inconstancie neyther can a bodye of so rare perfection harbor suche dyssemblynge disposicion But as the desyerous harte is seldome at rest so the doubtefull mynde is dreadefull of deceite and quareliynge continuallye with his good hap or synister fortune is alwayes in ymaginacion what iudgement to resolue vppon the condition of his owne estate so my case is of no lesse perpleritie for wafting indifferētly betwene happie chaunce euil successe I fele my selfe double passioned somtime moued to reioice my good hap in beīg loued of so honest curteouse noble a gentlemā as Cornelio and by by driuen to inueighe againste my euill fortune that hath put suche distance and seperacion of oure bodies when we weare at point to performe the consommacion of our acquaintaunce And albeit the common chaunces of this worlde resemble a confection made of hony and gall and that the banquettes of loue beinge garnished with dishes of both sortes will vs to make choice wyth deliberacion alledgynge that the pleasure is not so great as the repentaunce penaunce of harde disgestion yet I thinke the vertue to performe the vowe of the hart takes awaye the greatnes and haynous disposicion of the faulte wherefore seing my hart hath made his choice and the reste of my partes resolued to performe the quest I wyll not onelye dismisse all doubtes of the assurance of his good wyll but studye to excede hym in affection deuisinge the meanes from hensfurth to make hym féele the force of my goodwill with the desyer I haue to knitt an indissoluble vnitye of the ij mindes whose bodies are forced to lyue in seperacion by the malice of the worlde and angrie dome of our fortune Here yf PLAVDINA inueighed onely vpon ij pointes of her desaster the one for the soddaine departure of her frende and the other for the doubte she seamed to put in the assuraunce of his loue it is to bée thoughte that CORNELIO had cause of treble complaint bothe to be driuen to saue his lyfe by cowardlye flighte to steale awaye in suche secret scilent maner as only his guide was pryuie to his goinge also to bée distressed with such shortnes of time that he was barred to seame thankeful to his Ladye with a simple farewel whiche was sufficient to sturre vp her Ielous humour againste hym but that whiche exceded the rest in greatnes of gréef was that he had no man of trust to carye her newes of his being and muche lesse durste he communicat his buysynes wyth any straunger neyther had he hope to be aduertised of the accurrantes of MYLLAN nor meane to make reaport of his owne estate at MANTVA for that he durst not discouer the place of his present abode there wherefore cryeng out of the constellation and clymat of his destynies he complained his vnhappie case in this sorte If my offence were as greate as my punyshmente is greuous I wolde thinke no submission worthie of place nor my falte meete to be dispensed withall or if I had as iustlye deserued this wronge as I am sewer to suffer the smarte I had no reason to commence cause of complaint agaynste the malice of y e world much lesse accuse the iniquitye of present tyme nor yet crye out of y e synister disposition of fortune to whom as the poetes seame to attribute some power ouer our worldly affaires bestowinge their indeuor therin I thinke rather to féede the time and ymagynacions of the people with a shape or figure of an vnconstante creature then wyth intente to perswade a credit in so senceles an ymage so I am also perswaded by the present experience of her inconstancie that she is not so liberall to geue as readye to take awaye a lesse hable to contynue the felicitie wherwyth she seames to flatter y e conceite of y e simple for whō she hath brought to beleue in her she makes manytimes more desirous of glory then hable to receiue it wherin who maye more iustely exclaime agaynst her mobylitie thē y e vnhappie CORNELIO whō being fauored w t y e offer of a reciprocal affection and at the pointe to be put in the possession of his desyer shee hath not only taken the praie out of my mouthe but comitted me wyth cruelty into the vale of extreme desolacion of what moment are y e greatnes of princes or to what end serues honor or highe callinge seinge bothe the one and the other are subiect to confucion and readye to yelde at the leaste poffe of winde that bloweth from a contrary shoare Yet if I were a simple cytisen or companion of meaner callinge thennemie wolde neyther watche my doings wyth so manye eyes nor pursewe my deathe by publike or pryuate inuacion and I suffered to liue as free from the troubles and tumultes of the worlde as farr from any care or accompte of the doings of great men where nowe alas thonly heighte of my estate tipped wyth the tytle of honor depryueth me of thuse of my contrey societie of my frendes and contemplacion of the thinge I holde no lesse deare thenne the healthe of my soule But if any thinge colde stoppe the couetous humor of man and euerye one contente wyth the lot of his porcion would cease to inuade the dominion of an other kinges shoulde sytt sewer in their troanes and the pallais of princes voide of suspicious feare and care and then myne owne PLAVDINA shoulde not I liue wythout the companie of the nor thou haue cause to doubt the firme constancie of thy seruant whose reputacion of honor and faythe towardes his prince denieth hym for the presente to honor the wyth the duetye whych thy vertues deserue and albeit it is no lesse follye then tyme loste to trauell in dispite of loue and fortune whyche bothe haue conspired my distruction and ioyned in confente to kepe mee frome enioyenge the fauor of her who merites the seruice of one more noble and worthie euery way then I and because no distāce shal dissolue my affection nor dymynishe the leaste braunche of good will nor yet time her selfe haue power to ouertreade the vertue of my faythe I will so dispose of the reste of my life as the same shall make absolute declaracion of the vnfained constancie of my mynd wyth the sincere vowe of loyaltie whiche I haue sworne and dedicated to the seruice of her deuyne bewtie euen vntill the laste and extreme seperacion of my soule and bodie wherin because aduersatie is rather subiect to many miseries then apte to admit any consolation and that the goodwill of fortune comes rather at vnwares then won by speciall sute I wyl perforce contente my selfe wyth the gyfte of presente time and vsinge the remembrance of my mistres as a speciall moderation of the hardnes of my exile so honor thymage and picture of her bewtie painted alreadie in thintralls of my harte that thonly remembrance and inward view of my deare PLAVDINA shall norishe the remeindor or my
in the eyes wyth euery other signe of counterfeyte dule in the face when the ynner partes laughyng at suche fained showes are in the myddest of theyr banquet for pleasure what offence is it to plage theim in earnest who seke to blaire the eyes of all the worlds wyth charmes of painted substance or rather why shoulde they bee suffred to lyue whose villanous lyues and doynges were hable to deface the glory of the whole feminyne secte yf the vertue of so manye chaste Ladyes were not of force to aunswere the combat of all synister reproche and conquer the infamous chalengers of theyr renowme But now the funeralls performed to the dead Lorde of Chabrye the Ladye albeit she dismissed by lytle and lytle the greatnes of her dollor yet she ceassed not her diligence in the searche of the morderer nor forgat to promisse large hyer to suche as coulde bringe her the ministers of the fact there was publike informacion and secrett inquirye wyth euery point and circumstance so Syfted to the quicke that there lackte nothyng but the confession of him that was dead whiche was impossible to bée had or the testimonys of the bloddie parties whiche were the commissioners appointed to enquire of the morder whose handes smelled of the bloud of the dead innocent whereuppon the matter was husht for a tyme in whiche TOLONIO was not ydle to ransicke euery secret corner in the house not forgettynge I thynke to visytt the treasore he chiefly affected and for a simple pleasure of the whiche he had bene so prodigall of his conscience who yet not satisfyed with the sacrifyze of innocent lyfe stirred vp desyer of greater synne for this tyrannouse wyddow had iiij sonnes whereof as ij of theim were continuallye in the house so the eldest Ialowse not without cause of the famyliaritye betwene his mother and her doctor whose haunte he iudged to excede the compasse of his commission and lymittes of honor colde not so conceile nor disgeste the conceite of that whiche persuaded a staine of infamye in the forheade or forefronte of his house but that he thought to belonge to his dutie to ymparte vnto her y e cause of his suspicion with perswacion in humble sorte to be indiffrently carefull to kepe her former glorie of vertuous life and curious to defend the remeindor of her yeres from worthie cryme or spot of foule ymputacion wherein thincrease of amarus glée betwene the aduocat and her procured a more expediciō then he thought so that hauing one day thassistance of a fyt time and place in a gallerie voide of all company he preferred hys opinion in this sorte not wythout an indiffrent medley of shame and disdaine appearing in all partes of his face if it bée a thinge vnseamly that a kinge shoulde be disobeyed of his subiects it is no lesse necessarie in myne opynion that the prince avoyde oppression of his people by power for that a greate falte in the one is none offence at all by reason of his authoritie and the other sometime is exacted without iuste cause of blame but if it bée a vertue in the maiestie royall to be indiffrent betwene the force of his power geuen hym by god and the compleintes of righte in his vassalls why shoulde it be an offence that the maister or magistrate bée put in remembrance or made tunderstande the pointes wherein hée offendeth seing he hath no greater reason to yelde iustice to such as deserue punishmente then bounde in doble sort to a wōderful care of integretie in lyuing in himselfe so as hys authoritie effectes of vpright cōuersaciō may serue as a lyne to lead the meaner sort seruing vnder his awe to be in loué w c his vertues commended for semblable sinceretie and purytie of life But for my parte good Madame were it not the remorse of an equall respect to your reputacion and honor to al our house and that my conscience hereafter wold accuse me of want of corage and care to make good the vertuous renowme of my dead father I should hardely be forced to the tearmes of my present intent nor my beyng in thys place geue you such cause of amaze doubt of my meaninge for the dutie which nature bindeth me to owe to y e place you hold on my behalf and the law of obedience geuen by god to all chyldren towardes suche as made theyme the members of this worlde makes me as often cloase my mouthe against the discouerie of the longe grudge of my mynde as I haue greate reason to ympart the cause to your ladishipp who is tooched more neare then any other that I wolde too god the thinge wherof my mynde hath giuen a iudgement of assurance were as vntrue as I wishe yt bothe farre from myne opynion and voyde of a trothe then sewerlye sholde my hart rest discharged of disquiett and I dismyssed from thoffice of an oratour whiche also I wolde refuce to performe if thymportance of the cause did nor force my wil in that respect Albeit as the passions of the mynde bée free and the sprite of man howe so euer the bodie bée distressed with captiuitie hathe a pryuyledge of libertie touchyng opynyons or conceites so I hope your wisdome with the iustice of my cause and clearenes of entent are sufficient pillours too supporte that whyche the vertue of naturall zeale to your selfe and dutifull regarde to the honour of my auncestors moues me to communicate with you chieflye for that the best badge of your owne life and bloodd of your late Lorde and husbande my father bée distressed as I am perswaded by the secret haunte and vnsemelie glée of fauour betwene the proccurer Tolonio and you whome God and nature haue made a mother of suche children that neyther deserue suche lewde abuse in you nor can brooke his villany in corruptyng the noble blood wherewith they participate without vengance due to the greatnes of his poysoned malice wherein good madame as my deare affection to you wardes hathe made me so franke in warnynge you of the euill so yf you giue not order hensfurthe for the redresse of that whiche I accompte alredie past euerye cause of dowte you will come too shorte to couer that can bée no longer conceiled when also small compassion wilbée vsed in the reuenge of thiniurye neyther can you in any sort complaine rightelie of me in whose harte is alredye kindled a grudge of the wronge you haue don to y e nobilitie of vs al loathing with all the simple remēbrance of so foule a falte protesting vnto you for ende that yf herafter you become as careles of the honour of your children as heretofore you haue bene voiede of regarde to your owne reputation the worlde shall punishe the abuse of your old yeres with open exclamacion against your lasciuius order of lyfe deuesting you of all titles of highe degrée and thies handes onely shall sende maister doctor to visytt his processe in th infernall senatt
By toyling trade the trifling wares which they for money sel Then why should Fenton feare to purchace prayse of men To whom he fraÌ„ckely gyues the gift of this his pleasant pen If he his busye browe haue beate for our auayle And for our pleasure taken paynes why should his guerdon fayle No gredye golden fee no Iem or Iewell braue But of the reader good reporte this writer longes to haue No man of meanest witt no beast of slender brayne That thinckes that such a volume great is wrought with slender pain The thinge it selfe declares what toyle he vndertooke Ere Fentons curious fyle could frame this passing pleasant booke The Frenche to Englishe phrase his mother language hee The darcke to lighte the shade to sonne hath brought as you may see The learned stories erste and sugred tales that laye Remoude from simple common sence this writer doth displaye And what before hee tooke his painfull quyll to write Did lurcke vnknown is playnelie now to be disternd in sight Nowe men of meanest skill what Bandel wrought maye vew And tell the tale in Englishe well that erst they neuer knewe Discourse of sundrye strange and Tragicall affaires Of louynge Ladyes haples haps theyr deathes ad deadly cares And dyuers thinges beside wherby to flee the darte Of vyle deceytefull Cupids bowe that woundes the louers harte Synce this by Fentons meane and trauayle thou doct gayne Good reader yeld hym earned prayse and thanckes for taken paine Then I that made this verse shall thincke as well of the As Fentons worke doth well deserue accompted of to be PETER BEVERLEY IN PRAISE of the translator RYfe is the rule that blames the Idell mynde The ground as great that blaseth trauels gayne Eache tonge can tell a vvorld of vyces kynd And Scacred lynes appoints offences payne But Fenton shovves in svvete and sugred stile What pleasaunt bayte doth eache state beguile What carelesse youth that sees the toylyng Ant But shames to vveare his goulden tyme in vayne VVhose tender lymmes in sommer tyme do haunt The frutfull felds to rest in Borias Rayne VVhen she doth sucke the svvete of heruest toyle And fynds in frost relefe in dryed soyle The slender store that sum do novv possesse VVhose idell boones did loth in youth the lode To those that lyue suffyseth to expresse The loytring child in age knovves no abode But as the shippe tost vvith the byllovv greate So he doth yelde him selfe to fortunes threte VVhat pride deserues vvhat is blacke hatreds hiere VVhat enuye theft vvhat is the mysers mede In fyne vvhat fovvle offence vvhat fact so dire But scripture shovves his rights if thou list rede VVherby each may both shunne the vilest sinne And learne such lyfe as lasting Ioye doth vvinne But Fentons frame hath vvouen an other vvebbe His paynfull penn hath died a straunger hevve He tels vvhen vvitt is in his lovvest ebbe And vvarns the Shunne the bayne that coms by vievve VVhich so doth chaunge the sence of euery vvight That from a man to beast it tournes him quitt As vvhen the mynd through vvant of reasons rayne Vnbridled yelds to fond affections force And feding still the hart vvith amours vayne Conuert each part vnto a sencles cors VVherin he lyues so odde from right and lavve As mountayn beare that prayes deuoyd of avve And subiect thus vnto svvete folyes lore If vvishe he vvinne he shovves vvhat sovver svvete The pacient suckes vvhat bytter blisse in store He heapes vvhen age vvith iudgment iust shall mete VVhen profe shall saye of all vnhappyest vvight That reapest care in lyevv of hopte delight But if disdayne shall quyt him vvith dispyght And yeld him loth for long desired grace Then stabbing glayue the desperat brest must smyte Or frantycke vvyse runne out a sauage race Thus if of gladd or sad he happ the gayne Both haue this end in loue nought is but vayne VVhich reckles race to bring in vvisdoms guyde And for to raine vvith bytt of better skill My paynfull frend did this discours prouide As brake to breake affections lavvles vvill Gyue Fenton then but freuts of his desert And gather thou that best maye please thy hart P. B. The argument I Meane nothere to increase the merueile of menne withe a particular description of the sumptuous buildinges of Princes the magnificall scites and scituations of greate mens houses nor restore to memory the wounderfull pollecies and artificiall deuises of oure Auncestoures in making plats and firme fondacions of Castels and Cities in the bottom of the sea and muche lesse trouble you withe a reaporte of their ingenious trauaill in castinge downe hils and makynge Craggy mountaynes flat with the face of the earthe or forcing stonie Rockes with places here to fore impassible to oppen and make waye to their huge armies but I haue in presente intente to discouer vnto you the meruellous effects of loue which excedinge the opynion of common thynges seames more straunge then the curious construction and frame of any Pallais for necessitie or pleasure threatrie or place of solace buylded by art or industrie of man or other stately Court what sqware quadrante or triangle forme so euer it conteines or other misticall worke yeldinge cause of wonder to the vniuersitie of the earthe seing that a mortal grudge grounded vppon greate spite confirmed withe the continuance of a longe time and pursued extremelye wythe bloddye persecution and vnnaturall crueltie is not onely conuerted vpon a sodaine into perfecte frendeshippe but also by an effecte and operation of loue made so indissoluble that no future accidente or synister deuise of enemyes could once make a breache and muche lesse vtterly dissolue the league of amity so happely begon and sewerly knite together by the vertue of affection whyche wee call commonlye the passion procured by loue wherunto is also added alike effecte of a thankefull mynde arguing vnto vs whythe a famyliar example that as ingratitude is the greatest vice y e raynes in the disposition of man and principall ennemy to the honor of nobilitie soo the contrary deserueth by iustice the tytle of the moste precious vertue y t is wherein as the Thebans were shamefully reproched for the respect of their greate Capttaines Epaimy nondes and Pelopides so the Plateons on the contrarye were worthely renounâ—ed for the large recompence and consideracion they vsed to the benefyte of the Greekes who deliuered them from the seruitude of the Persians like as also the Sycyoniens weare yet the crown of eternal comendacion for the thankefull returne of the curtesye of Aratus by whome they were frankely taken oute of the handes of cruell tyrantes if the acte of Philip Marya late Duke of Myllan deserueth detestacion for the vnnaturall crueltye he committed vppon the person of his wife who albeit was equall in nobilitie exceded him in the giftes of fortune and large possessions of indifferente beaw tye to content a reasonable man nothinge inferior to the beste Ladye of the countrye in
the desier of his minde tendyng to none other ende then a consommation of an honest and lawfull request But for the contrary of this honest societie I accompt hym not worthie to haue the ayre breath vpon hym who practisinge onely to seduce and corrupte the chasteye of honest Dames hath no respect to the vertue of honest and true loue but sekyng only to satisfy the appetit of his sensual luste doth embrace the exterior partes of a woman and commendes simplye the tree charged with leaues without regardyng the frut which makes it worthie of commendacion and fame Here with it can not be muche froÌ„ our purpose to enterlarde this digression with the authoritie of a brief note whiche I founde written in a frenche booke on the behalfe of the sinceritye which ought to appeare in women comparinge the younge Ladye bearynge yet the name of a mayde to the glisterynge flower in the pleasaunt springe vntill by her constancie and chaste behauior subduing vtterlie the wanton mocions of the fleshe she expose to the worlde the precious fruites deriued of so greate a vertue and giue absolute experience other vndoubted pudicitie For otherwayes saith he she is in no other degree for worthie renowme then the young soldiour whose contenaunce albeit argueth the corage of his hart yet his capteine hath no reason to gyue iudgement of his valiauntnes nor cause to reapose muche credit in him in any expedition or exploite againste thenemye tyll he see an approued effect in dede of that which he promiseth so largely by his outward apparance but when he fyndeth an absolute confirmation of the exterior likelihodes by the inward vertu and valyauntnes of the mynd it is then that he doth not only embrase hym but preferreth hym afore the rest as a speciall pattorne to ymitate his vertues Euen so besides that the Croune of immortal glorye atten des youe Ladyes who by withstandynge th assaultes and importunities of the fleshe do giue to your selfe the true title of honest women not by force or awe of constraint but by the valyaunt resistance of your most chaste and inuincible hart yet also the monumeÌ„t of your vertues being graued in pillors of eternitie and aduaunced to the height of the highist theatrey in the worlde shal remaine as a mirroer or worthy spectacle to procure all posterities not onelye to treade the pathe of semblable vertues but also to yelde you a continuall adoracion after your death by the remembraunce and viewe of your chaste verteous life wherewith wishyng you al no lesse desier to lyue wel then the most of you are gredy of glory I leaue you to the remorce of your owne consciences presentes you here withe the remeinder of my promisse touchyng the sequele of CHARLES MONTANYN who being out of prison as you haue harde repaired immediately to his house with intent to comfort her whom he knewe to be in greater dollour and distresse and as nedeful of consolacion as himselfe seamed desirous of repose being so longe forewatched in a filthy prison and knocking at the gates of his Pallais the mayd that opened the dore and saw it was her maister mounted with more speed then an ordinarie pase and tolde ANGELIQVA the deliuerye and approche of her brother wherunto what addicion or protestation her mayde seamed to make her troubled mynde wolde giue no credit suche greate impossibilitie do wee accompte in the execution of those thinges whiche we chiefly desier but seaminge no lesse amazed with the misterie theÌ„ saint Peter being soddainly taken furth of the prison of HERODE by the Aungel sloode as thoughe she had bene dreaming of the dissolution of the worlde without apparance of sence or argument of lyuely morioÌ„ in any part of her til y e presence of her brother being now in her chaÌ„ber seamed to breath in her an ayre of fresh coÌ„solatioÌ„ lyfe dismissing froÌ„ thinstaÌ„t y e misterie of her domme trauÌ„ce receiued oftsones her former vse libertie of senses wherewith coÌ„uerting her dolorous regards teares of auncieÌ„t dule into a passion of such sodain gladnes that being at y e point to coÌ„gratulat his coÌ„mig with words she felt a secoÌ„d impedimeÌ„t of spech by y e operatioÌ„ of preset ioye which she toke in beholding his face y t she fel down at his fete embrassig kissyng his knees with no lesse signes shewe of a gladsome mynde then if by som miracle he had bene raised froÌ„ death to life wherewith certaine Ladies her kynswomen assistinge her dolorous distresse hauyng restored her laste traunce and doubtyng eftsones to fal into the like passion sent for their husbaÌ„des with other the frends of MONTANYNO aswel to reioyce his happie deliuery so to auoyde al occasioÌ„s of further traunces in his sister as also to excuse their negligeÌ„ce in not assisting his late miserie but CHARLES dissimuling y t which he thought of their discourtesie towardes himself gaue theÌ„ chief thaÌ„kes for their frendship in coÌ„forting his syster which he coÌ„strued to as great an honor argumeÌ„t of good wil as if they had imployed it on y e behalf of himself wherwith he dismissed them deuining notwithstaÌ„ding what he shold be that had made so large declaratioÌ„ of so great a vertu sorowful without measure that he knew him not to th ende he might not onely requiâ—e so rare a courtesie but also excede him in liberalitie by a franke offer of himself al that he hath within the world he scamed not so ignoraunt of thauthor of so greate a benefit as his syster in treble doubte on y e same behalf persuading herselfe notwithstanding that the feare of death had made him coÌ„ueigh a secret sale of his landes in the coÌ„trey to him which first broked it And that this doubte which seamed to trouble hym was onely a darke vaile to conceile the trothe and kepe it from her knowledge or rather his longe imprisonment with disquiet of minde duringe his trouble had stalled his sences made him raue in y t sorte wherin she was in equall doubte of them al til he resolued her to the contrary wherewith departing for that night they repaired to their seueral chaÌ„bers where y e MONTANYN had more desier of slepe then hable to admit any rest for that he spent al that night in contemplatioÌ„ contrarietie of thoughtes making an assemblie in his minde of euery shape figure of such his frends as he was hable to imagin to be y e workers or cause of so great a benefit somtime preferring one somtime preseÌ„ting an other without touching notwithstaÌ„ding y e perfect whit or naming him that iustely had deserued the meede of so great a merite and to whome he acknowledged no lesse bonde of dutie then to them that were the first causers of his comming into this worlde wherin passing that night the pictures of a thousand men his bed seamed to serue him as a wyde large plaine or some rowmey alley or
rather perswaded my deare brother for that the tearmes of thy laste requeste dependinge vpon yssues of extremeties do argue bothe a iustice to performe thy desyer and an incyuilitie in the in makinge so vnreasonable a demaunde the one chalenginge a consente in me by thympression of nature and bonde of dutifull zeale on my behalfe towards the the other charginge the wyth iniquitie for the respecte of that whiche thou wouldest haue me to do But seinge euerye requeste craueth a retorne of aunswere and the greater qualytie or condition the cause is of the greater delyberacion oughte wee to vse â—â—iefelye where it ymportes eyther thabsolute breache or firme confirmation of the league of lyneall consanguynitye I beseche you graunte no lesse patience to the wordes of my replie then I haue bene contented to fauor your vehement protestacion with a dollorous scilence neyther let me any longer inveighe in myne aunswere then I shall seame to preferre good reason to iustefye my iuste complaint the cause wherof doth marche with more alarams of annoye thorow all the partes in me then if I wer presently pinched with the most greuous tormentes of the worlde seing that my life with therposition of the same is nothing in respecte of that which thy ymportunities do labour to set abroche and put in vent for the onely satisfaction of a prodigall liberalitye for if the price of my life woulde suffice for the raunsom of myne honor and appaisement of thy appetit thou couldest no soner ymagyn thy contentement then the same shoulde be exposed on thy behalfe neyther wolde I take halfe the tyme to performe it which I haue vsed in making y t the promise I thought alas the late delyuery of my brother had brought to vs all an vndowted dispense of further trouble and that he had buryed in the pitt of his ymprysonmente all occasions of further disquiette And who wolde haue iudged but in the laste assalte and vniuste offer of vndeserued deathe fortune had spitt the vttermoste of her poysened malice and that in deuestinge herselfe frome the theatrye or throane of rigorous crueltie she had also broken in peces the bloddye arrowes wherewith of so longe time shee hathe persecuted our desolate howse pronounced trewyce at last to the wearye miferies of the wretched state of the MONTANINS But alas vnhappie creature that I am I fynde nowe our destenie is rather deferred then our miserye at an end seing y t that vniuste goddes of vnworthy reuenge and moste cruell stepmother inuadinge mee wythe more fury then affore doth threaten my yonge and tender yeares with more perentorye plages then euer shee thondred vppon any of my former race for if euer shee pursewed oure fathers graundefathers or anye predecessours with mortall affliction or intente of vtter ruyne it is nowe shee hathe chosen her tyme to put to her laste hande to the extreame extirpacion of the miserable reliques and remeyndor of oure pore house eyther by the wilfull losse and perpetuall exile of y e my deare brother or vntymely death of thy dysolate ANGELIQVA who canne not make prostitucion of her chastetye wythout the sacrafyce and oblation of her miserable life what is destenye if this be not the consent and iudgement of the heauens w t resolutioÌ„ to subplaÌ„t y e stock graâ—tes of our house seing y t I a simple girle w tout force voide of assistance of age or experience is constrained to admytt th one of two euils whereof the choise oughte and is hable to amase the moste wise and experienced creature that this day enioyeth the benefytt of mortall life alas my harte faileth me and reason forsaken and flede from me hath lefte my minde ballauncinge in suche confucion and contraryetie of thoughtes that beinge broughte to thertremetye of two distresses of equall perill and indifferente terror I doubte whether to coÌ„mit my life to shorte and sharppe penaunce or prolonge my dayes in pyninge dollor and secrete care of minde for the sentence which thou haste pronounced of both our estates is eyther to make a seperation by extreme exile of my brother who is no lesse deare in my harte then the ten drest part of myne eye and in whom nexte after GOD I haue reposed the whole assuraunce of my hope and consolacion of life or els in conseruinge him I see my selfe at pointe to bee constrained to make marchandise I can not tell in what sorte nor for what price of that precious treasure whiche once loste is not to be reclaimed by any meanes and for the garde wherof al women of vprighte minde honoring vertue or desierous of reputacion oughte rather to expose theimselues to a thousande mortal perilles and hazardes of deathe if nature and life were hable to abide soo manye encownters then to suffer one spotte of infamie to staine or corrupt this precious ornament and gifte of chastitie which as it is the only support and decoration of y e life of an honest woman so for a contrarye she that loseth the possession of so riche a Iewel or deuesteth her selfe of the title and crown of so great a glorye althoughe she seame to liue and kepe place amonge other creatures yet is she dead in effecte and her life recorded in the booke of blacke defame as a witnes againste herselfe in the latter days and in the meane tyme a continual reproch and obiection of shame to such as she leaueth to succede her in kindred or name How can that Lady or gentlewoman marche amongeste the crewe of vertuous dames whose honor is eyther in doubte or reputacion in dekaye by the losse of her honour but that the blod of shamo appearyng in all parts of her face wil not only discouer her faulte but makes her wearye of her lyfe by the remorce or remembrance of so foule a forfaiture How could the doughters of the Emprour AVGVSTVS seame iustly meritorious of the title of true nobilitie or worthely deserue to be called the children of such a father after their sondry villaines and lasciuious trade of lyuing hadd dispoyled them of the giftes and ornamentes of vertue presentyng theim to the eyes of all the world as creatures not worthy to haue the common ayre to breath vpon them what honor hadd FAVSTINA in wearyng the Imperial crowne vpon her head seyng she had loste the crowne and garlande of chastetie by her disordred and dishonest life Sewer she ought not to enioy the breath of lyfe nor participati with the presence or benefitt of the earth that makes lesse stoare of her honestie then of the deareste part belongynge to her soule or bodye neyther is shée worthie to be admitted amongest the felowshipp of vertues Dames that departeth with so precious an ornament at other priceâ— then the exchange or loasse of her lyfe notwithstandynge the writers of former tyme haue done manifest wronge to diuerse simple women whose vertue in preseruinge their honest name with true title of pudicitie deserueth rather an euerlastynge remembrance
to thimperfeuions in the world and to knowe som tyme wherin we offerde yet giues he this councell with al that we conuerte the experience of suche synister encounters to a peculiar defense of our selues againste th assaultes of semblable accidentes and not to vse it as an authoritie or priuiledge to iustifie our wickednes or consume oure tyme in the ymitation of euill wherein as the good men are defended by their vertue so let the worser sorte be ware by so manye millions of examples as our vnhappie age at this present is hable to furnishe in the like affaires And so to our historie the morow after this discourse betwen the dolorous LYVIO and his syster it chaunced that the doughter of RENALDO came all alone to see her companyon CORNELIA who albeit was sufficiently mindefull of her promisse yet was she furthered with a fit occasion by CAMYLLA for that after certaine litle deuises betwene them she asked the cause of the sodaine chaunge and alteracion in her brother why he was no more séene to assiste the honeste assemblies in masque or other sorte to whome CORNELIA aunswered that as she was of equall desyer to knowe thoccasion of his solitarie absence so greuynge aboue the reste with his pyning estate I haue asked saith she the cause of his gréefe which with the circunstance and effecte of all his annoye procedes from you my deare frend and companyon as one in whome is norished the care and trauaile of mynde of my sorowfull brother Howe is it possible saith the simple CAMILLA that I should worke hym any wo seinge hitherunto I haue bene no lesse careful of his wel doing then curious of mine owne health neither haue I saide or don the thing I am sewer wherein was any pointe of euil meanynge towardes hym onlesse he make construction of my simple and honeste zeale lyke as also I would be sorie to be the author of his miscontentemēt any waye the present passion of my brother saith CORNELIA is deriued of a contrarie cause for the to much delite and pleasure he hathe taken in seinge you hathe broughte hym to the brinke of this bane and yet as they wryte of the SCORPION hee hopeth to drawe the remedye frome her that hath geuen him the wounde Yf you make not a more plaine exposition of youre darke texte sayeth CAMILLA I shall hardlye reade the misterye of your readle for as yet I vnderstande nothinge but highe duche eye marye sayeth thother and therein consisteth the chiefeste cause of my greefe for if the peculyar affliction of my brother were comon also to you or that you enioyed but a simple perticipacion of his annoye you shoulde not onlye vnderstande that which I am driuen to vnfolde but be as readie to geue the remedie as hee hathe reason in the meane while to suffer the grefe or I ashamed to be the messenger Do away this philosophie my dearefrende saythe CAMILLA and cutte of at laste my doubtfull suspence touchinge your meanynge for if thuttermoste of that whiche is in me maye stande hym in steade I will eyther performe the full of your demaunde or at least yelde you such reason to the contrarye that you shal be voyde of iust cause to complaine of myne aunswere Here CORNELIA tolde her that thorigynall of her brothers euill proceded of a wonderfull vehemencye of loue he bare to her with addicion that if she yelded hym not the hyer of his zeale wyth a counterchaunge of affection she shoulde see in shorte tyme the ende of his lyfe no lesse desperatelye then in secrete sorowe hee consumeth the beste of his age in the loyall seruitude he hath alreadie vowed on her behalfe and for my parte sayeth shee not without some teares as the violence of his passion only knowen vnto me hathe forced me to stande here thunseamely solycitor of his cause so if it be a vertue to expose compassion vppon thafflicted lette the respecte of my dystresse sturre vppe an increase of pitie in you to ayde the desolation of my carefull brother beholde my CAMILLA the circumstance of my presente extremitie and ymagyn that wyth the losse of my brother dekaieth the onely proppe and pillor of my lyfe and yet simple girle that I am boide of experience in such affayres lo here I am constrayned to builde requestes no lesse inconuenient to my estate then vnseamelye for my yeares albeit for my purgacion to wardesyou I hope the lawe of nature and loue of the syster to wardes her brother will excuse this diligence and indeuor which I vse to preserue the life of him whom I holde no lesse deare then the tendrest part of myne eye wherwith CAMILLA not without argumentes of some litle femynine anger staide her further discourse with this aunswere who wolde haue thought sayeth she that a gentlewoman of your qualytie and callinge wolde haue exceded the lymittes of her estymacion so farr as for the respecte of the folishe appetit of a yonge man to discharge the parte of a shameles messenger in a case no lesse vnworthie for your honour then contrarye to me to whom thimbassage is dressed arte thou so credulus in the constancie of men myne own CORNELIA that thou wilte repose good earnest in that wherin they take pleasure to dissemble or arte thou of opynion that as often as the iolytie of fraile youthe do prefarre sighes and traunces with other dollorous regardes painted by dissymuled pollicie in the forefront of their faces that it is true loue that possesseth theym or honeste desier that moueth their dule nothinge lesse for albeit teares for the moste parte are the true messengers of the dollour of the harte and ought chieflye to moue compassion yet in cases of loue they bee but suborned signes and declaracions of wanton desier and for that cause oughte not to receiue other meede thenne their meanynge dothe meritte seynge wythall that the desierous mynte groundes his pretence moste commonlye vppon the thynge whyche vertue canne not brooke and reason denieth to graunte And admitt it bee a follie peculyar to many and a passion ymparted to all men by nature to follow thinstinct of loue what grudge of conscience I praie you is it to a maide to suffer her vaine louer to pyne vppon creaditte soo that shee stande so surelye vppon the garde of her chastetie that shee be not seduced wyth his flatterynge charmes it is not in our power to lette theym to loue onlye we oughte to be carefull of our honour and shon thinfection leaste we become vnhappye afore the tyme besydes howe greatlye shoulde wee abuse oure dutie and obedience towardes oure parentes in passinge a graunte of oure good will wythoute their consente whyche onely oughte to directe vs in any sorte whatsoeuer No no lett theym almente and measure their mournynge at what intereste they thinke good the same shall not staie the course of my sleepe neither shal their teares eclips y e least momēt of my pleasure contentmente for when
can afore the sequestration of the earthelye substance from the part of diuinitie whyche wee partycipat with God and what contentement or glorye so euer they reappose in thys monstrous abrydgement of nature reprehendynge theym of destoyaltie whyche do the contrarye yet their acte merites none other name then the title of brutalitie neyther can I thynke but their opynion is guided by some sprite or humor of frantyke follye lyke as yt is not the part of a Christiā as the Appostle affirmeth to prefer the fyckle pleasures of the flesh whych are of shorter moment then the thoughtes of a man afore the feare of God recke of our life and care to present our sowles with out spot afore the troane of mercie in the daye of generall accompte when all thoughtes shal bee deciphered and no falte vnpunyshed the poore girle of the chamber to the dead CAMILLA seynge thys fatall misterye wyth the distresse she was in for that she was a companion of the conspiracye thinkynge to giue ende and playe the laste acte of the tragedy serched about the chāber for some glaue or sword or other thinge apte to make the minister of her blody intent being deceaued that way she had no other meane to playe doble or quit but with impetuosity of dollor wherein she raged with such doleful skryches that the brute of her cōplaint awaked the whole house whereof the first that entred the chamber of funeralles was the tyraunt CLAVDIO whoa albeyt was thenly cause of this dolorous massacre yet in place of confessyng his falte or yelding sorow to the losse of such ij loiall louers he grewe in more rage by the viewe of the dead body of LIVIO wherof as he would willingly haue cōmitted a new morder sauing that he sawe him without respiration or argumēt of lyfe so his anger being torned into wodnes rage into furye he wreaked his collor vpon the poore girle to whome he gaue iij. or iiij estockados with hys dagger thorowe the bodye and slonge ymediatlye oute of the chamber to the greate amaze and terrour of hys vnfortunat father who seynge hys house full of morders and hys sonne committed oppen slaughter in the person of the innocent gyrle coulde not so gouerne his passion of dolour but he seamed more ready to passe that waye then desyrous to enioy longer life albeit beyng kepte from doynge force agaynst himselfe by certaine hys seruauntes that were there he vttered sompart of hys inwaerde gref by open exclamation agaynste hys owne misfortune inveighynge chyeflye agaynste the inordin at will of hys daughter with aduise to all fathers to kepe a steddye eye vppon their slypprye y outhe wherein he comended vnto theym the example of hys owne follye in fauoryng so much the fonde appetit of hys daughter that he gaue leaue to her Libertye to excede the viewe or pursewte of his eye accusynge chieflie the impedyment he gaue to the mariage seynge that in the same appeared the perentory ruine of hys house continuall desolation to hys old yeres and in the ende to leaue hys goodes and lyuynge to straungers for want of an heire of his bodye for that hauynge but ij children the one was already dead and the other no lesse worthe by y e mortal violence he had vsed vpon the innocencie of the mayd who after y e surgeants had somwhat stayed y e bledyng of her woundes confessed the contract and circūstance of the loue whereof you haue harde a particular declaracion whiche rather encreased the dule of tholde man then gaue moderation to his sorowe whyche notwithstandynge by the perswacions of hys neighbours and constraint of necessity whych as a vertue giueth pacience perforce to all extremeties he dysmissed in outeward showe and disposed hymself to the funerall obsequies in as solēne manner as he cold erectynge a tombe of marble in Sainct francys churche wherin were shryned the bodies of the ij louers as dead at one time and by one occasion to the great regreat of the whole towne wherein euerye one was so indifferentlye passioned wyth sorowe that a man should hardly haue hard any other tunes then publike exclamacion against the cruelty of CLAVDIO by whyche generall complaint together with the depositiōs of the mayde who dyed within three dayes after her hurtes DOM RAMYRO CATALANO gouernor of CESENNA vnder CESAR BORGIA began to enter into tearmes of compassion on the behalfe of the ij dead louers and mortall anger against CLAVDIO for that his cruelty only was the cause of the death of the ij only flowers peragōs in Italy wherin he purseued so vehemently y e rigour of his office equity of iustice y t CLAVDYO lost his head secretly within the castel for feare of mutine or tumulte of his frendes This was y e miserable end of y e loue lif of y e ij SISENNOIS wose death and discorse of amarous traffique for y t it doth not exced the remēbrāce of our time I haue preseted as a familiar exāple affore y e eyes of our youth to th end y t euery one respecting y e duty of his own indeuor may vse y e misery of this precedēt as a paterne to preuēt y e like myschief in thē selues wherin also as we may note that loue is but a rage or humor of frātike follye deriued of our selues conuerted to our owne harme by thindiscrecion that is in vs so y e next remedy to withstand that furye is to encounter him vnder thenseigne of raison slee the occasions whyche weaken the mynde wythout trauell and bringe the bodye in the ende to the theatrye of execution wee are also warned here to temper the delites wee possesse with suche measure that forgettynge the blyndenes of LIVIO we maye eschewe the horrour of hys acte with detestation of the folys he vsed in the glott of his vnlawfull pleasure FINIS The argument ACcording to thoppinion of the wise Demosthenes there is no one vertue that hath made more famous the fathers of formèr time thenne the gyft of cyuill curtesy neyther is nature more glorifyed in the ympes of her creation then in that we dispose our selues doings according to the dispocition of the clymat whiche shee hath appointed to gouerne our accions and thoughtes respecting chiefly to refraine from violacion of innocent blodde which in al ages hath restored a name of great clemencie to diuerse Albeit touching other effectes they were ambycius tyrantes and cruell enemyes to their owne common wealthe whiche vnnatural crueltie also as it hath bene is of such detestacion amongest y e rudest companions of the world that the verye barbarians haue alwaies had in horrour the wickednes of suche as pursewed the queste of guiltles blodde and toke awaye the life of him that had not committed offence So they haue alwaies had in honour the vertue of suche as soughte to extirppe the roote of tyranical furies borne for the ruine and destruction of man like as among the romaine emprours
they short of without eyther mache slint or pouder and of whose folyshe and vnshamful lyghtnes procedes the argument of so many comodies and Enterludes playd in open stage not so much to the confusion of them selues and parentes as open scandall to their husbands and houses for euer wherof the familyer example is to be noted in the sequel of this Pandora who was not only in short time vtterly detested of y t ROMAIN but also a commeniestinge stocke and pointed at by his meanes of al men for her rashe familiaritye vsed towards hym who not long after the fyrst foundatioÌ„ of this frendship was cald home from exile by Leo de Medicis their soueraigne vycar of the Sea of Rome perdonyng his offence and restoryng the vse of his former lybertye at whose departure vnloked for Pandora entred into no small passion of dolour not for any seruent affection or loue whiche she bare to her Romain frende but bycause his sodaine goinge awaye lefte her voyde of all lycours to quenche the burnynge flame of the gredy goote of her vnnatural concupiscens and chiefly because Monsieurle Page began also to ware cold in the combat whiche he had wonte to maintayne wyth suche courage But fortune here was so frendlye to the fulfyllynge of her licencious appetit that she styring vp a fresh supplie of her desire presented in the listes a yonge knyght of Myllan called Cesar Parthonope who by chaunce hyrynge the lodging of the late Romain succeded hym also in desyre and diligence for he at the fyrste vewe regardynge the flateringe beautye of this ALCYNE his neyghbour suffered himselfe vnaduisedly to flyppe into the snares of loue honoryng that in his hart with true sinceritie as a deare Iewel which his predecessour worthely hated wyth dewe detestacion And entrynge here into the pagant of loue his fyrst part was to gyue som outwarde arguments of his inward affection wherin he begaÌ„ to make many pale walkes afore her gate rouynge wyth his eyes at her chamber wyndowes accordyng to the amorous order of the vayne Spanyard vtterynge by the dolefull vewe of his troubled countenaunce the greate and secrete desyre quarelynge inwardlye wyth his vnrulye thoughts But what nede a man vse polycie wher slender sute wyll preuayle or who wyll bend his battery to that fortresse wherof the captayne demaundes partly and sues for composition And besides wheÌ„ the vaile of shame is once remoued from our eyes what let is there to staye the sensual cours of our bestly appetits And they that suffer the raine of reasoÌ„ to slacke or wholly to slip out of their hands semes as traÌ„sformed in a momeÌ„t so weakned touching the liuely mocions forces of the spirit y t the exterior prouocacions appetit of desyre preuaile wholy aboue the inwarde resistance accions of the soule lyke as this glotton impudent Pandora who seing her somtimes saluted with a pleasant eye of her new neighbour forgot not to requit him with such wanton glaunces of suche open vnderstandynge that the knyght doubtynge not of the successe of his interprise assured himselfe alredy of the victorye wherin he was somwhat holpen by the hand of fortune who prouiding a iorney for the husband of Pandora touchinge therecution of a commission in a forein countrye kept hym absent in those affaires the space of a yere or more wherein Parthonope forgot not to vse thoportunitye of so conuenient a time being ignorant with al of the great libertie of his mistres who drew him on al this whyle by fine traines to thend to make him more eager of bit had no waye to vnfold y e cause of his passion but by a letter which he made the messenger of his grefe and soliciter of his desyre in this sorte The curious Artificer coninge worke woman Dame Nature I sée wel good madame was not so careful to worke you in her semelie frame of all perfections as the powers deuine difposers of the daungerous loftye planets assisting her endeuour with certaine peculier ornaments of their speciall grace weare redye to open their golden vessell of precious treasur powring by great abuÌ„daÌ„ce their heauenly gifts vpoÌ„ you striuing as it semes whiche of theÌ„ for thencrease of his glory shold dispose himself most liberaliy on your behalf like as according to the Poets they contended of olde for the adoring by seueral ornameÌ„ts the late Pandora whom for all respects they agréed to be the odd ymage of the world but specially for beautie which if it dazeled y e eyes of the gods shining as a twinkling starr in thelemeÌ„ts aboue yours I thinke was reserued as a torch of glistring flame to giue light to y e creatures of the midel world wherof for my part vewing w t to ardent affectioÌ„ y e sundry celestial ornameÌ„ts imparted to you by the Gods w c the percinge beames of rare beautie gyuen you for your dowrie of Nature I doubt whether mine eyes duâ—med altogether w t admiracioÌ„ wil first crie out for y e losse of their former sight or my whole bodie plunged in the passion of affectioÌ„ wil accuse the heart with the rest of thinward senses consentinge so easely to the cause of their disquiet wherein my lyfe wayeth indiferentlye in the ballance of a thousand annoyes and mine auncient libertie in the meane whyle kept close in an extreme captiuitye Albeit measuring your heauely shape with thutwarde showe of singuler curtesye that semes to occupye al your partes I can not resolue of any crueltie to consiste in you neither canne I iudge by the argument of your beauty but y t my captiuitie shal be spedely caÌ„uerted a happie deliuerie like as also my hope half assureth me triumphinge with honor ouer the doubtfull obiect of my thought to tast at your hands of the pleasaunt frutes of the thinge I chiefly desyre which is in accepting me for your seruant secret frend to admit me into such place of pitye as the dewe merit of my vnfayned seruice deserues by Iustice wherin your act shal seme no lesse meritorious afore the throne of the hyghe goddesse then honorable wyth generall fame for euer in the worlde for releuynge him who without your assistance being wholy transformed to thappetite of your wyll fyndes the burden of lyfe of such vneasye tolleracioÌ„ that y e least repulse of his sute at your haÌ„ds iports his fatal summonce to resigne the tearme of his borowed ye res in this worlde Neither doth he desyre to haue the fruicion of his earthly dayes any lenger then to imploye the same withal humilitie in the seruice of you whome his hart hath alredy pronounced the souerein Ladye of his lyfe wherof you only maye dispose at your pleasure Your vnfayned Cesar Parthonopee Whiche letter he deliuered vnto his Page experienced alredye in the conueye of like affaires who accordinge to the sharp passioÌ„ of his maister vsed therpedicioÌ„ oftime in the dispatch of his charge whereupoÌ„
depended y e recouery of his soueraine but she being alredy as you haue hard enaâ—ored of the knyght who was the first y t wooed her with arguments felt euen now by y e discours of this letter such encrease of affectioÌ„ pinching so extremely y e desyre to sée him that without all order of womaÌ„ly discrecion she Imbraced the page in the behalf of his maister gyuinge him this answere to require his maister not to doubte to come to her house wherof saith she I also desier him to th end I may be resolued by y e breth of his own mouth of y t which I yet doubte touching the report of the letter wherin she preferred vedement importunities she winge the boye whiche waye he shoulde bringe hym to her chaÌ„ber where saith she I wil attend his coÌ„ming this euening wherwith y e Page returned discoursing point by point y e successe of his embassage to y e dolorous knight who reuiued by the gladsome newes of his boye but chieflye by the shorte appointmeÌ„t resolued vpoÌ„ by his mistresse cast of at thinstant thapparell of dule disposinge himselfe euery waye to performe thexspectation of the charge coÌ„mitted vnto him by the mouth of her whose commaundement he would not transgresse though his lyfe should incurre the hazard of a thousand perilles putting himselfe in as seamelye order as he thought good went only with his page in solemne maner to visit the saint who was of her selfe more redye to graunt fréelye then the pylgrym to demaunde by petition and who attending his commyng with more desier to ease the passion of the patient in quenching the feruent rage of her vnsaciable appetit then he for his part had cause to yelde adoration to so detestable a shryne was withdrawn all alone into her chamber where he found her coyfed for the nonst onely in a nyght gowne attire for the night redie to go to bed which with the naturall shewe of her liuelye beautye set out to the most aduantage by the shining light of the wax candels droue the knight at the first into such astonishment that the vse of his spech was conuerted into scilence his eyes onely occupied in beholding the rare beauty of her who was vtterly vnworthye to weare so precious a Iewell of nature albeit expulsing at last the feuer of his dombe traunse with kyssyng her white delicat handes as his firste entre into a further matter proposed the cause of his coÌ„ming in this sort I may by good reason accoÌ„pt my selfe more in the fauor of fortune then any gentilmaÌ„ y t euer was incideÌ„t to any good hap seing good madam that besides thassistaÌ„ce of the place I am also preferred to a conuenient meane to vnfold vnto you at large the smothered greife preserued hetheruÌ„to to my great payne in thutermost parte of my intrailles whiche longe sins had sought a vent to burst out in open flame if the dewe of the hope of that fauor whiche now I finde in you had not serued as a necessary licour of comfort to delaye the raginge heat of the furnaise for otherwise good madame I assure you the smal experteÌ„ce I haue to disgest the bitter pylles of loue had offered my life an vntimely sacrifise to death and nowe seing by thinter cessioÌ„ of fortune and greate curtesie of your good Ladyship I am not only sprinkled with the water of new consolation but also ariued before thoracle to whome I haue so long desyred to present the earnest penie of my humble seruice I besech you sayth hee not witthout teares and sighes of pytiful disposition open the windows of your pytye let fall the swete showers of compassion vpon this torment dealing so extremely with me without seassing which because you shal not thinke to be of lesse passioÌ„ theÌ„ the words of my mouth seme troubled in vtteryng the secret sorow of my hart looe her I am become in your presence the pytifull solyciter of min owne cause where with Pandora who hetherto had loued but only to satisfye her inordinat lust seynge with all thimportunities of her clyent all to be sprinkled with the teares of his eyes requited him with like argumeÌ„ts of kyndnes and feling now with in her hart certain mocioÌ„s assayling the secret of her thoughts with vnfained affectioÌ„ towarde her loyall Parthonope coulde not any lenger dissimull that which she chiefly desired but imbracing hym with sundry signes of assured familiaritye sayde vnto him more for maners sake then otherwise I maruaile syr that being armed with so smale experience you cane so darkly discouers of theffects of loue whose misteryes are not so plainly to be reueiled by anye as by those that haue taken degree in his skoole and wel could I impute that to your rashnes whiche by your letters you haue tearmed a crueltie in me for your sute hath not ben of such continuaunce as it may craue sentence in poste nor your trauayle so painfull as the reward ought to folow with suche hoat expedition albeit as you féele your owne hurt not escapinge peraduenture without some panges of affection So you must thinke the martyredom is not peculyar to one but diuidyng himselfe into a lyke SIMPATHIA of passion hath wayed vs both in thindiferent ballance of affection for if loue hathe buylte his bowre in the botome of your harte I must confesse vnto you syr that I draw vnder the yoke of his awe neyther is my torment any thyng inferior to yours wherof I had long eare this gyuen you vnderstandyng by plaine practi se if the vaile of shame a comen enemye to the amorous enterprises of vs women had not couered mine eyes and closed my mouth with feare that I durst neuer why lest my husband was at home caste forth suche baytes of the greate good will I haue borne you sins you weare our neighbour wherby you might perceiue wyth what loyaltye I haue chosen and adopted you thonlye owner yf my hart and wyth whom I wyshe to passe the remainder of my lyfe with suche pleasure and contentement as is necessary for the solace of twoe true louers whiche last wordes for the more assuraunce of the bargaine she forgot not to seale with sundry sortes of kysses and other homlye trickes of familiaritie wherby the knight being absolutlye resolued of that whyche earste hee douted began to take possession of her mouth adorynge her eyes wyth lookes of louyng admiration and passyng in order to her whyt necke of the colour of the freshe Lylye came at laste to beholde her bare brestes semynge lyke twoo little hyls or mountaynes enuironnynge a rosye valleye of moste pleasaunt prospect whiche he forgat not humbly to honor wyth the often print of his mouthe And passynge some space in these amorous traffiques wyth a thousand other sleights of folye wherof our vayne louers haue no lacke when they seme to dispute of pleasure wyth contentement of desyere they entred the lystes of their singuler combat in
deadlie hate doubted whether shee shoulde vse force againste her selfe for the spite of the villainy he had don to her or persecute hym vnto deathe whose life shee vtterly detested and waueringe thus in contrarietie of opinions she soughte to appease somwhat the furye of her presente dolloure by recordynge her greete with these lamentable tearmes Alas saithe shée if this bée the rewarde of true loyaltie what assuraunce maye wee reappose in constancie or what meede to be exspected in the vertie of suche vnfained frendshippe as I professed to this vnthankeful and periured knighte haue I refused the seruice of so many gentlemenne offringe franklie to employe their times vnder the becke of my commaundemente to make my affection subiecte to one who hauinge alreadie called oute of me the frutes of his desyer smiles nowe at my simplicitie and laughes to sée mée languishe in dule Ah why were the eyes of my mynde so dymmed with the myste of fonde zeale that I colde not consider the common malice of menne now a dayes who preferring their humble seruice wyth all kinde of othes dienge a thousande times a daye for oure sakes yea offringe their lyues to all kynde of perill doo seame to remeine prisonners in the ward of oure good will vntill their fayned ymportunyties preuailyuge aboue the weake resistance of vs poore wretches do place theime in the possession of their desyer and beinge once made Lordes ouer that whyche onely colde commaunde theym afore God knowethe howe sone they reuolte torninge their seruente affection into a contempte of our fragilitie if I had as carefullie caste all argumentes of future disquiet as I was readie to open myne eares to the sugred breathe of his charmes I hadde eschewed the euill wyth the cause neyther hadde I stande as I do nowe readye to enter into the harde pennaunce of my former follie Ah moste vnthankefull PARTHONOPE howe canste thou soo easelye forgette her who was no nigarde in satysfyenge thy desyers and whose bewtie thou séemedeste earste to haue in no lesse admiracion thenne if I hadde béene sente frome aboue for thanlie solace of my lyfe hath thy presente crueltie preuailed whollie aboue the glorye of thyne aunciente vertue or haste thou vtterlie dismissed the remembraunce of thy othe and protestacion of faythe whyche oughte to call thy conscience to a remorse forcinge a performaunce of thy promisse whereof also sayeth shée castynge her waterie eyes downe to her bigge bellie thou hast lefte mée a pawne whyche witnessing no lesse thy disloyaltye agaynste mée thenne aduowching the frendeshippe thou haste founde at my hande oughte to knocke at the dore of thy conscience for some consideracion of pitie towardes her whome wythout cause thou doste shamefullie abuse Oh vnhappye and wretched Ladye that I am in what companye canne I showe my heade wherin the bignes of my bellie bringing the blodd of shame into my face will not accuse me of treason towardes my husbande beinge so longe tyme absente what wronge dothe the world to my wickednes if euery man salute me by the name of a common and arraunde strompette who defacingâ— her â—â—nciente honour and house wyth the lasciuidus exercise of adulterous abuse deserueth to be registred in the staunderous boke of black defame w t a crown of infamy for euer wherunto like as thy subtil practises Oh â—aytyâ—e knyghte hath aduaunced me so thy tyrany in y e end shal take awaye the life of those ii who ought to be farr more deare vnto the then thou seamest to accompte theim wherwith fallinge into alteracions of more furye she began a cruell warre with her faire haires printinge her nailes without respecte in the rosye dye of her faire face bedewinge her bossome and skirtes of outwarde garmentes with the droppes of teares distilling from her cristal eyes and entring thus into y e pageant of rage had here plaied the laste acte of the tragedie in executinge herselfe if the presence of FYNEA had not preuented the facte who stirringe vpp rather the appitit of reuenge in her mistrys then mynistringe perswacions to patience or moderacion in her dollor incensed her by al the wicked deuises shee colde ymagyne to wreake her iuste anger vppon the villanons bodye of him that so synisterlie procured her passion of vndeserued dule whereunto albeit PANDORA gaue diligent eare with desyer to put her aduise in execution yet hauinge not vtterlie drayned her stomake of all complaints renewed estsones her exclamacion in this sort Ah. sayeth she why was not I traded in the magicall sciences of the COLCHOSE MEDEA or thytalyan CIRCE whose conninge workinge meruailous in the like affaires hath left an ymortalitie to their names to al ages certainly if the heauens had reuealed vnto me any skil in the misterie of their artes eyther sholde PARTHONOPE be myne or els would I raine the shower of vengance vppon him and her that enioyeth the mede of my merite with such ympetuosytie that the sequeile of the world shold haue no lesse cause to cronicle my doings then they seame coÌ„monly to confirme and allowe thactes of the it former enchaunteresses And thou FYNEA sholâ—est haue me to forgett him in whose loue I doate although I wishe nothing so muche as his vtter destruction And now do I see the doe rewarde of my former vnchaste conuersacion for the seruente affection whiche I beare him doth now yelde me doble vsurâ—e of the want on libertie wherin I haue lyued hetherunto neyther shall I be enioyned to other penance for my falte then a loathesome dispaire which atteÌ„des if I do not recouer him whom I haue lost or haue spedie meanes to reueÌ„ge the wrong he hath don me to cut in sunder the strings of my life Wherfore beyng resolued in some parte to folowe thy aduise So muste I also vse thy traueile in th execution of my first attempte whiche is that thou goe furthwith to the vale of Cammonika in the contrey of Bressiant which as they saye is not without great stoare of conninge sorcerers amongest whom it is necessarie that thou learne what so euer it coste some enchauntement of so greate vertue that it maye not onely restore me eftesones to the frendship of hym whome I thynke hath vtterly forsaken me but by the coniuracion of theyr charme haue power to remoue the vaile of his affection from hys newe wyfe that makyng no more accompte of her he may from hensfurth dissolue the league of amytie betwene them for euer wherein if the effect of my desyer bée furthered by a successe of thy diligence assure thy selfe thy traueil shal be so thankefully imployed that chrystennynge the hensfurth by the name of my syster there shal be neither riches nor commoditye anye waye proper or due vnto me whiche shall not be common to vs both FINEA who was not so readie to obey her mystres in this deuelishe enterprise as gyuen of her selfe to bée a fyt minister of euill discending with expedicion into the vale of
capteine being one of the traine of the lord Iames TRIVOVLSE a great fauorer of the faction of GEBALYNO in Italye and at that tyme gouernor of the duchie of MILLAYNE vnder y e frenche kinge LOYS the thirde of that name whether it were to make a further proffe of the pacience of his wife or by absence to mortefie and forgett his fonde opinion conceiued without cause retired vpon a soddaine to Neweastel y e court and ordenarie place of abode of y e sayd Lord TRYVOVLSE which albeit was of hard disgestion to the ladie for a time yet beinge not vnaquainted with such chaunces and no pren tise in the practise of her husbande retired to her auncient patience and contentment by force dyssimuling with a new greefe and secrete sorowe this newe discourtesie to th ende that her waspishe husbande should take no excepcions to her in any respect but fynde her in this as the former stormes bent wholly to obey thappetit of his will and not to mislike with that whyche he fyndes necessarye to be don This TRIVOVLSE hadde not spente many monethes in fraunce but there was commenced informacion agaynste him to the king that he was reuolted from the frenche and become frend to the Swytzers and sworne to their seigneurye and faction wherewyth ymediatelye fame the common carier of tales filled all eares of MILAN and the prouince there about with this further â—ddicion that the king for that cause had seÌ„t him headles to his graue albeit as fame is rather a messenger of lyes then a treasure of truthe and ra her to be harde then beleued so this brute beinge not true in the laste did ymporte a certeine credit in the fyrste for TRYVOVLSE not liking to liue in the displeasure of his prince abandoned his charg and came into Lumbardy wher beinge sommoned by the messenger of deathe gaue place to nature and dyed who beinge the onelye maister and meynteynor of the ALBANOYSE capteine whilest bee liued colde not casely be forgotten of him after his death for after his departure was past the general doubte of the people and eche voice resolued that he was laide in hys graue Don Capitaino spado resolued whollye into teares seamed here to pass the mistery of a newe traunce whiche with the freshe remembraunce of his auncient harme and gréene wounde of vnworthie Ielowsye bledynge yet in his minde broughte hym in that case that he neyther desyred to liue nor doubted to die and yet in dispaire of theim both his solace of the daye was conuerted into teares and the howers of the night went awaye in vistons and hollowe dreames he loathed the companye of his frendes and hated the thynges that shoulde susteine nature neither was he contented with the presente nor cared for the chaunce of future tyme which sodaine alteracion in straunge maner driue his carefull wife into no lesse astonishement then she had cause and being ignoraunt of the occasion she was also voide of consolation which doubled her gréefe till tyme opened her at laste a meane to communicate familiarly with hym in this sorte Alas syr sayth she to what ende serue these pininge conceites forcing a generall debilytie thorow al your parts or why do you languishe in griefe without discoueryng the cause of youre sorowe to suche as holde your health no lesse deare then the swéete and pleasant taste of their owne lyfe from whence coÌ„mes this often chaÌ„ge of complexion accoÌ„panied with a dispositioÌ„ of malencolicke dompes arguing your inward fretting care of minde why staye you not in time y e source of your skorching sighes that haue alredye drayned your bodye of his wholsome humours appointed by nature to giue sucke to thintrals and inward partes of you and to what ende serueth this whole riuer of teares flowynge by such abundance froÌ„ your watery eyes almost worne awaye with wéeping is your gréefe growen great by coÌ„tinuance of time or haue you conceiued some mislike of newe Yf your house be out of order in any sorte or that wante of dutie or diligence in me procureth your grudge declare the cause to th ende the faulte maye be reformed in me and you restored to your auÌ„cieÌ„t order of quiet we both enioye a mutual traÌ„quillitie as apperteineth But he that labored of an other disease then is incideÌ„t coÌ„monly to men of good gouernemeÌ„t absolued her of all faultes or other mislikes he founde in the state of his house or other his affaires committed to her order lesse lacke of her diligence to make declaracion of her dutye to thutermoste but alas saith he with a depe sighe deriued of the â—retinge dolour of his minde and doubled twise or thrise within his stomacke afore he coulde vtter it what cause of comfort or consolation hath he to lyue in this world from whom the malice of destenie hath taken the chiefeste pillor of his life or to what ende serueth the fruicion or interest of longer yeres in this vale of vnquietnes when the bodie abhorreth alredie the longe date of his abode heare or why shold not this soma or masse of corrupcion which I receiued of the world bée dismissed to earth and my soule haue leaue to passe into the other worlde to shonne this double passion of present torment whiche I féele by the death of my deare frende Ah my deare Ladye and loyall wyfe my grief is so great that I dye to tell you the cause and yet the veray remembrance presents me with treble torments wherin I must confess vnto you that since the death of the late Lorde Ihon Tryuulso I haue had so lytle desyer to lyue that all my felicitie is in thinking to die neyther can ther be any thinge in the world more acceptable to me then death whose hower and time if they wer as certeine as himselfe is moste sewer to coÌ„me in the ende I could somwhat satisfye the greate desyer I haue to die moderate the rage of my passion in thinking of the shortnes of the dome that should giue ende to my dyeng ghost and vnrulye sorowes together besides waighing thinâ—inite miseries of our time accompanieng vs eueÌ„ from the wombe of concepcion with the reaste and reapose which dead men do finde And knowing withall how muche I am in the debte of him that is dead I can not wishe a more acceptable thinge then the spedie approche and ende of my dayes to th ende that being denied the viewe of his presence here I may folow him in thother world where participating indiferently such good and euil as falleth to his share I may witnes with what duetiful zeale affectioned harte I sought to honor and serue hym in all respectes But the Ladye that sawe as farre into the disease of her husbande as his phizicion into his vryne knowynge well enoughe that he dyd not languishe so muche for the desyer of hym that was dead as the ticklishe humour of Ielowsye troubled hym was content to admit his coollours
howe fyne so euer they were aswell to preferr her dutie to thuttermoste as also to auoyde imputacion or cause of suspicion on her parte wherwith entring into termes of persuacion she added also this kynde of consolacion folowinge More do I greue syr sayth she wyth the small care you seame to take of your selfe then the tearmes of your disease do trouble me consideringe the same procedes of so slender occasioÌ„ that the veray remeÌ„brance of so great an ouersight ought to remoue the force and cause of your accident admit your griefe were greate indéede and your disease of no lesse importance yet ought you so to bridle this wilful rage and desyere to dye that in eschewing to preuent the wyl and set hower of the Lorde you séeke not to further youre fatall ende by vsynge vnnaturall force against your selfe making your beastly will the blodye sacrifize of your bodie whereby you shal be sewer to leaue to the remeinder of youre house a crowne of infamie in the iudgement of the worlde to come and put your soule in hazarde of grace afore the troane of iustice aboue you knowe syr I am sewer that in this transitorye and paineful pilgrimage there is nothing more certeine then death whom albeit wee are forbiddeÌ„ to feare yet oughte wee to make a certeine accompt of his coÌ„ming neyther is it any other thinge according to the scripture then the minister and messenger of God executynge his infallible wil vpon vs wretches sparinge neyther age condicion nor state It is he that geues ende to oure miserie heare and saffe conduyte to passe into the other worlde and assoâ—e as we haue taken possession of the house of reste he shooteth the gates of all annoye againste vs fedinge vs as it were with a swete slomber or pleasant sléepe vntil the last soÌ„moÌ„ce of generall resurrection So that syr methinkes they are of the happie sorte whome the great God vouchesafeth to call to his kyngdome exchangynge the toiles manifolde cares incident to the creatures of this worlde with the pleasures of his paradise place of reapose that neuer hath ende And touchinge your deuocion to him that was dead with vaine desyer to visit his ghoste in the other worlde persuadynge the same to procede of a debte and dutifull desyer you haue to make yet a further declaracioÌ„ of your vnfained minde towardes him I assure you syr â–ª I am more sorye to see you subiect to so great a follie then I feare or exspect the effect of your dreame for as it seames but a ridle procedinge of the vehemencie of your sicknes So I hope you will directe the sequeile by sage aduise conuertinge the circumstance into ayre without further remeÌ„braÌ„ce of so foolish a matter wherin also I hope you wyll suffer the wordes of the scripture to direct you who allowinge smal ceremonies to the dead forbides vs to yelde any debte or dutie at all to suche as be alredie passed out of the worlde and muche lesse to sacrifyze oure selues for their sakes vpon their tombes accordynge to the supersticious order of y e barbarians in olde time remeinyng at this daye in no lesse vse amonge the people of the weste worlde but rather to haue their vertues in due veneracion and treadynge in the steppes of their examples to imytate theyr order with like integretye of lyfe And for my parte saith she dyenge her garmentes with the droppes of her waterye eyes prouynge to late what it is to loase a husbande and to forget hym whome bothe the lawe of God and nature hathe gyuen me as a seconde parte of my selfe to lyue wyth mutuall contentement vntyll the dissolucion of oure sacred bonde by the heauye hande of God am thus farre resolued in my selfe protestynge to performe no lesse by hym that lyueth that yf the furie of your passion prevaile aboue your resistaunce or your disease growe to suche extreame tearmes that death wyll not be otherwayes aunswered but that you muste yelde to hys sommance and dye I wyl not lyue to lament the losse of my second husbande nor vse other dule in the funerall of youre corps then to accompanye it to the graue in a shéete or shroode of lyke attire for youre eyes shall no sooner cloase their liddes or loase the lyght of this worlde then theis haÌ„ds shal be readye to performe the effecte of my promisse and the bell that gyueth warnyng of your last hower shall not ceasse his doleful knil til he haue published with like sound y e semblable ende of your deare and louynge wyfe whose simple and franke offer here openynge a most conuenient occasion for her wylfull husbande to disclose the true cause of hys disease preuailed so muche ouer his doubtefull and waueringe mynde that dismissing euen then his former dissimulacion he embraced her not without suche abundance of teares and vnruly sighes that for the tyme they tooke awaie the vse of his tounge Albeit beinge deliuered of his trauÌ„ce and restored to the benefit of his speche he disclosed vnto her the true cause and circumstaunce of his gréefe in this forte Albeit since the time of my sicknes saith he you haue séene what distresse and desolation haue passed me wyth fyttes of straunge and diuerse disposition marueilynge no lesse I am sewer from what fountaine haue flowed the Symptomes of so race a passion wherein also your continuall presence and â—iewe of my weake state is sufficientlye hable to recorde the whole discourse of my disease yet are you neyther partaker of my payne nor priuye to the principall causes of so straunge an euill neyther haue I bene so hardie to discouer theim vnto you because I haue ben hetherto doubtful of that whereof your laste wordes haue fullye absolued me And nowe being weakened with the wearines of tyme sicknes in suche sort as nature hath ridd her handes of me and gyuen me ouer to the order of death who is to spare me no loÌ„ger but to vtter these laste wordes vnto you I accompte it a special felicitie in my harde fortune that in thoppenyng of the true causes of my greâ—e I may cloase and seale vp the laste and extreame tearme of my lyfe And because I wil cleare in few wordes the misterie which seames to amaze you You shall note that there be iij. onely ministers and occasyons of my disease whereof the firste and of leaste importance is for the death of my late Lorde and maister Don Ihon tryuoulso whereof you are not ignorant the second excedinge the firste in greatnes of grefe and force againste me is to thinke that the rigour of my destinies and violence of sicknes yeldynge me into the handes of death will dissolue and breake by that meanes the league of longe and loyall loue whiche from the beginnynge my harte hath vowed vnto you but the thirde and laste of a more strange qualitie then eyther of the reste is to thinke that when I am dead and by time worne
doares of his lodgynge tyll the deade tyme of the nyghte sommonynge all sortes of people to reste seamed to putt hym in Remembraunce of hys promisse and the thynge he chiefly desyered to perperforme so that arming himself only with sleues of male and a naked rapiour vnder his mantell he marched towards the pallais of PLAVDINA wyth more haste then good spéede and lesse assuraunce of sauetye then likelihod of good lucke for as he accompted hymselfe no lesse frée from all daungers then farre from any occasion or offer of perill so fortune displayinge the flagge of her malice encountred hym soddainely with a desaster excedynge his exspectation whereby she warned hym as it were of the ambushe of future euils whiche were readye to discouer themselues And albeit this first accident was nothinge in respect of the other straung mischiefes which she ceassed not to thonder vppon hym one in the necke of an other afore the ende of his enterprise yet it oughte to haue sufficed to haue reuoked and made hym cross saile from the pursute of so bad an aduenture seinge withal there appeared neyther reason in the attempt nor honestie in the victorye But who doubteth that the luste of the bodye is not the chiefest thinge that infecteth the minde wyth all syn and that the beautye of a woman dothe not onelye drawe and subdue the outwarde partes but also leuyeth suche sharpp assaultes to the in warde forces of the mynde not sewerly rampierd in vertue that they are not onely denyed to eschewe suche thinges as bée vndoubtedly hurtefull both to the bodye and soule but also drawen to desyer that which they ought not to ymagine and muche more abhorre to do as a thynge of greate detestation besides loue is of so venterous a disposicion sturryng vp such a corage in the hartes of those champions whome he possesseth that he makes theim not onely vnmindefull of all daungers but also to seame hable to passe the lymittes of the Son wyth power to excede the bondes of Hercules and Bacchus neyther makes he any thynge vnlawfull whiche he thinketh reasonable nor gyueth glorie to that enterprise whiche is not accompanied with infynitie of perills But as the wyse man wisheth all estates to deliberat at large afore the deuise bée put in execution yeldyng no difference of rewarde with a successe of semblable and equall effecte to hym that rashely crediteth thaduise of hymselfe and suche as committ theyr bodies and doinges to one stroake of fortune So are we warned by thauthoritye of the same principle to examyne the circumstaunce of our enterprises and caste the good and euil that maye happen wyth so sewer and steddye a iudgement that there can no daunger so soone appeare but we maye bee assisted wyth the choice of ij or iij. remedies to represse hym wherein if CORNELIO had bene as throwly instructed as he seamed altogether infected with the humour of follye he neded not haue fallen into suche daunger as he doubted least nor dispaire of that whiche he seamed to desyer moste and muche lesse assailed euen in the begynnynge and brunt of hys buysynes wyth that soddaine feare whiche earste he was not hable to ymagine and nowe as vnlykely and vnprouided to shâ—n for as he attended the comming of Ianiqueta to open the doare beholde there ronge in his eares a greate brute or noyse of the clatteringe of naked weapons and men in harneys seaminge as it was in déede a set fraye betwene ij enemies in the ende or corner of the same stréete which was so hoatlye pursued that one of the skirmishers beinge hurte to the death brake out of the presse and fleinge towardes the place where CORNELIO stoode fainted and fell downe dead at his féete euen as the maide opened the wicket to take hym in whiche was not so secretlye don but the eyes of certeine neighbours beholdynge the fraye oute of their windowes discouered the goinge in of CORNELIO with a nacked sworde in his hande wherevpon followed the alarame to the innocent louer as you shall heare herafter but beinge within the courte and the gates shotte againe he was léed by the litle Darioletta of their loue into a garderobe or inner gallery till the seruantes were retired to reste who for the most parte laye out of the house that night beinge busye in visiting the banquettes abroade accordynge to the Epicure order of sondrye countreys in christendome durynge the season of shrâ—â—tide when diuerse glottons delite in nothing but to do sacrifyce to their belly And hauing the reste sewerly locked in their chambers and all occasions of suspicion or feare eyther preuented or prouided for as they thought PLAVDINA sent for her seruant into her chamber thin king to worke theffect of both their desyers and plante the maried mans badge in the browes of her husband being absent But here they made their reckoning without their ost and were forced to rise from the banquet rather with increase of appetyt then satisfied with the delicat dishes they desyered to féede vpon for as they had newly begon the preamble to the part they ment to plaie and entred into thamarous exercise of kissinge and embrasinge eche other whereof neyther the one nor thother hadde earste made assaie together beinge at the pointe to laye their hands to the last indeuor and effect of loue which the frenchmanne calleth Ledon Damoreuse mercy they hard a greate noyse and horleyborley in the stréete of the garde and chiefe officers of y e watche who fyndynge the deade bodye at the doare of PLAVDINA began to make such inquisition of y e murthur wyth threatenyng charge to vnderstande the manner and cause of his deathe that amongest the neyghbours whyche behelde the fraie there was one affyrmed that at the same instant that the broyle was moste hoat hée sawe a tall yonge gentleman let in at the gates of PLAVDINA with a sworde in his hande armed on the armes wyth sleues of male whervpon the capteine of the watche beganne to bounce at the doare as thoughe his force hadde bene hable to beate downe the walls wyth suche a rowte and companye of frenchemenne assistynge hys angrye indeuor that bothe the one and the other of oure louers seamed indiffrentely passioned wyth semblable feare the one dowtyng thys soddayne sturre â—proare of the frenchmen to be rather a pryuye search to entrappe him then an Inquirendum for the murdor wherof he was no less ignorant then innocent the other dispairing no lesse of the delyuery of her frende yf he fell once vnhappelye into the handes of thennemye then doubtynge the dyscouerye of her owne dishonestie beynge knowen to conceile a stranger in the secret corners of her house wherein hauyng albeit but bad choice of meanes to auoyde suche ij threatenynge euills and lesse tyme to take councell of their present perill yet beyng of opynion that in the sauetie of the one consisted the sewertye of theym bothe shee vsed the pollecie of the wyse maryner or shypmaister
or out of the window or in other place which denied him fauor or libertie to speake to her I thinke he forgat not to expose arguments of his grefe by the pitiful regards of his countenance wanton torninge of the eye and other messengers of his passion arguing the torment he endewred for the desier he had to do her seruice he vnderstode at last by secret inquisition what churche her mother haunted for the performing of her prayers and that her doughter was her only companion in these deuocions whither also hée directed his pilgrymage and dissymulinge with GOD hée plaide thypocrite in conuertinge his regardes from thalter or place of leuacion to beholde the bewtie of the goldsmithes daughter the saint to whom his hart yelded most honor making of the house of prayer y e shop or forge to frame iniquitie exceding in this respect the barbarouse abuse of the Etheniques turkes and infidells who geue more reuerence to their Mosques wher God is blasepheimed and his Son abiured then the christians now a dayes to the temples and houses dedicated to the Lord to performe the ministracion of the sacraments with open publicacion of the wil of our sauiour Christ whom wyth saint Paule we ought to pray for the subuercion of babilon and restauracion of the true Church dispersed into diuers corners of the world by the malice of the pope and his wicked disciples wherof this Abbot being not the least in authoritie was nothing inferiour to the most abhominable in al vices wherof he gaue sufficiente proofe in two offences of equall detestacion the one in seking to deflowre a mayde contrarye to the othe of hys religion the other in abusinge the house of GOD as a place of bawdye practise to performe theffecte of hys cursed deuise beinge more deuowte in courtinge the Ladies of NAPLES thenne curious to reforme thabuses of his idle couente But the girle notinge thinconstant order of prayer in our reuerende father GONSALDO to gether wyth hys wanton regardes full of lasciueous desyer ymagined by and by wyth what yron the gentlemanne was shod and to what sainct hée would gladlye offer his candell wherefore thinkinge it noo breache of good manner to playe mockhallyday wyth such a maister foole gaue hym skoape now and thenne to hehold her at large and to beat the hammer more depe into his head would requite his amarous glaunce wyth a semblable glée and sodaynly retire and vanish out of hys sight wyth an angry farewel as thoughe shée disdayned his wanton offer wyth intente notwythstandynge to shonne hys voyce and place of presence no lesse then thincounter of any venemus beaste fearinge to reapose eyther credytt in hys honestie or so muche assurance in her owne pudicitie as to open her eare to the charme of a friuolous louer or who thinkes it no offence to take awaye the puritie of a mayde whom wée may compare to the red rose desiered of enery one so longe as the morning dewe mainteineth hym in odyferous smell and pleasaunt coollor but when the force and heate of the son hath mortyfied hys oryent hew and conuerted hys naturall freshnes into a withered leafe the desier to haue it dekaieth wyth the bewtye of the thynge euenso shée that hathe once morgaged the flower of her virginitie is not only dispised of hym to whom shée hath béene so prodigal of that whych shée oughte to make a moste precious Iewell but also in common contempte wyth all men what showe of dissembled courtesie soeuer they presente vnto her wherof the mistres of GONSALDO was nothing vnmindfull who preferringe the honor and reputacion of chastetie affore all the respecttes of the worlde seing wythall that the blinde Abbot pursewed more and more his amarous quest preuented hys expedicion by making her a straunger to his presence shonnynge all places of hys repaire and to take awaye all occasions that myghte geue increase to his desyer shée forbare to visit the churches onelesse it were at suche howers as they were voyde of other companie and yet wyth suche regarde that shée made as it were a priuy searche in all the corners and quyers of the temple to preuent his subteltie in dressinge some ambushe to inuade her vppon a soddaine and if by chaunce hée saw her and saluted her in the stréetes shee crossed saite on the other side and closed her eyes as agaynst some hurtfull encownter yelding hym no other countenance then she mighte haue auowched to the most infydell in the vttermost Ilandes of Tartaria whych brought the sely freare into suche mortall perplexitie that dispaire beganne to appeare wyth thapproche of sondrye perentorie diseases chiefly for y t the hyer of his earnest loue was retorned with sondry sorts of crueltye and disdainefull repulses occupyinge his brayne with suche contrarietie of thoughtes that he was voide of councell to what saint to vow himselfe or vpon what wood to make his arrowes seinge he was neither hable to mortifye nor vse moderacion in his passion and muche lesse was assisted with any meane to communicate the greatnes of his gréefe to her whose beautie had made hym the slaue of follie wherein albeit he sawe a vanitie to vse the office of a Dariolleta or bawde for that the vertue of the maide argued a detestation of suche Embassadors and to write to her appeared a great difficultie for that she was alwayes in the presence of her mother who vsinge the vertue of her doughter as a solace of her olde yeres was no lesse carefull of her honestie then be longed to so precious a Iewell yet felinge a continuall aggrauation of desyer wyth a flatterynge offer of loue to rewarde hym in the ende with the praye of his purseute he determined to suborne a shameles messenger to bewraye his shameful intente and therefore put his requeste vpon tearmes in a letter of this effecte Yf my destenies had don execution vppon my bodie when firste they brought me to the viewe of your beautie I had not ben a presente experience of your crueltye nor you thoccasion of my vnworthie torment for if death by nature had preuented the begynnynge of my loue I had ben frée from the force of passion discharged of all mortall greefe and you dispensed with al from the imputation cause of a double ill the one to abuse the vertue of your selfe do wronge to the renowme of al women by preferring effectes of rigour the other in disdaynyng the seruice of him whose life and death payseth indifferentlye in the ballaunce of your good will dissemblynge also not to sée the circunstaunce of my loue to driue me to desperacion and at the point to vse vnnaturall force againste my selfe Howe often alas haue I made you priuye to thinwarde affection of my mynde by the outwarde regardes glaunces of my exterior partes Howe often haue you acknowledged the same by argument of semblable glée and immediatly denied the whole by a soddaine showe of angrie complexion eyther disdayning vtterly
ympartes a wonder full strength and constancie of mynd to suche as be chast in dede and the vertue of whom consisteth not only in thoutwarde argumentes but is sewerly ram pierd within the strongest part of their harte like as in the mynd of this to whom as you see thalmighty gaue force to vanquishe wyth mayne hande the wicked enemye of her honor FINIS The argument YF the wisemen of olde time founde cause of cohibicion in their vnruly children and ympes of wanton youthe I thinke we haue double reason in this age to vse a steddie eye bothe vpon our daughters and such as are geuen vs in socyetie of wedlock not for that I wish the one to be kepte vnder as seruants or seruile slaues nor to take awaye from the other the whole skoope of libertie appointed by the preferment of mariage but exposinge an Indifferent and honeste meane I wishe to eschewe the murmore of the world by cuttinge of suche infyuit occasions of infections as seme to offer them selues to corrupte and seduce the fragillitie of our youth chieflye seinge a dayly experience of so many assaltes and alarams of fylthye loue offered to our daughters and litle girles beinge yet in the firste flame of the fyre whiche nature kindleth in the hartes of such as accompt themselues most confirmed in the yeres of maturitie or discrecion neyther wolde I that either the maide or the maried woman shold refuse to haue a bridel put to her libertie coÌ„sideriÌ„gitis such a garde of her quiet and honest name wyth chiefe defence against the malice of the reprochefull worlde that it were better to be chayned in the bottom of a darke pryson then to enioye the benefit of the open ayer being noted of such spottes of infamy as coÌ„monly attendes vpon an inordynat libertie and lice nâ—ious life Wherein if the desolacion of so many parentes wepinge in the villanie of their wiues and daughters vtter ruine and subuercioÌ„ of so many houses presented in stage playes to feed the â—aine eyes of the reprochefull multitude argued not the nomber of inconuenience happening by a dissolute and libertines lif and y t in the persones of diuerse our great mens daughters now a daies wee nede not seame so curious in keping this continuall watche and garde but resigne such ceremonies to be practised in strang contries wher meÌ„ are Ielous of their owne shadow w t opinioÌ„ that their wiues or daughters are not able to resist the least and most simple attaynt y t can be offred But wher thexamples are more then manifest and the frutes of y e folly burst out in open shew let vs leaue to allow or assise the brutal opinion of such as perswade that awe is not necessary for youth or y e seuere correctioÌ„ or rather folysh pamperiÌ„g bredes a dolnes of wit w t impedimeÌ„t of y e dispositioÌ„ of y e mind or hinderance to thincrease of natural giftes The daughters of Rome lyued alwaies within the house of their fathers with no more libertie theÌ„ was measured vnto theim by y e eye of their mother and yet weâ— they vertuous matrons in their houses and so sufficently instructed in cyuilitie that I doubt y e most perfect courtier we haue at this day deserueth not comparison with y e least of their perfectioÌ„s for what other ciuilitie or exaÌ„ple of honest life caÌ„ y e maides of our time learn in any coÌ„pany now a dayes if not to seame eloqueÌ„t in pratlinge discourses of vaine filthie loue with words ful of vaine and filthy loue and intiâ—ing behauiors of an open curtisan somtime to make an experieÌ„ce of an act no lesse detestable in dede theÌ„ the remeÌ„brance ought to be hateful to al honest meÌ„ albeit as I wold not by this meanes procure a general inhibicioÌ„ of honest conference and coÌ„pany amongest the nobilitie of our coÌ„try with exercises tollerated by y e perscriptioÌ„ of libertie lefte vnto vs by our auncieÌ„ts So it is an indeuor most necessary in mine opinion to make a conteÌ„placioÌ„ or view of the maners or inclinacioÌ„ of wils with a discression to check such as be to froward make slack in some sort the raine of awful gouermente to them that seame of more tender disposicioÌ„ by y e assistaÌ„te of which polycie it cold not be chosen but vertue shold glyster as greatly in y e houses of great meÌ„ as rude behauior in the cabynet of y e paisaÌ„t or vnciuile trankeling who coÌ„moÌ„ly goeth more neare the discipline of thelders in norriture of their childreÌ„ theÌ„ such as vndertake to be maisters of art of exquisit skil toochiÌ„g y e educatioÌ„ of yongliÌ„ngs for which cause the wise Emperour Marcus Aure lius wold not haue his doughters brought vp in y e court for how caÌ„ the norce saith he he honest herself or ympart vertu to her rhild seing nothing but practises of euil and vniuersatie of y e disputacioÌ„ of loue with a thousaÌ„d vaine delites to with drawe her from wel doinge or to showe effectes of a godly lyfe but to auoide the imputacion or title of a rigorous iudge whiche some of oure ladies or gentlewomen maye peraduenture bestowe vppon me in prescribinge suche straite rules of their reformacioÌ„ I prefer for my only defeÌ„ce y t benefit of vertue who I am sewer wil alwaies appeare perfecte as she is both in bud braÌ„ch in what soile soeuer she be planted wherin aswel for mine owne excase as also to make more noble y e sinceritie of noble dames by thimpudeÌ„t life of y e slipperie sort of womeÌ„ I haue preferred this exaÌ„ple of an ItaliaÌ„ couÌ„tesse who so loÌ„g as her first husbaÌ„d not igno raÌ„t of y e humor of her inclinacion kept her within the blew of his eye seamed so curious of her reputacioÌ„ y t y e same only was hable to pleade against al thennemies of her renowme but y e vaile of this fre captiuitie was no soner takeÌ„ away by the death of her husband but God knoweth what valyant exploites she performed and your selues may be iudges what false bowndes she gaue to her owne honor with badges of infamie to hym that shold haue gouerned her in her second mariage if you wil use patience in readinge the discourse that followeth THE DISORDERED LYF of the countesse of Celant who liuynge long in adultery and after she had procured diuerse morders receaued the hier of her vvickednes by a shameful death IN thuttermoste partes of Pyemount is a percell of thinheritaunce of the Marques mountferrat called CASALIA where dwelte sometyme one Iames Scarpadon a manne more notorius in those partes by his treasure and abhomynable trade of vsurie and fylthie gaine then of anye reputacion elswhere by disceÌ„t of parentage or monument of any vertue or godly disposicion who marienge a grecian damefell of equal qualitie and calibre begat of her a dought ter more faire then vertuouse lesse honest then was necessarie and worse disposed then well
taste and Sypped so strongelie on the cup of licenceous lybertie that yt bredd in her an insatiable thurste of wanton and dissolute lyfe as you shall heare hereafter for her chief and comon excercise there was to force a frizilacion of her haire with the bodkind conuerting the naturall coollour in to a glistering glee suborned by arte to abuse God and nature by alteringe the complexion of her face by a dye of fadinge coollours deuised by pollecye and that with more curiosytie then the most shameles curtisan in Rome glauncing vppon euery one oute of the windowe kepinge priuat banquettes in the nighte with a haunte of masquers with couered face and on the daye sittinge at her gate as a stale to allure a staye of suche as passed by the stretes there was no offer made whyche she dyd not admit no request preferred whiche she dyd not willyngelye heare nor letter sent whyche shée dyd not receiue and aunswere This was the fyrst earneste penny and foundacion of her licencious lyfe wherein she gained at laste the price and chiefe praise from all women that euer made profession to weare the armes of CVPIDO or marched vnder thenseygne of hys mother Venus I wyshe the mothers and gouernours of lytle girles in our contrey wolde respect chieflye ij moste necessarie rules in theducacion of theyr tender ympes the one to barre all secret conference in corners whyche is the greatest corrupter of youthe the other open and publike cacquet in the streetes whiche bringes their honour in question amongest the multitude for as the towne and fortresse besieged seamethe halfe won and not hable to endure the force of the canon yf she demande a parley or composicion so the eare of a woman that is open to the tale of euerie friuolus louer or enclyned to giue the leaste creditt to hys discourse albeyt her honour and chastetie bee not in interest but cleare from imputacion of iuste cryme yet dothe shee leaue a sufficient occasion to the people to dispute and skan her doynges with other tearmes then she deserueth for aswell muste wee avoide the suspicion as theffecte of euyll seinge the good renowme is no lesse necessarie thē thonest life And she that wil be noted of integretie and sincere perfection of liuinge must not only avoide the acte of adulterie but also the suspicion of the same wherfore I wishe all Ladyes to stande so sewerly vpon their guarde that they neyther be affected to th one nor infected wyth thother but rather in deuydinge their doinges into an honeste meane to do nothinge in secret whych shame denieth theym to iustefye in publike nor to be the secretarie of any mans vanitie or cause of the cōmom hawnt or wonder of the people but rather to obserue the pollecie of the serpent who vseth to stoppe her eares w t her taile to th end she be not infected wyth the noyse of the charmer But now to our BLANCHEMARIA who resolued whollie in the studie and exercises of loue somtyme sitting in the window with a lute in her hande sometime passing the streetes with open face more to allure the people to a gaze thē for her necessary affaires or take the open ayre for preseruing of health and now and then for chaunge of recreacion to make solemne banquettes wher the presence of her parentes and frendes and states of grauitie was not tollerable but only the companie of the carpet sect and such as cold make best court to Ladies where amongest the rest of her ordenarye hawnt shee was chieflie pursewed by the lorde GYSMOND GŌNSAGA son and heir to the duke of MANTVA and therle of CELAND one of the greatest reputacion for honor in the dukedom of SCAVOYE both whiche as they did their best to obteine her in mariage omitting no meanes to aduance their seruice and make theim meritorious of her fauour so she made her onlye pastyme toke singler pleasure in the sondry ymportunities of these .ii. woers slenting at their sortes of deuises in woing smiling at their follie carping their gesture and behauiour and counterfetting so artyfyciallie their amarus regardes hollow sighes and often tornes of the eye wyth change of complexion and ympedyment of the tong whilest they were vppon tearmes to obteine her goodwill that she seamed to haue red no other authors or made profession of other experience in the whole discourse of her lyfe afore Signeiur Gonsaga procured thassistance of his mother in lawe the marques of Mounteferrat whose perswacions wyth earnest sute in short tyme had so sommoned the wydow to affection on hys behalf that the mariage was not onely concluded but at point of fynall consommacion by order of the church if the SCAVONIAN erle had not as it were forbidded the banes and intercepted their resolucion by fyne force for vnderstanding that another had entred the lystes and made breache wher he had geuen so many assaltes and at the verye point to praye vpon his mistres he vsinge the nexte offer of conueniente tyme went to the lodging of his ladye whom he founde all alone as he thought somewhat disposed to heare his discourse whiche he broached vnto her in these tearmes with a kinde of countenance and gesture arguing sufficiently the simplicitie of his loue If I were as sewer of meanes to releue my distresse as I am certeine to suffer the smart I colde easelye dismisse my present perplexetie of mynde occupied with treble dowte the one whether I shold blame my selfe of negligence accuse you of rigour good madame or cry out of my fortune which hetherunto hath fauored me with a vainehope of good successe and now left me to the mercie of absolute dispaire for the small remorce and slender compassion which hetherto haue appered in you do argue a great wrōg on your part touching the iustice of my cause seing you haue not only denied pitie towards my sodry passions but also made none accompt any way of the loyall honest loue I beare you for y t you wold neuer allow nor seame to vnderstād any regard or other meanes I preferred for thaduancemente of the same And yet I find a greater falt in my self in suffring an other to cut the earthe frome vnder my féete and marche so farre in my steppes that I haue almoste loste thée tracke of the praye I chieflye desyer but aboue all I complaine vpon our common fortune that hath brought me in daunger of present dispaire loasinge the thing I Iustely deserue you in semblable perill by committinge you to a place where your captiuitie shal be no lesse thē the slaues or seruile sorte of Moares condēned to y e mynes in Portugale or Indya Haue you now forgot the sondrye miseries you endured vnder the gouernement of youre late husband Seigneur Hermes Doth it not suffice that he kept you in the mew as it were in his chamber the space of v. or vj. yeres but that in retournynge to a more desolacion wyth exchaunge
therle neither ignorant in the sollies of women nor voyde of experience to practise suche kinde of creatures preferred a wounderful pacience as his chiefest remedy against the rage of his wyf laying afore her notwithstaÌ„ding in gentle tearmes the dutie and indeuor of a wyfe towardes her husband how much in what sorte she ought to respect the honor of her self and reputacion of mariage and that as no woman oughte to putt in interest her honor or honest name so the greater she is in degrée the more haynous is her offence and a small faulte of a great Ladie is most mortall in the eye of y e multitude who lookes that the lyfe and vertue of greate Ladies shold serue as it were as a torche of cleare flame to gyue lighte to the lesser companions neither is the chastetie of y e mynde saith he sufficient to confirme the perfect renowme of a gentlewoman if the wordes and outewarde hehauior of the bodye do not followe thinwarde vertue of the hart thordynarye hawnte and exercise giue manifest declaracion of that whiche lieth hyd in the secretes of the stomacke and for my part I wolde be loathe to giue you cause of miscontentement seing that in the reapose of you consistes the rest of my self and you beynge oute of quiett I can not escape without greeff seynge that as the mutuall consent of our wills and affections with the like coniunction of mariage hath made you the one halfe and second part of my selfe so I exspect at your handes only a simple accomplishement of that which your publike othe affore God and man in the churche hath bounde you vnto like as also I am readye to performe vnto you thuttermost of any promisse or priuiledge where of at any tyme I haue made protestacion with full assurance froÌ„ this present of euerye part of the same so that you giue me the due respect of a husbande for as the head beyng the chief and principall part of the reste of the members hath as yt were a speciall authority by nature to gouerne the whole masse and remeynder of the bodye so the woman beynge thinferior part of her husbande is subiect to all dutifull obedience on his behalfe bounde to honor hym with no worse tearmes then by the name of Lord and maister for in omittinge your duty towards him you abuse the vertue of your vowe approued by sollemne othe and in inceÌ„sing his dishonor you are guâ—ltie of the violacion and breache of wedlocke one chief ouersighte I note in you is for that vppon smal causes you fordge great complaintes which argueth the rather the ydlenes of your brayne for the mynde that ys occupyed wyth vanitye is forgettfull of all thynges sauynge suche as thynstygacion of pleasure and folly do preferr to her remembraunce where on the contrarye part the sprite affected to vertue exposeth alwayes â—rutes accordynge to so great a gyfte dissimuling her passions with wordes of wisdome and in knowing-much giueth not withstandynge a showe of an honest and moderate ignorance she that laboreth in a passion of particular coÌ„ceites with detestacion of the due respecte of honor can not studie other workes then such as seame to fauor her follye nor open her eares to any voice if the same agrée not to the coÌ„plot and coÌ„tentement of her fancie wherein as I hope you will eyther pardoÌ„ me by iustice or at least excuse my simplicitie for that as you late tearmes of reproche haue forced me to suche a plaines so for ende if you will renounce your trade of former folly and fromhenâ—â—urth retire to an orderly confirmitie of life you shal not only procure a singler pleasure to me but cause an absolute contentement with continuall quiet to your selfe whereof bée careful as you thinke good Here the erle had great reason and double pollecie in seking to reforme thabuses in his wif without thassistance of crueltie or constraint for that suche disposicions are rather reduced by faire intreaity then reclaimed by feare or force of torments according to the nature of diuerse of thinsensible creatures for the fierce Elephant standes not in awe of his keaper by force of any stripes but is made tractable to bende his lardge bodie whilest he mounte vpon his backe by certeine familiar voices and stroakinges of his keper wherewith he ouercometh the naturall rudenes and crueltie of the beaste The Tygre will take foode at the handes of the wildman norished in the caues and desert habitacions amongest theim where no stripes nor other awe of man can moue any moderacton to his wodnes or cruell nature So likewise some women albeyt they are quite deuested of all honor or honestie yet are they founde to reteine some sparkes of ciuil humanitie beinge more easelye broughte to a reformacion by gentle order then reclaimed by the smart of any torture or crueltie wherein not withstandynge this countesse seamed to vse a more extremety and excede y e doinges of any that euer haue bene noted of disorder that waye for neither gentle perswacions colde allure her nor feare nor force reduce her to reconcilement or amendement of life but accordynge to the stone of Scylicia vppon whom the more you beate to bruse or breake yt in peces the greater hardnes is dryuen into it so the greater indeuor therle vsed to persuade his wyfe eyther by allurement or offer of correction the more peruersatie he founde in ber with lesse hope of amendement and as she vsed a malicious scilence during the discourse of his exhorâ—acion so she forced in her selfe for the present a wounderfull patience to th end that with the consent of a more conuenient time she might spitt oute the poyson whiche she shrowded secretly vnder the wynge of her venemous stomacke wherby for a first proofe of her conninge in the parte she mente to plaie she forgat not to dissimule her passion and conterfet the simple ypocrate in suche sorte as a wiser man then therle mighte easelye haue bene taken in the snare of her deceite whiche notwithstandynge she vsed in such couert manner that within shorte time she had not only remoued al conceites of euill from the head of her husband but also brought him to an opinion of a maruelons honesty and assured confidence in her in whyche good vaine for a more declaracion of his good mynde towardes her he obserued her fancie so farfurth as vpon a soddaine he brake vp house in Scauoye and went to Casaliae where laye her inheritance and chiefe possession Yf you marke wel the fetche of this womaÌ„ in procuring her husband to depart his coÌ„trey what a sodaine checke folowed to him with a false bound to y e honor of her selfe you may easely iudge that a woman once bent resolued to do euill hath a wit to ymagine al malice sorts of mischief to be ministers in therecucion of her wickednes that neither feare of punishement imputacion of shame perill nor daunger how
the gaze and wonder of the multytude cannot claime the priuiledge of any place but the people wyl point at them neyther can they hyde theym in so secret a corner but infamye wyll hunt them out shame discouer them atteÌ„ding them to the very end of theyr daies no no let not them lyue that are desirous to dye and death is moste acceptable to suche as hate the fruicion of lyfe for my parte I loth alredy the remembrance of lyfe seing I haue lost the chefest pillor of the same wherof I meane to make spedy declaracion by the sentence I haue alredy pronounced of my ende wherin it shall appeare to the worlde that although my bodye haue tasted of the malice of the wicked by force yet my mynde remains entire without spott or consentement to the villany whiche as my chiefe bequeste and last testament in this worlde I leue registred in the remembrance of you good awnt to make relacion to my desolat parents and the whole worlde besides of thaccideÌ„t of my wretched desaster that although your vnhappy néece and miserable IVLIA hath by meare force lost the outward show of her honor yet her conscience remeinyng vnspotted and soule cleare ready to flye to the heaueÌ„s to witnes her iÌ„tegry tye afore the sacred theatrye or tribunall seate of GOD can not departe wyth worthye contentement afore I offer my lyf to y e waues to purifie the fylthye spottes wherewith my bodye remeins painted on all parts by thinfection of the detestable rape of force wherewith she departed not taryinge the replye of her awnt who thoughte to haue diswaded her from the pursuete of her desperate intent and beinge coÌ„me to the riuer of Oglyo kyssing her sister with a last crye to god to receyue her soule to his mercy she lept hedloÌ„g into the water who as a mercyles element respectinge neyther thinnocency of her cause nor desperate order of dying committed her to the botomles throts goolphes of the sourges whiche was the ende of this miserable IVLIA whose lyfe only deserues commendation for thexample of her vertue and deathe worthie to be committed to oblyuyon for the signes of desperacion wherewyth it was infected But after this chaunce burst out into tearmes became the report of the people God knoweth what generall desolacion was amonge all the estate of the Cytie aswell for the strangnes of the facte as for that the villeyne was fledd that caused the brute who if he had ben taken had don penance of this falte with the losse of his lyfe in example of others the bodye was founde by the diligence of Loys Gonzaga who woulde not suffer it to be buryed in the Churche yarde or other sanctuarye because of the desperat maner of her death but caused it to be solempnelye accoÌ„panyed with the teares great dule of diuerse Ladyes into a place or graue in the felde where he ment in shorte tyme to sett vpp a tombe of marble wyth a monument of the particular discourse of the vertues and singuler gyftes of grace in his pore countrewomaÌ„ whose death I wishe may learne al estats to eschewe the perill of dispaier and order of lyfe to instructe all the yonge Ladyes of England to resiste the charmes and sugred allurements of loue who the more he is feasted with pleasaunt regardes of the eye or encountred with secret conference in corners or courted wyth embassages or lastlye banqueted wyth dishes of delicate toyes or vaine importunityes the more is he redye to inuade and apte to ouercome but on the contrarye parte the waye to kepe warre wyth that vaccabound and to flée his infections is as IVLIA did to marche against hym with a flagge of vertue vsyng wythall the pollycy of VLIXES in stopping your eares from the pepered harmonye of them that delitinge only in the praye of your outwarde beautye haue no respecte to the ornament of the soule whiche beinge kepte pure and vndefyled to th ende yealdes you a rewarde of immortalitye and your renowme neuer to be rased out of remembraunce tyll thextreame dissolucion of the worlde FINIS The argument THere was neuer mischiefe of former time nor vice in present vse wherein men are or haue bene more drowned or drawen by a beastly desyer then in therecrable and deadly synne of whoredome by the which besides that the spirituall fornicacion is figured in some sorte yet is it forbidden vnto vs expresly by thinuiolable lawes not written in the tables wher thauncientes were wonte to graue directions and orders to pollitique states of the Romaines Athenyens Egiptiens or Sparteins but recorded in theuerlasting booke within the whiche the veraie finger of god hath sealed his infallible statutes wher of as he wolde that his children and faithfull heires of his kingdom were made partakers with desyer and indeuor of ymytacion so we are al warned by y e same defence that besides the wrong and harme we do to our owne bodies we offend â—eynously against the health of our soules specially in corruptinge the wife of our neighbour with thabuse of that part of her which is necessarie to be garded with as great care and watche as we reade was vsed somtime in the supersticious ceremonies of the vestals of Rome in keping a contynuall fyer in their temple The greatnes also of this synne of adulterie bringing as you se an equal hurt to the soule and bodye hath forced a wonderful seueretie in both the lawes punishinge by deathe such as do prophane that hollye and invyolable bond and bed of mariage wher is only a place of purity and no oblacion to be offred or admitted but the sacrifice of honeste lawful substaÌ„ce besides what slaunders and mortalitie amongest men haue spronge out of the vicious fountaine of that synne y e mariage bed of Menelaus defyled by y e kinges sonne of Troye hath left sufficient example and cause of exclamacion amongest the phrigiens with reason to all posterities to deteste such villanie as a vice moste abhomynable in Egipt the Sychemetyens for like respect vnder Abraham and Isaac haue felt the mighty hand of god althoughe their offence in some sort was excusable by ignoraunce for that they thought the wyues which they toke had bene vnmaried Likewise if there be any faithe in the poeticall fictions we see thargumentes of most of their tragedies were founded eyther vpon the punishmente or dispair of such as not hable to reuenge the wrong of their lasciuions wife and wicked Sathanist her mynyon conuert and execute their rage and furie vpon theimselues wherin our worlde at this daye is growen to such a malicious golphe and bottomles sea of vices that the wilde nacions without eyther awe of God or feare of his lawes gouerned only by an instinct of nature are more curious to kepe the honor of their bedd then diuerse contryes in the harte and bowells of Christendom wher thadulteror is not punished but by protestacion or attorney and wher the poore
so diligentlye thassistance of conuenient tyme and place that one mornyng he dogged the knighte who walkynge in the fatall pathe of hys mysfortune to a warreine of conies a good distance from hys castell was soddeinelye inuaded by the hyered ennemye to hys lyfe with one other of equall intent who had no soner performed their cursed charge on the vnhappie gentleman but they retired in suche secrett manner to the place where the morder was firste conspired that they were vnseene of euerie one and their doynges knowen to no man by which meanes they were neither taken and much lesse douted for any suche offence neyther wolde any haue entred into suspicion either against the Ladie or her proccurer Tolonio considering bothe their former credit with thinnocent nowe dead and also their present sleighte in coollorynge their late detestable traison for the dead knyght was no sooner discouered by certeine passengers that waye by chaunce but the counterfaite ymage his wyfe fayning a necligent care and desperacion of her selfe falleth without respecte vpon the disfigured and bleedinge bodye of her husbande rentynge her haire and garmentes wateringe his dead face with a whole riuer of fained teares and as one thoroulye instructed afore in the office of thypocrite forgat no sorte of feminine cryes sometyme wrynging her handes wyth a dollorous regarde to his dead bodye kissyng euery parte of hys senceles ghoste preferryng sometime a soddaine scilence forced as it were by her passion of secret sorowe retired at last to a broken voice with open exclamacion against the dolefull chaunce in this sorte Ah infortunate gentleman to whose vertuouse lyfe thy destenies haue don manifest wronge in takynge the awaye amyd the solace of thy olde yeares wyth abridgement of the reste and reapose exspected in age and that by a traine of mortall and bloddye treason wherin appeares thiniquitye of the fates yf not that in wreakynge theyr malyce of the innocent they dispence wyth the villenie of thowsandes more worthye of death then he that heare hath payed an vntimelye tribute to the fatall executioner that I woulde to God I mighte participate wyth hys fortune in embracyng in the graue the ghoaste of him whose remembrance and loue wyll neuer loase harbor in thintralls of my harte tyll my bodye lye shryned within the sheete that shroodes his dismembred corps Oh cruell morderer who so euer thow art what desolation am I brought vnto by thy wyckednes howe many flooddes of teares will neuer ceasse hensfurth to gushe and distill vpon the tombe of hym whom thou haste trayterouslye slayne what toarches what incense what sacrifice shall not ceasse to frye and burne vppon the alter that couereth his guiltles boanes yea the blood whiche I meane to spill in reuenge of his wronge shall accuse thy villenie and witnes my loyall harte in honorynge the shadowe of hym that is dead by seuer punishment of suche as committed the morder Ah deare harte saith she kissinge the disfigured carcasse of the knight yf they had béene acquainted with thy bountye thou hadst not tasted of their crueltie or yf they had had but half the experience of thy curteyse inclinacion as thou wast entierlye beloued of all suche as knewe the perfectly they had sewerlye refrained from slaughter and thou enioyed styll the societie of thy carefull Ladye who heare vppon her knees aduoweth a sharpp vengeance for the leaste dropp of blodd drayned out of thy bléedyng woundes vppon as many as were eyther maisters or ministers in the morderyng enterprise crauynge also with the teares of a desolate wydow that he that gaue the mortal blowe haue neuer power to escape the daunger of hym into whose handes God wyll put the sworde of reuenge of thaffliction of suche as I am Oh children why staye you your teares in the miserie of your mother and losse of so good a father who shall from hensfurth fauor your tender yeres with further sustentation or defend the weakenes of my widowhead agaynste the malice of the worlde What support haue wee lefte seyng the chiefe pillor of oure house is perished by the wickednes of others wherewith the doctor hauynge fylled all the contrey wyth hewe and crye to apprehende the traytours whom he lodged wythin his house was at her elbowe or she wiste and ioyeng not a lytle in her Artificiall skill in playinge that part of the tragedye whereof hymselfe performed the firste acte began to persuade her to consolation and not wythout thassistaunce of some suborned teares willed her not to sorowe for that whyche coulde not bee recouered for saith he seinge God hathe touched your husband with the messenger of hys wyll wee oughte not to resiste the iudgement of the highest and muche lesse argue againste the determinacion of the heauens neyther is there vertue in teares or complaintes to raise vpp hym that sléepeth in his fatall mowlde the beste is to expose frutes of patience and bée thankefull to his goodnes who by the example of this affliction warneth you and all the worlde of his royall power ouer all estates wyth a readye indeuor in your selfe to manifest your dutye to hym that is dead in the persecution of suche as shal be founde guiltye in the cause of your present heauines neyther let the viewe of his mangled carkasse restore you to encrease of dollor seing that as the earth chalengeth his boanes as firste framed out of her bellye and intralls so I wishe you to giue order for his buryall in sorte appertayning to his estat whereof the effect and expedicion followed accordynglye not without the greate sorowe of his subiectes who also gréeued in equall sorte on the behalfe of their Ladye who showing thuttermost of her connyng in craftie paintynge in the funerall hower coulde not bee holden from fallynge into the graue whiche she watered on euery syde wyth the teares of her eyes crauynge that she mighte make a sepulchre in her owne brest to shryne the bodye of her husbande or at leaste that it mighte be lawfull to boorne his boanes to th ende she mighte consume by peacemeale in drinkynge the ashes as Ariomesia did the skorched reliques and cendres of her deare Mansoll Oh deceite and deuelish hypocrisye of a woman What enchauntement so strongelye made of whome thy subteltie can not vndo the charme What armour of suche force that is not founde to weake to resiste the strengthe of thy malice What medecine of suche vertue which can preuaile aboue thy infection What traine What traison What mischiefe or morderynge crueltie is hable to compare wyth the villenie of a woman vnhappely deuested of thattire of reason and vertue whiche for the moste part are or ought to bee moste familiar with that secte wherin appeareth an euident prooffe of the venemous pollecie in a woman yf the outward aparance of an extreme sorow the hart reioysinge w c treble cōtentemēt within do not declare her deceitful disposiciō what hipocrisie is greater thē to suborne al sortes of teares
wrongefull conceyte of suche a villenie dothe troble you whyche shée forgatt no too accompanye with all sortes of syghes and sygnes of dollour entrermedled with suche regardes of dyssembled pitie in all partes of her face that albeyt he was paste all dowte touchynge the trothe of hys owne conceyte yet the teares of hys deceytefull mother moued hym to admitt her excuses with suche compassion of her sorowe that he seamed also to passe the panges of her present passion with protestacion vnder tearmes of greate humilitie that he greued no lesse in that he hadde sayd then shée hadd greate reason to complaine of the wronge he hadd donne to the renowne of her vertue albeyt saythe he wyth a countenance of repentance yf you measure the force of my affection with the cause of my late plaines your discrecion I hope will conster my woordes accordyng to the honeste intent of my hart with excuse to my rashenes whyche you shall sée hereafter so mortefyed in me that I will neyther bée so hastye to accuse nor suspect without better aduise for the whyche shée seamed thankefull vnto hym with a present appeasement from Anger attendyng the offer of oportunitie when she myghte preferr her sōne to a parte in the tragedye whyche her wickednes hadde alredye begon vppon hys late father for shée was doutefull styll of the youngeman and gaue lesse faythe to his wordes wherein certeinely appeareth an experience of an ordinarie custume in the wicked who payseth thinfydelitie of others in the ballance of their owne iniustice and wante of faithe for the tyrant dowteth to whose creditt to comitt the sauetie of himselfe because his crueltie is hated of all men neyther dothe he good to any yf not for the respect of profit or to performe some malicius attempte wherein as they consider thaffexcions of their people by the passions in theimselues soo in passynge theyr owne lyfe in continuall feare they procure lyke terror to suche as bée conuersant with theim makyng the disquiett of others equall to the miserie of theimselues lyke as thys new Megera or tyrannouse monster of oure tyme who no more satiffied with the blood of her husband then glutted or cloyed with y e continual pleasures in whoredome with her detestable Tolonyo determined to rydde the world of her innocent sonne to thend their villanous trade mighte passe with more assurance and lesse cause of feare or suspicion of any for th executiō wherof her wickednes deuised this spedy and necessarie meane There was within the castel a highe gallery borded vnderfote with certeine plankes fastned to rotten planchers where as y e young gentleman vsed his dailye recreacion in walkinge by reason of the delitefull ayre pleasant prospect vppon dyuerse feldes and gardyns so the Tygresse his mother reserued that place as a most chiefe mortal minister in the death of her son for she and her pernicius proccurer one euenyng knocked oute of either ende of diuerse of the plankes the nayles that kepte theime cloase to the plancher in suche sorte that the nexte that happened too make hys walke there shoulde haue no leasure to discouer the traison and much lesse lyue to bring reapport of the hardnes of the rockes growing in the diches vnder the sayd gallerie which chaunced vnhappelie to the sonne of this she wolffe who no more happie in a mother then his father fortunate in a wife renewed the next day his accustumed walkes in the valte wher he had not spent thre or foure tornes but his destynie brought hym to treade vppon the fatall bourd es who hauinge no holde nor staye to rest vpon disioyned theimselues wyth the wayght of thinfortunat gentleman who falling soddeinly vpon the rockes wyth hys heade forwarde was brused to peces beinge dead in dede almost so sone as he felte thapprehencion of death Who wold haue iudged such trayso in a mother to work such an end to her son or noted such wate of pitie in any of y e sect as to soe the séedes sprong in her owne flankes deformed and he wed in peces vpon the edge of sharppe and piked stoanes what mistortune to the sonne and villanie in a mother seinge the title of a sonne ought to be so deare and name of a mother is so delicate and of such vertue that no hart of what mettal soeuer it be made is not mollefyed and doth homage to that dignitie yea euerye one holdeth his blodde so deare that the beastes theimselues by a prouocacion of nature although other wayes insensible haue such affectioned regarde to their fawnes that they feare not to contend against euery peril of death to defende their youngons from daunger what greater felicity hath mā trauelling in the stormy sea of this worlde then to see as it were a regeneracion of hymselfe in hys children wyth a plentifull and gladsome encrease of his séede for whych cause chiefely god ordeyned the holye institucion of mariage not respecting altogether the mortefyeng of the ticklyshe instinctes of our declayning fleshe but rather of regarde as thappostel affirmeth to kepe the societie of man in order making it appear'e pure and aeceptable to the great monarke and syrst founder of so noble a worke But to retorne now to our historie this ympp of th infernall lake and hellish Lady beinge already dispoyled of all affection and dutie required in a woman towardes her husband detested also euery point of charitie and zeale whych nature chalenged in her to the frute flowered wythin the tender partes of her intralls whose fall and miserable deathe as you sée filled ymediatlie euerie corner of the castel with desolacion and teares some weping in the want of their brother other complayned the lacke and misfortune of ther kynsman the viewe of whose dysmembred bodye sturred vp also a freshe sorowe on the behalfe of their late Lorde but all their dollor was nothing to the howlinge and cries of the detestable mordress who entermedled her greffe wyth such argumentes of desperacion that her sorowe seamed sufficient to make the earth tremble and moue the heauens to teares neyther seamed she to make other accompte of the world then a place of most loathsome abode by which masqued semblance of outwarde heauines she couered an inward ioye at her hart and by this pollecie of painted dule she blaired the eyes of the simple multitude who after y e retire of the heate of theyr lamemtable stormes consulted vppon the buyrial wyth general consent in the ende that thinnocent striplinge should be laiede in the tombe of his infortunate father to thend he might participat with hym in the fatal pitt as he was equal to hym touching the malice of his mother And now as this bloddie Lady had in this sort discharged as she thought euery doubt and feare hereafter chiefly for that she stoode no more in awe of any Censor or spie to kepe a kalender of her faltes wherby she vsed lesse care in the conueigh of her beastly traffique wyth her
her olde neighbour with lesse exspectacion to heare that whyche she ymagyned least enquired her opynion My aduise saith shée I knowe will driue you into some amase at the firste as a thinge neyther conuenient for myne age nor seamely for my callynge and disagreing wholly from myne auncient order and custome of doynge albeit yf thou make a care of thy proffitt thowe wilte not sticke to pursue the benefitt of thy fortune neyther will my councell ymporte suche preiudice for the presente as the sequeile in shorte tyme yelde the a tribute of treble proffitt I haue hard of late that there is a young gentleman in this towne so extremely in loue and desierous of thy beautie that he accomptes nothinge so deare as the thinge that maye lyke the and yeldeth detestacion to that which thou loathest neither wolde he spare the massie store of his treasure or large reuenue of his liuinge nor sticke to make the perill of hys life the price of thy good will and fauor with this addicion also that if thou wilte make hym the maister of his request and passe a graunte of that he requires to prouide the mariage to thy contentacion with the dowrie of a thousande doocates whereof I haue comission to make the assurance me thinkes a falte don in secrett is halfe perdoned and one offence bringes no custome of synne wherefore vse thy discrecion and thynke that tyme will dispatches the of hym when thou maiste reatorne home loaden with the spoile of his richesse and Iewells Here Ianiquette suppressing the iust cause of her anger with a meruelous modestie not commonly séene in one of her calling and bringing vpp seamed for the only respect of the old yeres of her neighbour to close her mouthe from open exclamacion agaynste her lewde abuse and aunsweringe wyth more moderacion then thimportance of her wronge required replied in thys sorte What villanye can be greater then to make a common merchandise of that whiche ought not to be boughte but by vertu or what disposicion of more detestacion in any christyen then for a woman to make a sale of her honor and measure so precious a Iewell by the price of her proffit Do you thinke that eyther the view of riches or Iewels or prodigall offers w t large promisses are hable to do more then the long offer of seruice wyth general commendacion of the giftes that be in hym whyche hath suborned you to preferr this embassage or who is she of so villenus a nature to with stande the sondry alarames of teares wyth pitifull somonce of so many sighes and yelde at lengthe to the detestable heralte of all corruption No no if I had liked the bargaine my consent had come fréely without the earneste pennye of filthye mariage whych you seame to prefer with an offer of a dowrie confirmed by an assurance or warrantie of your cōmission is it possible that yeldinge hym the flower of my virginitie to make a profession of true frendshippe to anye other but that the blodde of shame will renewe the remembrance of my former falte sewer if he preuaile so farre and wyn that point of mee the place shal be seuerall to hymselfe and the breach not entred by any other neither shal he tryumphe longe in the victorye nor I liue to Lament the losse for as it is the true propertie of a pure maide to defend that ornament to thuttermost gaspe of her breath and if by destenie the force of the oppresser preuaile aboue her strength to persecute hym to deathe with the losse of her owne life so if I be not hable to performe the one these handes shal be the bloodye ministers of the other to the greate contentement of me open shame of him that shal suruiue for it is long since I was perswaded that an honest death is the renowme of the life passed for y e rest to thend the present wrōg you haue don me maye serue hereafter to state y e course of your rashenes in the like affaires with promisse protestatiō to procede no further in like dishonestie I pray you perswade your selfe that if you conclude knitt vp the latter remeinder of your yeres in the practise of abhominable indeuours the commendacion of your lyfe passed wil be conuerted into the title of a common bawde swearyng vnto you for my parte by the fayth of a pure virgin that if it were not for the respecte of the honestie I haue hitherto noted in you honor that I owe to the olde yeres and vertue of your age I wolde so publishe your doinge that your presente message shoulde reproche you in what companie so euer you comme Wherewith she so choaked her olde neygbor that was not so misticall in the conueigh of suche trades as diuers of our chandellors and supersticious basket bearers in London who not onely make a profession of baudrie but liue by the filthye gaine procedynge of that art and hauynge nothynge to replye desiered Ianiquetta to pardon her alledginge that the care and compassion she had of her pouertie procured those tearmes rather then any desyer to seduce her and so departynge with her short shame lesse proffit made particular relacion of her successe to the amarus Luchyn who hearinge the sentence of dispaire seamed no lesse passioned with present dollor then if he had bene sharpelye assayled wyth a fitt of the burnynge feauer he entred straighte waye into the pageante of a madd man pasinge his chamber wyth vncerteine steppes and throwing his armes a crosse vppon his breast with his eyes directed to the heauens began to ymagyn howe to passe the misterye of this traunce whiche soddaine scilence serued chiefly as a speciall supplie to restore the warre with contraryetye of hys thoughtes for the more he wente aboute to extirpp the remembrance of his mystres and committ her to vtter obliuion the more he made hym selfe subiect to her beautye and grafted more strongelye the rootes of affection in the bottome of his harte And sewer it is no small matter for a man that is in loue pursewing the good will of his Ladye wyth contynuall importunityes the space of two or three yeres and receyue nothynge but the offer of a vaine and vncerteine hope whiche féedes the mynde wyth suche suggestions and argumentes of good successe that euery repulse seames to present a flatterynge fauor and the breath of euerye rigorous worde importes an intisinge allurement vntil dispaire blowing the retraite of that warre do publishe his commission to dismisse all hope and likelyhood of future success The large feldes enuyronnynge the greate citie of Ieyne seamed to lacke skoape and compasse to comprehende the multitude of thoughtes wyth diuersitie of ymaginacions that euen nowe occupied the head of Luchin who exclaymynge vppon the haggarde disposition of his mistres forgatt not also to forge cause of complaint againste loue for that as a blynde guide he had ladd hym into the bottomles golphe of fancie and
rashely haue entred the sea of my owne sorowe and sawe at setting from the shoare sufficyent argumentes of mortall euills threatenynge my present peril wherein albeit I was flattered at the first with a calme and pleasant ebb whiche made my hoyse sayle and floate without anye feare yet in the veraye inconstancy which all men attributes to that element and vnruly waues raging without measure in the heighte of that trobled sea appered plainelie enoughe the likelehodes of my present daunger whiche I woulde hadde power to destrdye me by some soddaine shypwrake or caste me spedelye into the bottomles golphe to be deuowred in the throate of some monster in the merciles occean Ah Loue with what iustice cold I exclaime againste thy infydelitie for that thou hast alwaies flattered me with an assurance of that whyche now I fynde furthest from me haste thou a pollecie to perswade a creadit in that wherein thou meanest absolute deceite and then to triumphe in the thraldome of suche as beleue thy charmes yf this bée thy order of dealinge why bearest thou the title of a necessarye vertue or ympartest thyne authoritie with the powers aboue for my parte yf there were cause of hope or exspectacion of deliuerie I colde in some sorte qualefye the rage of my preseÌ„t annoye with imaginacioÌ„ of future redresse or yf the contynuance of my gréeffe argued a lykelehodd of contentement hereafter the remembraunce of my felycitie to come wolde mortefye the panges whych nowe I am forced to féele without releace of paine but alas too what ende doo I ymagyne a composicion with hym that is not leuyable to any order and muche lesse partaker of the nobled vertue or gifte of piti why do I pleade for grace in a courte of comon crueltie wher tyranny shootes the gates of compassion against complaintes of iustice or to what end sholde I expect so much as a simple offer of help in him who is borne the common enemie destruction of many is there exspectacion of remedie in him whose breath is a poisoÌ„ more infectiue then any venym that earste hath bene made by the moest conning enchauntor that euer was bred in the myerye vale or is there reason to depende vppon the delyuery of hym who lyeth in ambushe to assalte me in worse sorte then yet I haue felte Ah cruell mistrys full euill do you measure the circunstance and effect of my goodwill with protestacion of vowe neuer to departe out of the lease of your commandementes fewer yf your waspish mynd wold confirme and make good the consent of your beautie or that your inwarde partes wolde giue leaue to thoutewarde arguments to worke an effect of that which they promysse by showe I sholde not haue cause to lament suche lacke in you and muche lesse indure thys extremetye by hopynge for that whyche I knowe I shall neuer haue Oh coulde recompence and vnthankefull retourne of the loyall zeale I haue borne wythout spotte of dishonest intente in any sortt Aâ— serpent and masqued basylyke in whome is rather a fayned showe then true effect of any curtesye the only glaunces of thyne eyes haue had power to fill euery corner of my hart full of poysoned infection wherein at leaste if I hadd thassistance of any arte or droague to remoue thy forces I should bée restored to myne aunciente quiet and thow liue at rest without the noyse of so manye ymportunities And nowe do I sée an experience of auncient opynion touchinge the maladie of loue who is neyther healed by salue nor cured by arte for to make insicion to the sore wolde giue but increase to my payne to vse thapplicacion of medicins wer but to féede the tyme with incertenties and to staye the humor were enoughe to giue ende to my lyfe by present suffâ—cacion so that alas I sée no choice of remedie then to bée touched wyth the hande that first gaue vent and set abroach the cause of the wound that I wishe in ful satisfaction of al my torment that she might sée the verye depth and furthest part of my hart to the nde shée might bée iudge of my loyaltie and acknowledge the wronge she doth to the vertu of my honest meaninge But alas I fynde herein that my destynies contende agaynst my desyer and the viewe of her former crueltie makes me dispair of other fauor then suche as hithervnto I haue founde so that as I whollie depende vppon her goodnes and my lyfe paiseth only in the ballance of her good will so I know she is fully desolued in a contrarye disposicion agaynst me makinge a Iest of my humble sute and offer of seruice takes pleasure in my martirdom and reapose a speciall felycitie in the pointes of my peculiar and mortall gréefe whych he ended not without suche abundance of teares and supply of other sorowe that the messenger was forced to abandon the place and leaue him in the middest of his passion ymparting notwithstanding the pointes of her aunswere to a deare frende of the knighte wyth aduise to supplante his affection or els seke his remedie by some other meanes wherin albeit he performed thindeuor of a frende euerye waye yet the successe argued a small vertue in his diligence and the patient rather resolued in extremeties the hable to admit any thinge whiche ymported a moderacion to his gréefe the whych gréew ymediatlie to suche extreme tearmes that the strength and desyer of the stomake was conuerted ymediatlie into a contempt of necessarie sustentacion and in place of sléepe he embraced the offer of vaine conceites appearinge as it were by visyon thorowe the mistery of hollowe dreames refusinge conference with all men if not that sometyme he wolde complaine vpon the crueltie of one whom he wold not name wyth desyer to end his life in the pursewte of that quarel The phizicions were found at the end of their wittes both vnhable to discerne the cause of his disease and wythout sâ—il to giue a remedie to his euil what inspection soeuer they made in his vryne or tryeng of his pulses or other signes to iudge his gréeffe or any authorytye of their arte wherevpon the gentleman his companion entred into such tearmes of sorowe for the sicknes of his frende that his dollor seamed of equall qualytie to the passion of his coÌ„panion not ceassing notwithstanding to solicite the goodwil of Zilya by his own trauell letters whych put her in remembrance of the pytie that women oughte to vse to thafflicted presentes and promises of no smal price wyth other deuises wherin he iudged any vertu to moue her haggarde disposicion and for that he sawe that in the very view of her presence consisted the recouery of his frende he forgat not to entreat her w t tearmes due as he had sewed to the greatest princesse of Spayne or Italye wherein notwythstandynge he gayned asmuche as if he had vndertaken to nomber the starres or stay y t course of the sonne for that she excused her selfe vppon her
so muche for the glorye of the acte as gaine of the moneye without anye helpe notwithstandinge to the sickman that the kinge was dryuen to adde to his golden offer an expresse condicion that who soeuer vndertoke the cure wythoute performynge the effecte within a certeine time shoulde make good the saied sume to the commodytie of the kinge or for want of paymente to leaue his head in pawne whiche proclaimed ymediatlye a generall retire to Monseur le Medecyn wyth the rest of his mistical crwe wypinge his nose with the insyde of his sleue detested with ympietie both Galleine Hypocrates and Auiecenes with other patrons and auncient fathers of phisicke that wolde not leaue theim a sufficient net to fysh so great an honor and riches as ten thousand frankes the brute was no soner made then thofficers of fame vndertooke to disperse it into euery corner of the countreye w t participacion of the royall edicts and liberalitie of the king to euery prouince as well on thissyde as beyonde the mountes wberuppon Montcall became pertaker of the newes and Zylya the firste and onlye cause of al was pryuie by this meanes to the place of aboade of her penytenciall louer and also perswaded of his loyaltie in keping his promise vnworthy any way of such firme regard seinge that wher fraude and force do occupie the hart the religion of promises yea the very bond of faith already giuen do loase their force neyther is a man bownde to performe y t wherin is coÌ„straint of bond The couetous widow assuring her self of no lesse authoritie ouer Seigneur Virley theÌ„ when he made court to her at Montcal determyned to go visit him at Parys not so much of intent to vndo the charme of his dome disease as desierous of the ten thousand fraÌ„kes whereof she made as sure accompte as if they were alreadye vnder the sewereste locke in her closset at MONTCALL perswadyng her selfe also that the gentleman being absolued of his promiss by her would gladly consent and that she only should haue the rewarde and fame of the thinge wherin all others were hable to worke no effect Here you sée a woman whom neyther the vertue of honest and true loue nor intent of vnfained and loyall seruice colde earste moue to compassion and muche lesse aggrée to giue ease to the sinister affliction of her seruant wrested to a remorse and ouercome with a desyer of fylthie gaine to enlarge her richesse Oh execrable thurste and desyer of money vntyll when endureth thy authoritye ouer the worlde or howe longe wilte thou blynde the myndes of men with a foggie myste of fylthie lucre Ah insatiable and perillous golphe howe manye haste thou deuoured and drowned in thy bottomles throate whose glorye had pearsed the heighte of the cloudes vertue shyned more cleare then the brightnes of the son yf the darke vaile or shadowe of thy contagiouse infection had not eclipsed their renowme that waye the frutes alas whiche thou bringeÌ„st furth what sugred showe so euer they gyue outwardely yeldes in déede neyther honest fame nor true felicitye to such as reape theim Seinge that that dropseye and infectyng humour whiche ouerronneth all their partes makes them more desyerous of the thing then hable to bée satisfyed whereby groweth a double discommoditie to the euill of that whiche is thonly fountayne of all mischiefe neyther is any state more miserable then to haue a desyer to haue muche and gettinge al can not bée satisfyed wyth any thinge and in the ende ouerthrowen in their couetous trauell by infamouus deathe whereof I am content to omitt the familiar prooffes of our tyme and presente you wyth the authoritye of the riche Crassus in Rome to whome was awarded the punishment of God by fallynge into the handes of the Parthens for violacion and commyttynge sacriledge within the temple in Ierusalem sexti mulâ—us fryinge in like sorte in the flame of money and whollie infected wyth the poyson of hym that formentes the hart of the couetous cutt of the head of hys patrone and only defendor Caius Gracchus trybune of the people Wherin touching lyke examples in the femenine secte I will nowe passe ouer both forrein and familiar recordes and restore to your memory thabuse of this Zilya who forgetting her former regarde to vertue the onely ornament of her honestye and reputacion feared not also the toyle and trauell of the waye nor other inconuenience what so euer to committ her lyfe to daunger and honor to the mercy of hym in whom the remembrance of her former wrong sturred vpp a desyer of double reuenge vppon the leaste occasion he coulde fynde neyther doubted she to hazarde the effect of her buysynes in a straunge region vnknowen to al men sauyng to hym for the only honor of whome the misterye was wrought but vsynge a shorte consideracion for the order of her affaires at Montcall she strippes the mountes and by extreame labor arryued at last at Parys at suche time as euery man dispaired most of recouerye of the dome knighte albeit enquiringe for theim that had authoritye to admitte such as vndertoke the cure she made it be published that God had putt the remedye of his disease into her hande and that only she doubted not to performe thexspectation of the kinge that waye the Commissaries layde afore her the edict with the condicion of death in the ende if the knighte were not made to speake within xv dayes all whiche she admitted pawned her lyfe for the performance of the enterprise with protestation eftesones that god had opened vnto her a secrett meane to restore hym whereof the knighte was furthwith aduertised merueilynge notwithstandynge what straunge gentlewoman yt was that had vndertaken to vndoo the charme of his disease and force hym to breake the vowe of his pennance to his cruell ZYLIA in whom of all other he accompted not so muche frendshipp as to make so longe a iorney for the ease of the euill whereof she onely was the cause he was rather of opinion that it was hys neyghbour of Montcall she I meane that fyrste solicited Zylya on his behalfe and now had forced her to a compassion of his pennance wyth commission to absolue hym of the rest of his hard vow wherof as he deuised diuersly without stayinge vpon any certaintie or trothe beholde the deputies presentes Zilya in the chamber of Seigneur Virley who seinge an effect of that which earst he was not hable to ymagyne gaue iudgemente by and by of the cause of the comminge of hys ennemye and that the promisse of ten thousande frankes had more power to make her passe the mountes then the respect of frendship or compassioÌ„ to his straung distresse which so long had kept him in the likenes of a dead man wherw t the viewe of her former incyuilitie and rigour exceding the disposicion of any woman that euer was noted cruel procured lymedyatlye a conuersacion of his auncient loue andre garde to
moderacion in his pleasures the tyran and morderor moued to compassion touching the cause of thin nocent and the vnthrift reclaymed to an honest staie of lif whiche makes me of opynion that this passion giuen vs by nature albeit it be an infection of it selfe yet it serues also as a contrepoison to driue out another venym according to the propertie of the Scorpion which of her selfe and in herself carieth the sting of mortal hurte and oyntmeÌ„t of spedie remedie thoccasioÌ„ of preseÌ„t death and meane to preserue life not meaning for all this to perswade that it is of necessitie we make our selues subiect altogether to this humor of good and euill disposicioÌ„ nor allow them that willingly incurr the perill of such fre ymprisonment but placinge it for this tyme amongest thinges of indifferent tolleracion because he neither seamed blind nor void of discrecioÌ„ on the behalf of those whose eraÌ„ples I meane to prefarr in this historie I maye boldlie aduoche that which we call affection to be a passion resembling in som respect the condicion of true amytie and yet not muche vnlike for the moste parte the generall euill whiche the Grecians â—al Philautia and we tearme by the title of loue or vaine flatterie of our selues chiefly when we see any so frently to his desiers that to satisfye the inordinat thruste or glot of his gredie appetit he forgettes hothe honor and honestie with the respect and duetie of his conscience besides what ymages of vertue curtesie or bowntiful dispocision soeuer our louers do ymagyn in theim whom they serue dymming the eyes of the worlde wyth a miste of dissembled substance as thoughe the cause of their liberall offer of seruice were deriued of an intent of honest frendshippe yet their trauailes that way concludes we se with other end for that they hunt only the chase of pleasure procedinge of the viewe of an exterior bewtie wherin their meaninge is sufficiently manifeste in the sugred oracions discourses of eloquent stile which those amarus orators seme to prefer when their mindes occupied whollie in the contemplacion of their mistresses do commit the praise of the perfection in their Ladies to the filed fordge of their fine tongue in which what other thing do they more chiefly commend then a deuyn misterie or conninge worke of nature painted with a dy of white or redd in her face A delicate tongue to dilate of matters of fancie an entysinge countenance with a grace and behauiour equal with the maiestie of a princes al which as they argewe the vanitie of him that reapose delite in such fondnes differinge altogether from the true ornamentes of the soule or pattorne wherby the perfectioÌ„ of vertue is discerned by thunfayned workes and absolute accion So dismissing this fond philosophie not coÌ„tending greatly whether loue be a natural corrupcion or a thing perticipating with vertue we may be bold to aduouche his power to preauile in things which seame of ympossibilitie to thother passions that be common vnto vs for what thinge can be of greater force in a man then that which constrainynge an alteracion of custome and breach of that which by contynuance hath taken rote within vs doth make as it were A new body and the mynd a meare straunger to her former cogitacions which I neither inferr without cause nor menteyne this argument without great reasoÌ„ for that as of al the vices which spot the lif of maÌ„ ther is none except y e excecrable syn of whoredom which makes vs soner forget god good order then the detestable exercise of vnlawful game neither are we so hardly reclaymed froÌ„ any thing as that cutthrote delite for that it is almost as possible to conuert the crueltie of a she wolffe or lyones into a present mekenes as to mortefie the desier of plaie in him which hath bene norrished and nozelled therin froÌ„ the beginning of his yeres Euen so notwithstanding the force of loue wrought such a misterie in an vnthrist of Naples that of the mo ste prodigall and ryotous spendor that hath bene noted in any age hee made a most staide and sparing gentlemaÌ„ that Italy hath brought furth of many yeres since or afore his time Albeit euen vpon the point and beginning of his new fondacion beinge redie w t all to expose frutes of his happye chang frome euill to good trade he was encowntred wyth the malice of his destinies which abridged hys felicytie and life in one moment wherof you maye discerne a manifeste profe in the sequeile of the historie folowing PERILLO SVFFRETH muche for the loue of Carmosyna and marienge her in the ende vvere both tvvo striken to deathe with a thonderbolte the firste nighte of their vnfortunat mariage IT happened not long synce in the riche and populus Citie of NAPLES who norrisheth ordinarylie an infinitie of youth of all degrees that amongest the rest of the wantons broughte vpp there at that tyme there was one named Anthonio Perillo who enioyenge a libertye more then was necessarye to one of so younge yeres and greene vnderstandyng made absolute declaracion affore the race of youthe did stopp in hym what it is to passe the yeres of correction without the awe of parentes tutour or controller for his father hauyng performed his Jornaye whiche nature appointed hym in this woorlde resigned hys bodie to earthe and his goodes and possessions to his sonne who fyndyng so manye golden cotters and chestes full of treasure to assiste his prodigal and wanton dispocision forgat not ymediatly to enter into the trade of a licencius life Wherein he founde no staye nor ympedyment to his will for that the necligence of his father had lefte hym withoute the awe or authoritie of any And albeit in the life of his father he was a continuall hawnter of the Berlea or common house of vnthriftie exercises where for wante of sufficient demers to furnishe his desier with skill in casting the three deceitfull companions of blacke and white vppon a square table he was forced often tymes to forbeare to playe and learne conynge in lokyng vppon yet tyme with his owne diligence made hym so artificiall that beyng but a cryer of awme there were fewe hable to excede his sleyghte in castinge twelue affore sixe of two dyce or tooke halfe so good accomte or regarde to the course of the cardes and yet notwithstanding he was not so wel grownded in the principles of his arte but often tymes his conyng beguilyng hym he was preuented with a contrarie sleighte and onelye his purse paide the charge of the whole companye whiche was not vnmarked of some two or three of the famyliars of hys father the respect of whose frendship and vertue with sondrie argumentes of ymynent destructioÌ„ to his sonne moued theym to enter into tearmes of admonicion layinge affore him the circumstance of his sondrie faltes but chiefly reprehendinge the greate wronge he did to his owne estimacion for that the waye to atteyne to renowne
was conuenient in a maide carefull of the garde of her honor wherein albeit her mother reaposyng indifferent credit in the vertue of theym both gaue leaue to her doughter to kepe hym companie yet as Aristotle affirmeth honesty doth not broke longe dalliance or wanton chatt in chast maydes w t the first that accoasteth theim w t conferēce in corners with any but suche as by consente of the church haue gott the power and possession of their bodie and is or oughte to be the one halfe or moytie of their mynde whiche albeit was thintente and desier of theis two louers yet y e simplicitie of their frendes deferring theffect wrought not only a breach of y e bargain but also sturred vp in her an humor of mortal spite against the sinceritie of her loyal seruāt who endewred y e reuēge of her vniust anger vnder a punishmēt of a most sharp long penance in deserts inhabitable vnknowē for in y e heate of this reciprocal loue betwene thies younglings it chaūced y t a meruellous faire and goodly gentle woman doughter of a greate lorde of the countrey called Forrando de la Sara vsyng familiarly the companie of Geniuera becam by that meanes extremely in loue with Dom Diego assayinge by publike and priuate meanes to imparte vnto hym what power and authoritye she woulde willingly giue hym ouer her harte yf for his part he would requite the sinceritie of her loue with semblable honor and affection wherein experiencynge the benefytt of all honest meanes seamyng any waye to fauour the effecte of her desyer considered at last that aboue all other exercises the knight tooke greatest pleasure in hawkes wherfore vnder coulor to make a breache into his fauour with assistyng the disposition of his delite she sente him one daye a tassell gentle as the chiefeste Iewell she had to presente hym withall excepte the offer of her owne good wyl wherein Dom Diego albeit he was wholly possessed by an other and with the losse of his libertie hadd also so departed wit his iudgement that he could not discerne thintente and honest zeale of the gentlewoman yet he accepted her presente and retorned the messenger with suche thankes as appertayned In the receiuing of this hawke appeared absolute showes of the euill fortune of the pore Diego which immediatly fayled not to thunder vppon hym without cōpassion for as he went often to visitt his mystres so he forgott not continually to cary this hawke vppon his fiste boastinge so farr vppon the goodnes of the birde that he chaunced in her presence to saye that it was one of the thinges in the worlde he helde moste deare Sewerly this wordes were sifted more nerely then there was cause and construed to other end then he mente them seinge that certeine dayes after in his absence deuising vppon his sondry vertues some commended his honeste and curteus behauior some gaue praise to his valyauntnes and dexteritie in armes some exalted in him the sondrye giftes of nature and passing further he was generallye preferred of all the companie for his sinceritie and constant dealynge in matters of loue sauing of one Graciano who rather enuyinge the vertue of the knight by malice then hable to deface y e leaste of his gyftes by reason ioyned with the reste in commendacion of his personage actiuitie and other dowries of nature but for his faith or care of promiss where loyaltye shoulde moste appere I accompte hym sayeth he so apte to dissemble and inconstante by nature that he vseth no difference of personnes in grounding his affections makynge no conscience to seame to languishe mortallye where he meaneth nothing lesse then firme constancie which touched Geniuera so neare that she coulde not giue place any longer to the sinister bable of Graciano desieringe hym to vse other tearmes touchinge the honestie of Dom Diego for saith she I am of opinion that he will rather passe vnder the sentence of any death then forfeyt the leaste pointe of his promise passed alreadie vnder the seale of his faith to a gentlewoman of this contrey besides his loue I knowe is so sincere and vpright that I dare pawne my lif on y e behalf of th assurāce There is the miste that dimmeth your eyes sayeth this cankarde ennemye of Diego for vnder the vaile of a periured loyaltie he abuseth the simplicitie of honeste Ladyes whereof I nede not go farr for a prooff nor you doubt much of the misterye if you conferr the circumstāce of his former profession towardes you with the presente ▪ league of frende shipp betwene him and the doughter of Dom ferrando de la Sara cōfirmed alredye by the gyfte of a tassell gentle which for her sake he estemeth aboue all the thinges in the world which last allegatiō restoring a remembrance of the words pronounced not longe ago by the knight touching the deare accompte he made of his hawke began to brede a suspicion of his constancie and an assured creditt in the information of thunhappie Graciano wherein swelling immediatly with her vniust collor incensed by a simple cold Ielowsie was forced to abandon the place retire into her chamber wher she gaue suche skoape to her synister conceite that she was vpon tearmes manye times to vse force againste her selfe whereunto she had added present dispatche if a hope to procure in time the reuenge of the wronge whiche she perswaded to haue receiued of her Diego had not staide th execution albeit she coulde not so gouerne her malicious disposition but the deadly hate conceiued in this moment against thinnocente gentleman did not onely supplante both stocke and roote of aunciente zeale on her parte but also grewe to suche mortalitie in her venemous stomake that she seamed not to delite so muche in the vse of her owne life as in desyer to take pleasure in the remembrance of the death of hym who no lesse innocent in the cause then ignorante of the grudge came the nexte mornynge as he was wonte to sée her hauing vppon his fiste by euill fortune the birde which bredd firste this mortall Ielowzye And as he satt deuisyng with her mother fyndinge a wante of thaccustomed companie of his mistres he asked where she was whereunto he was aunswered by one of her women that assone as she sawe hym enter the house she tooke her chamber all whiche he dissimuled by his wisdom imagininge the same to procede of some wanton fancie or coye conceite whereunto the most part of women are cōmonly incident so that when he sawe his time he tooke leaue of her mother departed meting by chaunce as he wente downe the steares of the hall one of the chambrieres or Gentlewomen of Geniuera whō he requested to kisse the hande of his mistres on his behalfe whiche she promised to performe hopinge to do a thinge no lesse acceptable to her mistres then to gaine thankes of him on whose behalfe she presented the curtesie Albeit as it is to
meritt with the cause of his vniuste tormeÌ„t vsynge with all thaduise of reason he hadde not seamed so symple in his owne blyndnes nor bene so sowne abused by y e foly of a folish girle his man dowting any further tattempt hym with perswacions for feare to procure thuttermost of hys displeasure was forced to an vnwillinge patience greuinge notwithstandynge on the behalfe of the misfortune of his maister who with his euill dyott and worse lodgyng quarrelyng both two with his former order of bringing vp was become so pale and hideuse of regarde that he rather resembled the dryed barke of a withered trée then the shapp of a man bearynge lyfe besides the course of continual teares and skorchyng syghes deriued from the bottome of his stomake had so drained the conduites and vaynes fedynge the partes of his bodie with naturall moisture that his eies sonke into his heade his bearde forked and growen oute of order the heares of his headd starynge lyke a forlorne man or one loathinge the vse of longer lyf hys skyn and face ful of forrowes and wrinkelles procedyng of â—retting thought argued him rather a wilde man borne and bredde vpp al the dayes of his lyfe in the wildernes then the valyante Diego whose fame exceded earste the whole compasse and Circuit of Spaine But here lett vs leaue our amarus hermitt ful of passioÌ„s in hys symple cloyster or cane vnder the earthe and see what followed the deliuery of his letters to his cruell Geniuera to whom the seruante the fourthe daye after his departure accordyng to his charge presented the letters not with oute a greate showe of dutie and reuerence who notwithstanding assone as she perceiued by the direction froÌ„ whence they cam forgatt not to retire into her aunciente disdaine and casting in greate anger the letters vppon the ground vouche safed not once to giue leaue to the messenger to declare the reste of his embassage wherwith her mother some what reprehendyng thinciuilitie of her doughter demaunded to sée the packett for saieth she I am perswaded of thonestie of Diego neyther do I doute any deceyte in his vertue nor you doughter for your parte oughte to seame so curious to tooche theym seynge that yf they ymporte anye poyson your beautie only is to be blamed whiche was the firste baite that infected the knighte and if he putt you in remembraunce of your rigour I sée no wronge he doth you considering the greatnes of his deserte and the slender care you haue of his due consideration in whyche meane tyme a page tooke vpp the letters and gaue theym to tholde Ladie who founde his complaynte in suche or semblable tearmes Seynge good madam myne Innocencie is denyed to worke theffecte of her vertue and iuste excuses confirmed with thautoritie of equitie and reason are altogether voyde of force to make a breach into your harte so hardned against me with vniuste disdaine that the simple remembrance of my name is no lesse hatefull vnto you then the offer of any tormente what tiranny so euer it ymporte I fynd the nexte acceptable seruice I can do you is in mortefyinge whollye the cause of your displeasure and with my punishment to yelde you contentemente to putt suche distance betwene vs that neyther you nor any other shall knowe the place of myne abode and muche lesse the pitte of fattal repose where in I entende to cowche my corrupte bones wherein albeit my contynuall passion procedyng of the viewe of your discourtesie hath bredd suche a generall debilitie thorowe all the â—aynes and places of force within me that I féele my self alredye fallen into the handes of the dreadefull messenger So affore theffecte or execution of the extreme hower I am thus holde hereby with the true toochestone or witnes of myne Innocentie to putt you in remembrance of your vnnaturall rigor not for that I meane to accuse you to the hier of your deserte but that the worlde beynge priuie to my case maie be thindifferent iudge betwene my integrity and your crueltie my loyall affection and the wronge you do to y e rewarde of my seruice assurynge my selfe notwithstandynge that the reaporte of my deathe will bringe a remorse to your conscience with a compassion albeit to late seynge the same shal be thequal ballance to paise my sincere and constante intente with your credulous and rashe iudgement in admittinge for trothe the false suggestion of suche as enuyed the vertue of our honeste loue with a suborned informacion of a frendshypp betwene me and the doughter of the Lorde of Sera yf you will make it good madam vnlawful for a gentleman traded in the disciplines of ciuilitie to receiue the presentes of a Ladye or gentlewoman equall in degrée or honor to hym self wherein will you to consiste the pointes of humanitie howe can we glorie or séeme meritorious of the title of nobilitie yf it be an offence to he thaÌ„kefull to suche as do homage to our honour with thoffer of anye courtesie wherein notwithstandynge I was so curious to offende you that thâ—nly respect or feare of your displeasure forcinge me to abuse y e goodnes of myne owne inclination made me retorne the offer of her frendeshypp with a simple Gram mercy And for your parte if your hate hathe taken suche roote against me and your self so resolued to do wronge to the sacred pitie exspected in al women and shrowded commonly vnder the vaile of suche beautie as nature hathe paynted in your face that neyther the sacrefice whiche I haue made of the cause of your vniuste disdaine my languishing penance nor lawful excuses haue power to perswade you to the contrary of your synyster ymagynation I sée no other choyce then to yelde to the partiall sentence of your iudgemente whyche as an enemye to thequitie of my cause fauoreth wholly the iniustice of your conceite wherein seynge the spottes of your mortall displeasure can not be wiped awaie but by the blodd of my lyfe whyche showeth your contente mente to consiste wholly in my destruction I accompte it a dutie of reason to honour you with the sacrafise of my deathè aswell as I founde cause to auowe vnto you the seruice of my lyfe whiche also I am yet to performe so longe as my sowle dothe kepe her holde by the mortall thred and fraile fillett of my bodye fyndinge this one thynge to increase the miserye of my death passynge as the breath of a pleasant sighe whych shall haue power to dysmiss my soule vnder the sommonce of a softe and shorte pange that myne ynnocencye wil alwaies lyue to accuse you as a cruel mordresse of your moste constant and loyall seruant Dom Diego The tragicall contentes of this letter strick such soddaine dollor into the mynd of thold lady that she seamed to participate w t thaffliction of the pore forrestian hermit albeit dissimuling her passioÌ„ affore her howshold seruaÌ„tes retired into her chaÌ„ber with her doughter only whoÌ„ she failed not
to rebuke in sharp sort for her folish cruelty as the only cause of the losse of so worthy a knyghte as Seigneur Diego whose letter albeit she deciphered vnto her worde by word profer ringe with al sondry ymportunities for mediacion grace on his behalfe yet seamed she as weake to moue the harde harte of her doughter as the myld Zephir breathyng from y e western shore is hable to shake the monstrus rockes builded in the belly of the sea and muche lesse the passion of herfury iudginge his penance far inferior to y e desert of his incoÌ„stancy wherwith the simple mother father complayning then correctynge the stubbornes of her doughter dysmissed the messenger with only charge to salute on her behalfe his misters her deare frende and neighbour who altogether ignoraÌ„t of the contentes of the letter reioysed notwithstaÌ„ding that her son had written to Geniuera hopinge he had ymparted to her the day and hower of his retorne wherein notwithstanding she was no lesse frustrate then her assurance proued vncerteine in such sort y t the date of the twentye day expired eye ij or thre monethes fully performed wythout any newes of her son she began to enter into no lesse tearmes of dollor then if she had accompanied his corpes to his fatal tombe exclayminge wyth all agaynste thiniquitie of the heauens in blessing her with such a posteritie and then to take hym from her in the myddest of the prooffe of hys vertue wherin cryenge out agaynst the bewtie of Geniuera whych she iudged the only cause of his absence cursed also the mornyng wherin hée wente on huntinge wishinge in th ende that some reuâ—lacion wold disclose vnto her the place of hys abode to th ende she myghte eyther reclaime hym in whom consisted the hope of her olde age and exspectacion of her whole house or at least assiste in person such good or euill fortune as fell to his share If the mother complayned her desaster her son as it is to be thoughte enioyed small quiet and lesse contentmente of mynde who now become a citizen with the beastes and birdes of the forrestes left neither roote of trée height of rocke nor sonnye syde of any gréene hill without some signe or marke of his carefull state wherein vsinge the pointe of a sharppe bodkyn as a supplie of a stéeled chezell he woulde some tyme engraue the successe of his loue vpon a harde and dryed trée sometyme a brode and thynne barke taken from some younge and grene spraie serued hym in steade of paper or parchement wherin he cyphered with such darke letters the name of hym selfe and hys mistres drawen together wythin one intricate circle that the best mathematical in Padue or Paris woulde demaunde respite to decipher the true enterpretacion one day amongest the rest rauinge vpon his thoughtes by the borde or brinke of the fountaine ioyninge as you haue hard to his desert cotage hée emprinted these verses followinge vppon a faire stone whyche the streame of the riuer hadde cast vppon the shore Oh sacred syluan Pan and satirs of this vale And ye oh woddie nymphes who wepe in wretches plaint Staie here your gliding stepps recorde my dolefull tale Iudge you what I deserue whom loyall loue hath spent Assiste my dryed eyes with freshe supply of teares VVhose dropps of dule haue draynd eche synowe of his sapp Or els by fatall voyce cloase vp my loathsom yeres VVhose view wyth longer lyfe encreaseth my myshapp Not farr from thence vpon the heighte of a highe hil where he made euery day his morning walke at the risinge of the son was a faire and square plat yelding at all tymes of the yere a pleasante glée of grene flowers and other deckinges of the springe in the middell wherof whether it were by the deuise of nature or curius industrie of man were foure pillors supporting a massie marble squared and hewen corner wyse accordynge to the forme of an alter vppon the whyche he left this monument in letters of eternitie Thou pillor sqare on whom er this the sacred fumes did frye VVyth incense to the blasing troane and maiestie on hye Deuest the now of royall robes let regall office passe And dewed wyth my teares of dule my sacryfice embrase Discloase thy marble breste and harbor here such plaint As neyther former tyme hath founde nor future age shall tainte And sith disdaine in loue hath forced this present want of breath Let heare appeare ho vve vvillingly Diego proueth deathe ⧠Rounde aboute the brym of the sayde stone he vvritte thys remembrance THoughe froward fate hath forcde my grefe And blacke dispaire this deadly paine Yet tyme I truste will bringe relefe VVhen loyall fayth shall haue her gaine Tyll then the stormes of banisht state And pennance in this harmittes cell Shall trie her cause of wrongfull hate VVhose malice lo kepes me in hell ⧠And vpon the thyn and tender barke of a beeche shadinge thentrye or dore of hys hermitage moued belyke vvyth some soddayne apprehencion of ioye aboue hys custome writte thys deuyse I See thy glory shine wyth gle of glisteringe showe And thou for beatie sâ—alde ou â—iest seate of state At laste so shalt thou fynde though now thou lift not knowe That tyme thy plumes will plucke and age thy hew abate Then vaunt not so in gaine that withers with the weede But deâ—ke the garland with such boddes as vertue blomes Els shalte thou reape wyth shame but cockle for thy seede VVhen I most sâ—er shall haue my hier from heauenly doms Whych beinge espied of hys man who as he alwayes kept a diligente eye vppon hym so dowtinge these fantasies might work theffectes of greater extremities asked to what ende serued the lute which he broughte in his mallet if not to giue hym solace sometyme in singinge the praises of her on whose behalfe he did not only offende in supersticius homage but also in committing fonde ydolatrie will you that I fetche it saithe hee to th ende that withe Orpheus you may stur vp the trées rocks and hollow valleyes to be waile your mishap and witnes the pennance whyche you make withoute euer committinge offence worthie of halfe so great a punishmente wherewith he put the lute into the hande of hys mayster who albeit reaposed equal delite in the tunes of musicke and teares of present miserye yet to confirme his solytarie state wyth a remembrance of hys auncient passions he played certeine dollorus notes not without a nomber of hollowe sighes and streames of sorowe distillinge like the droppes of raine down his face which was so disâ—igured that hardly cold he haue ben descried by such as haue alwayes bene his most famyliars This was the miserable state of this infortunate younge man who was so whollye resolued to presente dispaire that he durste not admit the offer of better hope and muche lesse ymagyn that whych nowe attendes to restore hym euerye waye to hys entyer albeit like as neyther the miseries
be tenant to the mountes so long as nature he cold agrée vpon the bargain of lyfe but also aduowed vnto hym by othe that withoute the good will of his Geniuera he wolde neuer retorne to hys contrey to auoyde further discouery wold seke to shrowd hym selfe in a place more sauage lesse frequented thē this for saieth he like as my retorne wold bryng but increase of passiō specially in being denied fauor wher I haue foūd a former repulse I besech you let it suffice y t I fele y e burdē of one mishap ceassing to allure me to y e prooff of a secōd affliction wourse I am sewer then my presente punishemente wherunto I haue added a contentement with an immouable pacience wherin his raisons seamed to include such indifferēt iustice and pitie that Roderico cold not replie but with tearmes of compassion with consente that he shoulde contynue his abode there yet ij monethes in whych tyme he sware vnto hym by the honor of knightehodd that for hys parte he would not only make his peace with his cruell mistres but also procure mutuall conference betwene theym assuring hym withall that he should not be discouered by hym nor any of hys trayne wherewith leauynge hym a féelde bedde and ij menne wyth money too furnyshe hys wante he tooke hys leaue wyth firme promisse to sée hym againe in shorte tyme with cause of more contentemente then at that presente he lefte hym full of annoye and hymselfe no lesse disquieted for the trouble of his frende wherin God knoweth in what sorte he detested by the wayes the wilfull crueltie of Geniuera blasphemyng no lesse agaynste the whole secte paraduenture with some raison For there is I can not tel what secret motions in the myndes of women which haue their howers and tymes as thincreasynge or dyminishynge of the moone whereof as it is veray harde without great experience to giue any raison touchinge the cause So we sée it is such a principle or generalitie amongst theime to ymprinte so sewerly in their hartes this fraile or rather inconstante instinctes of mobilitie that the wiseste most subtill that euer was lacke skill to obserue the seasons of this ymperfecte humor Dom Roderico by this was arryued at his house wher he neither forgatt his owne promisse nor the necessitie of hys frende for the nexte daye he wente to the lodgynge of Geniuera not to communicate with her asyett and muche lesse to impart his fortunat encounter in his retorne out of Gascoyn but rather to sounde by some secrett circumstance a farr of the doinges and determination of the girle whether any other vsurped the glorie of the victorie which of righte belonged to his frende Diego wherein he was so subtill in this drifte that he accoasted the page of the gentlewoman in whose bosome was builded the only store house of her moste secret affaires forgettinge therin the precepte of the wise who willes vs to cōmit no councell to suche as are weake of raison and for wāte of discretion do lacke the gifte of secretenes whereby they are not hable to gouerne the libertye of their tounges suche was the simplicitie of this page whose softe humor the knighte fed with such fine dyot that by litle and litle he drew the worme quite from his nose and was made so priuie to the practis of Geniuera that he vnderstode that since her vniuste displeasure with Dom Diego she hadd vowed her good wil to a biskaine as then y e steward of her mothers house a gentleman veray pore but for the rest of sufficiēt perfection that he was now in y e cōtrey frō whence he gaue aduertismēt to his mistres y t within two days he wold come w t ij other his deare frends to take Geniuera awaye by stealth not forgetting also y t he only w t a gētlwoman were appointed to attend her into Byskaye like as they wer priuie to euery circunstance of their secret sleight which discourse of y e boye albeit moued show of inward alteratiō in Roderico chiefly for the infidelity treyson of thinconstant Geniuera yet he dyssimuled so well his fretting anger y t his passion was not discouered by the simple page with whom he ioyned in cōmendacion towching the resolucion of his mistres whom he sayed was not voyde of reason to make her choice by the councell consente of her fancie seynge her mother vsed such slender diligence to bestowe her as she deserued albeit saith he the gentleman be not riche nor of large possessions yet thy mistres hath sufficient meanes to supplye both their wantes that waye only she declareth a vertue in yeldyng so firme affection to his honeste pouertie all which as he pronounced by an other tounge then the true interpretor of his hart so beyng alone cryeng out of thinconstācie of women he seamed to put no difference betwene their wilfull blindnes and natural simplicitie of young infantes who whē they seame most wrabbed their norsse offrīg theim the choice of an aple or tigge a Jewel of gret price are rather appaised with the figge thē once loke of y e thyng of value So some women whether it be the mist of fonde loue y t blaires their eies or the dome of a cursed desteny which god hath appointed to plage their malicius disposiciō seame often times so voide of raisō y t being presented with the choice of two offers far differing in value thei are rather apt to imbrase y e worst then redy to admit y e best which is most cōueniēt for their honor calling he defaced y e beauty of Geniuera with the destoyaltye she vsed towardes her firste seruante condemnynge her iudgement in refusing the frendship of a noble man famous by wealth and vertue the veray parragon of the wholle contrey for the society of a pore cōpanion whose parentes beynge vnknowen argued a doute of hys discente and she altogether astraunger to bys dispocition wherin as he inueighed also indifferently against y e partiallitie of fortune and blindnes of loue who beyng wythoute eyes theym selues do likewise dym the vnderstandinge of such as they kepe in miserable captiuitie So he sware in great rage to caste such a blocke in the waye of the two louers that neyther the biskayn sholde reape the frutes due to the trauaile and seruice of his frende Diego nor his cruell mistres forbeare any longer to sende a pleasante calme to the stormye tempest whiche kepes hym now at anker amongest the perillous rockes of Pireneus For being enformed of this conuenient meane to ease the distresse of his languishinge frend who fedd only of the hope of his promise he failed not to add an assured effect according lie Albeit for his further instruction touching the sewer con ueigh of the misterie he went the seconde daye after to visit the mother of Geniuera wher he vnderstode by the page that the stewarde was come with two