he would presently thrust him in with his rapier which accordingly took effect and so very villanously was Byndon murthered by his direction to coulor which diuilish practise and to the full consuming of his wicked intent he repaired forthwith to the King and infourmed him that he and some others passing through a strange gallery in his Highnesse Court had discouered a great crime committed in his royal Pallace which was no lesse then the deflowring of his owne natural daughter and shewed him further the manner of the apprehension and how Byndon being the offendor would haue made escape so that his man to saue his owne life was forced to kill him â—or that Byndon was so earnest to get away and had so prest vpon him that he could not otherwise remedy the same The King hearing what Delamure said so chaunged colour that he seemed rather a ghost then a liuing creture being at the first ouer-credulous induced so to thinke because Byndon was in such a place the secresie whereof was of sufficient authoritie to forbid any the entrance thereunto but to such as Modesta specially licensed griefe anger striuing for superiority in great rage without examining any further of the matter very vnnaturally did command his daughter to be imprisoned who finding the malice of her aduersary to haue ouercome her innocency submitted her selfe according to the necessity of the time to the stormy blastes of double faced fortune yet not ceasing to eâ—claime against such villanous and bloody murther executed vpon giltlesse Byndon whose innocent blood cryed to the heauens for reuenge of so great a treachery which iust and pitifull complaint increased the ielousie of suspition against her whose cleare conscience waighed not of any vniust disparagement so that in answering this false accusation she shewed so resolute a determination that argued a valarous and noble minde in one of the female sexe which had bene sufficient arguments to repulse this scandalous and false accution if the credite of her accuser had not bene of such great estimation yet neuerthelesse she was admitted to haue her champion so that any or as many as would come within three moneths should be lycensed out of what Countrey so euer he come to vndertake the defence of Modestas good name impeached by that tirannous County and in default of accomplishment thereof Modesta should according to the law suffer the paines of death This sentence pronounced she was carried againe to the same prison she was in before where she remaineth this fortie dayes without any hope of inlargement the mightinesse of Delamures countenance and his valiant exploytes as well at home as in forren countreyes doeth so terrifie aswell denizens as strangers that hetherto none durst presume to commit his person and honour to so great a daunger as to offer him the combat yea though neuer so confident of the equitie of the cause Ambideza seeing the matter to come to this predicament determined to conuay her selfe secretly out of the way nowe but too late remembring that many loue treason but none loue the Traitour making no other reckoning but that Delamure made her an instrument to bring to passe his bloody and inhumane reuenge against her mistresse and then haply he might worke some meanes to cut her off for feare his treason should come to light feeling also some remorse in her conscience of this bloody practise which thorow her meanes was like to prooue a dolefull tragedie here my sonne quoth the Hermite you heare the trueth of the cause for that Ambideza bequeathing her selfe to a Pilgrimes life thereby to endure some penance for her grieuous offence happened to light on this my Cell and because as it seemed vnto her I was a religious man in the way of deuotion she confessed the same vnto me Moderatus giuing attentiue eare vnto all this discourse was mooued with great commiseration of Modestas infortunate misery taking the murthering of Byndon his vnkle verie heauily yet like a braue minded warriour resoluing rather to reuenge an iniurie committed then to mourne for the losse of his friend meant to take opportunitie by the foote and either to free Modesta from the imminent daunger she was in or els to offer his carkasse as a sacrifice to finish the obsequies of his beloued kinsman and innocent Modesta and therefore made great moane to the Hermite for horse and armour to attempt this combate making no doubt but shortly to qualifie the arrogancie of that blood-sucking traitour The Hermite noting the honourable resolution of his minde iudged him to be a man of some great bountie And thereupon calling to memorie how that walking to take the benefite of the ayre he had espyed hanging vpon a Pine tree fine blacke armour and therefore nowe he brought Moderatus where the same was who beholding the same espyed this poesie ingrauen in the barke of the tree in Italian letters and to this effect None may this sharpe and cutting sword vncase But to redeeme the daughter of a King Nor any Knight this Armour bright vnlace Nor of his vertue bragge in any thing But he therewith that shall a Tigre tame For to defend a princely virgins name WHen he had well perused ouer the Poesie and told the Hermite the meaning who had small skill in the Italian tongue he assayed to take downe the armour yet fayled in effecting his desire for that all his strength was too weake to dissolue that inchauntment who perceiuing some misterie to be therein prooued another way to recouer the same and therefore he quickely griped the handle of the sworde which without any great difficultie he vnsheathed and then finding all other meanes insufficient to enioy so great a Iewell with the fine cutting sword he squared the inchaunted bandes which fixed the Armour to the Pine wherewith the same fell to the ground at the fall whereof very great and fearfull noyse was heard all there-abouts also a thicke myst and darknes so couered them that they could scant see one another great lights flashings of fire amid this darknes appeared Thus very miraculous and fearfull with great thunder earthquake this inchantment was dissolued by that light appeared againe the Pine-tree whereupon the inchanted armour hanged was missing and in the place where it had bene appeared a very faire horse wel richly furnished which mooued them to very great admiration Neuerthelesse Moderatus was very glad thereof hauing recouered such a goodly stead so sure strong armour hauing now an assured confidence in the successe of this enterprise by this the day was far spent it drew towards night therefore the olde Hermite very curteously offered Moderatus such simple lodging as his poore Tell could affoord who willingly accepted thereof and so both returned againe to the Hermites poore lodge and time of repast being not yet come the good old father to driue away the time began thus to parlie with Moderatus The Hermits exhortation to Moderatus and encouragement
the bait is at last hanged on the hooke and the flie so long dallyes with the flame that shee is in the ende consumed therein wherefore deare friend leaue these fond cogitations let not the flilie baits of alluring vanities so intangle you in the net of follie that in the ende you may haue cause to say that you haue bought repentance at an vnreasonable rate at least-wise if it be so strongly rooted in you that reason can not easily shake it away conceale not the same from me least in so doing the cure would not prooue so effectual wanting the true knowledge of the cause of the disease Priscus now seeing that it was no time to dissemble with his friend knowing it impossible to couer the smoke that was alreadie burst into a flame vnlockt the closset of his thoughtes and discouered him selfe vnto him in this manner Sweete Moderatus I wonder not a litle that you would thus fraudulently by ouer-hearing my complaintes endeuour to compasse my secrets whereas you might haue ben assured though that the reuealing thereof had both impaired my substance preiudiced my person that you could no sooner haue requested the knowledge thereof but that most willingly I would haue imparted the same vnto you And in that I haue so long concealed it it was to my most vehement and great griefe for fire suppressed burneth more vehement water stopped bursteth out with a greater force so â—â—at the fewe brandes whereat I latelie warmed my fancie is nowe growen to so great a fire that it hath almost burned vp and consumed vnto cynders my poore flectible heart And assure your selfe Moderatus I was not so suspitious as to misdeeme of your fidelitie whose faithfull dealing had assured me many wayes of your loyaltie and therefore needed no further tryall being perswaded that I had layde my foundation vpon a sure rocke Yet neuerthelesse as you haue very fitly compared friendship to honie so I finde your friendly admonitions to be so bitter and biting that the verie name thereof hath almost ouercharged my queasie stomacke for the counsell howsoeuer wholesome is neuer plausible when it feedeth not the humour of the counselled And for my maladie I am vnlike to be purged thereof without that the worker of my preiudice minister a remedie no more then Telephus could be cured of the wounde he receiued of fierce Achilles launce before a plaister of the rust thereof was put thereunto to salue the same and to leaue off all ambiguities I am so infected with the venime of the Tarantula that I am almost consumed in the suddes of mine owne pleasure Wherefore deare friend seeke not in hope of my recouerie to minister any thing vnto me which can worke no other effect but onely the diminishing of that little ease and rest I haue but rather suffer thy vnfortunate Priscus to dye yea die Priscus and why liuest thou to procure thine owne torment an exile to thy countrey a heart-sore to thy friendes and a vassall to thy enemies resting thus metamorphosed in perpetuall daunger of thine owne person nay but where wander I pardon me good Moderatus in that I haue thus fantastically breathed foorth my dreaming agonies for herein shall you rather finde a sencelesse truth then a sensible tale and albeit hope forbiddeth me to put any confidence in her by reuealing my passions neuerthelesse both to disburthen somewhat my thrauled minde and also to make amendes for the fault alreadie committed in concealing the secretes of my breast thus long from you attend the whole circumstance of this my Tragicall discourse and with the conclusion thereof a violent expulsion of my vital breath from this carefull and distressed carkasse if no hope be left of releeuing my wearyed agonyes Had I prouidently pondered that worthie sentence of the famous and renowmed Philosopher Thales Miletius who being by one of his friendes demaunded how much difference there was betweene a Lye and Trueth answered asmuch as there is betweene thine eare and thine eye meaning thereby that those things are not euer true which by common report are spread abroad For as Maro saith of Fame Mobilitate viget viresque acquirit eundo so passing through the mouthes of many euery one adding a little thereunto it is in the end growen to an intollerable errour howbeit the Philosopher admonisheth vs to beleeue those thinges for trueths which we see with our eyes and not to be credulous of those thinges which are blazed by common report Had I aduisedly weighed this notable saying of Thales the bare report bare I may well call it the croppe being not worth the seede of Floridas beautie had not mooued me being inconsiderate of my state and person thus fondly from a Prince of Aemulia to become a vassall and a slaue to the Gouernour of Liguria no better man then my selfe and my Fathers mortall enemie wherein like an obstinate and vntoward youth I layd reason in water to stiepe being too salt for my taste and followed vnbrideled affection which was pleasant and toothsome in the mouth though poysoned venome in the mawe And my Parents which affoorded me coyne and libertie in my youth to worke mine owne preiudice will be sorie to see mee want both wealth and wisedome in mine age O fonde Priscus why doest thou inueigh against thy selfe it is an ill birde that defileth his owne nest and it were thy part rather to amend what is amisse then to aggrauate thy offence by reuealing thy absurd fantasies making thereby thy name more odious but nothing helping to bring thee to a better forme of liuing Oh but vnto what an heresie am I fallen wherein should I reforme my selfe haue I not sustained all this perplexitie being thereunto enioyned by beautie which is a thing deuine and which the gods them selues obeyed What is not this the same that Salomon with his wisedome could not resist Hercules with his strength could not withstand and Alexander with other mightie Monarches of the worlde with all their forces and power could not subdue what then should I thinke my selfe wiser then Salomon stronger then Hercules or mightier then Alexander No no Priscus beautie commaunded thee and therefore thou must obey and wherefore Priscus since thou must obey summon thy sences to a parlie and arme thy selfe with courage to goe through with so notable a victorie and be not dismayde to haue one repulse at a womans hands for womens three nayes be but one yea resolue thy selfe once more to plead for thy selfe to abide the censure of thy deerest mistresse whether it include life or death Now then sweet Moderatus that I may lay open vnto your vnderstanding this most strange and rare stratageme knowe that thine vnfortunate but euer constant friend is the same Priscus sonne and heire apparant to the mightie Lothus King of Aemulia who vndertooke this newe shape for the loue of fayre Florida faire but yet cruell Florida whose sharpe cutting answers euen this day had I not manfullie withstoode
poyse and weigh thy thoughtes to hammer in thy braine such thirstlesse and vaine imaginations ah Florida what haplesse miserie doest thou finde in this free prison where pleasure hath no place till the friendly foes haue disquieted thy life with a million of painefull trauailes nowe is the time for thee to resist the hot skirmiges and fresh aâ—saultes of that tyrant Loue before that he hath had quiet possession within thy minde for being suffered to enter by little and little he will waxe so strong that in a short time he will be like to dispossesse thee of that little interest thou hast in thy selfe and then as the moath in the garment and Locust in the corne it consumeth his hoast and departeth away without any reckoning for the trespasse he hath committed Then Florida consider what may they deeme of thee that earst had in admiration thy vertues and reputed thee for a second Diana but the vilest hypocrite of the worlde that would ouershadowe thy lasciuious appetites to wanton venerie with a fained shewe of counterfet grauitie and that there wanted in them nothing but sufficient auâ—acitie to recouer the ransacke of thy person and spayle of thine honour Wherefore leaue off this foule folie that thus doeth dispoyle thee of thy desired health and contented rest and endeuour to forget him that is the causer thereof At which wordes she yeelded foorth a number of scalding sighes and pawsed a little thereupon but againe recouering her voyce she beganne thus Ah forget him Florida how farre doe I forget my selfe that seeke to roote out his memorie from my heart that alreadie hath taken possession therein in whose consent or deniall resteth altogether the state of my life and honour Ah Moderatus Moderatus the flower and mirrour of all martâ—all prowesse and the liuely lantherne of perfect nobilitie beautie and vertue if we estimate the iudgement of that learned Laureat who said Non Pater aut Mater reddunt tibi nobilitatem Moribus vita nobilitatur homo Oh sweete Moderatus and therefore sweete because Moderatus it is thou alone that liuest in me of whome my minde onely conceiueth his hope and the heart his nourishment Alas that thy worthinesse should be the ouerthrowe of mine honour and thy perfection the imperfection of my life But what Florida he that feareth euery bush will neuer be a good woodes-man and he that will not venture when beautie and vertue commaundeth which though by hard fortune they be little obscured yet like the golde in the fire wil in the end appeare most rich and glorious may well come in my Aue but shal neuer come in my Creede therefore I referre the sequell hereof vnto the destinies to be arbiters in the cause rest resolued to winne or loose Moderatus betide life or death for his personable and valourous disposition hath giuen my heart the wound and his vertue and bountie must salue the same Ah but fond Florida Moderatus is too wise to come to the fist by the lure for he will suppose thy call to be but counterfet and thy selfe a woman whose propertie is to be wonne with a nut and lost with the shell and therefore will reiect thy suite and despise thy offers setting his rest vpon this olde Addage Soone ripe soone rotten the hottest loue is soonest forgotten No no Florida feare not Moderatus is wonne already for he that is so diligent and willing to attend thee as a seruant will not dislike to be preferred to the state of a husband Wherefore burne not vp day-light and sleepe not long in doubt for delay breeds daunger follow the counsell of Ouid who said Cum mora non tuta est subdere calcar equo Upon this merie pin Florida was about to depart out of her chamber to see if good fortune would offer her any conuenient opportunitie to put in practise her determinate purpose when Verosa the fayre daughter of Perduratus and sister to Moderatus entred the chamber who missing her Ladie Florida and vnderstanding that she was alone in her chamber maruelled the cause of her solitarinesse being long before more melancholie then she vsed to be Whereupon to countenance the matter she dissembled the passions of her inwarde griefe faining her selfe sicke demaunding of Verosa what sturre there was in Court who well knowing the nature of her disease and that mirth is a great purger of Melancholie humour thought it best to be pleasant with her and thus answered Madame verie litle for your absence thus long my Ladie hath caused all to be husht not one asmuch as calling for a payre of cardes to play a set at Mawe but euerie one making his looking glasse in his fellowes face standing like painted Images hauing nothing to doe without that with Dominianus they would catch flyes because they want one to instruct them in their Lessons for our Ligurian Gentlemen are in a manner more nice and bashfull then we women and want rather a spurre then a bridle and therefore Madame I doe thinke if you woulde shewe a pleasant countenance amongest them they would like the Antes when the Sun entreth into Aries cheerefully creepe out of their corners wherein so long they remained for dead Florida smiling at this her pleasant answere beleeuing faithfully that Verosa suspected her disease and therefore to auoyde suspicion she coyned this replie I am glad Verosa that you are so iocund and surely it seemeth by your talke that you met with a Champion that either prooued a Dastarde vpon the first incounter whose cowardise surreth vp this mirth in you or els hauing playde the part of a valiant Captaine and entred with courage the forte lately besieged you are glad to bee wonne by such a worthie warriour but howsoeuer I knowe you list not to make me priuie neither doe I greatly couet to knowe because my litle skil in that arte would haply make me giue a wrong censure in the cause but if you come as a friend to inuite me to see some of your pastimes abroad I am well contented to accept of your bidding and to view the ende if there be any acte in playing wherein if you be an Actrix I shall reioyce to see your good grace in playing the counterfet and after I will tell you my minde whether you be fitter for the stage in a Comedie or a Tragedie Verosa was not so grosse but that she perceiued that her Mistres pleasantnesse was but to dissemble her â—â—ward passions and albeit her face was full of smiles yet her heart was full of sorrowes therefore smiling at her conceited vaine she thought it not best to vrge her any further vpon that text but thus replyed againe Madame sickenesse and health be accidents to the which all liuing creatures be subiect yet after such sort subiect that both can not Dominere all at one time therefore me thinketh that it is verie strange that contraries shoulde concurre in you vpon such a sudden for pleasant disposition is the Kalender
Mistresse if you continue in this obstinacie I am sorie that I haue met with one so blinded with heresie Verosa blushing with modest shamefastnesse said pardon mee my Lord in that I haue spoken my minde as by your commaundement and the rest of the companie I was appointed and surely I thinke what I haue spoken to be rather an errour then an heresie if it be any offence at all but though it were neither and that all I spake should be an vndoubted trueth yet would I recant therein rather then loose so honourable a Seruant And syth you haue thus like a ghostly father giuen me a spirituall counsell you haue heard my confession and I am ready to perfourme any penance that you will enioyne vpon me for my sinnes By this Cornelius Lute being come the company requested that a good concord of his instrument might perfect that conformitie which was in his Mistresse whereat Cornelius being nothing displeased hauing tuned his Lute warbled out this ensuing Dittie CONELIVS song WHo aymes at honours worthy name And coueteith renowmed fame In no wise can thereto aspyre Without the ayde of Queene desire Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfayned ioy She sits triumphant in her seat And foes with furious lookes doeth threat Which do blaspheme with wordes vnmild Against her selfe and bonny child Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfayned ioy A child whose force and mighty hand The great God Mars could not withstand That burneth like a lampe of sire In fleeyng thoughtes wing'd with desire Oh mighty Cupid c. Whose shining beames doeth plainly show The ready way for them I trow For to aspyre to dignitie If loyall Louers they will be Oh mighty Cupid c. Lo here behold the honours due To amorous hearts that will be true But who dislodgeth from his bowre Shall soone perceiue his rodde is sowre O mighty Cupid c. And that he may with force confound Each liuing wyght that goeth on ground All you that doe this God despise Flye from his reach if you be wise O mighty Cupid c. But he that mean'th not to disdaine For pleasures sake to take some paine Ioyne with the rest that amorous be And to his Court to gaine your fee. Oh mighty Cupid Venus boy Accept of mine vnfained ioy COrnelius hauing warbled out this Dittie with a smiling countenance bade them all bee merrie and Florida whose course was next called for an Instrument and in the meane time spake thus to Cornelius My Lord you haue pleaded so cunningly for your great Master Cupid that sure you deserue a double fee and no maruell for as it is said Animo volenti nihil est difficile and least we should spend so much time in reasoning that we should want day to finish our begun exercise I beseech Clio to be mine ayde and therewithall hauing stretched the strings of her Instrument to the highest note she sweetely chirped out this Ode FLORIDAES song LAtely when Aurora drewe Curtayne which was darke of hewe Which vnspred shewed light That couered was by Lady nyght And blushingly discouered ay Her loues bed wherein she lay Then Titan lordly-n his seate Dryed vp moysture with his heate And chased hath the vayle darke Of racking clowdes for his parke Fishes swamme in siluer streame And I vnripped seame by seame Circumstance of natures mould Which rare seemed to behold Gazing thus with eyes of minde There I could nothing finde Which pleased not curious eye And therewithall I gan to spye Narcissus that was so fayre With his golden lockes of hayre Which of late had scorned all That were bent to Cupids call Viewing there the water cleere Where his beautie did appeare He thought it had another beene Whose like before he neuer had seene Thinking to embrace a shade That of a substance scorne had made He consum'd in loues desire Of such force is Cupids Ire That prepares the bed of woes To all such as be his foes And to intrap he snares doeth lay Such as doe him disobey When I sawe his doome so dyre To such as despis'd his fire At his flame I thought to warme Least I catch'd the greater harme Then in haste I came away Like aspyne leafe quaking ay For feare of the mighty God That all threatned with his rod That euer would disloyall be To his Mothers progenie His iudgement pronounced was With such terrour that alas I heare it sound in mine eare Moouing body to pale feare Least I should incurre his Ire Which might yeeld me chiefe desire FLorida hauing warbled ouer this Ode very demurely sate silent and Moderatus who was to follow hauing his Lute ready for the purpose first boarded his Lady and Mistresse with this preamble Sapho was neuer more poeticall in her Muses nor cunning in her musical Instruments then you Madame prooued your selfe by this so rare demonstration of an excellent Poet and exquisite Musician And albeit that it is a greater discommendation then praise to bee commended of an ill Oratour yet pardon me for that I do my good will and trueth neuer deserueth blame and therewithall not staying for any replie he began with a slow and soft voyce to measure ouer this Cansong Moderatus song WHen golden Titan did the Ram forsake And warmed the Bull with force of greater heate Then foorth I walked the pleasant ayre to take Glad when I heard the silly Lambes to bleate Pleas'd to behold the stormes of winters ire With quiet calme at last for to expire As thus I mused vnder the silent shade The chirping birdes chattering their harmonie Pleasant slumber my sences did inuade And then I heard a voyce that lowd did crie Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which now I do repent The golden shaft that pearst my panting breast Came from the quiuer hang'd at blind Cupids side Which hath so full bereaued me of rest And therewithall againe he lowdly cryde Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which now I doe repent Phoebus reflecting beames from polished glasse Yeeldes not more liuely shewes then doeth her face That is the cause of this my harme alas Well may I say being hopelesse in her grace Woe worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which nowe I doe repent Whereat I wak't but nothing could I viewe Which made me thinke a vision it should be And straight I rose to see what would ensue And then a nouell strange appeared to me A frozen man being in a fierie flame Another fryed in frost woe worth the same Afore I could the meaning vnderstand This strange Aenigma vanished quite away Whereat amazed much I then did stand Thinking that wofull wyght did lately say Wo worth the time that I did yeeld consent To lawlesse Loue which nowe I doe repent PAndarina being readie to take her turne in this musical pastime would not seeme to let Moderatus skill in Musicke and Poetrie vncensured and
with a Sunne-shine and end with a showre but Bountie is an ornament of the minde which like the Camomell the more it is trodden the thicker and better it groweth or to the pomander that yeeldeth the sweetest sent when it is most of all chafed Yet neuerthelesse was it not the Beautie of Helen that mooued Paris so to fancie her that he coulde not liue without her was it not likewise the comelinesse of Aeneas personage that caused Dido to loue him so much that she killed her selfe by reason of his absence and was it not also the Beautie of Cresed which made Troilus so to languish for her that he was at the point of death Infinite more examples I could produce where Beautie alone without the helpe of Bountie haue inueagled the beholders thereof vnaduisedly to intertaine fancie for as there is nothing more pleasing and precious to the eye so there is nothing more brittle and fading being but a pleasant bayte to intrappe the minde which well might be compared to a bauens blaze the which as it is violent can not be permanent or to the apples in Arabia which begin to rot before they be halfe ripe Wherefore by howe much the minde doeth excell and is of greater estimate then the bodie by so much is the vertue of the one to be preferred before the beautie of the other which made Diogenes to say to a beautifull youth much beloued for his faire complexion O fond yong man why doest thou not studie to conuert the louers of thy bodie to be louers of thy minde Aristotle being demaunded howe happened it that we held communication longer and more willing with a beautifull bodie then another answered that blinde persons vsed so to doe for that they perceiue not the brittlenesse of the beauty but the forme and grace of the colour Aristotle in another place calleth beautie the spurre of fame Diogenes said it to be a great gift of nature Socrates the violence of a short time Plato the prerogatiue of nature which happeneth but to a fewe Theophrastus tearmeth it a silent fraud which perswadeth without wordes Theocritus a glistering miserie which is plesant to the sight but the cause of many inconueniences Carneades a kingdome without gouernour for that the beautifull commaunde what they will without compulsion or force Thus you may see the opinion of diuerse philosophers touching beautie which neuerthelesse I will assure you is of great force to procure loue and that made Cineas the philosopher to say that the gods them selues in framing thereof went beyond their skill for that the maker was subiect to the thing made and true it is for what made Iupiter to transforme him-selfe into the likenesse of a Swanne to beguile Leda and into a Bull to rauish Europa what transformed Neptune vnto a horse and Mercurie vnto a Goate but beautie what meoued Apollo to be in loue with Daphne what caused Bacchus to fauour Gnosida but beautie well then if beautie was of such force to stirre the mindes of the Gaddes to affection what maruell is it if mortall wightes and humane creatures had not the power for to withstande the sharpe assaultes of his piercing beames for who so lookes vpon the Sunne if he be not Eagle eyed becommeth stone blinde and he that gazeth on beautie vnlesse his heart be as hard as Adamant will presently be inueagled therewith So that as I thinke beautie induceth the minde to affection and bountie bindeth vp the match with the consent of the heart Beautie winneth and Bountie conserueth but either of them by it selfe though for a small time it might procure liking yet in the ende it would growe to loathing wherefore that loue that should be founded vpon beautie alone without vertue would with that glorious hewe and fading gloze vanish away for what loue should remaine when the thing beloued were lost againe the loue grounded vpon bountie without beautie although for a season it might be conserued with the habite of vertue yet in the ende would it growe lothesome much like a feast stored with plentie of fine eates and daintie dishes and all these serued in vncleane vessels the place of repast being also a dungeon full of stentch and filthinesse finally Beauty might well be compared to the wieke of a candle and Bountie to the tallowe for the wieke by it selfe being lighted is but a flash and will presently out againe and the tallowe put in the fire will make a flame yet quench immediatly but the tallowe and the wieke wrought together will euer holde light while the substance doeth last Thus you may see that Beauty by it selfe is fading Bountie by it selfe is vnpleasant and so neither without other durable wherefore I thinke both very requisite to obtaine and preserue loue Thus to be briefe my conclusion is that Beautie is a rare gift but Bountie a singular vertue Beautie for a small time garnisheth the bodie but Bountie perpetually adorneth the minde Wherefore as Acops an hearbe not fayre to the sight nor pleasant to the smell yet of a singular and secret vertue is much preferred before the glorious yet infectious Aconitum so Bountie though in neuer so hard a complection being of such a precious operation is to be preferred before the royall apparicion of Beautie which is but fading and momentarie but this I allowe that Bountie and vertue by howe much as it is in the more beautifull complection by so much it is the more commendable And therefore to conclude I say that Beauty encreaseth fancie and Bounty nourisheth affection but both ioyned together be both rare and singular which may procure the most wauering Cresed and dissembling Aeneas to be faithfull and constant Cornelius and Verosas secrete fancies Floridas promise of fauour to PRISCV'S VEROSAS meditation vpon the sequel of her amours CORNELIVS conference with her and her ratifying of affection Chap. 8. HEre Cornelius finished his discourse and all allowed of his censure chiefely Verosa who hauing curiously surueyed in her mind the exquisite perfection of young Cornelius she seemed nowe to like of loue as the Hyperborei do of licorice wherwith at night they allay their thirst hauing in the morning spurned it with their feet yet for that hitherto her brest had not yelded to the stroke of the hammer wherewith Cupid did vse to forge fancie vpon the anduill of desire she manfully resisted the fresh alarums of incroching affection her meane birth and hard fortune disabling her nay rather putting her out of all hope that Cornelius meant to seeke her in the way of matrimonie thus striuing with her new passions and dissembling her new conceiued loue in outward apparance she made no semblance of alteration The sicke Gentleman readie to faint for wearinesse Florida standing close by his bed side all the rest of the companie being in conference something further off she gaue him very comfortable wordes assuring him when he would be able to walke abroade she would reward him with the due
he loued so entirely her loue towardes him began to encrease so that in the ende vnable to conceale the extreme heate of her passions she confessed vnto Perio howe greatly she affected him earnestly intreating him to take the paines to returne againe in quest of the blacke Knight and she would well rewarde him for his trauell Perio well pleased with these newes willingly offered him selfe at her commaund especially therein for that he desired nothing so much as to shewe him selfe willing though not able to pleasure the blacke Knight so bountifull he had bene vnto him Well Modesta perceiuing the willing minde of Perio to carrie her message presently framed a letter and hauing sealed the same she deliuered it to Perio as being assured of his fidelitie whome she had often tryed to be faithfull requesting him with all speede to finde out the blacke Knight and to deliuer the same vnto him Perio presently departed whome wee will leaue preparing him selfe for his iourney to goe in quest of the blacke Knight which we left trauelling in great haste towardes the Hermites Cell in the Forrest of Esina who hauing at the last recouered the Forrest began to thinke of his forepassed daungerous aduentures and the remembrance of his dearest Modesta nowe penetrating his minde with fresh woundes which brought him to a great agonie tormenting him the more because he had bene but seldome acquainted with such strange motions being in a great rage with him selfe that his minde should be ouercome with such effeminate passions so that he thus striuing to suppresse the fire which was yet but a sparke it rather increased and waxed more and more that in the ende it did burst foorth into a vehement and outragious flame which so aggrauated his cares that if he had endured the torture of Perillus Bull he could not haue bene more mangled in his minde nor by any meanes racked to a higher note of sorrowe and griefe remembring howe vnpossible it was for him to enioy that vertuous and rare Parragon whose fauour he tendered more then his owne life And being thus metamorphosed from a free man to a thrawled captiue from a professed souldiour of warlicke Mars to a vowed seruant of wanton Venus taking no heede to his way these busie cogitations boyling so within his braine that almost the sence of vnderstanding was quite perished in him in so much that in this furie his horse carryed him farre out of his way before he came to him selfe againe In this sort the blacke Knight for so we will call him yet wandered these wilde desarts for tenne or twelue dayes till in the end wearyed with his day labours and his small nightes rest espying a fayre fountaine with fine greene banks round about diapered with the pride of Vestas choyse flowers and couered with the shade of a tall Beech tree Zephirus tenderly breathing foorth soft and coole winde which made a pleasant murmure amongest the parched leaues of that pleasant harbour and extinguished part of Phoebus extreme heate here he went and bathed himselfe in the fountaine and afterwardes reposed his wearie limmes vpon the tender grasse which was verie pleasing vnto him but notwithstanding his wonted passions still disquieting him that he could take no rest whereupon he warbled out this ensuing Dittie according with the notes of the musicall birdes that sweetely chattered vpon the hangings ouer that cleare and Christalline spring HOw can I sing and haue no ioy in heart In heart no ioy a heauy dolefull iest A iest God wote that still procures my smart A cruell smart that breedeth mine vnrest Shall I then sing and can not iest nor ioy Nay rather weepe thus liuing in annoy Why should I weepe or heauie lot bewayle Why should I sobbe and sigh with sobbing care For herein teares sighes nor sobbes can preuaile But hope may helpe to rid me from this snare The valiant minde condemnes such trifling toyes Though cruell loue bereaue his wished ioyes O balefull ioy reioysing in the sight Of beauties flowre a flowre like Cockeatrice Whose view doeth pearce the man of greatest might And doeth subuert the reason of the wise Such was the sight that did inthrawle my sight Such was the spight that wrought me deepe despight Haue I then pawn'd my credite to this end Haue I my life in ballance put therefore Her life to saue and credite to defend And brought my life to thraldome for euermore And may not hope this curtesie to haue Euen at her handes her champions life to saue Despaire not man thou hast not tryed her truth Doubt not before that she an answer giue Seeke first for fauour women be full of ruth Though she denie let no deniall grieue Women will say and will vnsay againe And oft refuse the thing they would obtaine The blacke Knights dreame His deliuering of a young man pursued by a Dragon whom he found to be the messenger that he had sent to MODESTA and receiued a letter from her again His returne with the messenger backe to the kings court The report of a great triumph there which was likewise to be perfourmed at Florence and the Victor to be rewarded with the Kings daughter Perduratus restored to his honour and liuing in Florence againe The gyant Bergamo his victori in Aemulia and his setting forward towardes Florence with MODESTA in a triumphant chariot The blacke Knight his combat with him in the forrest of Mountalto and his victory Chap. 13. BY this Morpheus had befriended him with a pleasant slumber yet the minde working still fedde it selfe so long vpon the bone that he left no marowe therein whereby so small moisture was left within his body to worke vpon that it could not intertaine and feede the ordinarie intercourse of descending humours which executed a friendly office within his body to disfraught the minde of cares and to nusâ—e it vp for the time in the bed of rest and ease Thus hauing but a weary sleepe as he was neither sleeping nor yet well waking he heard a pitifull outcrie and a great ruffling amongest the trees whereat he awaked and buckled on his helmet and by that he had recouered his feete and rushed a little into the thicket to learne the cause of the outcrie he might see a monstrous Dragon pursuing a handsome young man and being ready to cease vpon him the valiant blacke Knight vnsheathed his fine cutting sworde being nowe within reach of that ouglie feend and parted the fire-spitting head from that monstrous and diuelish carkasse and when his conquest was thus ended he called the young man vnto him who was yet scarce come vnto him selfe being so late in so great a perill and therefore could not speake one worde till the blacke Knight hauing narrowly marked him and knowing that he was the Page by whome he had sent his letter to Modesta spake thus vnto him My good Perio for so the Page was called what winde brought thee hither I am glad it was my good