ryme called ryding rime and that is suche as our Mayster and Father Chaucer vsed in his Canterburie tales and in diuers other delectable and light enterprises but though it come to my remembrance somewhat out of order it shall not yet come altogether out of time for I will nowe tell you a conceipt whiche I had before forgotten to wryte you may see by the way that I holde a preposterous order in my traditions but as I sayde before I wryte moued by good wil and not to shewe my skill Then to returne too my matter as this riding rime serueth most aptly to wryte a merie tale so Rythme royall is fittest for a graue discourse Ballades are beste of matters of loue and rondlettes moste apt for the beating or handlyng of an adage or common prouerbe Sonets serue aswell in matters of loue as of discourse Dizaymes and Sixames for shorte Fantazies Verlayes for an effectuall proposition although by the name you might otherwise iudge of Verlayes and the long verse of twelue and fouretene sillables although it be now adayes vsed in all Theames yet in my iudgement it would serue best for Psalmes and Himpnes I woulde stande longer in these traditions were it not that I doubt mine owne ignoraunce but as I sayde before I know that I write to my fréede and affying my selfe therevpon I make an ende FINIS VVyll is dame bevvties chiefe Iustice of Oyre and terminer Common Bayll There is in deede suche a kinde of feuer Lenuoye Such a sect there is that desire no longer lyfe theÌ„ vvhiles they are in loue Astolf being the goodliest personne in the vvorlde founde a dvvarfe lying vvith his vvife * Apeece of golde like the Crusado * The chiefe Cittie in Cyprus * The gouernour of Famagosta * The generall of the Turkes The foure to che bearers that came in vvith the Actor The Actor had a token in his cap like to the Mountacutes of Italie The token that he dyd vveare in his cappe The Montacutes and capels in Italye do vvere tokens in their cappes to be knovven one from another * Venetian hotes * Knovv not * Good quaâ—â—â—ies * Am not * Lacke * As vvho should say These thinges are mistical and not to bee vnderstoode but by Thaucthour him selfe Another misterie Another misterie Another misterie Another similitude Hope is euer contrary to a louers Passion à definito Poetes Astronomers definition Painters description Common peoples opinion The Authors definition Prince Nobilitie Prelacie Lawyers Merchants Husbandmen CoÌ„munaltie Haughty harts ☞ Caesar Pompey Montacute Earle of Salisbury Borbon Borbons Epitaph Aristotle Cicero Auicene Greedy minde Miser Vnthriftes Praters Felons Hope is cup-bearer to war. Flushyng frayes fleesing of Flaunders Aerdenburgh Tergoes * The Prince of Orenge his name is Guillam of Nassau ☜ Ramykins * A Coronel of the kings side (a) An Iland so called which was sore spoyled by our countrymen (b) A Coronel of the kings side whiche was gouernour of Middelburgh next before MouÌ„tdragon * A towne in Holland * Christmas The frute of fansie The pleasauntest village as I thinke that is in Europe (a) forbidden (b) the Greene captaine (c) a prouerbe (a) protestauÌ„ts (b) The Iland wherein Flushing doth stand (c) Rigged vp and fully furnished (d) a Towne (e) a Riuer (f) Lusty gallants (g) The admiral of flushing (h) Iulian de Romero (i) The castellane of Anwerp (k) A Riuer Hope is the herbenger of mishappe * footemen ☜ ☞ * A coronell of the kings side ☜ Prince Nobilitie Prelacie Lawyers Merchaunts The first supose grownd of all the suposes An other supose Another supose An other supose A dottish supose An other supose Erostra Du. ex improuiso Dulipo is espied by Erostrato The seruants come in An other suppose Pasi subito improuiso venit An other suppose Another suppose Another suppose A stoute suppose A pleasant suppose A true suppose A shamelesse suppose A needelesse suppose An other suppose A shrewde suppose An other suppose Another suppose Another plain and homely suppose Erostrato exit A knauishe suppose Lawyers are neuer weary to get money A gentle suppose A crafty suppose A right suppose The first suppose brought to conclusion * Fygure The courte liuely painted A glasse for yong women ArgumentuÌ„ â maiore Bacchus Bacchus was the God whom they most honored in Thebes Neuer Sworde Lamenting Exile an exceding griefe to an honest mynde All exyles are like bondmen Hope the help in miserye Fuw frends in miserye Smal causes may moue the needy to contend The dames did loue Polynice and hate Eteocles One of the furies Rehersall of olde grudges doâ— hâ—â—der al reconcilition (b) Cruell or vengeable Truth pleadeth simply when falssehood vseth eloquence (c) Crown 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sundrye men sundry minds Onely rule Wil not Tullyes opinyon Youth seeth not so much as age Ambition doth destroye al equalytte doth maynteyne al things If the head be euill the body cannot be good Content to riche Riches are but borowed ware More care to loose than plesure to posses Small glory for a rebel to see his owne countrey spoyled Kyll Promisse Age must be helped by youth Venus made him blynde for giuing sentence against hir Great follye to accuse the gods A thankles office to foretell a mischiefe No greater honor than to dye for thy countrey Death indeed yeldeth more pleasure than lyfe Comaundements Any messeÌ„ger is welcome that bringeth tydings of aduancement Cesers tears We harken somtimee willingly to wofull news * would not She sheweth the frutes of true kyndly loue The duty of a childe truly perfourmed She giueth him a staffe and stayeth hym hir self also Iustice sleepeth A Glasse for brittel Beutie and for iusty limmes A mirrour for Magistrates (a) The Hill where poetes fayne thâ—t the Muses sleepe (a) A true exposition (b) Querweening There are to many of them in euery countrey A Misterie (a) Sir William Morgan of Pencoyde (a) bettâ—â— (a) best beloued (b) in good worth (a) Fadom a half three ho. (b) When all sayles are takeÌ„ downe (c) You be to soone (d) It is not good tide (e) the Duke (a) vnknowen (a) It is good tide that know I well (b) Lusty gallants Yorke and Herle (a) care (a) A Small bote The ayre of that Countrie did by all likelyhood seeme colder to him than the streetes of Venice (a) as who sayeth She vvas an Egiptian Angelica refusing the most famous knights in the vvhole vvorlde chose at last Medoro a poore seruing man.
vp Thus yere by yere the one succéeding other This royall crowne should vnto bothe remayne Ser. Oh th unbridled mindes of ambicious men Ioca. Etocles thus plast in princely seate Drunke with the sugred taste of kingly raigne Not onely shut his brother from the crowne But also from his natiue country soyle Alas poore Polynice what might he doe Vniustly by his brother thus betrayed To Argos he with sad and heauie cheere Forthwith conuayde him selfe on whom at length With fauning face good fortune smyled so As with Adrastus king of Argiues there He founde such fauour and affinitie As to restore my sonne vnto his raigne He hath besiedge this noble citie Thebes And hence procéedes my most extreme annoye For of my sonnes who euer doe preuaile The victorie will turne vnto my griefe Alas I feare such is the chaunce of warre That one or both shall purchase death therby Wherfore to shunne the worst that may befall Thoughe comfortlesse yet as a pitifull mother Whom nature binds to loue hir louing sonnes And to prouide the best for their auaile I haue thought good by prayers to entreate The two brethren nay rather cruel foes A while to staie their fierce and furious fight Till I haue tried by meanes for to apease The swelling wrath of their outraging willes And so with much to doe at my request They haue forborne vnto this onely houre Ser. Small space good wot to stint so great a strife Ioca. And euen right now a trustie man of mine Returned from the campe enforming me That Polynice will straight to Thebes come Thus of my woe this is the wailefull sūme And for bycause in vaine and bootelesse plainte I haue small néede to spend this litle time Here will I cease in wordes more to be wray The restlesse state of my afflicted minde Desiring thée thou goe to Eteocles Hartly on my behalfe beseching him That out of hand according to his promise He will vouchsafe to come vnto my courte I know he loues thée well and to thy wordes I thinke thou knowst he will giue willing eare Ser. O noble Quéene sith vnto such affayres My spedie diligence is requisite I will applie effectually to doe What so your highnesse hath commaunded me Ioca. I will goe in and pray the Gods therwhile With tender pitie to appease my griefe Iocasta goeth off the stage into hir pallace hir foure handmaides follow hir the foure Chorus also follow hir to the gates of hir pallace after comming on the stage take their place where they cōtinue to the end of the Tragedie SERVVS SOLVS THe simple man whose meruaile is so great At stately courts and princes regall seate With gasing eye but onely doth regarde The golden glosse that outwardly appeares The crownes bedeckt with pearle and precious stones The riche attire imbost with beaten golde The glittering mace the pompe of swarming traine The mightie halles heapt full of flattering frendes The chambers huge the goodly gorgeous beddes The gilted roofes embowde with curious worke The faces swéete of fine disdayning dames The vaine suppose of wanton raigne at luste But neuer viewes with eye of inward thought The painefull toile the great and greuous cares The troubles still the newe increasing feares That princes nourish in their iealous brestes He wayeth not the charge that Ioue hath laid On princes how for themselues they raigne not He wéenes the law must stoope to princely will But princes frame their noble wills to lawe He knoweth not that as the boystrous winde Doth shake the toppes of highest reared towres So doth the force of frowarde fortune strike The wight that highest sits in haughtie state Lo Oedipus that sometime raigned king Of Thebane soyle that wonted to suppresse The mightest Prince and kepe him vnder checke That fearefull was vnto his forraine foes Now like a poore afflicted prisoner In dungeon darke shut vp from chéerefull light In euery part so plagued with annoy As he abhorrs to leade a longer life By meanes wherof the one against the other His wrathfull sonnes haue planted all their force And Thebes here this auncient worthy towne With threatning siege girt in on euerie side In daunger lyes to be subuerted quite If helpe of heuenly Ioue vpholde it not But as darke night succedes the shining day So lowring griefe comes after pleasant ioy Well now the charge hir highnesse did commaund I must fulfill though haply all in vaine Seruus goeth off the stage by the gates called Electrae Antygone attended with .iij. gentlewomen and hir gouernour commeth out of the Queene hir mothers Pallace BAILO ANTIGONE O Gentle daughter of King Oedipus O sister deare to that vnhappie wight Whom brothers rage hath reaued of his right To whom thou knowst in yong and tender yeares I was a friend and faithfull gouenour Come forth sith that hir grace hath graunted leaue And let me knowe what cause hath moued nowe So chaste a maide to set hir daintie foote Ouer the thresholde of hir secrete lodge Since that the towne is furnishte euery where With men of armes and warlike instrumentes Vnto our eares there cōmes no other noyse But sounde of trumpe and neigh of trampling stedes Which running vp and downe from place to place With hideous cries betoken bloude and death The blasing sunne ne shineth halfe so brighte As it was wont to doe at dawne of day The wretched dames throughout the wofull towne Together clustring to the temples goe Beseching Ioue by way of humble plainte With tender ruthe to pitie their distresse An. The loue I beare to my swéete Polynice My deare brother is onely cause hereof Bai. Why daughter knowst thou any remedie How to defend thy fathers citie here From that outrage and fierce repyning wrathe Which he against it iustly hath conceiued An. Oh gouernour might this my faultlesse bloude Suffise to stay my brethrens dyre debate With glad content I coulde afford my life Betwixte them both to plant a perfect peace But since alas I cannot as I woulde A hote desire enflames my feruent mind To haue a sight of my swéete Polynice Wherfore good guide vouchsafe to guide me vp Into some tower about this hugie court From whence I may behold our enemies campe Therby at least to féede my hungry eyes But with the sight of my beloued brother Then if I die contented shall I die Bai. O princly dame the tender care thou takste Of thy deare brother deserueth double praise Yet crau'st thou that which cannot be obtainde By reason of the distance from the towne Vnto the plaine where th armie lies incampte And furthermore besemeth not a maide To shew hir selfe in such vnséemly place Whereas among such yong and lustie troupes Of harebrainde souldiers marching to and fro Both honest name and honour is empairde But yet reioyce sith this thy great desire Without long let or yet without thy paine At wishe and will shortly may be fulfillde For Polynice forthwith will hither come Euen I my selfe was lately at
to vse that for a Spurre which I had heere appoynted for a Brydle I can none otherwise lameÌ„t it but to say that I am not the first which hath bene misiudged Truely gentle Reader I protest that I haue not ment heerein to displease any man but my desire hath rather bene to coÌ„tent most men I meane the diuine with godly Hymnes and Psalmes the sober minde with morall discourses and the wildest will with sufficient warning The which if it so fall out then shall I thinke my selfe right happie And if it fall out otherwise I shall yet neuer bee ashamed to become one of their corporation which reape floutes and reprehension for their trauayles But bicause these Posies growe to a great bundell and thereof also the number of louing lynes exceedeth in the Superlatiue I thought good to aduertise thee that the most part of them were written for other men And out of all doubt if euer I wrote lyne for my selfe in causes of loue I haue written tenne for other men in layes of lust For I counte greater difference betweene loue and lust than there is diuersitie betweene witte and wisedome and yet witte and I did in youth make such a fray that I feare his cosen wisedome will neuer become freendes with me in my age VVell though my folly bee greater than my fortune yet ouergreat were mine vnconstancie if in mine owne behalfe I shoulde compyle so many sundrie Songs or Sonets I haue heard of an honest plaine meaning Citizen who being ouercharged with many matters in the lawe and hearing of a common solicitor of causes in the Citie came home to comfort his wife and tolde hir that he had heard of one which dwelt at Billingsgate that coulde helpe all men Euâ—n so good Reader I was a great while the man which dwelt at Billingsgate For in wanton delightes I helped all men though in sad earnest I neuer furthered my selfe any kinde of way And by that it proceedeth that I haue so often chaunged my Posie or worde For when I did compile any thing at the request of other men if I had subscribed the same with mine owne vsuall mot or deuise it might haue bewrayed the same to haue beene of my doing And I was euer curious in that behalfe as one that was lothe to bewray the follies of other men And yet as you see I am not verie daungerous to lay my selfe wide open in view of the worlde I haue also sundrie tymes chaunged mine owne worde or deuise And no meruaile For he that wandereth much in those wildernesses shall seldome continue long in one minde VVell it were follie to bewayle things which are vnpossible to be recouered sithence Had I wist doth seldome serue as a blasone of good vnderstanding And therefore I will spende no more wordes in this Preface but I pray thee to smell vnto these Posies as Floures to comfort Herbes to cure and VVeedes to be auoyded So haue I ment them and so I beseech thee Reader to accept them Farewell T.B. In prayse of Gascogines Posies WE prayse the plough that makes the fruitelesse soyle To bring forth corne through helpe of heauenly might And eke esteeme the simple wretches toyle VVhose painefull handes doe labour day and night VVe prayse the ground whereon the herbes do grow VVhich heale or helpe our greeues and mortall paine Yea weedes haue worth wherein we vertue know For natures Art nothing hath made in vaine VVe prayse those floures which please the secrete sense And do content the tast or smell of man The Gardners paynes and worke we recompence That skilfull is or aught in cunning can But much more prayse to Gascoignes penne is due VVhose learned hande doth here to thee present A Posie full of Hearbes and Flowers newe To please all braynes to wit or learning bent Howe much the minde doth passe the sense or smell So much these Floures all other do excell E.C. In prayse of Gascoignes Posies IN gladsome Spring when sweete and pleasant shoures Haue well renued what winters wrath hath torne And that we see the wholesome smelling Floures Begin to laugh rough winters wracke to scorne If then by chaunce or choyce of owners will VVe roame and walke in place of rare delightes And therein finde what Arte or natures skill Can well set forth to feede our hungrie sightes Yea more if then the owner of the soyle Doth licence yeelde to vse all as our owne And gladly thinkes the fruites of all his toyle To our behoofe to be well set and sowne It cannot be but this so great desart In basest breast doth bâ—eede this due regarde VVith worlde of thankes to prayse this friendly part And wish that woorth mought pay a iust rewarde Good Reader then beholde what gallant spring This booke brings forth of fruites of finest sortes Be bolde to take thy list of euerie thing For so is ment And for thy glad disportes The paine was tane therefore lo this I craue In his behalfe that wrote this pleasant worke VVith care and cost and then most freely gaue His labours great wherein great treasures lurke To thine auayle let his desartes now binde thee In woorde and deede he may still thankfull finde thee M.C. commending the correction of Gascoignes Posies THe Beares blinde whelpes which lacke both nayles and heare And lie like lumpes in filthie farrowed wise Do for a time most ougly beastes appeare Till dammes deare tongue do cleare their clozed eyes The gadde of steele is likewise blunt and blacke Till file and fire do frame it sharpe and bright Yea precious stones their glorious grace do lacke Till curious hand do make them please the sight And so these floures although the grounde were gay VVhereon they grew and they of gallant hew Yet till the badde were cullde and cast away The best became the worse by such a crew For my part then I lyked not their smell But as they be I like them pretly well R.S. In prayse of Gascoignes Posies THe pleasant plot wherein these Posies gâ—â—w May represent Parnassus springs indeede VVhere Pallas with hir wise and learned crew Did plant great store and sow much cunning seede That Goddesse then on whom the Muses wayte To garde hir grounde from greedie gathrers spoyle Hath here ordeynde by fine and close conceyte A greene knight chiefe and master of the soyle Such badge beares he that beautified this booke VVith glorious shew of sundrie gallant flowers But since he first this labor vndertooke He gleand thereout to make the profite ours A heape of Hearbes a sort of fruitfull seedes A needefull salue compound of needlesse weedes Appendix All these with more my freend here freely giues Nor naked wordes nor streyne of straunge deuise But Gowers minde which now in Gascoigne liues Yeeldes heere in view by iudgement of the wise His penne his sworde himselfe and all his might To Pallas schoole and Mars in Princes right T. Ch. In prayse of Gascoignes Posies THough goodnesse of the
men as maye confesse with me How contrary the lots of loue to all true louers bée Let Patience be the Priest the Clarke be Close conceipt The Sertin be Simplicitie which meaneth no disceipt Let almes of Loue be delt euen at the Chaunsell doore And feede them there with freshe delayes as I haue bene of yore Then let the yongest sort be set to ring Loues Bels And pay Repentance for their paines but giue thē nothing else Thus when the Dirge is done let euery man depart And learne by me what harme it is to haue a faithfull hart Those litle landes I haue mine heyre must needes possesse His name is Lust the landes be losse few louers scape with lesse The rest of all my goodes which I not here rehearse Giue learned Poets for their paines to decke my Tombe with verse And let them write these wordes vpon my carefull chest Lo here he lies that was as true in loue as is the best Alas I had forgot the Parsons dewe to paye And so my soule in Purgatorye might remaine alway Then for my priuie Tythes as kysses caught by stealth Sweete collinges such other knackes as multiplied my wealth I giue the Vickar here to please his gréedie wyll A deintie dishe of suger soppes but saust with sorrow stil And twise a wéeke at least let dight them for his dishe On Fridayes and on wednesdaies to saue expence of fishe Nowe haue I much bequeathed and litle left behinde And others mo must yet be serued or else I were vnkinde Wet eyes and wayling wordes Executours I make And for their paines ten pound of teares let either of them take Let sorrow at the last my Suprauisor be And stedfastnesse my surest steade I giue him for his fée Yet in his pattent place this Sentence of prouiso That he which loueth stedfastly shall want no sauce of sorrow Thus now I make an ende of this my wearie wyll And signe it with my simple hand and set my seale there tyll And you which reade my wordes although they be in rime Yet reason may perswade you eke Thus louers dote sometime The Subscription and seale MY mansion house was Mone from Dolours dale I came I Fato Non Fortuna hight lo now you know my name My seale is sorrowes sythe within a fielde of flame Which cuts in twaine a carefull heart that sweltreth in the same Fato non Fortuna ALas lo now I heare the passing Bell Which Care appointeth carefullye to knoule And in my brest I féele my heart now swell To breake the stringes which ioynde it to my soule The Crystall yse which lent mine eyes their light Doth now waxe dym and dazeled all with dread My senses all wyll now forsake me quite And hope of health abandoneth my head My wearie tongue can talke no longer now My trembling hand nowe leaues my penne to hold My ioynts nowe stretch my body cannot bowe My skinne lookes pale my blood now waxeth cold And are not these the very panges of death Yes sure sweete heart I know them so to bée They be the panges which striue to stop my breath They be the panges which part my loue from thée What sayd I Loue Nay life but not my loue My life departes my loue continues styll My lothed lyfe may from my corpse remoue My louing Loue shall alwayes worke thy wyll It was thy wyll euen thus to trye my truth Thou hast thy wyll my truth may now be sene It was thy wyll that I should dye in youth Thou hast thy wyll my yeares are yet but grene Thy penaunce was that I should pine in paine I haue performde thy penaunce all in wo Thy pleasure was that I should here remaine I haue bene glad to please thy fansie so Nowe since I haue performed euery part Of thy commaunde as neare as tongue can tell Content thée yet before my muse depart To take this Sonet for my last farewell Fato non fortuna His Farewell FArewell déere Loue whome I haue loued and shall Both in this world and in the world to come For proofe whereof my sprite is Charons thrall And yet my corpse attendant on thy toome Farewell déere swéete whose wanton wyll to please Eche taste of trouble séemed mell to me Farewell swéete deare whose doubtes for to appease I was contented thus in bale to be Farewell my lyfe farewell for and my death For thee I lyu'd for thee nowe must I dye Farewell from Bathe whereas I feele my breath Forsake my breast in great perplexitie Alas how welcome were this death of mine If I had dyde betweene those armes of thine Fato non Fortuna The Reporters conclusion WHere might I now find flooddes of flowing teares So to suffice the swelling of mine eyes How might my breast vnlode the bale it beares Alas alas how might my tongue deuise To tell this weary tale in wofull wise To tell I saye these tydinges nowe of truth Which may prouoke the craggy rockes to rush In depth of dole would God that I were drownde Where flattering ioyes might neuer find me out Or graued so within the gréedy grounde As false delights might neuer bréede my doubt Nor guilefull loue hir purpose bring about Whose trustlesse traines in collours for to paint I find by proofe my wittes are all to faint I was that man whome destinies ordeine To beare eche griefe that groweth on the mold I was that man which proued to my paine More panges at once than can with tongue be told I was that man hereof you maye be hold Whome heauen and earth did frame to scoffe and scorne I I was he which to that ende was borne Suffized not my selfe to taste the fruite Of sugred sowres which growe in gadding yeares But that I must with paine of lyke pursute Perceiue such panges by paterne of my peares And féele how fansies fume could fond my pheares Alas I find all fates against me bent For nothing else I lyue but to lament The force of friendship bound by holy othe Dyd drawe my wyll into these croked wayes For with my frend I went to Bathe though loth To lend some comfort in his dollie dayes The stedfast friend stickes fast at all assayes Yet was I loth such time to spend in vaine The cause whereof lo here I tell you playne By proofe I found as you may well perceiue That all good counsell was but worne in wast Such painted paines his passions did deceiue That bitter gall was mell to him in tast Within his will such rootes of ruine plast As graffes of griefes were only giuen to growe Where youth did plant and rash conceite did sowe I sawe at first his eares were open aye To euery tale which fed him with some hope As fast againe I sawe him turne away From graue aduise which might his conscience grope From reasons rule his fancie lightly lope He only gaue his mind to get that gaine Which most he wisht and least could yet attaine Not I
colde in earth and claye But that I was restored vnto breath By one that séemde lyke Pellycane to playe Who shed his blood to giue me foode alwaye And made me liue in spite of sorrowe styll Sée how my dreame agrees now with this byll His feebled wittes forgotten had there whyle By whome and howe he had this letter first But when he spyde the man then gan he smile For secréete ioye his heart dyd séeme to burst Now thought he best that earst he compted worst And louingly he dyd the man embrace And askt howe farde the roote of all his grace Sée sodaine chaunge sée subtile swéete disceipte Behold how loue can make his subiectes blinde Let all men marke hereby what guilefull baite Dan Cupide layeth to tyse the louers minde Alacke alacke a slender thread maye binde That prysonor fast which meanes to tarrye styll A lytle road correctes a ready wyll The briefe was writte and blotted all with gore And thus it sayde Behold howe stedfast loue Hath made me hardy thankes haue he therefore To write these wordes thy doubtes for to remoue VVith mine owne blood and yf for thy behoue These bloody lynes do not thy Cares conuert I vowe the next shall bleede out of my heart I dwell to long vpon this thriftlesse tale For Bartholmew was well appeasde hereby And féelingly he banished his bale Taking herein a tast of remedy By lyte and lyte his fittes away gan flye And in short space he dyd recouer strength To stand on foote and take his horse at length So that we came to London both yfere And there his Goddesse tarryed tyll we came I am to blame to call hir Goddesse here Since she deserude in déede no Goddesse name But sure I thinke and you may iudge the same She was to to him a Goddesse in his thought Although perhaps hir Shrines was ouerbought I maye not write what words betwéene them past How teares of griefe were turnde to teares of ioye Nor how their dole became delight at last Nor how they made great myrth of much anoye Nor how content was coyned out of coye But what I sawe and what I well maye write That as I maye I meane for to endite In louely London loue gan nowe renew This blooddye Letter made it battle much And all the doubtes which he in fansies drew Were done away as there had bene none such But to him self◠he bare no body grutch Him selfe he sayde was cause of all this wo Withouten cause that hir suspected so O louing Youthes this glasse was made for you And in the same you may your selues behold Beléeue me nowe not one in all your crew Which where he loues hath courage to be bold Your Cressides climes are alwaies vncontrold You dare not saye the Sunne is cleare and bright You dare not sweare that darkesome is the night Terence was wise which taught by Pamphilus Howe courage quailes where loue be blinds the sence Though proofe of times makes louers quarelous Yet small excuse serues loue for iust defence These Courtisanes haue power by pretence To make a Swan of that which was a Crowe As though blacke pitche were turned into Snowe Ferenda She whome heauen and earth had framde For his decaye and to bewitche his wittes Made him nowe thinke him selfe was to be blamde Which causeles thus would fret himselfe in fittes Shée made him thinke that sorrowe sildome sittes Where trust is tyed in fast and faithfull knottes She sayd Mistrust was méete for simple sottes What wyl you more shée made him to beléeue That she first loued although she yonger were She made him thinke that his distresse dyd gréeue Hir guiltlesse minde and that it might appeare Howe these conceiptes could ioyne or hang yfere She dyd confesse howe soone shée yeelded his Such force quod she in learned men there is She furder sayde that all to true it was Howe youthfull yeares and lacke of him alone Had made hir once to choose out brittle glasse For perfect Gold She dyd confesse with mone That youthfully shee bytte a worthlesse bone But that therein she tasted déepe delight That sayde shée not nor I presume to write Shée sware and that I beare full well in minde Howe Dyomede had neuer Troylus place Shée sayd and sware how euer sate the winde That Admirals dyd neuer know hir case She sayd againe that neuer Noble Face Dyd please hir eye nor moued hir to change She sayd hir minde was neuer geuen to range She sayd and sayd that Bracelettes were ybound To hold him fast but not to charme his thought She wysht therewith that she were déepely drownd In Ippocrace if euer she had sought Or dronke or smelt or tane or found or bought Such Nectar droppes as she with him had dronke But this were true she wisht hir soule were sonke And to conclude she sayde no printed rymes Could please hir so as his braue Triumphes dyd Why wander I She cou'red all hir crimes With déepe disceipt and all hir guiles she hyd With fained teares and Bartholmew she ryd With double gyrthes she byt and whyned both And made him loue where he had cause to loth These be the fruictes which grow on such desire These are the gaines ygot by such an art To late commes be that séekes to quenche the fire When flames possesse the house in euery part Who lyst in peace to kéepe a quiet hart Flye loue betimes for if he once oretake him Then seeld or neuer shall he well forsake him If once thou take him Tenaunt to thy brest No wrytte nor force can serue to plucke him thence No pylles can purge his humour lyke the rest He bydes in bones and there takes residence Against his blowes no bucklar makes defence And though with paine thou put him from thy house Yet lurkes hée styll in corners lyke a Mouse At euery hole he créepeth in by stelth And priuilye he féedeth on thy crommes With spoiles vnséene he wasteth all thy welth He playes boe péepe when any body commes And dastardlik he séemes to dread the drommes Although in déede in Embushe he awaytes To take thée stragling yf thou passe his straites So séemed now by Bartholmews successe Who yeelded sone vnto this second charge Accusing styll him selfe for his distresse And that he had so languished at large Short worke to make he had none other charge To beare loues blowes but styll to trust hir tale And pardon craue because he bread hir bale And thus he lyude contented styll with craft Mistrusting most that gaue least cause of doubt He fledde mishappe and helde it by the haft He banisht bale and bare it styll about He let in loue and thought to hold him out He séemde to bathe in perfect blisse againe When God he knowes he fostred priuie paine For as the Trée which crooked growes by kinde Although it be with propping vnderset In trackt of time to crooked course wyll twinde So could Ferenda neuer more forget The lease at
and will you suffer him master thus to reuile you Ero. Come in come in what wilt thou do with thys pestil Da. I will rap the olde cackabed on the costerd Ero. Away with it you sirra lay downe these stones come in at dore euery one of you beare with him for his age I passe not of his euill wordes Erostrato taketh all his seruantes in at the dores Scena viij PHILOGANO FERARESE LITIO ALas who shall relieue my miserable estate to whome shall I complaine since he whome I brought vp of a childe yea and cherished him as if he had bene mine owne doth nowe vtterly denie to knowe me and you whome I toke for an honest man and he that should haue broughte me to the sighte of my sonne are compacte with this false wretch and woulde face me downe that he is Erostrato Alas you might haue some compassion of mine age to the miserie I am now in and that I am a stranger desolate of all comforte in this countrey or at the least you shoulde haue feared the vengeaunce of God the supreme iudge whiche knoweth the secrets of all harts in hearing this false witnesse with him whome heauen and earth doe knowe to be Dulipo and not Erostrato Li. If there be many such witnesses in this coūtrey men may go about to proue what they wil in cōtrouersies here Fer. Well sir you may iudge of me as it pleaseth you how the matter commeth to passe I know not but truly euer since he came first hither I haue knowen him by the name of Erostrato the sonne of Philogano a Cathanese nowe whether he be so in déede or whether he be Dulipo as you alledge let that be proued by them that knewe him before he came hether But I protest before God that whiche I haue said is neither a matter compact with him nor any other but euen as I haue hard him called reputed of al mē Phi. Out and alas he whom I sent hither with my son to be his seruaunt and to giue attendance on him hath eyther cut his throate or by some euill meanes made him away and hath not onely taken his garmentes his bookes his money and that whiche he brought out of Sicilia with him but vsurpeth his name also and turneth to his owne commoditie the bills of exchaunge that I haue alwayes allowed for my sonnes expences Oh miserable Philogano oh vnhappie old man oh eternall God is there no iudge no officer no higher powers whom I may complaine vnto for redresse of these wrongs Fer. Yes sir we haue potestates we haue Iudges and aboue al we haue a most iuste prince doubt you not but you shall haue iustice if your cause be iust Phi. Bring me then to the Iudges to the potestates or to whome you thinke best for I will disclose a packe of the greatest knauerie a fardell of the fowlest falsehoode that euer was heard of Li. Sir he that wil goe to the lawe must be sure of foure things first a right and a iust cause then a righteous aduocate to pleade nexte fauour coram Iudice and aboue all a good purse to procure it Fer. I haue not heard that the law hath any respect to fauour what you meane by it I cannot tell Phi. Haue you no regard to his wordes he is but a foole Fer. I pray you sir let him tell me what is fauour Li. Fauour cal I to haue a friend néere about the iudge who may so sollicite thy cause as if it be right spéedie sentence may ensue without any delayes if it be not good then to prolong it till at the last thine aduersarie being wearie shal be glad to compound with thée Fer. Of thus much although I neuer heard thus muche in this coūtrey before doubt you not Philogano I will bring you to an aduocate that shall spéede you accordingly Phi. Then shall I giue my selfe as it were a pray to the Lawyers whose insatiable iawes I am not able to féede although I had here all the goods and landes which I possesse in mine own countrey much lesse being a straunger in this miserie I know their cautels of old at the first time I come they wil so extoll my cause as though it were already won but within a seuēnight or ten daies if I do not continually féede them as the crow doth hir brattes twētie times in an houre they will begin to waxe colde and to finde cauils in my cause saying that at the firste I did not well instructe them till at the last they will not onely drawe the stuffing out of my purse but the marrow out of my bones Fer. Yea sir but this man that I tell you of is halfe a Saincte Li. And the other halfe a Deuill I hold a pennie Phi. Well sayd Litio in déede I haue but smal confidence in their smothe lookes Fer. Well sir I thinke this whom I meane is no suche manner of man but if he were there is such hatred and euil wil betwene him this gentlemā whether he be Erostrato or Dulipo what so euer he be that I warrant you he will doe whatsoeuer he can do for you were it but to spite him Phi. Why what hatred is betwixt them Fer. They are both in loue and suters to one gentlewoman the daughter of a welthie man in this citie Phi. Why is the villeine become of such estimatiō that he dare presume to be a suter to any gentlewomā of a good familie Fer. Yea sir out of all doubt Phi. How call you his aduersarie Fer. Cleander one of the excellentest doctors in our citie Phi. For Gods loue let vs goe to him Fer. Goe we then Finis Actus 4. Actus v. Scena 1. Fayned EROSTRATO WHat a mishappe was this that before I could méete with Erostrato I haue light euen ful in the lap of Philogano where I was cōstrained to denie my name to denie my master to faine that I knew him not to contend with him to reuile him in such sort that hap what hap can I cā neuer hap well in fauour with him againe Therefore if I could come to speake with the right Erostrato I will renounce vnto him both habite and credite and away as fast as I can trudge into some strange countrey where I may neuer see Philogano againe Alas he that of a litle childe hath brought me vp vnto this day and nourished me as if I had bene his owne in déede to confesse the trouth I haue no father to trust vnto but him But looke where Pasiphilo commeth the fittest man in the world to goe on me message to Erostrato Erostrato espieth Pasiphilo comming towards him Scena ij PASIPHILO EROSTRATO TWo good newes haue I heard to day alreadie one that Erostrato prepared a great feast this night the other that he séeketh for me And I to ease him of his trauaile least he shoulde runne vp and downe séeking me and bicause no man loueth
fynde thy noble matche so méete And woorthie bothe for thy degrée and byrthe I séeke to comforte thée by myne aduise That thou returne this citie to inhabite Whiche best of all may séeme to be the bowre Bothe for thy selfe and for thy noble spouse Forget thou then thy brothers iniuries And knowe deare chylde the harme of all missehap That happes twixt you must happe likewise to mée Ne can the cruell sworde so slightly touche Your tender fleshe but that the selfe same wounde Shall déepely bruse this aged brest of myne Cho. There is no loue may be comparde to that The tender mother beares vnto hir chyld For euen somuche the more it dothe encrease As their griefe growes or contentations cease Poli. I knowe not mother if I prayse deserue That you to please whome I ought not displease Haue traynde my selfe among my trustlesse foes But Nature drawes whether he will or nill Eche man to loue his natiue countrey soyle And who shoulde say that otherwise it were His toung should neuer with his hearte agrée This hath me drawne besyde my bounden due To set full light this lucklesse lyfe of myne For of my brother what may I else hope But traynes of treason force and falshoode bothe Yet neyther perill present nor to come Can holde me from my due obedience I graunte I can not grieflesse wel beholde My fathers pallace the holie aultars Ne louely lodge wherin I fostred was From whence driuen out and chaste vnworthily I haue to long aboade in forreyn coastes And as the growing gréene and pleasant plante Dothe beare freshe braunches one aboue another Euen so amidde the huge heape of my woes Doth growe one grudge more gréeuous than the rest To sée my deare and dolefull mother cladde In mourning tyre to tyre hir mourning minde Wretched alonely for my wretchednesse So lykes that enimie my brother best Soone shall you sée that in this wandring worlde No enmitie is equall vnto that That dark disdayne the cause of euery euill Dooth bréede full ofte in consanguinitie But Ioue he knowes what dole I doe endure For you and for my fathers wretched woe And eke how déepely I desire to knowe What wearie lyfe my louing sisters leade And what anoye myne absence them hath giuen Iocast Alas alas howe wrekefull wrath of Gods Doth still afflicte Oedipus progenie The fyrste cause was thy fathers wicked bedde And then oh why doe I my plagues recompte My burden borne and your vnhappie birth But néedes we must with pacient heartes abyde What so from high the heauens doe prouide With thée my chylde fayne would I question yet Of certaine things me woulde I that my wordes Might thée anoye ne yet renewe thy griefe Poli. Saye on deare mother say what so you please What pleaseth you shall neuer mée disease Iocast And séemes it not a heauie happe my sonne To be depriued of thy countrey coastes Poly. So heauie happe as toung can not expresse Iocast And what may moste molest the mynde of man This is exiled from his natiue soyle Poli. The libertie hée with his countrey loste And that he lacketh fréedome for to speake What séemeth best without controll or checke Iocast Why so eche seruant lacketh libertie To speake his minde without his maisters leaue Poli. In exile euery man or bonde or free Of noble race or meaner parentage Is not in this vnlike vnto the slaue That muste of force obey to eche mans will And prayse the péeuishnesse of eche mans pryde Iocast And séemed this so grieuous vnto thée Poli. What griefe can greater be than so constraynde Slauelike to serue gaynst right and reason bothe Yea muche the more to him that noble is By stately lyne or yet by vertuous lyfe And hath a heart lyke to his noble mynde Iocast What helpeth moste in suche aduersitie Poli. Hope helpeth moste to comfort miserie Ioca. Hope to returne from whence he fyrst was driuen Poli. Yea hope that happeneth oftentymes to late And many die before such hap may fall Iocast And howe didst thou before thy mariage sonne Mainteyne thy lyfe a straunger so bestad Poli. Sometyme I founde though seldome so it were Some gentle heart that coulde for curtesye Contente himselfe to succour myne estate Iocast Thy fathers friends and thyne did they not helpe For to reléeue that naked néede of thyne Poli. Mother he hath a foolishe fantasie That thinkes to fynd a frende in miserie Iocast Thou mightest haue helpe by thy nobilitie Poli. Couered alas in cloake of pouertie Iocast Wel ought we then that are but mortall héere Aboue all treasure counte our countrey deare Yea let me knowe my sonne what cause thée moued To goe to Grece Poli. The flying fame that thundred in myne eares How king Adrastus gouernour of Greece Was answered by Oracle that he Shoulde knitte in linkes of lawfull mariage His two faire daughters and his onely heires One to a Lyon th' other to a Boare An answere suche as eche man wondred at Iocast And how belongs this answere now to thée Poli. I toke my gesse euen by this ensigne héere A Lyon loe which I did alwayes beare Yet thinke I not but Ioue alonely brought These handes of myne to suche an high exploite Iocast And howe yet came it to this straunge effect Poli. The shining day had runne his hasted course And deawie night bespread hir mantell darke When I that wandred after wearie toyle To seke some harbrough for myne irked limmes Gan fynde at last a little cabbin close Adioyned faste vnto the stately walles Where king Adrastus held his royall towres Scarce was I there in quiet well ycought But thither came another exile eke Named Tydeus who straue perforce to driue Mée from this sorie seate and so at laste We settled vs to fell and bloudie fight Whereof the rumour grewe so great foorthwith That straight the king enformed was therof Who séeing then the ensignes that wée bare To be euen such as were to him foresayde Chose eche of vs to be his sonne by lawe And sithens did solemnize eke the same Iocast Yet woulde I know if that thy wyfe be suche As thou canst ioy in hir or what she is Pyli O mother deare fayrer ne wyser dame Is none in Greece Argia is hir name Iocast Howe couldst thou to this doubtfull enterprise So many bring thus armed all at once Poli. Adrastus sware that he woulde soone restore Vnto our right both Tydeus and me And fyrst for mée that had the greater néede Whereby the best and boldest blouds in Greece Haue followed me vnto this enterpryse A thing both iust and grieuous vnto me Gréeuous I saye for that I doe lament To be constrayned by such open wrong To warre agaynst myne owne deare countrey féeres But vnto you O mother dothe pertain To stinte this stryfe and both deliuer mée From exile now and eke the towne from siege For otherwise I sweare you here by heauens Eteocles who now doth me disdayne For brother
shortly shall sée me his lorde ▪ I aske the seate wherof I ought of right Possesse the halfe I am Oedipus sonne And yours so am I true sonne to you both Wherfore I hope that as in my defence The worlde will weygh so Ioue wil me assiste Eteocles commeth in here by the gates Electrae himself armed and before him .xx. gentlemen in armour his two pages wherof the one beareth his Target the other his helme Chor. Beholde O quéene beholde O woorthie quéene Vnwoorthie he Eteocles here cōmes So woulde the Gods that in this noble realme Shoulde neuer long vnnoble tyrant reigne Or that with wrong the right and doutlesse heire Shoulde banisht be out of his princely seate Yet thou O quéene so fyle thy sugred toung And with such counsell decke thy mothers tale That peace may both the brothers hartes inflame And rancour yelde that erst possesse the same Eteocl. Mother beholde your hestes for to obey In person nowe am I resorted hither In haste therefore fayne woulde I knowe what cause With hastie spéede so moued hath your minde To call me nowe so causelesse out of time When common wealth moste craues my onely ayde Fayne woulde I knowe what quent commoditie Perswades you thus to take a truce for tyme And yeld the gates wide open to my foe The gates that myght our stately state defende And now are made the path of our decay Ioca. Represse deare son those raging stormes of wrath That so bedimme the eyes of thine intent As when the tongue a redy Instrument Would fayne pronounce the meaning of the minde It cannot speake one honest séemely worde But when disdayne is shrunke or sette asyde And mynde of man with leysure can discourse What séemely wordes his tale may best beséeme And that the toung vnfoldes without affectes Then may procéede an answere sage and graue And euery sentence sawst with sobernesse Wherefore vnbende thine angrie browes deare childe And caste thy rolling eyes none other waye That here doest not Medusaes a face beholde But him euen him thy bloud and brother deare And thou behold my Polinices eke Thy brothers face wherein when thou mayst sée Thine owne image remember therewithall That what offence thou wouldst to him were done The blowes thereof rebounde vnto thy selfe And hereof eke I would you both forewarne When frendes or brethren kinsfolke or allies Whose hastie hearts some angrie moode had moued Be face to face by some of pitie brought Who seekes to ende their discorde and debate They onely ought consider well the cause For which they come and cast out of their minde For euermore the olde offences past So shall swéete peace driue pleading out of place Wherfore the first shall Polinices be To tell what reason first his minde did rule That thus our walles with forrein foes enclosde In sharpe reuenge of causelesse wronge receiu'd As he alledgeth by his brothers doome And of this wicked woe and dire debate Some God of pitie be the equall iudge Whome I beseeche to breath in both your breasts A yelding heart to deepe desire of peace Poli. My woorthie dame I finde that tried truthe Doth beste beseeme a simple naked tale Ne néedes to be with painted proces prickt That in hir selfe hath no diuersitie But alwayes shewes one vndisguised face Where déepe deceipt and lies must séeke the shade And wrap their wordes in guilefull eloquence As euer fraught with contrarietie So haue I often sayde and say againe That to auoide our fathers foule reproche And bitter curse I parted from this lande With right good will yet thus with him agréed That while the whirling wings of flying time Might roll one yeare aboute the heauenly spheare So long alone he might with peace possesse Our fathers seate in princely Diademe And when the yeare should eke his course renue Might I succeede to rule againe as long And that this lawe might still be kept for aye He bound him selfe by vowe of solemne othe By Gods by men by heauen and eke by earth Yet that forgot without all reuerence Vnto the Gods without respect to right Without respect that reason ought to rule His faith and troth both troden vnder foote He still vsurps most tyrantlike with wrong The right that doth of right to me belong But if he can with equall doome consent That I retourne into my natiue soyle To sway with him alike the kingly seate And euenly beare the bridle both in hand Deare mother mine I sweare by all the Gods To raise with speede the siege from these our walles And send the souldiers home from whence they came Which if he graunt me not then must I do Though loth as much as right and reason would To venge my cause that is both good and iust Yet this in heauen the Gods my records be And here in earth each mortall man may know That neuer yet my giltlesse heart did fayle Brotherly duetie to Eteocles And that causlesse he holdes me from mine owne Thus haue I said O mother euen as much As néedefull is wherein I me assure That in the iudgement both of good and badde My words may séeme of reason to procéede Constrained thus in my defence to speake Chor. None may denie O pere of princely race But that thy words are honest good and iust And such as well beséeme that tong of thine Eteo. If what to some séemes honest good and iust Could séeme euen so in euery doubtfull mind No darke debate nor quarell could arise But looke how many men so many minds And that that one man iudgeth good and iust Some other déemes as déepely to be wrong To say the truth mother this minde of mine Doth fléete full farre from that farfetch of his Ne will I longer couer my conceit If I could rule or reigne in heauen aboue And eke commaund in depth of darksome hell No toile ne trauell should my sprites abashe To take the way vnto my restlesse will To climbe aloft nor downe for to descend Then thinke you not that I can giue consent To yeld a part of my possession Wherin I liue and lead the monarchie A witlesse foole may euery man him gesse That leaues the more and takes him to the lesse With this reproch might to my name redound If he that hath with forren power spoilde Our pleasaunt fields might reaue from me perforce What so he list by force of armes demand No lesse reproofe the citizens ensewes If I for dread of Gréekish hosts should graunt That he might climbe to heigth of his desire In fine he ought not thus of me to craue Accord or peace with bloudy sword in hand But with humilitie and prayer both For often is it séene and proofe doth teach Swete words preuaile where sword and fire do faile Yet this if here within these stately walles He list to liue the sonne of Oedipus And not as king of Thebes I stand content But let him thinke since now
my will with flames of feruent loue To further forth the fruite of my desire My fréends deuisde this meane for my behoue They made a match according to my mind And cast a snare my fansie for to blind Short tale to make the déede was almost donne Before I knew which way the worke begonne And with this lot I did my selfe content I lent a liking to my parents choyse With hand and hart I gaue my frée consent And hung in hope for euer to reioyce I liu'd and lou'd long time in greater ioy Than shée which held king Priams sonne of Troy But thrée lewd lots haue chang'd my heauen to hell And those be these giue eare and marke them well First slaunder he which alwayes beareth hate To happy harts in heauenly state that bide Gan play his part to stirre vp some debate Whereby suspect into my choyse might glide And by his meanes the slime of false suspect Did as I feare my dearest friend infect Thus by these twayn long was I plungd in paine Yet in good hope my hart did still remaine But now aye me the greatest grief of all Sound loud my Lute and tell it out my toong The hardest hap that euer might befall The onely cause wherfore this song is soong Is this alas my loue my Lord my Roy My chosen pheare my gemme and all my ioye Is kept perforce out of my dayly sight Whereby I lacke the stay of my delight In loftie walles in strong and stately towers With troubled minde in solitary sorte My louely Lord doth spend his dayes and howers A weary life deuoyde of all disport And I poore soule must lie here all alone To tyre my trueth and wound my will with mone Such is my hap to shake my blooming time With winters blastes before it passe the prime Now haue you heard the summe of all my grief Whereof to tell my hart oh rends in twayne Good Ladies yet lend you me some relief And beare a parte to ease me of my payne My sortes are such that waying well my trueth They might prouoke the craggy rocks to rueth And moue these walles with teares for to lament The lothsome life wherein my youth is spent But thou my Lute be still now take thy rest Repose thy bones vppon this bed of downe Thou hast dischargd some burden from my brest Wherefore take thou my place herelie thée downe And let me walke to tyre my restlesse minde Vntill I may entreate some curteous winde To blow these wordes vnto my noble make That he may sée I sorow for his sake Meritum petere graue A Riddle A Lady once did aske of me This preatie thing in priuitie Good sir quod she faine would I craue One thing which you your selfe not haue Nor neuer had yet in times past Nor neuer shall while life doth last And if you séeke to find it out You loose your labour out of doubt Yet if you loue me as you say Then giue it me for sure you may Meritum petere graue The shield of loue c. L'Escü d'amour the shield of perfect loue The shield of loue the force of stedfast faith The force of faith which neuer will remoue But standeth fast to bide the brunts of death That trustie targe hath long borne off the blowes And broke the thrusts which absence at me throwes In dolefull dayes I lead an absent life And wound my will with many a weary thought I plead for peace yet sterue in stormes of strife I find debate where quiet rest was sought These panges with mo vnto my paine I proue Yet beare I all vppon my shield of loue In colder cares are my conceipts consumd Than Dido felt when false Aeneas fled In farre more heat than trusty Troylus fumde When craftie Cressyde dwelt with Diomed My hope such frost my hot desire such flame That I both fryse and smoulder in the same So that I liue and die in one degrée Healed by hope and hurt againe with dread Fast bound by faith when fansie would be frée Vntied by trust though thoughts enthrall my head Reuiu'd by ioyes when hope doth most abound And yet with grief in depth of dolors drownd In these assaultes I féele my féebled force Begins to faint thus weried still in woes And scarcely can my thus consumed corse Hold vp this Buckler to beare of these blowes So that I craue or presence for relief Or some supplie to ease mine absent grief Lenuoie To you deare Dame this dolefull plaint I make Whose onely sight may soone redresse my smart Then shew your selfe and for your seruaunts sake Make hast post hast to helpe a faithfull harte Mine owne poore shield hath me defended long Now lend me yours for elles you do me wrong Meritum petere graue A gloze vpon this text Dominus ijs opus habet MY recklesse race is runne gréene youth and pride be past My riper mellowed yeares beginne to follow on as fast My glancing lookes are gone which wonted were to prie In euery gorgeous garish glasse that glistred in mine eie My sight is now so dimme it can behold none such No mirrour but the merrie meane can please my fansie muche And in that noble glasse I take delight to view The fashions of the wonted worlde compared by the new For marke who list to looke each man is for him selfe And beates his braine to hord heape this trash worldly pelfe Our hands are closed vp great gifts go not abroade Few men will lend a locke of heye but for to gaine a loade Giue gaue is a good man what néede we lash it out The world is wōdrous fearfull now for danger bids men doubt And aske how chanceth this or what meanes all this méede Forsooth the common answer is because the Lord hath neede A noble iest by gisse I find it in my glasse The same fréehold our Sauiour Christ conueyed to his asse A text to trie the truth and for this time full fitte For where should we our lessons learne but out of holy writte First marke our only God which ruleth all the rost He sets aside all pompe and pride wherein fond wordlings boast His traine is not so great as filthy Sathans band A smaller heard may serue to féede at our great masters hand Next marke the heathens Gods and by them shall we sée They be not now so good fellowes as they were woont to be Ioue Mars and Mercurie Dame Venus and the rest They bāquet not as they were wont they know it were not best So kings and Princes both haue lefte their halles at large Their priuie chambers cost enough they cut off euery charge And when an office falles as chance sometimes may be First kéepe it close a yeare or twaine then geld it by the fée And giue it out at last but yet with this prouiso A bridle for a brainsicke Iade durante bene placito Some thinke these ladders low to climbe alofte with spéede Well let them
Firste he pleaded ignorance as though he knewe not hir name and therefore demaunded the same of Mistresse Fraunces who when shée had to him declared that hir name was Elinor hee sayde these woordes or very like in effect If I thought I shoulde not offend Mistres Elynor I woulde not doubte to stoppe hir bléeding without eyther payne or difficultie This Gentlewoman somewhat tickled with his woordes did incontinent make relation thereof to the sayde Mistresse Elynor who immediately declaring that Ferdinando was hir late receyued seruaunt returned the saide messanger vnto him with especiall charge that hee shoulde employ his deuoyre towardes the recouery of hir health with whome the same Ferdinando repayred to the chamber of his desired and finding hir set in a chayre leaning on the one side ouer a Siluer bason After his due reuerence hée layde his hande on hir Temples and priuily rounding hir in hir eare desired hir to commaunde a Hazell sticke and a knyfe the whiche beyng brought hée deliuered vnto hir saying on this wise Mistresse I will speake certaine woordes in secrete to my selfe and doe require no more but when you heare me saie openly this woorde Amen that you with this knyfe will make a nicke vppon this Hazell sticke and when you haue made fiue nickes commaunde mée also to cease The Dame partly of good will to the Knight and partly to be stenched of hir bléeding commaunded hir mayde and required the other Gentils somewhat to stande aside whiche done he began his Oraisons wherein he had not long muttered before he pronounced Amen wherwith the Lady made a nicke on the sticke with hir knyfe The saide Ferdinando continued to an other Amen when the Lady hauing made an other nick felt hir bléeding began to steynch so by the third Amen throughly steinched Ferdinando then chaunging his prayers into priuat talk said softly vnto hir Mystres I am glad that I am hereby enabled to doe you some seruice and as the staunching of your owne bloud may some way recomfort you so if the shedding of my bloud may any way content you I beséech you commaund it for it shal be euermore readily employed in your seruice and therwithal with a loud voyce pronounced Amen wherewith the good Lady making a nick did secretly answere thus Good seruant quod shée I must néedes think my selfe right happy to haue gained your seruice and good will and be you sure that although ther be in me no such desert as may draw you into this depth of affection yet such as I am I shal be alwayes glad to shewe my self thankfull vnto you And now if you thinke your self assured that I shall bleede no more doe then pronounce your fifth Amen the which pronounced shée made also hir fifth nicke and held vp hir head calling the company vnto hir and declaring vnto them that hir bléeding was throughly steinched And Ferdinando tarying a while in the chamber found oportunitie to loose his sequence néere too his desired Mistres And after congé taken departed After whose departure the Lady arose out of hir chayre and hir mayd going about to remoue the same espied and toke vp the writing the which hir mistres perceiuing gan sodenly coniecture that the same had in it some like matter to the verses once before left in like maner and made semblant to mistrust that the same should be some wordes of coniuration and taking it from hir mayd did peruse it and immediatly said too the company that she would not forgo the same for a great treasure But to be plain I think that Ferdinando excepted she was glad to be rid of all company vntill she had with sufficient leasure turned ouer and retossed euery card in this sequence And not long after being now tickled thorough all the vaines with an vnknown humour aduentured of hir selfe to commit vnto a like Ambassadour the discyphring of that which hitherto shée had kept more secret and therevpon wrot with hir own hand and head in this wyse GOod seruant I am out of al doubt much beholding vnto you and I haue great comfort by your meanes in the steinching of my bloud and I take great comfort too reade your letters and I haue found in my chamber diuers songs which I think too be of your making and I promise you they are excellently made and I assure you that I wil bee ready to doe for you any pleasure that I can during my life wherefore I pray you come to my chamber once in a day till I come abroad again and I wil be glad of your company and for because that you haue promised to be my HE I will take vpon me this name your SHE THis letter was doubtles of hir own hande writing and as therin the Reader may finde great difference of Style from hir former letter so may you now vnderstand the cause Shée had in the same house a friend a seruant a Secretary what should I name him such one as shée estéemed in time past more than was cause in tyme present And to make my tale good I will by the same words that Bartello vseth discribe him vnto you He was in heigth the proportion of two Pigmeis in bredth the thicknesse of two bacon hogges of presumption a Gyant of power a Gnatte Apishly wytted Knauishly mannered and crabbedly fauord What was there in him then to drawe a fayre Ladies liking Marry sir euen all in all a well lyned pursse wherewith he could at euery call prouide suche pretie conceytes as pleased hir péeuish fantasie and by that meanes hée had throughly long before insinuated him selfe with this amorous dame This manling this minion this slaue this secretary was nowe by occasion rydden too Florence forsothe and though his absenee were vnto hir a disfurnishing of eloquence it was yet vntoo Ferdinando Ieromini an opportunitie of good aduauntage for when hée perceiued the change of hir stile and thereby grewe in some suspition that the same procéeded by absence of hir chiefe Chauncellor he thought good now to smyte while the yron was hotte and to lend his Mistresse suche a penne in hir Secretaries absence as hée should neuer be able at his returne to amend the well writing therof Wherfore according to hir cōmaund he repayred once euery day to hir chamber at the least whereas hée guided himselfe so wel and could deuise such store of sundry pleasures and pastymes that he grew in fauour not onely with his desired but also with the rest of the gentlewomen And one day passing the time amongst them their playe grew to this end that his Mistresse being Quéene demaunded of him these thrée questions Seruant quod she I charge you aswell vppon your allgiance being nowe my subiect as also vpon your fidelitie hauing vowed your seruice vnto me that you aunswere me these thrée questions by the very truth of your secret thought First what thing in this vniuersall world doth most reioyce and comfort you Ferdinando Ieronimi abasing his eyes
more to augment thy griefes for I know thou â—ouest me and I thinke also that thou hast had sufficient proofe of myne vnfayned good wyll in remembrance whereof I fall into sundry passions First I compt the happy lotes of our first acquaintance and therin I call to minde the equalitie of our affections for I thinke that there were neuer two louers conioyned with freer concent on both partyes and if my ouer basty deliuery of yeelding words be not wrested hereafter to my condempnation I can then assure my self to escape for euer without desert of any reprofe Here withall I cannot forget the sundry aduentures hapned since wee became one hart deuided in two bodyes all which haue ben both happily atchiued and delectable enioyed What resteth then to consider but this thy present stat The first corosiue that I haue felt and the last cordiall that I looke forthe end of my ioyes and the beginning of my torments And here hir salt teares gan bath the dying lippes of hir seruaunt who hearing these wordes and well considering hir demeanor began now to accuse him selfe of such and so haynous treason as that his gilty hart was constrayned to yeelde vnto a iust scourge for the same He swooned vnder hir arme the which when she perceiued it were harde to tel what feares did most affright hir And It were hard nowe to rehearse how he was reuyued since there were none presente but hee dying who could not declare and she liuing who would not disclose so much as I meane to bewraye For mine aucthor dreameth that Ferdenando returning to life the first thing which he felt was that his good mistres lay pressing his brest with the whole weight of hir bodye byting his lips with hir friendly téeth And peraduenture she refrayned either of curtesie towards him or for womanish feare to hurt her tender hande to strike him on the chéekes in such sort as they doe that striue to call againe a dying creature and therefore thought this the aptest meane to reduce him vnto remembrance Ferdinando now awaked could no lesse doe than of his curteous nature receiue his Mistresse into his bed Who as one that knewe that waye better than how to help his swooning gan gently strip of hir clothes and louingly embracing him gan demaund of him in this sorte Alas good Seruaunt quod shée what kinde of maladie is this that so extréemly doth torment thée Ieronimij with fainting speach answered Mistresse as for my maladie it hath béene easelye cured by your bountifull medicines applied But I must confesse that in receiuing that guerison at your handes I haue bene constrained to fall into an Extasie through the gauling remembraunce of mine owne vnworthinesse Neuerthelesse good Mistres since I perceiue such fidelitye remayning betwéene vs as that fâ—we woordes wyll perswade suche trust as louers ought to imbrace let these fewe wordes suffice to craue your pardon and do eftsones powre vppon me your vnworthy seruaunt the aboundaunt waues of your accustomed clemencie for I must confesse that I haue so highlye offended you as but your goodnesse surpasse the mallice of my conceiptes I must remayne and that right woorthely to the seuere punishment of my desertes and so should you but loose him who hath cast away him self and neither can accuse you nor darre to excuse him selfe of the crime Dame Elinor who had rather haue founde hir seruaunt perfectly reuiued than thus with straunge conceyptes encombred and musing much at his darke spech became importunat to know the sertaynty of his thoughts And Ferdenando as on not maister of him selfe gan at the last playnly confesse how he had mistrusted the chaung of hir vowed affections Yea and that more was he playnely expressed with whom of whom by whom and too whom she bent hir better liking Nowe here I would demaunde of such as are experte Is there any greater impedymente to the fruition of a Louers delights than to be mistrusted or rather is it not the ready way to race all loue and former good will out of remembrance to tell a guilty mind that you do mistrust it It should seeme yes by Dame Elynor who began now to take the matter whotlye and of such vehemencie were hir fancies that she nowe fell into flat defiance with Ferdinando who although he sought by many faire wordes to temper hir chollorike passions and by yelding him selfe to get the conquest of an other yet could he by no meanes determine the quarrell The soft pillowes being present at al these whot speches put forth them selues as mediators for a truce betwene these enemies and desired that if they would néedes fight it might be in their presence but one only blowe so from thence forth to become friendes againe for euer But the Dame denied flatlye alledging that shée found no cause at all to vse such curtesie vnto such a recreant adding further many words of great reproche the which dyd so enrage Ferdinando as that hauing forgotten all former curtesies he assayleth his enemies by force At last she rose sodainlye and determined to saue hir selfe by flight leauing him in bedde with many despitefull wordes and swearing that he shoulde neuer eftsones take her at the lyke aduauntage the whiche oathe she kepte better than hir fourmer professed good wyll and hauing nowe recouered her Chamber because shee founde her hurt to be nothing daungerous I doubte not but shée slept quietlye the rest of the night As Ferdinando also perswading himselfe that he shoulde with conuenient leasure recouer her from this haggard conceipt tooke some better rest towardes the morning than hee had done in many nightes forepast So let them both sléepe whiles I turne my penne vnto the before named Secretarie who being as I saye come latelye from Florence had made many proffers to renewe his accustomed consultations but the sorrowe whiche his Mistresse had conceyued in Ieronimy his sicknesse togeather with hir continuall repayre to him during the same had bene such lettes vnto his attempts as it was long time before he could obtayne audience At the last these newe accidentes fell so fauourably for the furtherance of his cause that he came to his Mistresse presence and there pleaded for himselfe Nowe if I should at large write his alligations to gither with hir subtile aunsweres I shoulde but comber your eares with vnpleasaunt rehearsall of feminine frayltye To be short the late disdayneful moode which she had coÌ„ceiued against FerdinaÌ„do togither with a scrupule which lay in hir conscience touching the xj article of hir beléefe moued hir presently with better will to consult with this Secretary aswel vpon the spéedy reuenge of hir late receiued wrongs as also vpon the reformation of hir religion And in verye déede it fel out that the Secretary hauing bene of long time absent there his quiles and pens not worne so néere as they were wont to be did now pricke faire large notes that his mistres liked better to sing fa-burden
them shée layde also before him howe trusty she had bene vnto him in all professions she confessed also howe faithfullye he had discharged the duety of a friend in al respectes and therwithall she declared that her late alteration and pensiuenesse of minde was not without great cause for that she had of late such a mishap as might chaunge the disposition of any lyuing creature Yea and that the case was such as vnlesse she found present remedy hir death must needes ensue and that spedely for the preuenting whereof she alledged that she had beaten hir braines with al deuises possible and that in the ende she could thinke of no redresse but one the which lay only in him to acomplish Wherfore she besought him for all the loue and good will which had euer passed betwéene them nowe to shewe the fruites of true friendship and to gratifie hir with a frée graunt to this request The louer who had alwayes bene desirous to pleasure hir in any thing but now especially to recouer hir wonted kindnesse gan franklye promise to accomplishe any thing that might be to him possible yea though it were to his great detriment and therewithall dyd déepely blame hir in that shée would so long torment hir selfe with any griefe considering that it lay in him to helpe it The Ladye aunswered that she had so long kept it from his knowledge bicause she doubted whether hée would be content to performe it or not although it was such a thing as he might easely graunt without any manner of hurt to himself yet now in the ende she was forced to aduenture vppon his curtesie being no longer able to beare the burdē of hir griefe the louer solicited her most earnestly to disclose it and she as fast séemed to mistrust that he would not accomplish it In the ende she tooke out a booke which she had brought for the nonce bound him by othe to accomplishe it The louer mistrusting nothing lesse thā that ensued toke the othe willingly which done she declared al that had passed betwene hir hir husband his griefe hir repentance his pardon hir vowe and in the ende of hir tale enioyned the louer that from thenceforthwardes he should neuer attempt to breake her constant determinatiō the louer replied that this was vnpossible But she plainlye assured him that if he graunted hir that request she would be his friend in al honest godly wise if not she put him out of doubt that she would eschew his company and flée from his sight as from a scorpion The louer considering that hir request was but iust accusing his owne guiltye conscience remembring the great curtesies alwayes vsed by hir husband and therewithall séeing the case now brought to such an issue as that by no other meanes than by this it could be conceiled from the knowledge of the worlde but most of all being vrged by his othe dyd at last giue an vnwilling consent and yet a faithful promise to yelde vnto hir wyl in al thinges and thus being become of one assent he remaineth the derest friend most welcome gest that may be both to the Lady and hir husband and the man and the wife so kind each to other as if there neuer had bene such a breche betwen them Now of you noble Gouernor I would faine lerne whether the perplexity of the husband when he looked in at the keye hoole or of the wife when she knewe the cause why the Carolines were so scattered or of the louer when he knew what was his mistres charge was greater of the thrée I might haue put in also the troubled thoughts of the sisters the mayd when they saw their good wil reiected but let these thrée suffice Gentle Hope quod Ferdinando you haue rehearsed that right eloquētly a notable tale or rather a notable history because you séeme to affirme that is was done in dede of late not far hence Wherein I note fiue especial pointes that is a maruailous patience in the husband no lesse repentaunce in the wife no smal boldnesse of the mayde but muche more rashnesse in the sisters last of al a rare tractabilitie in the louer Neuerthelesse so returne vnto your question I thinke the husbands perplexity greatest because his losses abounded aboue the rest his iniuries were vncōparable The Lady Fraunces did not seme to contrary him but rather smiled in hir sléeue at Dame Pergo who had no lesse patience to here the tale recited then the Lady Fraunces had pleasure in telling of it By this time the sléeping houre aproched the Ladyes prepared their departure when as mistres Fraūces sayd vnto the Venetiane Although percase I shall not do it so hādsomly as your mistres yet good Trust quod she if you vouchsafe it I can be content to trim vp your bed in the best maner that I may as on who would be as glad as she to procure your quiet rest Ferdinando gaue hir great thāks desiring hir not to trouble hirself but to let his man alone with that charge Thus they departed how al partyes toke rest that night I knowe not but in the morning Ferdinando began to consider with himselfe that he might lye long ynough in his bed before his mistres would be apeased in hir peuishe conceipts wherfore he arose being aparelled in his night gowne tooke occation to walke in the gallery néere adioyning vnto his mistres chamber but there might he walke long inough ere his Mistresse would come to walke with him When dinner time came he went into the great chamber whereas the Lord of the Castle saluted him being ioyful of his recouerye Ieronimy giuing due thanks declared that his friēdly entertainement togeather with the great curtesie of the gentlewomen was such as might reuiue a man although he were halfe dead I would bée loath quod the hoast that any Gentleman comming to mee for good wyll shoulde want any curtesie of intertainement that lyeth in my power When the meate was serued to the table the Gentlewomen came in all but Dame Elynor and Mistresse Pergo the which Ferdinando marked very well and it dyd somewhat abate his apetite After diner his Hope came vnto him and demaunded of him howe hée would passe the daye for his recreation to whome he answered euen as it best pleased hir She deuised to walke into the parke and so by litle and litle to acquaint himself with the ayre he agréed and they walked togeather being accompanied with one or two other gentle women And although there were nowe more cause that hee shoulde mistrust his Mistresse than euer he had before receyued yet the vehement passions which he sawe in her when she first came to visite him and moreouer the earnest words which she pronounced in his extremitie were such a refreshing to his minde as that he determined no more to trouble him selfe with like conceiptes concluding further that if his mistresse were not faultie then had