poyse and weigh thy thoughtes to hammer in thy braine such thirstlesse and vaine imaginations ah Florida what haplesse miserie doest thou finde in this free prison where pleasure hath no place till the friendly foes haue disquieted thy life with a million of painefull trauailes nowe is the time for thee to resist the hot skirmiges and fresh aâ—saultes of that tyrant Loue before that he hath had quiet possession within thy minde for being suffered to enter by little and little he will waxe so strong that in a short time he will be like to dispossesse thee of that little interest thou hast in thy selfe and then as the moath in the garment and Locust in the corne it consumeth his hoast and departeth away without any reckoning for the trespasse he hath committed Then Florida consider what may they deeme of thee that earst had in admiration thy vertues and reputed thee for a second Diana but the vilest hypocrite of the worlde that would ouershadowe thy lasciuious appetites to wanton venerie with a fained shewe of counterfet grauitie and that there wanted in them nothing but sufficient auâ—acitie to recouer the ransacke of thy person and spayle of thine honour Wherefore leaue off this foule folie that thus doeth dispoyle thee of thy desired health and contented rest and endeuour to forget him that is the causer thereof At which wordes she yeelded foorth a number of scalding sighes and pawsed a little thereupon but againe recouering her voyce she beganne thus Ah forget him Florida how farre doe I forget my selfe that seeke to roote out his memorie from my heart that alreadie hath taken possession therein in whose consent or deniall resteth altogether the state of my life and honour Ah Moderatus Moderatus the flower and mirrour of all martâ—all prowesse and the liuely lantherne of perfect nobilitie beautie and vertue if we estimate the iudgement of that learned Laureat who said Non Pater aut Mater reddunt tibi nobilitatem Moribus vita nobilitatur homo Oh sweete Moderatus and therefore sweete because Moderatus it is thou alone that liuest in me of whome my minde onely conceiueth his hope and the heart his nourishment Alas that thy worthinesse should be the ouerthrowe of mine honour and thy perfection the imperfection of my life But what Florida he that feareth euery bush will neuer be a good woodes-man and he that will not venture when beautie and vertue commaundeth which though by hard fortune they be little obscured yet like the golde in the fire wil in the end appeare most rich and glorious may well come in my Aue but shal neuer come in my Creede therefore I referre the sequell hereof vnto the destinies to be arbiters in the cause rest resolued to winne or loose Moderatus betide life or death for his personable and valourous disposition hath giuen my heart the wound and his vertue and bountie must salue the same Ah but fond Florida Moderatus is too wise to come to the fist by the lure for he will suppose thy call to be but counterfet and thy selfe a woman whose propertie is to be wonne with a nut and lost with the shell and therefore will reiect thy suite and despise thy offers setting his rest vpon this olde Addage Soone ripe soone rotten the hottest loue is soonest forgotten No no Florida feare not Moderatus is wonne already for he that is so diligent and willing to attend thee as a seruant will not dislike to be preferred to the state of a husband Wherefore burne not vp day-light and sleepe not long in doubt for delay breeds daunger follow the counsell of Ouid who said Cum mora non tuta est subdere calcar equo Upon this merie pin Florida was about to depart out of her chamber to see if good fortune would offer her any conuenient opportunitie to put in practise her determinate purpose when Verosa the fayre daughter of Perduratus and sister to Moderatus entred the chamber who missing her Ladie Florida and vnderstanding that she was alone in her chamber maruelled the cause of her solitarinesse being long before more melancholie then she vsed to be Whereupon to countenance the matter she dissembled the passions of her inwarde griefe faining her selfe sicke demaunding of Verosa what sturre there was in Court who well knowing the nature of her disease and that mirth is a great purger of Melancholie humour thought it best to be pleasant with her and thus answered Madame verie litle for your absence thus long my Ladie hath caused all to be husht not one asmuch as calling for a payre of cardes to play a set at Mawe but euerie one making his looking glasse in his fellowes face standing like painted Images hauing nothing to doe without that with Dominianus they would catch flyes because they want one to instruct them in their Lessons for our Ligurian Gentlemen are in a manner more nice and bashfull then we women and want rather a spurre then a bridle and therefore Madame I doe thinke if you woulde shewe a pleasant countenance amongest them they would like the Antes when the Sun entreth into Aries cheerefully creepe out of their corners wherein so long they remained for dead Florida smiling at this her pleasant answere beleeuing faithfully that Verosa suspected her disease and therefore to auoyde suspicion she coyned this replie I am glad Verosa that you are so iocund and surely it seemeth by your talke that you met with a Champion that either prooued a Dastarde vpon the first incounter whose cowardise surreth vp this mirth in you or els hauing playde the part of a valiant Captaine and entred with courage the forte lately besieged you are glad to bee wonne by such a worthie warriour but howsoeuer I knowe you list not to make me priuie neither doe I greatly couet to knowe because my litle skil in that arte would haply make me giue a wrong censure in the cause but if you come as a friend to inuite me to see some of your pastimes abroad I am well contented to accept of your bidding and to view the ende if there be any acte in playing wherein if you be an Actrix I shall reioyce to see your good grace in playing the counterfet and after I will tell you my minde whether you be fitter for the stage in a Comedie or a Tragedie Verosa was not so grosse but that she perceiued that her Mistres pleasantnesse was but to dissemble her â—â—ward passions and albeit her face was full of smiles yet her heart was full of sorrowes therefore smiling at her conceited vaine she thought it not best to vrge her any further vpon that text but thus replyed againe Madame sickenesse and health be accidents to the which all liuing creatures be subiect yet after such sort subiect that both can not Dominere all at one time therefore me thinketh that it is verie strange that contraries shoulde concurre in you vpon such a sudden for pleasant disposition is the Kalender
towards this enterprise His departure from the forrest of Esina His arriuall to king LOTHVS Court vnder the name of the blacke Knight His combat with County Delamure the false accuser of innocent MODESTA and his victorie Chap. 11. MY sonne now maist thou see how fickle and transitorie the state of mortall men are neuer satisfied in making sufficient ostentation of their glories Dum flaueat velis aura secunda who giuing their barks a ful sayle are very often in the midst of a very pleasant â—alme ouerwhelmed with a most cruel storme who in sleede of a happy and quiet harbour meet with a fearefull and dangerous shipwracke Well also maist thou see that in danger which is the extremest of all extreames some escape this great perill with plankes boards rafters and other such like engines and instruments which good fortune yeeldeth vnto them at the time of their extreme need other being of greater feare lesse valour do like bruite beasts desperately perish their heartes failing any way to shift for the safegard of their owne liues such is the disposition of nature that she hath framed some bolde venterous others cowards fearful trembling at euery wind and ready to yeeld at euery puffe of aduerse fortune who like the shel-fish when the Moone waxeth do increase and in the waine thereof diminish so they depending vpon fortune one while are mighty puffed vp with ambition pride another while being crosâ— in their determinations are miserable stuffed vp with seruile care and feare euen as Ramunsia which is tearmed to be the goddesse of vengeance doth alter and change her copie for as the riuer Nylus is alledged of some writers to bring famine into Egipt when either it ouerflowed eighteene cubits or rise not so high as twelue so in like maner fortune being ouer-prosperous or too much malignant doeth blind and detect the good motions of the minde either with extreme griefe or inexcessiue ioy both which derogate from vertue so much as by the same they do arrogate vnto vice waigh this with thy selfe aduisedly that mortall creatures continually saile betweene Scilla and Charibdis where seeking to auoyd one danger they fall into another for if they couet to be valiaÌ„t famous in the world they must hazard many perils sustain many great labors be not then dismaid though fortune sometimes frown for she doth it of purpose wherby her fauors afterward may seeme more plesant thou intendest to incounter with strong mighty enemy much feared for his magnanimity dexterity at armes yet hast thou a good cause to hope of victory for the equity of the quarrel the defending of innoceÌ„t blood the reuenge of a cruell tirannous murther be I think sufficient motiues to animate the veriest coward to be desperate wel I do know gentle friend that this my exhortation is but to heape Athos vpon Etna or to powre water into the sea for thy disposition carrieth with it selfe sufficient warrantise of thy valiant resolute determination therefore coÌ„mitting the sequell hereof to fortune I wish thee a happie successe therein The hermit hauing thus concluded meaning to conceale no coÌ„modities which his poore cabin did affoord froÌ„ Moderatus brought him to an inner roome being very beautifully furnished with pictures and tables of sundry sorts which greatly he delighted to behold amongst them one seemed much to excell surpasse the rest in beautie wherin was liuely purtrayed out many histories ouer the which there was written in great Romane letters this sentence Foelix quem faciunt aliena pericula cautum Moderatus was very inquisitiue of the hermite to knowe the meaning of the histories contained in that table whereupon fetching a deepe sigh casting his fight vpon the table he replied thus It is quoth he a table containing true discourses acted and euented in my countrey of great Brittane which for the zeale I bare to the parties it doeth represent and for a remembrance of mine owne miserie I haue brought with me rest thee contented with thus much knowledge thereof at this time for that to discourse thereof at large requireth longer time then at this time we may conueniently enioy so great a necessitie summoning you to offer your selfe in the defence of innocencie which opportunitie being neglected your trauaile might come too late either to enlarge Modestas desart or finish your owne desire And therefore relinquish that request for this time and when againe you happen to trauel this way which I wish and expect may be shortly with some good newes and happy end to these new begun tragedies I will cyte all the whole discourse thereof vnto you fully to satisfie your longing desire in the meane time you want not wherewith to imploy your selfe in and nowe for that it is requisite that you be stirring the next morning we will refresh our selues with such poore cates as many Hermitage will yeeld vnto vs. Well repast being ended they walked together to take the benefit of the ayre yet they stayed litle abroad for that the waightinesse of Moderatus charge gaue him gentle summons to take his rest and to make his helmet his pillow for that night which accordingly hauing reuerently saluted his gentle hoast he did and all this night could Moderatus take no naturall rest so that no sooner had Aurora put off her mourning mantle of darknesse and discouered her blushing countenance but that he with a kinde of longing desire to be doing with his new implements had forsaken the poore cowtch he lay in all night and busying him selfe very diligently to set him selfe in a readinesse the Hermites assistance was not wanting who seeing Moderatus so well fitted and furnished with horse and armour noting in him an honourable and bountifull disposition who mannaged his horse with such good grace that the olde Hermite who in his dayes had bene as much beholding to Mars for courage as to Pallas for wisedome conceiued that he was one alone worthie of so honourable an enterprise as that was which he went about and so commending him to his fortunes and him selfe to his Orisons he left Moderatus making some haste to recouer Spoletum who in short time arriued at a little village about halfe a league distant from the same there he began to be inquisitiue of newes from the Court where he was told that the contagiousnesse of the time affoorded none other then the very worst newes that euer Aemulia possessed which was the imprisonment of the Kings daughter vpon Delamures accusation which all seemed greatly to pitty accusing the County of too too great cruelty Here did he also learne of one County Pallamount which inhabited in this village who was Modestas vnkle vnto whom he repayred praying his aduise and shewing his whole intent vnto him Pallamount returned many kinde thankes vnto him for his good will albeit that the great prowesse of Delamure did forbid him as much as once to hope of any good speed therein yet accepting
a spurre alwayes So fortune would did pricke my wounded minde But in her sight that no where ease I finde A combat straight within my selfe arose Of that I should yeeld vnto Queene desire Knowing that fame is partiall as she goes So I might fall in seeking to aspire Then Ladie Loue said that I must obey Which sentence past I durst not make delay Fortune thus fram'd the plot to mine annoy Fame blew the coales to kindle my desire Loue did command I should no rest enioy Till I were clens'd in Cupids purging fire Thus I doe range to seeke a remedie And though I liue yet liuing daily dye Seing Fame of beauties pride could me enforce What maruell is 't if beauty it selfe could moue But oh that beautie had not some remorce To yeeld me due that feruently do loue Or at the least to pitie mine estate And not for loue to yeeld me deadly hate The God is blinde that workes this mysterie And doeth not worke according to desart But yet I yeeld me to his Maiestie In hope at last he will regard my smart In the meane time I banish quite despaire Expecting him my wracke for to repaire Repaire if that he will long may he raigne Triumphing wise to gouerne both Gods and men If otherwise I can not griefe refraine But must seeke out a darke and dolefull den In deserts wilde to end my dismall dayes And Hermyte-like on rootes to liue alwayes WHen Priscus with a deepe sigh being now come to a perfect Period had concluded his song Florida hauing searched all her wittes to deuise meanes to haue some priuate conference with Moderatus after a competent time of silence each expecting other to speake said Be blythe Gentlemen and if as it seemes you haue cloyed your selues with musicke that it hath caused a surfet hauing in such sundrie formes vsed our tongues to refresh and recreate our selues me thinkes it could not be amisse to digest some of our fulsome stomackes a litle while to vse our feet least for want of exercise they should waxe more stiffe and we forget our measures but it is no maruell if we doe commit measures to obliuion being thus long in conference about a thing that is without measure for I doe thinke that there is no Arithmetician so perfect that can number it no Geometrician so cunning that can measure it no Mathematician so excellent that can proportion it no Rhetorician so eloquent that can describe it no Poet so conceited that can inuent a reason thereof no Astronomer so singuler that can iudge of it And to conclude no Courtier so fine that can exquisitely countenance it Wherefore Gentlemen and friendes all we haue yeelded our censures thereof and the wisest Philosopher could doe no more without a Metaphisicall meane to vnderstand more then Nature euer taught or the Goddes them selues had the gift to doe thus to be briefe in my opinion you haue done all well hauing diuersely yeelded your iudgements thereof the thing it selfe being of nature so diuerse And therefore I thinke it conuenient that seeing we haue for the most part spent this day in pleasant recreations that we should end the same with some exercise that would bring us to some naturall heate after this colde confection and tosome appetites to our supper again after our surfet in amorous discourses And therewithall the company with silence seeming to agree Florida called for musicke which being readie she willed her brother Cornelius and his Mistresse to lead the rest for as they had their turne first in other exercise so likewise to beginne with this and she and her seruant would censure of their good skill in Carpet trade and afterwardes yeelde their cunning therein to their iudgements So presently they fell all a-dauncing sauing Florida and Moderatus who withdrewe them selues to a Bay windowe where Moderatus thought it not best to slippe so good an opportunitie once to breake a staffe in his friends behalfe and so after a long preamble she attentiuely giuing eare thereunto supposing it had bene for him selfe imparted vnto her vpon a firme and sure promise of secrecie the whole circumstance of his friendes cause his birth Countrey and friendes his trauaile past and the continuance of his present care the worthinesse of the man and the feruencie of his loue omitting nothing which he thought might induce her to affect and fancie him But hereupon Florida perceiuing his drift could scant suffer him so long a Period for that very angerly and with bending browes she commanded him to proceede no further in that sute and quoth she if my friendly countenance hath made you so pieuish as to abuse my curcesie so much I will albeit much vnwilling plucke away from you the fauor of a friendly affection which peraduenture might haue kindled in me some fancie towards you if you had taken in hand that office for your selfe which so earnestly you prosecute for another Whereupon Moderatus excusing him selfe with his owne vnworthinesse neuerthelesse commending the desert of his friend and vrging for him all that he could was by Florida absolutely commanded to silence and no more to speake for Priscus nor to presume to enter her presence if he seemed to disdaine of her friendly curtesie so frankely offered him And therewithall not staying for a further replie flung away in great choller without any manner of salutation to the rest of the company whereupon they all dissolued not a little admiring the cause of Floridas so sudden departure Moderatus to auoide suspicion affirmed that Florida was not well at ease all seemed to holde them selues satisfied with this excuse poore Priscus onely excepted whose heart was wel-nie sundred for verie griefe misdeeming the verie true occasion of that accident yet dissembling his paine as much as he could with a merrie countenance in outward semblance past ouer the matter for that time till he might finde opportunitie to conferre with his friend therein Gentlemen here may you plainly behold a very actuall Stratagem of a confused Metamorphosis wherein Cupid sheweth the force of his power for first he so inflamed Priscus with the loue of Florida their Parents being mortall foes that he came from his Fathers kingdome a Countrey farre adiacent to Liguria to do her seruice this instimulation proceeding only vpon bare report of her rare beautie blazed by a silly shepheard in a song at a rurall feast and pastorall sporte obserued by a sorte of Countrey swaynes and shepheardes in honour of their God Pan and therefore might rather seeme a fabulous fiction then any demonstration of trueth whose credulitie therein to fallible fame may be an holesome admonition for you to auoyde the like being so erronious as Cicero verifieth saying Credulitas enim error est magis quam culpa and the more to wrappe this young nouice in a Laberinth of his owne fonde conceits he so fauoured his frowarde affection that causing him to forget the daunger of being continuallie in the handes of his fathers
of a well tempered bodie and then either your sickenesse was but fayned or your mirth nowe but dissembled Yet howsoeuer I see it is your pleasure to make a stale of me and to frame me your Instrument to argue of what you like best and I am well pleased it should be so rather then you should want of your will And therefore let vs go see whether there be any acte in preparing if not in playing abroad agreed vpon this point they left the solitarie chamber of desolate Florida and passing through a gallerie going towards the chaÌ„ber of presence they might see the yong prince Cornelius standing inâ—a Bay window which bounded vpon a very faire garden and in his company Priscus Moderatus and another yong gentlewoman which was of the house of Deualoyes called Pandarina a verie gay Dame she was and noted aboue all the Ladies and Gentlewomen in Court for her ripe wit and ready â—â—swers in all pleasant discourses Now was she in some earnest disputation with Priscus whereat Cornelius and Moderatus laughed a good to see them so heated crossing each other with pleasant and conceited quippes Florida perceiuing them to be at it indeed stood stil smiling said to Verosa we haue so long communed of comedie til at last by good hap we met with an act in playing therefore let vs draw nere the sport least the best parte be past before we come thus Florida with more desire to make a looking glasse of the amiable couÌ„tenance of her best beloued Moderatus then for any mind she had to heare their discourses approched to this merie company whereupon Pandarina glancing aside hapned to espie them first said well my lords I see now God hath so wel prouided for me knowing me too weake for one of you much more for three that all in good time he hath brought here my Ladie Florida and mistresse Verosa with whose ayde I doubt not but to make my partie good against you all Priscus hearing the Ladie and Mistresse of his thoughtes named stood as mute as if with Perseus shield he had bene turned into a stone and I doubt not if Pandarina had then followed the chase hard and taken the benefite of her good Fortune but she might easily haue ouercome Priscus at that instant But she rather desirous to make Florida acquainted with the matter tooke no heede to his countenauce which was verie pase feare hauing banished all the blood from his visage which Moderatus well noted and least his friend should be taken tardie being driuen to a non plus if he had bene enioyned to answere any demaund he interrupted Pandarina in her speeches and craued leaue to make report of their controuersie which being obtained he stood so long in opening the matter till Priscus had taken breath and somewhat recouered him selfe for in this sort Moderatus addressed his speech to Florida Madame you came in verie good season to succour a distressed Gentlewoman who being so hardie and valiant as it seemeth by this bolde enterprise in attempting alone to encounter with three who thinke them selues to be no cowardes at armes it were great pitie she should miscarrie being charged with an ouer-number But for my Lord Cornelius and my selfe Mistresse Pandarina alone shall be the Iudge if we played not fayre suffering her without interruption except it were a little laughing which we could not forbeare to see their eagernesse in the cause to combate it out with her first champion but she might hardly haue trusted vs to you I confesse if Priscus had lost the victorie And sith you are come in such good opportunitie you haue ransomed a worthie warriour with your onely presence for I thinke no man here so hardie as to enterprise the defence of this quarrell if you tooke the contrarie part But neuerthelesse sith it is mistresse Pandarinas pleasure that you should be acquainted with the question thus it was or so much in effect As my Lord Cornelius master Priscus and my selfe stood heere in this windowe viewing through these casements the fayre prospect of this delightfull and pleasant garden wondering at the excellencie of Nature the efficient of so goodly a thing welcomming in our thoughtes the flourishing Ladie of Spring that lately was arrriued from the boisterous stormes of sturdie Hyems delighted thus to see her spread abroad her ensigne so trimly garnished with littely greene we heartily wished to march vnder so worthie colours which be the tokens and badges of hope hope the onely refuge of amorous conceited Gentlemen as I say we stoode thus in a Dilemma as it were viewing these fayre flourishing flowers which yeelded foorth not only a sweete and odoriferous sent after a pleasant Aprill shower but also a rare and glorious sight when Phoebus hauing past the Equinoctial pearceth the breast of cholericke Aries with his shining beames beginning to drie vp the siluer dewe from the gentle Gilliflower and sweete Roses that it so rauished our mindes with contemplation thereof that I thinke had not mistresse Pandarina awaked vs of this sweete and delightfull vision we had at least-wise wished in desire to haue vnited our earthly bodies with our mindes that be of lighter substance and celestiall to the euer-beholding of that heauenly and diuine spectacle and there withall haue become humble peticioners to the Architector of that great engine that we might become attenders on the daughter of Inachus whome Iupiter after that he had committed an escape with placed a starre in the heauens to saue her from the wrath of Iuno Pandarina seeing vs thus to stand as stoode Niobe after the issue of Latona had reuenged him selfe vpon her children approaching neerer vnto vs she interrupted our Muses with this parley My Lordes it seemeth that you are either verie lazie or loosely giuen if you haue neither hawke on fist abroad to procure your delight nor Ladie in Court vnder whose fauour to shrowd your selues from these vncouth and melancholie passions for me thinketh it ill fitteth young Gentlemen to be thus like Anchorites still in contemplation altogether exempt from Uenerie and Chiualrie which be the two principall recreations for heroicall mindes both which doe so detest the idle liuers that as the Bees hunt the Drones from their hiue as vnfit members of their common wealth so Mars neuer accepteth for his souldier nor Venus for her seruant any one that knoweth not howe to finde him selfe occupyed either with warlike exercise or amorous dalliance wherefore plucke vp your spirites for time lost can not be had againe you may see the finest flower is but a day and your time can not be very long let no base thoughtes ouercome your Princely mindes and if Cupid be your Soueraigne and that the destinie haue decreed that he shall frowne vpon you yet beare valorous and resolute mindes and with Hannibal despise Fortune then shall you triumph ouer hâ—r with courage that so ouercroweth you being thus giuen ouer to idlenesse My Lord Cornelius awaked with
this hot skirmidge out of his pleasant meditation answered her thus Gentle Pandarina I pray you when you play with your little dogs for then you are not idle to whom do you bequeath your seruice to Mars or Venus whereat we all fell to such a laughter that we made mistres Pandarina verie angrie and because my Lord proceeded no further in this argument which I thinke was with that one word fully finished M. Priscus being a good tennise-player tooke it at a rebound then went forward with it thus I maruel very much mistres Pandarina that one of so good a iudgement as you be should be so farre ouershot in a matter so pertinent to your sex as the seruice of so honorable a Ladie as Venus is to coÌ„clude that because we were idle therfore we were not in loue when as onely in being idle we bequeath our selues wholly thereunto being then in contemplation of the hie mysteries of so great a Deitie imprinting in our thoughtes the Idea of our mistresse liuely countenance and reuoluing in our minds the happie successe of our desired amours where as otherwise being as you would haue vs occupied albeit in parling with our best beloued yet do not we loue so feruently for that then our eyes is occupied with that office which being absent and solitarie our minds hearts do execute therefore the fruitful effectes of loue being either in the eyes or heart I referre to your own iudgement in which of these two parts of the bodie true loue doeth consist If in the eies or tongue as it seemeth you would haue it I confesse I am in an error but if otherwise true loue lieth in the heart as it doeth indeed then in being solitarie the mind is most occupied and so the person exempt from labors or idle as you terme it is alwayes most in loue And if all this is not able to perswade you to beleeue a trueth yet reiect not Ouids principle who being Master of that Arte censured thus of idlenesse Ocia si tollas periêre Cupidinis arcus Contemptaeque iacent sine luce faces Pandarina could scarce suffer him to come to a Colon much lesse to a Period but fretting with great anger did roundly cut him off in the midst of his tale replying againe so effectually to the matter that I thinke if her cause had bene good she would haue ouer-matched vs all what her speaches were I can not remember both for that my memorie is verie short also because the substance of the cause grounded vpon an arte whereof I am altogether ignorant thus Madame you haue heard the cause of contention in such rude maner as I could best deliuer it And I dare be bold to speake thus much in the behalfe of Priscus that for his part he will referre the iudgement of this debate vnto your Ladiship albeit Nature doeth binde you to be partiall therein in respect his aduersarie and you be of the same sexe Moderatus hauing thus finished his speaches I referre to your iudgements amorous gentlemen who haue wel experienced the passions of languishing louers whether Florida was not in an extasie for ioy to heare him that she loued as her owne soule thus clarkly discyphering of the qualities and nature of Loue. hoping that he could not be so perfect in the arte but that experience had taught him his principles and that probatum est had bene his guide directing his compasse by so good a leuel being assured also that if euer he had tasted of the rinde of the tree he would reach at the fruite And therefore hoped that she should not need to be the plaintife in this sute wherein being a defendant she meant to suffer a recouerie before he could haue time to be non sute in his action And you must imagine gentlemen that Priscus was not idle all this while for albeit his tongue walked not yet his minde neuer eeased from thinking his heart from panting his eyes onely executing the office of the tongue so that I thinke no part of Floridas bodie was vnuiewed and looked ouer a million of times presenting euery looke with a sigh and euerie sigh ministring a thousand doubtfull Dilemmas what the sequell of his attempted enterprise would prooue so that thus bathing him selfe in a sea of confused thoughtes betweene hope and despaire he rested speechlesse for the time to attende the conclusion of their begunne talke Cornelius Pandarina and Verosa were not at this time altogether a sleepe for Cornelius had an eye to the gallant beautie of young Verosa who in respect thereof was matchlesse and almost of an incomparable excellencie her vertuous and modest conuersations being ornaments to decke the rest with a most gracious fauour that this young Saint endewed with all these qualities wanted her peere in all the Dukes Court. Pandarina narrowly surueying as well the goodly personage of Priscus as also his gentle disposition and readie sharpe wit commixt with modest grauitie had a great combate in her mind between Loue and Dâ—sdaine hammering in her braine a million of foolish fantasies to be resolued on the sequell thereof Thus while Moderatus was occupyed in speaking openly the rest were not exempt from secret and priuate thoughts Verosa onely excepted who spent the time onely in giuing attentiue eare to their talke being altogether eyther ignorant or carelesse of the fantasticall humours of dreaming louers And after that Moderatus had concluded his begunne speeches Florida sweetely smiling descanted somewhat vpon the matter allowing the venterous courage of Pandarina not disallowing the subtill reasonings of Priscus referring the equitie of the cause to them that had better skil in the arte then her selfe And hauing thus spent some part of time in reasoning pro contra at last they agreed betweene them selues to passe the rest of the time in some merie exercise to recreate their mindes withall Cornelius brake silence thus because we be three men and you so many women we will either of vs by lot see which of you will happen to be each of our Ladies and as it then falleth so shall it continue for this yeere that is the woman shall call the man seruant and the man shall call the woman Ladie and Mystresse And when they had all consented to this the three Gentlemen separated them selues from the rest of the companie and Cornelius chose to him selfe for a fained name to take his chaunce in this lotterie Troylus and Priscus named him selfe Hector and Moderatus tooke to name Vlysses and so returning againe to the companie they discouered their borrowed names and then Verosa because she was youngest was appointed to haue the first choyce who hauing heard their names she said thus vnto them My Lord Cornelius and the rest of the gentlemen you haue chosen names worthie your selues the first being the flower of all Knighthood in the world the second a perfect myrrour of a true and faithfull Louer and the third the true lantherne
Mistresse if you continue in this obstinacie I am sorie that I haue met with one so blinded with heresie Verosa blushing with modest shamefastnesse said pardon mee my Lord in that I haue spoken my minde as by your commaundement and the rest of the companie I was appointed and surely I thinke what I haue spoken to be rather an errour then an heresie if it be any offence at all but though it were neither and that all I spake should be an vndoubted trueth yet would I recant therein rather then loose so honourable a Seruant And syth you haue thus like a ghostly father giuen me a spirituall counsell you haue heard my confession and I am ready to perfourme any penance that you will enioyne vpon me for my sinnes By this Cornelius Lute being come the company requested that a good concord of his instrument might perfect that conformitie which was in his Mistresse whereat Cornelius being nothing displeased hauing tuned his Lute warbled out this ensuing Dittie CONELIVS song WHo aymes at honours worthy name And coueteith renowmed fame In no wise can thereto aspyre Without the ayde of Queene desire Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfayned ioy She sits triumphant in her seat And foes with furious lookes doeth threat Which do blaspheme with wordes vnmild Against her selfe and bonny child Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfayned ioy A child whose force and mighty hand The great God Mars could not withstand That burneth like a lampe of sire In fleeyng thoughtes wing'd with desire Oh mighty Cupid c. Whose shining beames doeth plainly show The ready way for them I trow For to aspyre to dignitie If loyall Louers they will be Oh mighty Cupid c. Lo here behold the honours due To amorous hearts that will be true But who dislodgeth from his bowre Shall soone perceiue his rodde is sowre O mighty Cupid c. And that he may with force confound Each liuing wyght that goeth on ground All you that doe this God despise Flye from his reach if you be wise O mighty Cupid c. But he that mean'th not to disdaine For pleasures sake to take some paine Ioyne with the rest that amorous be And to his Court to gaine your fee. Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfained ioy COrnelius hauing warbled out this Dittie with a smiling countenance bade them all bee merrie and Florida whose course was next called for an Instrument and in the meane time spake thus to Cornelius My Lord you haue pleaded so cunningly for your great Master Cupid that sure you deserue a double fee and no maruell for as it is said Animo volenti nihil est difficile and least we should spend so much time in reasoning that we should want day to finish our begun exercise I beseech Clio to be mine ayde and therewithall hauing stretched the strings of her Instrument to the highest note she sweetely chirped out this Ode FLORIDAES song LAtely when Aurora drewe Curtayne which was darke of hewe Which vnspred shewed light That couered was by Lady nyght And blushingly discouered ay Her loues bed wherein she lay Then Titan lordly-n his seate Dryed vp moysture with his heate And chased hath the vayle darke Of racking clowdes for his parke Fishes swamme in siluer streame And I vnripped seame by seame Circumstance of natures mould Which rare seemed to behold Gazing thus with eyes of minde There I could nothing finde Which pleased not curious eye And therewithall I gan to spye Narcissus that was so fayre With his golden lockes of hayre Which of late had scorned all That were bent to Cupids call Viewing there the water cleere Where his beautie did appeare He thought it had another beene Whose like before he neuer had seene Thinking to embrace a shade That of a substance scorne had made He consum'd in loues desire Of such force is Cupids Ire That prepares the bed of woes To all such as be his foes And to intrap he snares doeth lay Such as doe him disobey When I sawe his doome so dyre To such as despis'd his fire At his flame I thought to warme Least I catch'd the greater harme Then in haste I came away Like aspyne leafe quaking ay For feare of the mighty God That all threatned with his rod That euer would disloyall be To his Mothers progenie His iudgement pronounced was With such terrour that alas I heare it sound in mine eare Moouing body to pale feare Least I should incurre his Ire Which might yeeld me chiefe desire FLorida hauing warbled ouer this Ode very demurely sate silent and Moderatus who was to follow hauing his Lute ready for the purpose first boarded his Lady and Mistresse with this preamble Sapho was neuer more poeticall in her Muses nor cunning in her musical Instruments then you Madame prooued your selfe by this so rare demonstration of an excellent Poet and exquisite Musician And albeit that it is a greater discommendation then praise to bee commended of an ill Oratour yet pardon me for that I do my good will and trueth neuer deserueth blame and therewithall not staying for any replie he began with a slow and soft voyce to measure ouer this Cansong Moderatus song WHen golden Titan did the Ram forsake And warmed the Bull with force of greater heate Then foorth I walked the pleasant ayre to take Glad when I heard the silly Lambes to bleate Pleas'd to behold the stormes of winters ire With quiet calme at last for to expire As thus I mused vnder the silent shade The chirping birdes chattering their harmonie Pleasant slumber my sences did inuade And then I heard a voyce that lowd did crie Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which now I do repent The golden shaft that pearst my panting breast Came from the quiuer hang'd at blind Cupids side Which hath so full bereaued me of rest And therewithall againe he lowdly cryde Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which now I doe repent Phoebus reflecting beames from polished glasse Yeeldes not more liuely shewes then doeth her face That is the cause of this my harme alas Well may I say being hopelesse in her grace Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which nowe I doe repent Whereat I wak't but nothing could I viewe Which made me thinke a vision it should be And straight I rose to see what would ensue And then a nouell strange appeared to me A frozen man being in a fierie flame Another fryed in frost woe worth the same Afore I could the meaning vnderstand This strange Aenigma vanished quite away Whereat amazed much I then did stand Thinking that wofull wyght did lately say Wo worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which nowe I doe repent PAndarina being readie to take her turne in this musical pastime would not seeme to let Moderatus skill in Musicke and Poetrie vncensured and
and treacherous in his friendshippe oh rare and wonderfull great faith and worthie to bee had in great estimation amongest all men whome the force of loue could not mooue the displeasure of a Princesse coulde not feare tâ—e losse of kinde and naturall Parents coulde not cracke nor the hardnesse and daunger of a Pilgrimes life which euery moment is subiect to the storme of waywarde destinie could bend then Florida seeing that Moderatus preferred his friendes welfare before his owne and that he chose rather to preiudice his owne person then any way to hinder Priscus and desired in his last farewell that thou wouldest suppose him to be present in the habite of his friend for that they had but one minde to their two distinct bodies Thinke thâ—n of the worthines of Priscus who loueth thee as his owne life and hath sustained such hard penance for thy sake that more thou couldest not wish thine enemy lesse had bene too much for one that loued so faithfully now entertaine him with some comfort at his intreaty whom thou so tenderly didst loue but what Florida wilt thou so soone yeeld to fonde affection as to loue thy Fathers mortall foe hast thou none to fancie but the sonne of Lothus King of Aemulia that so often hath vexed thy father and his subiectes and haply vnder colour of professing loue vnto thee pretendeth some treason vnto thy father seeking rather to drawe some of his subiectes from their allegiance then to match with his daughter in marriage Ah but where rouest thou fond Florida thou doest measure his inwarde intencion by thy suspicious cogitation and is it not a Maxime in the Ciuill lawe that suspition is no proofe where it is said Factum consistit in externo corporali actu animus in tacito incorporali intellectu vnde in animi effectus non potest cadere facti euidentia thou deemest Priscus to circumuent treason who not onely assureth trueth in his wordes but also manifesteth the same in action for if he had thought to surprise thy father with treacherie he would not haue suffered him selfe to bee discouered vnto thee And what though his father and mine were and are still foes might we not neuerthelesse be friendes yea and our friendshippe be an occasion of amitie betweene our Parents seeing their hate is not deadly but growen of vnkindnesse and some ostentation and desire of superioritie And by this match both Prouinces might be vnited together that it might not onely preserue the liues of a number of their subiectes but also arme them selues with such strength that no stormie blast of sinister Fortune might shake the foundation of any of them both Loue then Florida for the worthines of the man willeth thee so to doe his birth and Parentage are sufficient pledges of honourable patrimonie and his personage and behauiour are liuelie portratures and perfect Mappes of true Nobilitie his merite is farre aboue thy desart and his faithful heart tryed with the touchstone of trueth excellethall so that I thinke nothing wanting in him that might be wished for in an honourable Gentleman or a loyall louer Heere fetching a deepe sigh Florida made a verie long Period Cupid nowe hauing founde her as a wanton playing the trewand had whipped her with nettles to requite all her former coynesse and therefore she began to forget her deerest Moderatus and to imprint in her thoughtes the liuely Idea of Priscus perfect shape verifying the olde Addage Qui procul ab oculis procul est a lumine cordis Thus making a vertue of necessitie hauing none other at this time worthie entertaining she resolued to frame her countenance so mildly towardes Priscus that if heretofore shee had giuen him a cooling carde for his hote desire which might driue him to despaire now hope might giue him comfort that opportunitie would be a good plea to further his action deuising with her selfe by what meanes she might best giue Priscus to vnderstand of her newe conceiued affection who being in this solemne meditation came in some of her gentlewomen with whome she passed the time away remaining in a kinde of longing desire till good fortune should bring them once together Priscus all this while kept his bed his ague being so extreeme that the report thereof was publikely knowen and the absence of Moderatus vnderstoode which caused great heauinesse throughout al the Dukes Court in general for that he was verie curteous and bountifull vnto all and therefore greatly beloued of all his Parents and friendes greatly grieued therewith especially because they knewe not the cause of his departure nor where to send in quest of him The Duke and the Duchesse tooke it also very heauily for that they entirely loued Moderatus for his Gentlemanly qualities vertuous conditions sober life and diligent seruice Thus a good space was his departure greatly bewayled throughout the whole Citie of Albigena all comforting Priscus supposing the losse of his friend to be the cause of his disease the which Moderatus Parents noted in him presently for being verie often with him sometimes hee would raue and be as it were franticke and then he neuer ceased to call vpon his friend Moderatus the which being vnderstood they tooke verie great care of him and gaue in charge to Verosa tenderly to looke vnto him and to cherish him in his sickenesse which the Phisicians helde daungerous though not mortall Verosa for her brothers sake that was his friend his owne curteous and gentle behauiour deseruing no lesse willingly assented so to doe in perfourmance of her Parents commaunde and of good will vnto him and amongest other times Florida and Pandarina once did beare her companie for that both of them indeed could haue bene contented to haue comforted him in the best sort they could although in outward shewe they dissembled who being come to the Patients chamber they found him very sicke yet at the latter ende of his fitte which made them offer them selues a while to keepe him chat to beguile the tediousnesse of the time Priscus faynt as he was very heartily gaue them thankes who espying Florida being very neere his bed and taking him by the wrist to feele his pulse and asking him whether the day of his Crisis was past was almost in a sounde to beholde her that had thus wrought all his preiudice the which Florida perceiuing gaue him verie comfortable wordes and cherished him verie tenderly and bade him take heart for that a valiant minde is neuer knowen but in extremitie as the pure golde in the furnace Priscus well noted her wordes which somewhat did lighten his heart albeit hee much maruelled from whence this sudden kindnesse had proceeded after so cruell a sentence pronounced against him holding it for authenticall that naturally fire and water coulde not agree in one substance nor yet loue and hate so to concurre in one person that so suddenly the one should expulse the ether experience hauing taught him that the lowest shrubbe
this newe Goddesse in the ende perceiuing no way to compasse the same but onely in extinguishing the very cause it selfe and as all desperate causes require desperate remedies so vpon the sudden Venus be thought her of a drift to requite this iniurie which was thus First she sollicited her deare darling Cupid to vndertake the reuenge of his mothers wrong shewing him that there was no meane to effect the same but onely to insinuate her with the loue of this newe Champion wherewith she was already something mooued and being once skortched therewith no doubt their purpose would take good effect for that the blacke Knight meant presently to depart to the Forrest of Esina to bring according to his promes tydings to the Hermite of his good successe in his late atchieued enterprise and then his sudden departure would be so great a griefe to her heart that in a short space her languishing loue would so alter her heauenly hew for the absence of louers breedeth such a corrasiue vnto the minde that it impayreth the beautie of the bodie that the multitude would nowe thinke it but a blaze which vanisheth away with euery blast and by this meane conuert the heate and feruencie of their desires honouring her nowe as a Goddesse to a loathsome and colde disdaine then despising her as an abiect in the meane time while Venus schooled her little wanton wagge to worke a reuenge against the vertuous and fayre Modesta the blacke knight hauing obtained the victorie thought it would be more honourable if he vsed it with clemencie and nowe after that County Delamure had confessed all the matter and circumstance thereof the blacke Knight lifted vp the beuer of his helme whose countenance garnished with the excellencie of beauty his long trauell hauing added a singular grace to his louely and amiable complection offering with great reuerence to the vertuous Modesta the disposing of County Delamures life or death for hers was the wrong and in her hand should the sword of Iustice nowe remaine therefore he heartily requested her to pronounce the sentence against him Modesta rauished as well with ioy of her sudden deliuerie as also with delight in beholding the beauty of him that now had taken fast roote in her minde refused to accept of the blacke Knights offer excusing her selfe with a kinde of care least in being a Iudge in her owne cause she might runne into the ignominie of the popular speaches and so either be condempned of follie for sauing his life that sought her death or otherwise be accounted cruell in not pardoning vpon the offendours submission for that it is a great inhumanitie to deny compassion to a man in miserie Upon these reasons she desired the blacke Knight to hold her excused giuing him innumerable thankes aswell for her safe deliuerie by his valour and bounty as also for this his curteous offer which to satisfie his minde she would willingly haue accepted of but feare of disparragement to her honour commaunding her to the contrary Yet the blacke Knight who was wholly resolued not to take her deniall very earnestly intreated her againe to satisfie his request herein which he would account a full recompence for all his trauels Then Modesta finding her selfe already ouercome with his strange and rare curtesie and desirous to make a kinde of emulation thereof in graunting him any reasonable request and therefore hauing deliberated vpon the matter and considering that a life full of infamie should be a greater torment to a valiant minde then a death full of martirdome pronounced a sentence of banishment against Delamure Hereupon all was finished and the clamour of the people was so exceeding great and wonderfull that the blacke Knight intending secretly to steale away from thence to perfourme his promes with the olde Hermite who was his good hoast in the wilde forrest of Esina with an intent neuerthelesse to returne in some vnknowen sort to knowledge his obeysance to the faire Modesta vnto whome his heart was prisoner on this determination hauing conueyed him selfe out of the presse of people and nowe being part in his way towardes the Forrest Perio ouertooke him who had eyed him so narrowly that presently perceiuing him to depart followed him with all the speede he could The black Knight perceiuing so conuenient a messenger and one he had also bound vnto him in some sort with friendly rewardes in recompence of his seruice he allighted from his horse and stept into a house in a little village hard by willing Perio to walke his horse till he returned againe and there calling for pen Inke and paper he deuised this fancie THe Ocean seas for euery calme present A thousand stormes so howerly doeth my minde While that I doe excogitate the euent Of things wherein great mysterie I finde With paine I prooue a treble dammage losse Sith Fate my heart in waues of griefe doeth tosse The wonder late I sawe wherein I thought A strange and rare effect for to containe Was when I view'd your face which in me wrought Such deepe desire euer yours for to remaine That when I finde that hope forbids to prooue To seeke redresse I languish for your loue But froward Fate too cruell dealt with me To ruminate vnto mine eares your fame Yet glad thereby that you redeemed be Though I do pine when thoughtes present your name In that I can not still possesse the sight Of your sweete selfe that sole may me delight THe blacke Knight hauing finished this Poeme he closed it vp and sent it by Perio to Modesta wishing him further to signifie vnto her that he trauelled to the Forrest of Esina to lead a hermites life vntill that he might either hope of her fauour to returne againe or dispaire thereof to bequeath him selfe perpetually to deuocion and after he had thus instructed Perio what he should doe and had well rewarded him to make him the more willing to effect the same he hastened him towardes the Forrest and Perio although more willing to followe his newe Master returned to the Court where he founde a great tumult the King being very inquisitiue of the blacke Knight which could not be heard of the which when it came to the Ladie Modestas eares she was very much grieued and disquieted for that she was nowe out of hope euer to haue any sight of him that she so entirely beloued and as she was in this meditation came in Perio who hauing reuerently saluted her presented her with that skrowle from the blacke Knight which when she had perused she was verie well pleased hoping he would not be long absent being sicke from the Phisitian which could cure his disease yet she questioned with Perio about him who vpon her demaund deliuered her his message by worde of mouth whose entire and faithfull affection choosing rather to wander in vnknowen desartes in great miserie then to stay in her fathers Court to reueale his fancie vnto her for feare of offending her which