distressor Then must Apollo bee fetcht from heauen Orpheus from his graue AmphioÌ„ from his rest the Syrens from their roks to qualifie thy musings with their musicks For though they excell in degrees of sounds thou exceedest in diuersities of sorrowes being far more miserable then musical and yet they the rarest of all others once Abstemia thou wâ—â—t counted the fairest in Italy and now thou art holden the falsest thy vertues were thought many now thy dishonors are counted nomberles thou wert the glory of thy parents the hope of thy friends the fame of thy country the wonder of thy time of modestie the peragon of Italy for honorable grace the patern wherby womeÌ„ did measure their perfections for shee that was holden lesse modest was counted a wanton and she that would seem more vertuous was esteemed too precise But now thou art valued worth lesse of all thy former honours by the stain of one vndeserued blemish Ah had I bin false to my husband perhaps I had bene more fortunate thogh not in mine owne conscience yet to the eies of the world lesse suspected and so not detected but innocency to God is the sweâ—test incence a coÌ„science without guilt is a sacrifice of the purest saâ—or What though I be blamed if my life be lent me my honor wil be recouered for as God wil not suffer a murther to escape without punishment so he wil not let the wrong of the innocent goe to his graue without reuenge Though thou bee bannished Abstemia yet comfort thy selfe account each countrey thine owne and euerye honest man thy neighbour let thy life bee meane so shalt thou not bee lookt into for enuye créepeth not so lowe as Cotages réeds bend with the wind when Cedars fall with a blast poore men relie lightly of fortune because they are to weake for fortune when higher states feele her force because they nosâ—e in her bosome acquaint not thy selfe with many least thou fal into the hands of flaterers for the popular sorts haue more eies and longer tongues then the rich seeme curteous to al but conuerse with fewe and let thy vertues bee much spoken though thy selfe liue neuer so priuate Hold honesty more déer then thy life be thou neuer so pore yet be chast choose rather to starue in the strâ—ets theÌ„ liue daintily at a lechers table if as thou art beutiful Abstemia anie fall in loue with thy fauours and what hee cannot winne by suites will seeke to get by force and so raâ—ishe thee of thy riâ—hest glorie choose rather to bee without breath then liue with such a blemish Thou art fraudlesse in Sicilia and though thou complainest thou shalt not be heard might ouercomes right and the weakest are still thrust to the wall To preuent therefore constraint in loue in the greatest Prince I haue prouided quoth she a poyson in the seale of my ring as deadly as it is litle resoluing as stoutly as Haniball did who held the like in the pomell of his sworde and choose rather to die free then fall into the hands of Scipio So before any leaâ—her shall force to saâ—isfie his passion I wil end my life with this fatal poison So Abstenia shalt thou die more honorablie which is more deere then to liue disgraced enough is a feast poore wench what needs these solemne preachings Leaue these secret dumps and fall to thy Lute for thou shalt haue time enough to thinke of sorrow and with that she tuned her strings and in a merrie vaine plaiâ—d three or foure pleasaunt lessons and at last sung to her selfe this conceitâ—d diâ—â—ie An Ode WHat is loue once disgrâ—ced But a wanton thought ill placed Which do blemish whom it paineth And dishonors whome it daineth Se ene in higer powers most Though some fooles doe fondlie bost That who so is high of kin Sanctifies his louers sin Ioue could not hide Ios scape Nor conceale Calistos rape Both did fault and both were famed Light of loues whome lust had shamed Let not women trust to men They can flatter now and then And tell them manie wanton tales Which doe breed their after bales Sinne in kings is sinne we see And greater sene cause greate of gree Maius peccatum this I râ—ad If he be high that doth the deâ—d Mars for all his Dietie Could not Venus dignifie But Vulcan trap her and her blame Was punisht with an open shame All the Gods laught them to scorne For dubbing Vulcan with the horne Whereon may a woman bost If her chastitie be lost Shame await'h vpon her face Blushing cheâ—ks and foule disgrace Report will blab this is she That with her lust winnes infamie If lusting loue be so disgrac't Die before you liue vnchast For better die with honest fame Then lead a wanton life with shame Assâ—â—ne as Philomela had ended her dittiâ— she laid down her Lute and fell to her booke but Tebaldo hauing heard all her secret meditatioÌ„ was driuen in such a mase with the conceipt of her incomparable excâ—llencie that he stoode as much astonished to heare her chaste spâ—â—ches as Acteon to sâ—e Dianas naked beauties entring with a percing insight into her vertues perceiuing shee was some greater personage then hee at the first tooke her for his loue was so qualed with the rarenes of her qualities that he rather indeuoured to honor her as a saint then to loue her as a paramour desire now began to chaunge to reuerence and affection to an honest deuotion that hee shamed be once thought any way lust towardes so vertuous a creature thus Metamorphosed he stept into her cabin and found her reading to whome he did shewe more then accustomed reuerence which Philomela returned with equall curtesie At last he tould her how hee had heard her lamentable discourse of her misfortune and the honorable resolution of her honestye which did so tye him to be deuoted towâ—â—ds her that if when shee came into Palermo his poore house might serue her for a lodging it and all therein with him selfe and his wife should bee at her commaund Philomela thanked him hartely for his kinde and courteous prâ—ffer and promised to her abilitie not to be vngratefull Well leauing her vnder saile towardes Palermo to S. Ganami Lutesio who harboring a hateful iâ—â—ent of reuenge in his minde against the County Philippo thoght to pay him home pat in his lappe and therefore making as spéedy a dispatch as might be of his affaires hee takes his iourney froÌ„ Uenice towardâ— the Duke of Millaines court the father of Philomela to whome he had recouÌ„ted what had hapned to his daughter what had chanced to him and how great dishonour was offered to him by her husband The Duke although these newes touched him at the quick yet dissembled the matter and beganne in great choller to vpbraid Lutesio that no doubt the earle did it vpon iust cause or els neither would hee haue wronged a wife whome so tenderly hee loued neyther reiected a freend whome
murther both his wife Lutesio and so to flee away into some foraine countrey then he determined to accuse them before the Duke his néere kinsman and haue them openly punished with the extremitie of the law but he wanted witnesses to confirme his Ielouse allegations being thus in a quandary at last he called vp two genowaies his seruants slaues that neyther regarded God religion nor conscience and them hée suborned with swéet perswasions and large promises to sweare that he and they did take Lutesio and Philomela in an adulterous action although the base villaines had at all no sparkes of honesty in their mindes yet the honor of their lady her courtesâ—e to al her knowen vertues and speciall good qualities did so preuaile that they were passing vnwilling to blemishe her good name with their periuries yet at last the County cloyde theÌ„ so with the hope of golde that they gaue free consent to confirme by oath what so euer he should plot down to them Whereupon the next morning the Earle gat him early to the Duke of Uenice who was hiâ— cousin germaine and made solemne complaint of the dishonor offered him by his wife and signior Lutesio crauing iustice that he might haue suche a manifest iniurie redressed with the rigour of the Lawe The Duke whose name was Lorenso Medici greeued that his kinsman was vexed with such a crosse and sorrowed that Philomela that was so famous in Italye for her beutye and vertue should dishonour her selfe and her husband by yelding her loue to lasciuious Lutesio swearing a present dispatch of reuenge and thereupon graunted out warrantes to bring them both presentlye before him Philippo glad of this went his waye to the house of Lutesio wel armd and euery way appointed as if he had gone to sacke the strongest houlde in all Italye carrying with him a crue of his freends familiars furnished at al points to apprehend the guiltles gentleman assoone as they came to his house they found one of his seruants fitting at the dore Who seeing the Earle saluted him reuereÌ„tly merueiled what the reason should be hee was accompaied with such a multitude Philippo demaunded of him where his master was walking may it please your honour quoth he in his garden Then sayes the earle if he be no more busie I will be so bould as to goe speakâ— with him and therefore followe me saith hee to the crue who preasing in after the Earle encountered Lutesio coÌ„ming from his gardine to go into his chamber assone as he spied Philippo with a merrye looke as if his harte had commanded his eyes to bid him welcome he saluted the Earle most gratiously but highlye was astonished to see such a troope at his heeles Philippo contrarie as Lutesio offered to imbrace him with his best hand tooke him fast by the bosome and pulling forth his poineard said Traitour were it not I regard mine honor and were loath to be blemisht with the bloud of so base a companion I would rip out that false hart that hath violated the faith once vnited betwixt vs but the extremitie of the lawe shall reuenge thy villanie and therefore Officers take him into your custodie and carie him presentlie to the Duke whether I will bring straight the strumpet his Paramour that they maye receiue condigne punishment for their hainous and detestable treacherie Poore Lutesio who little lookt for such a gréeting of the Earle woondred whence this bitter spéech should growe so deeply amazed that he stood as a man in a trance til at last gathering his wits together hee began humblie and fearefullie to haue replied when the Earle commaunded the officers to carrie him awaie and would not heare him vtter anie word He speeding him home to his own house to fetch his sorrowful and faultles wife to heare the balefull verdict of hir appeached innocency comming vp into her bed chamber hee â—ound her sitting by her bed side on her knees in most hartie and deuout praier that it would please God to cleer her husband from his iealosie and protect her from anie open reproach or slaunder vttering her Orisons with such heart breaking sighs and aboundance of teares that the base catchpoles that came in with him tooke pittie and did compassionate the extremitie of her passions But Philippo as if he had participated his nature with the bloudthirstie Caniball or eaten of the seathin root that maketh a man to be as cruell in heart as it is hard in the rynde stept to her casting her backward bad her arise strumpet and hastely make her ready for the Duke staied for her comming and had sent his officers to fetch her Perplexed Philomela casting vp her eie and séeing such a crue of rake-hels ready to attend vpon him was so surchardged with griefe that she fell downe in a passion Philippo let her lie but the Ministers stept vnto her and receiued her againe assoone as shee was come to her selfe she desired Philippo that for all the loue of their youth he would grant her but onely this one fauour that she might not be carried before the Duke with that common attendance but that she and he might goe together without anie further open discredit and then if she could not prooue her selfe innocent let her without fauour abide the penaltie of the Lawe although shee craued this â—oone with abundance of teares yet Philippo would haue no remorse but compelled her to attire herselfe and then conuayed her with this crue to the Dukes palace where there was gathered together all the Consigladiors and chiefe Magistrates of the Cittie her passing through the stréetes draue a great wonder to the Uenetians what the cause of hir trouble should be so that infinite number of Citizens followed her and as manie as could thrust into the common Hall to heare what should bee obiected against Philomela At last when the Iudges were set and Lutesio and Philomela brought to the barre the Duke commaunded Philipo to discourse what article she had to obiect against his wife and Lutesio Phillippo with his eies full of Iealousie and heart armed with reuenge looking on them both fetching a deepe sigh began thus It is not vnknowen to the Uenetians right famous Duke and honorable Magistrates of this so worthie a Cittie how euer since I married this Philomela I haue yéelded her such loue with reuerence such affection with care such deuoted fauours with affected duties y â— I did rather honour her as a saint then regarde her as a wife so that the Uenetians counted mee rather to dote on her extreamly then to loue her ordinarilie neither can I denie mightie Lorenzo but Philomela returned all these my fauours with gentle loues and obedient amours beeing as duetifull a wifâ— as I was a louing husband vntill this Traitour Lutesio this ingrateful monster that liuing hath drunke of the riuer Lethe which maketh men forgetfull of what is past so he obliuious of all honour I did him was the first actor
in this tragick ouerthrow of the fame of the house of Philippo I apeale to the Uenetians eueÌ„ from the magistrat to the meanest man what honorable partes of frendship I haue showen to Lutesio howe he was my second selfe except Philomela his bosome was the Cell wherin I hid vp my secrets his mouth was the Oracle whereby I derected my actions as I could not be without his presence sâ—e I neuer would do anye thing without his counsaile coÌ„mitting thus my selfe my soule my goods mine honor nay my wife to his honour only reseruing her from him of all y â— I haue priuate to my selfe the traitour oh listen to a tale of rueth Uenetians neither regarding God nor respecting his freend nâ—ither moued with feare nor touched with faith forgetting all frendship became amorouslye to woe my wife and at last dishonestly wan her and now of long time lasciuiously hath vsed her which I suspected as litle as I trusted and affected them both deepely How long they haue continued in their adulterous loues I know not but as time hatcheth trueth and reuealeth the very entralles of hidden secrets so yesterday oh the balefull day of my dishonour Luâ—esio and my wife being suspected of too much familiarity by my seruantes though neuer mistrusted by meâ— were watched by these Genowaies who seeing them in the chamber togeather shameles as they were hauing littlâ— regard of any priuy priers into their actions fell to these amorous sportes so openly that through a chincke of the dore these were eye witnesses of there adulterye I beeing then in the garden comming vp and finding these two péeping in at the dore stole secretly vp and with these poore slaues was a behoulder of mine owne dishonour My shame was so great and my sorrow so extreame to sée my wife so incoÌ„stant and my frend so false that I stepped back againe into the garden calling a way these varletes and leauing them still agents of these vnkind villanies when I came into the garden such was the loue to Philomela and soâ— great the friendship I boare to Lutesio that trust me Uenetians had my selfe only béene a witnes of their follies I would haue smothered the fault w t silence But knowing that such base rascales would at one time or other be blabbes and so blemish mine honor and so accuse me for a wittolde to my owne wife I resolued to haue them punished by law that hath so peruersly requited my loue therfore haue I here produced theÌ„ in opeÌ„ court that my dishonors may end in their reuenge calling for iustice with extremity against two persons of such trecherous ingratitude And héer Philippo ceased driuing al the hearers into a great mase that the Duke sate astonished the Consâ—gladiori musing and the common people murmuring at the discourse of Signior Philippo and bending their enuious eyes against the two innocents for wronging so honorable a County To be bréefe Lutesio and Philomela were examined no doubt they â—ould sundry tales to cléere themselues but in vaine for the oath of the two slaues found them guiltie whreupon a quest of choice Citizens went vpon theÌ„ and boath as guilty condemned to death When the fatall sentence should haue bâ—â—ne pronounced against them Philippo with a counterfait countenance full of sorrowe kneeling down desired that they might not die because it would gréeue him to be blemisht with the bloode of his wife whome he had loued or of his frend whome he had honored at whose humble intreatye Iudgement was giuen that Philippo Philomela should be deuorced and he at free liberty to marry whom he lift and Lutesio for euer to be banished not onely out of Uenice but of al the Dukedome and territories of the same Assoone as senâ—ence was giueÌ„ Lutesio fetcht a great sigh and laying his hand on his bosome said This breast Philippo did neuer harbour any disloyal thoght against thee nor once Imagine or contriue anye dishonour against thy wife Whatsoeuer thou hast wronglye auerred or the Duke hardlye conceiued for witnesse I appeale to none but God who knoweth me guiltlesse and to thine owne conscience whose worme for this wronge will euer bee restlesse My banishment I brooke with patience in that I know time wil discouer any truth in my absence smoak cannot be hidden nor the wrong of Innocents scape with out reuenge I onely greeue for Philomela whose chastety is no lesse then her vertues are many her honours as farre from lust as thou and thy periured slaues from trueth it booâ—es not vse many words only this I wil say men of Uenice hath lost a freend which he will misse and a wife that hee will sorrow for And so he went out of the counsell house home to his owne lodging hauing the tearme of twentie one daies appointed for his departure Philomela poore soule knowing what was in recorde could not be reuerst that her credit was crackt her honor vtterly blemisht and her name brought in contempt for all this abashed not outwardly what soeuer she conceited inwardlyâ— but seemed in her farre more full of fauour and beautye then euer she was before and her lookes so modest and graue that Chastetye seemed to â—it in her eyes and to proclaime the wrong was offered vnto her by these periurde persones With this assured and constant countenaunce first looking on the Duke on the Consiliadori on the common people and then on her husband she vsed these words O Philippo Medici once the louer of Philomela thogh now the wracke of her honours and the blemish of her highe fortunes Howe canst thou looke to heauen and not tremble howe canst thou behould me and not blush how canst thou thinke there is a God without fear or a hell without horrour canst thou blinde the deuine Maistiesty as thou hast led these Magistrats into a false opinion of thine owne dishonour and my dishonestly Mille testes conscieÌ„tia if these slaues the ministers of thy iealous enuye should grow domme and all the world silent yet will thine owne conscience dayly crye out in thine eares that thou hast wrongd Philomela I am the daughter of a Duke as thou art the sonne of an Earle my vertues in Uenice haue béen as great as thine honors my fortunes and my fréends more then thine al these will search into this cause and if they finde out mine innocencie thinke Philippo worthie of great pennaunce But in vaine I vse charmes to a deafe Adder therfore Philippo I leaue thée to the choice of a new loue and the fortune of a faire wife who if she proue as honestly amorous towards thee as Philomela then wrong her not with suspition as thou hast don me with ielousie least she proue too liberall and pay my debts Yet Philippo haste thou lost more in loosing Lutesio then in forsaking me for thou mayest haue manye honest wiues but neuer so faithfull a frend therefore though I be deuorced be thou and he reconciled least at last the
he so déerly honored nor yet the duke senate of Uenice would haue yéelded so peremptory hard a sentence as either banishment to him or deuorce to her To this Lutesio made replye that the Earle to proue his surmised articles true had suborned two slaues that were Genouaies to periure themselues He shewed the Duke the letter that past betweene him and his daughter and the reason why he wrote them But al this could not satisfie the Dukes opinion but he charged his gentlemen to lay hands on Lutesio and to carye him to prison vntill he had further triall of the matter swearing if hee found him to haue played false with his daughter neither should his banishment excuse him nor her deuorce for he would haue both their liues for offering dishonour to the house of Millaine Upon this censure of the Duke Lutesio was caried to prison and the Duke left mightelye perpelexed who began to cast in his minde manye doubtes of this straunge chance vowing in his hart a fatal reuenge vpon Philipo for blemishing his daughters honour with such open infamie When thus the Duke was in a heauye suspition one of the Genouaies whose conscience tormented him ran away from Uenice and came to Millaine where coÌ„ming to the Dukes pallace he desired to speake with his Grace from the County Philippo being brought straight vnto him assone as he came into his presence he knâ—â—led downe trembling and besought him of mercy The duke astonished at the straunge terror of the man demaunded of him what he was and from whence he came The slaue tould him that he was borne at Geneua and haddâ— bâ—â—ne seruaunt to that infortunate Earle the Countye Philippo Medici and one of those periured traitours that had borne false witnes against his daughter Philomela At this the Duke started out of his seat and taking thâ— fellow courteously vp bade him not to feare nor doubte for if he spake nothing but the trueth he should not only be fréely pardoned but highly rewarded Upon this the poore slaue discourst from point to point First the singular chastitie of his lady and Mistresse and then the deepe Ielousie of Philippo who first as hee had learned caused his déere frâ—end Signior Greuani Lutesio to trye her who finding her wise vertuous and constant fell out with the Earle that he would wrong his wyfe with such causeles suspition after he rehearsed how the County grew Ielouse that Philomela fauored Lutesio and because he had no proofe to confirme his mistrust but his owne douting head he suborned him and a fellowe of his to sweare that they saw Lutesio and the Countes euen in the very act of Adultery which in them was periurie and in him letcherye for both the Gentleman and their Ladye was innocent and with that falling downâ— on his knées and melting into teares hee craued pardon of his lyfe The Duke whose eies were full of fire as sparking reuenge and hate had him bee of good chéere and pulling his purse out of his pocket and gaue it him for an earnest penny of further freendship and charged his Gentlemen to giue the Geneuaye good entertainment And w t that sent for Signior Lutesio out of prison sorrowfull that he had wrongd him so much tould him how one of the Genonais was come y â— gaue false witnes against his daughter had reuealed all which ioyed Lutecio at the very hart so that humbly with watrie cheeks he desired the duke to reuenge his daughters wrongs but as litle booted his intreatye as spurres to a swift horse For the Duke gathering a mightie armie made as much speed as might bâ— towards Uenice intending to quit the wrong proffered to Philomela by suspitious Philippo who then liued in all deâ—â—red content in y â— his Ielious humor was satisfied was determining where to make a new choise for fauor when time chere this change of fortune that newes was brought into Uenice that not onelye the Millaine Duke was come downe to waste and spoile the citties belonging vnto the Signorie of Uenice but also ment to gather all the forces of his frendes in Christendome to reuenge the abuse offered to his daughter Philomela This newes being come vnto the eares of Philiypo made him forget his woing and begin to wonder how he should shift of the misfortune ready to light vpon him if any thing were proued of his suborning treacherye hee now beganne to enter into conâ—ioeration with him selfe that if Lutesio wer gotten to Millaine he would not only lay the plot of all mischiefe against him but also discouer his treason incense the Duke to reuenge and vpon this he thought grew the occasion of his men in armes then did he feare least the Genouaie that was run away from him should com to the Dukes court there confirme by autenticall proofe what Lutecio vpon his honor did affirme thus diuersly perplexed he remained in great duÌ„ps while the Duke and Consiliadiorie of Uenice gathering into their senate house began to consult what reason the Millonians had to inuade their territories And therfore to be fully satisfied in the cause they sent Embassadours to inquire the reason why he rose in armes against theÌ„ whether it were for the sentence offered against Philomela or no and if it were that he should herein rest satisfied That as she was exiled by law so she was iustly condemned for letcherie The Ambassadours hauing their charge came to the Duke lying then not farre of from Bergamo and did their message vnto him which he reanswered thus that hee was not come as an enemy against them but as a priuate foe to Philippo and therefore required to approoue his daughters innocencie not by armes but by witnesses in the Senate house of Uenice and if she were found guiltâ—es to haue condigne punishment enioynde and executed against Philippo This if they did denie he was comâ— with his owne blade and his Souldiers to plague the Uenetians for the partiall iudgementes of their Magistrates and if they ment to haue him come into Uenice he craued for his assurance sufficient hostages The Ambassadors returned with this aunswere to the Duke and the Consiliadorie who held hiâ— request passing reasonable and thought it would be dishonor to them and their estate if they should stand in deniall of so equall a demaund and therfore the Duke not onely sent him his onely Sonne but sixe young sonnes more al the Sonnes of men of honour for hostage Upon whose ariual the Duke of Millaine onely accompanied with Lutesio the Genouaies and ten other noble men went to the Cittie and was magnificently intertained by the Duke and the Cittizens where feasting that day the next morning they resolued to méâ—t in the Senate house to hear what could be alleadged against Philippo whom they cited peremptorilie to appeare to aunswere to such obiections as shuld be laid against him The guiltie Earl now began to feele remorse of conscience and to doubt of