holding downe his hed My most deare louing frend he fed Withdrawe youre gentle courtesie Let no mo teares for me be shed But slay me rather where I lye Or otherwise on me hardlye Take vengeaunce most writched villaine And of all other most worthy I am to suffer death and paine For wheras God of nature plaine In one likenes hath both vs made So had he trapped in one traine Our wils that we in weale should wade So that the like recourse and trade Of concord that hath bene betwene Us two ye and so stedfastlye layde I do suppose hath neuer bene The like in louers euer sene Yet notwithstanding all this loue This faith this truste is wasted cleane A womans looke hath gone aboue Alas what wicked spright did moue Your minde to bring me in presence Of her whom ye as I can proue Beholding beawtye and prudence Could not with hold by no defence Youre minde from rauishinge with luste Alas where was youre sapyence That you in such thinges wold me trust Wist you not that our windes were iust Forgat ye quight our like nature Which thinge ye ought to haue discusse This is the cause I you ensure Of this mischiefe that I endure Youre truste haue trapt me in the rayes That issue from her eyen demure Remembring eke her vertuous layes Which perceth my heart a thousaÌ„d waies So that of all thinges I desire Sharpe death to end my dolefull dayes Confusion eke to be my hire Sith I against you did conspire Such treason so vnnaturall Desiring so iustlye youre ire Shame and reproche perpetuall Unworthy am I for to call Or say Gisippus is my frende Syth frendshippe in me is so small With those wordes Titus made ende The sighes that from his heart did wend So heauie were and so profounde The teares from his eyes dessend As he to salt drapes mought redounde Gysippus then with cherefull sound And with a louelye countenaunce Not raginge rashlye in that stounde Although he sorowed at the chaunce But with a frendly affiaunce Enbracinge him and sothlye saide Why Titus is this your greuaunce That you so long from me haue stayed I haue it can not be denayed Offended as I here confesse In that whiche you did me enbrayde I acknowledge my folishnesse Deare frende Titus ye are faultlesse For truth it is that I forgate In fâ—we wordes brefely to expresse The vnitye of oure astate For what I loue you do not hate But loue it in as high degree Our constellacion or fate Is one I knowe it so to be Therefore the fault lyes all in mee No man the contrarye can proue Sith that I caused you to see Sophronia whom I do loue Sith that ye haue so stoutlye stroue Against the powre of Cupides might Which hath so many nobles droue And slaine them quite in his dispight Thinke you deare frend my wit so light That I knowe not how that venus Wil wouÌ„d those against whom she fight With deadly dent yes yes Titus Haue ye not well stroue that haue thus Resisted suche a great Goddes Almost to death for Gysippus Was not this very noblenes What frendship could you more expresse Then to withstand such violence Am I so vertuous to distresse Or stoppe the heauenly influence Preordinate by prouidence Diuine what were if I so thought My time of longe and large expence What were my learning dearlie bought Or yet the wisdome I haue sought In dede Titus I loued the maide As much as any wise man mought And had my harte vnto her slayde I was of her better apaid Then of all my treasure and land But yet what though what may be saâ—â— Sith that your loue I understand Doth farre surmount if it were scand A boue the compasse of nature I knowe you can not slake the band Of venus it is knitte so sure What shal I iudge a mind vnpure That you do this of wanton lust Nay Titus I will not procure Such thinges against you so vniust Deare frend in this you may me trust For how shoulde I of right contend Except that good reason should rust And soo oure frendshippe come to an end Sith that we neuer yet did spende One worde in malice daye nor night So to be still else god defende And bringe the errour sone to light Nay nay Titus I haue done righte The prouidence of god onelye Hath wrought this thing with his great might That she shuld be your owne lady For such loue entreth not but by A disposicion diuine Into a wise mans memorye I can it no wayes els define Whereat if I should now repine I shoulde seme stout and obstinate Against that god doth determine And rightes from you to seperate Which neuer shall early nor late Be found in me therefore I say Deare frend Titus and louing mate Let not this chaunce your mind dismay Put sorow from you quight awaye Reioice now and no more be sad Let not this wo your welth decay For certeinely I am right glad That such a wyfe is to be had And that it is my chaunce to find Her with whom your life may be lad In ioy according to your minde Whereby you maye encrease your kinde To the comforte of your lignage I haue to you my right resinde Of her therefore your old courage Take vnto you and your visage all to be wept wash it right cleane For now the daye of oure mariage approcheth nigh therefore sum meane Let vs this time and that betwene Deuise how that you may attaine Your whole desires which haue bene The onely patron of your paine Marke wel this is mine aduice plaine You knowe well that our shape is so That in like garmentes of vs twaine Few men do scant know who is who Although that we together go Much les a part and liklye dight Shall they desearne ech of vs two And brifelye of vs iudge the right Also ye know that vntill night The marriage is not confirmed That they their trouthes haue playnlye plight And that a ring there prepared On her finger be fastened Her girdle then must be vntide And then may they two go to bed And perfourme the partes of a bride This meanes for you I will prouide Untill that day be past and gone In sum close place you shall abide Beinge prepared for you alone When night is come feately anone To her chamber your self conuey Of maides nor wifes there is not one that for our shap shall you bewray Then quicklye do your selfe vnray And vno bed bouldly prepare Your ring on her finger assay Louse her girdle and do not spare But yet be circumspect and ware That no fonde thing in you appeare Whereby you may augment your care Now frend Titus be of good cheare Let no thinges be for you to deare Take good refections and solace For to amend your lothlye leare Your wan and pale coloured face That it be not in any cace The cause of your discouering I knowe within this litle
The most wonderful and pleasaunt History of Titus and Gisippus whereby is fully declared the figure of perfect frendshyp drawen into English metre By Edwarde Lewicke Anno. 1562. Aristotell Frendshyppe is a vertue For all men to take holde Frendshypp ioyned with vertue Passeth syluer and golde As fyer and heate Are in seperable alwaye So are the hartes of frendes From daye to daye THere was in the city of Rome A noble man hight fulnius A Senatour of great wisdome One of the chiefest the truth is thus He had a sonne named Titus An apter child could not be found As witty men did their discus For learnyng going on the ground Fulnius loue did so abound To Titus for his natiue grace That to athenes he sent him rounde Because he should learninge enbrace Wherof Athenes was the best place With one Chremes Titus did host Who had a sonne so like of face To Titus that Chremes 〈◊〉 Knew not his sonne his marke was lost For their statures and age were one Their garmentes both a like did cost On all the earth lo there were none So like of beautye blood and bone Gysippus hight Chrimes sonnes name Together still wolde they haue gone To scole to meales to play or game Their willes wits both like did frame In oue doctrine they did delite What one did tone the very same The other loued with all his might In learning they were iustly pight For yer that they much time did spende In Athenes was not manie a wight Would in learning with them contend◠At last when God by deth did sende For Chremes in his auntient age Gysippus goodes was without ende He was of noble parentage And eke a propre personage Wherfore his frendes did him allure And stil prouoke to mariage Saying thereby you may be sure Your progenie shall long endure To your great honour and comfort Thus daily they did him procure But Gisippus for to be short To their counsell woulde not resort For he was wedded to studie Philosophy was all his sport Except Titus his frende onelse Whom he so loued that well nie For other thinges he did not care Titus also a good cause whye Would for Gisippus his life spare Suche frendship hath bene sene but rare Gisippus fearinge that a wife Should cause their frēdship sone to ware Whiche he had leuer lose his life Then with his frend to fall at strife Fearing left through mariage also Which caused him to be penife Philosophie he should forgoe And leaue his scole alas for wo Which thoughts made him for to abstain As much as in him lay to doe His kinsemens aduise to refraine But yet they did him so constraine By calling on so importaunt That nedes he must though to his paine Seing they cried incessaunt To all their requestes throughlie graunt Titus also did him desire That he would not be repugnaunt But doe as they did him require Or els said he their feruent ire Against you alway shal be bent As furious as the fretting fire Therfore it is expedient Deare frende Gysippus to content Your selfe and set your hart at rest Chouse you a wyfe by mine assent Euen such a one as you like best Gysippus with this meke request To his frend Titus did agree What nede much talke to be exprest His frendes a maiden did forsee No meter match they thought mought be Then she for suche a worthy wight In beautye bright peareles was she Sophronia this mayden hight When they and her frendes had full right The couenaunt of this marriage knitte Gysippus then to haue the sight Of this lady they thought it fitt And saide also that best were it For him this mayden to beholde Whom when he sawe in shape and wit Like him his ioyes could not be tolde He louid her so that oft he woulde Resort vnto her secretlye Leauing Titus his louer olde Behinde applying his studye Yet at the last he did descrye himselfe and told Titus his minde How that her gentle courtesye And beautye cleare had him enclinde So on a time he had assinde To haue his frende Titus with him To se Sephronia so kinde Which to Gysippus semed trim And as well shapt in euery lim When Titus came in her presence His will aboue his witt did swim To se her good entelligence And how at their engredience She did Gisippus entertaine With courtesye and reuerence With rare and sober talke righte plaine So well placed and not in vaine The swete and pleasaunt countenaunce That in her visage did remaine With louelye lookes and temperaunce So that he fell into a traunce Beholding of her swete visage And sore abashed at the chaunce That frendshippe could it not asswage Nor yet Philosophy the rage Of pricking with blinde Cupides dart For in beholding her image Her beautye perced him to the heart But yet he shewed not his smart Till they to their lodginges were gone Then Titus drewe himselfe apart His miserie for to bemone And when he was himselfe alone Uppon a bed there downe he lay For other helpe he loked none But onely death his care to stay Ther cursed he the time and daye That he into this world was borne O deth saide he fetch me away would god I were with tirantes torne O that Rhynos with his sharpe horne Would rid me of my miserye Oh cursid Titus and forlorne Why swaruest thou so sore awry Oh traytour Titus well worthy For thy treason to Gysippus A miserable death to dye Thus wept and wayled poore Titus No man in the cause that coulde descus Nor whereof his care did depende But alwayes Titus would say thus Would god my life were at an ende With that the salt teares would dessend Downe by his chekes like flouds of raine The depe sightes frō his hart wold wend Which well declared his mortall paine But at the last for to be plaine For lacke of slepe and sustinaunce Soe feblenes did him constrayne To kepe his bed this was his chaunce He was so hurt with Cupides launce That nought his paines mought pacifie When Gysippus to his greuaunce Hearde that Tytus was like to dye He ran in all hast by and by God knoweth with a wofull heart But yet he loked cherefullye To comfort him as was his part But when he saw the coloure swart Which had bene like the ruddye rose Titus said he whēce cometh your smart Deare frende to me se you disclose And though that I do spende and lose My goodes and landes your care to slake My life from me will I depose Deare Titus for your onely sake Then Titus as his hart had brake The teares afresh he did renue Which made Gisippus heart to ake Seing more doloure still ensue Deare frend said he no more rescue Nor hide your mortall paines from me But shew that I may them subdue Yf any helpe for you may be Thus wise Titus constrained he Which all blushing and ashamed Talking with great difficultye Shamefastly
space That you your pourpose thus hauinge My frendes will hate me and thinking Me to disgrace my familye But let god worck I care nothing Though I be had in obloquye Encreasing your felicity At those wordes Titus then began To mone as on my fantasie He though Gysippus spake not than But thought he did a vision scan As one adremed in a slepe Lay still as an abashed man But when he sawe Gysippus wepe And teares by his chekes down did stepe Perceyuinge loue in explicable He gaue him thankes w t groninges depe For his kindnesse incomperable And said it were more reasonable That such vnkinde wretches as I Should perish with some death notable â–ª Then that you should sustaine thereby Anye reproche or iniurie Eftsone Gysippus did protest And kissed Titus louingly Saying deare frend be you at rest For loke what thinges I haue protest Faine would I haue accomplished And thereto will I do my best At those wordes Titus perceaued That his frendshipe was not fained And starte vp then as one not sicke But from sleape he had waked his blood resorted sum what quicke For good eates then he did not sticke But toke thinges his health to restore So that shortelye he waxed tricke In figure as he was before To health was turned all his sore Shorte tale to make the mariage drue The widdinge wedes Gysippus wore Of costly coloured cloth of hue And did as vnto him was due His frendes he accompanied The damuseles house they did cusue Where they were ioyouslye feasted Gysippus was entertayned So louingly of his fayre maide That all the people there praised To se that sight were well apayde And ech vnto his felow saide Praysing the vertue and beautye Wherwith those parsons were araide And eke their gentle courtesie That neuer erst they could espye Their vertues rare so excellente In anye creatures saue onelye Those two which then were there present What nede much talke for to be spent The wedding day away did passe Their frendes also away they went The bride eke as the custome was Was brought with many a louely las To a chamber most freshlye dight Gysippus then returned as He tould Titus he would that night Then Titus he stept in full light Anon to bed he did prepare The maide assone eke as she might Lay downe by Titus naked bare Not knowing of the subtill stare But thought it had bene Gisippus Then Titus ending all his care Demaunded of her saying thus Sophronia floure of Uenus Do you loue me and not disdayne That in this bargayne betwene vs I shall your husband styll remaine In helth and welth in ioy and payne Wherewith she smiled all blushinge Her maydenhode lyke to refrayne With eyes half laughing half murning To his reqnestes she affirminge Eftsone he asked her also Yf that she wolde receyue his ringe Anone she dyd consent theretoe Her girlde then he dyd vndoe His ringe he put vpon her hande What elles he dyd non but they twoe Knewe that yet this I vnderstande That all the treasure in the lande Could not haue pleased him half so well As dyd the lousinge of the bande Whiche made him suffre paines of hell When morrow came the truth to tell Gisippus thought expedient That people knew what had befell Wherefore bye his owne appointment For all the noble men he sent Home to his place of habitation Where Titus came for this entent In breake his mynde with an oration And after their good recreation He sayd to them my deare frendes all Ye noâ—â—â—s of this famous nation A wondrrous thinge declare I shall What is in Athenes now befall To youre perpetuall prick and prayse â–ª Of loue whose power is misticall Wherefore he ought to take alwayse Great comfort fith in those your dayse Such loue amonge you doth remayne As hath bene seene in no countrayse So well approuid with ease and payne For what more prayse is their certayne Then constance and beneuolence Without whoÌ„ no kyngdome may raine Uoyde of muche inconuenience Where constance hath the preminence The countrey is in muche solace Through it they haue alwaye defence And comfort in eche heauye cace What nede I tarye longer space In this contectinge mine entent You know from Rome vnto this place I was by my deare parantes sent And streight to Chremes house I went UUhere that I founde by aduenture Gisippus propre and prudent Of mine owne age this is most sure We were so lyke of moode demure That none of his frendes neither mine It was so harde and so obscure Coulde say to vs loe this is thine But as we shewed by sum sine Oure personages to declare What mutuall loue eight yeares or nine Hath bene betwene vs euery where Ye your owne selfes the witnes are Which haue beheld and sene vs both This to affirme right well I dare Yet certainly I would be loth To speake such thinges should make you wroth But for my part by your licence I will declare the verye troth Desiring you of pacience When that by diuine prouidence My father dyed who left to me Possessions such that in expence Few with me mought compared be Beinge eke of so high degre Also I being called home By my frendes whom right wel knowe ye Are of the noblest men in Rome And men also of ripe wisdome â–ª Offring me the highest dignitye But when they saw I would not come At their requestes they maruayled why And wild my mother instantlye To whose beck nature hath me bent In her letters to certifye Me that therbye I mought relent Whose blotted billes with teares be speÌ„t Accusing me of vnkindenes For my beinge so longe absent From her sith she is comfortles I say in few wordes to expresse Could not withold or pull me back From Gisippus although riches I was behest neuer to lack But liesier to be clothed with sack I had then parte from such a frende For wordely welth oft windes to wrack But faithfull frendship hath none ende I can not from his presence wende Except he thereto will agre As long as I haue breath to spende His seruaunt gladlye will I be Ye more gladly I promise ye Then of Rome to be the consul My loue requited well hath he In sauinge me from death so dull And of all other most painefull No death that may be so cruell Though one were torne w e beare or bull No paygnes more dreadfull are in hell You merualle I perceyue right well What personne owth me such malice Or who dare be so ferse and fell To attempt such an enterprice Reiectinge natures preindice Against me being a Romayne And of the noblest blod certice Who think ye theÌ„ would me haue slaine I perceaue ye would know full faine Who wrought me such cruell dispite It was loue yea I tel you plaine Which as your Poetes do resite Did wound your gods with loues delite Made Iupiter chaunce his figure Like a bull or swan full white Or