Well quoth Soranso though your Metamorphos bee vnlykly yet is it not vnnecessarilye applyed For for the most part those which are forced to Mariage agrée little better then Uipers But it séemeth to mée Segnior Faliero you haue too fauourably reported this Historie in Elysaes behalfe considering the mortal venyme she tempered in her harte O quoth Faliero longe fowle wayes both tyreth the Horse and wearieth his Ryder where both the one and the other ouercommeth the length of fayre passages with pleasure Euen so in a ruthfull Historie ouer plentie of wordes both gréeueth the reporter and giueth means for a thousande sighes to breake from the hearer where affected circumstances giue a grace to a pleasant tale Sorow to heare their kinde thus stayned with crueltye locked vp the tonges of the poore GentlewomeÌ„ a pretie while In the end ê™ Aluisa Vechio a dame more olde bold then the rest meséemeth that Faliero hath but little fauored Elysa for he hath showen her euill and the scourge of her euill and in charitie he was bounde to shewe the cause of her euill I would quoth Doctour Mossenigo that Frier Bugiardo had hearde this disputation it might haue ben the breaking downe of the Altar wherevpon he but lately committed blasphemie woulde haue more reformed him then his pleasing Sermon could haue confirmed vs. These aduantages the Doctor tooke to crosse the Gentlewomen his late open enemies and but nowe his fained friendes not vnlike a sneaking dog that neuer barkes but bites withall And to spite them the more quoth hee Monsier Bergetto since your are bound from speaking of loue you haue both cause and oportunitie to talke of womens hate Pardon me quoth Bergetto for this penance was but a due payne for my presumption which I hope to ouercome with patient suffering and sure in this milde aunswere Bergetto shewed a moral vertue and Doctor Mossenigo by his malicious question a canckred nature for simplie to offend procéedeth of frailtie but to perceauer in euill is a noate of wilfull frowardnesse Well notwithstanding Bergettos temperaunce a Caueler caught hold vppon this question as a Mastiue vppon an old drye Mariebone to proue a womans hatred more greater then her loue hée auouched manye cruell authorities But Faliero who had donne them some iniurie in reporting the late history made them part of amends put their aduersarie to silence in prouing the contrary his reason was that their hate in the extremest degrée stretched but to the death of another and their loue many times hath done wilful murder vpon them selues Then it followeth by how much we pryse our selues aboue an other by so muche theyr loue is greater then theyr hatred Yea quoth the Doctor but their loue and hatred are both violents and euery violent is an euill Yea Master Doctor quoth Maria Belochy their euills are the greater for men for by their flattering enchauntments wemen loue immoderately and stung with mens vnsusserable iniuries they hate mortally The Doctor replied there was more power in her lookes then authoritie in her wordes but least he should be subdued by the one he would not contend with the other Why quoth Quéene Aurelia beauty workes no more impression in a Doctors eye then doth poyson in Mineruas shéelde for he by Philosophy can subdue affection Madame quoth he you may well compare beauty and poyson together for their operations are a lyke saue that beauty is the more extreame in that she infertes with her lookes and poyson not vnlesse wée taste it or when it is most strong not vnlesse we touch it yea Euripides compareth her inchauntement with the inticementes of a kingdome whereas he saith IN these two thinges a Kingdome to obtaine Or else to worke the fayre to their will So sweetely tastes the grace of either gayne As men ne dread their friendes with foes to kyll The reason is controulment shrinkes the place Whereas a Kyng as soueraigne Iudge doth sit In loue because that reason lackes his grace For to restrayne the selfe conceyghtes of wit So that God knowes in daunger standes his lyfe That is a King or hath a fayre wife To deale in Princes affayres the companye was too gréene but in Beauties behalfe there was neither Gentleman nor Gentlewoman that was not desirous to boe reuenged of the Doctours detractyon for hée that hath a slaunderous tonge iniurieth manie and is himselfe hated of all men but for that it was nowe to late too decide any other great question Quéene Aurelia adiorned the ending of anie centrouersie vntill the next day The Deuice of the second Nights Mask BY a secreate foreknowledge of a Maske with which Soranso Bargetto Ismarito and others purposed to honour Segnior Phyloxenus and his company Supper was hastned soone ended and after the one had saluted the other with an accustomed reuerence while the rest of the Gentlemen interteined Time with dauncing or deuising with their Mistresses the Maskers withdrew themselues and about nine of the clocke in this disguise presented themselues agayne A Consort of swéete Musycke sounded the knowledge of their comming y t Musitians in Gyppons and Venetians of Russet and Blacke Taffata bended with Murrey and thereon imbroadered this Posie Spero Timeo Taceo expressing thereby the sundrye passions of Loue and before them two Torchbearers apparelled in Yallowe Taffata Sarcenet the Generall apparell of the Maskers was short Millaine Cloaks Dublet and hose of Grene Satten bordered with Siluer Greene Silcke stockes White Scarpines Rapiers and Daggers syluered Blacke Veluet Cappes and white Feathers They agréed to be thus attyred to showe themselues frée in the eye of the world and couertly bound vnto their Mistresses Ismarito for courtisy sake because he was a stranger and withal in that his Mistres was the most honourable had the leading of this Maske who lighted with a torch by his Page apparelled in Blue Carnation and whyte Taffata the colours of his Mistres entred with a Ventoy in his hand made like an Ashe-tree wrethed about with Iuye expressing this posye Testantevirebo with which vpon fit oportunitie he presented Quéene Aurelia his Mistresse within which weare couertly hid these verses in English Italion TWo Soueraigne Dames Beautie and Honestie Long mortal foes accorded are of late And now the one dwels in my Mistresse eye And in her hart the other keepes her state Where both to show the vertue of this peace To garnysh her make riot of their Grace In her fayre eye Dame Beautie doth increace A thousande Gleames that doo become her face And with her harte thus doth the other deale She lowly seemes and mountes throw chast disdaine So that her thrales doo serue with honest zeale Or fearing blame doe yeelde vnto their paine The heauenly soules enuies the earthes renowne Such gyftes deuine in humayne shape to see And Ioue still moues a Goddesse her to crowne Which is decred when Nature shall
the sacred Byble and the hard passages of Scrypture expounded in vulgar Language that your common sorte howesoeuer youre Prealates lyue vnderstande wheather they erre or no in theyr Doctryne And synce the Subiectes of the Emperour Alexander Seuerus honoured theyr Soueraygnes vertues wyth these acclamations NOble Allexaunder wee praye the Goddes that they haue no lesse care of youre Maiestye then you haue of vs most happye bee wee that wee haue you among vs. Noble Alexander The Goddes preserue you the Goddes defende you proceede foorth in your purpose we ought to loue you as our Father too honour you as our Lorde and to admyre you as a God heare among vs. And thervnto added Noble Emperour take what you wyll of our Treasure and substance to accomplish your Purpose only for buylding of three Hospitalles to succour the sicke bodies of the poore By how much more zeale ought you the good Quéene of Englandes Subiectes adde to this Prerogatiue Do gratious Queene Elizabeth what shall seeme to you good for your most blessed nature cannot erre or do any thing amis that you purpose who by diuine inspiration hath vnlocked the fountaine of grace so that the thirstye soules both of her rich and poore subiectes may freelye drinke the water of lyfe Segnior PHILOXENVS so affected this spéech as ISMARITO coulde not but imagyne hys heart adiudged him a straunger to Grace and vnworthy lyfe that was her vassaile and sayd not therevnto Amen The end of Fryar Buiardos clawing Sermon broke off thys priuate talke and the Gentlewomen proude of the commendation of their pytifull sexe now wisshed that Doctor Mossenigo had ben vnpardoned his yesternightes trespasse towards women that the holy Frier might haue cited him before our Ladie of Loretto who the greatter parte of Dinner time left his victuelles to inlarge his Fe minine prayses In the ende tasting y e goodnesse of the meate he fownd prating verie vnsauerie and therfore to recouer his losses his lippes layde on loade which Falerio and some other of the pleasaunt company perceiuing assayed to reward the Fryar for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions which he euer aunsweared in a monisillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding As ê™ Faleâ—…io a question or two Master Fryer I pray saye quoth he who strikes wyth the sharpest rod God of all other who is must euill Deuill in distresse who deserueth most rueth Trueth who is charged with most cryme Tyme what houlds the worlde in most imprice â—…ice who is the greatest lyer Fryer Desier without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eat Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine When they could deuise no talke to put lyfe in y t Fryars tongue doctour Mossenigo demaunded why he was so bréefe in his aunsweares O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then ê™ the Doctor it is good taking awaye this plenty of meat for cloying Fryar Buiardoes wit The hole company hearing the Fryar beaten with hys owne sentence tourned into a coutrary sence burst out into suche an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of y e Friar would not suffer him to swallowe one bitt more of meat in somuch as the boord was taken aâ—…aye and the Friar driuen to saye Benedicite with an emptye stomacke an intertaynment as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faythful seruant The office of courteous reuerence fully discharged the company retyred towards the fyre to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dynner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moaned the dysgrace of their prayse Master the Fryar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by theyr enemye the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto sayde merrily that the Fryar had taught hym such a cunning way to woo as to melt a womaÌ„ into pitty he woulde wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to prayse the thing they lyke Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercyfull it is necessary to brydle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue And questionlesse thys payne set vppon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée thinges is great daunger and smal discression to play with fire to striue with water and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therfore he that will discouer his owne secreat aduauntage is worthy to haue his heyre cutt wtth Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was reddy to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certayne of her chosen AttendaÌ„ts whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for auncient customs profitable are better then new lawes incertaine shee commaunded the Eunuk to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Luâ—…e after a dutifull obaysaunce played and sunge this followinge Sâ—…nnet in Italon TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bounde Amyd the Skies my wysh I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the grownde My eye sees Ioy my hart is grypde with payne I know my hurt and yet my good refrayne But how thease hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can geeue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reache so farre out goes As bownd perfore he yealdes to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioye Hope doth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownd as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To do whose wyll Desire in me hath wrought A strength to ronne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to staye It may suffise the wisest paaste my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to avoyde degression whiche rayseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a Repeticion of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Wherevpon ê™ Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the cause why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish take comfort in one anothers companie onelie by the Impression of nature and man and woman that are beâ—…tified both with the vertues of nature and reason manie times matched together make a hell of this hotie institution By Quéene Aurelias commauÌ„dement to aunswere Sir ê™ Faliero The aduantage of reason with which you haue preuiledged man and woman is the onelie cause thereof no man will
asswage A wytnesse that Vnkindnesse inlargeth Loue as the wracke of Winter dooth the beautie of Summer then although the Parents matche at first be without the fancie of the Children a reconciliation in fine will double their comforte Sir ê™ Soranso fauouring Falieros opinion you wrest the Adage is to a coÌ„trary meaning for it is to be vsed but where there hath béene sometyme perfect loue and where a grounded leue is although the Married menace with their tunges they malice not with their hartes on the contrarie parte looke what rule the Louer vseth in loue the Enemie obserueth in reuenge Therefore if the Maried abhorre before Marriage they may well desemble with their tounges but wyll neuer bée delighted in their harts and where there is such a deuision in the desires of the Married fayre fained semblaunce wil soone turne to flat fowle falling out their thrift goeth forwarde as the carriage drawen by two Oxen taile to taile the Husband wyll haue no delight to get nor the Wife desyre to saue Seruauntes with negligence will waste and hyrelinges with proloyning will winne and which is worst the continuaunce of mallice will custom them with mortall hatred hatred betwéene the Married bréedeth coÌ„tencion betwixt the parents coÌ„tencion betwixt the pareÌ„ts raiseth quarrels among the kindred quarrels amoÌ„g the kindred occupieth all the neighbours with slauÌ„der so y t for the most part these forced Mariages engendereth sorrowes for the Married disquietnesse to both their fréends kindâ—…ed but which still renueth gréefe the scandall of enemyes endeth in neyther of theyr wretchednesse This béeing said lyttle auayled the further prooffes of the contrary part so full was the crie Fye of forcement in Mariage so that to paint out the inconueniences therof in his proper coulours Quéene Aurelia coÌ„maunded Faliero to confirme his sufficient reasons with the discourse of some rare Historie Whose commaundement he willingly satisfied and reported as followeth The Historie in the reproche offorced Mariage reported by Faliero IN the famous Cittie of Cirene in Affrick dwelled sometimes a riche Marchaunt named Tryfo This Tryfo had a wealthy neighbour called Clearches who of long time entertained one an other with a neighborly affection Tryfo to inherite all his liuings had but one onely sonne named Sicheus and Clearches one onely Daughter called Elisa The Parents to establish as they imagined an euerlasting amitie betwéene theyr houses concluded a Mariage for theyr vnfortunate Children making no doubt but that they would as well inherite theyr affections as theyr liuings of which there was hope enough if the order had béene as good to establish theyr Loue as the haste great to sollemnize the Mariage for that in theyr persons appéered no signe of disagréement nor in theyr abilyties cause of exception but looue that behouldeth no more quicknesse in a Dyamond then in a dim Saphyre though he take impression by sight rooteth in contemplation which deuine exercise of the soule smally delighteth gréen Youthe who intertaine their thoughts with a thousand vaine fancies but to my purpose The Mariage day drew neare and as at the very push of Battell the wise Captaine animateth his Souldiers with some plausible Oration euen so the night before the Mariage Trâ—…fo scheeled his sonne Sicheus with this following aduertisement My good sonne quod he so great are the follyes of men and so cunning the deceits of women as the most especially the yonger sorte wyll credite theyr lookes without looking into their liues beléeue their woordes and lightly regard their workes delyght to recount theyr entertainements and disdaine to reclion theyr shrewde payments For as the sycke pacient comforted with the Phisitions words leaues to examine the quallities of his receites BueÌ„ so the wretched Louer cured with the yéelding of his beautifull Mistrisse with negligence bothe ouer lookes his owne benefit her behauiour Salomon was deceyued Sampson subdued Aristotle derided and Hercules murthered by the illusions of errant honest women Kinge Demetrius notwithstanding he was bothe wise and valiant was so bewitched with the wyles of the notorious strumpet Lamia as in open Schooles he raysed disputations whether the loue he bare Lamia or the Iewels he bestowed vpon her were the greater or whether her merrit excéeded them bothe or noe Yea when she died he caused her to be Intombed vnder his Bed Chamber windowe to the ende that with dayly teares he might worship her engraued bones who liuing was of him intirely belooued If the wisest and the worthyest be thus ouertaken in their affections what easie baites may beguile thée who in yeares art young of substaunce delicate and lustie and therefore apt to looue reddy in conceyt and of consideration vnperfect whot in desire and in discretion colde My sonne by experience I know and to preuent thy ouerlikely mischaunce in choyce I haue chosen thée a wife fayre to please theae ritche to continue looue her Parents my assured fréendes and she thy affected loouer loue her well beare with her in small faultes as a woman and the weaker bridle thy owne euill affections as a man her head and gouernour and in thus dooing God will multiply his blessings vpon you and make your aged Parents to dye in peace to sée you liue in prosperitie Young Sicheus regarded his Fathers tale as Schollers doo their Tutors who giuing them leaue to playe admonisheth them with all to kéepe good rule which they promise and performe the contrary With the like affection Sicheus embraced Mariage He was not so soone wearie of dallying with his Wife as he was ready to entertayne a Harlot so that in shorte space he became a common Louer and a carelesse Husband and withall grew as arrogant in defending his libertie as dissolute in his actions and behauiour If his friends did gently aduise him he was of age to counsell himselfe if his Parents did sharply reprehend him he would impudently aunswer he was past correction if his Wife found her selfe agréeued with his hard vsage she might well complaine but he would take no time to amend so that his dayly actions of euill tooke away all after hope of weldeeing in so much as he became odious vnto his friends that beheld his lewde inclination and a plague vnto his Wife who was dayly oppressed with his monstrous vices So that the ouercharge of sorrow made her many times passage for these and such like passions O vnhappie and ouer hastie Mariage which in the pride of my youthe with discontentments makest me resemble a fayre Fig Tree blasted with the after colde of an vntimely Spring but why blame I Mariage which is honourable alas because the abuse of good things worke euill effectes Roses vnaduisedly gathered pryck our hands Bees vngently vsed stinge our faces yet the one pleasaunt and the other profitable so that if their come any euil of that which is good our folly or fortune is cause thereof Aye me when I was married I was
Marino ouercame him with suche a sodayne passion of Ioye who read and a hundred times ouer read this Life letter and for that it came from Felices swéete hand he a thousand times kissed the Paper Which done by the direction of Macrello this Conquerour Gowlde made suche a passage into a reputed honest Cytizens House as without suspition Marino Georgio and fayre Felice theare many tymes mette but to what purpose I leaue to your constructions and yet thus much I say this Fortune followed Marino in shorte space recouered his former Complection and it was not long before Felice was richer then either Father or Husband But O that Furie Ielousie enuying this Accord sent slie Suspition to infect Malipieroes heart who pryinge with Lynx his eyes presented him a thousande causes of mistrust which loue straite supprest with as manie contrarie imaginations of his Wiues good behauiour inso much that with the sharp incounter of Loue and mystrust poore man he was continually afflicted In conclusion seeing his Wife to excéede in brauerie and knowing himselfe to declyne with pouertie he resolued vppon this certentie this cost coulde not come from the emptie Coffers of her vndone Parentes and then procéedinge from others it was impossible to bee the fauours of honest curtesie so that armed with furie he deferred reuenge but to intrap the friende of his wiues follyes and the enymie both of her honour and his delyght In fine as héedefull as these Louers were in their dealinges Ielosye directed suspecte to Marino Georgio and moreouer made him an eye witnesse of the iniuries done vnto Malipiero which when he assuredly knew hée studied a while of a torture equall to this treacherie for who hath not hard the Neapolitan to bée the seuerest revenger of dishonor in the world To be bréese his bait was this he fayned a iournay far from home and furnished him selfe with such an apparance of trueth as tooke a way all colour of suspition whiche done with a dissembling kysse hée committed his wife to God and the charge of his house to her good gouernment and so set forwarde towards Rome Malipiero was no sooner a mile on his way then Macrello certified Marino of this wished oportunitie and Loue made both him and Felice so boulde as in his owne house they determyned the followinge night to exercise vppon Malipiero their wonted iniurie but about mydnyght when mistrust was at repose Malipiero entred the house with such a sodaine violence as these two vnfortunate fréendes were surprysed amids their imbracemeÌ„ts before they had warnyng to shift I sowrrow to tel the rest but trueth will haue passage Malipiero in his reuenge like a Lyon hungring after his pray with his Rapier and these bitter wordes nayled Marino vnto the Bed Thou Couche ê™ he soyled with dishonour washe out thy staynes with the Adulterers blood But holding death too easy a scurge for his wiues trespas hée condeÌ„ned her to this torture more extreme then death Hee made an Anotomy of her welbeloued Marino set him in a fayre Chamber within whiche hee inclosed his wyfe w tout dooing her any bodely iniurie saue the cutting of her haire and to say trueth this beautifull ornament of haire beséemeth not an Adultresse head And to punish her the more Malipiero caused her euerie dinner supper to take her accustomed place y t at meales shee might be tormented with the sighte of her lyuinge enemie and all the daye with the bones of her martired friende neither could she quenche her thirst but out of a Mazar made of Marrinoes skull But to tell her vertue with her vice hir patience was suche as shee was neuer harde to complaine of this crueltie and yet her penitent sorrowe so great as y e plentie of her teares somtimes moued her iniured Husbande to pittie But least he should be ouercome with compassion manie times from dinner hee commaunded her to her pryson who after an humble reuerence went behind the Tapestrie Hanginges and so vnto her solitarie Chamber barred from other companye then the gastly bones of vnfortunate Marino whiche pennaunce shée patientlye indured vntyll GOD who saw y t her repentaunce was vnfayned sent Segnior Cornaro to bée a peace maker betwéene her Husbandes iniurie and her offence who when Supper was sette vppon the Boorde séeing from behinde the Tapistrie Hanginges a fayre Gentlewoman to appéere somewhat pale with sorrowe her head bare both of attyre and Hayre apparrelled all in black and in her hand her drynking Bowle of Marinoes scul saying neuer a word w t a sober reuereÌ„ce sitting down in y e chéefest place was stroken with such a maze as on the suddayne he wist not what to say Dinner being ended which was longer then pleasant either to husbande wife or friende Felice as she entered so departed Wâ—… notwithstanding leaft part of her sorowe behinde in Cornaros heart whose cheareles countenance when Malipiero perceyued quoth he let not the martyrdome of this Woman afflicte you for her fault deserueth this vengeaunce and so recounted the reported aduenture And in aduantage shewed him her prison and the Annotomie of her dishonour and withall licensed him to talke with Felice to heare what plée shée had for her discharge Uppon which warrant quoth Cornaro Madame if your patience be equall with your torment I holde you the most happie Woman of the worlde Felice with a countenance abased and Cheakes dewed with teares tolde him in humble wordes that her trespasse was tenne times greater then the torment which the Lorde of the House whome shée was not â—…worthie to call husbande had appoynted her And therewithall the sorow of her hart tooke away the vse of her tongue Wherevppon Malipiero ledde the Gentleman awaye who rendred him affected thankes in that besides his good intertaynment he witsafed him the honour to knowe so great a secreasie withall moued with compassion hee effectually intreated Malipiero to accept Felices sorrow the true witnes of grace amendement as satisfaction of her offence which procéeded of frayltie and withall importuned him with such earnest reasons as Malipiero was content to sende both for her and his owne friendes To bee partly ruled and partly aduised by them in her behalfe The parentes and friendes of euerie side séeing the humilitie sorowe and patience of poore Felice were all earnest sutors for her remission The roote of auncient loue not altogether dead in Malipiero was comforted with their intercessions quickened with the hope of amendement in so much as vppon sollemne promise to be hencefoorth of good behauiour he receyued her to grace and to repayre her crased honour with the fauour of both their parentes hee newe married fayre Felice in which holy estate they liued loued and agréed manie happie yeares afterwarde together And with the Bones of Marino Georgio buried the remem brance of former iniuries Maister Doctor quoth
vertues illustreth the same through the whole worlde but to direct the maried is a laâ—…or of Arâ—… wit and expérience in the fyrst wherof I am ignoraunt in the second vnperfect and to the thirde a Strainger so that as I am sorry to iniurie your expectation so am I loth to expose my insufficient iudgement Sir quoth Quéene Aurelia if wée were not assured of a lyberal contentment in conteÌ„plating of your waightie Censure we would receiue your modest refusall for iust excuse But for that we haue all an intrest in your vertues you should be enemie to your owne honorable coÌ„mendation in kéeping of them close prisoners in your brâ—…t although you be Lord of the Pallace yet I as â—…oue raigne of the Ciuill Pleasures commaund you to giue Cerimonies a disgrace and sincerely to obay my will Madam quoth Segnior Philoxenus so stricht is your charge as I must aduenture of this waighty labour hoping that as by authoritie you commaund my opinion so by y e motion of some one of your vertues you wil pardon my errours Upon which incouragement to obay your wyll I say and approoue by sacred Authoritie that this holy Institution of Marriage was erected by God in the earthly Paradice before the transgression of Adam when he ioyned him to Eue with these wordes of blessing Increase multiply and replenish the earth Againe after Adams fall and the deluge to strengthen his fyrst institution God commaunded the good Patriarcke Noe to encrease and multiply the earth a new Moreouer God would haue no more women then men in his Ark to show there shoulde be a Sympathie in number as well as agréement in loue betwene man and wife for if the one might lawfullye haue many Wiues and the other many Husbandes how should this expresse Commaundement of God be vnuiolated You shall be two bodies in one flesh and no more Compare the Ioye honour and reuerence geuen vnto Mariage by the delight that procéedeth from any other cause and you shal sée her gleame lyke a blasyng Comet and the other but twinckle as an ordinarie Starre Gorgeous and rich Apparayle delighteth the Gasers eye and perhaps offendeth the wearers hart where Maryage in homely Attyre is euery where honored and reaueth vnquiet wandring thoughts from the Maried to abounde in riches is a glorious fortune but they charge men with a dubble care extreame in the getting and fearefull in the kéeping the married hath as great or greater ritches in their children When the stately Dames of Rome bragged of theyr Iuelles Cornelia boasted that hers excelled them all A Ladye of the company séeing her set forth with none that was precious demaunded where her Iuelles were Yonder quoth Cornelia and poynted to her children When certaine most rare and precious Iuelles of King Darius and his wiues were presented to Olympia Mother of Alexander the great she bestowed them vpon her Ladyes as to lowe prised for her wearing who was continually adorned with a Iuell in value as riche as Asia Affrica and Europa And sure Quéene Olympia and Ladye Cornelia gloried not in their Iuelles without reason for golde and precious stones set but a glose vppon beautie when vertuous children geueth a newe lyfe vnto their parentes The administration of Iustice and aucthoritie in a common weale are the proper offices of the married for that the care of wife children presupposeth them to be setled when the vnmarried though their wittes be good rayseth a suspition in the wise that their thoughtes are vagrant The vnmaried hath no agreable Companion to participate of his pleasure or to lessen his sorrowe The Maried hath a Companion of his owne flesh of his owne wyll and of his owne Spyryt so wrought to his owne Affection that betwéene them there is séene two bodies but one thought perceiued The Maried ioy alike sorrow alike are of one substaÌ„ce one concord one wealth one pouertie Companions at one Boorde in one Bed The loue we beare vnto our Parents is or ought to be reuerent and duetifull because they gaue vs lyfe Unto our Bréetherne naturall because of the priuitie in blood To our frendes affectionate by certaine Motions consents of the minde Notwithstanding that these Loues be thus greate yet are there diuers causes too lessen them But betwéene the married no mischaunce or infirme Fortune is cause sufficient of hatred for none gouerned by reason is so inhumaine as to mallice his owne fleshe Compare their seuerall affections by sorrow and you shal sée the weakenes of the one in regarde of the strength of the other The greatest mone we make for the death of our Father Brother or friend appeareth in sighes or most vehement in teares whereas if wée our selues are but a little wounded we crye outright so that by howe much we excéede in sorrowing our owne mischaunces aboue another mans by the same reason so much we loue our selues more then another The Rynge that is geuen by the Husbande and put on the Wiues finger ought to be of Gould to witnes that as gould is the most precious of Mettalles so the loue of the married excéedeth all other loues To which effecte Propertius sayth Omnis amor magnus sed aperto in coniugè maior moreouer the close Ioyning of the ringe is a figure of true vnitie of the married betwéene whom there should be no diuision in desire noâ—… difference in behauiour To honour this holy institution of God God would haue his onely begotten sonne to be borne of a Wife perfectly married saue that shée was not Carnally soyled Licurgus the good King of the Lacedemonians so reuerenced this sacred estate as he made a Lawe that what Lacedemonian soeuer were vnmarried after the age of thyrtie and eyght yeares should be chased and hissed out of all publique playes and assemblies as one vnworthy to be séene that in the cold winter he shuld naked indure the reproches of the people and withall was bounde to confesse how he iustly suffred y t punishment as a Mispriser of Religion a contemner of Lawes and an enemie to nature The Romaines were not so seuere but yet the Aged vnmaried were condempned accordyng to their abylytie to pay vnto the Treasurer for publique vse a good SuÌ„me of Money Plato in his Lawes enacted that the Unmaried shuld execute no honourable Office Estate nor dignytie in the Common wealth The good Emperour Alexander Seuerus although he maryed rather to geue ende to his Mother Mammeas Importunyties then as he thought to begin a more happie lyfe yet fayre Memmia his wyfe so naturally accorded with his disposition as when she died he would often renewe his Sorowe and remember her Uertues in these wordes So great a Treasure as I haue lost a man seldome findeth Death were gentle if he tooke nothyng but that whiche offendeth but oh he hath reaued
Segnior Phyloxenus seasyng on his Club and laying him on therwith said As Phallaris dyd to Perillus die with the weapon thou preparst for other In Trumph of this glorious Uictorie Diana sent down the Nymphe Chlora to salute Quéene Aurelia with this Present which was a Shield wherin was quartred four seuerall Honours The first VERT A lookyng Glasse of Christall The second AZVRE a payre of Ballance Argent The thyrd OR a Pyller of Porphier The fourth Argent a standing Cup of Ruby Rock The Muses them selues came also downe and crowned her with a Garland of Roses parted perpale ARGENT and GVLIS and electing her for their Soueraign to comfort the fiue Knights that were discoÌ„forted by ENVY two two leading a Knight between theÌ„ daun ced a statly Almain of XV. which ended thei bestowed a fauor certain Latin verses vpoÌ„ euery one of the Knights returned vnto their Mount The Siluer Pen Verses deliuered by VRANIE to ISMARITO stand in the forefrunt of this Booke the rest for that they were proper vnto them selues impertinent for this matter I omit By this time the Cock was ready to sing his midnight song the company fully satisfied with pleasure departed vnto their lodgings to spende the rest of the night in Contemplation and sleepe FINIS A description of the dead of Winter Man by reson inlargeth the boundes of Nature within whose lymites euery other creture lyueth This was the Forrest of Rauenna in Italye for the most part of pine Apple trees This Pallace was 10. miles from Rauenna towardes the Riuer of Poo The custome of Christmas BOLLYTINE a warrant of health without which no man may trauell in Italy A liberall welcome Welcom and Bountie the Porters A couert description of desyre A ciuill foresight meete for a Gentleman A necessary regard for Trauelers The vertues of the Queenes Maiestie maketh the Iland of Eng lande famous through out the whole Worlde Vertue stoppeth the mou th of Enuye But fyreth her hart with mallyce The true Blazon of a noble mynd Tiuoly 12. miles from Rome where the Cardinall of Esta hath a most rare Garden Cardenal Fur nesaes pallace in Rome A necessarie obseruation for a Gentleman A worthye Custome He was a Pro testant Other straun gers arriued by the lyke aduenture A custome ge neraly vesd in Fraunce and in some places of Italy Heliogabalus a most volup tuous Emperor of Rome Courtisie vnto straungers is a marke of Gentilytie A diuision of their pleasurs Musick refresheth the wits Loue simplye is good The distinctions of loue Knowne euils are not to bee defeuded A necessarye note A contention whether Mariage or the single lyfe is the worthyer Argument decideth doubtes Wise scilence worketh mor regarde then foolish talke A fault in many trauellers Al vnmarried pass vnder the name of chast Defences of Marriage Defences of a single lyfe Defences of Mariadge The cause why the Clea gie are reueâ—…ensed Vnpollitick creatures reuerence mariadge Defences of a single lyfe Vertuous fame is an other lyfe The impatiencie of women will not be hidde Vaine glorious shewes bewicheth women ContentmeÌ„t neither followeth the greatest nor scorneth the meanest Sentence gyuen in the be halfe of Mariage Platoes opinion of Mariage Pleasant talâ—… is good physicke for sorrowe The extreme passions of 〈◊〉 woman A GVNDELO is a litle Boat like a wherie HIEN somtimes a man and somtimes a woman The intent of euyll is to be punished Pardon is to be vsed in ignoraunce and not in wilfull faultes The punishment of great offenders dooth most good in example Deuotion Grauitie Affabilitie Myrthe Subtiltie bea teth true mea ning with his owne sword A cunnynge aunswere taketh away the grace of a shrewd tale THYMON of Athens was the sworâ—… enemie of humanitie A dutiful sub iect is bound to obay his Princes wordes and not linger vpon the effect A fayned friend is better then a dan gerous open enimy A Discription of the Sunne risinge Pyrois and Phlegon fained to be two of the Sunnes Coche horses The Bed resemhleth the Graue Laureta com monly called Loreto the great pilgrimage of Italy where is a small Chappell sometymes made by the cunning of certaine Fryers and the consent of some of the Cittizens of RACANATI only to bring Trafficke to their Cittie destroyed by the Goathes and Vandals and in the night stole it out of the Towne and spread a rumoure that our Ladye by Aungells had brought it out of IVRY the mansion House wherin she ther liued whych Fable an nuÌ„ber hold for a trueth Ignoraunce Caue the hye waye to Hell Italians a most subtyle kinde of people Sinne cannot indure to here of Gods Iustice A tiranny ten tymes more Cruell then Dennis Bull. Alcaron a Lawe that for byddes the Turks to dispute of Mahomet A diuine bles singe A token of louinge Subiectes ReconciliatioÌ„ may take away reueÌ„ge but not grudge from enimies harts Questions aunswered by Monisillable A good reward for Flaterie A profitable Note Reason giueth man souerainty ouer al creatures There is diuersitie of coÌ„ dition ineuery kinde Reason findeth out the imperfection of nature Cause of misliking in manage Causes of comfort in mariage Experience is the best Iudge The forme deceiueth but the qualytie sheweth the creature The foresight of Parentes A reprehen sion of forced Mariage Loue vvill not be constrained The euil of rediousnes Reason and Loue are enemies An other reprehension of forcement in mariage Looue rooteth by Contemplation Aduise to a booteles purpose Looue yeelds neither to wyt strength nor learning An exstreame affection The title of Mariage maketh youthe arrogant Abuse of good things worke euill effectes That which is blessing to one may be a curse to an other Carlesnesse of the husband breedeth hate in the vvife Choller is soone quited but Forberaunce increaseth mallice The Dîucll is the Executioner of vengeasice An extreame passion of Loue. A naturall feare in a vvoman suppresseth many of their euill affections An example for Christian Subiectes Craft hath many times his will with an opinion of honestie Wilful faults deserue no pardon A fauour euil bestowed This Iudge is not parciall for fauor gain or feare The curses geuen vnto a Viper Breuitie is best in passionate matters and effectatioÌ„ in pleasaunt Sorrowes 〈◊〉 seth scilence We are bouÌ„d to showe aswell the cause as to punnish the euill Good morralitie is better then euil doctrine There is no trustinge of a reconcyled enemye The example of a naughtye nature A necessarie note A Caueller hath colours for euerie question WemeÌ„s loue is more great theÌ„ theyr hate WemeÌ„ do amis but men are the cause Beauty ouercommeth the wisest EVRIPIDES comparison betweene Beauty and Loue. sclaunder is generally hated A Gentleman is not to shoe his passions by his attyre Men in many cases are to be priuileadged for an others merrite Ventoie a Fan. The vncertaintie ofworldly thinges Both POMPEY and CESAR died violently SISIPHVS A commendation of
by pacifieth contentions Vertue and vice bothe Feminine and Masculine Note Modesty an naturall vertue in a Woman The Fable of Ixion To be proude in vertues is commendable The scorge of vaine glory The soule traueleth to bring forth Diuine monuments in the heathen A discreete exordium for yong men that argue The excellencie of maÌ„ through the vertue of the soule Three dignities of the soule Man is formed straight because he should behold heauen and coÌ„template one great matters Three euils or defects of the body Three remedies against the three euils of the body The originall of all Artes and Sciences Theorique Practise Mecanicall craftes Curtesie is commendable but super fluous sauours of flatterrie The euyll of Ielousie Harde is the difference be tweene a care lesse and a ielous Husbande Ouid. Meta. lib. 10. Eurydice Preuent a Scoffer and he becoÌ„meth a Sotte A CommendatioÌ„ of lofty Loue. The euyll of a thyng com mendeth the goodnesse Loue spareth no degre Hope to com passe great matters com forteth more then the possession of tryfles Reproofe of loftie Loue One kinsman hath an Interest in an others honor An inhumain parte Defence c. Reproofe c. A womaÌ„ that abaseth her selfe in Mariage in Law loseth her reputation but not in curtesie The naturall desires of a woman Iudgement in repoofof lofty loue Men must haue regarde how they blame least they byte themselues Defence of bace loue A riche Dowrie with a woman Reproofe c Kytte wyll to kynde The fall of Maria Bianca is written by the Aucthor in his Booke intituld The Rocke of Râ—… garde Aucthoryties for amorous Histories Defence Reproofe c A confession is a prety Iudgement 1. Inconstancie 2. Dissimulation 3. Ignorance 4. Chastytie 5. A Dicer 6. Enuie 7. Will. 8. Hope 9. Beautie 10. Ingratitude 11. Ielosie 12. Couotousnesse 13. Pride Vertue is coÌ„mended by vice Tamberlaine the Great in the beginniÌ„g a Pesaunt He is not alone that hath good Bookes A Gentleman tooke aduantage of a worde to praise the good as to check the euyll A most famous librarie in the Dukes Pallace at Florence lest by Cosmos de Medicis It belongeth to a Gentleman to be sene in many things Diuinitie Phisyck Lawe Art Militarie Moralitie Cosmographie Hystoriografie Armorie Segnior Philoxenus a perfect Cour 〈◊〉 Weâ—…en are to pitifull to be Iudges A scoffer is many times smiten with his owne 〈◊〉 pon Italions are wise but euiâ—… condicioned Enuy euermore quarre leth with those that are fauoured Quarrelers seeke their owne mischiefe A wise foresight in a Gentleman Palmestrie a pretye idle quallitie for a Gentleman A necessarie note for a Gentleman Defences where an old man marrieth a yonge woman Reproofe c Defence c. Reproofe c The mischaunces of an oulde man yongly maryed A yong wyfe is death to an old 〈◊〉 An honest woman is lightly slauudered by the imperfections of her Husband Repentanâ—… to late The wife are warned by the mischaun ces of other A Rhinocerot The Metamorphose of Rinautus a Gentleman of Naples Euyll men care not for the conscience so they haue a colour for their offences The force of Beautie No Affliction but hath his remedie Examples to be regarded Idlenes â—…oorisheth and exercise remedieth loue Flatterie the enemies of prueth Mariage com mended betwene an olde woman and a yong man Reproofe c Defence c. A good exchanâ—… of Marchandice The euylles in an olde wydowe PLATOES Hell in Mariage A great cause of ImpatieÌ„ce Defence c. A most wicked pollysie Senecas opinion that Children were better to be dead borne then ignoraunt of good letters Thinges that are beast esteemed Reproofe c. A hard extremitie An honorable custome of Spaine Meete husbandes for aged widdowes Experience is a iudge ment it selfe A worthie lawe made by Laertius It is no stâ—…iung against the streame The thriuing vnthrift proues the the best husband The yeare endeth and beginneth in it selfe Ancient customs are to be kepte The vertues of the minde are more glorious then any outward garment Custome in Italye in giuing of new yeares giftes contrarie to the custome of England The originall of nevv yeares giftes Segnior Philoxenus ban queting hous Among the iust promise is kept To praise or blame is qua litie of wit but to direct is a worke of iudgement We haue interest in an other mans vertues Princes commandements must be obay ed. Of the exelencie of mariage Mariage instituted before the fall of Adam by God in the earthly Paradice A confirmation of the fyrst institution by God Man and wife are two bodies and but one flesh The ioye of of marriage shineth aboue al other delightes Children are the most rich Iuelles in the worlde This Iuell was her sonne Alexander The blessing of Children is a duble life Offices of Ius tice apartaine to the maried The sweete Sympathie be tweene the married Loue to our Parents â—…ue rent Loue to our Bretheren naturall Loue to our Friendes affectionated Loue betwen the married irreuocable A good mean to trye the loue of the married The rynge a triall of the loue betwene the married An other sygure of the rynge Christ was borne of a married woman Licurgus law for the vnmaried The Lawe of the Romains for the vnmar ried Platos lawes for the vnma ried Alexander Seuerus loue to Memmia his wife Paulinas rare loue to her Husbande Seneca The precious loue of king Darius to his wife The deuine loue of king Admetus Wife The exceeding loue of Tiberius Graccus towards his wife The wonder full loue of Queene Arti mesia towards her husbande Mausolus One of the seuen wonders of the worlde Aâ—…l Gel. in lib de nocti atti The Lawe is a scourge to the euill and comforte to the good Marriage con sistes as well in foresight as free choyce Equallity in yeares Equallity in manners Consent in religion Free choise in satisfaction of Fancie A mans house is a pettie common weale The office of the Wife The husbandes care apperraineth to thinges abroade The wiues chatge is huswiuery within doore Morall Philosophit to be learned by women Laciuious talke to be shunned of the husband The wife ought to be nice in cause of suspition Comelye apparell the husband should giue his wife Cleane lynnen commendable in a vvife The husbaÌ„d must bevvare of sollomnes The vvife must be amyable tovvardes her husband A lavve for a younge vvomans olde husband A regarde for an olde mans young vvyfe A regarde for an olde vvomans younge husband A regard for a young mans olde vvife Modest familiaritie not to be forbidden the Wife Light company to be shunned of the Wife The vengeaunce of Warre The blessings of peace The vertue of Peace The power of vertuous Loue. Enuy is murdered with his owne wepon
this sentence we wil haue you indited at Rome as an heretick for by the Popes CaÌ„nons Priests may not marry they haue a custom among them selues not to liue chast Well ê™ Franceschina if the Pope for this opinion burne mée as an heretick good men will cannonise mée for a vertuous Uirgin Thease Digressions quoth Quéene Aurelia are the meanes rather to worke a confusion of our memories then to conclude any beneficial matter for our instruction And therfore I hold it to greater purpose substantially to handle one Argument then sleightly to ouerrunne many causes where y e doubts we leaue vnresolued wyl be more daungerous vnto the hearer then the Counselles we vse profitable vnto the follower Madame quoth Fabritio I hold it good we obay your direction And for that Mariage is the most honourable euent of Loue and that a Single lyfe is the greatest testimanie of Chastytie A ciuill Contention to prooue which is the most worthy of the two would conclude much contentment For as Yron and Flynt beat together haue the vertue to smite fire so mens witâ—…s encountryng in doutful questioÌ„s openeth a passage for imprisoned Trueth Quéene Aurelia and the rest of the company lyked verie well of the Subieat and studing who weare the fittest to deale in this Controuersie Aurelia with a glaunsinge eye beheld that her seruant Ifmarito witsafed no greater Token that he tooke delight in thease actions then sometime the secrete bestowyng of a modest smile whervpon she forethought that as Floods when they are most hyest maketh least noise euen so perchaunce his styll tongue was gouerned by a flowyng witâ—… and desirous to sounde his sufficiencie she quickned him with this crosse surmise Seruant quoth she your sober lookes promiseth a hope that you will vndertake Dianaes quarrell but which wil serue in this question I feare me you coÌ„nâ—…aund Loue so much as you contempne Mariage And the greater is my suspicion in that you are a Tâ—…auayleri y e nature of which sort of people is to swell with a 〈◊〉 â—…isdayne of Mariage The reason is say they their Affections are poyioned with the knowledge of womens so haynous euyls as theâ—… dare not venter of that vocation But my opinion is they â—…learned so many â—…lties to deâ—… 〈◊〉 lesse wâ—… as dandled with the â—…ments of sundry Loues they forsweare Mariage who bindes them to one only wyfe And if you be infected w t the humour of thease sorte of Trauailers you may wel vndertake this charge for Venus though she loue not Diana yet is she the sworn enemie of Iuno And if you be sound from this infirmitie the little haste you make to marry witnesseth you honor Hymen with no great deuotion and therfore I coÌ„maund you too vse all your possyble proofes in the Defence of a Single lyfe and for your Assistaunce I do appoinâ—…t you Lucia Bella whom this Charge can not mislyke because as I vnderstand she meanes to be a professed Nun You are to encounter the opinions of many and therfore arme your selues with as good reasons as you may Madame quoth Ismarito I am so déepely bound vnto your commaundement as I am driuen to leaue youre suggestions not answeared and my owne inneâ—…ency vnexcused only attend y e incounter of him y t wil maintaine Marriage to be more worthy then a syngle life which vocation of Marriage though I reuerently honour yet I so zealously affect the other as I hope where the Iudges are indifferent to make the glory thereof to shine as the faire white aboue euery other colour Syr quoth Soranso though white be a fayre colour yet are the choyse of all other colours more rich and glorious so though Virginitie which is the fayrest flower of a single lyfe be precious in the sight of God and in the opinion of men yet is Marriage more precious in that it is a sacred institution of God and more honoured of men the Marryed are reuerently intertained when the vnmaryed are but familiarly saluted The Maried in assemblies are honoured with the hyghest places the vnmarryed humble them selues vnto the lowest To be short Virginitie is the handmayde of Marriage Then by how much the Master is greater then the seruaunt by so much Marriage is more worthy then is single lyfe I confesse quoth Ismarito Marriage is an honourable eâ—…ate instituted of God and embraced of men but wheron had she her beginning vpon this cause to kéepe men from a greater inconuenience as the Lawe was founded vppon this reason to punishe the trespasses of men But if no offence had ben giuen the Law had not néeded So if man had lyued within boundes of reason whiche before any commaundement geuen was vnto him a Law Marriage might haue ben spared and therefore in the hyest degrée is but a vertue vppon necessitie where Chastitie is a deuine vertue gouerned by the motions of the soule which is immortall and perticypating of the same vertue is alwaies fresh and gréene The euer-springing Baye is the Metamorphos of chast Daphnè whom Appollo although he weare a soueraign GOD could not allure to Mariadge which prooueth Chastitie a true spark of Diuinitie whose twinkling reflexions so daseleth the eyes of imagined Gods whose powers must néedes be more great then the greatest of men as they cannot sée an ende of their incontinent desires where as the beautie of Marriadge is many times blasted by fortune or the frailtie of the Married Therfore think I by how much deuyne thinges are of greater emprise then earthlye by so much the Single lyfe is more worthy then then the maryed And in aduauntage ê™ Lucia Bella where Soranso sayth that there is great honour done vnto the married and to the Single is giuen light regard I pray you whether are Baccus minions or the Muses most reuerensed Among men whose places are hyer then the Cleargies and amonge women whose greater then the religious Dames They haue not this preheminence ê™ Faliero because they professe a Single life but because their function is more sacred then other mens who if their prayers to GOD bee no more zealous then their vowes to chastytie are stedfast you flye to the authoritie of a company as spotted as Labans Shéepe But where Sir Ismarito saith y t Mariage is but a verfue vpon necessytie to restrayne man from a greater euyll I approoue it an estate set downe by Nature and that man hath but amplified it with certain Ceremonies to make perfect the determination of nature For we dayly sée in vnreasonable Creatures Mariage is in a sorte worshyp ped Fowles of the Ayre I meane the he and the she cupple together flie together féede together and neast together The Turtle is neuer merie after the death of her Mate and in many brute Beastes the lyke Constancie is fownd But generally there is neuer iarre nor mislykyng betwene the Male and Female of vnpollitique creatures and among the most
Iustice and PROMOS execution was spred abroad and by the songe of a Clowne was blowen into Andrugioes eates who tyll then lyued lyke an Outlawe in the Desart wooddes But vpon these Newes couertly in the Habyt of an Hermyt by the Diuine motion of the sowle who directes vs in thinges that be good and the Flesshe in Actions of euyll Andrugio goes to sée the Death of his Capitall enemie But on the other parte regardyng the sorrow of his Sister he wisshed him lyfe as a friende To conclude as well to geue terrour to the lewde as comfort to his good Subiectes the kyngâ—… personallie came to sée the execution of Promos who garded with Officers and strengthened with the comfortable perswasions of his Ghostly Fathers Among whom Andrugio was méekely offered his lyfe as a satisfaction for his offences which were many more then the Lawe tooke knowledge of And yet to say the trueth suche was his Repentance as the multitude did both forgeue and pittie him yea the King wondred that his lyfe was gouerned with no more vertue consideryng the grace he showed at his death Andrugio behouldyng this ruethfull Spectackle was so ouercome with loue towardes his Sister as to giue her comfort he franckly consented anew to emperill his own life And followinge this Resolution in his Hermyts wéede vpon his knées he humblye desired the Kinge too giue hym leaue to speake The Kyng gratiously graunted hym Audience Whervpon quoth he regarded Soueraigne if Lawe may possibly be satisfied Promos true Repentance meritteth pardon Good Father quoth the King he can not liue and the Lawe satisfied vnlesse by Miracle Andrugio be reuined Then quoth the Hermyt if Andrugio lyue the Law is satisfied and Promos discharged I quoth the King if your Praier can reuiue the one my mercie shall acquite the other I humbly thanke your Maiestie quoth Andrugio and discoueryng himselfe shewed the Prouidence of God and the meane of his escape and tendrynge his Sisters comfort aboue his owne safetie hee prostrated him selfe at his Maiesties Féete humblye to obay the sentence of his pleasure The Kinge vppon the reporte of this straunge Aduenture after good deliberation pardoned Promos to kéepe his worde and withall houldyng an opinyon that it was more benefitiall for the Citezens to be ruled by their olde euell gouernour new refourmed then to aduenture vppon an newe whose behauiours were vnknowne And to perfect Cassandras ioye he pardoned her Brother Andrugio with condition that he should marrie Polina Thus from betwéene y e téethe of daunger euerypartie was preserued and in the ende establyshed in their hartes dessre Madam quoth Soranso your good conclusion hath likewise preserued vs from a great daunger for had you ended with the sorrow you began wee had béene all like to haue bene drowned in teares Indéede quoth Katharina Trista you men had had cause sufficient of sorrowe by hearing your kynde reproched with such monstrous euils and we women frée passage to lament in behoulding none but crosse fortunes to succéede the good indeuours of a vertuous Ladie It is true quoth Fabritio but to participate of their ioye wee men haue learned out of Promos example of euil for feare of his likelie punishment of euil to doo well and you Women by example of Polinas vice and Cassandras vertue are both warned and incouraged to weldooing Indéede quoth Quéene Aurelia there are many Morall precepts in either Historie to be considered whiche I hope the company haue so regarded as there néedeth no repetition And further because I will not be to bould of the victorie ouer my late distemperature we will heare ende And therwith she rose retired into her Chamber with charge that the company should attende her in the same place vntil Supper who obaying intertained time euery one with their speciall fancy The Question that arose at Supper vpon the fourth Dayes exercise MAny prettie nyps passed betweene the retyred Companye this Night at Supper as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gentlewomens parte as of the Gentlemens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as presumyng vpon this Daies honour when the 〈◊〉 was readie to be taken away Aluisa vechio tooke vpon her to mayntaine a woman to be a creature euery way as execellent and perfeâ—… Man For naturall shape quoth she they are more 〈◊〉 tifull of a better temperature and complection then 〈◊〉 In valiaunt exploytes what difference was there 〈◊〉 twéene Semiramis and her Husbande Ninus betwâ—… the Amazon women and Alexender For constantnesse of mind did not Loadice imbrace deathe with lesse feare then Mithridates her Husband Asdruballes Wife then Asdrubal himselfe And what man hath kept a constant resolution of death so long as Lucretia In Morall vertues you men that reade Histories and Cronicles of all ages shall finde Women renowmed for learnyng Gouernment and pollycie In Mecanycall Artes there are Women lykewise experienced In the vertue of Deuining what man hath come neare the Sibels To bee shorte what Man hath bene so perfect in any vertue but Histories make mention of a woman as perfect Yea quoth Dondolo but there be so few of these women as an easy wit may remember them But it will cumber your Tong to report them quoth Katharina Trista The other Gentlemen although they were willlinge to giue place vnto the GentlewomeÌ„ in small matters yet this comparison of equal soueraignty netteled them a lytil In as much as Soranso aunswered Madam Aluisa you haue made a bould comparison and but a bare proofe Where you vaunte to be more excellent in shape and more delicate in substaunce then men It is an ouer ruled question that Women receiue perfection by men men imperfection by Women then by how much the vertue is of more emprise that is simplye of it selfe then that which is compounde of an other by so farre wée exceede you in this perfection Your honour of valyantnes died with your examples and although there hath bene Women learned and experienced in Mecanicall craftes yet to heare a Woman plead at the Barre preache in a Pulpit or to sée her build a House is a wonder and no example in vse How shorte your deuinyng Sybels come of the credit of the Prophets in the olde Testament is no question disputable For your constancie at deathe you knowe not how precious lyfe is which maketh you rash and not constant and in trueth what you haue frowardely determined you will not bee forbidden As shée that had her Tongue cut for callyng of her Husband Théefe woulde yet notwithstandinge make the signe of the Gallowse Well sir quoth Quéene Aurelia Epicarias oâ—…ynary who endured to bée rent in péeces before shée woulde confesse the conspyracie agaynst NERO would haue ben holdeÌ„ for a Uertue of staiednesse in a man And what say you of Leena that byt off her tonge and spit it in the Tirant Hippias face because she would not bewraye a conspiracy against him
as to perceiue they will iudge by their owne eyes and not by your hartes and so from shaddowes may growe euill effectes If there sight be so quick ê™ Franceschina Santa then If their sight be so quick quoth Franceschina Sancta then though by a negligent trespasse their wiues sometime giue them cause to sigh with a number of louing vsadges they will giue them daylye occasion of reioysinge I graunt as muche quoth Soranso but this will follow the Husband will turne his owne mistruste to hys Wiues sorrow and receaue her good vsage to his owne pryuate comfort Indeede quoth Aluisa Vechio the loue of a ielous husband is sawced with such frowarde motions as I had rather be matched with him that regardeth mée not at al then with him that loueth mée too muche for of the one though I am not beloued yet I shall not be much crossed of the other I being too much beloued I shall neuer be in quiet I am not of your mynde quoth Helena Dulce I had rather haue my Husbande ielous then carelesse for being carelesse no good vsage will reconcile him and being Ielous the Wife may studie out how to please him Yea but quoth Katharina Trista Men are so easye conceited that if they perceiue a woman studdieth how to please them they straight waies imagine she will lykewise studdie how to deceiue them and therefore God shéelde mée from a Ielous Housbande I haue heard the whightstreaked Carnation Giliflower was the Metamorphos of a Faire Gentlewoman beheaded by her husband vpon this Ielous thought that his wife beinge so faire could not but be beloued of the Gods although hée had no cause to suspect men And where haue yée a larger Example of Loue then the Aduenture of Orpheus who by extreame sorrow and sute recouered his Wife out of Hell and by ouer Ielous Loue sent her thither againe Doctor Mossenigo was smyling out a scoffe vpon this tale which Quéene Aurelia intercepted by ending of the Gentlewomens contention By your talke of Hell quoth she I sée we are out of the way to Platoes Parradice and therfore good we tourne backe agayne In déede Madame quoth Fabritio if we trauell styll to choose the leaste of Euylles it wyll be longe before we come to the Fountayne of Goodnesse Me thinkes quoth Isabella the Sonet which mooued the late Question directes a fayre way to happinesse in Mariage for it commendeth loftie Loue And if accordyng to the oulde Prouerbe The best is best cheape this Aduenture geueth Hope and promiseth good Fortune It is true quoth Soranso I dare vndertake to approoue it the happiest estate in Mariage Dondolo because he would not be disgraced by mariyng a Burgoys fayre Daughter of Rauenna offered to prooue the contrarie Quéene Aurelia licensed them to shew their reasons Whervpon quoth Soranso to geue great Ladies and Gentlewomen of calling their true right and honor who lightly marry not their Inferiours in reputation but for some especiall Uertue that doth commende their choice and cleareth the Bleamish of their Husbandes basenes I must confesse that he which rayseth his thought so hye vndertaketh no doubt a tedious sute his delayes wyll be gréeuons and his Solliciters wyll be well rewarded in what sort so euer he be regarded But what of this Quo quid difficilius eo pulchrius Perryll maketh honor perfect the styngyng of the Bée mendes the swéetenes of Honie Roses best refresheth our Sences when we prick our handes to reache them He that crackes the Nut thinkes the Kernell swéetest The reason is not for that the goodnesse of a thing is the better for the euil thervnto belonging but for that the remeÌ„brance of y t euyl maketh vs holde the good in more reputation especially in loue The Affection whiche is forced with teares wonne with sighes gaind with expence and compassed with sorow is held most pleasant most perfect of longest continuance Againe easie gotten good wyll becoÌ„meth in a while lothsome the cause is as I coÌ„ceiue for y t the pleasure was neuer seasoned w t paine Once a man in louing his better to encrease his passion shal lack no occasion both to séeke sue sigh serue yet to féede his hope he shal want neyther faire lookes good wordes nor possybilytie of fauour For for to obtain a great Ladie acquireth many circumstaunces not for that shee is precise to loue but for that shee is wise or woulde bee so thought in herprocéedinges But whether she loue or no Ouid saith there is no woman but wil indure the demaund she is contented with seruice to be courted in recoÌ„pence rewardeth with good countenance But which most sustaineth hope the exaÌ„ple is in coÌ„tinual vse that loue spareth no degrée transgresseth euery law bringeth y t mightiest in boÌ„dage to the meanest King Cofetua the Affrican became enamoured of a Begger faire Venus espoused yll fauoured Vulcan Pigmalion doted vpon an Image Narcissus was drowned in imbrasing his owne shadow mightie Ioue many times cast aside his diuinitie to dallie with simple country trulles then why shuld the affected how bace so euer his estate be dispaire to attempt a great Ladie wheÌ„ his warrant is signed with so large Aucthoryties But whether he spéede or faile be accepted or reiected well entertained or yll intreated the ymagination that time wil inuest his desire w t delight is to the Affected a Paradice farre exellyug the possession of equall loue But if in the end her affection or his good fortune concludeth his wish in desire her loue whiche can not choose but be great in that she marieth beneth her callyng And her Abylytie which allured at the first with his inhabylytie to realysh both can not but make the Husbande fortunate and the Wife well pleased for that in recompence of this aduancement she may presume somwhat to rule her Heade but which most contents she shal haue the satisfaction of her fancie a bed If a House were as soone bilded as the Plot is drawn quoth Dondolo Shepherds wold disdaine to liue in Co rages eueÌ„ so if euery maÌ„ could as soone coÌ„passe a Lady for himselfe as he can report the fortune of other there must be an Act to make Ladies or Lords must be glad of mean Women But admit by the example of other mens Aduauncements that the meanest may be raised by the yeelding fancye of the mightie I prophesie that such an vpstarte had more néede of ten Eyes to warde the mallice of his Wiues kindred then one tongue to moue her to kindnesse A woman cannot myslike affectionated profers because they procéede of loue But her kindred disdaineth his attempte for that the conclusion tendeth both to their and her dishonour A woman séeing her seruaunts passions cannot but sustaine him with pittie her Kindred séeinge him in good way to bee beloued will lye in waite for his lyfe For though she may dispose of her
English Players are but hauing certayne groundes or principles of their owne will Extempore make a pleasannt showe of other mens fantasies So that to try the quicknes of the Gentlemen and Gentlewomens wittes to giue the Comedians a Theame Segnior Philoxenus demaunded the meaning of certaine Questions Segnior Soranso quoth he What passion is that that tormenteth a man most hath least power to ouercome To thinke of a Womans Inconstancie ê™ Soranso which gréeueth euery man and cannot be subdued by wo men themselues Madame Aurelia ê™ Philoxenus What thing is that which most delighteth and most deceiueth a WomeÌ„ A mans dissimulation ê™ Queene Aurelia Which hath such a swéete passage through his Tongue as it delighteth like the Sirens Songes and yet turneth to as deceitefull a conclusion as the Crocadiles Teares This yet was but quid pro quo so that neither one parte nor the other was displeased The modest laughter being ceased Segnior Philoxenus demaunded of Ismarito what was the cause of most Deuotion and yet the greatest replenisher of Hell Ignoraunce ê™ Soranso whiche causeth men to worship Stones and dishonour God Madam Maria what is that quoth Segnior Philoxenus y t of men is least estéemed and of God most regarded Chastitie ê™ Maria Belochy whiche is precious before God and a laughing stock among men Doctor Mossenigo ê™ Segnior Philoxenus amonge men who is the most cruell A Dycer ê™ the Doctor for he teareth God in péeces This answer was both true and moued newe laughter Although it were propounded to discouer the nature of the Enuious who murthereth the lyuing and the fame of the dead Madam Lucia ê™ Segnior Philoxenus wherein doth a man please a woman best and displease himselfe most The modest Gentlewoman began to blush and with great difficultie resolued this Question In the end by the tongue of Alvisa Vechio quoth she In giuing of her her Wyll It is true quoth the Doctor for her delight is to gouerne wherin her discretion giueth others cause to laugh and her Husband to hang the Lyp. Segnior Dondolo ê™ Segnior Philoxenus what is the greatest fréende to men at libertie and the most enimie to such as are condemned Hope ê™ Don dolo whiche incourageth men at lybertie to attempt great matters and maketh such as are condemned vnprepared for death Madam Helena ê™ Segnior Philoxenus what is that which woundeth the hart yet is worshipped of the eye Beautie quoth Helena Dulce for it pleaseth a mans eye and pearceth his hart Segnior Bergetto ê™ Segnior Philoxenus What is that which oweth most and payeth least and of all euils is the worst Ingratitude quoth Bargetto For that Monster receiueth good turnes and payeth vengeance Madame Franceschina quoth Segnior Phyloxenus What is that whiche in louynge too muche baneth with Hate Ielousie ê™ Franceschina Sancta whiche by ouermuche louyng raiseth Suspition Suspition mooueth Con tention and Contention tourneth to mortall hatred Segnior Faliero I demaunde ê™ Phyloxenus who he is that profiteth his frendes but by Death is a Stewarde for other men maketh his Account only with God A Coueitous man ê™ Faliero who whyle he lyueth is enemie vnto hymself and therfore vnlykely to be friende to others also is but a Stewarde of the goods hee gathereth for he spareth for others and spendeth little or nothing vppon himselfe and at the iudgement day before God must make account of all his deceit Madam Katherina quoth Segnior Philoxenus what is that which is couldest clad in Friese and warmest attyred in pretious Stones Pride quoth Katherina Trista which hath no grace but in brauerie Louely Guestes quoth Segnior Philoxenus you haue so liuely deuined my meaning in your sharpe answeres as I expecte wonders of your dayly disputation Sir quoth Fabritio we hitherto haue but exposed and refelled errours If you haue done so muche ê™ Philox. you haue made a fayre passage for the glorie of Trueth which by the refelling of Error you shall finde for euerie vertue is commended by his contrarie A Diamond seemeth the fairer for his foyle Blacke best setteth foorth White Good is most praysed in the reprehension of Euill and Trueth is the hyest degrée is renowned by the refelling of errour and therfore follow your purpose the conclusion cannot but bée profitable Héere Segnior Philoxenus stopped his digression and commaunded the Comedians to bethinke themselues of some action that should lyuelie expresse the nature of Inconstancie Dissimulation Ignoraunce and the rest of the passions before named Which charge being giuen while the Actors were attiring themselues for the stage Quéene Aurelia and her Attendaunts tooke their places with such aduauntage as euery Gentleman had lyberty to deuise with his Mistresse After the Comedians had put themselues in order they patched a Comedie together and vnder the resited names showed some matter of Morallytie but a greate deale of mirth who with their pastime kept the companie vp so long as drowsie sléepe which delighteth in nothing but scilence arrested y e greater part of them and caried them close prisoners vnto their Chambers FINIS The syxt Dayes Exercise Contayninge Many needefull regardes for a Gentleman with a Discouerie of the inconueniences of Marriages where there are great inequalitie of yeares THe chearefull Sunne which comforteth euerie earthlye Creature as the Lanterne of broade day so lightened euery Chamber of Segnior Phyloxenus Pallace as y e Gentlemen and Gentlewomen to bee auenged of the iniurie of Night who being the Mother of confusion had seperated them from their companions of pleasure hastely rose and attired themselues and like vnto Partryges that how so euer they are seauered know and retire vnto their meetyng places presented them selues in the great Chamber The office of ciuill courtesie discharged such as were coupled intertained Time with y e deuice of their especial fancyes others contemplated of their priuate affaires Ismarito amonge the rest in a quiet place was reading in Peter Mesiere his Cronicle of Memorable things The rare Historie of Tamberlaine the Great surnamed Flagellum Dei where he much admired the vertues of the man who of a laboring Pesaunt or in the best degrée of á poore Souldier by his vertues Inuincible valure became a great Monarch Yea and while Tamberlayne liliued was as much feared as Alexander But Ismarito more lamented that so mightie a Monarchie erected by the Father should end by the enuy and ciuill dissention of the Children Segnior Philoxenus after he had giuen a Bon giorno to the companie seing Ismarito not chained to a company on determined to geue his solytarinesse a disgrace by con uersing with him in some Gentlemanly Discourse but finding him accompanied w t so swéet a companioÌ„ as Mesires Cronicles Seg. Ismarito ê™ hée you haue deceiued my imagination which perswaded mée y t you were solita rye and therefore bounde mée in courtesye to visite you But séeing
louinge countenaunce repaire vnto her and in her bosome gently bestow his murthering Horne and sodainlye as one rauished with contentment hée fauleth a sléepe by which meanes he is slaine before he recouereth the vse of his force The Companie laughed well to heare this straunge Metamorphosis In the end ê™ Quéene Aurelia I would Maister Doctor had hard this Hystorie when hée so inuayed against Beautie perhaps he would haue bene affraide of her vengeaunce seeing her power able to conquere sauage wilde Beastes But the Doctor glad of this aduantage not vnlyke the tuÌ„ning Lawier that buyeth Robin hoodes penniworthes yet with some nice forfaitures threatneth the seller with continuall bondage many times bringeth backe his money and kéepeth his bargen not caring for his Concience so that hée haue a colour for his offence or as the wysest sorte of Atheistes that liue as though they hoped neyther after heauen nor feared Hel yet confesse God with their mouth hecause the contrarie woulde make them hated of men so he by this tale found out both a warrant to maintayne his former Blasphemie and to excuse his present Follie in Loue And to Aucthorize either Madame quoth he the inchaunted Beaste approoueth myne opinion of Beauties power and his Death is a greater witnesse of her crueltie then is Doctor Mossenigo who confesseth that men in vayne prescribe Remedies for the Affected or Receites to preserue men from the Infections of Beautie You are welcome vnder our Lée ê™ Aluisa Vechio But to take awaye all hope of good intertaynment quoth Katharina Trista no no Maister Doctor you deceyue your selfe Beautie neyther retaineth the power nor poyson which you speake of and with you Ouid and all the amorous Poets are mistaken who say Affection riseth from Beautie and not of the frée wyll of man But say yon all what you please good foresight wyll contrary your opinions There is no sore but hath his salue no griefe but hath his remedie nor no daunger but may be forstoode eyther by prayer or good indeuoure In déede quoth Faliero Socrates â—…altred his inclination by the Studie of Phylosophie The Nyniuites preserued their Cittie by prayer and Virbius dubled his life by mastering of his disposission Floradin bewitched with the loue of faire Persida his deare friend Pericles Wife wrote in a table Booke fye Floradin fye shée is thy friend Pericles Wife and so often as idlenes presented him with thys passyon he read his written remembraunce and by some honest exercise remooued his imagination This is not your day Maister Doctor quoth Soranso I beléeue there is some vnkindnes betwéene Saturne and Venus by the enuious aspeckt of some other Plannet this howre It maye be quoth the Doctor by the flatterie of Mercurie who is euermore enemie to the plainnes of trueth Well quoth Quéene Aurelia let vs leaue this bye matter and consider better of Ismaritos Metamorphosis me thinks it prophesieth muche mischaunce to an Dulde Wydowe whiche marteth a Yonge man and no greate pleasure to the yonge maried Bacheler O good Madam say not so quoth Soranso for in this fortune lyeth a yonger Brothers welfare and the cause that maketh happinesse accompanie olde wemen to their Graue It may well be to their Graue quoth the Doctor but it bryngeth sorow into their House and maketh their life more vnpleasant then death and if Soranso followe this Course perhappes his day wyll be no better then Doctor Mossenigos Quéene Aurelia smilinge saide shee feared this câ—…ntention woulde bring the companie to hell gates Yet quoth she In that I imagine the way will be pleasaunt I licence you to perseuer in your purpose Uppon which warrant quoth Soranso to maintaine that to be true which I haue alreadie alleadged in the commendation of this estate in marriage This further reason in my conceite you will neither disalowe nor the married couple shall haue cause to mislike which is where a fresh young Gentleman either of small liuing or farre spent with lustinesse lights of a rich olde widow for that both their desires in this fortune shall bee satisfied He shall haue plentie of Coyne the onelie Grace hee lacked and she the possession of a goodlie Parsonage the chéefest Iewel she loueth which exchaunge of Marchandise can not chuse but continue their liking and raise much coutentment Cleane contrarie ê™ the Doctor for y e follies of a yong maÌ„ is sufficiently punished by marrying an olde womaÌ„ 〈◊〉 y e sins of an olde widdow ar fully plagued in matching w t a yong man for that contrarie to your suggestion neither can inioye the cause of their Mariage without annoyance to their mindes for his lyking is fastned on her riches which she will not but by necessitie leaue her loue is setled on his person which for her pleasure he disdaineth to punish The vnfortunate yongman knowes not what gréefe hée ioynes to his gaine in matchinge with an olde widdow till that experience breakes them forth in sighes If his wife be ritche shee will looke to gouerne if shee bée poore he is plagued both with beggery and bondage If she be proude she will hide her abylytie to maintaine her pompe If she be testie he is forst to patience If she bee Ielous hée canne hardlye indure her rages And to conclude if the olde doting widdow be frée from one of thâ—…se faults she is tied to forty euils of lesse sufâ—…ce for if her Husbande commaunde her will shee straight waies sayeth her other Husband was more kinde If hée chance to dine from home she wyls him to â—…up with his harlots if he spend beyond her allowance thus she reuiles hym A Begger I fownd thee and so thou wylt leaue mee To chastice her talke setteth an edge of her tongue to suffer her in her rage maketh her raylynges irreuocable By your wordes Maister Doctor ê™ Lucia Bella the wife is the greatest cause of this contention and yet in common opinion the Husband is most blamed Madame you are too hastie in an aduauntage I ment no such parciallytie quoth the Doctor Yea Madame quoth Bargetto M. Doctor is now so conquered as his tong is the Trumpet of your pleasure It is so quoth the Doctor to sound out those thinges which are true and in trueth the yonge Husbande often tymes maketh the euilles good in déedes which the olde wyfe vseth but in wordes for no lenger then she féedeth him with Coyne shall she enioy his companie If she rob not her Children to inrich him she shall lack no froward lookes nor fowle vsage If she put him in possession of her lyuing he straight wayes dispossesseth her of his loue for hauing what he sought he wyl els where be enamoured And vprightly to speake she lacketh neither occasion too lament nor cause to be inraged for who is so patient as can dissemble her vnsufferable passions both to be spoyled of her lyuing and to be exyled
from that she loueth And in verie trueth so egall are their euilles as it were a harde matter to iudge who deserueth leaste blame or most excuse She reproacheth him of Beggerie Hooredome Unthriftinesse yll vsage and of the ruine both of her selfe and her Children He blameth her of Olde Age Ielousie curstnesse scowldyng for hidyng of her goods which he hath bought with doyng Iniurie vnto his person If she be determined to be merie he scornfully telleth her that it is as sightly for a toothelesse Mare to eate Marchpane as for suche a wrinckled Mumpes to fawle a bylling If he come in wel disposed affably intreateth her she calleth him dissembling Hipocrite saith he saluteth her w t his tong but his hart imagineth of his minions abroade she runneth to y e neighbors to coÌ„plaine In the meane while he sendeth her corne to the Market and her cattel to the Faire If the frends of good wil or neighbours of charytie labour to accord their coÌ„tention as she imagineth to shame him she thundreth out a thousaÌ„d Iniuries that he doth her for her owne praise she saith that of pure loue she maried him with nothing and to reproch him she sweares he hath spent her substance hateth her person To show her owne good Huswiferie she tels that she worketh al day at her Distaffe to blase his vnthriftinesse she showeth how heâ—… plaieth away her gaines at Dice She crieth out that perfore he taketh what he openly findeth priuylie stealeth what she secretly hideth These many moe complaints she preferreth against her Husband w t the vehemencie of a womans passion Her Husband y t knoweth how to be reueÌ„ged in déedes for his own credit is more milde in words he layeth al these blames vpoÌ„ her own crooked dispositioÌ„ who though she be so olde as a man can hardly loue her yet w t a cankred ielous froward nature she wold force a man to hate her But what remedie since his fortune was so hard he wold starue her w t patience and only adde this Suffrage to his Letanie A praua muliere good Lord deliuer mée These drie scoffes sets her hart in a light fire and saue that she hath not so many colours like vnto Iris thuÌ„dreth out the venome of her cankred Spirit in reuylings and raylyngs against her Husbande And to say trueth her case is to be pittied as much as her tong is to be blamed for Iniurie is not so greuous vnto a man as to sée his Aduersarie soothe his trespasse with an honest shoe But to my purpose her Husband crosseth her with a quiet Aunswere yon may sée friendes sayth he wyld fire wyl burne in water Drinke wil make the Dropsie dry and mildnesin mée mooueth madnesse in my wife by her example here you sée my lyfe at home as tedious as Hel then perhaps som flowting MarchaÌ„t sayth lyke ynuffe and the shée Deuill weareth the hornes Thus with their own michéefes they greue their friends delight their foes and wearie their Neighbors in according their debates and if they be in the morning quieted and go home in peace at Noone like enemies they ar redy to throwe the house out at the window a slut like the furie of lothsomenes shall bring in dinner because the Ielious wife dare not trust her husbande with any maide that is hansome the husbande offended throweth the Platters at her head and axeth if she meane to poyson him the Wife taketh pepper in the nose and sayth if hee had not married her he woulde haue beene glade of the worst morsell there The Husband replieth that if he had not béene so mad the diuell would not haue married her Then beginneth the old Musik tuned perchance with a rap or two of the lippes and when they haue brawled their fill shee runneth and bemoneth her selfe at her neighbors and he goeth and maketh himselfe merie with his Mistrisses In sooth maister Doctor it séemeth to mée quoth Sir Soranso that you haue verie substancially proued my opinion for Marriage equallye deuideth her blessings and mischaunces betwéene the married and as farre as I can sée neither of these knoweth who hath the better or worser bargen there is raylinges and vnquietnesse of both sides but what of that pleasure is best seasoned with paine and though they sometimes iarre at home they agrée wel wheÌ„ they are seperated among their neighbours And although you haue streatched their debates vpon the rack of vengeaunce yet at aduenture I wish my selfe no worse bestowed then marrie an to old welthy Widdow I doo not thinke but by good vsage to continue her first affection géeuen euen vnto hir verie Graue You will kill her with kindnesse quoth Maria Belochye Yea Madam ê™ Soranso if her nature be so froward as to die with good vsage In déede Ladyes quoth the Doctor there are some men that entertaine their olde wiues with such a fayre showe of flattering looue as they bewitche them euen to theyr latter gaspe But at what rate dooth she purchase this kindenesse O euen with the vndooing of her selfe and Children yea and which is worse it is the pollicie of Father in lawes to dandle the infancie of theyr wiues Children in the lap of Ignorance to this ende that béeing of lawfull age they may with lesse fetches beguyle them of theyr liuing so that the vnfortunate childe knowes not whether he may more bemone his losse of liuing or lacke of good bringing vp and in my iudgement of bothe the euils want of education is the greatest for learning and vertue purchaseth liuing and lyuing corrupteth but coyneth not good conditions and as Seneca sayeth libertie without learning is a bondage to the minde and further the Childe were better to be dead borne then barren of good Letters for that Ignoraunce is a graue which buryeth life Maister Doctor quoth Quéene Aurelia me thinketh your wordes doo too much wrong to the wife though they cannot sufficiently blame the husband I graunt that father in lawes estéeme their owne profiets before theyr wiues Chyldrens preferments but yet I suppose Nature dooth direct the naturall Mother to eye theyr good bringing vp who with muche sorrowe brought them foorthe For as the Prouerbe goeth things that are dearely bought are of vs intirely belooued and nothing is more dearely purchased then what is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the hazarde of life which venter the Mother 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 she is assured of her Childe then this cruâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her Children to satisfye the wyll of her seâ—… 〈◊〉 wyll make indifferent men holde her an vnâ—…â—…ther whether her husband estéeme her a dueâ—…â—…e or no. Oh good Madame quoth the Doctor how 〈◊〉 the Hen succour her Chickens when she her selfe is at the merey of the â—…ite how can the Conny preserue her Rabets when the Ferret is in possession of her Burrowe and how may the vnfortunate Mother Foster her shiftlesse Children either as she should or would when her