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
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
his damasked Semitar hee threw his armes about the others necke His old friend was no lesse mooued for Gerardo's habit and the improper Moone-light did much make difficult the knowing him so the truth vncertaine his confusion was at a stand the rather when he might heare these ensuing words Why how now Don Iayme Valorous Sir lift you your angry steele against your greatest friends Hold stay that arme for if Gerardo in appeasing your wrath haue offended you as repentant as humble he layes his head at your feete This melting language called backe Don Iayme's remembrance and represented to him the voice and presence of his old acquaintance Gerardo whereupon straight ensued his thankefull acknowledgement making him ioyfully admire at the strangenes of the accident By this time some of the company got in to the Gentlemen that lay on the ground whom they found weltring in his bloud thorow-dead run thorow the body with a Launce which they made knowne for feare of what might ensue to the new friends the newes was very vn-pleasing to Gerardo in respect of his friends danger who now nobly compassionate of his enemies mortall hap made one to helpe to hide him in the secretest part of the Rocks and determined wisely to stay no longer there informed of their Frigot in the Hauen he resolued with them to imbarke himselfe in her This indeed was the safest course and so both these Gentlemen longing to know the occasion of each others encounter in those parts went backe with the company to their Vessell where entring by that time it grew to bee day diuers persons that desired passage for Spaine repaired thither Gerardo had formerly desired to expect some newes of the two Dames and their Ship but seeing as yet they were not arriued fearing least some sinister chance might hinder Don Iayme his Voyage and preferring his friends safety before his owne satisfaction hee was rather content that they should hold their course for Spaine and hauing by the way recounted to the valiant Aragonian his strange fortunes since the time he saw him one day his owne discourse ended desirous to know the cause that brought Don Iayme to so remote hazzards he made bold to motion an account of it which the other most willingly granted not so much importuned by his friends request as by his owne free desire to giue him greater content and so sitting them down vpon the Sterne with sighes that drew on the past-future Story Don Iayme thus began Not long before your comming to Zaragosa some Gentlemen and my selfe bestowed the setting foorth of certaine shewes and triumphs in midst of which and the solemnitie a distaste arose caused by Lisauro whom you well knew as a principall Motor and my Vnkle Don Iulio de Arragon was hee that most opposed him and consequently my selfe was forced to make a party maugre Lisauro and his friends It imports not much to know the particulars I may onely tell you that the maine matter was about a businesse deciphered but to no ill intent by the aforesaid Don Iulio wherein Lisauro made construction of a wrong done to him From this slight beginning greater combustions arose nourished by the vnquietest spirits of both factions and thus they grew to bandy together and a long time after with many fraies and brabbles to infest one another In the very heate of this feude my Vnkle being necessarily to take a iourney out of towne and I to accompany him this accident you shall heare hapned vpon our returne As wee came merrily riding homeward within some three Leagues of Zaragosa a sudden storme came vpon vs in such violent manner with Thunder-claps Lightning Winde and streames of water that gushed out of the Clouds that though the tempest caught vs not in the gulph of Narbona but in a Valley of the Riuer Hebrus we alike feared drowning and therefore spurred on as fast as we could till spying certaine habitations and amongst them a good faire house of pleasure which seemed to belong to some Gentleman striking out of the high-way and guiding our Horses thither-ward we got to the place iust at the instant that a Coach entred in at another gate driuen as it might seeme by the same necessitie that we Heere mine Vnkle and my selfe with the rest of our company stayed a long houre expecting when the storme would cease but with different intents for mine Vnkle onely longed to be at home but I as a thing more proper to my Peeres desired to see what company went in the Carroach supposing for the Bootes were very close shut downe they must needs bee women within as indeed true it was though the searching out of this truth had like to haue cost my boldnesse deare for I had scarce offred to lift vp one of the boote lids and looke in when out issued two men who laying hold on their swords as they ioyntly blamed my vn-mannerly act obliged mee to the like and the rather knowing them to bee no other then Lisauro and his kinsman Tirso both our vowed enemies and though my youthfull rashnesse might something haue beene excused yet the matter proceeded now so farre choller and late enmitie depriuing vs all of reason that our seruants came in too to mend the businesse I much feared that any mischance hapning wee beeing more in number it might bee after imputed to vs for cowardize which made me altering my purpose seeke to shelter them by causing our people to retire and to lay the blame vpon my owne foolish curiositie And certainely the two Kinsmen knowing how little there was to be gained from vs would gladly haue accepted my Apologie if at this time foure or fiue of their seruants had not entred newly in who it seemed loytered behinde their Masters that with their comming changing their notes broke off all parley and so the fray began our side as willingly answering that in a trice here was the battell of Agrimant nothing was heard but clashing of swords noise cryes and groanes of such as vvere wounded on euery side No lesse were the out-cryes within the Carroach neere which the hottest of the skirmish was My enraged Vnkle willing to end all distastes betwixt Lisauro and him most eagerly followed him till such time as he stumbling at one of the Carraoch Cushions fell ouer and ouer and Don Iulio with haste had like to haue falne vpon him which it seemed Tirso had markt and the aduantage made him approach but I fearing mine Vnkles misfortune beat by two fierce thrusts that Tirso tilted at him and with my Sword and Dagger crosse-warded bore off a willing blow he made at me for my charitie to saue another by this time Lisauro was gotten vp so that leauing Don Iulio and Tirso to begin againe vpon euen termes my fury or rather good fortune guided me to a new encounter with Lisauro for with the first back-blow dealt I left him without defence since the blade flying out of his hand he remained onely
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
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
it might haue caused since the carefull sollicitation of a new Suiter might easily discouer the affection of secure Louers But wee were soone friends and I somewhat calmer demanded what answere she sent by the Messenger who replied that first drawing another paper fained to be the Letter out of her pocket she tore it threatning the wench withall that her Aunt should punish her lewdnesse with which somewhat satisfied I tooke leaue and going out went to Fernando's Lodging who when he had left mee with my Mistresse vsed to returne home I came to his doore as he was newly going to bed to his no small admiration to see mee so hastily with him though by the sadnes of my looke he conceiued some sudden change in my affaires After wee had saluted and sate downe in his chamber taking out Rodrigo's Letter by the light of a white Waxe candle I read it to my friend and which I can neuer forget these ensuing contents RODRIGO to CLARA My minde fearing as in reason it may a iust punishment for my boldnesse yet confident in the clemencie of your noble brest expects a definitiue sentence of life or death either to perish in the waues of your disdaine or by your gracious hand to be raised out of a sea of troubles that oppresse mee I shall receiue comfort if you strike the sayles of your rigour which hath beene so cruell as my affection constant which springs from a heart that offers it selfe to your mercie receiue it faire Dame but with more compassion vse it then the afflicted owner whose life and death resteth to the arbitrement of your glad or vnhappy answer I thinke noble friend neither venimous troden Viper or poysonous Serpent in sandie Africa were euer so stirred with rage as my enflamed brest by that time I had ended my aduersaries Letter and certainly had not my friend caught hold on me I had then sought him and reuenged my furious ielousie But my friend with reasons worthy his wisedome and discretion stayed mee mitigating my violent passion Hee first throughly vnderstood the cause of my distaste and next the Papers owner both which considered he proceeded thus By heauen Gerardo when I saw you so full of furie I verily supposed you had found this Letter vnwittingly about Clara and that on her part way had beene made to some greater mischiefe But beware be not too rash the fort is better defended then you can wish she her selfe is her owne guide her owne guard what would you more Why complaine you Clara is faultlesse Rodrigo not to be condemned for for each man to good himselfe the best he can where hee knowes no detriment to parties or preiudice of friends I thinke 't is tolerable Not hee nor any saue my selfe alone know your thoughts so he is blameles It concernes you to be careful that since you haue more eyes added to your waking care you must take heed and for a time leaue the enioying your Mistris till you may with more quiet obtaine your pleasure These and the like reasons Fernando knew so well to lay before me that he conuinced me to him so determined to follow his aduice we tookeâ— leaue and I betooke mee to my home and rest Euer after considering how waightie an occasion I had in hand I went alwaies well armed and hauing a new enemie vvas not too secure in the defence of my person purposing if ought should happen by way of anticipation to be still before-hand Fernando and I often met Rodrigo in his amorous pursuite in Clara's street early and late vvhich made vs for feare of being discouered vary more shapes then Proteus One night amongst others the first of my misfortunes Fernando and I vvere neere the windowes and hauing taken stand expected the houre to come that I might enter at such time as two muffled came towards vs and drawing neere were knowne to my friend vvho turning to me said There goes your Riuall and his man vvho meane to take notice of vs as indeed they went about it So that supposing it was best for vs to be gone for feare of some ill accident I told Fernando so much who though hee liked my counsell yet was vnwilling vve should forsake the place fearing lest Rodrigo might at the instant possesse it and that Clara vnaduertised opening the window to call mee and seeing two men there vvithout distinction might make the signe whereby Rodrigo happely would fall into the right suspition which was sufficient to make vs still keepe our place A good while wee remained thus discoursing and Rodrigo appeared not till at last when lest we thought of it we might â—ee him passe by for hauing fetcht a large compasse hee came at our backes thorow the same street which much distasted mee and Fernando no lesse for wee were now engaged and though we might haue departed without beeing knowne disguized yet the aforesaid occasion enforced our stay The time of my Mistrisses approach was now neere which Rodrigo it seemed little dreamt of and made mee as fearefull as impatient and perceiuing the like passion in my friend seeing withall how dangerous it was for my loue to be discouered â—nd yet how hardly it could bee auoyded without some â—â—lence we determined by dint of sword to rebate their vnâ—annerly proceeding and vvith this resolution without giuing a word clapping aside our Clokes and laying hands to our swords and targets wee suddenly flue vpon them who perceiuing our intent with no lesse forwardnesse met vs in the encounter Rodrigo I hated deadly who falling to my lot without warding the point of his sword I ran on and luckily clozing not fauoured by my aduersaries weaknesse for to say truth hee was a valiant Gentleman gaue him some wounds at which he fell crying out for confession which assoone as I heard supposing I had made sure worke I returned where I had left Fernando and the seruant but found them retired further into the next street purposely done by my friend where making a stand he quickly ran my youth thorow the sword arme and with a back-blow sliced him ouer the noddle leauing him to cry out as his Master had done before him The noyse had raised many persons as well at Segundo Octauio's windowes as at the rest of the neighbourhood from whence seeing some issue out crossing thorow by-Lanes and flying from those that followed wee soone without beeing knowne to any got to our Lodgings Rodrigo as you heard was a gentleman wealthy and well allied by blood in the Citie so that by morning nothing was in mens mouths but this businesse the sorrow was generall each man heaping vp confused coniectures but none could hit vpon the right from himselfe nothing was to be gotten for his wounds had made him yet senslesse which as we cunningly learnt were diuers and dangerous two especially one that was thorow the right side of his bodie and the other in his throte accompanied with a terrible gash ouer the face My
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
confidence Euery thing me thought fadged to the measure of my desire as hauing neuer found lesse lets fewer inconueniences for where misfortune must come till she be euen at hand all is broad high-way and delightsome passage Clara stayed longer then she was vsed to doe insomuch that I was once about to haue turned back but the Dice were cast and I must stand to my vnluckie chance So at last she appeares and the Signall giuen vp I got and being with her without scruple gaue my selfe to her embraces those Armes whose close culling made mee mad with ioy Yet I haue since thought with my selfe how disquieted and troubled I found her when she would speake to mee for she would breake off abruptly in the midst of her discourse Or when I asked her a question shee would answere quite from the purpose Yet blinded with my too true affection I perceiued not her deceitfull hugges nor marked those cunning accidents At first she desired mee to vndresse my selfe and this more earnestly then at other times yea with such importunitie that any one not mad like mee had doubtlesse knowne her diuellish minde A while seeing my vnwillingnes she left importuning but plyed me againe not long after desired to take of my strong sure which she called troublesome Coate of Maile for her ease forsooth and though in these and other strange demands I satisfide her my brest could not harbour the least suspition to think they were in my preiudice When I consider this Womans base intention it maketh me rage like a mad-man and call on Heauen for vengeance for my ill recompenced affection But assuredly friend Leriano shee will not faile of a due reward that hangs ouer her disloyall treacherous head To returne to my Story not passing halfe an houre had I beene with her whom I tooke to bee my greatest treasure surest refuge when with an vnlookt-for noise I might heare the doores fly off the Hindges and ready to start vp at the sudden accident as thinking now what might be the matter it might well haue gone ill with me for Clara closely imbracing me I at length perceiuing her treacherie before I could vnfasten my selfe from her her Vnkle and most of his seruants were vpon mee with more Armes and noise then were fit to endanger a tender Youth of eighteene So that perceiuing the extreme danger I was in and thinking to haue laid hold vpon a Pistoll at my girdle I might see Clara haue it in her hand wherefore knowing my ruine and hearing her Vnkle cry Kill him Kill him drawing my Sword and recouering the doore by which I was to passe in spight of all that withstood mee I leaped out of the window into the street helped onely with the butt of a Halberd that made me come sooner to the ground leauing my Hat Cloke and Pistoll as spoiles behind me As soone as I got vpon my legges I bade Fernando who heard all that passed follow me and in a trice Bird-like wee vanished I could not bragge of my escape hauing layne in afterwards almost a moneths time of my hurts with a cut in my Head and a thrust into the Groine which growing as then cold and stiffe vpon me Fernando was forced to take me on his backe and like another Anchises conuey me to a Monastery of Dominican Fryers where I was charitably receiued and cured Fernando at my request for I feared to make him accessarie went home to his lodging When this misfortune hapned my Fathers trienniall Gouernment was expired and hee summoned to giue account of his behauiour to a seuere Iudge appointed as the manner is by the supreme Counsell This party caused much search to be made for the finding me out and after many diligences vsed there wanted not a Spy to informe him of the truth so that notwithstanding the breach of Sacred priuiledge and the protestations the Fryers made against him he caused me to be fetcht in and in a close Chaire conueyed to a strong hold where with sufficient guard he left me Prisoner My louing Father much resenting this affront though setting a good face on the matter procured by aggrauations censures and excommunication that I might be restored again to the Church against which much was alledged and what in proofes and seuerall orders I endured a tedious imprisonment All this while I could not light vpon the true cause that so seduced Clara against me whose declaration firmed vnder her owne hand was shewed me by my Brother Leoncio to my greater confusion in which shee not onely accused me but pretended also a Rape and that because shee sought to defend her selfe I had violently set a Dagger to her brest for feare of which promise of marriage preceding on my part shee was content to condiscend to my pleasure a thing so contrary as you haue heard and Heauen can witnesse from the truth To this was added the breach of the house and other circumstances that left my businesse vpon so foule termes that had not the holy Sanctuarie beene interposed my life had been dangerously hazzarded The deposition of that rauenous Viper was most fearfully cruell intended onely to glut her selfe with my bloud The Paper I had in mine owne hand and though I knew it to bee hers I could scarce giue credit to mine eyes as thinking they wanted their visible facultie I vvas astonisht amazed my Iudgement vtterly lost and in this moode requested those that vvere in my company to leaue me and casting my selfe on my Bed the most part of that day I spent in pittifull lamentation growing vvith my griefe so desperate that had I not stood in awe of a more eternall punishment I should haue made quicke riddance of this fraile mortall life At length considering I was a Christian and how vnworthy she was of this my resentment I determined for euer to blot her abhorred remembrance out of my thoughts as you may well perceiue in the insuing Sonnet Babel and Syren in thy tongue and tone Chymaera in each monstrous diff'rent part Hyena Crocodile in vâ—ice in mone Sphinx in thy cruell and ambiguous Art Thou Caue and Circes Hearbe to wound the heart Host Diomed quiet till trod vpon Serpent vnseen in flow'rs we feele thy smart Faire Spring to see to that turn'st flickes to stone Now I thy double-dealing plainely see And like Vlysses fixe on reasons Tree Some two moneths after my imprisonment my father vnderstanding the change of my affection leauing my businesse vpon indifferent termes and my Brother Leoncio with me with his seruants and the rest of his Family went back to Madrid My stormes shipwracke ceased not heere rather from this instant took new beginning for within a while after my Father came to the Court it pleased Heauen to take him to mercy bereauing me of my greatest worldly felicitie As soone as newes was brought vs my Brother straight tooke Post And though now in Talbora wee had many friends whom as wel my Father as
Leriano in mind but ask if they knew such a one presuming that a Gentleman of his qualitie could not but haue come to their notice But no sooner had Gerardo breathed out the final accents of his friends name when the Pilgrim that had spoken to him vnable to refraine burst into teares and with weeping â—ighes made him see what passion the name of Leriano had stirred in him which also caused no lesse alteration in Gerardos mis-giuing brest and so sitting him downe in the fore-part of a goodly Bay-window looking to the Garden whilst Supper was preparing together with Don Iayme the rest he earnestly requested him whose griefe made him shead those fresh teares to declare the cause of such distastefull sorrow since it must needs be extraordinary by the resentment it had forced him to The wofull man hearing himselfe thus importuned with a deepe fetcht groane true signe of his interiour anguish thus vvent on Wonder not gentle Sir nor thinke it vvomanish in me that mine eyes shew this present weakenesse since the party you mentioned vvhom I aboue the world affected may with his remembrance cause in mee farre greater effects and therefore I most humbly beseech you not to afflict my wearied spirits by any further inquiries into that particular when ending vvith a new beginning of teares his griefe serued as sharpe â—purres to hasten Gerardo's desires vvho for the same cause that retarded the Pilgrims Narration was more earnestly perswaded that some disasirous accident had befalne his old acquaintance and with the like sorrow though dissembling it in his lookes hee once againe aduentured The strict friendship which hath beene betwixt Leriano and my selfe more then impertinent curiositie obligeth me that not obeying your command I re-intreat you to deliuer mee from the mortall doubt in which I remaine by satisfying mee though it bee something painfull since I dare assure you that to giue you ease I would hazard my person for you as also for my deare and louing friend I aske for and let mee tell you that Leriano hath not a greater in the vvorld them my selfe nor one that more vnfainedly owes him seruice for such are my engagements as extend to no lesse then debt of life If that be so said the sad Pilgrim somewhat more cheerefully you are doubtlesse Gerardo of whose maruellous Story I haue often heard our deare friend make mention Though I purposed said Gerardo whilst a stranger in these parts to haue concealed my name beeing but in Pilgrimage as it were like you yet that you may not deny me the fauour I require I must not hide the truth from you and therefore you may know mee for the same party your seruant and since wee are both true profest friends to Leriano I should be glad you would esteeme me so and not excuse what I haue so earnestly entreated Here the Pilgrime rose vp and with a lesse cloudy countenance spredding both Armes came toward Gerardo saying Beleeue me Noblest Sir As great was my desire of knowing as the happinesse comfortable of seeing you giue mee those valorous Armes of yours let mee embrace the liuely Representer of my true Friend whom bootelesse I at present bewayle 't were idle in mee now not to obey before you should command though I must indure a rigorous Torment in the recounting of past accidents and the greater since of necessitie for introduction to your friends sad disaster I must mention one of the wofullest Tragedies that hath truely and really happened to mortall man in these times and so saying ready he was to haue begun but notice being giuen that Supper was comming by common consent the story was deferred till after to the suspitious Gerardo's griefe and the rest of the companies though in different respects So supper ended the boord taken away and all of them attentiuely silent the mournefull Pilgrime thus began Though I may well illustrious company bee discouraged to proceed in my promised Enterprise as well for renuing my immense sorrow as also for the danger I may vndergoe there beeing some one amongst you that may iustly for his friend taxe me of wrong yet relying on the innocence of mine owne brest and the noblenesse of yours I shall make good my purpose giuing a strict account of my vnfortunate successes yea the whole progresse of my life euen to the instant you behold me in First know then that my Mother in her vnhappy labour after her deliuerie of me dyed I not deseruing to know her so from my tender infancy I was subiect to all the discommodities that children are wanting the carefull eye of a louing Mother howsoeuer my education beeing in the plentifull house of Angelo Milanes my father that want was vvell qualified The hearty affection hee euer bore his loyall Spouse produced so heauy effects in his sad remembrance by her fatall absence that no company or entertainment able to yeeld him comfort he became like one of another world extremely pensatiue but finding that the place where he was where he had past his youth with a louing Wife might bee the chiefest renuer of his frequent sorrow he determined with himselfe to haue this inconuenience farther off by putting the spacious Ocean betwixt him and home for hauing sold the best part of his rich possessions and turning the monies into Merchandize he imbarqued himselfe in a tall well-rigged Ship for the West-Indies and so to the rich Prouince of Peru where being with prosperous Gales after a double Voyage safely arriued landing his commodities hee made of them a strangely gainefull returne and loading his Ship backe himselfe remaining behinde he consigned her to Seuil where the goods aboord the remainder of his Estate at home and my selfe were committed to the charge of a Brother of his my Vnkle and now by reason of his riches content in those remote parts we despaired of his returne for a long time and surely there he might haue till this time staid if heauen had not changed his purpose as you shall see the occasion of this alteration proceeding from a certaine Castilian Gentleman of the Imperiall Citie of Toledo called Leonardo Argentino who hauing prodigally wasted a faire Estate his inheritance seeing himselfe almost ruined and his Noble Family haue scarce wherewithall to passe a moderate being taking vp in time before all was consumed with good though necessitous aduice he resolued vpon the same Voyage that my Father had formerly done before him leauing the loued company of his Wife with a grieued heart for his departure and a beautifull young Daughter called Isdaura the onely Pledge and comfort of his cares and though her teares and tender sighes might in the occasion haue melted euen Marble yet in the resolute Leonardo they workt no effect so his afflicted Wife was forced to licence him for a limited time of seuen yeeres and then putting the halfe of his estate into stocke and goods the rest with his Wife and Daughter he made ouer to the charge
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
worthlesse witnesse of my dishonour and affront There is no faining of excuses or pleading ignorance can serue turne suffice it I know the truth and not any thy discharge can preuaile nor will I euer beleeue thee to bee ignorant of the base wrong thy Aunt my trecherous wife hath done me dispatch therfore and lose no more time then what may be spent in my iust satisfaction telling me truly who is the bold adulterer that spotting the puritie of mine honour hath robbed mee of my fame disgraced my house ruin'd my reputation and bereaued me of my best life by inflicting an euer-lasting liuing death of dishonour My soule hearing this was so amazed that vnable to reply or to vnfold my lippes or mooue my tongue-tyed Palate I stood a good while in this astonishment till hearing my Vnkle beganne with new fury to threaten me casting my selfe at his feet and crauing pardon for my slacknesse the pale aspect of my inexorable Fate blinding mine eyes and clouding my vnderstanding without more delayes I at length reuealed what my heart so long before had layed vp in silence by satisfying his most certaine suspitions not hiding the least circumstance as wel touching who the Gallant was as also his egresse and the lasciuious conuersation in their dishonest loues Hauing attentiuely heard me out without so much as a words reply going out by the way he came and shutting my doore on the other side after him he left me so confusedly pensatiue that fearing some wofull end for by what I had discouered I could expect no lesse ouercome with this feare I resolued not to expect the euent and therefore taking the richest of my Iewels by a window which without Grates looked to the street the sheetes of my bed seruing mee in stead of a Ladder without being seene by any I got out of the house and Citie likewise in this manner you behold with a purpose not to haue rested till I came to the desired Gates of Cesarina a towne which belonged to my deceased Fathers elder brother where I had often beene in the company of a Cousin-Germane of mine sole daughter and inheretrix to the Owner whose beauty thus little to digresse from my Story hath the iust title of most exquisite in all this Prouince fertilized by the ouerflowing Betis But my cruell Fates would not that this boldnesse should remaine vnpunished and so hauing some halfe a League from the Citie met with a man that was going thitherward wondering to see me alone and at such a time of night in the wild high way and comming neere vnto me representing then me thought my feare of the angry arme and Ponyard anew asked which way I trauelled without company and in a Countrey so dangerous and other matters that neither my feare suffered mee to take notice of or make answer till such time as he perceiuing my alteration comforting me the best he could vnderstood of mee which way I was to go to which purpose most honestly hee offered mee his company and seruice so bent vpon it that notwithstanding all my refusals and intreaties hee would needes turne backe with me and so going on began to beguile the way and tedious night with merry tales so proper that I was then glad of his soone vnluckie company for my content was quickly turned into such a griefe as will neuer as long as life lasts forsake me Here the wretched Clori more outragiously falling backe into her former moane breaking off without hearing or admitting the least comfort she began to weepe and sigh afresh her teares in Gerardo bred the like effect and vnable to abstaine he accompanied her in the same passion But seeing with the nights approach the comming home of the Shepherds might interrupt her discourse hee more earnestly importuned her to the conclusion so perceiuing the obligation she had to her voluntary promise with fresh teares she entred where she left Scarce had we gone two leagues as said my trecherous guide when finding by my wearinesse the necessity I had of sleepe or perhaps the better to put his damnable purpose in execution taking mee by the hand vnder colour of hauing mee rest my selfe and bidding mee follow him wee strucke out of the way I not knowing whither hee would carry me nor hauing so much courage as to giue him the slip walked on a good way till at last comming to certaine breaches of earth and deepe pits I might heare the melancholy noyse of a Brooke running amongst the craggie Rockes which so afflicted my disconsolate minde that I forthwith presaged to my selfe the lamentable successe that did attend me and in the sudden apprehension of my feare turning to my companion I intreated him we might passe no further which indeed suted better for his purpose then her ignorance that so foolishly trusted her selfe with one she knew not And this plainely appeared for assoone as euer he saw mee layd downe on the sandy ground to take some refreshing without beeing able with all my weake womans defence to helpe my self or to preuaile with noyse teares and intreaties at last the reuengefull sword of iust Heauen all the while I know not for what secret cause sheathed against so great an offence and deafe to my hoarse cries I was by him rauished Neither ceased the barbarous executioner of mine honour so but hauing disrobed me of some of my best apparell and robbed mee of the Iewels I inconsiderately carried about me leauing me as it were at the last gaspe of my wearied life he fled and left me also to my fresh complaints to demand iust vengeance of heauen and earth for my wrong But woe is me my griefes were scattered in the Ayre or like Characters written on those Sands since he was gone without punishment and I remained lost in this wildernes to bewaile my misfortunes which shall euer be before mine eyes to cry for reuenge and my death to giue them end And ending her story she began againe to solemnize it with her teares Gerardo's discreet perswasions not able to dry them who sensible of her griefe endeuoured all he might to giue her comfort By this time with darke cold night the gentle Celio and his Shepherds approched to the pleasing shelter of their thatched Cottage whom when our Gerardo heard with a cheerefull heart he went out to meet them and giuing them notice of the new-come Ghest they all went with him to salute and welcome her vvith no small admiration at her beauty and attire and to say true none of them gaue any great credit to Gerardo touching the cause of her arriuall rather taking Clori for his Paramour dissembling the businesse after supper they left the Cottage free to them both But Gerardo perceiuing this their knauish courtesie began with deepe protestations to satisfie them to the contrarie but none of all could once preuaile with Celio and the rest to make them in any wise returne againe to the Cottage so Gerardo seeing no remedy making
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
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
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
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
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
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