cure the inward passions as they haue medicines to mittigate the outward maladies neither should I haue been forced with hope to gape after vncertain blisse nor with dispaire to feare assured misery But such dismal decrees are allotted to men by the vniuste destinies that the griefes of the mind are neither to be salued by cunning nor appeased by counsel neither to be redressed by help of phisicke nor relieued by aduise of friendes I speake this Pasilla by proofe and curse the gods for such haples experience because if I should haue ease of my passiue I should surfeit wyth too much ioy and if find the disease incurable die with too great sorrow It may be Pasilla thou wilt maruel at this strange malady that is pestered with such contrary principles but I haue more cause to moan that am payned with such crooked passioÌ„s Thy beauty thy beauty Pasilla hath made the wound and thy sweet consent must appease my torments the impression of thy vertues and thy minde fraught with suche singular qualities hath so inchanted my affections and so snared my freedome in the bandes of fancie that being wholly deuoyde of liberty I remayne thy loyall seruant Yea suche a breach hath Loue made into the bulwarke of my breast that the shape of thy exquisite perfection is so shrined in my heart as no meanes but death can staine it with obliuion I had thought that as the Eagle cannot be hurt with lightning nor the oliue with thuÌ„der so a free mind could not haue byn pearced with fancy but now I try by proof that as the playnest table is most apt to receiue anye forme as the cleerest glasse is most brittle the purest chrisolite soonest wrought the whitest lawne most subiect to moales so y e mind which rangeth with most security in the large lees of liberty abhorreth Cupid as a furie shal soonest be bound in the painful fetters of affection and be forced to honor Venus as a goddesse For Pasilla after I had I hope by happy chaunce takeÌ„ a view of thy outward shape thy inward qualities imprinted in my mynd thy beauty and vertue thy personage and parentage my senses were so sotted with the consideration of this excellency that euer since I remayne a captiue to loue and loyalty It may be Pasilla and I feare it wil be that Rodento shalbe suspected of thee for a flatterer and no doubt hated of thy father as an enemie but would to God I might assoone obtaine his fauour as by time trie mine vnfained affection then would I hope to enioy that I wish eschue that I feare Alas Pasilla â— it is not for RodeÌ„to to flatter in his loues least he falter in his life yet were it to me farre more ease though lesse credite but I hope thou wilt not misconstrue of my affection nor distrust my protestations but in recompence of my good will like a litle though not loue so much as I would in this hope I rest feeling some comfort in this that if thy curtesie cure not my malady yet thy cruelty by speedy death shall cut off my misery Thine though neuer thine Rodento Celii ROdento had no sooner ended his letter but 〈◊〉 al speed hâ—â— posted to the house of Clarista whom he found sitting solytary in her parlor Clarista seing Rodento halfe amased at his vnlooked for arriual rose vp and reuerently gaue him a courteous welcom saying that there could no man in al Ferrara haue come to her house whose presence woulde more haue contented her desire protesting that shee was for sundry causes so bounde vnto the Earle his Father that she would thinke her selfe happye if her poore seruice in anye wyse mighte make a requitall of his benefites and some shewe of her good wyll Rodento glad to heare her duetifull and friendlie protestation thought that nowe all thynges woulde fall out according to his wishe and therefore thinking to giue her grasse for haye soothyng vppe her doating flatteries with as fayre promyses takyng her by the hand first charged her vppon her othe and honestie that shee shoulde most secretely conceale whatsoeuer at that present time hee shoulde make manifest Then with carefull lookes and farre fetched sighes hee brake the matter vnto her promysing that if shee stoode his friend with carefull diligence secretely to deliuer his message and with some forcible perswasions to procure Pasilla to take pitye of hys passions hee woulde so largely and bountifullye requite her friendlye trauaile as shee shoulde haue cause to thinke she dealt for a thankfull person Rodento hadde not halfe vttered his mynde ere Clarista with solemne oathes beganne too protest that shee thoughte her selfe happye that nowe shee shoulde haue some meanes to shewe howe duetifully she was affected to the house Celij commending greately the noble mynde of Rodento that beeyng younge hee had made so wise and woorthye a choyse promising not onely secrecie in so waightye a matter but also to vse al possible perswasions to the stirring vp of suche a luckye bargaine Rodento driuen into an extasie for ioye of Claristas forwarde diligence thinking it beste in extremities to giue a spurre to a trotting horse greased her in the fiste wyth a fewe angelles whiche precious oyntement so soupled her olde ioyntes that it was no neede to bidde the 〈◊〉 wife trâ—â— for she presently began to trick vp her selfe towardes hir ioâ—rney which Rodento perceyuing tooke his leaue and departed till the next day when he promised to returne for an answere of his letterâ— Clarista bidding him farewell after she had taken counsel of her glasse to paint out her wrinckled face with a few fresh colours a disease rooted in women from their swathing cloutes â—nd not worne out vntill they come in their winding sheet posted in al hast to the pallace of Valdracko whither she was curteously intertained by the Lady Pasilla and her Cozen Pandina whom she found walking in the gallery for commonly young Gentlewomen are delighted with old wiues doating fables and directed after their secret counsailes counting their sayings as Oracles thinking that age hath taught them that whiche as yet their youth cannot conceiue so that they esteeme it a religion to obserue their fond and superstitions principles which moued Pasilla greatly to honor reuereÌ„ce Clarista so that taking her by the hand withdrawing themselues aside to a baye windowe they fell into long and serious talke but at last Clarista willing while the fishe was wanton to caste forth the baytes presented Pasilla with this letter desiring her to read it secretly in her chamber and the next day to deliuer her a friendly and fauourable answere saying that partly she knew the contents which was a suit so fitting for her honor that if she could condescend to the request no doubt shee shoulde proue her selfe as wise as fortunate Pasilla halfe amased at this vnlooked for message beganne with the gosling to perceyue what the old goose meant
would haue made him repent those opprobrious speeches The Noble men seeing the kings furie were all in their dumpes and durst not for feare to death gainesay y t which he had said so that presently Rhodope was appareled in rich and princely roabes and by two of the chiefe Dukes of Egypt lead from the Parliament house to the temple of the god Appollin where the Archflamyne as his office was not only crowned her Queene but also with the sacred rites celebrated finished vp the marriage in the honour whereof the Noble men making a vertue of their necessitie appointed certaine triumphes and shewes â—issembling their inward sorrow with outwarde conceites and shadowing the counterfeite of griefe with pleasures colours But poore Philarkes pinched to the heart w t his fathers doting follie spente the whole day in blubbring foorth bitter teares so that he was faine to absent himselfe from the banquit whereas Pasmneticus feeding his eies more w t gasing on the incoÌ„parable beautie of his new foreworne spouse then his stomack with any daintie delicates feasted his Citizens and subiectes the space of twelue dayes so sumptuouslye as they mighte perceiue he spared for no cost to shewe his liberall minde But as the longest sommers daye hath his euening so this feaste being ended and euery one departed to their houses Psamneticus and Rhodope liued with such sweete concent as two such new maried couples can enioy This secure quiet continued by the spare of one whole yeere till Venus either grudging at their halfe honest loue or disdayning that Rhodope had begun to leaue her accustomed vanitie and was waren more charie and lesse amorous thoght to shew her lawlesse power by some more vnlawful meanes she therfore sought to yoake that necke whiche as yet was neuer tamed and to inflame that hearte with a burning desire whiche hitherto had beene frozen with a colde disdaine to bringe whiche to passe shee wrought this haplesse meanes It fortuned y â— on a daye as Rhodope looked out of her ChaÌ„ber windowe shee espied yonge Philarkes playing at the barriers with diuerse noble men his companions wherein he behaued him selfe so valiantly as hee shewed that hee was farre superiour to them all in courage and valour Rhodope commending in her minde both his prowesse and perfection began to be tickled with a more then accustomed affection towardes him for the gray heares of Psamneticus had alreadye glutted her fancie and the yonge yeares of Philarkes began to sharpen her halfepined stomacke for womens affections are not feade with kingedomes or treasures but with youthfull conceites sweete amours Age may be alotted to gaze at bewties blossomes but youthe muste clime the tree and enioye the fruite Well Rhodope being a woman and therefore both amorous and inconstant shamed not to disdaine the father and desire the sonne yeelding her selfe captiue to lust at the first alarum To be short Venus had so snared her in the beautie of her sonne Philarkes as her only ioy was in enioying the sight of his person yet as there is no weede so hadde which serueth not to some vse nor confiction so deadly which hath not one good simple so in Rhodopes minde holely stained with vice there were some sparks of vertue for she considered with her self that Psamnetichus of a common and infamous strumpet had without anie desert but vpon meere affection made her a Queene and if she should so falsifie her faith the gods would not suffer such disloyall ingratitude to be vnreuenged Further the impossibility of obtaining such incestuous loue was a meanes to perswade her from such laseiuious thoughts But shee whom Venus had blinded with shamelesse affection cared not for these considerations but followed her owne forwarde will seeking not to represse her lust but how to enioy her loue so y t she began to shew Philarkes more then accustomed fauors painting her beauty out with fresh coulers seeking to intrappe the young Prince with alluring flatteries and amorous glaunces Philarkes whose young yeares were apt for loue began more narrowlie â—o marke the beautie of Rhodope then he had done before seeing her singular perfection to bee such and her beautie to be so rare that she stained not onely all the ladies in Egypt but as he thought in all the world resembling rather a heauenly Nimph then a mortall creature insomuch he thought his father not to be blamed for making so good a choice and wishing himselfe if â—uer he married as happie a chance These sparkes of affections grew by time to a greate flame so that he began not onely to like but to lust after Rhodope which he sought to represse with these reasons First he perswaded himselfe that incestuous adultrie was a sinne so repugnant to nature as the verie brute beastes did abhorre the committing of such a fact and that it was so odious both to the gods and men as it were better to committe either sacreledge or murther but these thoughts could not queÌ„ch that which iniurious Venus had once set on fire for he felt his mind so passionate with y e beauty of his mother in law as no counsaile might appease his maladie yet nature and vertue so much preuailed that he chose rather to die then to consent vnto such vnnaturall disloyaltie his griefe so increased by concealing his disordinate fancies that hee fell into a daungerous sicknesse hauing his heade so weakened with continuall eare and yrke some passions that hee was almost brought into a frensie Psamnetichus seeing his sonne thus perplexed sent for the most learned Phisitions in all Egypt but neither could they coniecture his disease nor redresse his maladie which so grieued the king as he tooke no delight but in sorrowing for his sonne Philarkes Rhodope who was more then half sick with the same disease intending to see if she could sift out the cause of his sicknes decked her self in her brauest attire and went to visite Philarkes comming into his bed chamber and finding him lying as one in a trance shee commanded all to auoyd the chamber for a while Philarkes no sooner saw Rhodope but he start vp in his bed and staring in her face fetcht a deep â—igh She who by her former occupation was a great calculater of such secreat passions knewe without feeling of his pulse where his greatest paine was sitting therfore downe vpon his bed taking him by the hande she intreated him with sugred speech amorous perswasions to vnfold the cause of his sicknesse promising not onely to conceale it were it neuer so secreat but to redres it if lay in her power were it neuer so daungerous Philarkes hearing Rhodope vtter these vnfained protestations hoped that he might haue some successe in his sute but shame of his vnlawful request enioyned him a long time to sylence til at last affections â—anishing feare with bashfull face and blubbring teares he reuealed vnto her the cause of his sorrow how her beautie had so inchaunted his mind and bewitched
rather the bladder wherein the gall lyeth which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latins Bilis folliculum or rather Biliosi humoris armarioluÌ„ And thus much briefly for the Astronomicall description of Mars Now as touching the disposition of the Martialistes They are commonly ouer rash not fearing to rush through sword and fire seeking to mooue immoueable things carying a head without a braine impatient in iniuries doing al things with preposterous aduise beeing variable in their purposes prodigall of their owne and desirous of other means enterprising great matters making of loathsome Sinckes loftie Towers lifting vp their browes euery where touching the heauen with their fingers and speaking tragically as Gyants wearing Haye in their hornes and mingling the heauens with the earth hauing their feathers farre bigger then their neasts carying Waines loden with reprochfull slaunder wearing Nettles in their nose and whetting their teeth vpon bitter Sorrell Inraged as though they were stung with a Briese and more imperious then Phalaris As cruell to them which yeeld as Wolues giuing to those which runne a spurre wearing a bodie without a breast whetting Iron with Iron and putting fire to towe quenching flames with Oyles bearing gall in their mouth fire in their hearts cutting large thongs out of other mens leather As touching the diseases incident to Martialistes they be Tertian feuers Iaundice Phrensies hot Agewes Inflammations Bloodie flix Megrimes hotnesse of Urine and such like which commonly proceede of the quantitie or qualitie of yellowe choller abounding of aduston of blood of fierie and chollericke euaporations Further they which participate of the nature of Mars haue their pulses great and swift Urine yellowe fierie and biting sweate sharpe salt and bitter deiections yellow the tongue commonly drie their dreames of fire burning slaughters strife warres armours and such like Thus I haue described Mars his maligne disposition and meane to confirme my sayinges with a tragicall historie Iupiters Tragedie IN those daies when taking the shape of a man I visited the poore house of Philemon and Baucis coasting diuers Countries happely I arriued in Scithia whereof after Tomyris was Queene beeing nighted in those partes I chaunced on a fayre and sumptuous Pallace scituated hard by the Sea side comming to the gates I found the wicket open whereon was ingrauen this Posie Enteraunce is denied to none Seing such a free passage I passed through the base Court came into y e Hall where I found a yong and beautifull Ladie accompanied with sixe Damosells all ouergrowne with griefe doing Sacrifice as I thought to some of the Gods but drawing more nye I espied the Ladie which by her porte seemed to be Mistresse to them all burning Frankensence vpon Coales and holding the heart of a man in her hand she violently stabo it through in many places which wheÌ„ she had done two of her Maides presented vnto her two dead mens skulles full of wine whereof when she had drunke a little of either gushing forth aboundaunce of teares she called for a Lute whereon she plaide and warbled out this wofull dittie What more mishap can fret the minde then wish each day to dye And yet to liue in lingring greefe alas such life leade I. Whose life if life thrise worse then death is fraught with such annoy As pinde with care can neuer taste one dram of happie ioy I rue to see that most I wish most hatefull wordes I blengeâ— My surest ioye to weepe my fill my greatest wealth reuenge Thus doe I leade a haplesse fate Content with woe enricht with hate Assone as she had ended this mornefull Madrigale she gaue the Lute to one of her Maides and the rest ready to depart but casting her eye aside she espied me wherewith she came pacing toward the place where I stoode and with a courteous and princely countenaunce she gaue me a friendly welcome and taking mee by the hande led mee into her bed chamber where supper was alreadie prouided after we had taken our repast I desirous to knowe the straunge maner of her Sacrifice made request to know the cause of her continuall sorrow what both the pearcing of the heart and the drinking of the dead mens skulles did meane She nothing coy to condiscend to a straungers intreatie began her talke in this maner Iupiter In this Countrie of Scithia there raigned a King not long since called Euandrus who by his naturall inclination was wholy addicted vnto martiall prowesse taking such delight in blooddie wars and cruell Skirmishes as he thought himselfe vnfortunate when either his enimies for feare or he for want of some iust occasion was driuen to liue in vnwilling quiet This EuaÌ„drus had such happy successe in his attempts as by his valour courage he had made a conquest of all the kingdoms adiacent to his dominions Libia onely excepted which was possed by a cruell mercilesse Tyrant named Charaxes who seeing that fortune without any checke had long time fauoured Euandrus thought that after great calmes would ensue little stormes that low ebbes followed hie tydes that fortune after so many sweete fauours could not but shewe some sower frownes whereupon he leuied a mightie Hoast and made a suddayne inuasion into the borders of Scithia burning and spoyling all the countrey thinking by his desperate attempt to make the king shrinke and seeke for Truce But the euent fell out contrarie to his expectation For Euandrus hearing howe Charaxes had attempted the Conquest of his Countrie gathered a greate Armie to the number of a hundreth and fiftie thousand Footemen and fower thousand Horsemen manfully marching forwarde to defend his Countrie and withstand the force of his iniurius enemie Wherein Fortune not willing at this time to giue him the foyle shewed him such accustomed fauour that he valiantly discomfited Charaxes and all his Hoste yea and tooke the King himself prisoner retourning into Scythia with such triumphes that his subiects had both cause to feare and honour such a King Charaxes being thus brought prysoner into Scythia Euandrus as he was fortunate in obtayning the conquest so he was fauourable in vsing the victories thinking it as Kingly to pardon as to conquer and as great renowne to be gotten by shewing mercie to professed foes as curtesie to assured frends For he intreated not Charaxes as a wretâ—hed Captiue but as a worthy Prince entertaining him with such frendly familiaritie as the Lybians had great cause to extoll his clemencie Euandrus bathing thus in the streames of blisse sitting firmely on y e fickle top of prosperity had y e check giueÌ„ him by fortune on this wise Hee had by his wife which was the lately deceased three Children two were sonnes borne twinnes at one instant and in such a moment that it was almost hard to gesse which was y e eldest the one was called Fresnitus y e other Rhomphanus his daughter named Lyndana a Ladie of such exquisite perfection and singuler beautie that she stayned not
by her wincking and to feare that the old Pandar suborned by some lewde mate had attempted to perswade her to some vnlucky match so that at the first she refused the letter til at last forced by the earnest intreaty of Clarista to take it she put it vp in her pocket promising if it conteyned nothing preiudicial to her honor she would the next day redeliuer an answere And with that being both satisfied they went agayne to Pandina who all that while was walking alone in the gallerye passing away the after noone in such endles chat as women when they meet can discourse of till the night drawing on Clarista tooke her leaue and departed Pandina and Pasylla being presently calde to supper where hauing taken theâ—â— repast with the Duke they withdrew themselues to their lodgings Pandina into her bedde chamber and Pasylla into her closet where she no sooner came but in hast she vnripped the seales and found the contentes so straunge and vnlookt for that she both mused and marueiled at Rodentos sodaine passion and Claristas fond perswasion laughing at her foolish attempt and at his as she thought dissembled affection thinking that the young Gentleman inflamed with a secreat hate sought to spoile her honestie vnder the couloured pretence of Amitie and with the crocodile to weepe Rose water at the first and to spitte venome at the last For she knewe that there had beene such mortall hatred betwixt the Counte Coelio and her Father that as the flames of Eteocles and Polynires did part in their funerals so there coulde neuer growe any perfect affection betweene her Rhodento Yet the fame of his exquisite perfection and vertuous qualities the renowne of his valiant prowesse and bountifull courtesie was so blazâ—e abroade throughout all Farrarâ— that as his friends had cause to commende him for his valoâ— so his verie foes could not condemne him because of his vertues Pasylla calling to minde the perfect proportion of his person was halfe tickled with a consenting affection so that if her will might haue stand for a lawe Rodento had not mist of his loue but as fancie forced her to listen to his sute so duetie drâ—ue her to denie his request yet with such modest curtesie as the young Gentleman shoulde haue no great cause to unslike of her answere being in this good minde she tooke pen and Inke and writ him a letter to this effect Pasylla to Rodento Coeliâ— wisheth as shee ought IT is impossible Rodento with musicke to allure Vlysses because with Perill he hardly escaped the Syrons melodie when the Eagle sluttereth Doues take not their flight neither will the Deare stand at the viewe of a dogge though he feare not to gaze at the sight of a boult where hateful suspition breedeth enmitie there it is hard with painted shadows to procure amitie Synons mouth sauored of Hony when his hart was seasoned with Gall. Cassius had a dimple in his cheeke when he had a daggar in his hande and they which couet most bitterly to betray must first seeke most sweetely to intrappe I speake this Rodento because I see thy infectious poison presented in rich plate thy filthie drosse couered with gold and thy crooked meaning with a coloured motion Can the house of the Coelii fauour Valdracko or canst thou loue where thy father hath alwayes sought to hate Nay shall Pasylla be so madde to thinke thy glozing truth other then guilefull treacherie or thy sacred desire to obtain other then a feere at despight to reuenge if she should thou mighest well haue great occasion to laugh but she farre more cause to repent It had been good Rodento to haue halted but not before a Cripple and if thou wouldest needs flatter fancie thou saist to haue drawne the plot for some other person for thou mightest think if I spied no deceipt I were too fonde and if I doubted no dissembling too creedulous siâ—h then thy hooke being bare thou canst catch no fish thou maist sit downe and play with thine Angle But put case Rodento doth loue shall therefore Pasylla begin to like no she hath learned to be blinde at profers and deafe at promises to heare little and beleeue lesse least in harkning to the charmer she hap to be inchanted It is not for fools to play with swords nor for maides to dallie with loue least the one haue cause to crie and the other to repent There is nothing sweeter then libertie nor any thing more sooner lost which men seeke to obtaine with flattery and to rewarde with falshood yet I will imagine Rodento doth loue and Pasylla could loue will Valdracko grant he shoulde enioy his daughter no hee had rather preuent her with vntimely death then pretend such an vnlikely demaunde he would sooner consent to payn her with some hellish miserie then place her in such a haplesse marriage But alas what is this to the purpose Rodento doth loue and must enioy his loue or else poore soule die for loue Truely either the mans minde is very weake that will pine away with such a passion or his bodie verie feeble that wil perish for so small a maladie but sith your stomacke Rodento is so queasie I will giue you this comfortable principle that as it is harde for women not to consume with care so it is impossible for men to die of a conceit the ones minds melting like waxe the others hardned like Adamant And yet howsoeuer the case stands though I neither can nor may loue thee RodeÌ„to yet I wil not hate thee but wish that our parents were as assured friends as the children might be perfect louers and so farewell Her owne and not possible to be yours Pasylla PAsylla hauing thus finished her letter feeling her cyes to be halfe closed with drowsie sleepe went to her bedde thinking to beguile the long night with swee slumbers but it fell out otherwise for Venus willing to fauour such a forward champion as Rodento thought to yoke the neck which as yet neuer yeelded and to fire that fancie with a lusting desire which hitherto hadde beene frosen with a chaste disdaine shee therefore presented vnto Pasylla the beautie and young years of Rodento the vertuous disposition of his minde wherein he was simple and the perfection of his outwarde shape wherein hee was singular in the one excelling most in the other inferior to none which duelie considered draue her to debate thus doubtfullie with her selfe Ah vnhappie Pasylla whose minde is pained with vnacquainted passions and whose heade is troubled with vnequall thoughts shall thy Uirgins â—â—ate â—e stained with fonde desires or thy younge yeares darkened with Cupides shadowes Tis fitte for thee Pasylla to spende thy youth in laboures not in loues to pace solemnelye after Vesta not to gadde wantonlye after Venus Maydes muste haue denyall in their mouth and disdaine in their hearts so â—haâ— they 〈…〉 securely despise fancie Diana is painted kissing 〈◊〉 and spotting beauâ—ies face with a Penfel Uirgiâ—s 〈◊〉
chylde prohybite thee from suche hellishe practises But why doâ—st thou prattle Pasilla thou seest they could not Graunt not to the trecherous wreâ—th then so much â—auour as to let him inioye one moment of life but reuenge his wickednesse and 〈◊〉 thine owne woe And with that Valdracko was about to speake but Pasilla incensed with a furious 〈…〉 vp the sword and wounded him sore and after many bloody â—lowâ—s he yeelded vp the ghost When she had thus crâ—câ—y murthered her father yet iustlye requited the iniuâ—y she toâ—k pen and incke and wrote the effect of this tragicall discourse that al might know the cause of this bloody fact whiche finiâ—hed â—â—e fell groueling on the sword and so ended both her life and her miseries Saturne Iupiter Mars Sol Venus Mercurie Luna VEnus had no sooner ended her tale but Saturne rising out of his seate as one in a chafe fell into these Collericke tearmes Saturne Venus you play like them which seeking to shoote against the starres are wounded with their owne Arrowes in the fall or like the enuious Porcuntine who coueting to strike others with her pennes leaueth her selfe void of any defence you haue here tolde a tale of Valdracko which sheweth not my crabbed influence but your owne crooked constellation for it was the wilfull forwardnesse of Pasylla in her doâ—ing fancies and her lasciuious loue in liking her fathers enimy that procured those haplesse euents yea it was the vnbridled affection of staylesse youth not the careful wisedome of setled age that wrought this Tragicall discourse Venus Saturne if old men could blush no doubt all the gods should perceiue thou wert more ashamed in defending so false a cause then in hearing me rehearse the case but I will not say you doate because you are old but dissemble because you are wise so shall I both excuse your fondnesse and commend your wit but this I hope I may say without preiudice that your arguments sauour as much â—f reason as Luna doth of constancie Luna You might haue said Venus as you do of honestie and so all the gods would haue thought his arguments of small force but were his reasons as full of substance as you of light qualities it were against Aristotle to deny either premises or conclusion Venus You learned this Logicke Luna of Endâ—mion but let that passe and seeing Sol is appointed Moderator in this our controuersie I thinke he cannot but say that the haplesse and tragicall euents of this history came by the predominant influence of Saturne for was it not the Melancholy disposition of Valdracko that nourished so long the glowing sparkes of reuenge toward the Conte Coelio and his Saturnine constitution that with a coulored shewe of amitie repayed most faithfull friendshippe with cruell enmitie did hee not carry in the one hande breade and in the other a stone and preferre his priuate iniuries before publike credite or honesty yea did not such melancholicke impressions pester his minde as hee was the cause of the most tragicall and bloodie Massacres Mercurie Truth Venus such is the crabbed disposition of Saturne as they which are borne vnder his influence delight in tragicall treacheries performed with most subtill and secreat attempts so that Caesar feared more the two Saturnists Brutus Cassius then all his forraine foes of any other constitution Iupiter Mercurie you speake without commission I am glad you are so greatly beholding vnto Venus indeede she cannot want counsellours nor champions she allowes them such large fees But I pray you wherein is my Father Saturne so greatly to be blamed was not Valdracko forced by the disordinate affection of his daughter Pandina to his enemies sonne Rodento rather to preuent mishappe by some synister meanes then to bring his hole house and famelie to most miserable decay and ruine Mars Iupiter if large fees may make bolde champions or brawling counsellers you haue greatest cause both to fight chide in Venus behalfe she hath giuen you many a fat present as Europa daâ—as Alcmena I haue named ynough I think to stoppe your mouth Luna Mars what Iupiter hath gotten I knowe not but what Vulcan got with his net we al know not a fish but a God But it is wel you defend not her honestie but her arguments Sol. Cease from these biting quips they are fit for brabling Sophisters not for the gods and heare my verdict I am of this minde that the hapelesse euentes of this tragical discourse came by Saturnes synister influence that Coelios death proceeded of a malicious and secreat hate that Rodentos balefull mishap spronge from a Saturnine reuenge predominant in the configuration of Valdrachos natiuitie imprinting in his aged minde a melancholie despight which brought to passe this wofull and vnnaturall tragedie This is my censure but nowe sith Venus hath ended her tale Luna I charge you to report her Astronomical description because Saturne will speake more of ranâ—or then of reason Saturne Sol we haue agreed that your sensure shal stand for a sentence and therfore I wil not inueigh against your verdict but am content to beare the blame of Valdrachos ill nature yet that you the rest of the gods may know that there commeth more harme by disordinate lawlesse Venus then by me I will rehearse an historie wherein you shall easily perceiue that loue sotteth the senses infecâ—eâ—h youth destroyeth age and is the very plague both to the minde and body Lunas Astronomicall description of Venus THe starre of Venus right mightie gods is so simplie called as Tullie auoucheth quod ad res omnes veniat and the auncient Arabians call it astrum genitale or prolifioum for the temperate moisture and fauorable influence that it distilleth vppon all humaine bodies for the nature of Venus is to infuse into all inferiour substances while they are ingendered or nourished a certaine Humidatum sucoum or delicate moisture yet notwithstanding so thinne and subtile that it shall 〈…〉 and fâ—llow more the nature of 〈◊〉 then of showers which naturalâ— and proper qualitie in my iuâ—gement caused the aâ—ncient Poets 〈◊〉 attribute this Epitheton vnto Venus Aâ—â—a ab alendo Now as concerning her other qualitie of 〈…〉 note that â—â—we hâ—â—e in naturall heâ—â—e placed 〈◊〉 that doth cherish and nourish as is Sol and his irraâ—i at starre Iupiter so we haue set downâ— another which doth burne and scortch intemperaâ—ely as doeth Mars with his adult and yâ—llow chollar so likewise in the nature of coâ—â—nesse we doe appoint Venus to be â—omâ—oâ—ate and fauorable and Saturne with his melancholy humor to be infortunate and malignaâ—â— of the which opinion are Prolomeus Galen and the Chaldes saying that amongst the Planets there are two fauourable wel affected and friends to nature namely Iupiter and Venus and two Saturne Mars â—â—holsome bitter lucklesse and yll affected To confyrme the which I will rehearse Ptolomeus owne sentenceâ—â— the end of his first Apotellosmaâ—â—â— There are foure humours saith he or first
allot But I hope wisdom shal preuent that which fancy seeketh to preteÌ„d The Lady which oweth this shoe is one whose perfectioÌ„ of body is greatly darkened with the imperfection of the mynde and whose singular beauty is such yet so stained with the spot of lasâ—iuious vanity as all may iudge shee was framed by nature to despight vertue It is Rhodope that infamous strumpet of Memphis Nestos had scarse vttered these words but Psamnetichus as one inraged with a franticke passion beganne in most cruel termes to exclaime against Loue and Fortune braying out such bitter curses against Venus her inequall lawes that poore Nestos seeing his vnbrideled furie was more afraid to perswade him then to coniure a diuell trembling a while for feare that the king should wrecke his wrathon his old carkase At last when Psamnetichus had somwhat appeased his furious passions he rewarded Calchos and licensed him to depart with drawing himselfe into a secret place where hee powred foorth these complaints Ah vniust Venus and most accursed Cupid whose hatefull delight is to drowne men in vnequall thoughtes and to make them doate in vnfitte fancies seeking moste to assayle those myndes whiche thinke themselues moste safe vnder the shielde of vertue coueting with bitter pleasures to procure sweet tormentes and with seruyle affections to intangle free myndes Alas I see and I sigh and sorrowe to see that there is no dignitye honour age nor yeeres whiche canne resist the alluring charmes of Loue. Loue Psamnetichus why doest thou loue It is a worde vnmeet for thy mouth but a passion farre more vnfit for thy minde Thy graye hayres are fruites for death not blossomes for Venus Thy yeeres are too bee spente in repentyng thy former follyes not in renewing freshe and amorous fancies It is more â—itte for thy age to caste howe to dye then to care howe to loue Peace Psamnetichus doe not so much as once name loue why not Trees may haue rootes though no leaues and though flowers fal hearbes maye haue sap Loue in age is a vertue so it be not blemished with inequall choyse Trueth fonde foole but what choice haste thou made Of some famous Princesse oh no it were too well of some begger were she vertuous why not Oh Psamneticus woulde to God it were so wel No no thou hast chosen Rhodope a strumpet not halfe so famous for her beauty as infamous for her vanity one whose honesty nay dishonesty is to be bought by euery stragling stranger Loue is vnfit for thy yeeres because thou art old but such loue is vnmeet for thee wert thou neuer so young What wil the peeres of Egypt say if they heare but of thy doting thoughts wil not thy poore subiects sorrow to be ruled by suche a Queene But alas what will Philarkes doe Surely either seeke to cut her daies shorte with vntimely death or to ende his owne life with continuall griefe Ah Psamneticus it were more honourable for thee to die by concealing loue then liue and inioy such haplesse loue And with that he fetcht such a deep sigh as it might wel witnesse how he sought with hatefull disdaine to quench such fonde desires striuing with reason to bridle appetite and with wisedome to suppresse affection flying from that by his owne will wherevnto he was led by an infortunate influence but he found that to wrestle with loue was with the crab to swimme against the stream and with the Deere to feed against the wind wherupoÌ„ feeling such a deep impression to enter into his heart as neither counsel nor reason could race out he yeelded an vnwilling consent to loue thogh the only thing he sought to hate Pinched a long time with these contrary passions his care and sorrow so increased sorrowing that he had made so ill a choyce yet careful how he might obtaine his choyce that his aged and feeble complexion weakened with a more heauie burden then he was able to beare had almost yeelded vnto death His sonne Philarkes marueling at his fathers vnaccustomed dumpes seing that he had made a change of his wonted pastime and pleasures for solitary thoughts and contemplations cast diuers coniectures 〈◊〉 his headâ— what might be the cause of his fathers sodain sorow 〈…〉 it could not be for want of honour in that he was a kingâ— if gold might make one merry as no doubt it is the onely wheâ—â—stoâ—e to mirth his father wanted no treasure Egypt was not pestered with ciuil tumults nor troubled with forrain inuasions Al which things duly coÌ„sidered hee coulde not coniecture what shuld be the occasion of his fathers sorrow so y e desirous to know what should be the cause of his care and willing if it lay in his power to redresse it finding his father within few dayes alone in y e garden at his accustomed dumps he brake wyth him to know the cause of his dolor crauing reuerently of his father if it were his pleasure that he would make him partaker of his griefes seeing that there is no better remedye for a troubled minde then to participate his care to some secrete friend promising as it was his duty by the law of nature to protest that if his life might bee a meanes to appease his heauye passions hee would most willingly free him from those perplexed sorrowes Psamnetichus hearing the dutifull obedience of his sonne noting with what vnfained protestatioÌ„s he vttered these words partly for the ioy hee conceiued of his sonnes good nature and partly for the remembrance of his owne doating affections hee burst forth into teares yet seeking to conceale that shame forbad him to reueale finding this excuse most fit for the time and his straunge passions Philarkes thou knowest euery thing is measured by his due time The spring hath fresh flowers and pleasant gleames Autumne withered leaues and bitter stormes Youth is paynted gazing at the starres Age looking downe to the ground Pleasaunt conceytes are the blossomes of young yeeres and melancholy thoughts the fruites of gray haires I tell thee Philarkes when I was young I delighted in mirth and labour and nowe being old I ioy in ease and sadnes Thou marueilest how I can be so subiect to dumpish thoughts and I wonder how thou caÌ„st be so free froÌ„ care and griefs It is not want of prosperity but the experience of many yeeres y â— hath taught me in age to think how to die The ioy of my youth and the comfort I should haue haâ— being old is gone I meane thy mother Farina the remembrance of whose death makes me as sorowful as thy life and â—bedience makes me ioyfull Cease then good Philarkes to enquire the cause of my care and seeke not to redresse that whiche nature denieth to haue any remedy Philarkes was satisfied with his fathers answere but Psamnetichus more troubled with his sons demand so that he could take no rest but lingred in doubtfull thoughts til at last reason yeelding to appetite and wisedome to affection he determined to