quarrels among the kindred occupieth all the neighhours with slander so the for the most part these forced mariages engendereth sorrowes for the maried disquietnesse to both their friends kindred but which stil renueth griefe the scandal of enemies endeth in neither of their wretchednesse This being said little auayled the further proofes of the contrarie part so ful was the crie Fie of forcement in mariage so that to paint out the inconueniences therof in his proper colours Quéene Aurelia commanded Faliero to confirme his sufficient reasons with the discourse of some rare Historie Whose commandement he willingly satisfied and reported as followeth The History in the reproch of forced Mariage reported by Faltero IN the famous Cittie of Cirene in Affrick dwelled sometims a rich Marchant named Tryfo This Tryfo had a welthy neighbour called Clearches who of long time entertained one another with a neighbourly affection Tryfo to inherite all his liuings had but one onely Sonne named Sicheus and Clearches one onely Daughter called Elisa The parents to establish as they imagined an euerlasting amitie between their houses concluded a mariage for their vnfortunate Children making no doubt but that they would as well inherite their affections as their liuings of which there was hope enough if the order had béene as good to establish their Lone as the haste great to solemnize the Mariage for that in their persons appéered no signe of disagréement nor in their abilities cause of exception but loue that beholdeth no more quicknesse in a Diamond then in a dym Saphyre though he take impression by sight Loue rooteth by contemplation rooteth in contemplation which deuine exercise of the soule smally delighteth gréene youth who intertain their thoughts with a thousand vaine fancies but to my purpose The Mariage day drew néere and as at the very push of Battell the wise Captain animateth his Souldiers with some plausible oration euen so the night before the Mariage Tryfo schooled his sonne Sicheus with this following aduertisement My good sonne quoth he so great are the follies of men Aduise to a booteles purpose and so cunning the deceits of women as they most especially the yonger sort will credite their lookes without looking into their liues beléeue their words and lightly regarde their workes delight to recount their entertainments and disdaine to reckon their shrewde paiments For as the sick patient comforted with the Phisitions woords leaues to examine the qualities of his receites Euen so the wretched louer cured with the yéelding of his beautifull Mistres Loue yeelds neither to wit strength nor learning with negligence both ouerlooks his own benefite and her behauiour Salomon was deceiued Sampson subdued Aristotle derided and Hercules murthered by the illusions of errant honest women King Demetrius notwithstanding he was both wise and valiant An extreame affection was so bewitched with the wyles of the notorions strumpet Lamia as in open Schooles he raised disputations whether the loue he bare Lamia or the Iewels he bestowed vpon her were the greater or whether her merite excéeded them both or no. Yea when she dyed he caused her to be entombed vnder his bed Chamber window to the ende that with dayly teares he might worship her engraued bones who liuing was of him intirely beloued If the wisest and the worthiest be thus ouertaken in their affections what easie baites may beguile thée who in yéeres art yong of substance delicate and lustie and therefore apt to loue ready in conceit and of consideration vnperfect hotte in desire and in discretion colde My sonne by experience I know and to prenent thy ouerlikely mischaunce in choyce I haue chosen thée a wife faire to please thée rich to continue loue her Parents my assured fréends and she thy affected louer loue her well beare with her insmall faults as a woman and the weaker and bridle thy owne euill affections as a man her head and gouernour and in thus dooing God will multiply his blessings vpon you and make your aged Parents to die in peace to sée you liue in prosperitie Yong Sicheus regarded his Fathers tale as Schollers doe their Tutors who giuing them leaue to play admonisheth them with all to kéep good rule which they promise and perferme the contrary With the like affection Sicheus embraced mariage He was not so soone weary of dallying with his wife as he was ready to entertaine a Harlot so that in short space he became a common Louer and a carelesse Husband and withall grew as arrogant in defending his liberty The title of Mariage maketh youth arrogant as dissalute in his actions and behauiour If his fréends did gently aduise him he was of age to counsell himselfe if his Parents did sharpely reprehend him he would impudently aunswere he was past correction if his Wife found her selfe agréeued with his hard vsage she might well complaine but he would take no time to amend so that his dayly actions of euill tooke away all after hope of wel doing insomuch as he became odious to his fréends that beheld his lewde inclination and a plague vnto his Wife who was dayly oppressed with his monstrous vices So that the ouercharge of sorrow made her many times passage for these and such like passions O vnhappy and ouer hastie Mariage which in the pride of my youth with discontentments makest me resemble a faire Figge trée Abuse of good things worke euill effectes blasted with the after colde of an vntimely Spring but why blame I Mariage which is honourable alas because the abuse of good things worke euill effectes Roses vnaduisedly gathered prick our hands Bées vngently vsed sting our faces yet the one pleasant and the other profitable so that if there come any euill of that which is good our folly or fortune is cause thereof Ay me That which is blessing to one may be a curse to an other when I was married I was too yong to be a wife and therfore haue no reason to exclaime on folly But fortune fowle fall shée which coursest me with curses in possessing me with those things which others holde for blessings Wealth that bestoweth pleasures on many is the originall of my woe Mariage which giueth liberty to many inlargeth my Fetters and demaundeth death for my raunsome Beauty that aduaunseth many is to me a disgrace for that inioying her forme Carelesnes of the husband breedeth in the wife I am of Sicheus not fantasied of whom euery foule and common Trull is beloued But therein Fortune thou doost me no wrong for my hate towards him ouerpoyseth his light regarde of me O but my hart is continually afflicted with his euil and his finger neuer akes with my malice Yea Choller is soone quieted but forbearāce increaseth malice but Forbearance edgeth the swoord of Reuenge when Choller though it often strikes it wounds not much Raine falleth euery where yet beateth but the leaues the thunder Boult lighteth in one place but yet teareth
she comprehendeth in her thrée dignities to wit Intendment Wit and Memorie And as the sonne is ingenered of the Father Three dignities of the soule and the holy Ghost procéedeth from both euen so Will is ingendered of Intendment and Memorie procéedeth from both and as the thrée persons of the Trinitie are but one GOD so the thrée powers of the soule are but one soule and in that man is created in this sort Man is formed straight because he should behold heauen and contemplate on great matters according to the Image of God because he should resemble his creator in excellencie hee is formed straight and not curbed to behold the earth not thereby to shew a difference betwéene him and other brute Beastes but only because he should rayse his spirite and heaue his eyes to heauen his originall to contemplate of diuine and durable thinges and not of earthly and such as perishe And sure the Monuments that to this day renowme heathē Alexander Iulius Caesar Scipio Haniball and many other stout warriours Plato Pythagoras Socrates Solon and many thousand graue Philosophers were the exercises of the soule who in her function is alwayes occupied to make men shine like Angels And doubtlesse the exploits of man would be wonderfull and glorious Three euils or defects of the body were not the passages of the thrée powers of the soule Intendment Will and Memorie stopped with these thrée euils or defects of the body Ignorance of that which is good Couetousnes of that which is euil and the Infirmitie and languor of the body These be the euils that eclipse the excellencie of many who other wise would appeare more glorious then the Sunne Moone Starres and Christall Firmament into whose motions reuolutions and influences his knowledge foreséeth or the earth with all her fayre furniture which he gouerneth and therefore he is called Microcosmos for that in excellencie he egalleth the beauty of the whole worlde Sir quoth Soranso you haue enchaunted my eares with such a pleasing regarde as if you were as tedious in discourse as I would be attentiue in hearing we should both lose our dinners without any great repining but in adnantage I beséech you what may bee the remedie of these thrée euils which thus obscure the excellencie of man Thrée soueraigne remedies quoth Ismarito to witte Three remedies against the 3. euils of the body Wisedome Vertue and Necessitie which to chase the other thrée euils are thus ordered Wisdome against Ignorance Vertue against Vice and Necessitie agaynst Infirmitie Wisdome is to be vnderstoode according to the condition of the things wherein we be ignorant Vertue is an habite of the soule which without great difficultie cannot be shaken out of his place and subiect By Necessitie The original of al Artes and Sciences absolutely is intended a supplie against those wants with which Infirmity hath charged vs as if we be lame to haue horse to ride if we be sicke to haue medicine if our bodies be weake to haue nourishing meates c. And by these thrée remedies all Artes and Disciplines haue béene inuented to acquire Wisdome Theorique which is contemplatiue Theorique and consists in these thrée partes Practise Theologie Phisicke and Mathematique was found for Vertue Practise which is actiue and deuided Mechanichall craftes into Solitarie Priuate and Publike was put in vse And for Necessitie all Mecanicall craftes were inuented These thrée vertues if we imbrace them will chase the other thrée both out of our body soule and remembrance You haue giuen me a short swéete reason quoth Soranso And a long remēbrance of my weak vnderstanding quoth Ismarito but for that I haue made this Sermon vpon your importunitie your courtesie I hope will pardon me as well as your wisedome will correct my errours I had thought Ceremonies had béen in disgrace Curtesie is commēdable but superfluous sauours of flatterie among you Englishmen quoth Soranso but I finde you superstitious in courtesie and therefore will take no example by you but let it suffice I am your friend and will deserue this fauour in any resonable seruice By this time Dinner was ready to bée set vpon the Boorde and Quéene Aurelia came agayne vnto the open view whose presence was as welcome vnto the generall company as the cleare Sunne after rough stormes to the wether-wearied Saylour After she had acquited the courteous salutations of the whole troup she first took her place then the rest as they pleased or were accustomed At this Dinner there passed much pleasant Table talke impertinent for this reporte which being done at the accustomed houre Quéene Aurelia sent for the chosen cōpany who placed in the drawing chamber the Eunuch knowing his charge tuned his Lute and sung this following Sonet WHo prickles feares to pluck the louely Rose By my consent shall to a Nettle smell Or through faint heart who dooth a Lady lose A droyle I wish or to leade Apes in Hell On Thornes no Grapes but sowre Slowes do growe So from base loue a base delight doth flowe Then minde crowne thou my thoughts aboue the skie For easie gaynde the Conquest is not sweete My sancy swift with Icarus wings doth flie Yet fastned so as fire and frost may meete For pleas'd am I if hope returne but this Grace is obtaynde thy Mistresse hand to kisse A Grace indeede far passing all the ioy Of egall loue that offereth wish in will For though her scorne and light regard annoy Despaire of grace my fancie cannot kill For why this ioy all passions sets in rest I dayly see my mistresse in my brest Whoso inuented this Sonet quoth Quéene Aurelia deserueth to be well fauoured of his Mistresse in that hee kept her so carefully in his bosome Nay quoth Dondolo if his eyes were so subtil as absent he could sée her behauiour his affection were more dangerous then his seruice necessary We giue you to know quoth Isabella that we wey not though our Husbands a hundred miles off know our behauiours at home I thinke so quoth the playne Doctor for so farre off they may sigh at their owne mischance but not chasten your amisse Perchance they should not be charged with such iniurie as this company should be quoth Maria Belochi if we would offer to answere your enuious suggestions Ladies I speak not with intent quoth Soranso to make a question of your behauiours but admit you of al creatures the most perfect yet for that you haue motions as wel bad as good you may many times make shew of euill and yet not doe amisse which if your husbands be so quick sighted as to perceiue they will iudge by their owne eyes and not by your heartes and so from shadowes may growe euill effects If their sight bée so quicke quoth Francheschina Sancta then though by anegligent trespas their wiues sometime giue them cause to sigh with a number of louing vsages they will giue them dayly occasion of reioycing I graunt as much quoth Soranso but this will follow The euil of Ielousie the Husband will turne his owne mistrust to his Wines sorrow and receiue her good vsage
but a Goddesse here on earth and Iuno is Quéene of Heauen Dianaes force is in her Bow and Arrowes Iuno bestoweth Thunderbolts vpon her enemies Diana is attired with gréene leaues and Iuno with glorious Starres Diana féedeth on rawe fruites and drinketh colde water Iunoes Feastes are of Manna and her bowles are fild with Nectar Dianaes musick is no better then the voyces of a few Nimphes Iuno is recreated with the harmony of Angels Dianaes pastime is a foote to chace the fearefull Roe where Iuno in Phaetons winged Chariot pursueth a thousand seuerall pleasures then by how much the pomp of Iuno excéedeth the naked Triumphs of Diana by so much Mariage must néedes be more worthy then the Single life Lucia Bella that should haue answered Aluisa Vechio not vnlike the Marigolde that closeth her Beauty when Phoebus is attired with his brightest rayes so admired the glory of Iuno Vaine glorious shewes bewitcheth women that as an inchaunted creature her tongue forgot her naturall office the reason was her hart was sodenly surprised with an ambitious desire of honor Which change Ismarito perceiued with the first and least her silence should conclude a yéelding All is not golde quoth he that glistereth Contentment neither followeth the greatest nor scorneth the meanest nor euery thing counterfet that is not curiously garnished a smiling countenance is no ful testimony of a merry hart nor costly Garments of a rich Purse And perchaunce the griefe of Iunoes secret discontentments is greater then the delight of her glorious pomp where Diana who as a Diamond in the darke shineth of her selfe néedeth not the Ornaments of Iuno And as she is simply of a pure substance so her thoughts must néedes be swéet and quiet Sir quoth Maria Belochy our soundest iudgements are of those things that we our selues sée therefore if the apparance of Mariage be worthier thâ—n the apparance of the single life if sentence be truly pronounced it must be in the behalfe of Iuno Quéene Aurelia pâ—rceiuing the increase of Ismaritos aduersaries for who can stop a streame measure the sire weigh the winde or hinder Fancies passages and with all considering how that the controuersie was sufficiently debated commanded the contenders to kéepe silence and referred the question to be iudged by Fabritio and Isabella Who hauing aduisedly considered the reasons on both sides agréed that a single chast life pleased God because Chastity is pure and also delighteth man because shee quieteth the minde but a chast maried life both pleaseth and honoreth God because Mariage hourely presenteth the worlde with the Image of himselfe pleaseth and profiteth man because she giueth him a companion by affection changed into his owne disposition of whom he hath children who in despight of death preserueth him aliue And therefore the sentence of them both was pronounced by Fabritio Sentence giuen in the behalfe of mariage in the behalfe of Mariage who withall enlarged her prayses with the report of many swéete Blessings which she liberally bestoweth vpon her Subiects But lest the company should haue béen fired with too hasty a desire of Mariage hee cooled their affections with such caueats as they that had their voyces ready tuned to sing the prayses of God Hymen were of the sodayne as mute as a fish by reason whereof Fabritio had frée passage for his counselling reporte who after many wordes to either purpose deliuered concluded with the opinion of Plato That Mariage was a paradise on earth Platoes opinion of Mariage if her Lawes be obserued and a Hell in the House where her Statutes are broken The Gentlewomen wist not what to say to Fabritios bitter-swéete commendation of Mariage vntill Bargetto quickned their tongues by this pleasant suggestion Pleasant talk is good phisâ—â—k for sorrowe If quoth he Platoes opinion be law by the same reason women are either Angels or Diuels And why not men as well as women quoth Isabella whose dispositioÌ„ beareth the greatest sway in this vocation I will shew you a reason quoth Doctor Mossenigo men with a meane can temper their passions The extreame passions of a woman when a woman hath no measure in her loue nor mercy in her hate no rule in her pittie nor piety other reuenge no iudgement to speak nor patience to diffemble and therefore she is likened vnto the Sea A Gundelo is a little Boate like a wherry which one while is so milde as a smal Gundelo indureth her might and anon with outrage she ouer whelmeth the tallest ship Ah master Doctor quoth Katharina 〈◊〉 I feare me you are so learned Hien sometimes a man and somtimes a woman as like the Hyen you change your selfe sometimes into the shape of a womaÌ„ but yet of this malitious purpose to learne their dispositions only to reproch their kind but had any of vs the cunning to become a man but a while I imagin we should euer after loue that better to be a woman You haue rather cause quoth Dondolo to let master Doctor kisse your hand for commending your kinde then to blame him by a surmise of iniurie offered vnto women for if there be a few good they couer the faults of a number that are euill as a little golde guildeth a great quantity of iron and for any thing he sayd you haue as generall an interest in vertue as in vice Yea but quoth Quéene Aurelia he is to be blamed for his intent The intent of euill is to be punished which was euil and deserueth not to bee praysed for the good which came of it which was our merite Madame quoth the Doctor so much greater is the good you receiue by my Trespasse as thereby you are honoured with the vertue to forgiue Yea Pardon is to be vsed in ignorant and not in wilful faults but quoth she remission is to bee vsed in ignorant offences and not in wilfull My habite quoth he is a testimonie that I spake not of malice So much quoth she the greater is your fault in that it procéeded vpon pleasure The punishment of great offenders doth most good in examples and where you think to priuiledge your selfe by your habite for example sake you shall at open Supper bath renounce your heresie and make satisfaction or abide the Iudgement of these Gentlewomen If there be no remedie quoth he I must obey The Doctor thus taken tardie gaue occasion of laughter vnto the whole company Which blowne ouer quoth Soran so we haue trauayled this day to an vnfortunate end for that now towards night we are entered into an open Champion where we find many broad wayes to Hell and but one crosse path to heauen Well quoth Quéene Aurelia we will take other times to beate out the true passage And least wee be lated wée will no further to day Whereupon after a courtly reuerence done Quéene Aurelia with her Attendantes shewed her selfe in the great Chamber where she might repose her mind with the choice of
of words both gréeueth the reporter and giueth meane for a thousand sighes to break from the hearer where affected circumstances giue a grace to a pleasant tale Sorrowes causeth silence Sorow to heare their kinde thus stained with crueltie locked vp the tunges of the poore Gentlewomen a pretie while In the end quoth Aluisa Vechio We are bound to shew aswell the cause as to punish the euill a dame more olde and bolde then the rest me séemeth that Faliero hath but little fauored Elysa for he hath showen her euill and the scourge of her euill and in charitie he was bound to shew the cause of her euill I would quoth Doctor Mossenigo that Frier Bugiardo had heard this disputation Good moralitie is better then euill doctrine it might haue béen the breking down of the Altar whereupon he but lately committed blasphemy it would haue more reformed him thē his pleasing Sermon could haue confirmed vs. These aduantages the Doctor tooke to crosse the Gentlewomen his late open enemies There is no trusting of a reconciled enemie and but now his fained fréends not vnlike a sneaking dog that neuer barkes but bites withall And to spite them the more quoth he Monsier Bargetto since you are bound from speaking of loue you haue both cause and oportunitie to talk of womens hate Pardon me quoth Bargetto for this penance was but a due paine for my presumption The example of a naughty nature which I hope to ouercome with patient suffering and sure in this milde answere Bargetto shewed a morall vertue A necessary note and Doctor Mossenigo by his malicious question a canckred nature for simply to offend procéedeth of frailtie but to perseuer in euill is a note of wilfull frowardnesse Well notwithstanding Bargettos temperance a Cauiller caught hold vpon this question as a Mastiue vpon an old dry Marybone A Cauiller hath colours for euery question and to proue a womans hatred more greater then her loue he auouched many cruell authorities But Faliero who had done them some initirie in reporting the late history made them part of amends and put their aduersarie to silence in prouing the contrary his reason was that their hate in the extremest degrée stretched but to the death of an other and their loue many times hath done wilfull murder vpon them selues Then it followeth Womens loue is more great then their hate by how much we prise our selues aboue an other by so much their loue is greater then their hatred Yea quoth the Doctor but their loue and hatred are both violents Women do amis but men are the cause and euery violent is an euill Yea Master Doctor quoth Maria Belochy their euils are the greater for men for by their flattering inchauntments women loue immoderately and stung with mens vnsufferable iniuries they hate mortally The Doctor replyed Beauty ouercommeth the wisest there was more power in her looks then authority in her words but least he should be subdued by the one he would not contend with the other Why quoth Quéene Aurelia beauty works no more impression in a Doctors eye then doth poyson in Mineruas shéelde for he by Philosophy can subdue affection Madame quoth he you may well compare beauty and poyson together EVRIPIDES comparison between beauty and loue for their operations are alike saue that beauty is the more extreame in that she infects with her looks and poyson not vnlesse we taste it or when it is most strong not vnlesse we touch it yea Euripides compareth her inchauntment with the inticements of a kingdome whereas he saith IN these two things a Kingdome to obtaine Or else to worke the faire to their will So sweetly tastes the grace of either gaine As men ne dread their freends with foes to kill The reason is controlement shrinkes the place Whereas a King as soueraigne Iudge doth sit In loue because that reason lackes his grace For to restraine the selfe conceits of wit So that God knowes in danger stands his life That is a King or hath a fayre wife To deale in Princes affayres the company was too gréene but in beauties behalfe there was neither Gentleman nor Gentlewoman that was not desirous to bee reuenged of the Doctors detraction for he that hath a slaunderous tongue iniurieth many Slander is generally hated and is himselfe hated of all men but for that it was now too late to decide any other great question Quéene Aurelia adiourned the ending of any controuersie vntill the next day The Deuice of the second Nights Mask BY a secret foreknowledge of a Maske with which Soranso Bargetto Ismarito and others purposed to honor Segnior Philoxenus and his companie supper was hastened and soone ended and after the one had saluted the other with an accustomed reuerence while the rest of the Gentlemen entertained Time with dauncing or deuising with their mistresses the Maskers withdre with themselues about nine of the clock in this disguise presented themselues agayne A Consort of swéete Musicke sounded the knowledge of their comming the Musitians in Gyppons and Venetians A Gentleman is not to show his passions by his attire of Russet and Black Taffata bended with Murrey and thereon imbrodered this Posie Spero Timeo Taceo expressing thereby the sundry passions of Loue and before them two Torchbearers apparelled in Yellow Taffata Sarcenet the generall apparell of the Maskers was shorte Millaine Clokes Dublet and Hose of Grêene Satten bordered with Siluer Greene silke stockes White Scarpines Rapyers and Daggers Siluered Men in mary case are to be priuiledged for another merit Blacke Veluet Cappes and White Feathers They agréed to be thus attyred to shewe themselues frée in the eye of the world and couertly bound vnto their mistresses Ismarito for courtesie sake because he was a straunger and withal in that his Mistres was the most honourable had the leading of this Maske who lighted with a torch by his Page apparelled in Blew Carnation and White Taffata the colours of his Mistres Ventoy a Fan. entered with a Ventoy in his hand made like an Ashe tree wrethed about with Iuy expressing this poesie Te stante virebo with which vpon fit opportunitie he presented Quéene Aurelia his Mistresse within which were couertly hid these verses in English Italion TWo Soueraigne Dames Beauty and honestie Long mortal foes accorded are of late And now the one dwels in my Mistresse eye And in her heart the other keepes her state Where both to shew the vertue of this peace To garnish her make ryot of their Grace In her fayre eye Dame Beauty doth increase A thousand Gleames that doe become her face And with her heart thus doth the other deale She lowly seemes and mounts through chast disdayne So that her thrals doo serue with honest zeale Or fearing blame doe yeelde vnto their paine The heauenly soules enuies the earths renowne Such giftes diuine in humaine shape to see And Ioue stil moues a
not other Fryers vsed milde and plawsible requests in his behalfe they would surely haue buried him aliue for threatning increaseth a tumult whē faire words may peraduēture stay it The poore Fryer discharged from the hands of these vngentle people learned afterwardes to be more warie but for al this punishmēt was nothing the honester For among men of his Habit remayneth an opinion that the faultes which the Worlde séeth not God punisheth not After the company had well laughed at Fryer Ingannoes penance Quéene Aurelia asked master Doctor the Archdetracter of Women how many such stories he had read of the religious Dames None quoth he that hath béen so sorely punished but of a number that haue as highly trespassed What quoth Helena Dulce by such subtil practises Men offend subtilly women simply No quoth the Doctor but through simple affection Well quoth Aluiso Vechio their euils are written in their foreheads Womens euils are writ in their foreheads that slanderous mens tongues may reade and inlarge them And your great euils are buried in the bottome of your heartes that vnlesse the Diuel meane to shame you the world knoweth not how to blame you Mens faults lie hid in their hearts This was the Gentlewomens day wherefore the ciuill Gentlemen would not offer to crosse them much so that following their aduantage A ciuil curtesie in a Gentlemā Madame quoth Isabella with your fauour and patience I will reporte an Historie that open such a haynous trecherie done by a man as shal take away all possibility from a woman to commit so impious an Act. Quéene Aurelia willed her to procéede and the whole cōpany séemed to be attentiue whereupon Isabella reported as followeth The rare History of Promos and Cassandra reported by Madame Isabella AT what time Coruinus the scourge of the Turkes This history for rarenes thereof is liuely set out in a Comedy by the reporter of the whole worke but yet neuer presented vpon stage raygned as King of Bohemia for to well gouerne the Cities of his Realme he sent diuers worthy Magistrates Among the rest he gaue the Lord Promos the Lieutenantship of Iulio who in the beginning of his gouerment purged the Citie of many auncient vices and seuerely punished new offenders In this Citie there was an olde custome by the suffering of some Magistrates growen out of vse that what man soeuer committed Adultery should lose his head A hard lawe for incontinent persons the womā offender shuld euer after be infamously noted by the wearing of some disguised apparell For the man was helde to be the greatest offender and therefore had the seuerest punishment Lord Promos with a rough execution reuiued this Statute and in the highest degrée of iniurie brake it himselfe as shall appeare by the sequell of Andrugioes aduentures This Andrugio by the yéelding fauour of fayre Polina trespassed against this ordinance who through enuie was accused by Lorde Promos condemned to suffer execution The wofull Cassandra Andrugios Sister prostrates her self at Lord Promos féete and with more teares then words thus pleaded for her brothers life Most noble Lord and worthy Iudge vouchsafed me the fauour to speake whose case is so desperate as vnlesse you beholde mée with the eyes of mercie the frayle trespasse of condemned Andrugio my Brother will be the death of sorrowfull Cassandra his innocent Sister I wil not presume to excuse his offence or reproch the Law of rigor for in the generall construction Lawe adiudgeth by the generall offēce hée hath done most euill and the Law hath iudged but what is right But reuerent Iudge pardon that necessitie maketh me here tell that your wisdome already knoweth The most Soueraigne Iustice is crowned with Laurell although she be girt with a Sword And this priuiledge she giueth vnto her Administrators that they shall mitigate the seueritie of the Law Iustice is more renowmed by lenitie then seueritie according to the qualitie of the offence Then that Iustice be not robbed of her gratious pittie listen good Lord Promos to the nature of my Brothers offence and his able meanes to repayre the iniurie He hath defiled no nuptiall Beb the stain whereof dishonoureth the guiltlesse Husband He hath committed no violent Rape In which Act the iniured maid can haue no amends But with yéelding consent of his Mistresse Andrugio hath onely sinned through Loue and neuer ment but with Mariage to make amendes I humbly beséech you to accept his satisfaction A good cause to moue pittie and by this Example you shal be as much beloued for your clemencie as feared for your seueritie Andrugio shal be well warned and he with his Sister wofull Cassandra shall euer remaine your Lordships true Seruants Promos eares were not so attentiue to heare Cassandras ruethful tale as his eyes were settled to regarde her excellent Beauty And Loue Loue fauoureth no degree that was appoynted Headsman of Andrugio became nowe the Soueraigne of his Iudges thought But because he would séeme to bridle his passions he answered fayre Damsel haue patience you importune me with an impossibilitie he is condemned by Lawe then without iniurie to Lawe he cannot be saued Princes prerogatiues are aboue Law Princes and their Deputies Prerogatiues quoth shée are aboue the Lawe Besides Law truelie construed is but the amends of iniurie and where the fault may be valued and amends had The true intét of the Law the breach of the law is sufficiently repayred Quoth Lord Promos your passions mooueth more then your proofes and for your sake I will repréeue Andrugio A good turne vpon an euill cause and studie how to doe you ease without apparant breach of Law Cassandra recomforted Authority in euil Magistrates is a scourge vnto the good with humble thankes receiued his fauour and in great hast goeth to participate this hope with her dying Brother But oh that Authoritie should haue power to make the vertuous to doe amisse as well as through correction to inforce the vicious to fall vnto goodnesse Promos is a witnes of this priuiledge who not able to subdue his incontinent loue and withall resolued that Cassandra would neuer be ouercome with fayre wordes A monstrous request large promises or rich rewards demaunded the spoyle of her Virginitie for raunsome of her Brothers libertie Vnlesse they be reprobate good example may reforme the wicked Cassandra imagined at the first that Lord Promos vsed this spéech but to trie her behauiour Answered him so wisely as if he had not béen the Riuall of vertue he could not but haue suppressed his lewde Affection and haue subscribed to her iust petition But to leaue circumstances Promos was fiered with a dicious desire which must be quenched with Cassandraes yéelding loue or Andrugio must die Cassandra moued with a chast disdaine departed with the resolution rather to dye her selfe then to stayne her honour And with this heauie newes gréeted her condemned
Brother poore man alas what should hee doe Life was swéet but to be redéemed with his sisters Infamie could not but be alwayes vnsauerie To perswade her to consent was vnnaturall to yéelde to death was more grieuous To choose the least of these euils A hard choice of two euils was difficult to studie long was dangerous Fayne would he liue but shame closed his mouth when he attempted to perswade his Sister But Necessitie that mastreth both shame feare brake a passage for his imprisoned intent Swéete Cassandra quoth he that men loue is vsual but to subdue affection is impossible and so thorny are the motions of incontinent desire The force of necessitie as to finde ease the tongue is only occupied to perswade The purse is euer open to entice and where neither words nor Giftes can corrupt with the mighty force shall constraine The force of Loue. or dispight auenge That Promos doe loue is but iust thy beauty commaunds him That Promos be refused is more iust because consent is thy Shame Thou mayst refuse and liue but hée being reiected I die For wanting his will in thée he will wreake his téene on me This is my hard estate My life lyeth in thy Infamie and thy honour in my death Which of these euilles be least I leaue for thée to iudge The wofull Cassandra answered A hard fortune that death was the least whose darte we cannot shunne when Honour in deaths despight outliueth time It is true quoth Andrugio but thy trespasse will be in the least degrée of blame Death is to bee preferred before dishonourable life For in forced faultes Iustice sayth there is no intent of euill Oh Andrugio quoth she intent is now adayes little considered thou art not condemned by the intent but by the strickt word of the Law The venemous nature of Enuy. so shal my cryme be reproched and the forced cause passe vnexcused and such is the venome of Enuy one euil déede shal disgrace tenne good turnes and in this yéelding so shall I be valued Enuy Disdayne Spight The vertuous are assured of many enemies and incertaine of any frendes Malice Slaunder and many moe furies will endeuour to shame me and the meanest vertue will blush to help to support my honor so that I sée no liberty for thée but death nor no ease for me but to hasten my end O yes quoth Andrugio for if this offence be knowne thy fame wil be enlarged because it will likewise be knowne A cause that may excuse the breach of honour that thou receiuedst dishonr to giue thy brother life If it be seceret thy conscience will be without scruple of guiltinesse Thus knowne or vnknowen thou shalt be deflowred but not dishonested and for amends we both shall liue This further hope remayneth that as the Gilliflower both pleaseth the eye and fâ—edeth the sence euen so the vertue of thy chast behauiour may so grace thy beauty A faint hope as Promos filthy lust may be turned into faythfull loue and so moue him to salue thy honour in making thée his wife Or for conscience for beare to doe so heynous an iniurie Soueraigne Madame and you fayre Gentlewomen quoth Isabella I intreate you in Cassandraes behalfe these reasons well weyed to iudge her yéelding a constraynt and no consent who weary of her owne life and tender ouer her brothers with teares of her louely eyes bathed his chéekes with this comfortable sentence Liue Andrugio and make much of this kisse A louing kisse which breatheth my honour into thy bowels and draweth the infamie of thy first trespasse into my bosome The sharpe incounters betwéene life and death so occupied Andrugioes sences that his tongue had not the vertue to bid her farewel To gréeue you with the hearing of Cassandraes secret playnts were an iniurie vertuous Ladies for they concluded with their good Fortune and euerlasting fame But for that her offence grew neither of frayltie A good consideration in Cassandra frée will or any motion of a woman but by the méere inforcement of a man because she would not stayne the modest wéedes of her kinde she attyred her felfe in the habite of a Page and with the bashfull grace of a pure Virgine she presented wicked Promos Andrugioes precious ransome This diuel in humane shape more vicious then Heliogabalus of Rome A damnable offence and withall as cruell as Denis of Sycil receiued this Iewell with a thousand protestations of fauour But what should I say In the beginning of his loue Promos was Metamorphosed into Priapus and of a Féende what may we expect but vengeance heaped vpon villany And therefore let it not séem straunge the after this Hel houÌ„d had dishonored Cassandra he sent his warrant to the Gayler priuily to execute Andrugio with his head crowned with these two Briefes A villainous ingratitude in Promos name to present Cassandra Fayre Cassaudra as Promos promist thee From Prison loe he sends thy Brother free This was his Charge whose cursed will had béen executed had not God by an especial prouidence at the houre of his Death An especiall prouidence of God possessed Andugio with the vertues of the two braue Romanes Marcus Crassus and Marius the one of which by the force of his tongue and the other by the motions of his eyes caused she Axe to fal out of the Headsmans hand and mollified his cruel minde With like compassion the Gayler in hearing Andrugioes hard aduenture left his resolution And vpon a solemne oath to liue vnknowen yea to his deare Sister hee gaue him life and in the dead of the night betooke him to God and to good fortune A signe of an honest nature which done this good Gayler tooke the head of a young man new executed who some what resembled Andrugio and according to leawd Promos commaundement made a present thereof to Cassandra How vnwelcome this Present was An vnwelcom present the testimonie of her former sorrowes some what discouer but to giue her present passion a true grace were the talke of Prometheus or such a one as hath had experience of the anguishes of hel O quoth she swéete Andrugio whether shall I first lament thy death exclayme of Promos iniurie or bemone my owne estate depriued of honour and which is worse cannot die but by the violence of my owne handes Alas the least of these griefes are too heauy a burden for a man then all ioyned in one poore womans heart cannot bee eased but by death and to be auenged of iniurious Fortune I will foorth with cut my Fillet of life But so shall Promos lewdnesse escape vnpunished what remedie I am not of power to reuenge to complaine I expresse my owne infamie but withall proclaime his villanie and to heare his lewdenes reproued would take away the bitternesse of my death I will goe vnto the king who is iust and mercifull he shall heare the ruthfull
your Maiestie quoth Andrugio and disconering himselfe shewed the preuidence of God and the meane of his escape and tendring his Sisters comfort aboue his owne safetie he prostrated him selfe at his Maiesties féete humbly to obey the sentence of his pleasure The King vpon the report of this strange aduenture Princes are bound to their word after good deliberation pardoned Promos to kéep his word and withall holding an opinion that it was more beneficiall for the Citizens Of two the least euill is least dangerous to be ruled by their olde euill Gouernour new reformed then to aduenture vpon a newe whose behauiours were vnknowne And to perfect Cassandras ioye he pardoned her brother Andrugio with condition that he should marrie Polina Thus from betwéene the téeth of danger euery partie was preserued and in the end established in their harts desire Madame quoth Soranso your good conclusion hath likewise preserued vs from a great danger Ruthfull tales raiseth remorce in the hearers for had you ended with the sorrow you began we had béen al like to haue béen drowned in teares Indéed quoth Katharina Trista you men haue had cause sufficient of sorrowe by hearing your kinde reproched with such monstrous euils By example of euill the euill are feared By example of the good the good are strengthened and we women frée passage to lament in beholding none but crosse fortunes to succéed the good indeuours of a vertuous Lady It is true quoth Fabritio but to participate of their ioye we men haue learned out of Promos example of euill for feare of his like punishment of euill to doo well and you women by example of Polinas vice and Cassandras vertue are both warned and incouraged to weldooing Indéede quoth Quéene Aurelia there are many Morall precepts in either Historie to be considered Good order is to be kept among such as haue beene late sick which I hope the company haue so regarded as there néedeth no repetitition And further because I will not be too bolde of the victory ouer my late distemperature we will héere end And therewith she arose and retired into her Chamber with charge that the company should attend her in the same place vntill Supper who obeying intertained time euery one with their speciall fancy The question that arose at Supper vpon the fourth daies exercise MAny prettie nippes passed betwéene the retyred Company this night at Supper as well on the Gentlewomens parte as of the Gentlemens insomuch as presuming vpon this Daies honour when the Table was readie to be taken away Aluisa Vechio tooke vpon her to maintaine a woman to be a creature euery way as excellent and perfect as man Comparison breedeth contention For naturall shape quoth she they are more beautifull of a better temperature and complection then men In valiant exploytes what difference was there betwéen Semiramis and her Husband Ninus betwéene the Amazon women and Alexander For constancie of minde Excellent vertues in women did not Loadice imbrace death with lesse feare then Mithridates her Husband Asdruballes Wife then Asdruball himselfe And what man hath kept a constant resolution of death so long as Lucretia In Vertues you men that read Histories and Cronicles of all ages shall finde women renowmed for learning gouernment and pollicie In Mecanicall Artes there are Women likewise experienced In the vertue of Diuining what man hath come néere the Sibils To be short what man hath béen so perfect in any vertue but histories make mention of a woman as perfect Yea quoth Dondolo but there be so fewe of these women Cauillers neuer answere directly as an easie wit may remember them But it will cumber your tung to report them quoth Katharina Trista The other Gentlemen although they were willing to giue place vnto the Gentlewomen in small matters A disgrace in honour a Gentleman may not beare with yet this comparison of equall soueraignty nettled them a little In as much as Soranso answered Madame Aluisa you haue made a bolde comparison and but a bare proofe Where you vaunte to be more excellent in shape and more delicate in substance then men It is an ouer ruled question that Women receiue perfection by Men Aristotles problemes and Men imperfection by Women then by how much the vertue is of more emprise that is simply of it selfe then that which is compound of an other by so far we excéede you in this perfection Your honour of valiātnes died with your examples and although there hath béen Women learned and experienced in Mecanicall craftes Extraordinary things are not to be compared with ordinary yet to heare a Woman plead at the Barre preach in a Pulpit or to sée her builde a house is a wonder and no example in vse How short your diuining Sybels come of the credit of the Prophets in the olde Testament is no question disputable Life is precious For your constancie at death you know not how precious life is which maketh you rash and not constant and in truth what you haue frowardly determined you will not be forbidden As she that had her Tung cut for calling of her husband Théefe would yet notwithstanding make the signe of the gallows Well sir quoth Quéene Aurelia Epicarias obstinacy Epicaria in the trembling pas sage of death was constant who endured to be rent in péeces before she would confesse the conspiracy against Nero would haue béene holden for a vertue of staidenesse in a man And what say you of Leena PLIN. Lib. 34. Cap. 2. that bit off her tung and spit it in the Tirant Hippias face because she would not bewray a conspiracy against him Madame with your fauour quoth the Doctor had she not had this foresight An enuious Suggestion it had béen like the Athenians should haue béene driuen to haue made a brazen bell as a Monument of her talk rather thē a tungles Liōnes as they did in honour of her silence for had she not mistrusted her imperfection she would neuer haue committed that tiranny vpon her self Had her tung béene venomed with your mallice it is like quoth Quéene Aurelia that the Athenians had verified your slaunderous opinion herewith she looked a skawse vpon her fauoured seruants as who would say I check the omission of your dutie in not defending of my right Vpon which warning and especially for the excellencie of this sex A man may praise a woman without reproching a man quoth Ismarito a man may doo iustice vnto an other without iniury to himselfe and sure without the reproche of men a man may commēd the excellencie of women in whose behalf although I wil not cōdemne Sir Soransos reasons yet in my opinion he erred in the first Article where he toucheth the perfection of Men and the imperfection of Women for neither of themselues are perfect Chaste talke ought especially to be vsed in the presence of women Aris. Prob. nor may haue
AVRELIA The Paragon of pleasure and Princely delights Contayning The seuen dayes Solace in Christmas Holy-dayes of Madona Aurelia Queene of the Christmas Pastimes sundry other well-courted Gentlemen and Gentlewomen in a noble Gentlemans Pallace A worke most sweetely intercoursed in ciuill and friendly disputations with many amorous and pleasant Discourses to delight the Reader and plentifully garnished with Morall Notes to make it profitable to the Regarder By G. W. Gent. R I HEB DDIM HEB DDIEV At London printed by Richard Iohnes 1593. To the friendly Readers both Gentlemen and Gentlewomen Wealth and Welfare GEntlemen Gentlewomē I present you here as I think a profitable vnpolished labor For he that is the Trouchman of a strangers toung may wel declare his meaning but yet shall marre the grace of his Tale And therefore Themistocles the noble Captayne and Philosopher of Athens compareth such forced speeches to Tapistrie Hangings rowled vp which being open appeare beatifull and foulded reserue their Vertue but lose their shew But I expect somwhat a better euent then may an Interpreter that is bound to a present Reporte for my Respit hath been sufficient to consider of Segnior Philoxenus and his honourable companies vertues and least by rash acquital of their fauours I should doe iniurie to their reputation I haue with well aduised Iudgement bethought me of such memorable Questions and deuices as I heard and saw presented in this most noble Italian Gentlemans Pallace the Christmas past and answerable to my weake capacitie haue exposed the same in such sorte as if you be not too curious may delight and content you and if not too carelesse may direct and benefite you And to satisfie you herein I giue you friendly knowlehge that Segnior Philoxenus reuerent regarde of the Queenes Maiesties high vertues is a president for you with a dutiful and vnfayned heart to loue feare and obey her Highnesse from whom next vnder God you receiue such blessings as throgh the whole world her excellencie is renowmed and your prosperitie enuied By this noble Gentlemans ciuill entertainement of straungers you may perceiue with what Garland Courtesie is principall crowned By the ciuill behauiours of Soranso Dondolo Bargetto and other Gentlemen herein named you haue a President of gouernment which will commend you and by well regarding their speeches you shal finde a discreet methode of talke meete for you Gentlemen The like benefite shall Gentlewomen receiue in imitating of Madona Aurelia Queene of the Christmas pleasures Maria Beloch◠Lucia Bella Franceschina Sancta and the rest of the well qualited Gentlewomen Besides a number of other Moral documents needful reprehensions and wittie sayings to perfect the commendation both of a Gentleman and Gentlewoman Courteous Gentlemen and Gentlewomen you haue here the honorable institution of Mariage so perfectly Anatomed as a very weake iudgement may see the causes which make housholde quarrels to resemble Hell Agayne the man which is willing to liue happily may here learne such directions and lawes as will change his priuate house into a Paradise on earth If ciuil Moral pleasures with al these benefites may make you entertayne this booke and report wel of the Author I assure you you shal be pleased and I satisfied But if you make your tongue enemie to your owne reputation you may detract but not reproch the work Iniure but not hurt the writer for both will liue and laugh such Calumniators to scorne when either are ready to doe the discreete Reader seruice Some wil perchance more of enuy to heare a stranger commended then of pitie to bemone my hard fortune or fowle vsage say I haue as iust cause to complaine of iniuries receiued at Roane Rome and Naples as to commend the vertues and good entertainmēt of Segnior Philoxenus But to giue such suggestioners a double good example both of patience and thankfulnesse I here protest that as these iniuries begunne with my hard fortune so they ended no wayes in my discredite And as I forgiue the causes of my mishaps so scorne I to recount them to receiue amends in a little pitie But for that they and all such as view my reporte may learne of me to be gratefull for receiued benefites I make it knowen that this trauel is Segnior Philoxenus due And I still his debtor and so shall remayne during my life reseruing a good affection to bestow on such as receiue his Vertues and my paynes to profite and commend themselues And in my opinion it is iust they doe so Wherefore to giue a disgrace to ceremonies Gentlemen and Gentlewomen I end as I hope to finde you friendly Your assured friend G. W. T.W. Esquier in the commendation of the Author and his needfull Booke EVen as the fruitefull Bee doth from a thousand Flowers Sweete Honie drayne and layes it vp to make the profite ours This Morall Author so to vs he doth imparte A Worke of worth culd from the wise with iudgement wit Arte. No Stage toy he sets foorth or thundering of an Host But his rare Muse a passage makes twixt burning fire and frost Such vertues as beseeme the worthy Gentles brest In proper colours he doth blaze by following of the best The Vertue is but rare and Vice not yet in vse That modestly he not commends or mildely shewes th' abuse Such matter in good words these fewe leaues doo reueale Vnforst or strainde as that it seemes a kindely common weale Of forced Mariage he dooth shew the fowle euent When Parents ioyne the childrens hands before their hearts consent And how these fortunes eke in wedlock seldome prooue Vnequall choyce in birth in yeares and Childrens hasty loue Yet he with learned proofes this sacred state dooth rayse As it deserues aboue the Skies in wordes of modest prayse More euery Page here doth present the Readers eyes With such regardes as helpe the weake and doe confirme the wise Which needlesse were to blaze in prayses to allrue The holy Bush may well be sparde where as the Wine is pure Verses translated out of Latine and deliuered by VRANIE with a Siluer Pen to Ismarito in a Deuice contayned in the seuenth dayes exercise placed in this Forefrunt for the excellencie of Pandora THe mighty Ioue beholding from aboue The mistes of sinne which from the earth arose In angrie moode sent Iris downe to moue Throughout the world the exercise offoes With vengeance armde who powred downe her Ire And with debates set Monarchies a fire Whole Countries burnde did dimme the Sunne with smoake The Canon noyse the ayre with Thunder rent The wounded men with shrikes the heauens shoke The Temples spoylde the Townes to ruine went Vnwilling yet to worke the Worldes decay Ioue Cyllen sent in part his wrath to stay Who hastes his charge with Wings as swift as winde But comming to the Region next the ground He could no way for clowdy darkenes finde And fearing in the Ocean to be drownde He houered till in fine he did espie Apharos
of brauerie whom the whole troupe reuerently saluted and honorably accompanyed vnto the Chappell After Seruice Dinner and all were solemnly ended Quéene Aurelia with a chosen company Musick refresheth the wit retyred her self into a pleasant drawing Chamber to execute the reported ordenaunce But to quicken the Spirites of the company before they entred into discourse she commaunded a faire Eunuche Boy to sing some one song as he thought good who obaying her commaundement with a heauenly note vnto the Lute sung this louing lay NO ioy comes neere the heauenly ioy of loue When we imbrace the wish of our desire All pleasures els that kinde or Art may moue To loue are like the heate of painted fire Loue is the roote whereon sweet thoughts do growe Loue is the sowrce from whence content doth flow When I beholde my Misterisse in the face Loue from her eyes a thousand Graces throwes But when in armes I doe her selfe imbrace One smiling looke exileth all my woes Then straight our lips prepare themselues to fight And on ech kisse loue sets a new delight What would you more I wish me in my graue Were but my soule with halfe these pleasures crownde And heare on earth to be my Misterisse slaue I holde me free and others to be bound Wherefore I sing which I in solace proue There is no heauen to life bestowed in loue The swéet deliuery of this sonet so inchanted the harts of the hearers as for a space their sences gaue place to the contemplation of their soules In the end Madona Isabella by this motion made the whole company a passage for spéech If Loue be so swéet a passion quoth she I muse from what cause procéedeth the complaints of Louers who with showring teares bedewe the earth with misty sights dimme the aire and with shrill outcries pearse the heauens The cause quoth Soranso procéedes of our fleshly imperfectiōs which corrupts the nature of good things and not of any defect in loue Loue simply is good for loue is a simple deuine vertue and hath his being in the soule whose motions are heauenly I haue read quoth Isabella that there be sundry kindes of loue The vse of loue are diuers quoth Soranso as in zeale towards God The distinctions of loue in duety towards our Country in obedience towards our parents and in affection towards our fréends All which motions procéede foorth of one loue although some are more vehement then the other euen as many Riuers doo run out of one Spring whereof some haue a more swift course then the other But of that passion which we ordinarily call loue the wish either tends to Mariage or wantonnes There is matter of disputation in Mariage quoth Franceschina Knowne euik are not to be defended because the estate is honorable and yet subiect to crosse fortunes But touching your conclusion of wantonnes deserues to dye in silence for known euils are to be chastened without allowing their defences Madame quoth Faliero vnlesse you reuoke this sentence we wil haue you indited at Rome as an heretick for by the Popes Canons Priests may not marry and they haue a custome among themselues not to liue chaste Well quoth Franceschina if the Pope for this opinion burne me as an heretick good men will cannonise me for a vertuous Virgin These digressions quoth Quéen Aurelia are the meanes rather to worke a confusion of our memories A necessary note then to conclude any beneficiall matter for our instruction And therefore I hold it to greater purpose substantially to handle one argument thē sieightly to ouerrun many causes where the doubts we leaue vnresolued wil be more dangerous vnto the hearer then the counsels we vse profitable vnto the follower Madame A contention whether Mariage or the single life is the worthier quoth Fabritio I hold it good we obey your direction And for that Mariage is the most honourable euent of Loue and that a Single life is the greatest testimony of Chastity A ciuill Contention to proue which is the most worthy of the two would conclude much contentment For as Yron and Flynt beat together haue the vertue to smite fire so mens wits encountring in doubtfull questions openeth a passage for imprisoned Truth Quéene Aurelia Argument decideth doubts and the rest of the company liked very well of the Subiect and studying who were the fittest to deale in this controuersie Aurelia with a glauncing eye behelde that her seruant Ismarito witsafed no greater token Wise silence worketh more regarde then foolish talke that he tooke delight in these actions then sometime the secret bestowing of a modest smile whereupon she forethought that as Floods when they are most highest make least noise euen so perchaunce his still tongue was gouerned by a flowing wit and desirous to sound his sufficiencie she quickned him with this crosse surmise Seruant quoth she your sober lookes promiseth a hope that you will vndertake Dianaes quarrell but which will serue in this question I feare me you commaund Loue so much A fault in many trauellers as you contemne Mariage And the greater is my suspicion in that you are a Trauailer the nature of which sort of people is to swell with a monsterous disdaine of Mariage The reason is say they their affections are paysoned with the knowledge of womens so hamous euils as they dare not venter of that vocation But my opinion is they haue learned so many subtilties to deceiue a shiftles woman as dandled with the imbracements of sundry Loues they forsweare Mariage who bindes them to one only wife And if you be infected with the humour of these sorte of Trauailers you may well vndertake this charge All vnmarried passe vnder the name of chast for Venus though she loue not Diana yet is she the sworn enemie of Iuno And if you be sound from this infirmitie the little haste you make to marry witnesseth you honor Hymen with no great deuotion and therfore I commaund you to vse all your possible proofs in the Defence of a Single life and for your assistance I do appoint you Lucia Bella whom this charge cannot mislike because as I vnderstand she means to be a professed Nun You are to encounter the opinions of many and therefore arme your selues with as good reasons as you may Madame quoth Ismarito I am so deepely bound vnto your commaundement as I am driuen to leaue your suggestions not answeared and my owne innocency vnexcused and only attend the incounter of him that wil maintain Mariage to be more worthy then a Single life which vocation of Mariage though I reuerently honour yet I so zealously affect the other as I hope where the Iudges are indifferent to make the glory thereof to shine as the faire white aboue euery other colour Sir Defences of Mariage quoth Soranso though white be a faire colour yet are the choyse of all other colours more rich and glorious so though
of the most faire Felice Macrello was sent for to whom Marino deliuered both the Iewell the letter without instructions to doe his message for Protheus could not change himselfe into moe shapes then Macrello as well to auoyd suspition as to compasse his purpose who behaued himselfe so cūningly in Marinoes errand as to be short vertues dames after many perswasions Felice returned him with this answere Felices answere to Marino Georgio I Am not cruell although with difficultie I consent to loue and for that your passions are so extreame I keepe your Picture in my bosome But with what thought I blush to write though pittie be my warrant so that I leaue the euent of our Loue to your consideration and my yeelding to Macrelloes Reporte who in bewraying your passions let fall more teares then I could drye vp with a thousand sighes So that ouercome with rueth to see your affection so great and your passion so daungerous I can not but commit my loue my honour my selfe and all to the Affection and wise gouernement of Marino Georgio FELICE THis Letter was subscribed Life to Marino Georgio and deliuered to the faithfull Macrello with charge that he should make knowen his great importunities before Felice would graunt so hie a fauour which Prouiso might haue béen spared for Macrello partely for his glory but chiefly for his owne benefite vpon deliuery of this Letter willed Marino to receiue it as a Conquest as hardly gotten as Hercules labours if quoth he I had indured not your torments by Imagination it had not béen impossible to haue mooued Felice to rueth Marino heard these circumstances with no better remembrance Sodaine ioy or sorrow dulleth our sences than if he had béen in an Extasie The Subscription Life to Marino ouercame him with such a sodaine passion of Ioy who read and a hundred times ouer read this Life letter and for that it came from Felices swéet hand he a thousand times kissed the Paper Which done by the direction of Macrello this Conquerour Golde made such a passage into a reputed honest Citizens house as without suspition Marino Georgio and fayre Felice there many times mette but to what purpose Gold maketh passage into difficult places I leaue to your constructions and yet thus much I say this Fortune followed Marino in shorte space recouered his former Complexion and it was not long before Felice was richer then either Father or Husband But O that Furie Ielousie enuying this Accord sent slie Suspition to infect Malipieroes heart who prying with Lynx his eyes presented him a thousand causes of mistrust Thevenemous nature of Ielousy which loue straite supprest with as many contrarie imaginations of his Wiues good behauiour insomuch that with the sharpe uicounter of Loue and mistrust poore man he was continually afflicted A shrewd suspition In conclusion séeing his Wife to excéede in brauery and knowing himselfe to decline with pouerty be resolued vpon this certainty this cost could not come from the empty Coffers of her vndone Parents Suspect is more cunning then Argus was wary and then procéeding from others it was impossible to be the fauoures of honest curtesie so that armed with furie he deferred reuenge but to intrap the friend of his wiues follies and the enemie both of her honour and his delight In fine as héedeful as these Louers were in their dealings Ielousie directed suspecte to Marino Georgio and moreouer Neapolitans are most seuere in reuenge made him an eye witnesse of the iniuries done vnto Malipiero which when he assuredly knew hee studied a while of a torture equall to this trecherie for who hath not heard the Neapolitan to be the seuerest reuenger of dishonor in the world To be briefe his bait was this hee fayned a iourney far from home and furnished himselfe with such an apparance of trueth A Iudas kisse as tooke a way all colour of suspition which done with a dissembling kisse he committed his wife to God and the charge of his house to her good gouernement and so set forward towardes Rome Malipiero was no sooner a mile on his way then Macrello certified Marino of this wished opportunitic and Loue made both him and Felice so bolde as in his owne house they determined the following night to exercise vpon Malipiero their wonted iniurie A fit time to deceiue mistrust but about midnight when mistrust was at repose Malipiero entered the house with such a sodaine violence as these two vnfortunate friends were surprised amids their imbracements before they had warning to shifte I sorrowe to tell the rest but trueth will haue passage Malipiero in his reuenge like a Lyon hungring after his praye with his Rapyer and these bitter wordes nayled Marino vnto the Bed Thou Couch quoth he soyled with dishonor washe out thy staynes Death is too easie a scourge for a disloyall wife with the Adulterers blood But holding death too easie a scourge of his wiues trespasse he condemned her to this torture more extreme then death He made an Anatomie of her welbeloued Marino and set him in a fayre Chamber within which hee inclosed his wife without dooing her any bodily iniurie saue the cutting of her haire and to say trueth Haire the ornaments of Chastitie this beautiful ornament of haire beséemeth not an Adultresse head And to punish her the more Malipiero caused her euery dinner and supper to take her accustomed place that at meales she might bee tormented with the sight of her liuing enemie and all the day with the bones of her martyred friend neither could shée quench her thirst but out of a Mazar made of Marinoes skul But to tell her vertue The bounden office of a Writer with her vice her patience was such as she was neuer heard to complain of this cruelty and yet her penitent sorrow so great as the plenty of her teares sometimes moued her iniured Husband to pittie But least he should be ouercome with compassion Iustice must not yeeld to the teares of Trespassers many times from dinner hee commaunded her to her prison who after an humble reuerence went behinde the Tapestry hangings and so vnto her solitary Chamber barred from other company thē the gastly bones of vnfortunate Marino which penance she patiently indured vntil God who saw that her repentance was vnfayned sent Segnior Cornaro to be a peace maker betwéene her husbands iniurie God regardeth repentance and her offence who when Supper was set vpon the Boorde séeing from behinde the Tapistrie Hangings a fayre Gentlewoman to appeare somewhat pale with sorrow her head bare both of attyre and hayre apparelled all in black and in her hand her drinking Boule of Marinoes skull and saying neuer a word with a sober reuerence sitting downe in the chiefest place was stroken with such amaze as on the sodayne he wist not what to say Dinner being ended which was longer than pleasant either to husband wife or
vnpleasant Her anger kéepeth seruants in awe and her quicknesse ouerséeth their negligence if her tung runne at riot where she hunts there is store of abuse which must be chased either with blowes or words if y◠fury of her spéech offend her Husband it is like that her outrage groweth from his fault and where an iniury is offered it is sufferable if the wrong be blamed but which maketh a ful amends for her furious mood as the clowdy and rainy day lightly cléereth towards night euen so though she bitterly scowld at boord she wil be sure to kisse swéetly a bed The auncient Gentlemen commending the quick wit of this yong Gentleman In blaming mildens is to be vsed vsed this circumstance before he refelled his error Ah quoth he if wit were as aduised in Iudgement as he is ready in conceite his imaginations would turne to wonderfull effects but as fairest colours soonest staine as swéetest flowers are blasted with a breath as beautifull creatures are blemished with a little care as the brightest Sun threatneth suddaine raine yea as euery mortall thing hath his imperfection euen so wit being mortall Wit simply in imperfect and assigned by Nature to make man glorious aboue other creatures by rashnes corrupts the ripenes of his conceites and to good purpose his pride is thus abated for other wise man which inioyeth wit to worship his Creator and to liue content with the liberties of the sea and to kéepe him within the limits of the earth would search the secrets of heauen and I think dispossesse Pluto of hell Yong Gentleman quoth he I vse not this ceremony to represse your liberty of spéech for the errour of your rashnes I will refell with reason and experience but least héeraftèr you should be as arrogant in opinion as you are ripe in conceite I haue thought good fréendly and bréefely to signifie your imperfection and now to answere your late suggestion I affirme that Nature hath created nothing to a néedlesse purpose but not withstanding our abuse or mischance changeth hurtfull things into occasions of our help surfite and sicknes only commendeth Medicine and as you affirme the bloud of a Scorpion cureth the biting of the Viper But take away the cause which procéedeth from our gréefe and you shall finde medicine an enemy to health and the stinge of a Scorpion no better then death and trust me he is to be reckoned a foole and his misfortune to passe vnreléeued that wilfully indammageth his health in hope of remedy In like sort let him liue vnpittied to ouersée the slacknesse of his seruants who will marry a wife whose tung shall ouer-rule himselfe But more particularly to describe the properties of an vnquiet wife and more largely to discourse the displeasures of her vnfortunate husband I will approoue her lowrings as vnprofitable as his life is vnpleasant you say her quicknesse ouerséeth the negligence of sernants but I affirme that her curstnesse maketh them as swift to runne away Shift is vnprofitable for Maister and Seruant as they were slowe to serue her and common vse auowes that often shift is neither beneficiall for Maister nor seruant for proofe as the rowling Stone gathereth no Mosse and want of vse canckereth Iron in likewise thrift flyeth the fléeting Seruant and idlenes consumeth his ability of seruice Now touching the euill reckoning of those which are serued their wandering seruants not onely charge their common accounts with double wages but with secret pilfering they set their maisters in more déepe arrerages The Grecians that in times past neither vsed medicine for sicknesse Gienta a venemous herb one sort wherof is supposed to be Hemlocke nor patience in aduersitie but vpon euery great veration poisoned themselues with venemous Cienta In their Histories remember more that haue voluntarily died through the violence their Wiues tunges then of any other calamity Diogenes being demaunded the diuersity of an euill betwéene ascold a harlot answered They differ as the Viper doth from that crockadill for the scolde saith he with outrage destroyeth her Husband A needfull regarde for yong Gentlemen and the other with dissembling loue consumeth him to death And so concluded thē both enemies to life and quiet liuing of man Phrisio being both modestly warned and throughly answered with a blushful grace replyed the the grauity of his person and the sound reason in his wordes had taken from him al occasion of further Question vnles that women were his Iudges An ill cause asketh a partiall iudge This wittie shift moued such as were within the hearing to smile for where the cause is ill it is necessary to séeke a Iudge that is partiall and which commended Phrisios gouernment vpon a small check he left to contend with this ancient Gentleman for yong men although their wittes be good are not priuiledged to dispute with the grauer sort without licence intreatie or great renerence By this time the Mountibanke with describing the qualities of his vermin and the Zanni in shewing the knauish conditions of his Maister had wasted a good part of the night and wearied the most part of the company so that desire of repose summoned them vnto their lodgings MADONA AVRELIA Her fourth daies pleasures Containing varietie of necessary discourse and yet withall the greater part appertaining to the generall argument of Mariage SO déepe are the impressions of sorrow The great impression as the faining of Poets may be helde for Morall truthes where as they affirme that the bitter mone of Orpheus tung together with the passionate sound of his Instrument moued such ruth in infernall creatures as while he was a suter to Pluto for the restitution of his wife Euridice his plaints so charmed the torments of Hell as for the time the Gripe forbare to teare vpon Titius growing hart Tantalus indeuoured not to drinke Danais daughters leste filling of their brincklesse Tub toyling Sisiphus sate and eased himselfe vpon his rowling Stone yea and Pluto ouercharged with pitie made restitution of Euridice This sorrow to heare that Quéene Aurelia by some distemperature was sick and kept her Chamber wrought such gréefes in the hartes of the whole company that they hung their heads in disgrace like Garden Flowers which séeming as teares are cloyed with the dewe of a foule mistie day True sorrow is knowne rather by sighes then words Among the rest Ismarito although he vsed not so many words of lamēt as some other did yet with the teares of his hart he solemnifed the true rites of a Mourner and to say truth where the tung hath frée passage to talke the hart is occupied with no great gréefe Segnior Phyloxenus séeing Ismarito in this passion and that occasion entertained him with no other busines while the rest of the company were hearing of a little superstitious seruice The Pope hath begun and not yet finished a most rare Gallerie Beautifull attires for a Gallerie lead him into a very faire
to his owne priuate comfort Indéede quoth Aluisa Vechio the loue of a ielous husband is sauced with such froward motions as I had rather be matched with him that regardeth me not at al then with him that loueth me too much for of the one though I am not beloued yet I shall not be much crossed of the other I being too much beloued I shall neuer be in quiet I am not of your minde quoth Helena Dulce I had rather haue my Husband ielous Hard is the difference betweene a carelesse and a ielous Husband then carelesse for being carelesse no good vsage will reconcile him and being ielous the wife may study out how to please him Yea but quoth Katharina Trista Men are so easie conceited that if they perceiue a woman studieth how to please them they straightwayes imagine she will likewise study how to deceiue them and therefore God shielde me from a ielous husband I haue heard the white streaked Carnation Gilleflower was the Metamorphos of a fayre Gentlewoman beheaded by her husband vpon this ielous thought that his wife being so fayre could not but bee beloued of the Gods Ouid. Metam lib. 10. although he had no cause to suspect men And where haue yée a larger example of Loue then the aduenture of Orpheus who by extreame sorrow and sute recouered his Wife out of hell Eurydice and by ouer ielous Loue sent her thither agayne Doctor Mossonigo was smiling out a scoffe Preuent a scoffer and he becommeth a Sotte vpon this tale which Quéene Aurelia intercepted by ending of the Gentlewomens contention By your talke of hell quoth she I sée we are out of the way to Platoes Paradise therefore good we turne back agayne Indéede Madame quoth Fabritio if we trauell still to choose the least of euils it will be long before we come to the Fountaine of goodnesse Me thinkes quoth Isabella the Sonet which moued the late Question A Commendation of lofty Loue. directs a fayre way to happinesse in mariage for it commēdeth lofty Loue And if according to the olde Prouerbe The best is best cheape this aduenture giueth hope and promiseth good Fortune It is true quoth Soranso and I dare vndertake to approoue it the happiest estate in mariage Dondolo because he would not be disgraced by marying a Burgoys fayre Daughter of Rauenna offered to prooue the contrary Quéene Aurelia licensed them to shew their reasons Whereupon quoth Soranso to giue great Ladies and Gentlewomen of calling their true right and honour who lightly marry not their Inferiours in reputation but for some especial vertue that doth commend their choyce and cleareth the blemish of her husbands basenesse I must confesse hat he which raiseth his thought so hie vndertaketh no doubt a tedious suite his delaies will bee grieuous and his Soliciters will be well rewarded in what sorte so euer he be regarded But what of this Quo quid difficilius eo pulchrius Perill maketh honor perfect the stinging of the Bée mends the swéetenes of Honie Roses best refreshe oursences when we prick our hands to reach them The euill of a thing commendeth the goodnesse He that crackes the Nut thinkes the kernell swéetest The reason is not for that the goodnesse of a thing is the better for the euil thereunto belonging but for that the remembrance of the euill maketh vs holde the good in more reputation especially in loue The affection which is forced with teares wonne with sighes gaynd with expence compassed with sorrow is held most pleasant most perfect and of longest continuance Againe easie gotten good-wil becommeth in a while lothsome the cause is as I conceiue for that the pleasure was neuer seasoned with paine Once a man in louing his better to increase his passion shal lack no occasion both to séeke sue sigh serue and yet to féede his hope hée shall want neither faire lookes good words nor possibility of fauour For for to obtain a great Lady acquireth many circumstances not for that she is precise to loue but for that she is wise or would be so thought in her procéedinges But whether shee loue or no Ouid sayth there is no womā but will indure the demand she is contēted w e seruice to be courted Loue spareth no degree and in recompence rewardeth with good countenance But which most sustayneth hope the example is in continuall vse that loue spareth no degrée transgresseth euery law bringeth the mightiest in bondage to the meanest King Cofetua the Affrican became enamoured of a Begger fayre Venus espoused ill fauoured Vukane Pigmalion doted vpon an Image Narcissus was drowned in embracing his owne shadow and mighty Ioue many times cast aside his diuinitie to dally with simple country trulles then why should the affected how bace soeuer his estate be despayre to attempt a great Lady when his warrant is signed with so large Authorities But whether he spéede or faile be accepted or reiected well entertained or ill intreated the imagination that time will inuest his desire with delight Hope to compasse great matters comforteth more then the possession of trifles is to the affected a Paradise farre excelling the possession of equall loue But if in the end her affection or his good fortune concludeth his wish in desire her loue which cannot choose but be great in that she marieth beneth her calling And her Abilitie which allured at the first with his inabilitie to realish both cannot but make the Husband fortunate and the Wife well pleased for that in recompence of this aduancement she may presume somwhat to rule her head Reproofe of lofty Loue. but which most contents she shall haue the satisfaction of her fancie a bed If a house were as soon builded as the Plot is drawen qd Dondolo Shepheards would disdain to liue in Cotages euē so if euery man could as soone compasse a Lady for himselfe as he can reporte the fortune of other there must be an Act to make Ladies or Lords must be glad of meane women But admit by the example of other mens aduancements that the meanest may be raysed by the yéelding fancie of the mighty I prophesie that such an vpstart had more néede of ten eyes toward the malice of his Wiues kindred thē one tung to moue her to kindnesse A woman cannot mislike affectionated proffers One kinsman hath an interest in anothers honor because they procéede of loue But her kindred disdaineth his attempt for that the conclusion tendeth both to their her dishonour A woman séeing her seruants passions cannot but sustaine him with pittie her kindred séeing him in good way to be beloued wil lye in waite for his life For though she may dispose of her affection her kindred hath an interrest in her
no hurte to the common weale your petition shall be signed The rascall Théefe hearing this seuere iudgement as the Italians are naturally quick witted replyed If chiefe Magistrates should set their hands to this Iustice There would be more Lawyers hanged for stealing of houses then Rogues for robbing of hedges The answere of the Doctor and the replie of the poore fellow made the company so merry that for the pastime the trespasser had made them they remitted the punishment of his offence The laughter quieted in the commendation of his countreymans capacitie quoth Soranso Master Doctor this poore Snake spake true Italian Yea quoth the Doctor but he lackes the vertues of the ancient Romanes Italians are wise but euill conditioned couertly expressing thereby that their wits were good but their conditions were euill Bargetto enuying the fauours Ismarito receiued and for some priuate grudge Enuy euermore quarelleth with those that are fauoured about crossing in argument sought by some pleasant scoffe to raise an vnkind quarel and with that intent quoth he Segnior Ismarito I drinke vnto you with a better affection than I bare you in my sléepe for I dreamed with my Rapier drawne I chased you to your Chamber Ismarito quickly answered Quarellers seek their owne miscerefe I pleadge you Segnior Bargetto but with lesse feare then you supposed to be in mée when you were asléepe for men after they are awake expound dreames by contraries Bargetto deceiued of his expectation was driuen by patience to salue the wound he had giuen himselfe But Segnior Philoxenus A wise foresight in a Gentleman to take away the cause of after kindnesse reaued the company of leasure to iudge of Bargettoes quarelling dreame or of Ismaritoes crosse exposition by kéeping of them exercised with a new deuice Indéede quoth he Dreames are vncertaine and therfore not to be regarded but there is a true kinde of diuination in Palmestrie and so in looking in Maria Belochies hand Palmestrie a prety idle qualitie for a Gentleman he vsed certaine names of Arte and gaue a voluntarie pleasing Iudgement which fiered all the Ladies and Gentlewomen with an earnest desire to know their fortune and by this meanes theremembrance of former questions was taken away Wherein Segnior Philoxenus wisdome may be a president for other Gentlemen that heare quarels a bréeding to smoulder them in the shell for men that bee angry A necessary note for a Gentleman are bound to their passion when such as are not moued haue liberty to pacifie with discretion Thus with their spirites well pleased Quéene Aurelia and the rest of the companie rose from the Table and after ordinarie curtesie ended they paused a time by the Fire to put their wits in order for the following disputation who at the ordinary houre entered the drawing Chamber where the Eunuch ready to discharge his duety vnto the Lute sung this following Sonet REgarde my loue but not my frosty hayres Although faire Dame the least may moue content For Loue Fayth Zeale stands firme in aged yeares When light greene youth is fickle in intent The aged knowes the leaues and fruite of youth The leaues they leaue and with the fruit doe loue The sayings of olde age are indged trueth Let loue and trueth misliking then remoue What though my chin be clothed all in white White in your cheekes the chiefest colour is Which fayre dye doth make you seeme so bright As men holde you the source of beauties blisse Sweete Mistresse then of all the fayre the Flower Let not condemne what doth your selfe commende Ruth seemes your face let rigor not deuour His loue and life that liues and dyes your friend This Sonet moued the company to smile not because the inuention was vnwittie but in that it was the fruits of Doctor Mossenigoes Muse who to reuenge vpon himselfe all the iniurie which he had done to the sexe of Women became enamoured of Katherina Trista the waspishest Damosel among the whole troupe of Gentlewomen But knowing the Doctors Philosophie could not so subdue his affection but that time would make them all sporte and him smarte they dissembled their knowledge of his folly as déepely as he couered the passions of his fancy notwithstanding to raise some spéech and to set the Doctor a worke with hope Quoth Aluisa Vechio this Sonet prophesieth a happie life to a young woman and much comfort to an olde man if their fortunes be so good as to be maried together And if I had as good a passage for my opinion as I haue Reason to mayntayne the same I would thinke to prooue this couple worthy of a place in Platoes Paradise Among so many good Orators quoth Quéene Aurelia you cannot want an aduocate Whereupon Katharina Trista with a false eye coniured the Doctor in this question to maintaine his Lone who thus enioyned tooke vpon him to maintaine Aluisa Vechioes opinion Quéene Aurelia licensed him and no aduersary appeared to discourage him whereupon quoth he where an old man marieth a yong woman the contentment séemes to be much Defences where an olde man marieth a yong woman and the comfort more my reason is the olde man hath not onely chosen a wife to recreate him as a companion but a Cooke to prepare chosen meates for his impaired appetite and a Staffe to sustaine his Age. The yong wife also may holde her selfe happie in this fortune for she hath chosen one whom she may not onely rule but commaund and for a little paines who will leaue her possest of a great deale of liuing And this is most certaine that cruel and wilde Creatures do most hurt where their will is most resisted and haue great compassion where they finde no proffer of repulse The Lyon in his greatest hunger hurts not the wounded Shéepe the Crocadile with teares washeth the blood from a murthered man and the raging Sea refresheth the yéelding Réede much more a woman that by nature is beautified with pittie if she rule without checke will glory in the good vsage of her Husband and this is in dayly vse that the olde man in assemblies findes his yong wife modest in her spéech bashfull in her lookes and nice in occasion of suspition and whether this behauiour procéeds of desire to be praised or of feare to be blamed I conclude the cause with her commendation for that to do well in hope of praise comes of the incouragement of vertue and to do well for feare of reprehension is the signe of a good inclination By Saint Anne Sir quoth Soranso you well deserue a Fée especially Reproofe c. of the yong wife in that you so cunningly haue coloured her ouersight and so Clarkely haue commended her good vsage of her olde Husband but your Suggestion tends to as small effect as the Fortune is euill of a couple thus vnequally matched for that common reason will refute your weake opinion and dayly experience recordes the miseries of the
Naples named Rinautus that was Metamorphosed into such a Beast by this aduenture passing through the Iland of Circeiū that Homer speaketh of which is now annexed vnto the Continent he was espied of Circes who inhabited that Iland This wrinckled ill-fauoured witch at the first sight was surprised in loue with the goodly shape and beauty of this séemely Gentleman but for all her charmes and inchauntments her art failed either to force him to loue or to frée her selfe from louing for notwithstanding she was a Goddesse he disdained her ouerworne foule and withered visage and she presuming of her sorcerie powred fresh Coles vpon her kindled desire in hope that necessitie would force him to consent to the request frée will contemned but Cupid to whom such power onely belongeth to scourge her presumption in such sorte hardened Rinautus hart that all Circes sute and sorceries tended vnto a fruitlesse successe Insomuch as in her rage she turned him into a Rhinocerot a beast of vnconquerable force who in his nose beareth a horne much like to the Vnicorne But notwithstanding he was thus transfourmed as King Nabuchadonizer in the fourme of an Oxe retained the spirite of a man so he in his altered shape nourished his ancient disdaine of ill fauoured Circes and to be fully auenged with all his force pursueth olde Creatures and such as he ouertaketh he goreth to death yet is he by this pollicie subdued Place a faire Maide in his walke and foorth with he will with a louing countenance repaire vnto her and in her bosome gently bestowe his murthering horne and sodainly as one rauished with cōtentment he falleth a sléep by which meanes he is slaine before he recouereth the vse of his force The company laughed well to heare this strange Metamorphosis In the ende quoth Quéene Aurelia I would Maister Doctor had heard this historie when he so inuayed against Beautie perhaps he would haue béene afraide of her vengeance séeing her power able to conquere sauadge and wilde beastes But the Doctor glad of this aduantage Euill men care not for conscience so they haue a colour for their offences not vnlike the cunning Lawyer the buyeth Robin hoodes penniworthes and yet with some nice forfeitures threatneth the seller with continuall bondage and many times bringeth back his money and kéepeth his bargaine not caring for his Conscience so that he haue a colour for his offence or as the wisest sort of Atheists that liue as though they hoped neither after Heauen nor feared Hell yet confesse God with their mouth because the contrary would make them hated of men so he by this tale found out both a warrant to maintaine his former blasphemie and to excuse his present follie in Loue And to authorise either Madame quoth he the inchaunted Beast approueth mine opinion of Beauties power and his Death is a greater witnesse of her cruelty then is Doctor Mossenigo The force of Beautie who confesseth that men in vaine prescribe remedies for the Affected or receites to preserue men from the infections of Beautie You are welcome vnder our Lée quoth Aluisa Vechio But to take away all hope of good intertainment quoth Catharina Trista no No affliction but hath his remedie no Maister Doctor you deceiue your selfe Beauty neither retaineth the power nor poyson which you speake of and with you Ouid and all the amorous Poets are mistaken who say Affection ariseth from Beautie and not of the frée will of man But say you all what you please good foresight will contrary your opinions There is no sore but hath his salue no gréefe but hath his remedie nor no danger but may be forstoode either by praier or good indeuour Indéede quoth Faliero Socrates altred his inclination by studie of Philosophie Examples to be regarded The Niniuites preserued their Cittie by praier and Virbius doubled his life by mastering of his disposition Floradin be witched with the loue of faire Persida Idlenes nourisheth and exercise remedieth loue his déere fréend Pericles Wife worte in a Table booke fie Floradin fie she is thy fréend Pericles Wife and so often as idlenes presented him with this passion he read his written remembrance and by some honest exercise remoued his imagination This is not your day Maister Doctor quoth Soranso I beléeue there is some vnkindenes betwéene Saturne and Venus by the enuious aspect of some other Plannet this howre It may be quoth the Doctor by the flatterie of Mercurie Flatterie the enemie of truth who is euermore enemy to the plainenes of truth Well quoth Quéene Aurelia let vs leaue this by-matter and consider better of Ismaritos Metamorphosis me thinkes it prophesieth much mischaunce to an olde widdow which marieth a yong man and no great pleasure to the yong maried Bacheler Mariage commended between an olde woman and a yong man O good Madame say not so quoth Soranso for in this fortune lyeth a yonger Brothers welfare and the cause that maketh happinesse accompanie olde women to their Graue Reproofe c. It may well be to their Graue quoth the Doctor but it bringeth sorrow into their House and maketh their life more impleasant then death and if Soranso followe this course perhaps his day will be no better then Doctor Mossenigos Quéene Aurelia smiling saide she feared this contention would bring the company to hell gates Yet quoth she in that I imagine the way wil be pleasant I licence you to perseuer in your purpose Vpon which warrant quoth Soranso to maintaine that to be true Defence c. which I haue already alleadged in the commendation of this estate in Mariage This further reason in my conceite you will neither disallowe nor the maried couple shal haue cause to mislike which is where a fresh yong gentleman either of small liuing or farre spent with lustines A good exchange of Marchandise lightes of a rich olde widdow for that both their desires in this fortune shal be satisfied He shall haue plenty of Coyne the onely Grace he lacked and she the possession of a goodly Personage the chéefest Iewel she loueth which exchange of Marchandise cannot chuse but continue their liking and raise much contentment Clean contrary quoth the Doctor for the follies of a yong man is sufficiently punished by marying an olde woman and the sinnes of an olde widdowe are fully plagued in matching with a yong man for that contrary to your suggestion neither can inioye the cause of their Mariage without annoyance to their mindes for his liking is fastned on her riches which she will not but by necessitie leaue and her loue is setled on his person which for her pleasure he disdaineth to punish The euils in an olde widdow The vnfortunate yongman knowes not what gréefe he ioynes to his gaine in matching with an olde widdow till that experience breakes them foorth in sighes If his wife be rich she will looke to gouerne if she be poore he is plagued both
of her selfe and Children yea A most wicked pollicie and which is worse it is the pollitie of Father in lawes to dandle the infancie of their wiues Children in the lap of ignorance to this ende that being of lawfull age they may with lesse fetches boguile them of their liuing so that the vnfortunate child knowes not whether he may more bemone his losse of liuing or lacke of good bringing vp Senecas opinion that children were better to be dead borne then ignorant of good letters and in my iudgement of both the euils want of education is the greatest for learning and vertue purchaseth liuing and liuing corrupteth but coyneth not good conditions and as Seneca saith libertie without learning is a bondage to the minde and further the Child were better to be dead borne then barren of good Letters for that ignorance is a graue which burieth life Master Doctor quoth Quéene Aurelia me thinketh your words doo too much wrong to the wife though they cannot sufficiently blame the husband I graunt that father in lawes estéeme their owne profites before their wiues childrens preferments but yet I suppose Nature dooth direct the naturall Mother to eye their good bringing vp Things that are best esteemed who with much sorrowe brought them fooâ—th for as the Prouerbe géeth things that are dearely bought are of vs intirely beloued and nothing is more dearely purchased then what is attained with the hazard of life which venter the Mother maketh before she is assured of her Childe then this crueltie to wards her Children to satisfie the wil of her second husband will make indifferent men holde her an vnnaturall Mother whether her husband estéeme her a dutiful wife or no. Oh good Madam Reproose c. quoth the Doctor how can the hen succour her Chickens when she her selfe is at the mercy of the Kite how can the Conny preserue her Rabets when the Ferret is in possession of her Burrowe and how may the vnfortunate Mother Foster her shiftlesse Children either as she should or would wheÌ„ her fancy or folly hath enthralled her to a second husband whose power is to direct and displeased to check This seueritie of Father in lawes hath bred much diuision in mariage but stil the quarrels are concluded with the detriment of the Children for the vnhappie wife is bound to one of these two euils either to agrée to the tyrannizing of her entrailes A hard extremitie or to yéeld to her owne continuall sorrow and quietnesse and where the case is so desperate it may be lamented but not wondred at that necessitie breake the boundes of nature To stay this mischiefe quoth Helena Dulce honorable is the custome of Spaine An honorable custome of Spaine where the vertuous dame holdeth the second mariage a retrograding of her reputation a wrong to her deceased husband for by this staiednesse shée is in possession of her libertie and hath the disposing of her liuing I holde this precise custome quoth Dondolo more profitable then necessarie for the penance were too hard yea vnpossible to bée indured that the lusty young Widdow should bée constrained to a Virgins chastitie for as Ouid deuineth I that sometimes of Nuptiall rites Haue taste the pleasant toyes Now cannot chuse but call to minde Dame Venus sugred ioyes But if the aged widdow could liue within this lawe it would bring honor to her yeares and happinesse to the end of her life What better husbands may shée haue then her owne Children whome she may both commaund and controule Meete husbands for aged widdowe whose dueties are to labour in her causes and to vnburden her heart of cares And when shée departeth this life where may shée better dispose her liuing then vpon her owne Children whome to relieue she is coniured by nature and to bring vp in good nurture bound in conscience But from the beginning so rife hath béen the dotage of widdowes that when their féeble legges faintely supporte their consumed bodies when at high noone their mistie eyes hardly discerneth the high way and when forst through lack of téeth they swallowe their meate their lippes notwithstanding take delight in kisses and their mindes thirst after wantonnesse Mens follies are as great as Womens simplicities in this ouersight in dotage quoth Quéene Aurelia but I think it necessarie that héere wée stay our iourney least wée enter into hell before we be a ware and therefore Segnior Fabritio I pray you let vs haue your sentence to ouerrule this question Madam quoth Fabritio the euill of this inequallitie in Mariage is both so auncient and so common in vse Experience is a iudgement it selfe as there néedeth no other iudgement then experience of our neighbours mischaunces but to succour the iniured Children A worthy law made by Laertius I would that one of Laertius lawes were common to the whole world which is where the Tenant sued his Lord Seruant his Master or the Childe his Parents that Iudges themselues should forth with looke into the Processe and determine the same for it is vehemently to be supposed that these sutes are forced vpon vehement iniuries otherwise the Seruant would feare to sue his Master who hath pówer moderately to chasten him the Tenant would quake to vnquiet his Lorde who hath many meanes to crosse him and without whose grace hée may neuer liue in peace Shame and duety in any sufferable matter would make the childe forbeare to molest his Parents for but where his cause is knowne Reporte like a two edged Knife would besides his iniurie wound him with blame and omission of dutie Therefore where the least of two dangerous euils foreeth the aboue said to sue it is much to be lamented that delay countenance of friends corruption with bribes and other supporters which the rich hath should torment the poore complainant more then his originall iniurie Your reason is but iust quoth Quéene Aurelia and the rest of the companie who wearie with the multitude of the recited mischances here broke off the disputation and went and reposed themselues in the great Chamber The speeche which passed the sixt night at Supper betweene Segnior Philoxenus and his Honourable Guestes ACcording to the order of Merchaunts who at the latter enoe of the yeare suruey their accountes to sée what fortune and mischaunce they haue receiued through the whole yeare past Segnior Philoxenus towards the latter ende of Supper smilinglie demaunded an account of the benefite of the chosen companies sixe dayes Disputation Sir quoth Soranso It is no striuing against the streame with a modest merrie countenance we are like to present you a Banckrupts reckoning who the longer he occupieth the worse he thriueth so wée these sixe dayes haue trauailed to finde out a way to the Paradise in mariage and euery day we haue béen further and further off of our determination one day we thought that the wealthy matches of Parents would haue spéeded our iourney but there