capteine being one of the traine of the lord Iames TRIVOVLSE a great fauorer of the faction of GEBALYNO in Italye and at that tyme gouernor of the duchie of MILLAYNE vnder y e frenche kinge LOYS the thirde of that name whether it were to make a further proffe of the pacience of his wife or by absence to mortefie and forgett his fonde opinion conceiued without cause retired vpon a soddaine to Neweastel y e court and ordenarie place of abode of y e sayd Lord TRYVOVLSE which albeit was of hard disgestion to the ladie for a time yet beinge not vnaquainted with such chaunces and no pren tise in the practise of her husbande retired to her auncient patience and contentment by force dyssimuling with a new greefe and secrete sorowe this newe discourtesie to th ende that her waspishe husbande should take no excepcions to her in any respect but fynde her in this as the former stormes bent wholly to obey thappetit of his will and not to mislike with that whyche he fyndes necessarye to be don This TRIVOVLSE hadde not spente many monethes in fraunce but there was commenced informacion agaynste him to the king that he was reuolted from the frenche and become frend to the Swytzers and sworne to their seigneurye and faction wherewyth ymediatelye fame the common carier of tales filled all eares of MILAN and the prouince there about with this further â—ddicion that the king for that cause had seÌ„t him headles to his graue albeit as fame is rather a messenger of lyes then a treasure of truthe and ra her to be harde then beleued so this brute beinge not true in the laste did ymporte a certeine credit in the fyrste for TRYVOVLSE not liking to liue in the displeasure of his prince abandoned his charg and came into Lumbardy wher beinge sommoned by the messenger of deathe gaue place to nature and dyed who beinge the onelye maister and meynteynor of the ALBANOYSE capteine whilest bee liued colde not casely be forgotten of him after his death for after his departure was past the general doubte of the people and eche voice resolued that he was laide in hys graue Don Capitaino spado resolued whollye into teares seamed here to pass the mistery of a newe traunce whiche with the freshe remembraunce of his auncient harme and gréene wounde of vnworthie Ielowsye bledynge yet in his minde broughte hym in that case that he neyther desyred to liue nor doubted to die and yet in dispaire of theim both his solace of the daye was conuerted into teares and the howers of the night went awaye in vistons and hollowe dreames he loathed the companye of his frendes and hated the thynges that shoulde susteine nature neither was he contented with the presente nor cared for the chaunce of future tyme which sodaine alteracion in straunge maner driue his carefull wife into no lesse astonishement then she had cause and being ignoraunt of the occasion she was also voide of consolation which doubled her gréefe till tyme opened her at laste a meane to communicate familiarly with hym in this sorte Alas syr sayth she to what ende serue these pininge conceites forcing a generall debilytie thorow al your parts or why do you languishe in griefe without discoueryng the cause of youre sorowe to suche as holde your health no lesse deare then the swéete and pleasant taste of their owne lyfe from whence coÌ„mes this often chaÌ„ge of complexion accoÌ„panied with a dispositioÌ„ of malencolicke dompes arguing your inward fretting care of minde why staye you not in time y e source of your skorching sighes that haue alredye drayned your bodye of his wholsome humours appointed by nature to giue sucke to thintrals and inward partes of you and to what ende serueth this whole riuer of teares flowynge by such abundance froÌ„ your watery eyes almost worne awaye with wéeping is your gréefe growen great by coÌ„tinuance of time or haue you conceiued some mislike of newe Yf your house be out of order in any sorte or that wante of dutie or diligence in me procureth your grudge declare the cause to th ende the faulte maye be reformed in me and you restored to your auÌ„cieÌ„t order of quiet we both enioye a mutual traÌ„quillitie as apperteineth But he that labored of an other disease then is incideÌ„t coÌ„monly to men of good gouernemeÌ„t absolued her of all faultes or other mislikes he founde in the state of his house or other his affaires committed to her order lesse lacke of her diligence to make declaracion of her dutye to thutermoste but alas saith he with a depe sighe deriued of the â—retinge dolour of his minde and doubled twise or thrise within his stomacke afore he coulde vtter it what cause of comfort or consolation hath he to lyue in this world from whom the malice of destenie hath taken the chiefeste pillor of his life or to what ende serueth the fruicion or interest of longer yeres in this vale of vnquietnes when the bodie abhorreth alredie the longe date of his abode heare or why shold not this soma or masse of corrupcion which I receiued of the world bée dismissed to earth and my soule haue leaue to passe into the other worlde to shonne this double passion of present torment whiche I féele by the death of my deare frende Ah my deare Ladye and loyall wyfe my grief is so great that I dye to tell you the cause and yet the veray remembrance presents me with treble torments wherin I must confess vnto you that since the death of the late Lorde Ihon Tryuulso I haue had so lytle desyer to lyue that all my felicitie is in thinking to die neyther can ther be any thinge in the world more acceptable to me then death whose hower and time if they wer as certeine as himselfe is moste sewer to coÌ„me in the ende I could somwhat satisfye the greate desyer I haue to die moderate the rage of my passion in thinking of the shortnes of the dome that should giue ende to my dyeng ghost and vnrulye sorowes together besides waighing thinâ—inite miseries of our time accompanieng vs eueÌ„ from the wombe of concepcion with the reaste and reapose which dead men do finde And knowing withall how muche I am in the debte of him that is dead I can not wishe a more acceptable thinge then the spedie approche and ende of my dayes to th ende that being denied the viewe of his presence here I may folow him in thother world where participating indiferently such good and euil as falleth to his share I may witnes with what duetiful zeale affectioned harte I sought to honor and serue hym in all respectes But the Ladye that sawe as farre into the disease of her husbande as his phizicion into his vryne knowynge well enoughe that he dyd not languishe so muche for the desyer of hym that was dead as the ticklishe humour of Ielowsye troubled hym was content to admit his coollours
so nearely since your comming to Mantua that you haue not spoken or don a thinge of suche councell but fame hath discouered your intent and made your aduersaries partakers of your meaning it behoueth yon to thinke that of late she is not become so wel affected towards you as she can or will conceile this last most perillous resolution besides in what sorte could you disguise your selfe that your sondrie secret markes wold not bewraye you or what waye haue you to passe where you are out of knowledge of al mē admit your owne sleight pollecie were hable to preuayle aboue the malice of your fortune in defending you frō the daunger of the waye diuerse ambushes of your enemyes are you so persuaded of th assurāce of your Plaudina that you wil cōmit your life losse of honor to the fained faith of a deceitefull woman that without a proffe of her cōstancie Yf the miste of fonde affection doth so much dim your eyes and gifte of present vnderstanding that you are not hable to discouer the legerdemaines of lighte womē let my experiēce warne you to beware of the subtill sleightes fyne Allurementes of so venemous a serpent What can you tell whether this traine she hath made be a stale to betraye you and committ you to the mercye of your enemye or peraduenture she hathe sente for you because she séeth an impossibilitie in thenterprice and rather to bringe you in daunger then of intent to yelde satisfaction to your desyer But lett vs conster her meaning to the best with ymaginacion that her faith is without corrupcion and that she is no lesse desyrous to sée you then you assotted vpon her beautie seame readie to run thorow the fyer of a thousande perils only to content her will you by so vaine a pleasure that is of lesse moment or abode then the thoughte of a man at so deare a price as the losse of your honor and lyfe Remember that the end of that enterprise can not be good whose begining is not founded vppon discrecion and sequell gouerned by the rule of raison neyther can you more greatlye deface the auncient renowme of your honor nor leaue a greater spot of reproche to your house and frendes that liue after you then to conclude and ende the course of your life in the purseute of so dishonest a queste and your enemyes can not so lardgelie triumphe in your ouerthrowe and deathe as your frendes haue cause to lament that your owne rashenes and follie were the only furtherours of the fatall bane of your lyfe where of the contrarye parte yf beyng cut in peces in the seruice of some noble prince or yelde to the loare of nature in som valiant exploit or enterprise of warr you shold not only aggrauate the praise of your lyfe passed with the glorie of an honorable death discarge your frendes and succession of al imposicions of villanous infamie but also force your enemies to a conuersion of their malice into a general comendacion of your vertue and vndouted faith towardes your prince Besides if you will wayghe the mortall plages threatened in the gospell to be thondered vpon thadulteror and suche as contaminat the maried mans bedd or rightly measure the penaunce of the falte with the foulnes of the fact you shal not only iudge with me that there is no lyfe more dampnable afore god nor deathe more skandalus to the worlde then to be ouerthrowne in the combat whiche of ryght is due to bee parformed by an other but also that there is more vertue and ease in sufferance then profit or pleasure in hast or comoditie in rashe execution But yf the power of the fleshe preuailynge aboue your resistance hath sturred vp this humor of hoat desier whiche seames to presse you so far that you make no conscience to exchange your former glorie for a title or surname of a fylthie adulteror go not so far to seke your destruction seing MANTVA presentes you with sufficiēt choice and change of releif better cheape and with less peril then the hazarde of reputation or losse of lyfe This charme of DELYO seamed so to enchante and driue reason into the waueringe mynde of the MYLLANOIS that hee tooke respite to replie till the nexte morninge thanking him notwithstanding of his frendlie aduertisementes whiche saith he haue so vnséeled the eyes of my minde that I fynd my selfe now hable to discerne that whych loue wold not suffer me earste to perceiue and muche lesse to feare or doubte wherewith retiringe to his lodginge hee passed the nighte in the onely contemplacion of his fancie wherein appered suche warr and contrarietie of thoughts with figures of hollowe conceites that the desyer and course of slepe was whollie conuerted into an humor of vncerteine ymagynacions And if by chaunce his eyes offred to cloase their liddes and sommon the reste of the partes to the quiet reapposed in sléepe the remembrance and care of his buysynes interuptinge the office of the eyes presented eftfones a new conflict and second supplie of his passion in such sorte as beynge to weake to resiste the alaram he yelded to the stronger parte whiche was the maisterles appetit of sensualtie and holdinge more deare the pleasures of the fleshe then the sauegarde of his life determined to take the forde and trye if fortune wolde performe asmuche as shee seamed to promise by a flatteringe hope whych appeared in his ydle braine to embrace his mistres without daunger ympartinge the nexte daye his resolucion to his deare frende DELYO to whom saith he because perils are commonly made greater by reapport then found daungerous in thaduenture and that all likelehodes seldom or neuer do happen the valyant ought not to feare the thinge that is doubtfull nor dread the simple mouinge of a shadowe neyther is there glorie of the victorie but where thaduenture excedeth thexspectacion of men wherfore I am perswaded to geue a charg of the good will of fortune and take my iorney towardes MILLAN tomorow wher if I bée sommoned wyth the writ of my destynies or malicious dome of vnhappye fortune by death MYLLAN will serue me aswell of a tombe as eyther MANTVA or other santuarie of the worlde neyther can I make a better declaracion of my fayth towardes my mistres then in defyenge the feare of so many perills to appeare more readie to obey her commaundemente then curious or carefull of myne owne life whyche I accompte ymploied with no lesse iustice on her behalfe then honor to my selfe if the same be put to extreme torments and vtterlie executed in the place wher the view of her own eyes may bée thindifferent iudges betwene my firme constancie and small dissymulacion neyther can I leaue her a more precious pawne of myne indissoluble loue then beinge cut in peces in the pursewte of her seruice to leaue the walls and posterns of her pallais painted and all to besprent with the bloode of the most
wrongefull conceyte of suche a villenie dothe troble you whyche shée forgatt no too accompanye with all sortes of syghes and sygnes of dollour entrermedled with suche regardes of dyssembled pitie in all partes of her face that albeyt he was paste all dowte touchynge the trothe of hys owne conceyte yet the teares of hys deceytefull mother moued hym to admitt her excuses with suche compassion of her sorowe that he seamed also to passe the panges of her present passion with protestacion vnder tearmes of greate humilitie that he greued no lesse in that he hadde sayd then shée hadd greate reason to complaine of the wronge he hadd donne to the renowne of her vertue albeyt saythe he wyth a countenance of repentance yf you measure the force of my affection with the cause of my late plaines your discrecion I hope will conster my woordes accordyng to the honeste intent of my hart with excuse to my rashenes whyche you shall sée hereafter so mortefyed in me that I will neyther bée so hastye to accuse nor suspect without better aduise for the whyche shée seamed thankefull vnto hym with a present appeasement from Anger attendyng the offer of oportunitie when she myghte preferr her sōne to a parte in the tragedye whyche her wickednes hadde alredye begon vppon hys late father for shée was doutefull styll of the youngeman and gaue lesse faythe to his wordes wherein certeinely appeareth an experience of an ordinarie custume in the wicked who payseth thinfydelitie of others in the ballance of their owne iniustice and wante of faithe for the tyrant dowteth to whose creditt to comitt the sauetie of himselfe because his crueltie is hated of all men neyther dothe he good to any yf not for the respect of profit or to performe some malicius attempte wherein as they consider thaffexcions of their people by the passions in theimselues soo in passynge theyr owne lyfe in continuall feare they procure lyke terror to suche as bée conuersant with theim makyng the disquiett of others equall to the miserie of theimselues lyke as thys new Megera or tyrannouse monster of oure tyme who no more satiffied with the blood of her husband then glutted or cloyed with y e continual pleasures in whoredome with her detestable Tolonyo determined to rydde the world of her innocent sonne to thend their villanous trade mighte passe with more assurance and lesse cause of feare or suspicion of any for th executiō wherof her wickednes deuised this spedy and necessarie meane There was within the castel a highe gallery borded vnderfote with certeine plankes fastned to rotten planchers where as y e young gentleman vsed his dailye recreacion in walkinge by reason of the delitefull ayre pleasant prospect vppon dyuerse feldes and gardyns so the Tygresse his mother reserued that place as a most chiefe mortal minister in the death of her son for she and her pernicius proccurer one euenyng knocked oute of either ende of diuerse of the plankes the nayles that kepte theime cloase to the plancher in suche sorte that the nexte that happened too make hys walke there shoulde haue no leasure to discouer the traison and much lesse lyue to bring reapport of the hardnes of the rockes growing in the diches vnder the sayd gallerie which chaunced vnhappelie to the sonne of this she wolffe who no more happie in a mother then his father fortunate in a wife renewed the next day his accustumed walkes in the valte wher he had not spent thre or foure tornes but his destynie brought hym to treade vppon the fatall bourd es who hauinge no holde nor staye to rest vpon disioyned theimselues wyth the wayght of thinfortunat gentleman who falling soddeinly vpon the rockes wyth hys heade forwarde was brused to peces beinge dead in dede almost so sone as he felte thapprehencion of death Who wold haue iudged such trayso in a mother to work such an end to her son or noted such wate of pitie in any of y e sect as to soe the séedes sprong in her owne flankes deformed and he wed in peces vpon the edge of sharppe and piked stoanes what mistortune to the sonne and villanie in a mother seinge the title of a sonne ought to be so deare and name of a mother is so delicate and of such vertue that no hart of what mettal soeuer it be made is not mollefyed and doth homage to that dignitie yea euerye one holdeth his blodde so deare that the beastes theimselues by a prouocacion of nature although other wayes insensible haue such affectioned regarde to their fawnes that they feare not to contend against euery peril of death to defende their youngons from daunger what greater felicity hath mā trauelling in the stormy sea of this worlde then to see as it were a regeneracion of hymselfe in hys children wyth a plentifull and gladsome encrease of his séede for whych cause chiefely god ordeyned the holye institucion of mariage not respecting altogether the mortefyeng of the ticklyshe instinctes of our declayning fleshe but rather of regarde as thappostel affirmeth to kepe the societie of man in order making it appear'e pure and aeceptable to the great monarke and syrst founder of so noble a worke But to retorne now to our historie this ympp of th infernall lake and hellish Lady beinge already dispoyled of all affection and dutie required in a woman towardes her husband detested also euery point of charitie and zeale whych nature chalenged in her to the frute flowered wythin the tender partes of her intralls whose fall and miserable deathe as you sée filled ymediatlie euerie corner of the castel with desolacion and teares some weping in the want of their brother other complayned the lacke and misfortune of ther kynsman the viewe of whose dysmembred bodye sturred vp also a freshe sorowe on the behalfe of their late Lorde but all their dollor was nothing to the howlinge and cries of the detestable mordress who entermedled her greffe wyth such argumentes of desperacion that her sorowe seamed sufficient to make the earth tremble and moue the heauens to teares neyther seamed she to make other accompte of the world then a place of most loathsome abode by which masqued semblance of outwarde heauines she couered an inward ioye at her hart and by this pollecie of painted dule she blaired the eyes of the simple multitude who after y e retire of the heate of theyr lamemtable stormes consulted vppon the buyrial wyth general consent in the ende that thinnocent striplinge should be laiede in the tombe of his infortunate father to thend he might participat with hym in the fatal pitt as he was equal to hym touching the malice of his mother And now as this bloddie Lady had in this sort discharged as she thought euery doubt and feare hereafter chiefly for that she stoode no more in awe of any Censor or spie to kepe a kalender of her faltes wherby she vsed lesse care in the conueigh of her beastly traffique wyth her
doo the cause of suche disease they presented hym afore the Maiestye wyth suche commendacyon of hys vertue and valyauntnes in armes as was necessarye for the worthynes of the same whyche forced a greate lykynge in the Kynge towardes hym alalbeit his outwarde apparaunce argued infficiently his inwarde dexteritie that way whych also he confyrmed in pub licke view in an assalte which the kinge gaue to the english men within Roan the chiefe and only bool warke of the whole country of Normandy where Signeur Philibarto gaue suche effecces of his forwardnes that he was the first that was séene vpon the walles making waye to the souldiours to enter the breache and towne wherein not longe affore the Duke of Sommerset had burned the counterfait prophet of Fraunce called La Pucelle leane whome some pratinge frenchmen do affirme to haue wrought merueiles in armes during those warrs but chiefly that vnder the conduite of her our countryemen lost Orleance w c diuerse other holdes in those partes and for a memory of that forged ydoll they kepe yet amongest other relikes in the abbay of S. Denys whych I sawe in May last a great roostie sworde wherwith they are not ashamed to aduowche that shee performed diuerse expedicions and victories againste thinglishe nacion whych seames as true as that which they are a shamed to put in a chronicle of credit touching their saint Denys whom they affirme was erecuted at Parys and came from thence with his heade in his hand which he buyried in the abbaye albeit they saye he rested foure tymes by the way where they haue founded iiii crosses with the headles ymage of saint Denys holding a stonye skalpe in his hande but nowe to oure Dom Philiberto whose forwardnes and fortune in the last assalte being wel noted of the kinge began to kindle a credit in the mynde of the maiestie towards hym in such sorte as besydes speciall praises giuen to his worthynes in the hearing of all his capteines he presented hym wyth the state of a gentleman of his chamber with pension sufficient to menteyne the port of that place promisinge besydes an encrease of his bowntye as he saw a contynuance of hys good seruice for the whyche the mute knighte gaue the kynge humble thankes by signes lyfting hys handes towards heauen as a witnes of y e faithe he promised to kepe without spot to hys prince wher of he gaue good declaracion not long after in a skirmishe procured by the frenche agaynst the Englishe soldiours vnder the guide of the onlye flower of chyualrye of that tyme and valyant Captcine the Lorde Talbot whose vertue made hym so famons in those warrs that the verye remembrance of hys name procureth a terror to the stowtest frencheman that thys daye lyueth ther in this skirmish if a mā may credit a french bragge the Pyemontoyse and Talbot met and vnhorssed eche other wherupon the kynge in consideracion of hys present seruice and encrease of further corage to contynue his souldiour made hym Capteyne of diuerse holdes with charge of fyftie men at armes wyth promisse in the word of a prince y t her eafter he shold find in more ample ma ner in what sorte princes oughte to consider the seruice of suche whose vertue broughte soccours to the necessitie of hym and his people wherein truely a prince hath greate reason not only to bestowe rewardes vpon such as deserue well but embrase that whyche carieth a licknes of hys owne nobylitie seinge that vertue in what place soeuer shee take roote can not but bring furthe good frutes the vse and effect wherof ought to appeare vpon such as approche or resemble the place where the first séedes were sowen neyther doth any degrée of men according to thopinion of Plyny deserue so well of hys prince as the souldiour in whose woundes sayth he are inclosed the sauetie of the whole countrey and quiet of the seat royal neyther doth he shrinke to aduenture hys bodye agaynst thennemye to establish the reapose of his neyghbour at hoame who to requite his many daungers in y e felde or releue hys maymed lymmes cōsumed w c y e warrs comittes hym at hys retorne to the rigour of iustice and that most cōmonly wythout cause of iust offence wherof I think no one contry of christendom is hable to furnish so many examples of that miserie as the state of Englande where as god be praysed hath benn no greate occasion of warr since the happie raigne of oure moste blessed Quene that nowe gouerneth so the Lorde and her maiestie amend it it is a pitye to sée how slenderly soldiours be prouided for and how tyranouslye they are persecuted by the malice of caterpillors in Cyties and franklinges in the countrye wherof I wishe some suche as I coulde name to mooster in the mowthe of a trenche or stande in the face of a breache to th ende they might both witnes the daunger and be partakers of the perill of warr which I doubt not wolde force in the moste of theim a compassion touching the souldiour whom also they wolde defende from beinge deuowred of the gallowes by their malice Thus muche on the behalfe of souldiours towardes whom I wishe as indiffrent a care in tyme of peace as they are readie and most sewer to abide al daunger when it pleaseth the prince and realme to call theym to seruice and now to oure dome knighte who embrased of the kyng wyth honor of all his Capteines was assisted with a second meane of further credit with hys prince for that ymedyatlie after the heate of the warrs in fraunce and the countrey resolued to a quiet staie it pleased the kinge for the solace of hymselfe and generall contentinente of hys Capteynes to call a torney royall on horsebacke where Seigneur Virley enioyeng y e benefyt of his former fortune wan only y e glorye of y e tryumphe which gaue such encrease to y e good opiniō of the king y t he entred into councell to cure his dome disease greuinge not a litle that so valyant a gentleman colde not declare his deuise whych seamed to argue no lesse wisedom for the direction of a cōmon welthe or contrey then the force and agilitye of his body had sufficientlie approued his vertue in diuerse exploites during tha◠war wherfore he dispatched generall letters thorowout his owne Realme with speciall requestes to the countreys adioyninge hys kingdome that who colde giue remedye to his euill and conuert his present scilence into a liberty of frée speche should haue ten thowsande frankes for rewarde then mighte a man sée suche a mooster of phizisions Chirurgions with their appoticaries carienge their bagges and boxes of all confections that their rowte seamed rather a newe supplie of power to assiste the kinge against his ennemies then a conuocation of gownesmen to consulte of the disease who began also to make such war with the ten thousande frankes skirmishinge one with an other not
to resorte thereunto and learne by othermens misdéeds to direct better his owne doinges and not with th' exchange of the worlde to alter also his minde but rather asmuche as lyeth in hym to ymitate the lyfe and conuersation of theym who haue lyued well before wherein seinge in this worlde the nature of man in all ages althoughe the singler personnes bee chaunged remeineth stil one so also the good fortunes felicities calamities and miseries whyche happen both in publike gouernement and to euerye priuate state tourne alwayes to one effect and are lyke those of tymes paste so that by the benefyt of stories presentinge afore oure eyes a true kallender of things of auncient date by the commendacion of vertuous and valyaunt personnes and actes we be drawen by desyer to treade the stepps of their renowme and on thother syde considering the sinister fortune horrible cases which haue happened to certeine miserable soules we behold both th' extreme points wherunto the fraile condicion of man is subiect by infirmitie and also are thereby toughte by the viewe of other mens harmes to eschew the like inconueniences in our selues wherein righte honorable like as I haue rather touched sleightelye then vsed tearmes of commendacion at large according to the worthynes of so precious a Iewell as the knowledg of histories for that now a dayes euery mans mouth is open to commende the frute distilling from so florishynge a vine â—o for my part beyng more forwarde then hable to discharge my zeale in that behalfe haue bestowed some of my voyed howers whilest I was in the other sides the Sea in forcynge certeyne Tragicall Discourses oute of theyr Frenche tearmes into our Englishe phrase presumyng to commende vnto your Ladishypp the frutes and effecte of my trauayle folowynge therein the order of suche as haue spente tyme in the lyke studye who are wounte to declare theyr good wyll by bestowynge theyr labours wherewithe beinge vnhappelye denyed other frendshypp of fortune to make good my desyer in gyuing an vnfayned showe of the dutye and seruice I owe you and the house whereof you tooke youre begynnynge am here vppon tearmes of humilitye for preferment of this rude and simple dedication of theis forrein reapportes to youre honor to whose vertues as I haue chiefelye respected to gyue due renowme by preferrynge a true purtraict of your conuersation and lyfe in the vertues giftes and ornamentes of the noble ANGELIQVA chaste PAROLYNA constant IVLIA and renowned CARMOSYNA wyth others whose integretye of life hath gyuen theim a crowne of immortalitye wyth a glorious remembrance of theyr names for euer after theyr deathe so my seconde indeuor was bent to obserue the necessitie of the tyme chiefly for that vppon the viewe and examples of oure Auncesters lyues the fraile ympes of this age maye fynde cause of shame in theyr owne abuses wyth desyer to exchaunge their badd condicion and order of lyuynge wyth the studye and desyer to ymitate the vertue of their predecessours whose lyfe and renowme after death argueth the vndoubted rewarde at tendynge as a thynge of course the vertuouse and well disposed where of the contrarye appeare wounderfull tormentes and sharpp pennaunce prouided to plage the abhominable and vicious lyuer Besides it is a principle and chiefe rule in our nature and disposition to bee rather instructed by examples of familyar authorityes then reformed by seueritye of lawes for that the one seames to gouerne vs by awe and commaundement and in the other appeares a consent of oure fancie marchinge alwayes accordynge to the direction of our owne willes for whiche cause the Historians of olde tyme in theyr seuerall recordes of the actes conquestes and noble attemptes of Princes and greate men haue lefte oute nothynge seruynge for the ornamente and institution of mannes lyfe not forgettynge to sett oute also in naturall coollers theyr tyrannye and other vices withe contempte of vertue yf theyr lyues were founde guiltye in any suche offence But when they paynte oute a good kynge a magistrate without touche of partiall or couetous mynde a courtyar loyall and withoute dissimulation A minister of the Churche not smellynge of hypocrysye but searchynge purelye the honor of God A Ladye chaste honeste curteouse a louer of charitye vsynge a deuoute reuerence to God and feare to hys lawes yt is then that they allure by traines of familyaritye euerye succession to embrace and beholde as in a glasse the vndoubted meane that is hable and wylt brynge theym to the lyke perfection in vertue whyche also moued me to vse a speciall discrecion in coollynge oute suche examples as beste aggreed wyth the condicion of the tyme and also were of moste freshe and famylyar memorye to the ende that wyth the delyte in readynge my dedication I maye also leaue to all degrees an appetitt and honeste desyere to honor vertue and holde vice in due detestation And albeit at the firste sighte theis discourses maye importe certeyne vanytyes or fonde practises in loue yet I doubte not to bée absolued of suche intente by the iudgement of the indifferent sorte seinge I haue rather noted diuersitie of examples in sondrye younge men and women approuynge sufficientlye the inconuenience happenynge by the pursute of lycenceous desyer then affected in anye sorte suche vncerteine follyes For heare maye bée séene suche patternes of chastetye and maydes so assured and constant in vertue that they haue not doubted rather to reappose a felicitye in the extreme panges of death then to fall by anye violent force into the daunger of the fleshelye ennemye to theyr honour In lyke sorte appeareth here an experience of wounderfull vertues in men who albeit hadd power to vse and commande the thinge they chieflye desyered yet bridlynge wythe maine hande The humour of theyr inordinate luste vanquished all mocions of sensualytye and became maisters of theym selues by abstaynynge from that whereunto they felte prouocation by nature who desyereth to sée the follye of a foolishe lover passionynge hymselfe vppon creditt the impudencie of a maide or other woman renouncynge the vowe of her fayth or honor due to virginitie the sharpp pennance attendynge the rashe choice of greate Ladyes in séekynge to matche in anye sorte wythe degrées of inferior condicion or who wisheth to bée priuie to th'inconueniences in loue howe he frieth in the flame of the fyrste affection and after groweth not onelye colde of hymselfe but is easelye conuerted into a contrarye shapp and disposition of deadlye hate maye bée heare assisted wyth more then double expeperience touchinge all those euills the curtesie of an enemye on the behalfe of hys aduersarye wythe a wounderfull lyberalitye in the other in retournynge the benefytt receyued is heare set furthe in fuche lyuelye coollers that there seames to lacke nothynge for the ornament and decoracion of suche a wooke And who takes pleasure to beholde the fyttes and panges of a frantique man incensed to synister conceites by the suggestion of frettynge Ielouzye forcynge hym to effectes of absolute desperation
dyed she had not lyued to haue reuenged his wronge nor lamented her owne desolacion for the same affection whyche moued her to suche care of his life woulde also haue procured her to haue bene his companion to the graue whereby one tombe at one instaunt shold haue serued to shroode the ij bodies last remaynder of the whole race house of the MONTANYNS And that which scamed to restore her dollorous passion with a freshe supply and increase of newe sorowe was the heauie newes of diuerse of her neare kynsmen touching the spedy approch of the extreme date delay of the sentēce diffinitiue which as they had not onli indeuored to differ yet som lōger time but also to purchase a moderation of the rigour so beyng no lesse frustrate in the one then voyed of assuraunce or hope of the other they sayed there rested nothing on their powers to performe or discharge the office of true frends on her behalf sauing to perswade her to consolacion and to vse patience in cases of aduersitie chiefly wher there appeares absolute dispaire of all remedie and the sinister suggestion of malicious fortune hath suppressed a hope and expectation of deliuery wherin as an vnfained witnes of their presente dollour they let fall certaine teares to accompanie the pitifull dule of her who vpon the reaport of theis last accurrauntes forgat not to fyll the aire ful of hollowe sighes with open exclamacion against the lawe of nature that seamed so careles of her creatures as not only to leaue them without armour or sufficent resistance against the ordinary assaultes of the world but also to make thē subiect by speciall destenie to the sentence dome of a most vnrighteous and hard fortune but albeit aduersity besides that she is subiect to sondry sortes of calamitie is also so quarellous of her one disposition that for the respect of one simple or peculiar wronge she makes vs to exclaime generally against all liberties and lawes of God and man yet ought we so to checke that same humour of inordinat rage that mortifieth within vs all regarde of dutie and reason that we dispaire not in the goodnes of him who beyng the giuer of all comfort and GOD of consolation is more ready to dispose it on our behalfe then we hable to deserue the gift of so greate a benefit and who in the middes of the teares of this desolate Ladye beyng with the reste of her frendes wholly resolued to endure the rigorous sentence of their fate presented the CATASTROPHE of y e tragedy with such an offer or meane of spedye deliuery of the prisoner that it did not only excede thexpectation of all men but seamed also the worke of suche a wonderfull misterie that no man was hable to imagin the deuise afore their eyes gaue iudgement of theffect ▪ for the same day aboute the nynth or tenth hower of the euenyng ANSEAMNO SALYMBYNO whome heretofore you haue harde to bee sore passioned with the loue of ANGELYQVA hauing spente certaine dayes of recreacion in the contrey is now returned to SYENNA where passyng by the gate of his ladye he chaunced to heare a lamentable noyse of women bewailyng the misery of the montanynes wherwith pursewyng the brute with a more diligente eare spyed at last commyng out of the pallayes of ANGELYQVA certain olde dames his nexte neighboures all to bee sprent and died with the dew of sorowfull teares as though they hadd then cōme from the funeral of some of their frendes of whom he enquired the cause of suche vnacustumable Dule and whether what new misfortune wer happened of late to y e house of y e Montauyns and being at larg resolued of that which you haue hard by speciall reporte went imediatlye to his chamber where he began to discourse diuersely of this soddaine chaunce sometyme determining the deliuerie of CHARLES for the only respect of his syster whose good wil he thought he cold not purchase any waye so well as by the benefyt and pryce of so greate a frendshyppe by and by hee accompted the death of her brother a moste necessarye meane to make him the maister of his desire ouer his sister wherin after he had spente somtyme in secrete cogitacion without any certeyne resolution notwithstandyng what to do he seamed to aske open councel of himselfe in this sorte What cause haue I hereafter to dowte of the thing I chiefly desyer seyng fortune seames to take more care of my contentement then I am hable to wishe or imagyn vndertaking as it seames to presente me wyth theffecte of my busynes whenne I leaste thoughte of any hope or likelihod of good successe for by the death of the MONTANYN who is to be executed to morowe in publike as a rebell or heynous offendor of the state I shal not only see the laste reuenge of the most mortall enemyes of our house but also liue without feare hereafter to be molested by any that shal discend of hym and on the other syde his death takes away al impedimētes offering either to stay or hinder me from enioying of her whom I loue so dearely for her brother being deade and his goodes and liuinge confiscat to the state what stay or support hath she if not in her beauty and loue of some honest gentleman who takyng cōpasion of the losse of so Rare an ornament and worke of nature may entertaine her for his pleasure vntill the glasse of so brikle a gyfte dekay with his delyte in her companye and then for the respect of pytye to bestow her in mariage with some compotent porcion But what SALYMBYNO shal the offer of any vnseamely reueng preuaile aboue that respect and duty thou art borne to beare and owe vnto true vertue or wilt thou so much abuse y e former glory of thy auncestors and present renowne of thy selfe with an acte no lesse detestable afore GOD then hatefull to the cares of all degrees of honestye and wilte thou thus deceaue thexlpectation of thy frends and leaue them in continual reproche to the posteritye of all ages with a note of suche infamye that tyme her selfe can skarce race out of the remembrance of man if all thies lacke authority to diswade the let only the respect and awe of vertue with remorce of conscience kepe the frome comitting so hainousanoffence for to wh at other end haue the auncients put a diffrence betwene the gētlemen creatures of baser condition but that in exposyng fruites of cyuill courtesye wée should also stryue to make our selues noble and excede theim in thimitacion of true vertue and as it is far frō the office of a noble hart to thunder Reueng vpon such as are not hable to resyst thy power so there can be no greater argument or proffe of true magnanimytie then in buryenge the desyer of vengeaunce in a tombe of eternall obliuion to expose moste fruites of compassion where there appeares greate cause to extende the vttermost of rigour and where
be taken awaye from the dolourous regarde of suche wretched desolation to th ende that I alon mighte not liue as the od relike or vttermost reste of our subuerted house And albeit we may chalēge the first place in the beadrol of vnhappy wretches seinge our fortune hath exchaunged oure auncient felicitie for a present lyfe of extreme miserye yet yf there be anye cause of consolation in aduersitie we haue raison to ioye in the condicion of our state chefly for that we are not iustely to be charged with imputacion of euil or dishonest trade any waie and that notwithstanding the raging malice of our fortune with the force of pouertie pinchynge extremely the discourse of our lyues hath so confirmed the generositie of our auncestors that we kepe the consent of al voices to be nothing inferior to the best of them in any respect of vertue or showe of true nobilitie For I haue alwaie indeuored to obserue this one rule discipline of the re nowmed Emperour captaine MARCVS ANTHONIVS who persuadeth that as the heyght of estate ought not to alter the goodnes of nature So the frowarde disposition of fortune oughte not to take awaye or diminishe the constancie of the mynde with this addicion that he beareth her malice best that hydes his myserye moste Besides thusmuche dare I aduouche of my selfe that as I was neuer presented with the offer of any good tourne whiche I haue not thankefullie requited to thuttermoste So I haue not bene a nigarde of anye thinge I haue on the nedefull behalfe of my frende or other companion detestynge alwayes that anye iote of ingratitude shold staine the reputatiō wherin I haue lyued hytherunto For as amongest a nomber of vices in men nowe a dayes the note of vnthanfulnes is no lesse detestable then anye of the reste So for my parte I wishe the rigour of THATHENYANS lawe vpon hym who seames eyther forgetfull of the benefyt passed or vnthankefull to the frendship of hym that brought succours to his necessitie when he dispaired of relief wherin my deare sister albeit you maye happelye imagine the cause of this longe circunstaunce yet can you giue no certeine iudgement of the ende or conclusion nor diuine ryghtely the meanynge of the misterye whiche I purpose to reueale vnto you The threatnynge perill whiche earste houered to cut in sonder the fyllet of my lyfe is of so late a tyme that I am sewer youre minde hath not yet dismissed the remembraunce of so fearefull a tragedye neyther haue you forgotten I knowe howe as it were by speciall miracle I was boughte out of the handes of the executioner of iustice and redemed from the rigorus sentence of the partiall senatt without thassistance of any my parentes or alyes by eyther simple offer of worde or effect wherin as I am warned by this experience not onlye to putt small confidence in anye of my kynsmen hereafter but also to reappose no assurance at all in their flatteringe show of fained face so I haue tasted of so great a pleasure at the handes of hym who neuer deserued well of mee nor I cause to ymagyne any one droppe of humanitye in hym on my behalfe that yf I do ryght to his vertue I haue reason to admitt hym not onlye amonge the felowshippe but also the firste and chiefe of my deare frendes for beinge pressed so muche wyth the iniquitte of the tyme wyth freshe assaltes of newe afflictions and forsaken with all of my nearest frendes I had reason to ymagyne and cause to feare that thonly malice of oure mortall enemyes for the extirpation of the whole stocke and roote of oure race had bene the workers of my laste trouble and daunger of deathe But good syster in this distruste I haue abused the vertue of our late aduersary deseruynge to indure pennance for entringe into conceites of conspiracye agaynste hym whose late benefyte excedinge the ymaginacion of all men hath made me bounde to honor the remembrance of his name with a debte of dutie so longe as nature shall phan in mee the breathe of lyfe for in place where I feared most daunger I founde moste sauetie and where I exspected least sewertye I encowntred moste assurance And that hande whiche I attended only to giue the fatal blowe of my destruction hath not only remoued all occasions or offers of present perill but become the chiefest pillor and proppe of mine honour and lyfe hereafter wherin because you shal be partaker of the playnnesse of my tale aswell as you haue vsed patience in the hearinge of the circumstance yt is ANSEAMO SALYMBYNO the son and heir of our aunciente persecutours who hath made so manyfeste a declaration of his affected zeale towardes our howse that in taking your brother owte of the handes of thunrighteous senate present daunger of perentorye destruction he hath seamed so lauishe of his liberal mynde that in place of vii C florentes he hath paide a thousande Duckattes for the ransom of hym who iudged hym the moste crewell enemye of the worlde what argumente of noble harte is this or howe seldom dothe a man encounter suche rare frutes of vertue frendes knitt together by a speciall league of amytie or mutuall vowe of frendeshippe do oftentymes make the worlde wonder of the sondry frutes and effectes of constancie which appeareth betwene theime but where the mortall enemie beinge neyther reconciled nor required nor demaundinge any assuraunce for the pleasure he dothe paieth not only the debte of his aduersarye but restoreth his state when hee is at pointe to performe the last of his fatal somaunce I thinke it excedes all the consideration of suche as vse to discourse vppon the doinges of menne I knowe not what title to geue to the acte of SALYMBYNO nor howe to tearme this his curtesye yf not that his doinges deserue a better meede thenne the renowne of DAYMON and PITHIAS or other moste loyall frendes whome the writters doo fauor wyth suche surnames of glorye but as I am a chiefe witnes of hys vertue so the example of hys presente honestie hathe sturred vppe suche an affected humor wythin me that eyther I wyll dye in thindeuor or els I wylbe equall yf not hable to excede hym in the retourne of hys liberalitie wherein beinge iustelye bownde to engage the beste parte in me for the recompense of that good torne whiche gaue increase to my lyfe I am to craue a special assistance of you Syster for the complotte of the deuise whyche I haue alreadye ymagyned and fullye resolued to performe to th end I maye bee onelye bownde to you for thacquitaunce of the liberalytye of SALIMBINO by whose helxe you that earste Lamented the losse of libertye and lyfe of youre brother maye nowe congratulate hys healthe and happye delyuerye where wyth the faire ANGELIQVA fully resolued by this laste report of her brother that it was SALEMBINO whyche hadde surmounted all her parentes and frendes in the delyuerye of her onelye confort
with a chaste kysse of her seruant and frendlye farewel to CORNELIA she retireth to her fathers Palais leauynge her louer well lightned of all his cares sauyng of a necessarye meane to sounde the good will of the olde REINALDO wherin notwithstandynge he vsed suche expedicion of diligence that afore hymselfe could enioye the benefyt of perfect health he procured certaine auncient Gētlemen his neare parents to performe his reqneste to thold niā whom they solicited with suche instance in sorte of mariage that he admitted theyr offer and confirmed the bargaine with theis wordes that onely LIVIO shoulde be the firste that should renounce the bale albeit saith he because of thinfirmitie of mine age I vse the cōsent of my son in all my affaires of importance so I craue onely your patience in the fynall conclusion of the mariage til his retourne frō Rome at which time only your selues shal name the day of consommation in this aunswere albeit appeared an impediment to the performance of the mariage for that as you haue harde CLAVDIO enuyed the state of LIVIO which argued a difficultie in him to approue shallyance yet CAMILLA vnderstanding the resolution of both their parentes gaue as sewer iudgemente of the mariage as if it had bene alredie published in the churche and therupon began to enlarge her familiar hawnte and repairs to LIVIO whom if she embrased afore with earneste zeale it was nothinge in respectt of the vehemencie of her present affection which also deuyded hymselfe into such a SYMPATHIA and equalitie of loue in theim bothe that it spredde abrode by indiffrent braunches in bothe their hartes like as the morninge son in the easte giueth by litle and lytle contynuall encrease to his beames comforting the creatures vppon earth And in this often enterviewe together LYVIO enioyenge nowe his auncient health and dexterytie of body being one daye amongest the rest with his lady in the cham ber of his syster toke his lute and songe a ditie whiche hee had made of their reciprocall passion wyth suche contentemente to hys CAMILLA that she desired hym eftesones to repaite it in semblable note aswel for the delyte of the tune which he performed with a voice to her contentacion as also the subtill stile and fyne conueighe of the matter arguinge a conclucion of that which they bothe wished wyth equall appitit seinge that as their continuall haunt and frequentacion together gaue increase to their desyer so they were both of opynion that loue colde not beare the title of perfecte affection if theffect of that whych was indiffrently wished of theim both did not make perfect the thyng which hithervnto was debated but by wordes other wayes that whiche was passed betwene theim beinge but a naked loue whithout effecte other then certeine delicate kysses whyche serued rather to kyndle the coales of desyer then quenche the flame alredye burning within their intralls seamed but a simple platte or playne table whiche the conninge painter hath smothed for the nonst to drawe some ymage of exquisytt skille wherein being ouercharged with intolleracion of desyer and fynding thabode of CLAVDIO longer thenne they ymagined they passed vnhappely a pryuye contracte betwene shem selues with erspectaciō to consomat the ful of y e matter with a due hyer of y e paines they indured indiffrently in attendinge an effecte of their pleasure at the retorne of CLAVDIO from Rome But here fortune began to presente her selfe vppon the stage as one that wil be knowen to beare a swaighe in the good happe or infelicitie of man and vs of suche vnconstante and malicious regard towardes vs that when we thinke we bee paste the feare of all perill and trodden all desasters vnder our féete it is then that we fynd least assurance in the thinges wherein we reapposed our chiefest pleasure and in the turninge of her weale is figured the alte racion of oure wordlie affaires I meane by a conuersion of thinges which earste seamed pleasant and delicat into a taste ercedinge the bitternes of gal in such sorte that often tymes wée fynde deathe of more easye burden then wée are hable to beare the panges whiche ordenarilye attende the flatteries of this vncerteine FORTVNE whom the Poetes and painters not wythout cause haue drawen in y e picture of a blynd woman standing vppon a tickle staie of an vnconstant globe or bowle representinge thereby her fragilitie and how blind lye she guides the thinges of y e world what authorities colde inferr to exclaime agaynst her mobylitie if it were not for the shortnes of tyme and that I wil not cloye your memory wyth so tedious a discourse howe manye haue wee féene at the point to enioye a monarkye kingdom or siegneury who when they leaste thought of commutacion or change haue loste their honoure expulsed their estates and at laste ended their lyues by a miserable death Who haue redde the sixte booke of VALERIVS MAXIMVS may iustefye my opynion by thexample of QVINTVS SCIPIO a valiant capteyne and consull in Rome who longe tyme hauinge fortune at commaundement was seene in a moment cut in morselles seruinge as vnworthie foode to the rauenouse beastes issuinge oute of the sauage desarts RADAGASO sometime king of the GOTHES for all thassuerance he reapposed in his inuincible armye as he thought was not expempted frome the dome of inconstante and mortall destynie for that his people slaine his capteines fled and he taken prysoner passed vnder the sentence of an infamous deathe by STILICON generall of tharmye at that time for themprour HONORIVS wyth other infynit proffes of antiquitie wherwith it is no neede to fyll my paper seinge the domesticall accedentes and like chaunces happeninge amongest our neighboures at hoame do giue sufficient testymonye and faithe of that whiche wee go aboute to proue And nowe beinge vpon the discourse of LIVIO and his vnfortunat CAMILLA who albeit were ney ther princes nor gouernors of kingdomes yet beinge in the paradise of their pleasure and at the pointe to performe the last acte of their delytes encountred in one moment a chang and synister subuercion all contrarye to the appointmente whiche they had resolued vpon their future mariage And sewer it is an argumēt of the greatest folly that can bée to promisse our selues an assurance of thinges whiche depende vppon the will and dispocition of an other vppon whiche the yssue is also most vncerteine for that differing frō vs in coun cell and ymaginacion they are also without care in what sort wée take their iudgement seinge they depende no waye vpō vs nor our fancy like as it happened to these .ii. infortunat louers for CLAVDIO nowe retorned and not likinge any way thallyance betwene LYVYO and sister wrought so muche with his father who sawe not but by the eyes of his son nor attempted any thinge wherinto CLAVDIO added not the conclusion that REINALDO renounced the words of his former consent pacifyenge the parents of LIVIO by the beste
howe fyne so euer they were aswell to preferr her dutie to thuttermoste as also to auoyde imputacion or cause of suspicion on her parte wherwith entring into termes of persuacion she added also this kynde of consolacion folowinge More do I greue syr sayth she wyth the small care you seame to take of your selfe then the tearmes of your disease do trouble me consideringe the same procedes of so slender occasioÌ„ that the veray remeÌ„brance of so great an ouersight ought to remoue the force and cause of your accident admit your griefe were greate indéede and your disease of no lesse importance yet ought you so to bridle this wilful rage and desyere to dye that in eschewing to preuent the wyl and set hower of the Lorde you séeke not to further youre fatall ende by vsynge vnnaturall force against your selfe making your beastly will the blodye sacrifize of your bodie whereby you shal be sewer to leaue to the remeinder of youre house a crowne of infamie in the iudgement of the worlde to come and put your soule in hazarde of grace afore the troane of iustice aboue you knowe syr I am sewer that in this transitorye and paineful pilgrimage there is nothing more certeine then death whom albeit wee are forbiddeÌ„ to feare yet oughte wee to make a certeine accompt of his coÌ„ming neyther is it any other thinge according to the scripture then the minister and messenger of God executynge his infallible wil vpon vs wretches sparinge neyther age condicion nor state It is he that geues ende to oure miserie heare and saffe conduyte to passe into the other worlde and assoâ—e as we haue taken possession of the house of reste he shooteth the gates of all annoye againste vs fedinge vs as it were with a swete slomber or pleasant sléepe vntil the last soÌ„moÌ„ce of generall resurrection So that syr methinkes they are of the happie sorte whome the great God vouchesafeth to call to his kyngdome exchangynge the toiles manifolde cares incident to the creatures of this worlde with the pleasures of his paradise place of reapose that neuer hath ende And touchinge your deuocion to him that was dead with vaine desyer to visit his ghoste in the other worlde persuadynge the same to procede of a debte and dutifull desyer you haue to make yet a further declaracioÌ„ of your vnfained minde towardes him I assure you syr â–ª I am more sorye to see you subiect to so great a follie then I feare or exspect the effect of your dreame for as it seames but a ridle procedinge of the vehemencie of your sicknes So I hope you will directe the sequeile by sage aduise conuertinge the circumstance into ayre without further remeÌ„braÌ„ce of so foolish a matter wherin also I hope you wyll suffer the wordes of the scripture to direct you who allowinge smal ceremonies to the dead forbides vs to yelde any debte or dutie at all to suche as be alredie passed out of the worlde and muche lesse to sacrifyze oure selues for their sakes vpon their tombes accordynge to the supersticious order of y e barbarians in olde time remeinyng at this daye in no lesse vse amonge the people of the weste worlde but rather to haue their vertues in due veneracion and treadynge in the steppes of their examples to imytate theyr order with like integretye of lyfe And for my parte saith she dyenge her garmentes with the droppes of her waterye eyes prouynge to late what it is to loase a husbande and to forget hym whome bothe the lawe of God and nature hathe gyuen me as a seconde parte of my selfe to lyue wyth mutuall contentement vntyll the dissolucion of oure sacred bonde by the heauye hande of God am thus farre resolued in my selfe protestynge to performe no lesse by hym that lyueth that yf the furie of your passion prevaile aboue your resistaunce or your disease growe to suche extreame tearmes that death wyll not be otherwayes aunswered but that you muste yelde to hys sommance and dye I wyl not lyue to lament the losse of my second husbande nor vse other dule in the funerall of youre corps then to accompanye it to the graue in a shéete or shroode of lyke attire for youre eyes shall no sooner cloase their liddes or loase the lyght of this worlde then theis haÌ„ds shal be readye to performe the effecte of my promisse and the bell that gyueth warnyng of your last hower shall not ceasse his doleful knil til he haue published with like sound y e semblable ende of your deare and louynge wyfe whose simple and franke offer here openynge a most conuenient occasion for her wylfull husbande to disclose the true cause of hys disease preuailed so muche ouer his doubtefull and waueringe mynde that dismissing euen then his former dissimulacion he embraced her not without suche abundance of teares and vnruly sighes that for the tyme they tooke awaie the vse of his tounge Albeit beinge deliuered of his trauÌ„ce and restored to the benefit of his speche he disclosed vnto her the true cause and circumstaunce of his gréefe in this forte Albeit since the time of my sicknes saith he you haue séene what distresse and desolation haue passed me wyth fyttes of straunge and diuerse disposition marueilynge no lesse I am sewer from what fountaine haue flowed the Symptomes of so race a passion wherein also your continuall presence and â—iewe of my weake state is sufficientlye hable to recorde the whole discourse of my disease yet are you neyther partaker of my payne nor priuye to the principall causes of so straunge an euill neyther haue I bene so hardie to discouer theim vnto you because I haue ben hetherto doubtful of that whereof your laste wordes haue fullye absolued me And nowe being weakened with the wearines of tyme sicknes in suche sort as nature hath ridd her handes of me and gyuen me ouer to the order of death who is to spare me no loÌ„ger but to vtter these laste wordes vnto you I accompte it a special felicitie in my harde fortune that in thoppenyng of the true causes of my greâ—e I may cloase and seale vp the laste and extreame tearme of my lyfe And because I wil cleare in few wordes the misterie which seames to amaze you You shall note that there be iij. onely ministers and occasyons of my disease whereof the firste and of leaste importance is for the death of my late Lorde and maister Don Ihon tryuoulso whereof you are not ignorant the second excedinge the firste in greatnes of grefe and force againste me is to thinke that the rigour of my destinies and violence of sicknes yeldynge me into the handes of death will dissolue and breake by that meanes the league of longe and loyall loue whiche from the beginnynge my harte hath vowed vnto you but the thirde and laste of a more strange qualitie then eyther of the reste is to thinke that when I am dead and by time worne
simple desyer of the mynde nor in the foolishe prouocacions of our vaine conceites but passing further the pleasante reward and tryumphe of that victorie consisteth in the consommacion of the worke wythout the whiche loue seameth no other thinge then a bare plat or table whervpon the painter maye drawe what propercion hee lyste And truely as there is no manne happie in loue nor hathe cause to vaunte of the victorye but hée that encountrethe thobiecte of hys desyer soo mee thinketh a manne shoulde not loue that hee hathe not nor desyer the thynge that is vtterlye vnknowen vnto hym I saye thus muche Syr because youre resolute affection towardes youre Ladye of MYLLAN seamethe rather to argue ann humor of frenzye then vertue in loue and vayne opinion then true effect aduisynge you for ende to haue a care of your selfe and speciall regarde to this laste request of myne that is in leauyng the shryne to honor the sainct and to cloase your mouthe from gapinge after that you can not get as the vuquiet dogge in the night that barketh at the shadowe of the Moone The Oration of this bawde semed suche Musicke to the eares and mynde of CORNBLIO that he rather wished a continuance of her iargon then an abridgement of her tale but seynge she gaue ende to her owne discourse with exspectatioÌ„ to heare hys replye he dysmissed her with this shorte aunswere albeit your present repeticion of thabuse in loue seaminge in some respect to bee assisted bothe with rayson and Iustice dothe discouer diuerse faltes in sondrye women wherof as you say the most part deliteteth asmuch to Ronne ryot and seeke a chaunge of pasture as the other takes pleasure in the vertue of true constancie yet oughte wee to vse suche an integretie betwene the good and euill that the faltes of the wicked do not deface the renowme of theym that deserue but well and as you saye it is harde for a manne to loue that he hathe not so I note no lesse-rashnes in you to giue iudgement of the thinge you knowe not but by examinacion for I am fullie perswaded that no distance of places nor aduersitie of times haue power to dyminishe and much lesse dissolue thaffection of her whose presence I hope hereafter to enioye with no lesse pleasure then her absence seames now to gyue me cause of annoye And albeyt I haue not yet tasted of the frute whiche all louers do wyshe and fewe happen to fynde yet dare I accompte my selfe as depelye in the fauor of my absent mistrys as the best of that happye companie and suche weakelinges as accompte no vertue in loue but in thencounter of their lasciuius desyer and can not rest satisfied except they crop the hearbe of pleasure are alwayes founde more liberall in wordes then constant in loue and more hoat in the begynnyng then hable to continue to the end neyther do I see any experience to the contrary but that the passion whiche I suffer ought rather too beare the true title of loue then the surname of a simple desier seynge the delite I take in the remeÌ„brance of her beautie is no lesse pleasure vnto me then if I had alredie performed and tasted of the delicat effect of loue which I am determined to attende tyl eyther the goodnes of a better fortune restore me to my desert or the force of death giue end to my desolacion willing you herewith to correct your iudgemeÌ„t and cesse to inueyghe against her whose constancie vertue only defaceth the vsurped comendacion of the most of your corrupte sect for the rest the iustice of my cause I hope wil make my excuse tollerable in the opinion of her that sent you and for your paiues I can but yelde you the choice of a thousande thankes wherewith mother retrician tooke her leaue and retired with lesse contentemeÌ„t in her bad successe then assured hope to preuaile in the beginning towards her MANTVAN lady to whom recounting eftesones y e particularities of her discourse with CORNELIO she coÌ„cluded that he beyng limed with an other bushe had no power to make a grauÌ„t of his good wil without a special pasport froÌ„ MILAN where saith she he hath lefte both body hart and appereth here but in the liknes and shape of a figure with out sence or feelyng and lesse hable to admitt the preferment of honor or proffer of raison which albeit seamed greatly to grudge the conscience of the lady chiefly for that she was intercepted of that which she accompted no lesse sewer then the articles of her credear to be beleued yet waighing y e reasons of his excuse with y e raging ouersight of her selfe in indifferent ballance she made of necessitie a vertue retired to a pacience parforce forgetting not to punish her falt w t the pennance of repeÌ„taÌ„ce comend to y e skies the incoÌ„perable loialty of CORNELIO with no lesse gratulation on the behalf of her y t had made choice of so constant a seruant who for her part also al this while was in no lesse care of his weldoyng then busily occupied in deuise how to recouer his presence requite the passion of his painful torment which he chiefly desyred iustely deserued wherein as she for her part wyshed no lesse to embrace hym then he meritorius to possesse her So albeit there passed certaine letters betwene theim seaminge rather to doble the desier of theym both then yeld moderatioÌ„ to the passion of either of theim yet she found the meanes to coaste the malice of her fortune with a contrarye sleyghte by procuryng to her husbande a iorneye of xx or xxx dayes traueil wherevpon she dismissed imediatly a corrior to CORNELIO with the reaport of y e newes in this letter folowing Albeit sir calamitie of her owne nature is so quarelous that she ceasseth not to assaile thafflicted with continual sommonce of perentorye dispaire yet oughte we not reappose so slender assurance in the assystance of vertue as eyther to make a marchandise of the goodnes of our fortune muche lesse sell the hope of future filicitie nor yet vtterlie dispaire of the benefyt of time who as she is thaÌ„â—eful enoughe to suche as suffer her with pacience so hathe she presentlye entred into suche compassion of our mutuall distresse that somonyng my husbande with a iorney of a monethes trauel in forreine affaires she hath opened vs a most sewer meane to meete and reioyce together without daunger wherein as all such seldome proffers of frendshypp ought to be no lesse welcome when they come then they seame of tickle aboade wheÌ„ we haue theim so if you wish to be resolued of y e which you doute and haue no lesse care of your owne contentement my aduise is you embrace the benefyt of so conuenieÌ„t a time persuadyng your selfe that if you were here I wold communicate with you more liberally then I dare discourse by letter and onelye yourselfe is of creditte to
or out of the window or in other place which denied him fauor or libertie to speake to her I thinke he forgat not to expose arguments of his grefe by the pitiful regards of his countenance wanton torninge of the eye and other messengers of his passion arguing the torment he endewred for the desier he had to do her seruice he vnderstode at last by secret inquisition what churche her mother haunted for the performing of her prayers and that her doughter was her only companion in these deuocions whither also hée directed his pilgrymage and dissymulinge with GOD hée plaide thypocrite in conuertinge his regardes from thalter or place of leuacion to beholde the bewtie of the goldsmithes daughter the saint to whom his hart yelded most honor making of the house of prayer y e shop or forge to frame iniquitie exceding in this respect the barbarouse abuse of the Etheniques turkes and infidells who geue more reuerence to their Mosques wher God is blasepheimed and his Son abiured then the christians now a dayes to the temples and houses dedicated to the Lord to performe the ministracion of the sacraments with open publicacion of the wil of our sauiour Christ whom wyth saint Paule we ought to pray for the subuercion of babilon and restauracion of the true Church dispersed into diuers corners of the world by the malice of the pope and his wicked disciples wherof this Abbot being not the least in authoritie was nothing inferiour to the most abhominable in al vices wherof he gaue sufficiente proofe in two offences of equall detestacion the one in seking to deflowre a mayde contrarye to the othe of hys religion the other in abusinge the house of GOD as a place of bawdye practise to performe theffecte of hys cursed deuise beinge more deuowte in courtinge the Ladies of NAPLES thenne curious to reforme thabuses of his idle couente But the girle notinge thinconstant order of prayer in our reuerende father GONSALDO to gether wyth hys wanton regardes full of lasciueous desyer ymagined by and by wyth what yron the gentlemanne was shod and to what sainct hée would gladlye offer his candell wherefore thinkinge it noo breache of good manner to playe mockhallyday wyth such a maister foole gaue hym skoape now and thenne to hehold her at large and to beat the hammer more depe into his head would requite his amarous glaunce wyth a semblable glée and sodaynly retire and vanish out of hys sight wyth an angry farewel as thoughe shée disdayned his wanton offer wyth intente notwythstandynge to shonne hys voyce and place of presence no lesse then thincounter of any venemus beaste fearinge to reapose eyther credytt in hys honestie or so muche assurance in her owne pudicitie as to open her eare to the charme of a friuolous louer or who thinkes it no offence to take awaye the puritie of a mayde whom wée may compare to the red rose desiered of enery one so longe as the morning dewe mainteineth hym in odyferous smell and pleasaunt coollor but when the force and heate of the son hath mortyfied hys oryent hew and conuerted hys naturall freshnes into a withered leafe the desier to haue it dekaieth wyth the bewtye of the thynge euenso shée that hathe once morgaged the flower of her virginitie is not only dispised of hym to whom shée hath béene so prodigal of that whych shée oughte to make a moste precious Iewell but also in common contempte wyth all men what showe of dissembled courtesie soeuer they presente vnto her wherof the mistres of GONSALDO was nothing vnmindfull who preferringe the honor and reputacion of chastetie affore all the respecttes of the worlde seing wythall that the blinde Abbot pursewed more and more his amarous quest preuented hys expedicion by making her a straunger to his presence shonnynge all places of hys repaire and to take awaye all occasions that myghte geue increase to his desyer shée forbare to visit the churches onelesse it were at suche howers as they were voyde of other companie and yet wyth suche regarde that shée made as it were a priuy searche in all the corners and quyers of the temple to preuent his subteltie in dressinge some ambushe to inuade her vppon a soddaine and if by chaunce hée saw her and saluted her in the stréetes shee crossed saite on the other side and closed her eyes as agaynst some hurtfull encownter yelding hym no other countenance then she mighte haue auowched to the most infydell in the vttermost Ilandes of Tartaria whych brought the sely freare into suche mortall perplexitie that dispaire beganne to appeare wyth thapproche of sondrye perentorie diseases chiefly for y t the hyer of his earnest loue was retorned with sondry sorts of crueltye and disdainefull repulses occupyinge his brayne with suche contrarietie of thoughtes that he was voide of councell to what saint to vow himselfe or vpon what wood to make his arrowes seinge he was neither hable to mortifye nor vse moderacion in his passion and muche lesse was assisted with any meane to communicate the greatnes of his gréefe to her whose beautie had made hym the slaue of follie wherein albeit he sawe a vanitie to vse the office of a Dariolleta or bawde for that the vertue of the maide argued a detestation of suche Embassadors and to write to her appeared a great difficultie for that she was alwayes in the presence of her mother who vsinge the vertue of her doughter as a solace of her olde yeres was no lesse carefull of her honestie then be longed to so precious a Iewell yet felinge a continuall aggrauation of desyer wyth a flatterynge offer of loue to rewarde hym in the ende with the praye of his purseute he determined to suborne a shameles messenger to bewraye his shameful intente and therefore put his requeste vpon tearmes in a letter of this effecte Yf my destenies had don execution vppon my bodie when firste they brought me to the viewe of your beautie I had not ben a presente experience of your crueltye nor you thoccasion of my vnworthie torment for if death by nature had preuented the begynnynge of my loue I had ben frée from the force of passion discharged of all mortall greefe and you dispensed with al from the imputation cause of a double ill the one to abuse the vertue of your selfe do wronge to the renowme of al women by preferring effectes of rigour the other in disdaynyng the seruice of him whose life and death payseth indifferentlye in the ballaunce of your good will dissemblynge also not to sée the circunstaunce of my loue to driue me to desperacion and at the point to vse vnnaturall force againste my selfe Howe often alas haue I made you priuye to thinwarde affection of my mynde by the outwarde regardes glaunces of my exterior partes Howe often haue you acknowledged the same by argument of semblable glée and immediatly denied the whole by a soddaine showe of angrie complexion eyther disdayning vtterly
assailed by the other who perswading her to scilence said her brauery was to great for one of her calling and that they came not thither to take pitty of her complaints neither shold she escape so good cheape as she thought she desired theÌ„ to abstein from violation of her body geue her what death they thought good they excused them selfes of any intent to do mordore only saye they we are com hither to bend you by force that will not bow by any entreatye wherefore if you thincke you haue any wronge referr the cause to the longe contynuance of your crueltie which is now at point to be reuenged pytty it was to heare the dolorous tunes of the poore maide with the miserable skrikes which she thrue vpp into the ayre to witnes her innocencye wherein shee contynued wythout any eccho of reschewe til y e detestable pallyard had spoyled the flower of her virginitie and then he begaÌ„ to perswade her to pacyeÌ„ce willing her her eafter not to become so curious of her chastitie nor refuce to admit y e offer of his freÌ„dshipp wherof he promised so largly that if she wold he wold take her from her father and kepe her at his charges presenting at thinstaÌ„t a purse ful of money willing her thensfurth to caste awaye all cause of care and dispose her selfe onlye to cherishe and make much of the rest of her life for the whiche saith he you shal fynde me as careful as you shal thinke conuenieÌ„t and if hereafter you haue a desyre to mary doubt not to repose your selfe therin vpon me for I wil so wel prouide and assiste you wyth so good a porcion that the same shal be plentifull inoughe to susteine you and releue the needfull condicion of your parentes but she no lesse loathing the offer of his filthy promise then detesting the villen that wold not cease yet to corrupt her hauinge by this time recouered her sences defyed him wyth his mynisters of infection saing that although his villeny force hath defiled the chastitie of her body and geuen him theffecte of his lasciuious desier yet shold he neuer be hable eyther wyth his money or other wayes to corrupt the sincerytie of her hart whose innocencye saith she wyl tryumphe ouer thy execrable acte afore him who is to yelde the the due hyer of thy trauaile is it in thy power to satisfie or leue me coÌ„tented y t froÌ„ me which al y t world caÌ„not eftsones restore me No no it is god of whoÌ„ I must claime satisfactioÌ„ in punishing y e two trayterous Borre ans and rauenous spoilers of y e virginitie of me pore wretch who was borne to abyde y e setence of my destinye y e galland thinckyng to appease thextremitie of her passion began to prefer perswacions of coÌ„fort which she defied with such spite and bitter termes of iust reproche against him that lothyng to suffer her eyes to féede vppon him that had infected all the partes of her body tolde him that the only veiwe of his villanous lookes made her forgett all order of pacience which he toke as a comission to depart fearyng withal y t the noyse of her coÌ„plaints might bechauÌ„ce com to y e eares of som that passed y e way who vnderstandyng the discourse of the rape wold make reporte to the bishop whose profession and othe is chefelye to punishe offendours in the like accydentes here the sorowful IVLIA being void of companie sauyng the doleful ecchoes of woodes and ryuers that answered her cryes wyth lyke complaint renewes the warre of her present desaster which tearing her heares without respecte and quarellyng with y e dowery that nature had gyuen her wold gladly haue touched her with ymputacion in makyng her incydent to so wretched a destenye in exclaiming still vppon the malice of her Fortune yf thabundaunce of teares accompayned wyth sighs of pytyfull disposicion hadd not so stopped the course of speche that for the time she was dryuen into scilence and beyng by litte and litle restored againe to the libertie of her tounge and the source of her sorrowe somewhat retyred she made a short inuocacion to God in this sorte oh heuenlye father sayeth she I sée that the rigour of thy iustice hath preuailed aboue the benefytt of thy mercie and that thou doste awarde me this harde penaunce for the punyshment of my faltes passed w t what face alas shal I behold my poore father whose compfort as it consisted in my wel doing so his gréefe wil be without comparison hering of the hard termes of my myschaunce in desolacion shal he knitt vpp the remeynder of his olde yeres that commyng into any place the remembrauÌ„ce of my falte drawing the blood of shame into his face will make him blushe and eschewe the companye wher afor he neded not haue douted to haue marched amoÌ„gest the best and shall I dissemble that whyche I entende not to hydd or kepe it secret that toucheth me so nere No no as thinâ—â—cencye of my mynde is recorded afore god so because the world shall also witnes how clere I was from consente I wil vse no other water to washe away so great a spott then the sacryfice of death which I will followe with no lesse expedicion then the treason of the villaine hath bene cruel in takinge from me that whyche made me to lyue wherwithe dismissing her complaint she ceassed also froÌ„ teares and put herselfe in order to go to the house of her father who by euill â—ucke was not then at home there she puts on the beste garment she had and attyring her self in order to go to some great méeting or banquet shittes the doare of her cotage and leading her yonger syster in her haÌ„d went furthwith to an awnt of hers who as one ouercharged with sicknes and yeres was not hable to sturr out of her bedd affore whome as she was in the middest of the repeticion of her chaunce reueiling the whole order and circumstance of the fact which she cold not do without great effusion of teares for that the very remembrance of the deede restored a freshe alaram of her sorowes she fel sodeinly into a qualme or passion of soundyng wherein she remayned traunced wythout all argument of lyfe til by the helpe of the assistaÌ„ce she was eftsones delyuered to thuse and libertie of her senses when quarelling stil w t the horror of the fact desire to be reuenged by death she seamed to rebuke her owne ymbecillitie and faintnes of corage saing what signe of vertu is this to seame to shrink when argumeÌ„ts of constancy ought chiefly tappere who wyll desire to lyue that hath lost the renoume of honor which ought to be the most precious Iewel and badge of the lyfe or what pleasure is it to possesse the presence of the body alredy spotted with infamye when the soule wery of her habytacioÌ„ is redy to resigne her auncyent aboade what felicitie haue they in lyfe that being
viperus aduocat So not wythstanding her seconde sonne grudginge still in the deathe of hys brother and some what doubtful of the cause began to be Ieleouse in the pointes of his mislike and beinge of equal corage to his brother and of no lesse nobilitye in hart cold not also disgest the view of dishonour specially in the highest degree of hys house and affynitie whereof he gaue declaracion in his sterne countenances to TOLONYO to whome yf he spake at times by any occasion his wordes argued the disdayne in his hart vsing vnhappelie the lyke regardes and tearmes to his mother who not liking to haue any tutor to note or controll her villanie and hardned with all in th execution of fleshe and life iudged it no offence to embrue her handes with the blod of this innocente and paint euery post and posterne of her castel with the braines of her posteri ie resoluing ymediatly vppon the fatall conspiracie agaynst her second sonne swearinge his death with her execrable mynister TOLONYO who vnder toke y e charge with promise to perform theffect wherin he vsed the meane and expedicion by hym who first distressed the father for this reuerende lawyer rather studied in the philosophie of Sathan then traded in the skill of thordynances of kynges and Emprours or experienced in matters belonginge to the senat so coniured the morderer wyth perswacions and proffers of rewarde that he admitted the bargayne and gaue assurance of the consommacion wherin he failed not of any point or article for certeine dayes after the gentleman being on huntinge vppon certayne mountaines enuyronning a hollow and lowe valleye as his men were buysye in rewarding their howndes wyth the pawnche and intrals of certeine chasses they had killed their vnfortunate maister reapposed hymselfe vppon the edge of a steape and high hill whose discent ymported a perillous regard by the deepe and hollow vaulte in the valleye replenished on euery side with sharppe and hideous rockes here as he accompted hymselfe most sewer and furthest from cause or effect of traison hee founde greatest daunger wyth stroake of mortall destruction for that the hyerd mynister of his death tracing his step yes all the daye to fynde an occasion fyt to further the ende of hys buysynes refused not thoffer of so coÌ„uenient a meane place for as they were in familiar deuise together the one dreadinge no harme the other attending thassistance of the deuil to performe his wickednes stept of a soddaine behinde thrust the vnhappie gentleman from the topp of y e mountaine to the bottom of the valleye where the sharp rockes receyuing him wythout respect of hys innocencie made morsels of his guiltles carkasse What difference may a man set betwene the desolacion of hys house and myserie of the succession of Atreus the Greeke whose children were cruelly cut in peces the wyfe of one of theym suruiuing a noted woman of all the world for incestious lyfe becomes in the end the mordresse of her husband by thassistance of thadulteror and defyler of their mariage bed and she wyth her rybaud oppressed at last wyth vengance equal to their offence by the handes of her owne sonne what pytie is it to sée an experience of such examples amongest christians and in this age yea in the place and contry where the regarde of parentes towards their children is suche that they make no conscience to hazarde their owne lyues to defende the health of suche as nature hathe geuen theym for succession where this execrable ympp of infernall procreacioÌ„ borne for the skourge and plage of her posteritie respecting more to conceile aggrauat her wickednes then careful any way to repeÌ„t her synnes delited as it seamed to sprinkle the earth wyth innocent blod whych cryed vengance both against her and her companioÌ„ of these horryble morders according to the iudgement of the great god who keping a true reckoning of euery drop of blod that hath ben spilt since the deathe of Abell the iust vntil the last affliction of as many as hath bene or shal be vniustlie persecuted punished or mordered hy y e malice of y e wicked prouideth coÌ„monly y t such acts of detestacioÌ„ receiue end by the discouerye of the life passed of such infamous wretches wherof behold an experieÌ„ce in this cursed lady who after the funerals of her yonger son seing y t al her seruants kept eye watche vpoÌ„ her w t suspicioÌ„ of her vicious dealing ymparted y e whole to the gallaÌ„d her minioÌ„ who consulted and coÌ„cluded ymedyatly the end of their pleasures and exercises of blodd togeger whiche was to marye one an other wherein albeit appeared a diffycultye for that TOLONYO hadde alreadie a wyfe no lesse wise faire and vertuous then he cruell spitefull and vicious yet it seamed not ympossible for that the wicked man accompteth a facilytie in euerye thynge whych he estemeth eyther reasonable or lawfull He determyned at what price soeuer it wer to make her plaie a fourth parte in the former tragedie of the father and his ii sonnes ympartinge his bloddie resolucion to his beastlye trooll who no lesse assured in such euill then ready to make a mynister in thattempt as the common villeine that sturreth not from the straites of the mounteynes stripping eue ry passenger not hable to resyste his force allowed the deuise wyth speciall request of expedicion in thaccomplishmeÌ„t Al whiche it is to be thought the couetus doctor did not deuise wyth intent to performe for the respecte altogether of loue or frendshipp he bare to her whom he goeth nowe abowte to marye for he considered that men for the moste part embrase traitors to make their proffyt of their inuentions and subtelties which when they haue wrested frome them eyther the traitors bée punished by death or at leaste so disdained that their miserye in lyuinge showeth thundowted difference betwene vertue and vice disposicion of an infidell or one that esteâ—eth not his fayth and he that is carefull to kepe his conscience cleare from suche spott So Tolonyo not ignorant of y e large reuenue and great summes of moneye of the ladye of CHABRYE wyth store of other welthe aboute the castel accompted it a commoditie to exchaunge the lyfe of hys wyfe for the fylthie vse of so greate riches meaning notwythstanding to enioye the spoiles of so plentifull a praye and after to sende her packinge and make her passe by the pathe of so manye morders committed both by the one and thother Oh vnbridled couetousnes and execrable desyer of vnhonest gaine howe haste thou blaired the eyes and vnderstandynge of men now a dayes hardning their hartes agaynst the dread of god and feare of his lawes what mischiefe hath ouerwhelmed vs by thy meanes seing the father is Ielowse of the faythe of hys sonne the wyfe doubtful of her husbande the neighbour fearyng ambushes of treason in his nexte companion and the prince often tymes in daunger of his sauetye beinge
her pleasure and her falte of treble slaunder in the mouthes of the blasphemous nomber which albeit is without the compasse of my history yet I thoughte it not vnmete to note this litle remembraunce both to warne theim that vse lesse care then is necessarie to preuente so greate a mischiefe and to wishe all Ladies to accompte their honour as the gifte of god and speciall ornament of their life whiche I could enlarge with copie of authorities if I had the assistaÌ„ce of conuenient time and consent of my historie willinge me now to repaire to â—aniquette who perswadinge great impossibilitie in a younge mayde of intisinge beautie desierus to enncownter thamarus glées of menne and kepe cacquett with all comers to escape eyther without some great falte in thabuse of her bodie or at leaste to leaue occasion of suspicion and Ieleus opinion of her honestie amonge suche as vse commonly to recorde the lyfe and doinges of greate Ladies loughte to preuente the like accidente with a contrary vertue for keping her selfe for the moste parte within the house of her father she barred thaccesse of Luchyn and closed her eyes from the view of his presence and if at some tyme her affaires required her to visitt the doare and Luchyn by lyke chaunce reiterate his appeale with semblable somonce and salutacions of accustomed courtesie she fixed her eyes vppon her worke dissemblinge not to sée the thinge whiche her harte colde not brooke and her eyes detested to beholde and douting that vnder the vailâ— of that masqued humilitie and kynde of courtinge not conuenient for her callynge might lurke some secrete mischiefe and displeasure of doble consequence she semed to abhor bothe the one and the other with equal detestacion and conuerting his sighes into ayre and teares to paye hym the hier of his follie she seamed only to supplie the whole tyme of her beinge there in the companie of her companions leauing pore Luchyn no lesse amased at theys newe toyes and trickes of a haggarde then at the first he tooke pleasure when she requited him with semblable glée al which notwithstanding colde neyther discourrage him froÌ„ the pursute of the resolucion of his mynde nor put him in dispaire of his future fortune thinckynge that time wold remoue the vaile of her rigour and conuert her into a creature more plyable assisted therin with thoppinioÌ„ of such as accompting smal conquest of things gotten with litle labour do yelde the greateste glorie to that whiche is won with thertremitie of time and trauell And being still norished with the hope of victorie renewed eftesones his purmenades palewalkes affore herdoare aduauncing hym self so farfurth somtimes that he entred into deuise discourse of loue albeit so coldly that the same neither declared thymportance of his desier nor bewrayde the present passion of his minde whereunto notwithstanding she gaue so slender regarde that her replie dismissed him w t no lesse contentemente for the presente then lykelihood of better successe hereafter It is a custome amongest the Ieneueys and all the prouince about that the young men hauing poeseys of flowers and meting their mistresses in the stréetes or elswhere may present theym there with without any mislike or cause of suspicion of the people beyng also a note of no lesse curtesie for the woman hauing flowers in her hande or bossome to make lyke retourne to her seruant whyche kynde of courtyng thamarus Luchyn forgatt not too prefer as a testey of hys seruice and furtherer of his sute for watchynge longe tyme the hawnte of his mistres he found her at laste not onely aloane and voyde of compainie but in place conuenient to put his longe requeste vppon tearmes whiche gretinge of fortune or gifte of happie chaunce yf it were welcomme to hym I leaue it to the iudgemente of suche as languishynge in the lyke disease dare neyther discouer their gréefe nor demaunde their due remedie and hauynge of purpose peraduenture certeine Ielly flowers in his hande whiche were of more price because winter raged then with extremitie of coulde the chiefeste enemye too flowers and tender boods on th earth he saluted her with his requeste in this sorte Yf the continuance of my seruice were hable to warrant me at leÌ„gth the merite of the same or the offer of any hope in y e meane time had vertue to procure moderatioÌ„ to my passion the one shold not ende but by the sentence of death and the other wolde I embrace as a speciall preseruer of my life but seynge the one is of no lesse momente with you then the other vnlikely too happen I am dryuen to exclaime agaynste youre beautie as the onelye cause of my gréefe and entire enemye to my rest but chieflye thunnaturall rigour which you suffered to rampier hym selfe so depely in thintralles of your hart and séele your eyes of compassion agaynst me that you will neyther admit my teares sighes and other pitifull regardes without nomber whereof the pale complexion of my face with other trembling ioyntes of therterior partes haue made sufficient declaracion nor credit the infynit simptomes and thundringe alarams whiche the only glymmeringe viewe of your bewtie ceasseth not to minister to the weake forces of my feble harte who as your prisoner ready to resigne the keyes and castel of his libertie is heare becom the pitiful solycitor of his own cause coniuringe you by that compassion which ought to accompanie so rare and precious an ornamente of nature to remoue at laste the vaile of youre former crueltie and in beholdinge what power loue hath giuen you ouer me to dismisse all delaies of comfort and admit me into your seruice that haue vowed neuer to departe out of the least of your commaundementes whereunto she was driuen to answere rather by compulsion of the place and tyme then any desyer to debate wyth him in a matter of such vanitie The merite of your seruice Sir sayth she is farr greater then I can or may graunte his due méede and your passion like to be restored by her that is ignorante of the cause and lesse knoweth the order of your disease And touchinge the reste of youre protestacion coated rather withe argumentes of illusions and subtill cerimonies to seduce my simplicitie thenne any resemblance of vertue or intente to expose the frutes of true affection I can not aunswere with other tearmes then iuste disdayne of youre liberall offer with litle care you vse to the reputacion of myne honour neyther is it to me that you ought to addresse thys ambushe or traine of allurementes considringe the inequalitie of our houses denieth a consente of mariage and to graunte loue to one that craues it in other sorte thenne thinstitucion of that sacred lawe dothe allowe I thynke if no lesse detestable afore god then a spot of perpetuall infamye which tyme it selfe can not rase out of the remeynder of my house and small honor is it for you to pursue a queste of
kinde of embassages and lesse wonte to be courted wyth requestes of the like courtesie began here to enter into suche a disposicion of collor that at the fyrste she was readye to wreake her malice vppon the letter committynge it into a thousande peces and retourne the messenger without any aunswere albeit reseruing by chaunce some sparke of modestie which oughte to be incidente to all women she opened and redds the contentes of her clyante not without signes of greate alteracion in her face arguynge lyuelye enoughe the contrarietie of thoughtes which semed to quarel in her mind for within lesse then a moment of tyme she chaunged coolor twize or thrice some tyme pale lyke the crosse of Dyana whiche beinge set againste the sonne loaseth by and by the glorye of his borowed lighte and retourned immediatly to a crymsyne not muche vnlike the florishinge dye of the fragrante rose glisterynge in his orient coolour in the pleasant mournynges of the springe notwithstanding hauyng redd and ouer red with thies alterations the some of his demaunde beinge not hable any longer to conceile or moderate the passion of her yre clawed her neyghbour wyth this crabbed aunswere I woulde neuer haue thoughte that vnder the outwarde showe of your vertuouse conuersacion whereof you haue bene no lesse noted then commended by the mouth of all men hetherunto had lorked suche foule frutes of abhominable substance and specially in a desier to become a celecarier of letters in the fauor of loue wherin as you haue semed to waighe the reputacion of your selfe the renowme of mine honor in thindifferente ballance of your owne lighte iudgemente Euenso if the lawe of frend shippe did not stopp my mouthe and make me dissymule that whych I thinke or yf any other had bene the messenger of thies affaires I assure you the publicacion of the facte shoulde haue made her honour no lesse notorius and subiecte to perpetuall infamye hereafter then I seme to make deare accompte of my chastetie which I woulde you shoulde knowe is armed with more assurance then to bée shaken with any assaltes of thies follies wherefore if you be as carefull to liue in quiett withoute skandall hereafter as I am absolutely resolued not to dimynish the title of my honor by any acte of myne owne lett this first falte diswade you to wade any further in an enterprise of so small commendacions seyng that she that is eyther mynister or messenger in these amarouse trafficques or a furtheror of such practises of loue is no lesse guiltie affore God and her conscience then yf she were eyther pillowe or bolster to the detestable facte And for mine aunswere to Siegneur de Virley whose demaund I deteste no lesse then his follie deserues yf he haue opened his eare to thinchauntment of loue lett hym expulse thennemye with a countercharme by raison or elles make the best of his owne bargaine for seynge hys disease commes of him selfe let hym exspecte no consolacion at my hande for I had rather be a frende to death then fauour the leaste iotte of his demaunde wherein for a confirmacion of my resolucion I intende hensfurthe to barr hym al meanes of accesse to my presence wherewith on my behalfe you maye salute hym The lady messenger seyng her selfe in this sorte clawed where it itched not no lesse ashamed of her sharpe repulse then sory y t her medicine was of no better operacion on the behalfe of her patient semynge notwithstandyng to be litle moued with the angrie complexion of ZYLIA desiered that God wolde reduce the difference and inequalitie of their diseases into a Sympathia and equalitie of passion I meane saieth she madame that you maye be taken oute of this conceite of cruell disdaine whiche makes you incapable of reason and he restored to his libertie which he can not redeme but by thastistance of your goodnes wherewith she toke a shorte leaue and departed and beynge arryued at the lodging of her knighte she founde him all plunged in extreme dollour vpon a felde bedd with more argumentes of death then likelihods of lyfe who whether he felte some sygnes of yll lucke by the secrett instigation of his hart whyche commonly preferres diuers conceites of feare when the minde is occupyed with dowte or whether the sorowefull countenance of the messenger dyd signefie her yll successe in hys sute or what it was I can not tell but as his neyghbour was entringe into the reporte of her aunswere he stopped her mouthe and preuented her meanynge with this exclamacion followyng What state is more wretched then he that lyueth dowtefull of hymselfe with dispaire of dispence from disquiett by any assistaunce of tyme or other mediator on his behalf who is wrapte in suche miserie or hath more cause to complaine then he to whom fortune hathe vowed a contynuaÌ„ce of her malice w tout hope to reclaime her fauor is there any pennance greater then to be punâ—shed w t continual passion or plage of more mortality then to consume by pecemeale in y e flame of languishyng dule Ah infortunat gentleman how vnhappelie art thou falleÌ„ froÌ„ the felicitie of a lyfe ful of pleasant libertie w t exchaung of thine auncient blysse for a tribute of tormentes more supportable then death how happie and thrysblissed was thy estate enioying the sweete maydenhedd of thy affection and vse of fredome without awe or controlement of any where now alas the touche of a contrarye experience yeldes me the effect of a thousande deathes without lycence notwithstandynge to dye whereby I sholde dismisse euerye plage that staieth the fattall desyer of my dyeng hart wherein hathe fortune this cause of displeasure againste me yf not that shée is disdainefull of the quiett whyche wee wretches fynde vppon earthe and suche an ennemye to the common contentement of vs all that only to manifest her power amongeste vs she vppon a soddaynes choake oure pleasant thurste and desyer of free lyfe wyth pilles of passions and annoyes of more bitter taste then any gall tempered with the moste stronge ruberbe that euer came oute of Alaxandria comittinge vs in th ende to a martirdome of more extremetie then the pange appointed by deathe to breake in peces the force and strengthe of the harte whereof who is a more familiar experience then the miserable Philiberto who in exchaunge of his former quiett and contentement of will hath coughte alas a captiuitie more cruell then he that is condemned to end his dayes in the bottom of a dongeon Ah madame how your countenance argueth the small regarde whyche Zylia hathe of my paine full well do I sée alas that she neyther maks accompte of my letters nor vseth pitie to my distresse and muche lesse giues any creditt at all to your honest frendeshipp whyche I confesse I haue greatelye abused in procuring you displeasure for the ease of my disquiett let loue beare the blame and I the iuste pennance of myne owne indiscrecion that so
was conuenient in a maide carefull of the garde of her honor wherein albeit her mother reaposyng indifferent credit in the vertue of theym both gaue leaue to her doughter to kepe hym companie yet as Aristotle affirmeth honesty doth not broke longe dalliance or wanton chatt in chast maydes w t the first that accoasteth theim w t conferēce in corners with any but suche as by consente of the church haue gott the power and possession of their bodie and is or oughte to be the one halfe or moytie of their mynde whiche albeit was thintente and desier of theis two louers yet y e simplicitie of their frendes deferring theffect wrought not only a breach of y e bargain but also sturred vp in her an humor of mortal spite against the sinceritie of her loyal seruāt who endewred y e reuēge of her vniust anger vnder a punishmēt of a most sharp long penance in deserts inhabitable vnknowē for in y e heate of this reciprocal loue betwene thies younglings it chaūced y t a meruellous faire and goodly gentle woman doughter of a greate lorde of the countrey called Forrando de la Sara vsyng familiarly the companie of Geniuera becam by that meanes extremely in loue with Dom Diego assayinge by publike and priuate meanes to imparte vnto hym what power and authoritye she woulde willingly giue hym ouer her harte yf for his part he would requite the sinceritie of her loue with semblable honor and affection wherein experiencynge the benefytt of all honest meanes seamyng any waye to fauour the effecte of her desyer considered at last that aboue all other exercises the knight tooke greatest pleasure in hawkes wherfore vnder coulor to make a breache into his fauour with assistyng the disposition of his delite she sente him one daye a tassell gentle as the chiefeste Iewell she had to presente hym withall excepte the offer of her owne good wyl wherein Dom Diego albeit he was wholly possessed by an other and with the losse of his libertie hadd also so departed wit his iudgement that he could not discerne thintente and honest zeale of the gentlewoman yet he accepted her presente and retorned the messenger with suche thankes as appertayned In the receiuing of this hawke appeared absolute showes of the euill fortune of the pore Diego which immediatly fayled not to thunder vppon hym without cōpassion for as he went often to visitt his mystres so he forgott not continually to cary this hawke vppon his fiste boastinge so farr vppon the goodnes of the birde that he chaunced in her presence to saye that it was one of the thinges in the worlde he helde moste deare Sewerly this wordes were sifted more nerely then there was cause and construed to other end then he mente them seinge that certeine dayes after in his absence deuising vppon his sondry vertues some commended his honeste and curteus behauior some gaue praise to his valyauntnes and dexteritie in armes some exalted in him the sondrye giftes of nature and passing further he was generallye preferred of all the companie for his sinceritie and constant dealynge in matters of loue sauing of one Graciano who rather enuyinge the vertue of the knight by malice then hable to deface y e leaste of his gyftes by reason ioyned with the reste in commendacion of his personage actiuitie and other dowries of nature but for his faith or care of promiss where loyaltye shoulde moste appere I accompte hym sayeth he so apte to dissemble and inconstante by nature that he vseth no difference of personnes in grounding his affections makynge no conscience to seame to languishe mortallye where he meaneth nothing lesse then firme constancie which touched Geniuera so neare that she coulde not giue place any longer to the sinister bable of Graciano desieringe hym to vse other tearmes touchinge the honestie of Dom Diego for saith she I am of opinion that he will rather passe vnder the sentence of any death then forfeyt the leaste pointe of his promise passed alreadie vnder the seale of his faith to a gentlewoman of this contrey besides his loue I knowe is so sincere and vpright that I dare pawne my lif on y e behalf of th assurāce There is the miste that dimmeth your eyes sayeth this cankarde ennemye of Diego for vnder the vaile of a periured loyaltie he abuseth the simplicitie of honeste Ladyes whereof I nede not go farr for a prooff nor you doubt much of the misterye if you conferr the circumstāce of his former profession towardes you with the presente ▪ league of frende shipp betwene him and the doughter of Dom ferrando de la Sara cōfirmed alredye by the gyfte of a tassell gentle which for her sake he estemeth aboue all the thinges in the world which last allegatiō restoring a remembrance of the words pronounced not longe ago by the knight touching the deare accompte he made of his hawke began to brede a suspicion of his constancie and an assured creditt in the information of thunhappie Graciano wherein swelling immediatly with her vniust collor incensed by a simple cold Ielowsie was forced to abandon the place retire into her chamber wher she gaue suche skoape to her synister conceite that she was vpon tearmes manye times to vse force againste her selfe whereunto she had added present dispatche if a hope to procure in time the reuenge of the wronge whiche she perswaded to haue receiued of her Diego had not staide th execution albeit she coulde not so gouerne her malicious disposition but the deadly hate conceiued in this moment against thinnocente gentleman did not onely supplante both stocke and roote of aunciente zeale on her parte but also grewe to suche mortalitie in her venemous stomake that she seamed not to delite so muche in the vse of her owne life as in desyer to take pleasure in the remembrance of the death of hym who no lesse innocent in the cause then ignorante of the grudge came the nexte mornynge as he was wonte to sée her hauing vppon his fiste by euill fortune the birde which bredd firste this mortall Ielowzye And as he satt deuisyng with her mother fyndinge a wante of thaccustomed companie of his mistres he asked where she was whereunto he was aunswered by one of her women that assone as she sawe hym enter the house she tooke her chamber all whiche he dissimuled by his wisdom imagininge the same to procede of some wanton fancie or coye conceite whereunto the most part of women are cōmonly incident so that when he sawe his time he tooke leaue of her mother departed meting by chaunce as he wente downe the steares of the hall one of the chambrieres or Gentlewomen of Geniuera whō he requested to kisse the hande of his mistres on his behalfe whiche she promised to performe hopinge to do a thinge no lesse acceptable to her mistres then to gaine thankes of him on whose behalfe she presented the curtesie Albeit as it is to
more of this gentleman theÌ„ in forgiuing the falte of thy false coÌ„tracte with thy last minion not only to forbeare to enter into suspicioÌ„ touching thy vnsemely ronnyng awaye with an vnknowen villeine but also crauing the guerdoÌ„ of his constancie is at point to sacrafice his life to appaise thy anger and yeld the contentment for end I aduise you to chaunge opinioÌ„ least I coÌ„mitt to as many morsels thy desloial body as this wofull knight not long since made bloddie deuision of his vnhappie hawke the only cause of his preseÌ„t distresse and by your owne folly ready to giue you a title of the most tyrannouse arrogant gentlewoman that is neither haue I begon this enterprise to leaue it vnperfecte or giue it ouer with this successe wherfore seynge you take pleasure in extremities I will fede your delite with the offer of loue or death wherof as I giue you the benefitt of the choice so I sweare vnto you by hym that is not ignorante of my intente that if you refuce the first you shall not faile in thys place to passe vnder the sentence of the last wherin my selfe will not feare to discharge thoffice of the fatall minister in embruyng my handes in the blood of her whose follie only causeth the death of one of my dearest frendes Thies threates dismayed nothing the malicious Geniuera nor abated any parte of her presumptuouse arrogancie for who had sene the fyerie regardes of her eyes the knittynge of her browes whettyng of her teethe closinge her delicate fingars withe other braueries excedynge farre the simplicitie of suche tender yeres vnexperienced asyett in thassaltes and malice of an aduerse fortune wolde haue sayed shée hadd rather procured terrour to Roderico then giuen place to his fearefull offer or somounce of loue or death defyenge also the rigour of his authoritie with thies tearmes Lyke as thowe kaitife knighte sayeth she he that is once thorough bathed in the suddes of ynnocente blodde is so fleshed and hardened in villenie that no acte of detestation seames any synne to hym So it is no merueile if thowe whyche haste committed vnnaturall slaughter of one whose true vertue exceded the flatterynge fame of thy renowne and gaue no place to the integretie of life arte not without feare to committ me to the same guide leaste in sufferynge me to liue thou couldest not auoyce the iustice whyche I am to procure vpon the iniury I haue receiued besides I am here readie to laye my heade vppon the blocke of execution rather then to giue the honour of my virginitie to any seinge the cursed handes haue depriued me of hym to whome bothe the trée and frute dyd only apperteine neyther do I tremble in the remembrance of the stroke of deathe howe cruell so euer it appere for that I shall the rather stande affore the troane from whence is graunted all vengaunce to suche wretches as thou arte ha God seing thou arte righteouse why doste thou not thonder iustice vpon the wronge which thies outlawes haue don thy ynnocente hande mayde Ah traitor Roderico perswade thy selfe that thou canste not offer me so cruell a deathe as I am moste readye to endure the tormente hopynge the same shall serue hereafter as the only cause and meane of thindifferent destructiou of thy selfe and hym for whom thou trauellest thus in vaine here her woman and page began to perswade her to pitie on the behalfe of the knighte that suffred such passion for her sake with consente to the honeste requestes of Roderico solicitynge her so frankelye towchynge thextremities of theym both that she entred into tearmes of reprehencion againste their honeste meanynge will you saieth she be eyther enchaunted with the fayned teares of this deloyall who passioneth hym selfe vppon creditt or stande in awe of the tyrannouse threates of thys morder or whose villanie wyth couered face hathe taken awaye the lyfe of youre mayster Ah vnhappye girle that I am it is nowe alas that I feele the heauie handes of fortune whose malyce hathe not onelye putte me béetwene the handes of hym whome I hate no lesse then I haue already experienced his dyssembled loue but also in doublynge my mishap assaileth me with the sinister perswacions of my seruants coÌ„panioÌ„s of care who ought rather to allowe my resolucion in death then prefer motion in any sort touchinge my consente to requests of no less corruption then theim selues be infected who solicite in so bad a caâ—e Ah loue I proue to late alas thinfydelytie of thy promise fyndinge so bad a recompense for so dutifull obedience to yelde at thy sommonce and so slender defence for suche as commit theim selues faythfullye to the gouernmente of thy lore why sholde nature be more curius to frame vs of a more delicate molde tempered with a mettel of fragilitie then careful to leaue vs armour of resistance agaynste thassaltes of fortune for if I had not had a perle of flattering affection painted in my face I had not tasted y e beginning of a pleasure whose dollorous farewell for euer brings more cause of gréeff then thapprehencion at the first engendred parfecte contentment for beinge alas vppon the point to Sipp of the sugred cup wyth exspectacion to féede of the frute of my pleasant attainte Lo how traiterus loue serueth me with dishes of mortal annoye and in place of the deynties which others finde in the ende of their longe hope it is I that am presented with the banquet of al bitter confections which makes me heare resigne and declare my fatal testament vpon thinconstancye of that pleasante follye whom as I leaue at libertie to make hys gaine of others aswell as he hath dallied with me so I reioyce in thexchaunge of so great an euil for so present a consolacion as deathe in whom I hope to fynd no lesse contentment and quiet then the other hath assailed me with diuersatie of passion Retire oh cursed mishap to th ende that dyenge by thy meanes I may liue without the in thother worlde wherein place of a thousand annoyes which yf I shold consente to longer life thou hast yet to thonder vpon me I shal be sewer of eternall reapose norished with thinuisible foode whych god ympartes to hys Angels and soules assistinge his heaueÌ„ly paradise Come deathe and do thyne office vpon thys wretched girle who attendes the sharpnes of thy darte to preuente the â—earcinge arrowes of myne aduersarye Ah poore harte deuoyde of hope am desperate touching the consommacion of thy desyers ceasse hensfurth to wishe the fruytion of longer tearme seinge destenie loue and lyf are determined to dysmisse me here hence to sewe for peace elswhere and embrase the ghost of hym whose lif was sacrafized to the deloyaltie of thys wretche who also for his parte not satisfyed with the blod of ynnocencye takes no compassion vpon my teares which I wishe to distyll by suche abundance that in ouerflowing the vital paxtes in me he might sée me perishe in his
battaill or combatt of experienced knyghtes then an exercise of delicate youth not yet accustomed to beare the burden of armour and lesse acquainted with the trauell of warr wherewith aswell inconsideracion of the present towardnes in the wydowes son with corage to contynue hys trade so well begon as also to féede the hope and showe of his future vertue he was admitted the nexte mornynge into the order of knigthode inuested with the coller of sainte Andrewe and other ceremonies of spaine by the hande of the sayde Philipp who after he had fulfilled the date of his aboue at Barcelonia pursewed his iorney towardes Castile leauyng our newe knyghte Dom Diego reioysinge not a litle in his presente honor ymparted vnto him by his prince retiring with the newes of his good fortune to his owne possession and liuing more to performe tharrerages of his dutie to his mother whom the hadd not sene of longe tyme then with intente to make longe staye there or enter into delite with the pleasures y t be in the contrey wherof notwithstanding he receiued so sewer a taste that his captiuitye in the ende exceded euerye waye in greatnes of greff the restrainte of libertie or other mislike or impedimente he founde at any tyme in the Citye like as also the Poetes haue ymagined that loue pitchinge his tentes in deserte places not apte to discouerye dothe discharge his dartes and arrowes in the thicket of woddes and forestes vppon the borde of the Sea or shaded fountaines and some tyme vppon the heighte of the highest hilles in the pursewte of the Nimphes of all sortes iudginge therby a libertie and moste sewer waye to treate vppon matters of loue without suspicion Ielousye enuie false reaporte synister opinion or common crye of the people to be in the wide and open feldes where they maie be bolde to communicate their mutuall passion without feare of witnesses enioyinge also the pleasures of all kinde of chasses whiche the champion doth norrishe with participacion of the chirpinge harmonie and naturall musicke of birdes and somtime the delitefull noise of sondrye pleasante chanels and siluer streames qualyfyinge in their kinde the vehemencie of their languishinge greeffe and recordinge also with greate ceremonie the firste place of their amarus enteruiew or acquaintance arguynge thereby treble felicitie to suche as abandonynge the sondrie annoyes attendynge continuall abode in the Citie do resort to the pleasant lawndes in the contrey to yelde tribute of their studies to the muse wherunto they be most affected So Dom Diego beinge at hoame loued enterely of his mother serued with all dutifull obedience of his subiectes and seruantes after his ordinarie howers of studie were passed vsed his chief pleasure in thexercise of y e felde I meane some tyme to dislodge the great and loftie hart to dresse the toiles to entrapp the wilde boare and some tyme to trye the goodnes of his hawke with the mayne winge of the hearon or fearefull partridge in the stuble feldes or valleys inuyroned with huge hills wherein one daie amoÌ„gest the rest hunting the wilde goate whiche he had forced from his habitation of the high and craggie rockes he sawe launsing afore hym a harte whiche his dogges had rozed and so hoatly purse wed that to his iudgemente he seamed more then halfe spente wherewith aswell for the pleasure whiche the pastyme it selfe did offer hym as also to ease the traueile of his howndes he putt spurres to his horse forcinge hym to a mayne gallopp wherein he continued till his houndes loasynge the tracke of theyr praye were at defalte and hym selfe without the sighte and hearyng of all hys men wyth suche ignorance of the coste where he was that he knewe no readie waye of retourne to his companie and muche lesse the place where his fortune had put hym greuynge moste in this perplexitie that his horse beinge oute of breath refuced for wante of force to carye hym anye further wherfore after he hadd blowen diuers calls for his men without other aunswere then an Eccho of the woddes and waters he deuided his distresse into two pointes the one to demounte and ease the wearines of his horse the other to retire backe by the same path whyche broughte hym thither wherin his expectation was no lesse frustrate then hym selfe deceiued by the malice of his fortune for that meanyng to take the next way to his castell he mett with a contrarye pathe whiche after he had trauelled the moste parte of the afternoone broughte hym in the ende within the viewe of a stately house builded vppon the side of a hill whiche by certeine markes appearinge on thuttermoste partes of the house albeit argued the contrarie of his intente yet hearinge the bable of certeine hunters ymagininge the same to be his people drewe neare the place whiche discouered aboue his exspectacion A companie of strangers beinge certeine seruantes of the mother of GENIVERA whiche attended their mistres wyth a brase of younge greyhownds that had newlye â—â—â—â—ne a hare to deathe and beinge thus rencountred with this seconde misfortune he grewe also into tearmes of greater destresse then afore for that â—happroche of the nighte begynninge to expose shadoes of darknes vppon the earth by the departure of the son toke from hym all hope of other harbor then the offer of some hollowe trée or greene bedd vppon the grounde when lo thauncient Ladye discernynge betwene the viewe of her eye and regardes of the clowdes whiche hadd not yet cloased in the lyghte of the firmamente the shadowe of a man discendynge from the vppermost parte of a hil wyth his horse in his hande seamynge by his maiestie marching with the semblance of a prince to be some degrée of honor sente one of her men to knowe what he was who reatorned with aunswere accordynge to his demaunde wheruppon the Ladye wydowe with her faire doughter indifferently gladd of thapproche of theyr neyghbour whome albeit they neuer sawe yet fame had made theim partakers of his vertue renowme wente in solemne order to mete hym forgettynge no kynde of curteyse gretyng that belonged to the honor and estate of so noble a personage wherevnto he replied with thankes accordinge to the greatnes of the benefytt with addition that he founde hym selfe greatly in the fauor of fortune for that his painefull trauelle in wandryng so many howers had giuen hym at laste so fit an occasion to visitt the house whereunto he doubted not for his parte to confirme the league of frendshipp begon and happelye continued of longe time by his parentes and predecessours the Ladye whose longe absence from the courte had not diminished her grace in courtelike conference aunswered that if they haue greatest cause of contentements that gaineth the moste or if large benefittes require ample consideration it is she that ought to offer to fortune the sacrafize of thankesgeuinge for that she hadd brought her a guest no lesse deare then the life of her selfe and as welcome
as if the kynge of Spaine had don her the honor to visytt her castell whiche sturred vpp in hym a seconde offer of his seruice not onelye on her behalfe but also towardes the leaste ymppe deryued of her house wherewith Geniuera to assiste the contentement of her mother in the companye of the younge knighte with the pleasure she toke her selfe in his semelye conference craued in smylynge order a participacion in peculiar of the liberall offer whiche he exposed by generall tearmes to her mother and her whole house DOMDIEGO whiche had not yet exceded an ordinarie regarde in beholdynge the beautye of the younge Ladye founde cause in the misterye of her woordes to glaunce wyth more iudgement vppon her in suche sorte that at the instant he felt him self assailed with such soddaine alteration that his astonishment woulde not giue hym leaue to aunswere otherwayes then with a percynge glée of his eyes fedynge with firme contemplation vpon the freshe dye of white and red appearinge in all partes of her diuine face wherein also for a more decoracion of this wonderfull worke of nature thattire of her heade presented suche an artificiall deuise that it seamed she had the same daye some fore knowleage of the commynge of hym whome her beautye made prisoner and her crueltye enioyned a moste harde and longe penance for she had vppon the vttermoste parte of her heade a call or coronet of golde restynge vppon a wreath or garlande of flowers of sondrie coollors pletted by curious sleighte of the fingers within her enameled haires whiche couerynge one parte of her sholders dispersed theym selues also some time vppon her delicate forehead and some tyme wafynge vnpon her roasye chéekes accordyng to to the mylde breathe of the euenynge winde whiche gaue theym mouynge disposed theym selues with suche seamelye grace with increase to the beautye of her that ware theym that who had sene the porte and maiestie whiche nature ioyned to this rare worke woulde haue iudged that loue and the three graces had had no other place of harbor but in this pece of wonderful perfection At either of her eares hong two faire and riche orient perles whiche increased also the glée of her golden haires besides the large glistering forehead of this Nymphe whereupp on was sett a border of riche dyamondes founded vppon a frame of pure golde castynge suche pearcynge glymers to the beholders that it presented rather a ranke or order of shynynge starres when the elamente in the heate of the sommer is moste cleare exposynge beames of wonderful bryghtnes then an attire of a mortall creature whereuppon attended two sparklynge eyes assisted on eyther syde by an equall Simmetria or iuste proporcion with certeine knottes and borders of vaines of the coolor of azure with a special vertue to drawe and mortefie any harte made of the hardeste mettall that euer was yeldynge so liberallie their seruent beames that who so disposed hym selfe to contemplacion of thies two twinklyng starres was in no lesse daunger to loase the benefitt of hys sighte then in tymes paste wée reade certeine Philosophers became blinde vppon the mounte Olympium with continual regarde of the sonne to iudge the dispacicion of the heauens then appered her delicate nose aunsweringe in proportion the reste of her face deuidynge also her two chekes of the coollor of a fyne incarnatt resemblynge two rounde aples come alredie to the fulues of their maturitie nexte to the whyche succeded her courall mouthe breathinge a perfume more precious and sweete then any confection made of the Amber muske or other droge aromatike comynge oute of ARABIA and if some tyme she chaunced to disclose and open her lippes resemblyng in roundenes and collour two cheris in their full ripenes excedyng also the softnes of any thinge that euer was accompted delicate or tender there appered twoo rawes of perles of suche rare whitenes that thorient I say complayneth of wante of connynge to make comparison with the coullor of her téethe And so discending some what lower this Dyana discouered a necke whose complexion giueth cause of shame to the whitnes of the glorius lillie and makes blushe the pure allablaster her stomake also somewhat raised by two rounde and precius dugbugges of equall seperation was couered with a braue and softe vaile more tender then the thyn lawne whyche hyndred no waye the viewe of her trauellynge brestes panting and drawinge a pleasante breathe accordyng to the motion of thaffection whyche gouerned thinner partes of y e thoughtes of this earthlie goddesse who besydes all thys was assisted with a gyfte of suche naturall beautie bestowinge courteise regardes vppon all men accordyng to their indifferent meritt that the same made her no less worthie to bee honored and serued of the greatest princes of the worlde then the rarietie of her perfection restored her a merueile wonder to all menne whyche is a vertue farre from the moste parte of oure faire dames who glorienge in the glee of their beautie are moued I can not tell with what opinion of suche disdaine with desier to appere more perfecte then is necessarie that in sekyng to sette a fairer enamel of that whyche nature hathe made sufficientlye precious they do not only impaire the credit of renowme by suborned meanes of ymperfection of theym selues but also by their owne follye deface the glorie of that whyche sturreth vpp the chiefest cause of affection in men to do theym honor and seruice wherein as my purposse is not to discouer the doinges of any in such cases so I hope this allegation of a troth in couarte manner will defende me from the displeasures of suche as fynde theym selues infected with the humor of that follie wherwith in preferryng my integretie I wishe theym all as worthie as they are desierous to weare the badge of glorious beautie and so to Dom Diego whome I thynke you will iudge hadde sufficient cause of astonishement beynge so valyantlye assailed without thynkynge of suche an assalte wyth so stronge an armye as the beautie behauiour and princely shapp of this faire ympp and veraye nestcockle of nature eye I thynke that the moste sparynge pilgrym that euer vndertoke to mortefye hys bodye with painefull trauell in deuocion to anye sainte ▪ wolde haue renounced his vowe and caste a waye bothe skripp and staff to haue donne honour to so faire an obiecte as the beautie of this nymphe and I doubte whether she moste assured and staide Philosopher of olde tyme wolde haue made any conscience to forsake his profession of contemplacion of naturall thinges with iudgemente of thelamentes to haue disposed him selfe and skil to the seruice of so rare a perfection I thynke also that if the doughter of Mynos hadd bene fauored with semblable beautie and blyssed with equall giftes and grace of this Ladie that her Hipolites wolde haue lefte the shippe and dogges of Dyana to haue pursued the quest of so diuiue a misterye as appeared in all partes of this Geniuera