left his victualles to inlarge his feminine praises In the end tasting the goodnesse of the meate hée found prating very vnsauerie and therefore to recouer his losses his lippes laide on loade which Faliero and some other of the pleasant company perceiuing assayed to reward the Frier for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions Questions answered by monosillable which he euer answered in a monosillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding as quoth Faliero a question or two Master Frier I pray say quoth he who strikes with the sharpest rod God of all other who is most euill Diuell in distresse who deserueth most ruth Truth who is charged with most crime Tyme what holds the world in most imprice Vice who is the greatest lier Frier desire without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eate Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine when they could deuise no talke to put life in the Friers tongue doctor Mossengio demaunded why hée was so briefe in his answeres O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then quoth the Doctor it is good taking away this plenty of meate for cloying Frier Bugiardoes wit The whole company hearing the Frier beaten with his owne sentence turned into a contrary sence burst out into such an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of the Frier would not suffer him to swallowe one bit more of meate in so much as the boord was taken away and the Frier driuen to say Benedicite with an empty stomack an intertainement as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faithful seruant The office of courteous reuerence A good reward for Flatterie fully discharged the company retired towards the fire to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dinner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moned the disgrace of their praise master the Friar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by their enemy the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto said merisy that the friar had taught him such a cunning way to woo as to melt a woman into pitty he would wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to praise the thing they like Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercifull it is necessarie to bridle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue and questionlesse this paine set vpon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée things is great danger and smal discretion to play with fire to striue with water A profitable Note and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therefore he that will discouer his owne secret aduantage is worthie to haue his haire cut with Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was ready to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certaine of her chosen attendants whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for ancient customes profitable are better then new lawes incertaine she commanded the Eunuke to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Lute after a dutifull obeysance played and sung this following Sonnet in Italion TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bound Amid the Skies my wish I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the ground My eye sees Ioy my heart is gripde with paine I know my hurt and yet my good refraine But how these hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can giue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reach so farre outgoes As bound perforce he yeelds to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioy Hope dooth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownde as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To doe whose will Desire in me hath wrought A strength to runne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to stay It may suffise the wisest past my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to auoide digression which raiseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a repetition of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Whereupon quoth Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the causes why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish and take comfort in one anothers companie onely by the impression of nature and man and woman that are beautified both with the vertues of nature and reason many times matches together make a hell of this holy institution By Quéene Aurelias commaundement Reason giueth man souerainty ouer al creatures to answere Sir quoth Faliero the aduantage of reason with which you haue priueledged man and woman is the onely cause thereof no man will denie but that there is a difference of conditions There is diuersitie of condition in euery kinde in creatures of euery kinde some horse an vnskilfull horseman can hardly disorder and some in despite of his rider will haue a iadish tricke Some Bauke though she be euil serued wil not straggle forth some do the Faulkener what he can wil continuallie flie at checkes some hound by no meanes will be rated from riot and some will neuer forsake his vndertaken game euen so some man will filch if his hands be fast bounde and some hauing the aduantage of a bootie will rather starue then steale some woman with an houres libertie will offend and ten yeares louing sute cannot ouercome some other Reason findeth out the imperfection of nature Cause of misliking in mariage But the vice and vertue in euery creature by the opinions of many sage Philosophers procéedeth from the purenesse or the imperfection of nature which is not to be found but by reason and the vse of reason onelie belongeth to man now if by ouer sight in choice maried are deuided in desire differ in life and delight in neithers loue Reason that findeth out this contrarietie Causes of comfort in mariage soweth contention betwéene the vnfortunate couple in Matrimonie thus matched Againe when betwéene the married there is equalitie of byrth yeres and manners no difference in loue nor suspition of others behauiour reason that delighteth in vnitie maketh the ioyes of Mariage innumerable Therefore think I the opinion of Plato may be imbraced as a sound iudgement The whole assembly allowed Falieroes reason and Dondolo himselfe was reasonably well satisfied But quoth he since Mariage bringeth with her
of brauerie whom the whole troupe reuerently saluted and honorably accompanyed vnto the Chappell After Seruice Dinner and all were solemnly ended Quéene Aurelia with a chosen company Musick refresheth the wit retyred her self into a pleasant drawing Chamber to execute the reported ordenaunce But to quicken the Spirites of the company before they entred into discourse she commaunded a faire Eunuche Boy to sing some one song as he thought good who obaying her commaundement with a heauenly note vnto the Lute sung this louing lay NO ioy comes neere the heauenly ioy of loue When we imbrace the wish of our desire All pleasures els that kinde or Art may moue To loue are like the heate of painted fire Loue is the roote whereon sweet thoughts do growe Loue is the sowrce from whence content doth flow When I beholde my Misterisse in the face Loue from her eyes a thousand Graces throwes But when in armes I doe her selfe imbrace One smiling looke exileth all my woes Then straight our lips prepare themselues to fight And on ech kisse loue sets a new delight What would you more I wish me in my graue Were but my soule with halfe these pleasures crownde And heare on earth to be my Misterisse slaue I holde me free and others to be bound Wherefore I sing which I in solace proue There is no heauen to life bestowed in loue The swéet deliuery of this sonet so inchanted the harts of the hearers as for a space their sences gaue place to the contemplation of their soules In the end Madona Isabella by this motion made the whole company a passage for spéech If Loue be so swéet a passion quoth she I muse from what cause procéedeth the complaints of Louers who with showring teares bedewe the earth with misty sights dimme the aire and with shrill outcries pearse the heauens The cause quoth Soranso procéedes of our fleshly imperfectiōs which corrupts the nature of good things and not of any defect in loue Loue simply is good for loue is a simple deuine vertue and hath his being in the soule whose motions are heauenly I haue read quoth Isabella that there be sundry kindes of loue The vse of loue are diuers quoth Soranso as in zeale towards God The distinctions of loue in duety towards our Country in obedience towards our parents and in affection towards our fréends All which motions procéede foorth of one loue although some are more vehement then the other euen as many Riuers doo run out of one Spring whereof some haue a more swift course then the other But of that passion which we ordinarily call loue the wish either tends to Mariage or wantonnes There is matter of disputation in Mariage quoth Franceschina Knowne euik are not to be defended because the estate is honorable and yet subiect to crosse fortunes But touching your conclusion of wantonnes deserues to dye in silence for known euils are to be chastened without allowing their defences Madame quoth Faliero vnlesse you reuoke this sentence we wil haue you indited at Rome as an heretick for by the Popes Canons Priests may not marry and they haue a custome among themselues not to liue chaste Well quoth Franceschina if the Pope for this opinion burne me as an heretick good men will cannonise me for a vertuous Virgin These digressions quoth Quéen Aurelia are the meanes rather to worke a confusion of our memories A necessary note then to conclude any beneficiall matter for our instruction And therefore I hold it to greater purpose substantially to handle one argument thē sieightly to ouerrun many causes where the doubts we leaue vnresolued wil be more dangerous vnto the hearer then the counsels we vse profitable vnto the follower Madame A contention whether Mariage or the single life is the worthier quoth Fabritio I hold it good we obey your direction And for that Mariage is the most honourable euent of Loue and that a Single life is the greatest testimony of Chastity A ciuill Contention to proue which is the most worthy of the two would conclude much contentment For as Yron and Flynt beat together haue the vertue to smite fire so mens wits encountring in doubtfull questions openeth a passage for imprisoned Truth Quéene Aurelia Argument decideth doubts and the rest of the company liked very well of the Subiect and studying who were the fittest to deale in this controuersie Aurelia with a glauncing eye behelde that her seruant Ismarito witsafed no greater token Wise silence worketh more regarde then foolish talke that he tooke delight in these actions then sometime the secret bestowing of a modest smile whereupon she forethought that as Floods when they are most highest make least noise euen so perchaunce his still tongue was gouerned by a flowing wit and desirous to sound his sufficiencie she quickned him with this crosse surmise Seruant quoth she your sober lookes promiseth a hope that you will vndertake Dianaes quarrell but which will serue in this question I feare me you commaund Loue so much A fault in many trauellers as you contemne Mariage And the greater is my suspicion in that you are a Trauailer the nature of which sort of people is to swell with a monsterous disdaine of Mariage The reason is say they their affections are paysoned with the knowledge of womens so hamous euils as they dare not venter of that vocation But my opinion is they haue learned so many subtilties to deceiue a shiftles woman as dandled with the imbracements of sundry Loues they forsweare Mariage who bindes them to one only wife And if you be infected with the humour of these sorte of Trauailers you may well vndertake this charge All vnmarried passe vnder the name of chast for Venus though she loue not Diana yet is she the sworn enemie of Iuno And if you be sound from this infirmitie the little haste you make to marry witnesseth you honor Hymen with no great deuotion and therfore I commaund you to vse all your possible proofs in the Defence of a Single life and for your assistance I do appoint you Lucia Bella whom this charge cannot mislike because as I vnderstand she means to be a professed Nun You are to encounter the opinions of many and therefore arme your selues with as good reasons as you may Madame quoth Ismarito I am so deepely bound vnto your commaundement as I am driuen to leaue your suggestions not answeared and my owne innocency vnexcused and only attend the incounter of him that wil maintain Mariage to be more worthy then a Single life which vocation of Mariage though I reuerently honour yet I so zealously affect the other as I hope where the Iudges are indifferent to make the glory thereof to shine as the faire white aboue euery other colour Sir Defences of Mariage quoth Soranso though white be a faire colour yet are the choyse of all other colours more rich and glorious so though
of the most faire Felice Macrello was sent for to whom Marino deliuered both the Iewell the letter without instructions to doe his message for Protheus could not change himselfe into moe shapes then Macrello as well to auoyd suspition as to compasse his purpose who behaued himselfe so cūningly in Marinoes errand as to be short vertues dames after many perswasions Felice returned him with this answere Felices answere to Marino Georgio I Am not cruell although with difficultie I consent to loue and for that your passions are so extreame I keepe your Picture in my bosome But with what thought I blush to write though pittie be my warrant so that I leaue the euent of our Loue to your consideration and my yeelding to Macrelloes Reporte who in bewraying your passions let fall more teares then I could drye vp with a thousand sighes So that ouercome with rueth to see your affection so great and your passion so daungerous I can not but commit my loue my honour my selfe and all to the Affection and wise gouernement of Marino Georgio FELICE THis Letter was subscribed Life to Marino Georgio and deliuered to the faithfull Macrello with charge that he should make knowen his great importunities before Felice would graunt so hie a fauour which Prouiso might haue béen spared for Macrello partely for his glory but chiefly for his owne benefite vpon deliuery of this Letter willed Marino to receiue it as a Conquest as hardly gotten as Hercules labours if quoth he I had indured not your torments by Imagination it had not béen impossible to haue mooued Felice to rueth Marino heard these circumstances with no better remembrance Sodaine ioy or sorrow dulleth our sences than if he had béen in an Extasie The Subscription Life to Marino ouercame him with such a sodaine passion of Ioy who read and a hundred times ouer read this Life letter and for that it came from Felices swéet hand he a thousand times kissed the Paper Which done by the direction of Macrello this Conquerour Golde made such a passage into a reputed honest Citizens house as without suspition Marino Georgio and fayre Felice there many times mette but to what purpose Gold maketh passage into difficult places I leaue to your constructions and yet thus much I say this Fortune followed Marino in shorte space recouered his former Complexion and it was not long before Felice was richer then either Father or Husband But O that Furie Ielousie enuying this Accord sent slie Suspition to infect Malipieroes heart who prying with Lynx his eyes presented him a thousand causes of mistrust Thevenemous nature of Ielousy which loue straite supprest with as many contrarie imaginations of his Wiues good behauiour insomuch that with the sharpe uicounter of Loue and mistrust poore man he was continually afflicted A shrewd suspition In conclusion séeing his Wife to excéede in brauery and knowing himselfe to decline with pouerty be resolued vpon this certainty this cost could not come from the empty Coffers of her vndone Parents Suspect is more cunning then Argus was wary and then procéeding from others it was impossible to be the fauoures of honest curtesie so that armed with furie he deferred reuenge but to intrap the friend of his wiues follies and the enemie both of her honour and his delight In fine as héedeful as these Louers were in their dealings Ielousie directed suspecte to Marino Georgio and moreouer Neapolitans are most seuere in reuenge made him an eye witnesse of the iniuries done vnto Malipiero which when he assuredly knew hee studied a while of a torture equall to this trecherie for who hath not heard the Neapolitan to be the seuerest reuenger of dishonor in the world To be briefe his bait was this hee fayned a iourney far from home and furnished himselfe with such an apparance of trueth A Iudas kisse as tooke a way all colour of suspition which done with a dissembling kisse he committed his wife to God and the charge of his house to her good gouernement and so set forward towardes Rome Malipiero was no sooner a mile on his way then Macrello certified Marino of this wished opportunitic and Loue made both him and Felice so bolde as in his owne house they determined the following night to exercise vpon Malipiero their wonted iniurie A fit time to deceiue mistrust but about midnight when mistrust was at repose Malipiero entered the house with such a sodaine violence as these two vnfortunate friends were surprised amids their imbracements before they had warning to shifte I sorrowe to tell the rest but trueth will haue passage Malipiero in his reuenge like a Lyon hungring after his praye with his Rapyer and these bitter wordes nayled Marino vnto the Bed Thou Couch quoth he soyled with dishonor washe out thy staynes Death is too easie a scourge for a disloyall wife with the Adulterers blood But holding death too easie a scourge of his wiues trespasse he condemned her to this torture more extreme then death He made an Anatomie of her welbeloued Marino and set him in a fayre Chamber within which hee inclosed his wife without dooing her any bodily iniurie saue the cutting of her haire and to say trueth Haire the ornaments of Chastitie this beautiful ornament of haire beséemeth not an Adultresse head And to punish her the more Malipiero caused her euery dinner and supper to take her accustomed place that at meales she might bee tormented with the sight of her liuing enemie and all the day with the bones of her martyred friend neither could shée quench her thirst but out of a Mazar made of Marinoes skul But to tell her vertue The bounden office of a Writer with her vice her patience was such as she was neuer heard to complain of this cruelty and yet her penitent sorrow so great as the plenty of her teares sometimes moued her iniured Husband to pittie But least he should be ouercome with compassion Iustice must not yeeld to the teares of Trespassers many times from dinner hee commaunded her to her prison who after an humble reuerence went behinde the Tapestry hangings and so vnto her solitary Chamber barred from other company thē the gastly bones of vnfortunate Marino which penance she patiently indured vntil God who saw that her repentance was vnfayned sent Segnior Cornaro to be a peace maker betwéene her husbands iniurie God regardeth repentance and her offence who when Supper was set vpon the Boorde séeing from behinde the Tapistrie Hangings a fayre Gentlewoman to appeare somewhat pale with sorrow her head bare both of attyre and hayre apparelled all in black and in her hand her drinking Boule of Marinoes skull and saying neuer a word with a sober reuerence sitting downe in the chiefest place was stroken with such amaze as on the sodayne he wist not what to say Dinner being ended which was longer than pleasant either to husband wife or
owne will and of his owne Spirite so wrought to his owne affection that betwéene them there is séene two bodyes and but one thought perceiued The Maried ioy alike sorrow alike are of one substance one concord Loue to our Parēts reuerent one wealth one pouertie companions at one Boord and in one Bed The loue we beare vnto our Parents Loue to our brethren naturall is or ought to be reuerent and dutifull because they gaue vs life vnto our Brethren naturall because of the priuitie in blood to our friends affectionate by certaine motions and consents of the minde Notwithstanding Loue to our friends affectionated that these Loues be thus great yet are there diuers causes to lessen them But bet wéene the maried no mischance or infirme fortune is cause sufficient of hatred for none gouerned by reason Loue between the maried irrcuocable is so inhumane as to malice his own flesh Cōpare their seueral affections by sorrow and you shall sée the weakenes of the one in regarde of the strength of the other The greatest mone we make for the death of our Father Brether A good meane to trie the loue of the maried or Friend appeareth in sighes or most vehement in teares whereas if we our selues are but a little wounded we crie outright so that by how much we excéede in sorrowing our own mischances The ring a triall of the loue betweene the maried aboue another mans by the same reason so much we loue our selues more than another The King that is giuen by the husband put on the wiues finger ought to be of golde to witnes that as golde is the most precious of Mettals so the loue of the maried excéedeth all other loues To which effect Another figure of the ring Propertius sayth Omnis amor magnus sed aperto in coniuge maior Moreouer the close ioyning of the ring is a figure of true vnitie of the maried betwéene whom there should be no deuision in desire nor difference in behauiour Christ was borne of a maried woman To honour this holy iustitution of God God would haue his onely begotten sonne to be borne of a wife perfectly maried saue that she was not carnally soyled Licurgus the good King of the Lacedemonias Licurgus lawe for the vnmaried so reuerenced this sacred estate as he made a Law that what Lacedemonian soeuer were vnmaried after the age of thirty eight yeares should be chased and hissed out of all publique playes and assemblies as one vnworthy to be séene and that in the colde winter he should naked indure the reproches of the people and withall was bound to confesse how he iustly suffered that punishmēt as a Mispriser of Religion a contemner of Lawes and an enemie to nature The Romanes were not so seuere The Law of the Romanes for the vnmaried but yet the aged vnmaried were condemned according to their abilitie to pay vnto the Treasurer for publique vse a good summe of money Plato in his Lawes enacted that the vnmaried should execute Platoes lawes for the vnmaried no honourable Office Estate nor dignitie in the common wealth The good Emperour Alexander Scuerus although he maried rather to giue ende to his mother Mammeas importunities then as he thought to begin a more happy life yet fayre Memmia his wife so naturally accorded with his disposition as when she died he would often renew his sorrow and remember her vertues in these wordes Alecander Scuerus loue to Memmia his wife So great a Treasure as I haue lost a man seldome findeth Death were gentle if he tooke nothing but that which offendeth but oh he hath reaued the better part of my selfe How wonderfully was the loue of Paulina sage Senecaes wife who opened her Veines not onely Paulinaes rare loue to her Husband Seneea with an intent to accompany him to death but also with a desire to féele her husbands maner of death Quintus Curtius reciteth that King Darius with an vnapauled Spirite The precious loue of king Darius to his wife tooke his ouerthrowes by Alexander the Great the ruine of his kingdome the danger of his Royal person But hauing knowledge of his wiues death he wept bitterly shewing by this sorrow that he loued his Quéene farre aboue his Crowne King Admetus being fore sicke receiued this answere from the Oracle that if he liued his best friend must dye The deuine loue of king Admetus wife which when the good Quéene heard she presently slew her selfe and in the trembling passage of death censtantly said To giue King Admetus life his Queene and dearest friend doth dye Tiberius Graccus finding two Serpents in his chamber The exceeding loue of Tiberius Graccus towards his wife went to the Augurs to knowe what they diuined Who answered that he was bound to kill the one of these two Serpents if he slew the male he should die himselfe if he killed the female he should lose his wife who murtherer of himselfe slew the male and saued his wife and so by his rare loue raised a question whether his wife were more fortunate in hauing such a husband The wonderful loue of Queene Artimesia towards her husband Mausolus or vnhappie in loosing of him One of the seuen wonders of the world is an eternall testimonie of the loue which Quéene Artimesia bare to her husband Mausolus who for to engraue his dead Coarse erected a Sepulchre so royall and sumptuous as tooke away the glory of all Princely Toombes before her time and left no possibilitie for any in time to come to excell the same One of the seuen wonders of the woilde but holding this too base a mansion for his kingly heart she dried the same to pouder spicing her wine therwith she buried it in her owne bowels to crowne his fame with an euerlasting memorie for that that ruine of his Sepulchre was subiect to the iniurie of time with great rewards she encouraged Theopompus Theodectes Naucrites Isocrates foure of the most famous Orators of Greece to renowme his vertues Among whom Aul. Gel. in lib. de nocti aiti Theopompus as we reade receiued the triumph of victory in that learned skirmish I could reportè many other authorities of vnseparable Loue betwéene the Maryed the least of a hundred whereof would equall the friendships of Titus and Gisippus or of Damon and Pithias the two wonders of mens affections But for that I know the able wits here present can cloth my naked proofes of the excellencie of Mariage and of the diuine Loue betwéene the maried with many other sounde reasons I will giue place Madame that you and the rest of your Ingenious company may doo better seruice to the one and Iustice to the other desiring that that which is sayd may discharge my promise though not satisfie your expectation Sir quoth Quéene Aurelia if you giue vs good lawes to preserue Loue among the
Virginitie which is the fairest flower of a Single life be precious in the sight of God and in the opinion of men yet is Mariage more precious in that it is a sacred institution of God and more honoured of men the Married are reuerently intertained when the vnmarried are but familiarly saluted The Maried in assemblies are honoured with the highest places the vnmarried humble themselues vnto the lowest To be short Virginitie is the handmaide of Mariage Then by how much the Master is greater then the seruant by so much Mariage is more worthy then is Single life I confesse quoth Ismarito Mariage is an honourable estate Defences of a single life instituted of God and embraced of men but whereon had she her beginning vpon this cause to kéepe men from a greater inconuenience as the Law was founded vpon this reason to punish the trespasses of men But if no offence had béen giuen the Law had not néeded So if man had liued within bounds of reason which before any commaundement giuen was vnto him a Law Mariage might haue béen spared and therefore in the highest degrée is but a vertue vpō necessitie where Chastitie is a deuine vertue gouerned by the motions of the soule which is immortall and participating of the same vertue is alwaies fresh and gréene The euerspringing Bay is the Metamorphosis of chaste Daphnè whome Apollo although he were a soueraigne God could not allure to Mariage which proueth Chastity a true spark of Diuinitie whose twinkling reflexions so daseleth the eyes of imagined Gods whose powers must néedes be more great then the greatest of men as they cannot sée an end of their incontinent desires whereas the beauty of Mariage is many times blasted by fortune or the frailtie of the Maried Therfore think I by how much deuine things are of greater emprise then earthly by so much the Single life is more worthy then the Maried And in aduauntage quoth Lucia Bella where Soranso saith that there is great honor done vnto the married and to the Single is giuen light regard I pray you whether are Bacchus minions or the Muses most reuerenced among men whose places are hyer then the Cleargies and among women whose greater then the religious Dames They haue not this preheminence quoth Faliero because they professe a Single life Defences of Mariage but because their function is more sacred then other mens The cause why the cleargie are reuerenced who if their prayers to God be no more zealous then their vowes to chastity are stedfast you fly to the authority of a company as spotted as Labans Shéepe But where Sir Ismarito saith that Mariage is but a vertue vpon necessity to restraine man from a greater euill I approoue it an estate set downe by Nature and that man hath but amplified it with certain ceremonies to make perfect the determination of nature For we dayly sée in vnreasonable creatures Mariage is in a sorte worshipped Fowles of the Aire I meane the he and the she cupple together flie together féed together and neast together The Turtle is neuer merie after the death of her Mate and in many brute beastes the like constancy is found But generally there is neuer iarre nor misliking betwéen the Male and Female of vnpollitique creatures Vnpollitick creatures reuerence mariage and among the most barbarous people that euer liued by the impresson of nature Mariage hath euermore béen reuerenced and hououred Much more ciuill people ought to affect this holy estate And where Ismarito attributes such glory vnto a Single life because that Daphne was metamorphosed into a Bay Trée whose branches are alwaies gréene In my opinion his reason is faired like the Bay Trée for the Bay trée is barren of pleasant fruit and his pleasing words of weighty matter Furthermore what remembrance is there of faire Sirinx coynesse refusing to be God Paris wife other then that she was metamorphosed into a fewe vnprofitable Réedes Or of Anaxaretes chaste cruelty towards Iphis ouer then that she remaineth an Image of Stone in Samarin Many other such like naked Monuments remain of nice contemners of Mariage But in the behalfe of Mariage thousands haue béen changed into Oliue Pomegranate Mulberie and other fruitfull trées swéete flowers Starres and precious stones by whom the world is beautified directed and nourished In many well gouerned common wealths Sterility hath béene reputed so vile as the Aged was of no man honoured that had not children of his owne to do him reuerence Then by how much those things which nourish with increase are more necessary then those things which but simply please the eye by so much the maried is more worthy then the single life Sir quoth Ismarito it séemeth that you haue read a Leafe more then Saint Katherins Nun Defences of a single life for she simply tried all things and you subtilly vse but what serueth your owne turne you reproach a Single life with Barrennesse and commend the fertility of Mariage but had you showen the wéedes with the Corne bare pasture would haue returned as great a benefite as your haruest The Monsters Serpents and loathsome Creatures mentioned by Ouid in his Metamorphosis were they not I pray you the fruites of Mariage as wel as the blessings which you so affectedly reported Oedipus was glad to scratch out his eyes because he could not indure to beholde the vices of his Children The good Emperour Marcus Aurelius in his aged daies neuer rose that he sighed not neuer dined that he fretted not nor neuer went to bed that he wepte not to heare sée and consider the monstrous euils of his Children Admit the Maried haue vertuous Children they may dye when they are yong then the goodnes of their liues increaseth sorowes by their deathes and where the comfort is so doubtfull it is not amisse to refuse the hazard of the gréefe Vertuous fame is another life neither dyeth there any of Dianas band but that their vertues reuiueth them as the ashes of the Phenix turneth to another Phenix It is for some Phenix sake quoth Quéene Aurelia that you thus stoutly defend a Single life I doo but your commaundement quoth Ismarito I quoth she it is at my commaundement but yet for some others merite Aluisa vechio The impatiencie of women wil not be hid fearing that mariage would receiue some disgrace if that Quéene Aurelia fauoured the Defence of a Single life could not longer suppresse her affections but with a womans Impatiencie blamed the rigour of Diana who condemned Acteon to be deuoured of his owne Hounds who caused swéet Adonis to be staine by a wilde Boare with many other cruell partes vnséeming the naturall pittie of a woman but which might haue saned a great deale of Argument or at the least which will now soone end the Controuersie compare quoth she Iuno and Diana together and by their callings you may easily iudge who is the worthier Diana poore soule is
of words both gréeueth the reporter and giueth meane for a thousand sighes to break from the hearer where affected circumstances giue a grace to a pleasant tale Sorrowes causeth silence Sorow to heare their kinde thus stained with crueltie locked vp the tunges of the poore Gentlewomen a pretie while In the end quoth Aluisa Vechio We are bound to shew aswell the cause as to punish the euill a dame more olde and bolde then the rest me séemeth that Faliero hath but little fauored Elysa for he hath showen her euill and the scourge of her euill and in charitie he was bound to shew the cause of her euill I would quoth Doctor Mossenigo that Frier Bugiardo had heard this disputation Good moralitie is better then euill doctrine it might haue béen the breking down of the Altar whereupon he but lately committed blasphemy it would haue more reformed him thē his pleasing Sermon could haue confirmed vs. These aduantages the Doctor tooke to crosse the Gentlewomen his late open enemies There is no trusting of a reconciled enemie and but now his fained fréends not vnlike a sneaking dog that neuer barkes but bites withall And to spite them the more quoth he Monsier Bargetto since you are bound from speaking of loue you haue both cause and oportunitie to talk of womens hate Pardon me quoth Bargetto for this penance was but a due paine for my presumption The example of a naughty nature which I hope to ouercome with patient suffering and sure in this milde answere Bargetto shewed a morall vertue A necessary note and Doctor Mossenigo by his malicious question a canckred nature for simply to offend procéedeth of frailtie but to perseuer in euill is a note of wilfull frowardnesse Well notwithstanding Bargettos temperance a Cauiller caught hold vpon this question as a Mastiue vpon an old dry Marybone A Cauiller hath colours for euery question and to proue a womans hatred more greater then her loue he auouched many cruell authorities But Faliero who had done them some initirie in reporting the late history made them part of amends and put their aduersarie to silence in prouing the contrary his reason was that their hate in the extremest degrée stretched but to the death of an other and their loue many times hath done wilfull murder vpon them selues Then it followeth Womens loue is more great then their hate by how much we prise our selues aboue an other by so much their loue is greater then their hatred Yea quoth the Doctor but their loue and hatred are both violents Women do amis but men are the cause and euery violent is an euill Yea Master Doctor quoth Maria Belochy their euils are the greater for men for by their flattering inchauntments women loue immoderately and stung with mens vnsufferable iniuries they hate mortally The Doctor replyed Beauty ouercommeth the wisest there was more power in her looks then authority in her words but least he should be subdued by the one he would not contend with the other Why quoth Quéene Aurelia beauty works no more impression in a Doctors eye then doth poyson in Mineruas shéelde for he by Philosophy can subdue affection Madame quoth he you may well compare beauty and poyson together EVRIPIDES comparison between beauty and loue for their operations are alike saue that beauty is the more extreame in that she infects with her looks and poyson not vnlesse we taste it or when it is most strong not vnlesse we touch it yea Euripides compareth her inchauntment with the inticements of a kingdome whereas he saith IN these two things a Kingdome to obtaine Or else to worke the faire to their will So sweetly tastes the grace of either gaine As men ne dread their freends with foes to kill The reason is controlement shrinkes the place Whereas a King as soueraigne Iudge doth sit In loue because that reason lackes his grace For to restraine the selfe conceits of wit So that God knowes in danger stands his life That is a King or hath a fayre wife To deale in Princes affayres the company was too gréene but in beauties behalfe there was neither Gentleman nor Gentlewoman that was not desirous to bee reuenged of the Doctors detraction for he that hath a slaunderous tongue iniurieth many Slander is generally hated and is himselfe hated of all men but for that it was now too late to decide any other great question Quéene Aurelia adiourned the ending of any controuersie vntill the next day The Deuice of the second Nights Mask BY a secret foreknowledge of a Maske with which Soranso Bargetto Ismarito and others purposed to honor Segnior Philoxenus and his companie supper was hastened and soone ended and after the one had saluted the other with an accustomed reuerence while the rest of the Gentlemen entertained Time with dauncing or deuising with their mistresses the Maskers withdre with themselues about nine of the clock in this disguise presented themselues agayne A Consort of swéete Musicke sounded the knowledge of their comming the Musitians in Gyppons and Venetians A Gentleman is not to show his passions by his attire of Russet and Black Taffata bended with Murrey and thereon imbrodered this Posie Spero Timeo Taceo expressing thereby the sundry passions of Loue and before them two Torchbearers apparelled in Yellow Taffata Sarcenet the generall apparell of the Maskers was shorte Millaine Clokes Dublet and Hose of Grêene Satten bordered with Siluer Greene silke stockes White Scarpines Rapyers and Daggers Siluered Men in mary case are to be priuiledged for another merit Blacke Veluet Cappes and White Feathers They agréed to be thus attyred to shewe themselues frée in the eye of the world and couertly bound vnto their mistresses Ismarito for courtesie sake because he was a straunger and withal in that his Mistres was the most honourable had the leading of this Maske who lighted with a torch by his Page apparelled in Blew Carnation and White Taffata the colours of his Mistres Ventoy a Fan. entered with a Ventoy in his hand made like an Ashe tree wrethed about with Iuy expressing this poesie Te stante virebo with which vpon fit opportunitie he presented Quéene Aurelia his Mistresse within which were couertly hid these verses in English Italion TWo Soueraigne Dames Beauty and honestie Long mortal foes accorded are of late And now the one dwels in my Mistresse eye And in her heart the other keepes her state Where both to shew the vertue of this peace To garnish her make ryot of their Grace In her fayre eye Dame Beauty doth increase A thousand Gleames that doe become her face And with her heart thus doth the other deale She lowly seemes and mounts through chast disdayne So that her thrals doo serue with honest zeale Or fearing blame doe yeelde vnto their paine The heauenly soules enuies the earths renowne Such giftes diuine in humaine shape to see And Ioue stil moues a
vnpleasant Her anger kéepeth seruants in awe and her quicknesse ouerséeth their negligence if her tung runne at riot where she hunts there is store of abuse which must be chased either with blowes or words if y◠fury of her spéech offend her Husband it is like that her outrage groweth from his fault and where an iniury is offered it is sufferable if the wrong be blamed but which maketh a ful amends for her furious mood as the clowdy and rainy day lightly cléereth towards night euen so though she bitterly scowld at boord she wil be sure to kisse swéetly a bed The auncient Gentlemen commending the quick wit of this yong Gentleman In blaming mildens is to be vsed vsed this circumstance before he refelled his error Ah quoth he if wit were as aduised in Iudgement as he is ready in conceite his imaginations would turne to wonderfull effects but as fairest colours soonest staine as swéetest flowers are blasted with a breath as beautifull creatures are blemished with a little care as the brightest Sun threatneth suddaine raine yea as euery mortall thing hath his imperfection euen so wit being mortall Wit simply in imperfect and assigned by Nature to make man glorious aboue other creatures by rashnes corrupts the ripenes of his conceites and to good purpose his pride is thus abated for other wise man which inioyeth wit to worship his Creator and to liue content with the liberties of the sea and to kéepe him within the limits of the earth would search the secrets of heauen and I think dispossesse Pluto of hell Yong Gentleman quoth he I vse not this ceremony to represse your liberty of spéech for the errour of your rashnes I will refell with reason and experience but least héeraftèr you should be as arrogant in opinion as you are ripe in conceite I haue thought good fréendly and bréefely to signifie your imperfection and now to answere your late suggestion I affirme that Nature hath created nothing to a néedlesse purpose but not withstanding our abuse or mischance changeth hurtfull things into occasions of our help surfite and sicknes only commendeth Medicine and as you affirme the bloud of a Scorpion cureth the biting of the Viper But take away the cause which procéedeth from our gréefe and you shall finde medicine an enemy to health and the stinge of a Scorpion no better then death and trust me he is to be reckoned a foole and his misfortune to passe vnreléeued that wilfully indammageth his health in hope of remedy In like sort let him liue vnpittied to ouersée the slacknesse of his seruants who will marry a wife whose tung shall ouer-rule himselfe But more particularly to describe the properties of an vnquiet wife and more largely to discourse the displeasures of her vnfortunate husband I will approoue her lowrings as vnprofitable as his life is vnpleasant you say her quicknesse ouerséeth the negligence of sernants but I affirme that her curstnesse maketh them as swift to runne away Shift is vnprofitable for Maister and Seruant as they were slowe to serue her and common vse auowes that often shift is neither beneficiall for Maister nor seruant for proofe as the rowling Stone gathereth no Mosse and want of vse canckereth Iron in likewise thrift flyeth the fléeting Seruant and idlenes consumeth his ability of seruice Now touching the euill reckoning of those which are serued their wandering seruants not onely charge their common accounts with double wages but with secret pilfering they set their maisters in more déepe arrerages The Grecians that in times past neither vsed medicine for sicknesse Gienta a venemous herb one sort wherof is supposed to be Hemlocke nor patience in aduersitie but vpon euery great veration poisoned themselues with venemous Cienta In their Histories remember more that haue voluntarily died through the violence their Wiues tunges then of any other calamity Diogenes being demaunded the diuersity of an euill betwéene ascold a harlot answered They differ as the Viper doth from that crockadill for the scolde saith he with outrage destroyeth her Husband A needfull regarde for yong Gentlemen and the other with dissembling loue consumeth him to death And so concluded thē both enemies to life and quiet liuing of man Phrisio being both modestly warned and throughly answered with a blushful grace replyed the the grauity of his person and the sound reason in his wordes had taken from him al occasion of further Question vnles that women were his Iudges An ill cause asketh a partiall iudge This wittie shift moued such as were within the hearing to smile for where the cause is ill it is necessary to séeke a Iudge that is partiall and which commended Phrisios gouernment vpon a small check he left to contend with this ancient Gentleman for yong men although their wittes be good are not priuiledged to dispute with the grauer sort without licence intreatie or great renerence By this time the Mountibanke with describing the qualities of his vermin and the Zanni in shewing the knauish conditions of his Maister had wasted a good part of the night and wearied the most part of the company so that desire of repose summoned them vnto their lodgings MADONA AVRELIA Her fourth daies pleasures Containing varietie of necessary discourse and yet withall the greater part appertaining to the generall argument of Mariage SO déepe are the impressions of sorrow The great impression as the faining of Poets may be helde for Morall truthes where as they affirme that the bitter mone of Orpheus tung together with the passionate sound of his Instrument moued such ruth in infernall creatures as while he was a suter to Pluto for the restitution of his wife Euridice his plaints so charmed the torments of Hell as for the time the Gripe forbare to teare vpon Titius growing hart Tantalus indeuoured not to drinke Danais daughters leste filling of their brincklesse Tub toyling Sisiphus sate and eased himselfe vpon his rowling Stone yea and Pluto ouercharged with pitie made restitution of Euridice This sorrow to heare that Quéene Aurelia by some distemperature was sick and kept her Chamber wrought such gréefes in the hartes of the whole company that they hung their heads in disgrace like Garden Flowers which séeming as teares are cloyed with the dewe of a foule mistie day True sorrow is knowne rather by sighes then words Among the rest Ismarito although he vsed not so many words of lamēt as some other did yet with the teares of his hart he solemnifed the true rites of a Mourner and to say truth where the tung hath frée passage to talke the hart is occupied with no great gréefe Segnior Phyloxenus séeing Ismarito in this passion and that occasion entertained him with no other busines while the rest of the company were hearing of a little superstitious seruice The Pope hath begun and not yet finished a most rare Gallerie Beautifull attires for a Gallerie lead him into a very faire
reioycing I graunt as much quoth Soranso but this will follow The euil of Ielousie the Husband will turne his owne mistrust to his Wines sorrow and receiue her good vsage to his owne priuate comfort Indéede quoth Aluisa Vechio the loue of a ielous husband is sauced with such froward motions as I had rather be matched with him that regardeth me not at al then with him that loueth me too much for of the one though I am not beloued yet I shall not be much crossed of the other I being too much beloued I shall neuer be in quiet I am not of your minde quoth Helena Dulce I had rather haue my Husband ielous Hard is the difference betweene a carelesse and a ielous Husband then carelesse for being carelesse no good vsage will reconcile him and being ielous the wife may study out how to please him Yea but quoth Katharina Trista Men are so easie conceited that if they perceiue a woman studieth how to please them they straightwayes imagine she will likewise study how to deceiue them and therefore God shielde me from a ielous husband I haue heard the white streaked Carnation Gilleflower was the Metamorphos of a fayre Gentlewoman beheaded by her husband vpon this ielous thought that his wife being so fayre could not but bee beloued of the Gods Ouid. Metam lib. 10. although he had no cause to suspect men And where haue yée a larger example of Loue then the aduenture of Orpheus who by extreame sorrow and sute recouered his Wife out of hell Eurydice and by ouer ielous Loue sent her thither agayne Doctor Mossonigo was smiling out a scoffe Preuent a scoffer and he becommeth a Sotte vpon this tale which Quéene Aurelia intercepted by ending of the Gentlewomens contention By your talke of hell quoth she I sée we are out of the way to Platoes Paradise therefore good we turne back agayne Indéede Madame quoth Fabritio if we trauell still to choose the least of euils it will be long before we come to the Fountaine of goodnesse Me thinkes quoth Isabella the Sonet which moued the late Question A Commendation of lofty Loue. directs a fayre way to happinesse in mariage for it commēdeth lofty Loue And if according to the olde Prouerbe The best is best cheape this aduenture giueth hope and promiseth good Fortune It is true quoth Soranso and I dare vndertake to approoue it the happiest estate in mariage Dondolo because he would not be disgraced by marying a Burgoys fayre Daughter of Rauenna offered to prooue the contrary Quéene Aurelia licensed them to shew their reasons Whereupon quoth Soranso to giue great Ladies and Gentlewomen of calling their true right and honour who lightly marry not their Inferiours in reputation but for some especial vertue that doth commend their choyce and cleareth the blemish of her husbands basenesse I must confesse hat he which raiseth his thought so hie vndertaketh no doubt a tedious suite his delaies will bee grieuous and his Soliciters will be well rewarded in what sorte so euer he be regarded But what of this Quo quid difficilius eo pulchrius Perill maketh honor perfect the stinging of the Bée mends the swéetenes of Honie Roses best refreshe oursences when we prick our hands to reach them The euill of a thing commendeth the goodnesse He that crackes the Nut thinkes the kernell swéetest The reason is not for that the goodnesse of a thing is the better for the euil thereunto belonging but for that the remembrance of the euill maketh vs holde the good in more reputation especially in loue The affection which is forced with teares wonne with sighes gaynd with expence compassed with sorrow is held most pleasant most perfect and of longest continuance Againe easie gotten good-wil becommeth in a while lothsome the cause is as I conceiue for that the pleasure was neuer seasoned with paine Once a man in louing his better to increase his passion shal lack no occasion both to séeke sue sigh serue and yet to féede his hope hée shall want neither faire lookes good words nor possibility of fauour For for to obtain a great Lady acquireth many circumstances not for that she is precise to loue but for that she is wise or would be so thought in her procéedinges But whether shee loue or no Ouid sayth there is no womā but will indure the demand she is contēted w e seruice to be courted Loue spareth no degree and in recompence rewardeth with good countenance But which most sustayneth hope the example is in continuall vse that loue spareth no degrée transgresseth euery law bringeth the mightiest in bondage to the meanest King Cofetua the Affrican became enamoured of a Begger fayre Venus espoused ill fauoured Vukane Pigmalion doted vpon an Image Narcissus was drowned in embracing his owne shadow and mighty Ioue many times cast aside his diuinitie to dally with simple country trulles then why should the affected how bace soeuer his estate be despayre to attempt a great Lady when his warrant is signed with so large Authorities But whether he spéede or faile be accepted or reiected well entertained or ill intreated the imagination that time will inuest his desire with delight Hope to compasse great matters comforteth more then the possession of trifles is to the affected a Paradise farre excelling the possession of equall loue But if in the end her affection or his good fortune concludeth his wish in desire her loue which cannot choose but be great in that she marieth beneth her calling And her Abilitie which allured at the first with his inabilitie to realish both cannot but make the Husband fortunate and the Wife well pleased for that in recompence of this aduancement she may presume somwhat to rule her head Reproofe of lofty Loue. but which most contents she shall haue the satisfaction of her fancie a bed If a house were as soon builded as the Plot is drawen qd Dondolo Shepheards would disdain to liue in Cotages euē so if euery man could as soone compasse a Lady for himselfe as he can reporte the fortune of other there must be an Act to make Ladies or Lords must be glad of meane women But admit by the example of other mens aduancements that the meanest may be raysed by the yéelding fancie of the mighty I prophesie that such an vpstart had more néede of ten eyes toward the malice of his Wiues kindred thē one tung to moue her to kindnesse A woman cannot mislike affectionated proffers One kinsman hath an interest in anothers honor because they procéede of loue But her kindred disdaineth his attempt for that the conclusion tendeth both to their her dishonour A woman séeing her seruants passions cannot but sustaine him with pittie her kindred séeing him in good way to be beloued wil lye in waite for his life For though she may dispose of her affection her kindred hath an interrest in her
with beggerie bondage if she be proud she will hide her abilitie to maintaine her pompe if she be testie he is forst to patience if she be ielous he can hardly indure her rages And to conclude if the olde doting widdowe be frée from one of these faultes she is tied to forty euils of lesse sufferance for if her Husband commaund her will she straightwaies saieth her other Husband was more kinde if he chaunce to dine from home she willes him to sup with his harlots if he spend beyond her allowance thus she reuiles him A Begger I found thee and so thou wilt leaue me To chastice her talke setteth an edge of her tung to suffer her in her rage maketh her railings irreuocable By your words Maister Doctor quoth Lucia Bella the wife is the greatest cause of this contention aad yet in common opinion the Husband is most blamed Madame you are too hastie in an aduauntage I ment no such partiallity quoth the Doctor Yea Madame quoth Bargetto Maister Doctor is now so conquered as his tung is the Trumpet of your pleasure It is so quoth the Doctor to sound out those thinges which are true PLATOES Hell in Mariage and in truth the yong Husband often times maketh the euils good in déedes which the olde wife vseth but in words for no longer then she féedeth him with Coyne shall she enioy his companie if she rob not her Children to inrich him she shal lack no froward lookes nor fowle vsage if she put him in possession of her liuing he straightwaies dispossesseth her of his loue for hauing what he sought he will els where be enamoured And vprightly to speake she lacketh neither occasion to lament nor cause to be inraged for who is so patient as can dissemble her vnsufferable passions both to bée spoyled of her liuing and to bée eryled from that shée loueth And in very truth so egall are their euills as it were a hard matter to iudge who deserueth least blame or most excuse she reproacheth him of Beggerie whoredome Vnthriftines ill vsage and of the ruine both of berselfe and her Children He blameth her of olde age ielosie curstnesse scowlding and for hiding of her goods which he hath bought with dooing iniurie vnto his person If shée be determined to be merie he scornfully telleth her that it is as sightly for a toothelesse Mare to eate Marchpane as for such a wrinckled Mumpes to fall a bylling If he come in well disposed and affably intreateth her she calleth him dissembling hipocrite saith he saluteth her with his tongue but his heart imagineth of his minions abroade shée runneth to the neighbors to complaine in the meane while hée sendeth her corne to the Market and her cattel to the Faire If the friends of good will or neighbours of charitie labour to accord their contention as she imagineth to shame him shée thundreth out a thousand iniuries that hée dooth her for her owne praise she saith that of pure loue she maried him with nothing and to reproach him she sweares hée hath spent her substance and hateth her person To shew her owne good huswiferie shée tels that she worketh all day at her Distaffe and to blase his vnthriftinesse she she weth how he plaieth away her gaines at Dice she crieth out that perforce hée taketh what hée openly findeth and priuilie stealeth what she secretly hideth These and many moe complaints she preferreth against her husband with the vehemencie of a womans passion Her husband that knoweth how to bée reuenged in déedes for his owne credit is more milde in words hée layeth all these blames vpon her owne crooked disposition who though she be so olde as a man can hardly loue her yet with a cankred ielous froward nature shée would force a man to hate her but what remedy since his fortune was so hard hée would starue her with patience and onely adde this Sâ—â—â—age to his Lâ—taâ—â—â— A praua muliere good Lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 These drâ—e scoffes sets her heart in a light fire and saue that she hath not so many colours like vnto Iris thundreth out the venome of her cankred Spirit in reuilings and raylings against her husband and to say truth her case is to be pittied as much as her tongue is to be blamed for iniutie is not so grieuous vnto 〈◊〉 as to sie his aduersarie soothe his trespasse with an honest â—hoâ— But to my purpose A great cause of impatience her husband crosseth her with a quiet answere you may sée friends saith hée wilde fire will burne in water drink will make the Dropsie drie and mildnes in me moueth madnesse in my wife by her example here you sée my life at home as tedious as hell then perhaps some â—louâ—ing Marchant saith like enough and the she diuell weareth the houres Thus with their owne mischiefes they grieue their friends delight their foes and weary their Neighbors in according their debates and if they be in the morning quieted and goe home in peace at Noone like enemies they are redy to throwe the house out at the window a slut like the furie of lothsomnes shal bring in dinner because the ielous wife dare not trust her husband with any maide that is hansome the husband offended throweth the Platters at her head and asketh if she meane to pâ—yson him the wife taketh pepper in the nose and saith if he had not married her he would haue béen glad of the worst morsell there The husband replieth that if he had not béen so mad the diuell would not haue married her Then beginneth the olde Musick tuâ—ed perchance with a rap or two of the lippes and when they haue brawled their fill shée runneth and bemoneth her selfe at her neighbours and hée goeth and maketh himselfe merrie with his Mistresses In sooth Defence c. master Doctor it féemeth to mée quoth Sir Soranso that you haue very substancially proued my opinion for Mariage equally deuideth her blessings and mischances betwéene the maried and as farre as I can sée neither of these knoweth who hath the better or worse bargen there are raylings and vnquietnesse of both sides but what of that pleasure is best seasoned with paine and though they sometimes iarre at home they agrée well when they are seperated among their neighbours And although you haue stretched their debates vpon the rack of vengeance yet at aduenture I wish my selfe no worse bestowed then murie an olde wealthy Widdow I doo not thinke but by good vsage to continue her first affection giuen euen vnto dir very Graue You will kill her with kindnesse quoth Maria Belochie Yea Madam quoth Soranso if her nature be so froward as to die with good vsage In déede Ladyes quoth the Doctor there are some men that entertaine their olde wiues with such a faire showe of flattering loue as they be witch them euen to their latter gasps But at what rate dooth she purchase this kindenesse O euen with the vndooing
of her selfe and Children yea A most wicked pollicie and which is worse it is the pollitie of Father in lawes to dandle the infancie of their wiues Children in the lap of ignorance to this ende that being of lawfull age they may with lesse fetches boguile them of their liuing so that the vnfortunate child knowes not whether he may more bemone his losse of liuing or lacke of good bringing vp Senecas opinion that children were better to be dead borne then ignorant of good letters and in my iudgement of both the euils want of education is the greatest for learning and vertue purchaseth liuing and liuing corrupteth but coyneth not good conditions and as Seneca saith libertie without learning is a bondage to the minde and further the Child were better to be dead borne then barren of good Letters for that ignorance is a graue which burieth life Master Doctor quoth Quéene Aurelia me thinketh your words doo too much wrong to the wife though they cannot sufficiently blame the husband I graunt that father in lawes estéeme their owne profites before their wiues childrens preferments but yet I suppose Nature dooth direct the naturall Mother to eye their good bringing vp Things that are best esteemed who with much sorrowe brought them fooâ—th for as the Prouerbe géeth things that are dearely bought are of vs intirely beloued and nothing is more dearely purchased then what is attained with the hazard of life which venter the Mother maketh before she is assured of her Childe then this crueltie to wards her Children to satisfie the wil of her second husband will make indifferent men holde her an vnnaturall Mother whether her husband estéeme her a dutiful wife or no. Oh good Madam Reproose c. quoth the Doctor how can the hen succour her Chickens when she her selfe is at the mercy of the Kite how can the Conny preserue her Rabets when the Ferret is in possession of her Burrowe and how may the vnfortunate Mother Foster her shiftlesse Children either as she should or would wheÌ„ her fancy or folly hath enthralled her to a second husband whose power is to direct and displeased to check This seueritie of Father in lawes hath bred much diuision in mariage but stil the quarrels are concluded with the detriment of the Children for the vnhappie wife is bound to one of these two euils either to agrée to the tyrannizing of her entrailes A hard extremitie or to yéeld to her owne continuall sorrow and quietnesse and where the case is so desperate it may be lamented but not wondred at that necessitie breake the boundes of nature To stay this mischiefe quoth Helena Dulce honorable is the custome of Spaine An honorable custome of Spaine where the vertuous dame holdeth the second mariage a retrograding of her reputation a wrong to her deceased husband for by this staiednesse shée is in possession of her libertie and hath the disposing of her liuing I holde this precise custome quoth Dondolo more profitable then necessarie for the penance were too hard yea vnpossible to bée indured that the lusty young Widdow should bée constrained to a Virgins chastitie for as Ouid deuineth I that sometimes of Nuptiall rites Haue taste the pleasant toyes Now cannot chuse but call to minde Dame Venus sugred ioyes But if the aged widdow could liue within this lawe it would bring honor to her yeares and happinesse to the end of her life What better husbands may shée haue then her owne Children whome she may both commaund and controule Meete husbands for aged widdowe whose dueties are to labour in her causes and to vnburden her heart of cares And when shée departeth this life where may shée better dispose her liuing then vpon her owne Children whome to relieue she is coniured by nature and to bring vp in good nurture bound in conscience But from the beginning so rife hath béen the dotage of widdowes that when their féeble legges faintely supporte their consumed bodies when at high noone their mistie eyes hardly discerneth the high way and when forst through lack of téeth they swallowe their meate their lippes notwithstanding take delight in kisses and their mindes thirst after wantonnesse Mens follies are as great as Womens simplicities in this ouersight in dotage quoth Quéene Aurelia but I think it necessarie that héere wée stay our iourney least wée enter into hell before we be a ware and therefore Segnior Fabritio I pray you let vs haue your sentence to ouerrule this question Madam quoth Fabritio the euill of this inequallitie in Mariage is both so auncient and so common in vse Experience is a iudgement it selfe as there néedeth no other iudgement then experience of our neighbours mischaunces but to succour the iniured Children A worthy law made by Laertius I would that one of Laertius lawes were common to the whole world which is where the Tenant sued his Lord Seruant his Master or the Childe his Parents that Iudges themselues should forth with looke into the Processe and determine the same for it is vehemently to be supposed that these sutes are forced vpon vehement iniuries otherwise the Seruant would feare to sue his Master who hath pówer moderately to chasten him the Tenant would quake to vnquiet his Lorde who hath many meanes to crosse him and without whose grace hée may neuer liue in peace Shame and duety in any sufferable matter would make the childe forbeare to molest his Parents for but where his cause is knowne Reporte like a two edged Knife would besides his iniurie wound him with blame and omission of dutie Therefore where the least of two dangerous euils foreeth the aboue said to sue it is much to be lamented that delay countenance of friends corruption with bribes and other supporters which the rich hath should torment the poore complainant more then his originall iniurie Your reason is but iust quoth Quéene Aurelia and the rest of the companie who wearie with the multitude of the recited mischances here broke off the disputation and went and reposed themselues in the great Chamber The speeche which passed the sixt night at Supper betweene Segnior Philoxenus and his Honourable Guestes ACcording to the order of Merchaunts who at the latter enoe of the yeare suruey their accountes to sée what fortune and mischaunce they haue receiued through the whole yeare past Segnior Philoxenus towards the latter ende of Supper smilinglie demaunded an account of the benefite of the chosen companies sixe dayes Disputation Sir quoth Soranso It is no striuing against the streame with a modest merrie countenance we are like to present you a Banckrupts reckoning who the longer he occupieth the worse he thriueth so wée these sixe dayes haue trauailed to finde out a way to the Paradise in mariage and euery day we haue béen further and further off of our determination one day we thought that the wealthy matches of Parents would haue spéeded our iourney but there