barbarous lust vvhereupon he most cruelly treated her and his rigorous vsage was so extreme that fearing to kill her and so to lose the mony she stood him in he purposed at last to let her be ransomed At this time the Redeeming Friers were here who told of this Christian woman and fearing her Soules perdition vnderstanding the Turkes mind they dealt with him about the price which with some difficulties at last being agreed on he receiued his money and she vvas committed to the custodie of a Iewish Merchant with whom the Friers had also placed many other Christian women they had ransomed Within some few daies after the deuill had so vvrought in her Masters imagination that presenting afresh vnto him the remembrance of his late affection he repented him of hauing sold her and therefore in a furious and raging madnesse void of all shame he ranne backe to the Friers saying that when they ransomed his slaue he was out of his wits and that now therefore being better aduised hee had brought them their money and they should returne her vnto him againe and the rather because beeing turned Mahometane she was not to be redeemed The compassionate Friers extremely wondred at the Patrons base proceeding but that which most grieued them was the manifest danger of this Christian foule by returning againe to his power and therefore first they went about to perswade with the barbarous Turke but seeing all their labour was but vaine towards him that was so resolutely bent so blinded by passion they hoped that the Law as their last remedie would on their sides decide the controuersie The Iudge whom they of Argiers call The Cadi commaunded the Slaue to bee brought before him where being come our Patron began disorderly to cry out he would haue his owne the Friers Redeemers alledged his owne voluntarie sale so debating the matter on both sides to and fro the Turke perceiuing his cause like to goe hard with him vrged that the woman had turned Mahometan which when the poore soule heard trembling for feare yet vnable to suffer so manifest a falshood she cried out many times together alowde that shee was a Christian and had neuer beene otherwise and would die in that profession which the angrie Turke no sooner heard but fiercely setting on her with his fists he also said Thou shalt with me thou damned Bitch I le pay thee for thy impudence Some there present were much offended with this boldnesse and chiefly the Cadi himselfe who seuerely commanded him not to mis-vse the woman but first to present witnesses to make good his cause Ferru madde with choler went straight out and not long after returned with two as base periur'd Moores as himselfe who came in and deposed that the captiue woman was turned Mahometan which the poore creature hearing beganne to cry out lowder they were false Villaines to testifie so notorious an vntruth and in so saying her many teares mooued the Spectators to compassion onely this monster stood like a ruthlesse Rocke and hearing her say all this catching hold on her the standers by not once offering to helpe it hee gaue her a terrible buffet on the face which hee had seconded had not one of the Redeeming Friers put himself betweene who laying hold vpon his Coate told him how much hee forgot himselfe to wrong a Christian woman and one that was no Slaue in a place of so great respect But the Barbarian with this temperate and sober reprehension was not onely not mollified but in stead of relenting hee began fiercely to cry out saying Why permit you this Frier to lay violent hands a most manifest lye vpon a Turke and one that is a Ianizarie and that therefore according to the Lawes and their preheminences he was either to bee executed or at least his right hand to be cut off And that you may perceiue what a damned Nation they are there were at least forty Moores present that swore it was true and perswaded the Cadi that the Turke was strucken and that therefore he was to doe him iustice vpon the Frier wherefore the Iudge tormented with their cries and noyse commanded his hand should be taken off as the instrument of the disgrace Then a number of other Turkes and Moores began to lay hands vpon the innocent Frier to haue executed the sentence when a Turke assisting the Cadi in his place a great Lawyer stayed their furie commanding them not to inflict so rigorous a punishment since those kind of Friers were priuiledged persons aboue other Christians but that because the Frier had strucken a Turke and Ianizarie which was vnlawfull they should all there present inflict the like
weather vnexpectedly now brought the ship and her as also to giue life and succour to so many valiant distressed Christians Such and so admirable oft times are the happy successes to vvhich in part the affaires of our more wretched life are now and then subordinate or to say truer so incomprehensible and miraculous is the diuine Prouidence which disposeth things when vve least imagine for the best This waighty consideration tooke vp Gerardo's vvhole vnderstanding and his sences left him doubtfull in the certaintie and claritie of what he saw before him Iacinta she tenderly lay weeping at his feet ouer-ioyed with the sight of him that was once her Louer Nise clung to his necke and brest hugged him so close that hee could scarcely see her face much lesse heare the words that she thus smootheringly close deliuered I wonder not my best loued Signior that so doubtfull you make difficultie of giuing credit to your knowledge since the small loue you bore mee may haue easily blotted Nise out of your mind and memorie but not the experience of this truth that costs mee so dearely not the most cruell rigour wherewith I haue beene wofully treated by you not the long forgetfulnesse disdaines absence affections bitterest tormenter none of these not all together haue beene able to alter my loyaltie or alienate my affection or lastly to lessen the least part of my happiest wishes These my Gerardo haue made me seeke thee out thus nigh lost hazarded amongst bloody Turkes and barbarous Pyrats who vniustly detained thee this care alone hath made me forget so many iniuries brought me thorow dangers to leaue my Monasterie prouide thy ransome to trauell day and night tread downe all difficulties to no other end but to obtaine finding thee thy lost by me most of all earthly goods desired liberty May then my best Signior this amorous demonstration deserue your admittance by recompencing the firme loue of her that hath vndertaken it and if it find not in your bosome equall reception at least permit that my wearied toung may with your good liking publish that Nise hath only beene howeuer wronged for euer true and her vttermost affections wholly solely her Gerardo's Amazement here left him and it seemed passed into the hearts of the Spectators for Gerardo like one sprightfully returning out of a heauie trance most compassionately tender and with a more liuely admiration at Nise's strong affection and equally pittying the poore Iacinta's crosse fortunes now comforting with noble intrailes the afflictions of this then drawing neere with affectionate gratitude to that partie sometimes mollifying his rigorous remembrance towards the one and then forgetting his iust indignation for wrongs from the other vnable without teares to dissemble his passion hee raised Iacinta from the ground and clasped the diuine Nise about the necke and bashfully ashamed craues her pardon freely confesseth his hearts hardnesse and blameth his vngratefull proceeding then turning to the vvretched Iacinta vvith like ioy comforts and promiseth her not to forsake her till with desired rest she may arriue to the shelter of her friends or a more peaceable harbour And vvith this determination whilst the two Dames more cheerefully with equal emulation admited at each others Beauty he beganne to giue order for their returne for Spaine Nise vvas dumbe and ielous though confident as beeing so neere her Louer Iacinta dissembling her trouble as one that knew her selfe too vnworthy to enioy him to bring her out of her dumpes broke the yce and silence by speaking first and they vvere then mutually courteous both willing to bee acquainted with the causes of each others peregrination Gerardo fearefull of another Storme had desired that the Frigot might saile vnder the Ships protection till such time as they should land at Oran and from thence meet vvith more consorts for Spaine so they agreed that for their more conueniencie the two Dames also should goe together in the Ship till they came thither to vvhich purpose they both vvere helped vp by Nise's seruants and Gerardo vvho thought fit not as yet to leaue the company of his good friends and therefore taking leaue of Nise and Iacinta vvho seeing the reason hee had vvould not contradict it he vvent backe into the Frigot But that we may more euidently perceiue the frailty of momentarie delights and vvhat little assurance is to be expected from their vncertain beeing let vs in these ensuing Lines note the last successe that befell Gerardo and the faire Dames in this fortunate vnfortunate day All the vvhile that the former matters passed the Ship and Frigot vvere strongly fastened together aswell for their more conueniencie of conuersation and keeping company as the raking of the vvaues which as yet went somewhat high and increasing more the Master and Mariners fearing lest beeing so neere the Frigot as the weaker Vessell vvith the Seas fury might split and thinking Gerardo had beene in the Ship the Frigot fell off but it was iust at the instant that he beeing in the Ship-boate thought to haue gotten out of it into the Frigot vvhich being now vnder Saile and the Boat notable to ouertake it hauing broken the Rope by which she was tyed to the Ships Sterne to the terrible griefe of the beholders caught by the swelling waues and violently carried on was like to bee ouerwhelmed where a long time Gerardo was seene to be in manifest danger though for all he was so farre off hee might heare Nise and Iacinta's cries vvhose eyes prooued vnwilling witnesses of the sad disaster Gerardo's valiant companions were not awhit dismayd in the Frigot to see him in this conflict but tugging at their Oares till they were ready to burst at length they fetched vp the Boat and casting out a Ropes end on which he laid hold by little and little quitting the Boat hee swamme to the Frigots Oares and taking a little breath holding by their broad feet at last he was lifted into the Frigot where after he had shifted and refreshed himselfe his Company began to steere the Ships course till such time as the billowes rising more and more they had quite lost sight of her It was then about one of Clocke in the afternoone at what time the wind enlarging they set Saile and might haue saued their Oares in respect of the faire wind but they vsed both and so made on to the West-ward of Oran whither the Shippe was bound and not ceasing to row fresh men still helping before darke night they were gotten aboue threescore miles from the place where the fight was but since none of them knew to take the Altitude and night came darke on them vncertaine of their course they yet held on West-ward that being the safest and so after the nights second watch they found that they were neere a Coast and the wind sitting a sterne they were ere long driuen into a faire and well-sheltring Harbour on whose land stood a strong Castle that was founded on a sure high Rocke vnresistable
with his swords hiâ—t I then tooke notice of the good successe and sure our old enmitie had here ended had it not beene for the intercession of two Dames one of which laying hold on my Contrary all blubberd and afflicted and the other comming towards me sought to asswage my anger and to mediate for the dis-armed Gentleman she that spoke to me had her face all couered with Tiffany which seruing as a Maske onely discouered two faire eyes but at this time clouded with some pittifull teares which accompanied with sighes and discreet phrase not onely reined in my vnbridled fury but also seeing Tirso on one side wounded by mine Vnkle fly backe and on the other their seruants driuen vp to a corner labour in their defence made me to second Tirso and re-bating Don Iulio's blowes and his cryed out to them to hold and by this time some other indifferent parties came happily in and parted vs all I signified to the vnknowne Dame that her discreet and noble carriage gained me to be her seruant as farre as the sauing her kinsman or friends life and should command mine owne So that at last my Vnkle constrain'd by my entreaties got to horse and the like did I and with our haste I forgot to take so much as a bare leaue of the Gentlewomen onely commanded our seruants to follow with whom as vvell to take order for what had passed as to cure some that vvere wounded we returned to Zaragosa with such speed that before night we were gotten to our lodgings though I stayed not long in mine rather following my Vnkles aduice absented my selfe for at least twenty dayes in a Village some dayes iourney off which was the cause I could not to my desire informe my selfe of the Dame that spoke to me whom I much longed to know The Officers of Iustice hauing vnderstood from Don Iulio the late accident with all the circumstances fearing the resulting of some greater inconueniences from it sought to pacifie all parties which they so diligently laboured that with much adoe a generall concord was effected and all were publikely made friends Then I returned againe to my home and former care but so vnluckily that doing what possibly I could I was not able to learn who the two former Dames were or whether they went which difficulty was the more encreased by the feare I had least my iealous enemies might fall into some new suspitions if haply they should come but to the least notice of my curious intent wherefore desisting I tooke truce with my desires Thus past I on some two moneths and better in vvhich time new inuitements different occasions and seuerall varieties made mee forget the former businesse quite till one morning amongst others being to meet some friends who had appointed the venturing of a Rest at Primera as I was going out of my lodging a Woman masked came and suddenly conueyed a Letter into my hand saying To morrow morning Don Iayme you shall haue mee here for the answer and without another word left me as full of trouble as longing for the contents and so opening it I read if not the same words at least the matter you shall heare My fathers lingring sicknesse and former troubles haue made me deferre though not forget the acknowledgement of a particular obligation in which Don Iayme for your noblenesse not long since to Lisauro I am ingaged to your valour Let this iust motiue worthiest Signior be a sufficient warrant to excuse my loosenesse rather in your honour'd thoughts affoord it a better title since though I presume as a stranger now I doubt not but time and our correspondence may make me worthy of a reasonable estimation in your affection of which when I may haue some sufficient proofe you shall know who I am in the meane time I humbly beseech you suffer like your noble selfe in which confidence Heauen protect you Here ended the pithie Letter whose contents equally amazed and gladded me to haue gotten at length some though confused notice of the countrey Dame whose Letter infinitely contented I answered and fully satisfied for my neglect of not taking leaue of her when our bickering was by letting her know the exquisit search I had made to excuse my selfe and expresse how much I was her seruant vrging withall my desire with all earnestnesse to see her though in conclusion I closed vp all with submitting my selfe to her will without seeking to know or enquire any thing that might contradict her pleasure and what I wrote I made good giuing my Letter to the disguized partie that the next morning came punctually for it without daring to demand so much as her Mistrisses name or the least circumstance In this manner I continued a good while but to deale plainly though her discreet Letters promised a subiect of much woorth and goodnesse yet the want of knowing her did more disperse my affections 'T was now about the gladsom time of Shroue-tide more solemnely kept in Zaragosa then any other citie of Spaine at which time with some friends and kinsmen of mine owne age and condition clad in colours and Vizards wee marched vp and downe the streetes enioying many a mirthfull opportunitie for at this time of yeere our women haue full libertie and dispence with their ordinary reseruednesse In the heate of our pastime on the Sunday night hauing notice of certaine Reuels that were kept in priuate houses vvilling to affoord our eyes the content of seeing vvee visited all till such time as at last comming to the house of one Signior Bellides vvhere all the youth brauerie and beauty of the City vvas we purposed to enter but most vvarily in respect that the aforesaid Gentleman was of a contrary faction to vs for though vvee had beene before made friends yet we still kept aloofe Neuer since I vvas man saw mine eyes a rarer Beauty nor a more troublesome obiect to my soule then one amongst the Dames there and although there were few present that deserued not a particular commendation yet she who fell to my lot I meane shee vvhom I set by was so admirably beauteous that the rest in comparison were but swartie Egyptians The spacious Hall was set round with Torches and Lights of seuerall inuentions and many of the Gallants and gallant Dames of the Reuels beganne to foot it to the sound of harmonious musicall Instruments so that all the Spectators eyes beeing fastened vpon them I might the more freely employ mine nail'd as it were to that beautifull obiect And but falteringly something I would haue spoken when mine eyes with their earnestnesse better supplied my tongues defect by shewing my hearts cares I know not whether the knowledge of my voyce or the lifting vp my Vizard to wipe my face made her the more attentiue to my words but drawing closer to mee with a soft and low voyce she bestowed on mee this answer I am much indebted to Heauen Don Iayme for my good fortune in seeing
ruine more then mine own kept my affection at distance and the better to dissemble the matter I absented my selfe from Zaragosa Ismenia satisfied with my intent by her leaue I tooke a iourney to a towne of mine your selfe at that time and Iacinta going along with mee the accident in our iourney falling out which enforced you to take her out of the Nunnery where by my order she was left and likewise of losing our selues in the darke night I arriued by morning at my own home and hauing caused all possible search to be vsed after you hearing no newes I endeuoured to pacifie matters in the Nunnery which I might easily doe considering the neerenesse of alliance betweene the Abbesse and my selfe who vnwilling to bring me into danger was contented to dissemble the outrage At this time though farre off from my Mistris yet still wee held correspondence by meanes of my trusty friends whom as you heard I made priuy to my secret and so Ismenia's Maid deliuering her Mistresses Letters into his hands they came safely to mine But at last my heart vnable to support longer absence at two moneths end I returned to Zaragosa and there to my former cares Ismenia soone knew of my arriuall for to deale truely no lesse was I sollicited by her Letters and perswasions then mine owne ardent desires and so the ensuing night in company of Don Martin de Vrrea this being my friends name I went to the vsuall place where I remained in louing conuersation with my Mistris till towards morning and thus many a night after continued our affections which at last grew to that height of increase that neither of vs powerfull to resist their inflaming effects vve at length determined to giue a ioyfull consummation to our passions And Ismenia vanquished by my entreaties for the appointed night taking first Heauen and her true seruant to vvitnesse of my hand and faithfull vow to be her Spouse she consented I should by the window enter her Chamber though for some necessary respects the reward of my labours vvas deferred till the next night from vvhich time I vvas able to take no rest at all but toiling vp and downe from one place to another at all but toiling vp and downe from one place to another thought euery minute a long Age till the vvished moment approached so that vvhat should haue beene my greatest ioy bred me greater disquiet in vvhich I passed the greatest part of the day till visited by my friend Don Martin to the intent that he might not discouer my vveaknesse I forced my selfe to as much cheerefulnesse as I could which being forced and I but counterfetly dissembling my inward trouble he might vvell perceiue my alteration This he made knowne vnto me and vvithall requested to know the cause of my discontent vvhereupon I that had formerly trusted him vvith my bosomes greatest secrets thought it no raritie now to discouer the present and therfore made knowne vnto him vvould God I had dyed first our agreement and indeed Gerardo though as then I tooke not the notice I ought to haue done of his lookes by vvhat afterward hapned too late to bee helped I called to minde how Don Martin became suddenly sad as soone as euer I had made knowne vnto him the cause of my vnquietnesse but mine eyes were so blinded from his passion that they neuer so much as marked the least part of it nor though they had might I haue iudged it to redound to my preiudice Lastly I requested to haue his company as I was wont which he easily agreed to and so faining a leaue to prepare himself home he vvent and within a few houres after when it was time came backe againe to mee and before we went out he was desirous we should change Cloakes by which meanes said hee vvee shall the better disguize our selues in this manner then comming to the lane and place being somewhat late I might perceiue that Ismenia expected so that with my friends helpe I got speedily vpon the wall from whence about to haue climbed to the window I no sooner went about it when two fellowes newly rushed into the Lane beganne hastily to set vpon Don Martin vvith vvhom though to my seeming by him valiantly resisted they began such a bickering as the night you vvot of hapned vnto me but suspecting as then no other then that we were laid wait for I leapt to the ground and seconding Don Martin we easily droue them out of the Lane and I desiring no more then to set my Contrary from thence seeing him begin to turne tayle following somewhat hard to remoue him a good way from my Mistresses danger after I had effected my desire somewhat weary and breathlesse I returned againe to my stand where finding no Don Martin nor any sign of the past skirmish thinking the same chance had happened to him that to me meaning not to expect him longer I ventured once againe to the top of the wall to effect my desires but hauing found the window close shut thinking verily the fray and clashing of our swords for more security had caused it I turned backe againe though so perplexed with the vnlookt for accident that I could willingly haue sacrificed my selfe In all that ensuing night I could not affoord my distracted minde one minutes rest whose morning comfort it fits you next heare About ten of the clocke the next morning my Ismenia's Wench as frollicke as 't was possible comes into my Chamber and giuing me a Paper from her Mistresse asked me if I were more liuely and lesse maidenly then ouer-night I vnderstood not her meaning and therefore making no direct reply onely demanded whether we had been perceiued who answered Not. At last somewhat more contented I dispatcht her but no longer lasted this contentednesse with me then mine eyes were running ouer these Lines As in all my life I neuer had happier night so my delight neuer paid greater abatement for as wel your strange silence made my soule sorrowfull as the danger also in which I first saw you I am yet fearefull not knowing whether yeu arriued safely at your lodging which doth mortally afflict me and therefore loued Spouse I beseech you faile not to see me this night since you are now obliged to know how ill I shall passe the tedious minutes without re-enioying your desired presence Euen yet Gerardo the affrightment of these Lines still haunts me which hauing as then sundry times read ouer and comparing the Wenches former questions with them I could not tell what to imagine but knowing that till I spoke with Ismenia my labour was vain I was forced to patience and expectation of nights approach by when and before my accustomed houre I went to Don Martin his lodging aswell with purpose to haue him along with mee as to know also how he had sped the last night but though I bounced and often called at his doore no answere was made me which caused me to goe alone and
willed their Muletiers to guide them to a knowne Inne in that way called The Mary Magdalen but the poore fellowes were so wet and weary that though they laboured what they could to bring their Masters thither yet night and darknesse ouer-taking them they lost their way and the horsemen had much adoe to keepe themselues from tumbling headlong so steepy are the Cliffes and dangerous precipices of those Mountaines All of them well perceiued the misfortune and fearing yet some greater if they should all night long remaine thus to the inclemencie of the weather considering their danger they trooped together till at length when they least thought of it not knowing how or which vvay they were gotten to the foote of the Mountaine and being now in a Valley neere certaine mudde walles that ioyned as they might ghesse to a house drawing neerer to it they might perceiue it had some close entries on euery side so thinking they had met with no bad shelter all of them alighted And Gerardo supposing there wanted not some inhabitant there who taking pitie vpon their distresse might yet affoord them a better welcome about to knocke at the gate going as neere as he could hee might by the manner of the building hauing some small glimpse of it perceiue it to be a Hermitage whereupon forsaking his intent of knocking as perswaded that in so desart a place there could bee no body to open to them he turned back to the company But he vvas deceiued in his distrust for no sooner was he beginning to vtter his minde vvhen perceiuing the Hermitage doore open they might also see a venerable ancient man vvith a light in his hand come out whose long siluer Lockes gray beard as well as his Religious habit moued the by-standers vvith a kinde of deuout respect to draw neere The good old Father vvondred at the raritie though with gentle phrase he saluted them and cheerefully demanded the cause of their vnseasonable trauelling thorow those vncouth parts of vvhich being by Gerardo sufficiently satisfied and of the necessitie they were driuen to with most charitable entrailes he offred them his Cell for a Harbour where all of them entring more speedily then from his vveake Age might haue beene expected hee made them a reasonable good fire with whose warmth which they esteemed as an extraordinary dainty they by little and little dryed themselues and they that had beene before almost frozen vvith cold and sicke with wet were now newly reuiued and making ready their supper which was the Relikes of some dinner meates that their seruants carried in their Wallets together with some little fruit the old man set before them giuing God thankes that affoorded them so good a shelter they began to fall to All those Gentlemen were maruellously taken with the reuerend presence of the holy Man who at Gerardo's request sate with them for company to whose vvords and graue discourse they were more attentiue then sollicitous to taste of the Cates set before them So Supper ended Leoncio and Gerardo would haue begunne to renue their thankes for his curtesie which hee preuented vvilling them to attribute all to the higher powers to whom their thankes were solely due And so leading them by the hands the rest following they came to the foote of an Altar where by the light of a small Lampe they might behold a Crucifix to which they all kneeled and after their Deuotion were about to haue returned to their former seates when Gerardo rising vp perceiued that the ground where hee had kneeled vvas somewhat loose and as if it had beene but that day newly broken vp for a graue as true it was at vvhich maruelling and that any should be buried in so remote a desart or thinking perhaps they might be neere some towne desirous to be resolued he demanded the cause of the Reuerend Hermite from whom in stead of an answer he might see how vvith those hoarie skeines of his he wipte his grieued eyes to conceale their teares at vvhich vnlookt for resentment not a little wondring and much greedier to know this and the former cause he began with this effectuall entreaty thus to mooue him Honest Father though the demonstration of your eyes might interrupt my purpose since I presume by my question your teares haue been occasioned yet the force of my desires vvilleth me in the behalfe of this vvorthy company to importune your satisfying my request and making knowne the reason of your sudden sorrow that if any here may giue you ease or comfort it shall be no trouble or difficulty for him herein to serue you and therefore the sooner you declare your griefe the neerer growes your remedie Further had Gerardo proceeded so much vvished he to dispose the Hermit to his vvill but perceiuing that by the others beginning to speake himselfe vvas cut off with care and silence he gaue eare In all the time my loued Sonne that in this solitarinesse my wretched life hath been dedicated to Heauen I may safely promise you that neither temporall goods haue disturbed my mindes quiet nor worldly cares my penitence or soules saluation for which I must incessantly praise my Creator yet I cannot but acknowledge and esteeme as an especiall obligation vvhat your noblenesse hath imposed vpon me which I should most heartily repay in the kinde you demaund vvere not the time more necessary for your rest then my small paines for your satisfactions Rest your selues all therefore for the present for your weary trauell hath much need of it and to morrow morning I shall accompany you God vvilling to Guadalupe at which time I not onely promise to fulfill your command but ioyntly for your better edification to recount vnto you the stupendious life of that Graues Owner Here with a relenting groane hee finished his speech though in the hearers their desires began a-new and therfore falling againe to importune him they requested him not to deferre his Relation laying before him the hardnesse of their lodging and tediousnesse of the night which would be the better beguiled by their being by him kept waking so that at length loth to be held too obstinate hee was willing to obey but first he renues their fire with some pieces of dry logs and then the Brothers and whole company round besetting the good old man hee thus sets vpon their attentiue silence with the following Tragedy All wounds an effect of the soueraigne salue are lessened by their cure but if any carelessely touch them such rubbing encreaseth their dolour and their recouery is so much the longer deferred the same now befals me this last night I lost my best friend and though my Soule Gods creature be comforted yet her affection cannot but resent the blow that was inflicted with your demand I obey notwithstanding sacrificing my will to your wish and though it may bee some ease to my paine to diuert your wearinesse yet I must desire more that is to haue your attention beare a part in
my Discourse and your selues to giue to the truth of this accident the credit and applause it iustly deserueth To prouide my selfe of some sustenance the in-excusable Tribute to our wretched bodies I vse weekely to importune certaine poore Villages within a foure Leagues compasse of this Valley with my necessities from whence about sixe yeeres since returning to this Hermitage forced as well by Iulies scorching heate as my weakenesse of Age by the way I sate me downe to rest my ouer-wearied limbes on the shady brinke of a swift running Spring the briefe Originall of the neere Brooke here then my thoughts found a waighty subiect in which they might considering the beauty fragrancie of different Plants shadie Trees enamelled Flowers springing Grasse and crystall streames mounting euen to the very foote of their glorious Artificer reuerence in them the excellency of his Diuine handy-worke In this eleuation was I when turning mine eyes towards certaine Bryers there appeared from them a kinde of glimmering brightnesse that almost dazled them and altogether amazed me At first I thought it to bee some reflexion of the Sunne-beames which shined into that thornie shade but making seuerall trials with my sight I might perceiue the same light to remaine stil fixed and immooueable in one place which made mee suspect greater matters promising to my worldly desire some stone of price or metall of equall value With this imagination vp got I and comming to the Bushes with helpe of my Crab-tree-staffe I began to put them by and so quickly discouered the occasion of my search which was a Ginet Saddle of maruellous neat workemanship embroidered with all furniture to it in seuerall colours at the Bow hung the bit head-stall Reines The Stirrops and Poitrall were fairely gilt and enamelled The accident made me somewhat wonder yet the gilded irons vvhich made that shining satisfide my first doubtfull imagination The mysterie of the Saddle being thus left I was vtterly ignorant of and therefore not once searching into the cause couering the vvhole furniture I left it to the Owner in the same manner I found it and so walked on to my Cell where my minde better emploide my thoughts had no leisure to wander A weeke passed on after the accident in whose last day I being retired my doore close shut the sky couered with clouds not without Lightning and Thunder there began a terrible storme which are in this Valley though not lasting yet as frequent as frightfull The violence of it much afflicted me for the hurt it might doe the Countrey and so I made the matter of my Oraisons for more moderate weather praying to God to protect the earths increase but at the instant the trampling neighing and snuffling of a horse suspended my pious Zeale and caused me to approch neerer to the Altar thinking verily some spirit had beene neere And wonder not at it for I tell you true the noise this night of your Moyles and Horses worked no lesse horrid effect at first for now as then it seemed impossible to mee to heare any creature come neere this place which though not farre from habitations yet hath euer beene by reason of the dangerous narrow wayes so inaccessible and indeed so vn-promising a sally to Horsemen that it makes me think your comming hither miraculous and therefore with these circumstances you need not thinke my feares then triuiall So I stayed a pretty while within my doores not once stirring from the Sacred refuge that protected me but perceiuing as soone as I began to heate the noise the weather grew calmer and the storme ceased together vvith the Horses neighing I got me to my doore from whose open grates I might see a dainty Bay-horse with blacke feet and of a very handsome shape but without any furniture at all vpon him At first with much admiration I could not tell what to imagine of the sight till calling to mind the Saddle found by me I began to thinke it might happely haue belonged to that Horse and that some misfortune had befalne his Owner either by falling headlong from the steepy Mountaine or being slaine by Theeues in the maine high-way not passing a League from this place though the manner of the Saddles beeing as it were carefully laid vp and the Horse left fo free quickly made frustrate this opinion also At last not to weary you resoluing my selfe that the Thunder and extremitie of weather had forced the poore beast to seeke some shelter I purposed to seize on him thinking it better for mee to keepe him for his Master then to leaue him as a stray in those desarts and fo opening my doore the Horse no sooner heard the creaking of it when suddenly he startted back The showres were quite ouerpast and therefore though the Beast fled from mee yet I left not to prosecute my purpose and so fetched a compasse to run before him that I might make him turne backe againe in this manner as well as mine Age and weaknesse would permit me I was gotten at least halfe a League from the Hermitage after him But growing weary at length I I was forced to rest where I remained some little while refreshing my selfe and keeping the Horse still in sight and longer had I there stayed so out of breath was I but that the clouds againe thickning I was compelled to seeke out some place lesse subiect to the violence of a storme so that rising vp not farre off I made choise of the strong Trunke and broad boughes of a wilde Walnut-tree whose height reaching euen to the Mountaines Top gaue shade shelter to the ground Where being arriued I no sooner purposed to enter the hollow of it caused either by Art or Antiquitie when I perceiued a man who by way of preuention was gotten into it before me This kept me from my intent for the noueltie surprized mee and the more in respect that hauing heard me hee did not once offer to stirre but onely hiding his face now then sent forth a mournefull sigh His attire and cloathes by their goodnes shewed the Owners quality and the liuelinesse of his well-fauour'd countenance no store of yeeres All which besides admiration caused a curious desire in me to know more and accordingly I expected a while to see if the party would forsake his dumpes but seeing his behauiour was still the same taking the name of Iesus in my mouth I saluted him alowd vvho as if he had beene awaked out of a dreame looking vp replyed For euer bee my Sauiours glorious name praised and truning about re-saluted mee asking what I would haue To which not a little astonisht thus I replide I know not Christian Brother what austere Cinicall person in the vvorld there may bee that beholding you in this manner would not desire to be informed and to know the cause of this your solitarie being and therefore I most earnestly request you to make knowne vnto me not onely your griefe but vvithall whether you bee
the Diuell doth easily facilitate such difficulties and till a sinne bee acted all is plaine and smoothest way Onely a shamefastnesse of her personall honour pinched at the infamous price though by Fernando she was anticipated in that point so that the consideration of her Louers modest behauiour from whom or in him in all the time of their conuersation she had not so much as heard a lasciuious word seene a lustfull action perplexed her ignorance for want of meaner but he whose craft as is said mooued the whole engine fearing the losse of so likely a bootie with new deuices and stratagemes forced this last Bulwarke to yeeld How farre at this time though amorous was Fernando from a carnall thought he onely satisfied with the sight of his Votaresse desired no other happinesse neither could his warie condition hurry him to more vn-limited bounds he vsually conuersed with her and indeed beeing a most punctuall frequenter of the Grate not an hower passed him without a sight of her nor a day in which she receiued not some dainty or other from him holding the expence of his estate vpon Camila as a gaine and haruest though she now burning in the flames of lust beeing one day alone with him meant thus as you shall heare to breake her mind vnto him The better to declare it I must first aduertize you of this necessary point Camila when she heard Fernando one day was come to see her had purposely longer then she vsed deferred her comming to him insomuch that sensible of the noueltie his heart began to mis-doubt something and in this trouble desirous to know the cause of her stay glad would he haue beene that the Nunnes sight might haue preuented his asking now shee that vsed this fit occasion the better to order the Dance vvhen she came fained that as she was comming to her vsuall Grate a friend of hers by the way entertaining her Votary at another had called her the cause proceeding from a certaine nice doubt which the two were sifting in which making her whether she would or not their Iudge shee was to heare their allegations which was the reason of her more important not seeing him Here Fernando much longed more originally to know the proposition whose desire Camila not ouer-squeamish to be intreated as one well studied in the thing most cheerfully fulfilled Clemencia and Fausto said shee both vvhom you well know haue falne into a deepe controuersie and into a tickle point Fausto maintaines that in all kinds Possession of a thing is the chiefest good vvhich opinion Clemencia contradicts who holds that Hope to vvhich she attributes the greater excellency and hereupon grounds her Tenet saying That this is so much the more to be esteemed by how much neerer it is to Ioy and Pleasure and consequently distant from sorrow and repentance but Hope is neerer Content and hath lesse neighbour-hood with distastes whereas in Possession happens the quite contrary which alwaies or for the most part is accompanied with griefe and affliction and with all such is our naturall frailty things once possessed grow to lesser estimation for there is no Beauty on earth so rare which once enioyed becomes not if not loathsome yet lesse prized then before wherefore too it must needes be euident that the time we spend in our pretensions is incomparably better then when accomplished with possession it is lesse lookt after for so hee that hopes doth carefully desire couets with delight and pleasure that which he who possesseth wants since in the glutted state he liues hee neither likes desires or esteemes and thus shee clozed vp all alledging that Hope by it selfe alone hath much more excellency and perfection then Possession of what is hoped for for the thing desired is in a manner ioyntly possessed as hoped after when he that possesseth hath onely the dominion of the thing he attaines to and then his hope finisheth But now you must marke that Fausto wanted no reply for the making good of his part and therfore inforcing the superiority of his opinion he goes on saying The whole life and encouragement of Hope is in respect of Possession so that the good which redounds from Hope is not in it selfe but in the thing hoped for whereby the thing it selfe desired is better then the hope of it for the end is euer more to be esteemed then the meanes which are onely disposed to the same The securitie and safenesse of a good consists in the greater perfection of it and this he onely that doth possesse not he that hopeth hath who held he Hope to be the better neuer caring to come to Possession he might not onely expect but also not call that expectation Hope rather mortall despaire for ill could he bee said to desire a good that declined so much from the Possession so that the perfection consists in the reality and accomplishment of the desire and not in the appetite it selfe therefore lastly he that comforts himselfe with bare Hope must needes bee cast since plainely hee affects that which is most profitable liking rather to liue in a continuall warfare then settled quiet peace which is onely found in quietest Possession They vrged many other reasons to this purpose but these are the most materiall and though they haue named me for their Iudge Arbitresse yet I confesse my shortnesse of vnderstanding and therefore Fernando relying on your discretion I meane to take you as an Assistant to sentence this cause before we part Fernando gaue pleasing attention to the whole disputation and thorowly satisfied thus replied to Camila Beleeue me deare Votaresse the parties though to my cost may render you many thankes as not needing to complaine for want of attention in their Iudge nor to distrust the iustice of their cause for it is not possible that shee vvho hath so well related each point and duely considered euery circumstance should erre a iot in the sure determination and though I be well enough assured of this truth yet subiecting my selfe to your commands I must obey and therefore resoluedly set downe that you may sentence on Fausto's behalfe of vvhose right so confident am I that had not he to my liking sufficiently made good his opinion I should with fresh reasons endeuour to vnderprop it Then belike replied Camila vvhosoeuer is of that mind is vvisest and consequently he that is against it peruerse and ignorant To which Fernando ignorant of her purpose sayd for his part he thought no lesse vvhen vvithout more adoo the resolute Dame in this manner proceeded Go to then Fernando either you or I loue not or if the greatest good bee in possession and this wanting vvhy spend vve all our time thus fruitlesse to no purpose Our Gallant hearing his Camila was strucke speechlesse and though at first he had supposed all to haue beene pastime and merriment yet looking neerer into the matter and perceiuing those Arguments to haue beene before-hand premeditated he fell into the
felt him they doubted and though they saw him whether he were the obiect of their eye-sight These extremes filled Gerardo with no lesse wonder though at last informed of the cause his desire increasing to satisfie his Mistresse hee could not be at quiet till he had seene her but manifesting his minde he was by one of those seruants told the occasion why Nise was at that time out of the Castle which was that perswaded verily that hee had beene cast away vpon the Coast of Barbary she returned to the Nunnery where she had before liued and leauing her possessions against all perswasions of her kindred meant to take vpon her the Religious habit of Saint Clara and to liue and dye in that profession The ghests at the vnexpected Relation were much troubled though in Gerardo this vvas not onely an effect of trouble for his eyes vvithout vvagging their lids staringly fixed vpon earth he stood as immoueable as if he had been a Statue of brasse rather then a man of flesh Leoncio vvell noted the sudden alteration and expecting a little to haue him come to himselfe thinking it too long for a muze about to haue giuen him a secret iogge hee had like to set him off his legges to the ground Gerardo's passion vvas not so slight nor the Torment he endured so tolerable as his Brother imagined his heart quite failed him and therefore applying new helpes and causing a bedde suddenly to be made they laid him in it his Brother and kinsmen in this strange accident round besetting him These things passed not so couertly the distance being not much but that the fame of them in an instant flew to Nise's eares who though at first relying wholly vpon her owne thoughts she could giue no credit to the newes yet vvhen at last shee heard it seuerally confirmed no tongue can expresse her ioy though indeed her Louers present danger mingled it with some sorrow to whom shee carefully dispatched sundry messages disposing them so that one came in the necke of the other yet all were answered by Leoncio for the brother lay yet in a profound Extasis which made her ready to haue forsaken the Nunnery which she had straight performed leauing her holy habit but that such an Act might haue been imputed to much leuity But Leoncio with the rest of the Gentlemen not long after went to visit her by whom she was told to her no small ioy and comfort that Gerardo amended and after some speech betwixt them the agreement was that the next day since the onely cause of her retirement vvas thinking that Gerardo vvas dead and that the contrary at present appearing shee might without her honours hazard quit the Order their so long desired Nuptials should in the Monasteries Church be solemnized This newes was quickly spred about the Village and so heartily celebrated that ere night all the Turrets Battlements and walles of the enclosure as also Streets Market-place Doores and Windowes were full of Lights Torches and Bonefires nothing was heard but noise of ioy and Musicke The better sort of the Gentry likewise with the Ginetiers of the Coast then in the Village ranne their seuerall Carreeres before the Nunnery Castle Gates where though Gerardo were now somewhat better come to himselfe yet hee could not thorowly bee comforted neither could his kinsmen or Leoncio know what to attribute the cause of it to who much afflicted to see him still in that manner importuned him all he might to know the ground of his strange discontentment Gerardo out of the mutuall affection betwixt them would soone haue satisfied his Brother but that hee iustly feared Leoncio's perswasions might preiudice his secret intent wherefore dissembling the true cause hee told him that the vnexpected newes of Nise's Religious estate presuming his owne to be desperate his sudden griefe allowing him no time to weigh the matter had so much hitherto oppressed him but that vnderstanding now the truth of her affection he vvas better pleased and contented So vvas Leoncio vvhen he heard this and assured that his Brother concealed not his cares from him his were to prouide against the prefixed time and so taking order to haue all things and the Bridegroomes brauery in a readinesse they all that night the better to cheere vp his brother supped in Gerardo's Chamber And toward midnight euery one withdrew to his lodging and all vvhen day came went downe into the Castle yard where with shewes of noble emulation in rich embroideries an Epitome of our West-Indies might bee seene and in this manner hauing sent word first to Nise Leoncio with them vvent to fetch the gallant Bridegroome out of his bed but finding the Chamber doore shut and his seruants attending his awaking wondring at his drowzinesse though some imputed it to the late accident they knocked aloude but hearing no answere Leoncio hastily vvith his foot shoued the doore open which was but only close put to and himselfe with the rest entring in thinking Gerardo vvas yet asleepe they drew the Curtaines but neither found Gerardo in bed not saw any of his apparell wherfore Leoncio much troubled and fearing some disaster caused search to be made for him all about and willed that they should see if his Horse were missing which vvas as he mis-doubted and therefore his kinsmen called to haue theirs saddled with purpose to seeke him out but a Letter which one of them found vpon one of the Pillowes stayed their intent The hand was knowne to be Gerardo's and seeing the superscription to Leoncio he taking it not without some teares read it ouer first closely to himselfe and then asswaging his passions as vvell as he could in presence of them all he read alowd the ensuing Lines Deare Brother that this vnexpected Act of mine especially in an occasion so vrgent must of necessity cause in your Noble brest if not also compassionate a strong distaste against your Gerardo I cannot doubt yet must I likewise relying vpon your wisedome duely weighing the reasons thereunto mouing me hope your punishment may be turned into the pardon I presently desire but first let me request you that calling to your remembrance my past life so full of affrighting dangers and hazzard you would also consider the miraculous meanes and wayes by which Gods goodnesse hath freed me from them to whom I must besides the generall obligation of my Redemption owe a more particular dutie which his vnspeakeable bounty in raising me from the bondage of a vicious life hath imposed vpon mee This truth then granted had you your selfe receiued some especiall benefit not from an equall friend but some meane soule could you bee otherwise then thankefull for it And tell me instead of beeing so were it fit with vile ingratitude to goe about to bereaue him of his onely Iewell What pittying brest would not reuile you for so loude a crime which out of louing gratitude or modest feare you should not dare commit or lesse imagine If then oh
father vsed extraordinary diligence to finde out the authors and so to punish them but Rodrigo's man declaring the place disguize and disposition of the actors hee was wary in his proceeding as ghessing the businesse to haue bin premeditated and the defamed honour of some person of equall merits interested in the same Whilst this businesse was thus in the heate by Fernando's aduice in the night time we came not into my Clara's street and if in the day time for my comfort I desired but to passe that way 't was like Capuchines our eyes fixt on the earth though now and then loue ouercame my feare and would force me sometimes to looke vp for a sight of my Sunnes comfort from her Easterne window Within some twenty dayes Rodrigo being vpon the mending hand gaue way to his friends to visite him Fernando and my selfe by good prouidence beeing not the last nor which least frequented his Lodging and one time amongst others finding him alone wee earnestly requested him to make knowne to vs the cause of that vnluckie accident and this aswell to bee assured of Clara's loyaltie as also to dissemble the matter But Rodrigo in a manner refusing yet seeing my earnestnesse and my friends desire at last he began Though it grieue me to the soule to renue the occasion and motiue of my wounds yet relying on your secrecie I will make it knowne vnto you It is now fully sixe moneths that I haue beene a true frequenter of Segundo Octauio's street and a Suiter to his Neece Clara at his house who in respect of her rare beauty I suppose is not vnknown to either of you in all which time I haue vsed many seuerall diligences to make knowne my affection to her which though she might easily haue read in my eyes that haue expressed my inward passion besides the shewes and triumphes which I haue publikely for her sake set forth yet my paines haue beene all bootlesse neither had I euer so much as a looke from those faire eyes for a recompence Who but a Prodigie of nature could haue neglected those liuely and feruent demonstrations of mine Who but she blind to the teares that I haue shed and deafe to my parching sighes vvhich for her cruelty I haue scattered to the vvind To bee briefe all my hopes haue produc't no other fruit then vvhat you now behold in me for hauing assayed by diuers meanes particularly by the sollicitation of a maid of hers to effect my desire I wrote vnto her by that partie Lines vvhich had you seene might haue deserued some compassion euen from a brest of Adamant This Rodrigo so feelingly vttered as might haue caused pitie in any lesse interested then my selfe in the businesse and so to a different intent I interrupted him saying And receiued you Sir any answer if you did me thinkes your suite should not haue beene so desperate Marry did I quoth he and such an one as my seruices did merit At this I quite lost footing my iudgement was cleane rent off the hindges supposing Clara now prooued false to me but Rodrigo did soone ridde me of that doubt and iealousie saying These wounds whose skarres you see were my answere and that which euer I expected for the Messenger I imploide hauing told mee I should repaire some certaine dayes after for the resolution of my businesse to one of Segundo's windowes as my vnfortunate Starres would haue it going at the appointed time I found two men at a corner of the street muffled whom I could not by any meanes I vsed force from the place till fetching a compasse backe vpon them I came so neere that doubtlesse they knew me for instantly they set vpon me and gaue me these hackes and had certainely sooner put their businesse in execution if they had sooner knowne me for it must needs bee that they lay purposely in waite for me By their valour though it were darke and they disguised I ghessed them to bee persons of quality Since my hurts I came to notice of my Letters hard vsage and how Clara threatned the Maid that deliuered it wherby I suppose that Segundo Octauio hauing notice of what passed caused some of his kindred to watch me But heauen hath been pleased to free me from their murderous intent and ere long I hope to be abroad not to want the help of friends that may returne them the like Gentle Sir said Fernando 't is no fit circumstance you haue declared to confirme your rash determination for Segundo Octauio besides his pacifique goodnesse is discreet as we all know and put case Clara should informe or he beleeue his Neece hee is not a man to bee moued so slightly to the execution of such bloudy rigour besides neither he nor any one vvould presume that you vvould make court to any Pledge of his otherwise then to make her a Wife therfore giue no credit to a rash opinion or ill grounded suspition I am at such a passe quoth the sicke vvounded Gentleman that though I haue had these and other considerations I am not to bee blamed if I thinke or speake what you haue heard In fine if vvhat I haue told you touching Segundo should be otherwise it must bee that either this Dame or her kins-woman had their Gallants vvhom it concerned to turne mee out of the street and it shall goe hard if Heauen fauour me but one day I may meete vvith them Ah thought I to my selfe 't was a vvise fellow therefore that said Better kill an enemy then let him liue with a wrong and had I as lay in my power done so I had neuer friend Leriano seene my selfe in this lamentable vvretched plight in which your charitable presence found me And before we left Rodrigo he thinking his owne distastes were irkesome to vs desired to giue vs a pleasing farewell in this following Sonnet vvhich hee had made to expresse the rigour of his danger If of a wretched state and all forlorne That be the wretched'st not at all to be Since in condemned Pris'ners we may see Though they must die they l'd not not haue beene borne Then by obliuion to be slowly torne Or vext with absence in extremitie Or plagu'd with rage of restlesse iealousie These nothing are to not being lou'd a scorne He that 's forgotten yet a being had He that is absent may returne againe He that is iealous may finde constancie But still to follow shadowes loue in vaine Still to be hopelesse worse then to be mad That neuer was is or shall happy be In these Discourses we past a great part of the afternoon when at length taking leaue of Rodrigo my deare friend and I marched to my Mistresses streete debating by the way of the mischiefe our enemie might doe vs in the curiousnesse of his reuenge if happely time did not alter his minde For this cause therefore said Fernando it vvere fit you talked vvith Clara and contriued some better course for the priuacie of your
and so drawing neerer to Gerardo with his faint limbes he began When it were not as congruous as vsuall for poore Prisoners in such occasions my good friend as the present to giue each other account of their misfortunes in generall as by this meanes beguiling solitude and diuerting the memory of their griefes the noble freenesse you haue shewed in the disposing your Story might iustly engage me to the like to repay the debt I owe and therefore if you be pleased to supply my weake stile in my lifes deliuery with your attention I shall venter to giue it beginning where the Barbarian Moores of our Spaine had ending My Ancestors serued our first so stiled Catholique Princes Founders of this great Monarchy so valiantly in their last conquests that for a Noble recompence they bestowed an inheritance vpon them in the flourishing Citie of Granada where my house or rather of my Parents at this day standeth Gentlemen though for me in this misery to speake it may seeme vaine-glory as well knowne for noblenesse of bloud as wealth and charitie to their poore towne-borne neighbours happy enough though doubtlesse since this misfortune of mine that happinesse is much diminished for besides that it hath fallen vpon their heire I am their onely sonne and child vvhom as the light of their eyes their sole darling they brought vp in all laudable qualities as a sonne of such Parents About twenty yeeres was I of age vvhen the best part of Spaines Nobilitie mooued to serue our Great Monarch in that first iourney of Alarache incited by friends and chiefely licenced by my vvilling Parents to their great contents gallantly furnished with Armes brauerie and seruants I made one of the Troopes The effect and taking that towne or rather buying of it you vvell know and so the companies were dissolued but before I would returne home I spent a little time with some kindred of mine in the Citie of Cadiz which was then as plentifull in prouisions dainties so populously furnished with valiant Souldiers and frequented by faire Dames whereby Mars taking truce Venus began her pleasing warres at whose fire in part I vvarmed my selfe for one day some slight discourse passing betwixt me and a Dame of Seuill the flaxe taking hold so inflamed that within a vvhile I found my selfe all in a light fire I considered not that as she was a Curtizan I possessing her in such a concourse also others might doe the like but watched and iealously hid her as warily as if wee had long liued together man and wife The Lady vvas not vsed to such wakings and therefore my girdle soone waxt too little for her waste shee grew to a loathing ate little forbore her comming to my lodging in fine purposed to giue me the slip as indeed she did though left in my custodie two Trunkes of her apparell I cannot expresse how much I was grieued for these kinde of creatures besides their ordinarie sweetnesse of Discourse haue a strange kinde of fascinating that makes them to bee affected I sought her and so did some friends of mine with no small diligence but for shee resolued not to appeare all vvas bootlesse Howsoeuer those pawnes I had gaue mee some hope to heare of her as after it fell out for the next day next my heart in stead of breakfast I receiued a Challenge which a certaine Gallant vpon whose account my woman was kept sent me in which he demanded the Trunkes or in case of rebellion that we should meet the place appointed where he would expect me whither carried with desire and gladnesse to heare of my Mistris together with iealousie that fired me rashly all alone I went And too 't we went our bodies the markes each aiming at his contrarie I quickly had the aduantage for mine enemy stumbling fell flat along backward but two friends of his sallying instantly out of certaine neere Trenches crying out to me to hold I obeying he rising vp in the Interim and violently flying at me on the sudden reached mee a cut vpon one side of my face The haste that I made to be reuenged vpon such cowardize was the same that my Aduersaries vsed for their safety who thinking their friend had left me for dead soone vanisht out of sight and I beleeue out of the Iland I afterward to the generall sorrow of my friends caused my selfe to be cured and for the present dissembled the receiued iniury whose Author I knew to be a Seuillian Gentleman that had long kept my lasciuious Curtizan whose loue I quickly forgot yet sent her as soone as I knew where for feare she had taken Sanctuary her Trunkes And now I returned toward Granada where I was sometime before expected Where when I arriued the first few dayes with the licence that the name of Souldier giues to the variety of colours Skarfe and Feather I walked in some friends companies tacking and steering about the Citie neither know I whether in this time my militarie brauerie or perhaps contrarie fortune inclined the eyes of a certaine Dame to look vpon me one faire in extremitie alike Noble as I soone learnt but a stranger that accompanied her Parents who had an important Law-suite in this Citties Chancerie My new loue tooke hold as did the former and as that increast and my experience suting but with my yeeres I inconsiderately cast my selfe after my blind affection which though it receiued not so soone my pretended recompence yet in lesse then moneths was so cherished that few nights I was absent from Felicianas street such was my Dames name and at last I aduentured to send her a Letter vvith the following Sonnet Rash Phaeton more bold then wise or blest Once long'd the reines and Dayes bright Coach to guide But for a punishment to empty pride Setting he fals in his vntimely East Young Icarus mounts to the burning Sphere Forc'd by the winde that his Art's wings deth driue Tâ—ll when he once to the Sunnes height would striue 〈…〉 for his downe-fall melted were â—oues Thunderbolt dasht Phaetons designe Which into nothing with the owner fell Blinde Icarus the Sea Waues washt to death Aye me euen so you lofty thoughts of mine Like Phaetons my loue-flames are your hell And like Icarian seas griefe stops my breath In stead of an answere shee willed me by word of mouth the night following to speake with her beneath a Bay window shee appointed This happy comfort begot swift wings to my desires which contained in the limit of her promise the ensuing night were accomplished at which time I enioyed my mistrisses sweete conuersation I shall not need to relate what amorous fopperies I vsed and the forcible perswasions of my loues discourse together with the returne of her fauours onely let me tell you my hopes had more encouragement from her then either I could expect or shee in honesty promise telling mee withall that the feare of her houshold spies was the cause of her former suspension and not
speaking with me so that now wholly inflamed in her loue I tooke leaue our conuersation holding constaÌ„tly many a night after in the same place til when I least suspected any such intent in mid'st of our greatest affection not knowing the cause as not hauing on my part giuen any shee wholly retired her selfe from either seeing or speaking with me What could you haue thought noble Sir of this new disdaine or what shall I tell you of my extreames my anguish my diligence aboue all the firmenesse of my affection which more violently encreased then her vniust forgetfulnesse from whom I could not so much as vnderstand the least occasion of my mishap though for all this I forsooke not the streete but the most nights with musicke and voices in some pretty sonnet gaue a touch vpon her ingratitude for as my intent was directed to an honest end which she had diuers times formerly vnderstood from me I was not nice to conceale my priuatest thoughts but none of all these left the least impression in her ingratefull brest which made mee not a little suspicious that this sudden change might proceed from some new affection so like a second Argus watchfully waking I played the carefull Sentinel and one night among the rest conforming my voice with a viole I tooke occasion to expresse the softnesse of my affection and the flintinesse of her rigour in the following Sonnet which you may not repent to heare How art thou Loue a childe if Giant tall How watchfull Lynceus if still painted blinde How sometimes frozen if all fire by kinde How Wax since hard as Diamond withall How Atlas art thou if of suffering small How tyrannous if of so soft a minde How absent if we still thee present finde How Mydas Alexander liberall Loue then if Loue thou be why selfe-same Loue Louing and loue-lesse art thou contraries That one should hate when th' other doth adore Darke thy Aenigma's are Let none then prooue What thy confused Babel mysteries Be since who knowes thee most needs know thee more But all my labour was vaine as being neuer able to finde the least shew of dishonesty or ought illicite throughout that so great familie and this the more emboldened mee that sometimes I freely entred euen to the secretst parts of the house and one night among others that I inconsiderately desired to see my Feliciana I entred at a garden doore whither shee vsed much to descend and whither I might soone approch as being neere the houses court So when I least dreamt of it I might see that in the middest of a great Parlor she was set vpon the knee of a yong gallant and to my seeming louingly courted by him This was an ouerture that had I not spared to raise the whole house would haue incited mee to a violent course and in my raging iealousie I drew neere to a grate whereby I might the better heare their discourse in which though confusedly me thought the names of brother and sister passed betwixt them here my heart was a little more reuiued and not long after I vnderstood the truth that the Gentleman was newly arriued from Seuil where before this occasion I knew hee was as receiuing it from my Mistris her owne mouth The house vpon his arriuall was lesse heeded and with greater concourse frequented though I for my part knowing how little security I had there would haue slid faire and softly away to which purpose I had scarce turned my back when I might behold how two men crossing from the streete doore towards me came leading a woman betwixt them so that shunning the being espied by them I was forced to get me on one side shadowing my selfe in an entrie till such time as they were past one of them stepping before went to the garden window and called as I might plainely heare my mistrisses brother who instantly came into the court and with open armes receiued that woman with whom the whole family being retired to rest hee ascended into certaine higher roomes in likelyhood his owne lodgings and I seeing all husht and quiet meant to haue returned vnto mine but being come to the streete doore to my greefe I found it shut which much troubled me and ignorant what course to take at last I looked about mee and in a neere entrie might see a stable doore open so without more delay I entred there and kept companie with three or foure horses taking vp my lodging betwixt one of them and the wall where I was no sooner laide downe and rested vpon my buckler when a fellow comming with a light in his haÌ„d the horsekeeper belike without spying me first barring the doore began next to vndresse himselfe and by vertue of the light before me I might see the partie a lusty Barbarian Muâ—atto that was slaue to Felicianas father for her sake I was forced to passe a hard night thus as I had often done Whilest I was busied in my thoughts the slaue had got him to his bed a poore one heauen knowes which standing against a lath-wall right opposite to me I might perceiue him softly listen to heare what passed on the other side thereof and not long after being still attentiue to his care might see that leauing to hearken rising hastily vp and kneeling vpon his bed he began to take out some bricks which had bene set into the wal and afterward one within asking if there were roome to enter at and he answering yes by little and little I saw him helpe in a woman and being entred claspe her fast in his armes My ioynts began presently to tremble and my heart furiously leapt within mee as if it meant to haue left my brest and not long after my sad soule fully knew the cause of these effectes for the lustfull woman not contented with embraces but longing to see her barbarous leacher naked taking the candle from whence it hung shee no sooner beheld her tawnie sweet-heart but I in her the faire foule-minded Feliciana to my sorrow the base subiect of this slaues lust But the home drawne arrow flyes not so swift from crooked bowe of the fierce Canibal as powerlesse I with furie started from vp the horses feete and setting vpon the worthlesse couple with my dagger bent wholly on reuenge and blinde with confirmed iealousie without resistance thrust the poniard foure seuerall times thorow the Moores body and seeing that in the interim Feliciana stroue to be gone leauing him and thinking with my selfe that the intent of making her my wife obliged me to as much as had she beene so catching hold of her arme I stabbed her in as many parts of her body as I could reach and doubtlesse had there ended her life if the cries of both for the slaue by this time made shift to get into the entry had not preuented mee for instantly at the vprore all the seruants were gotten to the stable doore which I to my ruine quickly perceiuing resisted and their entrance