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
plaister embost with many curious deuises in golde and in sundry places in proper colours was ingraued his deuise which was A Holly tree full of red beries and in the same a fluttering Mauis fast limed to the bowes with this posie in french Qui me nourit me destruit And in verie déede the beries of the trée féedeth this bird and the barke maketh Lime to fetter her But I afterwards learned Segnior Philoxenus vsed this Ensigne as a couert description of desire A couert description of desire whose swéete torments nourisheth the minde but consumeth the bodie to the graue In this beautifull place I embraced the salutations of such a braue troupe of Gentlemen and Gentlewomen as the honour of the householde might well giue Enuie vnto some Princes Court. And least at my first comming I might bée abashed through small acquaintance Segnior Philoxenus emboldened mée with a familiar communication A ciuill foresight meete for a Gentleman and in the ende vppon a conuenient occasion demaunded of mée the name of my Countrie I answered him I was a Gentleman of England voluntarily exiled with a burning desire to sée the Monuments of other Countries A necessarie regard for trauelers the order of their gouernement and manners of the people And are you of that blessed Ile quoth he where the people liue in peace prosperity vnder the rule of a MaideÌ„ Quéene crowned with such diuine vertues The vertues of the Queenes Maiestie maketh the Iland of England famous throughout the whole World as the whole world may hardly containe her fame Sir quoth I your good testimonie of her worthinesse being a Stranger taketh all occasion from mée her dutifull subiect to inlarge her renowne O quoth he if Enuie durst detract her openly as she secretlie conspireth her ouerthrowe in these parts you should be driven to stop your eares or endure a torment to a faithfull subiect more violent then Death But the vertue of her Shielde Vertue stoppeth the mouth of Enuie but fireth her heart with malice I meane her graue Senate hath returned the Dartes of Enuie so thick vpon her shoulders as she hath no power to eclips her bright renowne whose vertue shineth in Enuies despight as a Diamond in an obscure place or as the Sune through small passages into the bowels of the earth so that happy and thrice happie are you the Subiects of the good Quéene of England whose gracious gouernement filleth your Cofers with wealth sealeth your dores with peace and planteth quietnesse in your Conscience so that blessed aboue other Nations you liue abroad without suspition of danger at home and at home fearelesse of enemies abroade Wherefore in honour of your Soueraigue whose fame armeth all true knights with an earnest desire to doo her seruice I am glad of the meane to bestow on you or any of hir nation the affection of a friend Sir quoth I the vertue of these honorable thoughts blaseth the true magnanimity of a noble minde which measureth not your fauour by the desart of others but with the royaltie of your heart The true Blazon of a noble minde and so binde thousands in recognisance of seruice among which debters I desire to be inrolled although I can discharge but little After we had bestowed a small time in these like spéeches he commanded some of his seruants to direct mée vnto a lodging if I pleased to be dispoiled of my riding attire who straight waies brought mée into a Bed Chamber so wel accommodated with euery necessarie pleasure as might haue serued for the repose of Cupid and his loner Ciches hauing a faire prospect into a goodly Garden beautified with such rare deuises as deserued to bée compared with the earthly Paradice of Tiuoly Tiuoly 12. miles from And to be briefe this Pallace with all her conueiances as well necessarie as of pleasure Rome where the Cardinall of Esta hath a most rare Garden Cardinal Furnesaes pallace in Rome fully matched the statelinesse of Cardinall Furnesaes Pallace builded and beautified with the ruinous Monuments of Rome in her pride so that the curiousnesse thereof was of power to haue inchaunted my eyes with an immodest gaze had I not remembred that it belongeth vnto a Gentleman to sée and not to stare vpon the strangest Nouell that is for bace is his minde whose spirit hourely beholdeth not greater matters then either beautie A necessarie obseruation for a Gentleman building or brauerie And certainely at this instant I delighted more to contemplate of Segnior Phyloxenus vertues then to regarde his sumptuous buildings who as I learned of one of the Seruants all the yéere opened his dores to euery ciuill Gentleman and at Christmas inuited all commers A worthie Custome as a customarie dutie so large was the prescription of his curtesie But which shined aboue the rest he was in his youth brought vp in the French Court where by the grace of God and labour of some good friend as his behauiours could not but win many hée learned to serue God with purenesse of heart and not with painted ceremonies H. was a Protestant as his superstitious Countrie men doe which was one chiefe cause why he spake so reuerently of the Quéenes Maiestie whose vertues make her enemies dumbe for malice will not let them say well and shame forbids them to speake amis of her sacred life by the time I had talked a while with one of the seruants and put my selfe in a more ciuill order then was necessarie for trauaile supper was in a redinesse which although it excéeded the common order of fasts yet it passed not farre the bounds of ancient custome for my place at the Table I had the priueledge of a stranger set aboue my degrée and with the same intertainment were Frenchmen Almain Duchmen and other Gentlemen Other strangers arrmed by the like adue ture A custome gâ—nerally vsed in France and in some places of Italy strangers intreated The Grand Master of the feast in words gaue vs one welcome for all but not so few as a thousand in affable countenances Supper being ended according to the custome of the place a Cake was cut in péeces to the number of the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen present and if the marked péece were allotted vnto a man he should bée King if to a woman she should be Quéene of the Christmas pleasures for it was agréede there should be but one to commaund and all to obay Madona Aurelia Sister to the Lord of the Pallace was crowned with the lot whose worthinesse was such as herein it séemed fortune obayed desert for there was no Gentlewoman in the troupe that Aurelia exrelled not in beautie and singularity of wit nor no Gentleman that her vertues inchaunted not with more admiration then the Sirens swéete songs the wether wearied Sayler so that of the one she was crowned with Enuie and of the other with Honor. But in as much as this was but the first
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
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
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
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
light which was a Phoenix eye Led by this Starre amayne he commeth downe And footing sets vpon a fruitful I le Where liu'd a Queene crown'd with the Worlds renowne Vpon whose rule Grace Peace and Wealth did smile Her Senate graue her Cities Mansions weare For such as fled for persecutions feare To whom he gaue the tokens that were sent Fayre Pallas forme and Venus louely face Sweete Pithos tongue and Dians chaste consent And of these giftes Pandora nam'd her Grace And ioynes withall Ioues blessings to the same To make her liue in euerlasting fame These monsters fell which publique order breake Dissention Wrath and Tyranny he bound This office done he thought as Ioue would leake To heauen he hyes and blessed leaues the ground Where this good Queene and Subiects quiet liue When ciuill warres her neighbor kingdomes grieue Euen this is she whose sacred fame is knowne Throughout the world in Enuie Feare and Loue Enui'd because she raignes in peace alone Fear'd in that she shielded is by Ioue Lou'd for desert whose vertues shine as bright As twinckling Stars doo in the frosty night This siluer Pen meete for a Virgins prayse Vranie here doth Ismarito giue With charmed charge this Queenes renowne to rayse As she in spight of Death and Time may liue Which right is hers the labour is but thine Then Iudging write as she may seeme diuine Vaticinium VRANIES A briefe Summarie of the principall Arguments handled in these seuen Dayes Pleasures 1 OF the difference betweene the Maried state and the single life 2 Of the inconueniences of forced Mariages 3 Of the inconueniences of rash Mariages 4 Of diuers speciall poynts concerning Mariage in generall 5 Of the inconueniences of ouer lofty and too base Loue in the choyce of either Husband or Wife 6 Of the inconueniences of Mariages where there are inequalitie of yeares 7 Of the excellencie of Mariage with many sound Lawes and laudable directions to continue loue betweene the Maried All which Principles are largely and pleasantly intercoursed with other Morall Conclusions of necessary regarde FINIS Madona Aurelia her first dayes pleasures Chiefly containing A ciuill Contention whether the maried or single life is the more worthy And after many good Reasons alleadged on either parte Sentence is giuen on the behalfe of Mariage AT what time the Earth dismantled of her braue Attire A description of the dead of winter lamented the absence of Dame Aestas company that faire Phoebus in his Retrogradation entring the Tropique of Capricorne and mounting in the Zodiacke licensed naked Hyemps to powre down her wrath vpon the face of the whole world through dread of whose boysterous stormes euery liuing creature by the direction of Nature retired himselfe vnto his safest succour as the Birde to his Nest the heast to his Couert the Bée to his hiue the Serpent to his hole onely Man excepted Man by reason inlargeth the bounds of nature within whose limites euery other creature liueth who being beautified with a diuine spirite and armed with reason farre aboue the reach of Nature scorneth to be chayned vnto any place through the violence or iniurie of Tyme In this dead season such were my Affaires that Necessitie sent me into a Countrey farre from home whereas I was no lesse vnacquainted with the people then ignorant of the waies This was the Forrest of Rauenna in Italie for the most part of pine Apple trees and hauing trauailed the great part of a Christmas Eue in a desart Forrest strayed out of knowledge I tooke me to a déepe beaten way which promised a likelyhood to finde out some spéedie Harbour and after I had iornied the space of an houre in a swéete Groaue of Pyne Apple trées mine eye fastened vpon a stately Pallace the brightnes whereof glimmered through the Branches of the younger woodde This Pallace was 10 miles from Rauenna towards the Riuer of Poe. The custome of Christmas not vnlike the Beames of the Sunne through the Crannelles of a wall assuring then my selfe to receiue best Instructions of the better sort of people such was my haste as I soone arriued at this sumptuous place but according to the condition of time in Christmas sooner to finde a friend feasting in the Hall then walking in the field other then a few of ignorant peysants I could perceiue no person The delight I tooke to beholde the scituation and curious workmanship of this Pallace made me so long forget the cause of my arriuall there as in the ende one of the well qualited seruants hauing knowledge of my being without in a seruisable order came and presented me with his Lords curteous welcome and reuerently requested mée to alight and enter the Pallace which imagined this entertainment to be but an Italion curtesie after thanks giuen by a modest excuse refused so great a fauour and onely craued to be directed the readiest waie to Rauenna the seruant cunningly replying that I could not bée receiued into the Citie without his Lords Bollytyne Bollytine a warrant of health without which no man may trauel in Italy and at this time he sealed no mans safe conduct without knowledge that his affayres required great haste in so much as won with his importunities and ouercome with wearinesse of Trauell I committed my Horse to the ordering of my man and accompanied this officious seruant to wards the Pallace and by the way ouer a large entrance into a faire court I might reade these two briefes in Italion Pisano é Forresterio A liberall welcome Entrate e ben venuto Which generall inuiting imboldned me so far as I hardly marched towards the great Hall the Skréene whereof was curiously fronted with cloudy Marble supported on euery side the passages Welcome and Bountie the porters with stately Pillers of Geate and ouer the thrée Portalls stood the Images of two men the one of Allablaster Marble bare headed representing the vertue of welcome the other of blew Marble attyred like a Cooke and by him were artificially painted Pheasants Partriges Capons and other costly Cates as the figure of Bountie at the entry of this stately Hall I was receiued by the Lord of the Pallace accompanied with diuers Gentlemen of good qualitie with so ciuill and friendly intertainement as his behauiour blazoned the true knowledge of curtesie before wée past any further I began to recount the aduenture which brought me thither and craued his honourable fauor for my dispatch why then quoth Segnior Phyloxenus for so for some cause I name the Lord of the Pallace I thanke your hard fortune for arriuing you here to do me this honor no hard but happy fortune quoth I if I may liue to honor you with any effectual seruice wel quoth he after your werie trauaile it is more néedefull to prouide for your repose then for a further iourney and so lead mée the way into a faire great Chamber richly hung with Tapistrie the roofe whereof was Allablaster
left his victualles to inlarge his feminine praises In the end tasting the goodnesse of the meate hée found prating very vnsauerie and therefore to recouer his losses his lippes laide on loade which Faliero and some other of the pleasant company perceiuing assayed to reward the Frier for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions Questions answered by monosillable which he euer answered in a monosillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding as quoth Faliero a question or two Master Frier I pray say quoth he who strikes with the sharpest rod God of all other who is most euill Diuell in distresse who deserueth most ruth Truth who is charged with most crime Tyme what holds the world in most imprice Vice who is the greatest lier Frier desire without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eate Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine when they could deuise no talke to put life in the Friers tongue doctor Mossengio demaunded why hée was so briefe in his answeres O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then quoth the Doctor it is good taking away this plenty of meate for cloying Frier Bugiardoes wit The whole company hearing the Frier beaten with his owne sentence turned into a contrary sence burst out into such an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of the Frier would not suffer him to swallowe one bit more of meate in so much as the boord was taken away and the Frier driuen to say Benedicite with an empty stomack an intertainement as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faithful seruant The office of courteous reuerence A good reward for Flatterie fully discharged the company retired towards the fire to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dinner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moned the disgrace of their praise master the Friar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by their enemy the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto said merisy that the friar had taught him such a cunning way to woo as to melt a woman into pitty he would wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to praise the thing they like Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercifull it is necessarie to bridle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue and questionlesse this paine set vpon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée things is great danger and smal discretion to play with fire to striue with water A profitable Note and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therefore he that will discouer his owne secret aduantage is worthie to haue his haire cut with Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was ready to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certaine of her chosen attendants whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for ancient customes profitable are better then new lawes incertaine she commanded the Eunuke to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Lute after a dutifull obeysance played and sung this following Sonnet in Italion TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bound Amid the Skies my wish I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the ground My eye sees Ioy my heart is gripde with paine I know my hurt and yet my good refraine But how these hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can giue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reach so farre outgoes As bound perforce he yeelds to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioy Hope dooth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownde as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To doe whose will Desire in me hath wrought A strength to runne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to stay It may suffise the wisest past my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to auoide digression which raiseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a repetition of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Whereupon quoth Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the causes why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish and take comfort in one anothers companie onely by the impression of nature and man and woman that are beautified both with the vertues of nature and reason many times matches together make a hell of this holy institution By Quéene Aurelias commaundement Reason giueth man souerainty ouer al creatures to answere Sir quoth Faliero the aduantage of reason with which you haue priueledged man and woman is the onely cause thereof no man will denie but that there is a difference of conditions There is diuersitie of condition in euery kinde in creatures of euery kinde some horse an vnskilfull horseman can hardly disorder and some in despite of his rider will haue a iadish tricke Some Bauke though she be euil serued wil not straggle forth some do the Faulkener what he can wil continuallie flie at checkes some hound by no meanes will be rated from riot and some will neuer forsake his vndertaken game euen so some man will filch if his hands be fast bounde and some hauing the aduantage of a bootie will rather starue then steale some woman with an houres libertie will offend and ten yeares louing sute cannot ouercome some other Reason findeth out the imperfection of nature Cause of misliking in mariage But the vice and vertue in euery creature by the opinions of many sage Philosophers procéedeth from the purenesse or the imperfection of nature which is not to be found but by reason and the vse of reason onelie belongeth to man now if by ouer sight in choice maried are deuided in desire differ in life and delight in neithers loue Reason that findeth out this contrarietie Causes of comfort in mariage soweth contention betwéene the vnfortunate couple in Matrimonie thus matched Againe when betwéene the married there is equalitie of byrth yeres and manners no difference in loue nor suspition of others behauiour reason that delighteth in vnitie maketh the ioyes of Mariage innumerable Therefore think I the opinion of Plato may be imbraced as a sound iudgement The whole assembly allowed Falieroes reason and Dondolo himselfe was reasonably well satisfied But quoth he since Mariage bringeth with her
violent saue that I holde Caesars to be the harder for that hee was murthered in the Armes of Prosperitie and Pompey at the féete of Disgrace but being both dead vnto their Monuments Writers adde this Opinion Caesar in his life was more fortunate then Pompey and Pompey more honest then Caesar A proofe that some disgrace is the ground of Good Reporte and some good Fortune the Trumpe of Infamie therfore let no man yéeld to Aduersitie nor affie too much in Pompe and paynted Prosperitie for the one is but vexation the other vanitie and both in short time vanish A sodaine alteration as me thought made me to contemplate of these causes for that comming out of my lodging somewhat timely I entred the great Chamber with as strange a regarde as he that commeth out of a House full of Torch and Taperlights into a darke and obscure corner knowing that at midnight about which time I forsooke my company I left the place attyred like a second Paradise the earthly Goddesses in brightnesse resembled Heauenly Creatures whose Beauties dasied mens eyes more then the Beames of the Sunne The swéete musicke recorded the Harmonie of Angels the strange and curious deuices in Maskers séemed as figures of diuine Misteries And to be shorte the place was a verie Sympathie of an imagined Paradise And in the space of one slumbering stéepe to be left like a desart wildernesse without any creature saue sundry Sauage Beastes portrayed in the Tapistrie hangings imprest such a heauy passion in my minde as for the time I fared as one whose sences had forgot howe to doe their bounden offices In the ende to recomfort my throbbing heart I tooke my Citterne and to a solemne Note sung this following Sonet which I a little before composed vpon a quiet thought I possessed after my reading of Boetius of the consolation of Philosophie translated into Italion by Cosimo Bartoli FArewel bright Golde thou glory of the world Fayre is thy showe but foule thou mak'st the soule Farewel proud minde in thousand Fancies twirld Thy pompe is like the stone that stil doth roule SISIPHVS ¶ Farewel sweete Loue thou wish of worldly ioy Thy wanton Cups are spiste with mortal sin Farewel dyre Hate thou doost thy selfe annoy Therefore my heart no place to harbour in ¶ Enuy farewel to al the world a foe Like DENNIS BVLL a torture to thy selfe Disdayne farewel though hie thy thoughts doe flow Death comes and throwes thy Sterne vpon a shelfe ¶ Flattery farewel thy Fortune doth not last Thy smoothest tales concludeth with thy shame Suspect farewel thy thoughts thy intrails wast And fear'st to wound the wight thou faine wouldst blame ¶ Slaunder farewel which pryest with LYNX his eyes And canst not see thy spottes when al are done Care Care farewel which like the Cockatrice Doost make the Graue that al men fayne would shun ¶ And farewel world since naught in thee I finde But vanitie my soule in Hell to drowne And welcome Philosophy who the minde Doest with content and heauenly knowledge crowne During the time that my thoughtes swounded with the charme of my passionate Musick The Sunne decked in his most gorgious Rayes gaue a bon Giorno to the whole troupe and so many as were within the sound of my instrument were drawen with no lesse vertue then the Stéele vnto the Adamant In so much of the sodaine to beholde thē statelines of the presence I was driuen foorth of my muse with a starkeling admyration not vnlike vnto him that sléeping ouer a dying brand is hastelie wakened with the lightening of a thousand sparckles The offices of Curtesie discharged on euery part Segnior Soranso saied the Poets fayned not without reason that Amphions Harp gaue sence vnto stone Walles For so deuine quoth he are the operations and vertues of Musick A commendation of Musick as he that shall be bound to declare her particular Graces shall be no lesse troubled then the painter Zeuxes was in the counterfetting of Cupid Who after much trauell was driuen to draw him blinde for otherwise he had vnder taken Sisiphus taske because the twinckling reflections of Cupids eyes A faining how Cupid came to be called blind threw a thousand Beauties vpon his face and shadowed the worke of the Painter Thus through ignorance Cupid hath euer since béen reputed blinde and for his owne perfection is honored with the title of the God of Loue. The name of Loue gaue a large occasion of discourse but for that another time was appointed for those disputations and the morning was wholly dedicated vnto the seruice of God the question drowned in Soransos suggestion and the whole company silent in such affaires attended Quéene Aurelias comming who in change of gorgious and rich apparrell kept her accustomed howre to goe vnto the Chappell By that time seruice was ended and euery mans deuotion done dinner was ready to bée set vpon the Tables with such choice of delicate Viands as vnto the bountie of the feast there might nothing be added After that Quéene Aurelia and the rest had taken their ordinary places euery one helped the disgestion of their meate either in inuenting some ciuill merriment or in hearing it reported by another Bargetto all this while was neither heard to speake nor séene to smile Which perceiued by Franceschina Sancta his Mistres she moued with the spirit of compassion studied how with iustice shée might reuoke her sentence and vnstring her seruants tongue and to that end she demanded how thrée good turnes might be vnrewarded thrée offences pardoned A question to trie a quicke wit thrée iniuries left vnreuenged and in euery of these Iustice preserued This question passed through the table and returned without his true resolution In the end quoth Segnior Philoxenus Monsier Bergetto what is your opinion Sir quoth Bergetto my mistresse hath locked the tongue that should pronounce it Why quoth Franceschina these be no questions of loue and therefore you haue libertie to speake No Lady quoth Bergetto but his vertue may appeare in the answere Well quoth his Mistresse if you can cleare your trespas by one of these questions I must doo no iniurie to Iustice and therefore say your pleasure Vpon this warrant quoth Bergetto to your first thrée I answere Three good turnes may be receiued vnrewarded A Captaine may betray his charge which is a benefit to the enemie but the betrayer is not to be receiued as a friend for hée that will fell his countryman may not bée held assured to a stranger Secondly a Théefe that peacheth his fellowes dooth good to the common wealth and yet deserueth no reward for he that may priuiledge his owne theft in bewraying other mens will euer more steale vpon presumption Thirdly to win a mans money is a good turne and yet the loser is not to bée recompenced for his intent was to win the winners To your second thrée questions Three offencesmay with Iustice be pardoned a man may
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
essentiall substance without the other But to dispute of this secret in nature at large were vnpleasing to their chast eares and bréefey too mistical for their vnderstandings But who so is so curious in search let him read that Philosophers probleames with an vnpartiall iudgement and he shal finde thē in substance euery way as perfect as meu and in that opinion of the eye The quality and not the quantity commends of al that sences who is the most perfect iudge they far excel man in purenes of complection where exception is taken to the few in number of fingulerly wel qualified women I affirme that it is not the quātity but the quality that commends a little salt relisheth more then a great deale of sugar Iudith with her owne hands atchiued a more honorable conquest then all the Cilisions besides Alexandra the wife of Alexander king of the Iewes whē the vnciuill multitude were ready for his tiranny to make the intrails of dogs a sepulture for his dead body yea to be further auēged to murther his two Sonnes by her swéet behauiour so mollified their cruell harts as loosing their resolutions they gaue her husband an honorable burial prostrated thēselues at her childrens féete which pacification the strength nor wisdom of her counsel could not obtain Eua. By what instrumēt did God first show the vigor of his vēgance by a woman And by what instrumēt did he show the vertue of his mercy Our Lady by a woman Soueraigne vertue is Femenine and I blush to tel it Yrkesome Vice is Masculine The Ladies laughed outright to heare Ismaritos difference But Soranso halfe angry answered that if Ismaritos countrymen were of his minde they might be ashamed that they were so effeminate Pardon me Where an iniury in words may be reuenged in words a Gentleman is not bound to his swoord quoth Ismarito it is their commendation to yéelde vnto women and to conquer men Tush tush quoth Bargetto to nip himselfe by the nose Ismarito is to be pardoned for his Captaine S. George is shackled in a womans garter It is true quoth Ismarito but thus fettered he hath many times chased S. Michael to his Mount Fabritio fearing that these crosses would turne to the Deuils blessing Discreete standers by pacifieth contentions studied how to accorde this contention and with that intent quoth he Ismarito you haue well deserued to kisse these Ladies hands for your honourable commendation of their sexe Vertue and vice both Feminine and Mesculine But where you say Vertue is the Feminine and vice the Masculine both men and women are vnderstoode in either The olde Diuines tooke Vertue to be God and Vice the Diuell and either to be both Feminine and Masculine Orpheus saide that Iupiter and Pluto were both Male and Female It is also read in Scripture That God fashioned both man and woman to his owne likenes Moreouer this word Homo signifieth both kindes so that since Man and Woman are not simply of themselues but compounded one of an other I blame this vnnaturall contention for excellencie for neither can obtaine Soueraigne victorie without dooing iniury to themselues The head among some is taken for the Man Note and the hart for the woman for both are of an indifferent gender and al the other members indifferently at their commandement Quéene Aurelia with a smiling countenance answered that she was content that a Man should gouerne as the head and women direct as the hart and because we will not doo iniury vnto our naturall vertue of Modesty we will giue place to you Modesty an naturall vertue in a woman in contention for Soueraignties and binde you to serue vs for our vertues and therewithall in rising she broke of this controuersie After Supper there was a little time bestowed in hearing of swéete musicke but for that Quéene Aureliaes late distemperature grew of ouer watching the company this night went vnto their lodging in a good houre MADONA AVRELIA Her fift daies pleasures Contayning a briefe discourse touching the excellencie of Man and a large discouery of the inconueniences of ouer loftie and too base Loue with other morall notes needfull to be regarded THe last nights good houre of repose was the cause of the companies this dayes early rising who by nine of the clock entered the great Chamber armed for any lawdable exercise And after an accustomed dutie of salutation discharged euery man bethought himselfe of some pleasing matter to entertayne the present time Soranso Ismarito were seuered from the rest of the cōpany vpon priuate discourse which being ended Soranso casting his eye aside beheld in the hangings the picture of Ixion herdled to his tormenting whéele Sée yonder The Fable of Ixion quoth he the worthy scourge of Ambition and withall reported the Fable of his presumptuous making of loue to Iuno Nay quoth Ismarito Ixion is rather the example of Vayne-glorie punished To be proud in vertues is commendable for Iupiter so well allowed of Ixions hie minde in that he represented his Image as hée raysed him from Earth to Heauen and because he should not perish in his affection he satisfied his desire with the embracement of a counterfeit Iuno The scourge of vainglory and so sent him backe vnto the Earth where vaine glorious Ixion Proclaymed that he was the Minion of Iuno and had Acteoned Iupiter for which arrogancie Iupiter threw him to hell with this pictured vengeance Questionlesse quoth Soranso this imagination of the Heathen Poet could not but be the trauell of a diuine spirit it exposeth such néedfull matter for Christians to contemplate of You néede not doubt of your opinion The soule trauaileth to bring forth diuine monuments in the heathen quoth Ismarito for after God had created Adam after his owne Image he scattered the séede of Adam vpon the face of the whole world and wheresoeuer the essentiall forme of Adam was there was also the Image of God which in the most barbarous Heathen creature laboureth to bring out hie and excellent things I beséech you quoth Soranso to enlarge this discourse I am not so simple to beléeue that we are like the Image of God in our outward shape yet my knowledge is not perfect in what vertues we resemble the Image of God Referring you A discreete exordium for young men that argue for your better knowledge to grauer iudgements quoth Ismarito I will only to satisfie your request say what I haue read and what in my opinion standeth with reason In our exterior body to say we resemble God were a grose ignorance The excellency of man throgh the vertue of the soule but in that our soule is closed within our body and giueth life and mouing to the whole body it is no absurdity to conclude the lesse within the greater to shewe how the soule resembleth God who consisteth in a Trinitie Notwithstanding she is but one yet
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 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
pausing talk was ended the company arose and Quéene Aurelia with the reuerent Salutations of the whole troupe retyred into her owne Chamber till the howre of Disputation sounded About which time shee with Segnior Philoxenus and the rest of her Attendants entered into a most delicate Banquetting house Segnior Philoxenus banquetting house where vpon the walles in so good order and representation of Nature were painted al maner of fruits Flowers Vines Arbors and causes of pleasure either in Orcharde or Garden as a man without blushing might haue aduentured to gather vpon the bare Walles a Pomegranate a cluster of Grapes a Gilliflower or such like had not the dead of Winter reaued the likelihoode that they should be perfect After Quéene Aurelia and the rest of the company had taken their places in this earthly Paradise Segnior Philoxenus secretly willed the Eunuch to chaunt out the prayses of Hymen who obeying this Charge tuned his Lute and to aswéete Note sung this following Sonet EVen as the Vine that claspes the tender Elme Among greene leaues his purpled Grapes doth beare When wanting props himselfe doth ouerwhelme And for the fire his Branches doth prepare So two in one with Hymens rites fast bound Of their sweete loue liue alwayes in the seede When death or time the single doth confound Which ruine of fame the barren thought doth breede Sweete Hymen then thy Godhead I adore And bow my selfe by thee to be controlde In folded armes my Spouse my eyes before Yeelds more content then Diamonds Pearle and Golde In quiet home vncheckt to rule and liue What life more sweet what hearts ease like to this Or through mischance my minde when care doth grieue What Medicine is better then a kisse At vnawares giuen by a louing wife O none nor state like to the maried life This Sonet ended and well considered Among the iust promise is kept Sir quoth Quéene Aurelia to Segnior Philoxenus to be reuonged of the iniurie of our former disputations who haue paynted Mariage with a thousand inconueniences I beséech you binde you by your promise to blazon the blessings and excellencie of this sacred institution that she who is diuine To praise or blame is a qua litie of wit but to direct is a work of iudgement may haue her due prayses and we that are ignorant may know how to receiue her benefites and with the same to honour her Madame quoth Segnior Philoxenus you charge mee beyond my promise and binde me to an impossibilitie I promised but to ioyne with this quick witted company in opinion which I am ready to accomplish To blaze the excellencie of Mariage is a worke of no great difficultie because her vertues illustreth the same through the whole worlde but to direct the maried is a labour of Arte wit and experience in the first wherof I am ignorant in the second vnpersect and to the third a straunger so that as I am sory to iniure your expectation so am I loth to expose my iusufficient iudgement Sir qd Quéen Aurelia if we were not assured of a liberal contentment in contemplating of your waighty censure We haue in terest in another mans vertues we would receiue your modest refusall for iust excuse But for that we haue all an interest in your vertues you should be enemy to your owne honorable commendation in kéeping of them close prisoners in your breast although you be Lord of the Pallace yet I Princes commandements must be obeied as Souer aigne of the Ciuill Pleasures commaund you to giue ceremonies a disgrace and sincerely to obey my will Madame quoth Segnior Philoxenus so strickt is your charge Of the excellencie of Mariage as I must aduenture of this waighty labour hoping that as by authoritie you commaund my opinion so by the motion of some one of your vertues you wil pardon my errours Vpon which incouragement to obey your will I say and approue by sacred authoritie that this holy institution of Mariage was erected by God Mariage instituted before the fall of Adam by God in the carthly Paradise in the earthly Paradise before the transgression of Adam when hee ioyned him to Eue with these words of blessing Increase multiplie and replenish the earth Againe after Adams fall and the deluge to streng then his first institution God commanded the good Patriarch Noah to in crease and multiplie the earth anew Moreouer God would haue no more women then men A confirmatiō of the first institution by God in his Arke to shewe there should be a Sympathie in number as wel as a gréement in loue betwéene man wife for if the one might lawfully haue many Wiues and the other many Husbands How should this expresse commaundement of God be vnuiolated You shall be two bodies in one flesh Man and wife are two bodies and but one flesh and no more Compare the ioy honour and reuerence giuen vnto Mariage by the delight that procéedeth frō any other cause and you shall sée her gleame like a blazing Comet The ioy of mariage shineth aboue all other delights and the other but twinckle as an ordinary starre Gorgeous and rich apparell delighteth the Gazers eye and perhaps offendeth the wearers heart where Mariage in homely attyre is euery where honoured and reaueth vnquiet wandering thoughts Children are the mostrich Iuels in the world from the Maried to abound in riches is a glorious fortune but they charge men with a double care extreame in the getting and fearefull in the kéeping the Maried haue as great or greater riches in their Children When the stately Dames of Rome bragged of their Iuels Cornelia boasted that hers excelled them all A Lady of the company séeing her set foorth with none that was precious demaunded where her Iuels were Yonder quoth Cornelia and poynted to her children When certaine most rare and precious Iewels This Ioell was her sonne Alexander of King Darius and his wiues were presented to Olympia mother of Alexander the Great she bestowed them vpon her Ladies as too lowe prised for her wearing who was continually adorned with a Iewell in value as rich as Asia Affryca The blessing of Children is a double life Europa And sure Quéene Olympia Lady Cornelia gloried not in their Iewels without reason for golde and precious stones set but a glose vpon beauty when vertuous children giue a new life vnto their parents The administration of Iustice authoritie Offices of Iustice appertain to the maried in a common weale are the proper offices of the maried for that the care of wife and children presupposeth them to bee setled when the vninaried though their wits be good The sweete Sympathie between the maried rayseth a suspition in the wise that their thoughts are vagrant The vnmaried hath no agréeable companion to participate of his pleasure or to lessen his sorrow The Maried hath a companion of his owne flesh of his