yonge wife a Companion to recreate an olde man but he shal finde her a Corsiue that wyl consume him to death A yong man concludeth the swéetest sollace in loue with sighes it is then lyke an olde man endes it with teares And God he knowes he often wéepeth more of desire to please his wyfe then of any Deuotion he hath to wantoÌ„nesse yet is al his paynes to a fruitlesse purpose for that the Game finissheth in his griefe neither began nor endes in his wyues contentment You are too quicke in Aduauntage Segnior Soranso quoth the Doctor Oulde Wine thoughe it be dead in the mouthe yet is it warme in the Stomacks when the Newe fumes in the Heade but comforteth not the heart Dry woodde maketh a bright Fyre where gréene Bowes consume halfe awaye in Fume and Somake The Sonne riseth watrishlye and is longe before it geueth heate where in the After noone it scorcheth the face So a Yonge man deuideth his Loue into a hundreth Affections and euery fancie pleased there wyll but a little fall to his wyues share where an Olde mans Loue is settled and his fancie is fixed vpon one And as the resighted Examples in Age are in best hart so to proue an olde mans sufficiencie there is a common Prouerbe Gray Haires are nourished with greene thoughts Now to coÌ„tent his yong wyfe she shal haue no cause to suspect his Affection abroade and shall not lacke to bée belooued at home Moreouer whiche delighteth a yong woman who naturallye is Ambitious shée shall take her place accordyng to the grauitie of her Husband and not as her yong yeares requyreth And to conclude to giue her an honourable name the most precious Iuell with which a woman may be beautified she shall receyue graue Directions from her Husbande and through the swéete delight she taketh in hearyng her good Gouernment coÌ„mended she wyll put them in Execution Doctor Mossenigo replied not with this vehemencie for any delight he had to commende this vnequall estate in Mariage but to flatter Katharina Trista with an Ambitious Hope of great Reputation in matchyng with his aged self but she that knew a leg of a Larke was better then the whole Carkasse of a Kyte woulde none God thank him And to make him horne wood if hée perseuered in his opinion in Soransoes behalfe quoth Bergetto his auncient crosser Maister Doctor theare is more pryde in your wordes then Substance in your proofes your hartie olde Wine must be drawen out when it is broached your drie woodde is but a blaze and your hot Sunne doth but sweate for sorow that he is goyng to cowche in the dark Caues of Tartessus But as touching Old men they may well be sufficient in gréene thoughts as you terme them but I am assured that in déedes they are weake and wythered And therefore a man cannot speake too muche euill of this excesse in dotage withered Flowers are more fit for a Dunghill then méete to deck a house olde rotten Trées are néedefull for the fyre but vnnecessarie to stande in an Orchad euen so olde decaied creatures are comely in the Church but vnséemely by a yong womans side The olde man which marrieth a yonge Wyfe is sure of this sowre sauce to rellish his swéete Imaginations his beloued wife how so euer she dissembleth disdayneth hym his neighbors al to be flouteth him and soothing Parisites beguileth him common opinion will counterfeit him lyke Acteon not so much for the ficklenesse they sée in his wife as for the infirmities they know in himselfe And bréefely to conclude his ioye hée may perchaunce lyue two yeares with his faire wife but the mischaunce of his Children will remember his infamie for euer Gréene Iuy which catcheth an olde Trée maketh quicke worke for the fire and the imbracements of a faire Woman hastneth an olde man to his Graue And although it be a haynous wronge causelesse to condemne the Wyfe yet this will be the opinyon shée killed her Husband with thought to heare and sée how she trespassed both against his and her owne honour Foule fall suche a Marriadge quoth Maria Belochy where the vertuous Wife shal be slaundered through the imperfections of her Husbande It is some wrong ê™ Fabritio but she might haue foreséene the mischiefe while she was frée Well quoth Quéene Aurelia vpon this knowledge of michaunce our companie are sufficiently warned Procéede in Iudgement as you allow eithers opinion Whereupon Fabritio with Isabella with one accord gaue sentence against Dâ—…ctor Mossenigo in these words An olde man amourous of a yong Woman is an enemie both to his health and reputation for the causes aforesaid The rest of the companie smyled to héere this iudgement but the Doctor brake foorth many a secret sigh not for the disgace he tooke in his pleading for he defended an yll matter with colour sufficient but in that he knew this verdict would alwaies be a barre in his sute While the Doctor and Soranso argued Quéene Aurelia espyed in the Cloath of Arras a Beast fourmed like an Unicorne saue that he bare his Horne in his nose whiche beast sléeping laide his murthering Horne in a yong Maidens lap and after the question was decided shee demaunded what that Beast was and what the misterie signyfyed but the meaning was as strannge as the sight to most of the companie In the ende quoth Ismarito Madam I haue read of a gallant yong Gentleman of Naples named Rinautus that was Metamorphosed into such a Beast by this adueÌ„ture passing through the Iland Circeâ—…uÌ„ that Homer speaketh off which is now annexed vnto the Continent he was espied of Circes who inhabited that Ilande This wrincled yll fauoured Witch at the first sight was surprised in Loue with the goodly shape and beautie of this seemely Gentleman but for al her charmes and Inchauntments her Arte failed either to force him to Loue or to frée her selfe from louing for notwithstandinge shee was a Goddesse he disdained her ouer worne soule and wythered visage and shee presumyng of her Sorcerie powred fresh Coales vppon her kyndled desyre in hope that necessitie would force him to consent to the requeste fréewill contemned but Cupid to whom such power onely belongeth to scourge her presumption in suche sorte hardened Rinautus harte that all Circes Sute and Sorceries tended vnto a fruitlesse successe In so much as in her rage she turned him into a Rhinocerot a Beast of vnconquerable force who in his nose beareth a borne much like to the Unicorne But notwithstanding hee was thus transfourmed as King Nahucadonizer in the fourme of an Oxe retained the spirit of a man so hée in his altered shape nourished his auncient disdaine of yll fauoured Circes and so bee fully auenged with all hys force pursueth olde Creatures and such as hée ouertaketh hée goreth to death yet is he by this polycie subdued Place a faire Maide in his walke and foorth with hee will with a
by pacifieth contentions Vertue and vice bothe Feminine and Masculine Note Modesty an naturall vertue in a Woman The Fable of Ixion To be proude in vertues is commendable The scorge of vaine glory The soule traueleth to bring forth Diuine monuments in the heathen A discreete exordium for yong men that argue The excellencie of maÌ„ through the vertue of the soule Three dignities of the soule Man is formed straight because he should behold heauen and coÌ„template one great matters Three euils or defects of the body Three remedies against the three euils of the body The originall of all Artes and Sciences Theorique Practise Mecanicall craftes Curtesie is commendable but super fluous sauours of flatterrie The euyll of Ielousie Harde is the difference be tweene a care lesse and a ielous Husbande Ouid. Meta. lib. 10. Eurydice Preuent a Scoffer and he becoÌ„meth a Sotte A CommendatioÌ„ of lofty Loue. The euyll of a thyng com mendeth the goodnesse Loue spareth no degre Hope to com passe great matters com forteth more then the possession of tryfles Reproofe of loftie Loue One kinsman hath an Interest in an others honor An inhumain parte Defence c. Reproofe c. A womaÌ„ that abaseth her selfe in Mariage in Law loseth her reputation but not in curtesie The naturall desires of a woman Iudgement in repoofof lofty loue Men must haue regarde how they blame least they byte themselues Defence of bace loue A riche Dowrie with a woman Reproofe c Kytte wyll to kynde The fall of Maria Bianca is written by the Aucthor in his Booke intituld The Rocke of Râ—… garde Aucthoryties for amorous Histories Defence Reproofe c A confession is a prety Iudgement 1. Inconstancie 2. Dissimulation 3. Ignorance 4. Chastytie 5. A Dicer 6. Enuie 7. Will. 8. Hope 9. Beautie 10. Ingratitude 11. Ielosie 12. Couotousnesse 13. Pride Vertue is coÌ„mended by vice Tamberlaine the Great in the beginniÌ„g a Pesaunt He is not alone that hath good Bookes A Gentleman tooke aduantage of a worde to praise the good as to check the euyll A most famous librarie in the Dukes Pallace at Florence lest by Cosmos de Medicis It belongeth to a Gentleman to be sene in many things Diuinitie Phisyck Lawe Art Militarie Moralitie Cosmographie Hystoriografie Armorie Segnior Philoxenus a perfect Cour 〈◊〉 Weâ—…en are to pitifull to be Iudges A scoffer is many times smiten with his owne 〈◊〉 pon Italions are wise but euiâ—… condicioned Enuy euermore quarre leth with those that are fauoured Quarrelers seeke their owne mischiefe A wise foresight in a Gentleman Palmestrie a pretye idle quallitie for a Gentleman A necessarie note for a Gentleman Defences where an old man marrieth a yonge woman Reproofe c Defence c. Reproofe c The mischaunces of an oulde man yongly maryed A yong wyfe is death to an old 〈◊〉 An honest woman is lightly slauudered by the imperfections of her Husband Repentanâ—… to late The wife are warned by the mischaun ces of other A Rhinocerot The Metamorphose of Rinautus a Gentleman of Naples Euyll men care not for the conscience so they haue a colour for their offences The force of Beautie No Affliction but hath his remedie Examples to be regarded Idlenes â—…oorisheth and exercise remedieth loue Flatterie the enemies of prueth Mariage com mended betwene an olde woman and a yong man Reproofe c Defence c. A good exchanâ—… of Marchandice The euylles in an olde wydowe PLATOES Hell in Mariage A great cause of ImpatieÌ„ce Defence c. A most wicked pollysie Senecas opinion that Children were better to be dead borne then ignoraunt of good letters Thinges that are beast esteemed Reproofe c. A hard extremitie An honorable custome of Spaine Meete husbandes for aged widdowes Experience is a iudge ment it selfe A worthie lawe made by Laertius It is no stâ—…iung against the streame The thriuing vnthrift proues the the best husband The yeare endeth and beginneth in it selfe Ancient customs are to be kepte The vertues of the minde are more glorious then any outward garment Custome in Italye in giuing of new yeares giftes contrarie to the custome of England The originall of nevv yeares giftes Segnior Philoxenus ban queting hous Among the iust promise is kept To praise or blame is qua litie of wit but to direct is a worke of iudgement We haue interest in an other mans vertues Princes commandements must be obay ed. Of the exelencie of mariage Mariage instituted before the fall of Adam by God in the earthly Paradice A confirmation of the fyrst institution by God Man and wife are two bodies and but one flesh The ioye of of marriage shineth aboue al other delightes Children are the most rich Iuelles in the worlde This Iuell was her sonne Alexander The blessing of Children is a duble life Offices of Ius tice apartaine to the maried The sweete Sympathie be tweene the married Loue to our Parents â—…ue rent Loue to our Bretheren naturall Loue to our Friendes affectionated Loue betwen the married irreuocable A good mean to trye the loue of the married The rynge a triall of the loue betwene the married An other sygure of the rynge Christ was borne of a married woman Licurgus law for the vnmaried The Lawe of the Romains for the vnmar ried Platos lawes for the vnma ried Alexander Seuerus loue to Memmia his wife Paulinas rare loue to her Husbande Seneca The precious loue of king Darius to his wife The deuine loue of king Admetus Wife The exceeding loue of Tiberius Graccus towards his wife The wonder full loue of Queene Arti mesia towards her husbande Mausolus One of the seuen wonders of the worlde Aâ—…l Gel. in lib de nocti atti The Lawe is a scourge to the euill and comforte to the good Marriage con sistes as well in foresight as free choyce Equallity in yeares Equallity in manners Consent in religion Free choise in satisfaction of Fancie A mans house is a pettie common weale The office of the Wife The husbandes care apperraineth to thinges abroade The wiues chatge is huswiuery within doore Morall Philosophit to be learned by women Laciuious talke to be shunned of the husband The wife ought to be nice in cause of suspition Comelye apparell the husband should giue his wife Cleane lynnen commendable in a vvife The husbaÌ„d must bevvare of sollomnes The vvife must be amyable tovvardes her husband A lavve for a younge vvomans olde husband A regarde for an olde mans young vvyfe A regarde for an olde vvomans younge husband A regard for a young mans olde vvife Modest familiaritie not to be forbidden the Wife Light company to be shunned of the Wife The vengeaunce of Warre The blessings of peace The vertue of Peace The power of vertuous Loue. Enuy is murdered with his owne wepon
marry a wife whose tongue shall ouer-rule himselfe But more perticularly to discribe the properties of an vnquiet wife and more largely to discourse the displeasures of her vnfortunate husband I will approoue her lowringe as vnprofitable as his life is vnpleasaunt you say her quicknesse ouerséeth the negligence of seruaunts but I affirme that her curstnesse maketh them as swift to runne away as they were slowe to serue her and common vse avowes that often shyfte is neyther beneficyall for Mayster nor Seruaunt for proofe as the rowling Stone gathereth no Mosse and want of vse canckereth Iron in likewise thrifte flyeth the fléeting Seruaunt and idlenesse consumeth his abylytie of seruice Now touching the euill reckening of those which are serued their wanderyng seruantes not onely charge their common accountes with double wages but with secret pylferyng they sette theyr Maisters in more déepe arrerages The Gretians that in tymes paste neither vsed medicyne for sycknesse nor patience in aduersitye but vppon euery great veration poisoned them selues with venemous Cienta In their Histories remember more that haue voluntarily died through the violence of theyr Wyfes tounges then of any other calamitye Diogenes béeyng demaunded the diuersitye in euill betwéene a Scoulde and a Harlot aunswered They differ as the Uiper dooth from the â—…rockaril for the Scoulde sayeth he with outrage destroyeth her Husband and the other with dissemblyng loue consumeth hym to death And so concluded them bothe ennemyes to lyfe and quiet lyuing of man Phrisio beeing bothe modestly warned and throughly aunsweared with a â—…shefull grace replyed that the grauetye of hys person and the sounde reason in his wordes had taken from hym all occasion of further Question vnlesse that Women were his Iudges This wittie shift mooued such as were within the hearing to smyle for where the cause is ill it is necessarie to séelte a Iudge that is partiall and which commended Phrisios gouernment vppon a small check he left to contend with this auncient Gentleman for yonge men although theyr wittes be good are not Priuiledged to Dispute with the grauer sort without lycence intreatie or great reuerence By this time the Mountibanck with discribing the quallities of his â—…ermin and the Zanni in showing the â—…tsh conditions of his Maister had wasted a good part of the night and wearyed the moste part of the company so that desyre of repose sommoned them vnto their lodgeings FINIS The fourth Daies exercise Containing varietie of necessarie Discourse and yet withall the greater part appertaining to the generall argument of Marriage SO deepe are the impressions of Sorrow as the â—…ayning of Poets may be held for Morrall truthes where as they affirme that the bytter mone of Orpheus tongue together with the passionate sound of his Instrument mooued suche 〈◊〉 in infernall creatures as while he was a futer 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 Danaes Daughters lefte filling of theyr bryncklesse Tub toyling Sisiphus sate and eased himselfe vpon his rowling Stone yea and Pluto ouercharged with pittie made restitution of Euridice This sorrow to heare that Quéene Aurelia by some distemperature was â—…ick and kept her Chamber wrought such gréefes in the heartes of the whole company that they hounge theyr heads in disgrace like Garden Flowers which séeming as teares are eloyed with she dewe of a fowle missing daye Among the rest Isinatito although he vsed not so many words of lament as some other did yet with the teares of his heart he solemnized the true â—…ites of a Mourner and to saye truthe where the tongue hath frée passage to talke the heart is occupâ—…ed with no great gréefe Segnior Phyloxenus séeing Ismarito in this passion and that occasion entertayned him with no other businesse while the rest of the company were hearing of a lyttle superstitious seruice lead him into a very beautifull Gallerie where the Mappes of the worlde were so artificially set foorth in Painting as I doubt the Popes Microcosmos at Latteran which hath béene this sixtéene yeares a making wylbe ended with no more perfection In this Gallerie were the Pictures of all Christian Princes and in an other place by themselues the Pictures of certaine Heathen Rulers and in an other rancke the Pictures of so many learned men and graue Magistrates as he could through fréendship or rewarde obtaine After much discourse of the especiall Monuments wherewith this pleasaunt Gallerie was attyred Segnior Phyloxenus brought Ismarito 〈◊〉 fayre booke wherin were diuers rare deuises and directing him to Pensils Colers and other necessaries of Hâ—…rowldry requested that he would helpe to beautify the sayd Booke with some ingenious remembraunce Sir ê™ Ismarito I haue already recorded your good fauours in the Table of my heart and I beséeche you that this fayre Booke may not be blemished by me or remaine a wytnesse to you of my indiscression This nicenesse ê™ Philoxenus professeth more then ordinarie knowledge and therefore I coniure you by the affection you beare me to satisfye my request Ismarito vpon this importunitie because he would not leaue a suspition that his curiositie grew rather of simplicitie then discression and missing among the Moderne Monuments their Pictures the vertues of whose Fame are blazed in the Capitols of the whole world he tooke a Pensill and with the same drew an Ileland and ouer the middest thereof made a Pharos which shyned lyke the Sunne and therein a Phenix bathing of her selfe whose gleaming reflexions shined ouer all Loegria Cambria and the greatest part of Albania and extended vnto a great parte of the Continent espetially vnto that parte that lay betwéene the Occean the Mediterrane and the great Sea called Euxinus Pontus and vnderneath writ Pharos Europae non Africae Phyloxenus aduisedly regarded this deuise before he would either require Ismaritos intent or giue his owne iudgement In the end deuining what should be the secret meaning of this Simbole or Ensigne quoth he Segnior Ismarito this Cognizance of your quicke wit pleaseth me much and withall remembreth me of a neglected curtesie which I thinke will showe you the Image of your Phenix and blason the secresie of your whole deuise and thereuppon he lead Ismarito into a moste curious priuie Gallerie where drawing a faire Curtaine and reuerently kissing his hand he shewed Ismarito the Picture of a Royall Princesse moste ritchly and liuely set foorth with which a Marchaunt of Venice who traffiqued toward the Westerne Islands presented him which Ismarito beheld with a regarde so duetifull as their néeded no glose to expound the zealous affection of his heart And by her was stalled a goodly Gentleman Crowned with a Scepter whom Ismarito knew not other wise theÌ„ by imagination in beholding his Armes who bare Gu. an Eagle displaied Crowned Ar. And ê™ Phyloxenus when I
louinge countenaunce repaire vnto her and in her bosome gently bestow his murthering Horne and sodainlye as one rauished with contentment hée fauleth a sléepe by which meanes he is slaine before he recouereth the vse of his force The Companie laughed well to heare this straunge Metamorphosis In the end ê™ Quéene Aurelia I would Maister Doctor had hard this Hystorie when hée so inuayed against Beautie perhaps he would haue bene affraide of her vengeaunce seeing her power able to conquere sauage wilde Beastes But the Doctor glad of this aduantage not vnlyke the tuÌ„ning Lawier that buyeth Robin hoodes penniworthes yet with some nice forfaitures threatneth the seller with continuall bondage many times bringeth backe his money and kéepeth his bargen not caring for his Concience so that hée haue a colour for his offence or as the wysest sorte of Atheistes that liue as though they hoped neyther after heauen nor feared Hel yet confesse God with their mouth hecause the contrarie woulde make them hated of men so he by this tale found out both a warrant to maintayne his former Blasphemie and to excuse his present Follie in Loue And to Aucthorize either Madame quoth he the inchaunted Beaste approoueth myne opinion of Beauties power and his Death is a greater witnesse of her crueltie then is Doctor Mossenigo who confesseth that men in vayne prescribe Remedies for the Affected or Receites to preserue men from the Infections of Beautie You are welcome vnder our Lée ê™ Aluisa Vechio But to take awaye all hope of good intertaynment quoth Katharina Trista no no Maister Doctor you deceyue your selfe Beautie neyther retaineth the power nor poyson which you speake of and with you Ouid and all the amorous Poets are mistaken who say Affection riseth from Beautie and not of the frée wyll of man But say yon all what you please good foresight wyll contrary your opinions There is no sore but hath his salue no griefe but hath his remedie nor no daunger but may be forstoode eyther by prayer or good indeuoure In déede quoth Faliero Socrates â—…altred his inclination by the Studie of Phylosophie The Nyniuites preserued their Cittie by prayer and Virbius dubled his life by mastering of his disposission Floradin bewitched with the loue of faire Persida his deare friend Pericles Wife wrote in a table Booke fye Floradin fye shée is thy friend Pericles Wife and so often as idlenes presented him with thys passyon he read his written remembraunce and by some honest exercise remooued his imagination This is not your day Maister Doctor quoth Soranso I beléeue there is some vnkindnes betwéene Saturne and Venus by the enuious aspeckt of some other Plannet this howre It maye be quoth the Doctor by the flatterie of Mercurie who is euermore enemie to the plainnes of trueth Well quoth Quéene Aurelia let vs leaue this bye matter and consider better of Ismaritos Metamorphosis me thinks it prophesieth muche mischaunce to an Dulde Wydowe whiche marteth a Yonge man and no greate pleasure to the yonge maried Bacheler O good Madam say not so quoth Soranso for in this fortune lyeth a yonger Brothers welfare and the cause that maketh happinesse accompanie olde wemen to their Graue It may well be to their Graue quoth the Doctor but it bryngeth sorow into their House and maketh their life more vnpleasant then death and if Soranso followe this Course perhappes his day wyll be no better then Doctor Mossenigos Quéene Aurelia smilinge saide shee feared this câ—…ntention woulde bring the companie to hell gates Yet quoth she In that I imagine the way will be pleasaunt I licence you to perseuer in your purpose Uppon which warrant quoth Soranso to maintaine that to be true which I haue alreadie alleadged in the commendation of this estate in marriage This further reason in my conceite you will neither disalowe nor the married couple shall haue cause to mislike which is where a fresh young Gentleman either of small liuing or farre spent with lustinesse lights of a rich olde widow for that both their desires in this fortune shall bee satisfied He shall haue plentie of Coyne the onelie Grace hee lacked and she the possession of a goodlie Parsonage the chéefest Iewel she loueth which exchaunge of Marchandise can not chuse but continue their liking and raise much coutentment Cleane contrarie ê™ the Doctor for y e follies of a yong maÌ„ is sufficiently punished by marrying an olde womaÌ„ 〈◊〉 y e sins of an olde widdow ar fully plagued in matching w t a yong man for that contrarie to your suggestion neither can inioye the cause of their Mariage without annoyance to their mindes for his lyking is fastned on her riches which she will not but by necessitie leaue her loue is setled on his person which for her pleasure he disdaineth to punish The vnfortunate yongman knowes not what gréefe hée ioynes to his gaine in matchinge with an olde widdow till that experience breakes them forth in sighes If his wife be ritche shee will looke to gouerne if shee bée poore he is plagued both with beggery and bondage If she be proude she will hide her abylytie to maintaine her pompe If she be testie he is forst to patience If she bee Ielous hée canne hardlye indure her rages And to conclude if the olde doting widdow be frée from one of thâ—…se faults she is tied to forty euils of lesse sufâ—…ce for if her Husbande commaunde her will shee straight waies sayeth her other Husband was more kinde If hée chance to dine from home she wyls him to â—…up with his harlots if he spend beyond her allowance thus she reuiles hym A Begger I fownd thee and so thou wylt leaue mee To chastice her talke setteth an edge of her tongue to suffer her in her rage maketh her raylynges irreuocable By your wordes Maister Doctor ê™ Lucia Bella the wife is the greatest cause of this contention and yet in common opinion the Husband is most blamed Madame you are too hastie in an aduauntage I ment no such parciallytie quoth the Doctor Yea Madame quoth Bargetto M. Doctor is now so conquered as his tong is the Trumpet of your pleasure It is so quoth the Doctor to sound out those thinges which are true and in trueth the yonge Husbande often tymes maketh the euilles good in déedes which the olde wyfe vseth but in wordes for no lenger then she féedeth him with Coyne shall she enioy his companie If she rob not her Children to inrich him she shall lack no froward lookes nor fowle vsage If she put him in possession of her lyuing he straight wayes dispossesseth her of his loue for hauing what he sought he wyl els where be enamoured And vprightly to speake she lacketh neither occasion too lament nor cause to be inraged for who is so patient as can dissemble her vnsufferable passions both to be spoyled of her lyuing and to be exyled
Satutes are broken The Gentlewomen wist not what to say to Fabririos bitterswéete commendation of Marriage vntyll Bargetto quickned their tongues by this pleasaunt suggestion If quoth he Platoes opinion be lawe by the same reason women are either Angells or Deuills And why not men as well as women quoth Isabella whose disposition beareth the greatest swaye in this vocation I will showe you a reason quoth Doctor Mossenigo men with a meane canne temper their passions when a woman hath no measure in her loue nor mercye in her hate no rule in her pittie nor pietie in her reuenge no Iudgement to speake nor patience to dissemble and therfore she is lykened vnto the Sea whych one whyle is so mylde as a small Gundelo indureth her might and anon with outrage she ouer whelmeth the taullest shippe Ah Master Doctor quoth Katharina Trista I feare me you are so learned as like the Hyen you change your self sometimes into the shape of a woman but yet of this malitious purpose to learn their dispositions only to reproch their kinde but had any of vs the cunning to become a man but a while I imagine we should euer after loue the better to be a woman You haue rather cause quoth Dondolo to let Mayster Doctor kisse your hand for commeÌ„ding your kynde then to blame him by a surmise of iniurye offered vnto women for if there be a few good they couer y e faults of a nuÌ„ber that are euill as a litle golde guildeth a great quantitie of iron and for any-thing he sayde you haue as generall an interest in vertue as in vice Yea but ê™ Quéene Aurelia he is to be blamed for his intent which was euyll deserueth not to be praysed for the good which came of it which was our meryt Madame ê™ the Doctor so much greater is the good you receiue by my Trespasse as therby you are honoured with the vertue to forgiue Yea but quoth she remission is to be vsed in ignorant offences and not in wilfull My Habit quoth he is a testionie that I spake not of mallice So much ê™ she y e greater is your fault in that it procéeded vpon pleasure and where you thinke to priuiledge your selfe by your Habyt for Example sake you shall at open Supper bothe renounce your Heresie and make satisfaction or abide the IudgemeÌ„t of these GentlewomeÌ„ If there be no remedie ê™ he I must obay The Doctor thus taken tardie gaue occasion of laughter vnto the whole company Which blowne ouer ê™ Soranso we haue trauailed this day to an vnfortunate ende for that now towardes night we are entred into an open Champion wheare we finde many broade wayes to Hell but one crosse Path to Heauen Well ê™ Quéene Aurelia we wyll take other tymes to beate out the true passage And least we be lated wée wyll no further too daye Whervpon after a Courtly reuerence don Quéene Aurelia with her Attendantes shewed her selfe in y e great Chamber where she might repose her minde w t the choice of sundrie pleasures For his or her disposition was very strange that in that company could not finde both a Companion and sport that pleased his humour FINIS The first Nights Pastime AMong wise men these Orders haue euermore ben obserued or allowed In the Church to be deuoute in place of Iustice to be graue at home to be affable at meales to be mery for in the Churche we talke with God who séeth our hartes and hateth Hypocrysie in Iustice we sitt to chasten light demeanours then great were the shame that our countenaunces shuld condempne our selues At home we rule and commaunde then were it Tyranny to vse seuerytie there where is no resistaunce At meales to bee merrie disgesteth meate and refresheth the witte then is he an enemy vnto himselfe that contemneth the rule of health the helper of knowledge Howsoeuer the thrée first preceptes were obserued Segnior Philoxenus and his honourable guestes duly executed the last who in the midst of supper hearinge of Doctor mossenigos pennaunce hasted the execution The Doctor séeing there was no remedie openly confessed that hee had praysed women against his wyll for which he was condemned to singe Ab re nuntio and to make satisfaction by some other meanes And as hee thought the contrarie was the amends of euerie trespas and therfore where as he had praysed them against his will hée was ready to dispraise them with his will Quéene Aurelia woulde haue taken exceptions to these wordes but that the company cryed The Doctor speaks Law which shee coulde not with Iustice violate whervpon Mossenigo reported as followeth ¶ DOCTOR MOSSENIGO HIS Satisfaction for praysing women against his will IN the famous Citie of Viena in Austria somtimes dwelled a simple Sadler named Borrihauder who was married to an olde crabbed shrew called Ophella the agréement of this couple was so notable as the Emperour Charles the fift commaunded his Paynter Parmenio to draw their counterfeats as a Monument of fury Parmenio commyng to doe the Emperours commanndement found Borrihauder wéeping with the agony of his wiues stripes and Ophellas chéeks as red as fire with the heate of her tonge whiche straunge sight chaunged his determination into a pleasaunt conceit and in place of their Counterfets in a fayre table he drew an Element troubled with lightnyng and vnderwrit Ophella and in another Table fastened to the same he likewise drew an Element darkned with rayne and vnder wright Borihauder Parmenio presented this trauel vnto the Emperour The Emperour séeing the two names and not the shape of those hee commaunded to be drawne demaunded the Paynters meanyng héerein who pleasantly aunswered that he could not take the view of Ophellas face for feare of being fyered with the lightning of her tonge and that Borihauder was drowned with teares which as showers of Raine folowed the thunder claps of his wiues Fistes But in good time had she died this Demideuill Orphella fel so extremely sick as in euery mans iudgement it was néedefull to giue Phisick to her soule but bootelesse to bestow any of her body Borihauder séeing her as he thought at a good passe was so accustomed to sorrow as hee determined to toule her passing bel with this counterfet mone Ah deare God ê™ he how vnhappy am I to lose my louing wife my good wyfe my swéet wife O how happy were I that as we haue lyued together that we might nowe dye together This pittyous sound of her husband so melted the dying harte of Ophella that lyke a Candle consumed that leaueth a little smoke in the wéeke she lay both spéech les senceles saue that the panges of death sometymes threwe a weake breath out of her mouthe but lyke vnto wilde fire that burneth in water the Corsiue that would haue killed the deuill in her case recouered her to health which was her husband out of feare of her
the sacred Byble and the hard passages of Scrypture expounded in vulgar Language that your common sorte howesoeuer youre Prealates lyue vnderstande wheather they erre or no in theyr Doctryne And synce the Subiectes of the Emperour Alexander Seuerus honoured theyr Soueraygnes vertues wyth these acclamations NOble Allexaunder wee praye the Goddes that they haue no lesse care of youre Maiestye then you haue of vs most happye bee wee that wee haue you among vs. Noble Alexander The Goddes preserue you the Goddes defende you proceede foorth in your purpose we ought to loue you as our Father too honour you as our Lorde and to admyre you as a God heare among vs. And thervnto added Noble Emperour take what you wyll of our Treasure and substance to accomplish your Purpose only for buylding of three Hospitalles to succour the sicke bodies of the poore By how much more zeale ought you the good Quéene of Englandes Subiectes adde to this Prerogatiue Do gratious Queene Elizabeth what shall seeme to you good for your most blessed nature cannot erre or do any thing amis that you purpose who by diuine inspiration hath vnlocked the fountaine of grace so that the thirstye soules both of her rich and poore subiectes may freelye drinke the water of lyfe Segnior PHILOXENVS so affected this spéech as ISMARITO coulde not but imagyne hys heart adiudged him a straunger to Grace and vnworthy lyfe that was her vassaile and sayd not therevnto Amen The end of Fryar Buiardos clawing Sermon broke off thys priuate talke and the Gentlewomen proude of the commendation of their pytifull sexe now wisshed that Doctor Mossenigo had ben vnpardoned his yesternightes trespasse towards women that the holy Frier might haue cited him before our Ladie of Loretto who the greatter parte of Dinner time left his victuelles to inlarge his Fe minine prayses In the ende tasting y e goodnesse of the meate he fownd prating verie vnsauerie and therfore to recouer his losses his lippes layde on loade which Falerio and some other of the pleasaunt company perceiuing assayed to reward the Fryar for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions which he euer aunsweared in a monisillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding As ê™ Faleâ—…io a question or two Master Fryer I pray saye quoth he who strikes wyth the sharpest rod God of all other who is must euill Deuill in distresse who deserueth most rueth Trueth who is charged with most cryme Tyme what houlds the worlde in most imprice â—…ice who is the greatest lyer Fryer Desier without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eat Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine When they could deuise no talke to put lyfe in y t Fryars tongue doctour Mossenigo demaunded why he was so bréefe in his aunsweares O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then ê™ the Doctor it is good taking awaye this plenty of meat for cloying Fryar Buiardoes wit The hole company hearing the Fryar beaten with hys owne sentence tourned into a coutrary sence burst out into suche an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of y e Friar would not suffer him to swallowe one bitt more of meat in somuch as the boord was taken aâ—…aye and the Friar driuen to saye Benedicite with an emptye stomacke an intertaynment as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faythful seruant The office of courteous reuerence fully discharged the company retyred towards the fyre to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dynner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moaned the dysgrace of their prayse Master the Fryar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by theyr enemye the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto sayde merrily that the Fryar had taught hym such a cunning way to woo as to melt a womaÌ„ into pitty he woulde wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to prayse the thing they lyke Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercyfull it is necessary to brydle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue And questionlesse thys payne set vppon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée thinges is great daunger and smal discression to play with fire to striue with water and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therfore he that will discouer his owne secreat aduauntage is worthy to haue his heyre cutt wtth Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was reddy to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certayne of her chosen AttendaÌ„ts whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for auncient customs profitable are better then new lawes incertaine shee commaunded the Eunuk to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Luâ—…e after a dutifull obaysaunce played and sunge this followinge Sâ—…nnet in Italon TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bounde Amyd the Skies my wysh I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the grownde My eye sees Ioy my hart is grypde with payne I know my hurt and yet my good refrayne But how thease hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can geeue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reache so farre out goes As bownd perfore he yealdes to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioye Hope doth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownd as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To do whose wyll Desire in me hath wrought A strength to ronne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to staye It may suffise the wisest paaste my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to avoyde degression whiche rayseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a Repeticion of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Wherevpon ê™ Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the cause why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish take comfort in one anothers companie onelie by the Impression of nature and man and woman that are beâ—…tified both with the vertues of nature and reason manie times matched together make a hell of this hotie institution By Quéene Aurelias commauÌ„dement to aunswere Sir ê™ Faliero The aduantage of reason with which you haue preuiledged man and woman is the onelie cause thereof no man will
after I had prayed with great deuotion before his Image I behelde him in the Maiestie of an Angell fayre yonge lustie and in euery proportion like my selfe and nothyng at all like his meagre Cripple Image So that I was in doubt of beynge transfourmed out of my selfe tyll with a méeke voice he sayd Be not dismayde I am thy Maister Inganno and am come to bestow my blessinges vpon the good Appenine dames that for my sake cherish you my Disciples But with an especiall Affection I wil visite the good Dame Farina And for that her Feminine weakenes can not indure my Heauenly presence I wyll many times borrowe thy earthly shape and in my name go salute Farina and showe her that this night in that her Husbande is from home I meane to visite her wyll her to leaue open the Doores because I purpose to come as Fryer Inganno and not as Saint Fraunces This is his message therfore as I began I end blessed art thou among the Appenine countrie Dames The poore woman as apparant as this trecherie was had not the power to mistrust but gaue the Fryer a good almes for his newes and saide she would attende Saint Fraunces blessed will Away goeth the Fryer with a light hart and a heauy Cowle but God to punish his lewde intent to preserue her from sinnyng through ignoraunce so tyckled her hart with ioy of this blessinge at hande as to welcome Saint Fraunces shée must néedes haue the Belles roonge The Prieste of the Parrishe hearing the cause smelt out the Fryers counning and was glad to take one of those Beggers in a Pitfall that with glorious lyes had robbed him of his Parishioners deuotions and withall perswaded her with suche reasons as shee was fully resolued of the Fryers deceite And to bée adnenged by the Parsons direction shée caused Leayda to lye in her Bed a Mayde so ougly sluttish and deformed as thorough the Parish shée was called the Furie of Lothsomnesse Aboute ten of the Clocke findynge the Doores open Frier Inganno mountes into Farinas Chamber and without light or leaue leaps into her bed but hée had not blessed Leaydaes lyppes before the Priest Farina and others entred with Taper and Torchlighte singing Salue Saincte Francisce And knéeling about his Bed sides sung Sancte Francisce ora pro nobis The poore Fryer lyke a For in a grin being both intrapt and imbraste by a Hag of Hel cryed from his hart A dolore inferni libera me Dominè After the Prieste and the rest of the companye were wearye of laughinge and the Fryer almost dead with wéeping It is an office of Charitie quoth the Priest to put Saint Frances againe in his Tumbe for it is so long since hée was in the Worlde that he hath forgot the way backe into Heauen The Fryer learing lyke the Théefe that honge on the left side of Christe tooke all with patience for well hee wyst Prayer booted not Well for that night they bounde and stript him lyke a dead Coarse and in stead of swéete Flowers laid him in a bundell of Nettles The next mornyng the rude Countrie people who in reuenge are without ciuyllytie or order cruelly scourged the poore Fryer And setting hym the forenoone naked in the Sunne annoynted his bodie with Honey so that the Hornets Waspes and Flyes tormented him with the paynes of Hell In the afternoone with a hundred Torches Tapers and other waxen lyghtes this rustick multitude caryed seconde Saint Fraunces vnto his Tumbe and had not other Fryers vsed mylde plawsible requests in his behalf they would surely haue buried him aliue for threatning increaseth a tumult when faire wordes may peraduenture staye it The poore Fryer discharged from the handes of these vngentle people learned afterwardes to be more warie but for all this punishment was nothinge the honester For amonge men of his Habit remayneth an opynion that the faultes whiche the Worlde séeeth not GOD punnisheth not After the Company had wel laughed at Fryer Ingannoes pennaunce Quéene Aurelia axed maister Doctor the Archedetracter of Women how many suche stories he had read of the religious Dames None quoth hée that hath beene so sorely punished but of an number that haue as hyghly trespassed What quoth Helena Dulce by suche subtyll practises No ê™ the Doctor but through simple affection Well quoth Aluisa Vechio their euyls are written in their foreheades that slaunderous mens tongues may reade and inlarge them And your great euils are buried in the bottome of your hartes that vnlesse the Deuill meane to shame you the worlde knoweth not how to blame you This was the Gentlewomens day wherefore the ciuill Gentlemen would not offer to crosse them much so that following their aduantage Madam quoth Isabella with your fauour and patience I will reporte an Historie that shall open suche a haynous trecherie done by a man as shall take away all possibilytie from a woman to commit so impious an Act. Quéene Aurelia willed her to procéede and the whole company séemed to be attentiue whereupon Isabella reported as followeth The rare Historie of Promos and Cassandra reported by Madam ISABELLA AT what time CORVINVS the scourge of the Turkes rayned as Kinge of Bohemia for to well gouerne the frée Cities of his â—…ealme hée sent diuers worthy Maiestrates Among the rest he gaue the Lorde Promos the â—…auntship of 〈◊〉 who in the beginning of his gouernment purged the Cittie of many ancient vices and seuerely punished new offenders In this Cittie there was an olde custome by the suffering of some Maiestrates growne out of vse that what man so euer coÌ„mitted â—…e should lose his head And y e woman offender should euer after be infamously noted by the wearing of some disguised apparrell For the man was helde to bee the greatest offender and therefore had the seuerest punishment Lorde Promos with a rough execution reuiued this Statute and in the hyess degrée of iniurie brake it hymselfe as shall appeare by the sequell of Andrugioes aduentures This Andrugio by the yéelding fauour of fayre Polina trespassed against this ordinaunce who through enuie was accused and by Lorde Promos condemned to suffer execution The wofull Cassandra Andrugioes Sister prostrates her selfe at Lorde Promos Féete and with more teares then wordes thus pleaded for her Brothers lyse Most noble Lorde and worthy Iudge voutchsafe mée the fauour to speake whose case is so desperate as vnlesse you beholde mée with the eyes of mercie the frayle trespasse of condemned Andrugio my Brother will bée the death of sorrowfull Cassandra his innocent Sister I wil not presume to excuse his offence or reproche the Lawe of rigor for in the generall construction hee hath done most euill the Law hath iudged but what is right But reuerent Iudge pardon y t necessitie maketh mée here tel that your wisdome already knoweth The most Soueraigne Iustice is crowned with Laurell although
affection her kindred hath an interrest in her honour which if she consent to staine or deminishe shee dooth iniurie to her whole house The Cardinal of Aragon aduenged the base choice of his Sister the Duchesse of Malfy with the death of her selfe her Children and her Husband and alleadged in defence that he had done no iniurie to Nature but purged his House of dishonour for Nature quoth he is perfect and who blemisheth her is a monster in Nature whose head without wrong to Nature may be cut off Yea quoth Soranso but this Cardinall for all his habit and glose of Iustice is for this Act so often regestred for a Tirant as I feare mée he will neuer come among y e nuÌ„ber of Saints But the example of these Mariages are vsuall and such ensuing vengeaunce is â—…ut rare and besides her espetiall contentment a woman looseth none of her general titles of dignitie by matching w t her inferior In déede quoth Dondolo in common curtesie she enioyeth them but in the strickt construction of the Law she is degraded And by this meane is bounde to intertaine the meaner with familyaritie least they being prowde or reputing her scornfully doo crosse her ouer the thumbes with y e follyes of her fancy But admit y e meane seruant marrie his Mistresse and escapeth the mallice of her friendes which successe one amonge tenne suche Suters hardly attaineth Let him yéelde to pay this rent for his good fortune To suffer his Wife to rule to direct and to commaunde his owne determynations And where shee ordereth The vncontrouled Wife desireth to be serued with pompe and to be set foorth with pride whiche the ruling Husband would represse as wel for sauing his wiues honour as for sparing his owne pursse The vncontrouled wife desireth to walke at lybertie and to be visited of many of which the ruling Husbande woulde barre her as well to preserue his mynde from mistruste as to kéepe his Chimney from being fyred The vncontrouled wife disdayneth the Countrie and desireth the Citie which the rulyng Husband would mislyke for that in the Countrie the exercise of huswiuerie inlargeth his Wiues estimation and in the Cittie Idlenesse hazardeth her reputation The vncontrouled Wife desireth without checke to pratle and without discreation to gouerne which the rulyng Husbande in no wise would allowe for that manye wordes is a bleamish to his wiues modestie and the rule of his Wife is warrant sufficient for the wise to ouer rule him for a Woodcocke Many other vanities follow the desires of Women which a man thus aduaunst must forbeare to chasten least hée expose himselfe to a thousande daungers for the wife taking pepper in the nose will suffer him yea perchaunce agrée to make him a pray to the displeasure of his enemies I meane her able Friendes and kindred which bondage is not within the Paradice Plato speaketh off For according to the opinion of sundrie Philosophers as Nature will not be controuled for that she createth as Fortune is won with no praiers because â—…hee is blinde and shooteth at aduenture no more dooth Marriage alow of inequallitie because her will is to deuide her benyfites and blessing among the married with indifferencie To this ende Marriage is lykened to Sienes grafted in a stocke of contrarie qualitie for as by groweth and good order they both become of one nature euen so man and woman vnited in this honourable estate with good vsage become of one disposition Againe as Sienes thus grafted without speciall Husbandrie while they bee tender come to no proofe euen so man and woman thus ioyned in Matrimonie vnlesse in the prime of their Mariage with equall care they loue and cherrish one an other in the waine of their yeares the swéete Fruites of wedlocke will be blasted with repentaunce Segnior Fabritio to conclude Don Dolos opinion with his owne Iudgement saide in trueth that Marriage coulde not away with such seruitude as the Husband who is wise and the chéefe shoulde obay the wife who in common construction is simple weake and the inferiour And where a Rich woman as Don Dolo hath said Marieth her poore Seruant because she is the cause of his aduancement she will looke to gouerne which if she doo her indiscression will moue others to speake and her Husband to sorrow and if he challenge the preuiledge of a husband to direct hee shall bée bounde to a lyfe more bitter then Death Not but y t in respect of his former estate he may endure these crossinges of his wife but because as hee is growne in estimation so is hée growne in hautinesse of mynd and can now wurse brooke an vnkinde word then in times past an iniurious déede And therefore in Don Dolos behalfe I doo iudge Soranso to be in an errour I wil not dispute against the Authoritie of your iudgmeÌ„t ê™ Soranso but at aduenture if yonger BrethreÌ„ er in Mariage God send theÌ„ to stumble vpoÌ„ no worser fortune Quéene Aurelia who regarded that Dondolo was somewhat to lauish in painting out of the natural dessires of a woman knew as well how to set foorth his follyes and ouersight and therefore to take a modest reuenge ê™ shée I happinesse in Mariâ—…ge consisteth so much in the Lordly rule of the Husbande then where a man maryeth his inferriour in reputation there is a lykelyhood of good agreement Wherfore Segnior Dondolo because I think you married your wife with the same Iudgement with which you manyfested the inconueniences of loftye Loue I beseeche you show vs the blessinges of this inferiour choyce Soranso and the rest began to smyle to heare this com maundement for well they knew Dondolo was intrapt with a slauÌ„der of his owne reputatitoÌ„ but Dondolo although he were a litle gauled set a reasonable florish vpoÌ„ his bace fancie and therefore ê™ he as it is alreadie adiudged if a man marrie aboue his callyng he must beare with his Wife in folly as much as shee was blynded in fancying of him which bondage Mariage can hardly endure Then if hée matche with his inferiour if contraries haue contrarie qualyties per consequence she will be as lowly as the other is loftie as patient as the other is prowde as dutiful as y t other is disdainfull if the other prodigally spend because her portion is large shewil with huswiuerie spare because her substauÌ„ce was small If the other presume because of her Gentrie shée will seeke reputation with her good coÌ„ditions And if the other bolster her faults with the countenaunce of her able Friendes she dooing amisse will crie her Husbande mercie because she lackes succourers to sustaine her euill a course as Plato sayeth that maketh the dowrie of the poore virgin of greater vallue then the possessions of a riche Ladie You are nothing deceiued in the course quoth Faliero but much mistaken in the creature As touching your Contraries I mislike your Consequent For Fyre and
And with that intent quoth he Segnior Ismarito I drink vnto you with a better affection than I bare you in my sléepe for I dreamed with my Rapire drawne I chased you to your Chamber Ismarito quickly aunswered I pleadge you Segnior Bergetto but with lesse feare then you supposed to bée in mée when you were asléepe for men after they are awake expounde dreames by contraries Bergetto deceaued of his expectation was dryuen by patience to salue the wounde he had giuen hymselfe But Segnior Philoxenus to take away the cause of after vnkindnesse reaued the companie of leasure to iudge of Bergettos quarrilynge dreame or of Ismaritoes crosse exposition by kéeping of them exercised with a newe deuice In déede quoth hée Dreames are incertaine and therfore not to be regarded but there is a true kinde of diuination in Palmestrie and so in looking in Maria Belochi's hand hée vsed certaine names of Arte and gaue a voluntarie pleasing Iudgement which fired all the Ladies and Gentlewomen with an earnest desire to know their fortune and by this meanes the remembrannce of former questions was taken away Wherein Segnior Philoxenus wisdome may be a president for other Gentlemen that heare quarrels a bréedinge to smoulder them in the shell for men that bée angrie are bounde to their passion when such as are not moued haue libertie to pacifye with discreation Thus with their spirites well pleased Quéene Aurelia and the reste of the companie rose from the table and after ordenarie curtesie ended they paused a time by the Fire to put their witts in order for the following disputation who at the ordinarie howre entred the drawing Chamber where the Eunuke readie to discharge his dutie vnto the Lute sung this following Sonet REgarde my loue but not my frostie haires Although faire Dame the least may moue content For Loue Faith Zeale standes firme in aged yeares When light greene youth is fickle in intent The aged knowes the leaues and fruite of youth The leaues they leaue and with the fruite doe loue The sayinges of olde Age are iudged trueth Let loue and trueth mislyking then remoue What though my chin be clothed all in white Whight in your cheekes the chiefest coulour is Which fayre dye doth make you seeme so bright As men holde you the source of beauties blisse Sweete Mistresse then of all the fayre the Flower Let not condemne what doth your selfe comend Ruthe seemes your face let rigor not deuour His loue and lyfe that liues and dies your friende This Sonet mooued y e company to smile not because the inuention was vnwittie but in that it was the fruites of Doctor Mossenigoes Muse who to reuenge vppon himselfe all the iniurie which he had done to the sexe of Women became inamoured of Katharina Trista the waspissest Damosel among the whole troupe of Gentlewomen But knowing the Doctors Phylosophie could not so subdue his affection but that time would make them all sporte and him smarte they dissembled their knowledge of his folly as déepely as hée couered the passions of hys fancy notwithstanding to raise some speach and to set the Doctor a work with hope Quoth Aluisa Vechio this Sonet prophesieth a hapie lyfe to a young woman and much comfort to an olde man if their fortunes be so good as to be marted together And if I had as good a passage for my opinyon as I haue Reason to mayntayne the same I woulde thinke to prooue this couple worthye of a place in PLATOES Paradice Among so manie good Drators quoth Quéene Aurelia you cannot want an Aduocate Whereupon Katharina Trista with a false eye coniured the Doctor in this question to maintaine his Loue who thus inioyned tooke vpon him to maintaine Aluisa Vechioes opinion Quéene Aurelia licensed him and no aduersary appeared to discourage him wherevpon quoth he where an old man marieth a yonge woman the contentment séemes too be muche and the comfort more my reason is the oulde man hath not onlye chosen a Wyfe to recreate him as a companyon but a Cooke to prepare chosen meates for his impayred appetite and a Staffe to sustaine his Age. The yonge wife also may hold her selfe happie in this fortune for she hathchosen one whom she may not onely rule but commaund and for a litle paynes who will leaue her possest of a great deale of lyuyng And this is most certain that cruel and wilde Creatures do most hurt where their wyll is moste resisted and hauâ—… great compassion where they finde no proffer of repulse The Lyon in his greatest hunger hurts not y t wounded shéepe y t Crocadile w t teares wassheth the blood from a murthred man and the raging Sea refressheth the yealding Réede much more a woman that by nature is beautified with pittie if she rule without checke wyll glorie in the good vsage of her Husbande and this is in dayly vse that the olde man in assemblies findes his yonge wife modest in her speache basshefull in her lookes and nice in occasion of suspition and whyther this behauiour procéedes of desire to be praysed or of feare to be blamed I conclude the cause with her coÌ„mendation for that to do well in hope of praise coÌ„mes of the incouragement of vertue and to do well for feare of reprehensioÌ„ is the signe of a good inclination By Sainet Anne Sir quoth Soranso you well deserue a Fée especiallie of the yonge wyfe in that you so connyngly haue coloured her ouersight and so Clarckely haue commended her good vsage of her olde Husband but your Suggestion tends to as small effect as the Fortune is euyl of a couple thus vnequallie matched for that common reason wil refute your weake opinion and dayly experience recordes the miseries of the other What likelyhood of continuance hath the House whose grounde worke is rotten although the prospect be beautifull and stronge God wotte the féeblenesse of the Foundation wyll ouerthrow the firmenesse of the vpperframe Compare this vneqaull estate in Marriage with this ouersight in building and you shall finde the discorde as great betwene the one as the ruyne and decay spéedie in the other The good and able Gouernment of the Husbande is the foundation and grounde worke of Mariage and the Beautie of the Wife the blessynge in hauynge of Children and the benefite of possessyng lyuinges are the outwarde buyldinges of Mariage And as they are pleasant in the eye of the worlde euen so they greatly please the mindes of the maryed geue a singuler Grace to this honourable vocation But if the Gouernment of the Husbande be inabled with Age as in trueth Olde Age is no other then a seconde Infancie In whose desire direction discrescion and delight there are imperfections The Beautie of the wyfe wyll be blasted with sorrowe for the insufficiencte of her Husbande euyll Education wyll accurse their blessyng in hauyng of Chyldren and negligence wyll waste their benefites of liuyng You hould a
Segnior Phyloxenus seasyng on his Club and laying him on therwith said As Phallaris dyd to Perillus die with the weapon thou preparst for other In Trumph of this glorious Uictorie Diana sent down the Nymphe Chlora to salute Quéene Aurelia with this Present which was a Shield wherin was quartred four seuerall Honours The first VERT A lookyng Glasse of Christall The second AZVRE a payre of Ballance Argent The thyrd OR a Pyller of Porphier The fourth Argent a standing Cup of Ruby Rock The Muses them selues came also downe and crowned her with a Garland of Roses parted perpale ARGENT and GVLIS and electing her for their Soueraign to comfort the fiue Knights that were discoÌ„forted by ENVY two two leading a Knight between theÌ„ daun ced a statly Almain of XV. which ended thei bestowed a fauor certain Latin verses vpoÌ„ euery one of the Knights returned vnto their Mount The Siluer Pen Verses deliuered by VRANIE to ISMARITO stand in the forefrunt of this Booke the rest for that they were proper vnto them selues impertinent for this matter I omit By this time the Cock was ready to sing his midnight song the company fully satisfied with pleasure departed vnto their lodgings to spende the rest of the night in Contemplation and sleepe FINIS A description of the dead of Winter Man by reson inlargeth the boundes of Nature within whose lymites euery other creture lyueth This was the Forrest of Rauenna in Italye for the most part of pine Apple trees This Pallace was 10. miles from Rauenna towardes the Riuer of Poo The custome of Christmas BOLLYTINE a warrant of health without which no man may trauell in Italy A liberall welcome Welcom and Bountie the Porters A couert description of desyre A ciuill foresight meete for a Gentleman A necessary regard for Trauelers The vertues of the Queenes Maiestie maketh the Iland of Eng lande famous through out the whole Worlde Vertue stoppeth the mou th of Enuye But fyreth her hart with mallyce The true Blazon of a noble mynd Tiuoly 12. miles from Rome where the Cardinall of Esta hath a most rare Garden Cardenal Fur nesaes pallace in Rome A necessarie obseruation for a Gentleman A worthye Custome He was a Pro testant Other straun gers arriued by the lyke aduenture A custome ge neraly vesd in Fraunce and in some places of Italy Heliogabalus a most volup tuous Emperor of Rome Courtisie vnto straungers is a marke of Gentilytie A diuision of their pleasurs Musick refresheth the wits Loue simplye is good The distinctions of loue Knowne euils are not to bee defeuded A necessarye note A contention whether Mariage or the single lyfe is the worthyer Argument decideth doubtes Wise scilence worketh mor regarde then foolish talke A fault in many trauellers Al vnmarried pass vnder the name of chast Defences of Marriage Defences of a single lyfe Defences of Mariadge The cause why the Clea gie are reueâ—…ensed Vnpollitick creatures reuerence mariadge Defences of a single lyfe Vertuous fame is an other lyfe The impatiencie of women will not be hidde Vaine glorious shewes bewicheth women ContentmeÌ„t neither followeth the greatest nor scorneth the meanest Sentence gyuen in the be halfe of Mariage Platoes opinion of Mariage Pleasant talâ—… is good physicke for sorrowe The extreme passions of 〈◊〉 woman A GVNDELO is a litle Boat like a wherie HIEN somtimes a man and somtimes a woman The intent of euyll is to be punished Pardon is to be vsed in ignoraunce and not in wilfull faultes The punishment of great offenders dooth most good in example Deuotion Grauitie Affabilitie Myrthe Subtiltie bea teth true mea ning with his owne sword A cunnynge aunswere taketh away the grace of a shrewd tale THYMON of Athens was the sworâ—… enemie of humanitie A dutiful sub iect is bound to obay his Princes wordes and not linger vpon the effect A fayned friend is better then a dan gerous open enimy A Discription of the Sunne risinge Pyrois and Phlegon fained to be two of the Sunnes Coche horses The Bed resemhleth the Graue Laureta com monly called Loreto the great pilgrimage of Italy where is a small Chappell sometymes made by the cunning of certaine Fryers and the consent of some of the Cittizens of RACANATI only to bring Trafficke to their Cittie destroyed by the Goathes and Vandals and in the night stole it out of the Towne and spread a rumoure that our Ladye by Aungells had brought it out of IVRY the mansion House wherin she ther liued whych Fable an nuÌ„ber hold for a trueth Ignoraunce Caue the hye waye to Hell Italians a most subtyle kinde of people Sinne cannot indure to here of Gods Iustice A tiranny ten tymes more Cruell then Dennis Bull. Alcaron a Lawe that for byddes the Turks to dispute of Mahomet A diuine bles singe A token of louinge Subiectes ReconciliatioÌ„ may take away reueÌ„ge but not grudge from enimies harts Questions aunswered by Monisillable A good reward for Flaterie A profitable Note Reason giueth man souerainty ouer al creatures There is diuersitie of coÌ„ dition ineuery kinde Reason findeth out the imperfection of nature Cause of misliking in manage Causes of comfort in mariage Experience is the best Iudge The forme deceiueth but the qualytie sheweth the creature The foresight of Parentes A reprehen sion of forced Mariage Loue vvill not be constrained The euil of rediousnes Reason and Loue are enemies An other reprehension of forcement in mariage Looue rooteth by Contemplation Aduise to a booteles purpose Looue yeelds neither to wyt strength nor learning An exstreame affection The title of Mariage maketh youthe arrogant Abuse of good things worke euill effectes That which is blessing to one may be a curse to an other Carlesnesse of the husband breedeth hate in the vvife Choller is soone quited but Forberaunce increaseth mallice The Dîucll is the Executioner of vengeasice An extreame passion of Loue. A naturall feare in a vvoman suppresseth many of their euill affections An example for Christian Subiectes Craft hath many times his will with an opinion of honestie Wilful faults deserue no pardon A fauour euil bestowed This Iudge is not parciall for fauor gain or feare The curses geuen vnto a Viper Breuitie is best in passionate matters and effectatioÌ„ in pleasaunt Sorrowes 〈◊〉 seth scilence We are bouÌ„d to showe aswell the cause as to punnish the euill Good morralitie is better then euil doctrine There is no trustinge of a reconcyled enemye The example of a naughtye nature A necessarie note A Caueller hath colours for euerie question WemeÌ„s loue is more great theÌ„ theyr hate WemeÌ„ do amis but men are the cause Beauty ouercommeth the wisest EVRIPIDES comparison betweene Beauty and Loue. sclaunder is generally hated A Gentleman is not to shoe his passions by his attyre Men in many cases are to be priuileadged for an others merrite Ventoie a Fan. The vncertaintie ofworldly thinges Both POMPEY and CESAR died violently SISIPHVS A commendation of
Mu sick A fayning how CVPID came to be called blinde A question to trye a quicke witt Three good turns may be receiued vnre warded Three offences may with Iustice be par doned Three iniuries may pas vnreuenged Olde men are bound by their grauitie to say no more then they vvill stand to The dashe of a Pen is more greeuous then the counterbuse of a Launce Free choise in Mariage defended Reproofe c. Defence c. Reproofe c. Reproofe c. Duties before Mariage Defence c. No man nor womaÌ„ but in some point deserue to be blamed and in some other to be praised Reproofe c. Their pennaunce is great that liue in incertaine hope An vngodly childe maketh an vnthriftie Father The seueral paines of offences Incontinency slaundereth an honest mans house Paynes for timerity in Marriage Defence c. A discriptioÌ„ of wealth abused The ioye of true loue Sundry famous Philosophers and Poets punished for their loues Cause of rashe Mariages An vnfortunate Mariage A Gentleman in his reuenge ought not to offend a ciuill company Vertue commendeth her selfe Beautie hâ—…lfe a â—…owrie in a woman The poore eke th to matche with wealthy A rash aunswer The wordes sheweth the wit of the â—…eporter but his gesture causeth atten tion in the hearer The nature of Pride Loue enioyneth vs to do what we kno is amis Au early mariage worketh a late repentaunce The rewarde of pryde is pouertie The commoÌ„ sorte Iudge as they affect The miserye of want Braue rye belongeth to Beautie PIATSO a market place or a place of assembly A necessarye note Courtesy don with an euill intent Disdaine haunteth desire The fyre of Loue. Phisicke cureth not loue The force of Goulde Hope comforteth but Loue cureth the Louer Marinos Present to his Mistrisse Suddaine ioy or sorrow dul leth our senses Gold maketh passage into difficulte places The venemous nature of Ielosye A shrewde sus pition Suspect is more cunnyng then Argus was warie Neapolitans are most seueare in reuenge A Iudas kisse A fit time to deceaue mistrust Death is too easie a scurge for a disloyal wyfe Haire the ornamentes of Chastytie The boundeÌ„ office of a Writer Iustice must not yeald to the teares of Trespassers God regardeth repentaunce A honorable fauour The true ensigne of sorrowe True repentaunce is to be receued in satisfaction of offences Perfect loue cannot be so iniuried but it will alwais retaine some affection A reparation of dishonour Feare of correction bride leth the affex cions of the e uill What hurteth one instuâ—…eth the other Breuitie is best for Table talke MountibaÌ„ks of Italie are in a maner as Englysh Pedlers The strange nature of a Womans tongue Defences for a chidynge wyfe In blaming mildnes is to be vsed Wit simply is imperfect Shift is vnprofitable for Maister and Seruaunt Cienta a venomous Herbe one sort wherof is supposed to be Hemlocke A needefull regarde for yonge GentlemeÌ„ An ill cause asketh a partiall Iudge The great impression True sorrovve is â—…novvsne rather by sighes then vvords The Pope hath begun and not yet finished a moste rare Gallerie Beautifull attires for a Gallerie An espetiall Booke of deuises Ismaritos deuise Pharos a Lanterne or light deuised by King Prolome surnamed Philadelphus for the benefit of Nauigation in those parts which cost 800. Tallents An honourable fauor A regard in straungers to teache Subiectes their dutie The Rose is the most glorious of Flovvers An vnexpected good nevves is double vvelcome Myrthe cureth as much as Medicine vvhere the malladie is not mortall A sumptuous Tapistrie Men may be deceiued vvith out the slaunder of simplycitie Curious sights please more then vnciuill people A lyttle sicknesse maketh an alteration in beautie One square breaketh no custome It is saide S. Frances subdued incontinent desires by tumbling naked in frost and Snowe A premiditated sinne The tricke of a knauish Seruaunt A gentle perswasion Ignoâ—…aunce heareth euery tale as trueth Flatterie eateth the bread of the Iust. A note of litle secreacy in a woman Enuy setteth hatred betweene fellowes of euery vocation An vnwelcome salutation Pleasure in o thers increaseth sorrow in the afflicted Enuy and rude people are not passifyed with praiers of the afflicted Rude people extreame revengers The best way to win the communaltie Men offende subtilly and women simply Wâ—…s euyls are wâ—…yt in their forheds Mens faultes lye hydde in their hartes A ciuill curtesie in a Gen telman This Historie for rarenes therof is liuely set out in a CoÌ„medie by the Reporter of the whole worke but yet neuer presented vpoÌ„ stage A hard Lawe forâ—…ncontinent persons Lawe adiudgeth by the generall offence Iustice ismoâ—…s renowned by lenytie then seueritie A good cause to mooue pytie Loue fauoureth no degre Princes Prerogatiue are aboue Lawe The true intent of the Lawe A good turne vpon an euyl cause Aucthorytie in euyll Maiestrates is aâ—… Scourge vnto the good A monstrous request Vâ—…lesse they be reprobate good Examples may refourme the wicked A hard choice of two euyls The force of Necessytie The force of Loue. A hard Fortune Death is to be preferred before dishonâ—…rable lyfe The venemous nature of Enuy. The vertuous are assured of many enemies and incertaine of any friendes A cause that may excuse the breach of honour A faint hope A louyng kys A good consideration in Cassandra A damnablâ—… offence A villanous Ingratitude An especiall prouidence of God A signe of an honest nature An vnwelcome present A mischiefe well preuented A noble ffauour A necessarie pollye A Ryal grace The clamors of the poore and the consciences of the rich like Hell Sorrowe and Shame the Attendantes of Cassandra An vnusual place for a Iudge A necessarie regarde in a Prince Princes beres the blamr or euyll Officsrr extortion A iust Iudgement The good protect the lewde The duetie of a wyfe truely showen The comon weale is to be regarded before priuate aâ—… our Siue bonum fiue malum Fama est Good motions proâ—… fiâ—… the 〈◊〉 and euâ—… the flesh A gratefull parte Murther asketh death and no other Satisfaction Princes are bounde to their word Oâ—… two the least euill is least daungerous Ruthfullâ—… tales raiseth remorce in the hearers By example of euill the euill are feared By example of the good the good are strengthned Good order is to bee kept among such as â—…aue bene laâ—…e sick men Cauclers neuer answere directly A disgrace in honour a Gentleman may not beare with Aristotles pro bleames Extraordinarie thinges are not to be coÌ„pared with ordinarie Life is pretious Epicaria in the trembling passage of death was con stant PLIN. lib. 34 Cap 2. â—…n enuious Suggestion A man may praise a Woman without reproching a man Chaste talk ought espetially to be vsed in the presence of VVomen Aris. Prob. The quallity and not the quantity commends Eaue Our Lady Where an iniurie in words may be reuenged in words a Gentleman is not bouÌ„d to his sword Discreete standers
asswage A wytnesse that Vnkindnesse inlargeth Loue as the wracke of Winter dooth the beautie of Summer then although the Parents matche at first be without the fancie of the Children a reconciliation in fine will double their comforte Sir ê™ Soranso fauouring Falieros opinion you wrest the Adage is to a coÌ„trary meaning for it is to be vsed but where there hath béene sometyme perfect loue and where a grounded leue is although the Married menace with their tunges they malice not with their hartes on the contrarie parte looke what rule the Louer vseth in loue the Enemie obserueth in reuenge Therefore if the Maried abhorre before Marriage they may well desemble with their tounges but wyll neuer bée delighted in their harts and where there is such a deuision in the desires of the Married fayre fained semblaunce wil soone turne to flat fowle falling out their thrift goeth forwarde as the carriage drawen by two Oxen taile to taile the Husband wyll haue no delight to get nor the Wife desyre to saue Seruauntes with negligence will waste and hyrelinges with proloyning will winne and which is worst the continuaunce of mallice will custom them with mortall hatred hatred betwéene the Married bréedeth coÌ„tencion betwixt the parents coÌ„tencion betwixt the pareÌ„ts raiseth quarrels among the kindred quarrels amoÌ„g the kindred occupieth all the neighbours with slauÌ„der so y t for the most part these forced Mariages engendereth sorrowes for the Married disquietnesse to both their fréends kindâ—…ed but which still renueth gréefe the scandall of enemyes endeth in neyther of theyr wretchednesse This béeing said lyttle auayled the further prooffes of the contrary part so full was the crie Fye of forcement in Mariage so that to paint out the inconueniences therof in his proper coulours Quéene Aurelia coÌ„maunded Faliero to confirme his sufficient reasons with the discourse of some rare Historie Whose commaundement he willingly satisfied and reported as followeth The Historie in the reproche offorced Mariage reported by Faliero IN the famous Cittie of Cirene in Affrick dwelled sometimes a riche Marchaunt named Tryfo This Tryfo had a wealthy neighbour called Clearches who of long time entertained one an other with a neighborly affection Tryfo to inherite all his liuings had but one onely sonne named Sicheus and Clearches one onely Daughter called Elisa The Parents to establish as they imagined an euerlasting amitie betwéene theyr houses concluded a Mariage for theyr vnfortunate Children making no doubt but that they would as well inherite theyr affections as theyr liuings of which there was hope enough if the order had béene as good to establish theyr Loue as the haste great to sollemnize the Mariage for that in theyr persons appéered no signe of disagréement nor in theyr abilyties cause of exception but looue that behouldeth no more quicknesse in a Dyamond then in a dim Saphyre though he take impression by sight rooteth in contemplation which deuine exercise of the soule smally delighteth gréen Youthe who intertaine their thoughts with a thousand vaine fancies but to my purpose The Mariage day drew neare and as at the very push of Battell the wise Captaine animateth his Souldiers with some plausible Oration euen so the night before the Mariage Trâ—…fo scheeled his sonne Sicheus with this following aduertisement My good sonne quod he so great are the follyes of men and so cunning the deceits of women as the most especially the yonger sorte wyll credite theyr lookes without looking into their liues beléeue their woordes and lightly regard their workes delyght to recount theyr entertainements and disdaine to reclion theyr shrewde payments For as the sycke pacient comforted with the Phisitions words leaues to examine the quallities of his receites BueÌ„ so the wretched Louer cured with the yéelding of his beautifull Mistrisse with negligence bothe ouer lookes his owne benefit her behauiour Salomon was deceyued Sampson subdued Aristotle derided and Hercules murthered by the illusions of errant honest women Kinge Demetrius notwithstanding he was bothe wise and valiant was so bewitched with the wyles of the notorious strumpet Lamia as in open Schooles he raysed disputations whether the loue he bare Lamia or the Iewels he bestowed vpon her were the greater or whether her merrit excéeded them bothe or noe Yea when she died he caused her to be Intombed vnder his Bed Chamber windowe to the ende that with dayly teares he might worship her engraued bones who liuing was of him intirely belooued If the wisest and the worthyest be thus ouertaken in their affections what easie baites may beguile thée who in yeares art young of substaunce delicate and lustie and therefore apt to looue reddy in conceyt and of consideration vnperfect whot in desire and in discretion colde My sonne by experience I know and to preuent thy ouerlikely mischaunce in choyce I haue chosen thée a wife fayre to please theae ritche to continue looue her Parents my assured fréendes and she thy affected loouer loue her well beare with her in small faultes as a woman and the weaker bridle thy owne euill affections as a man her head and gouernour and in thus dooing God will multiply his blessings vpon you and make your aged Parents to dye in peace to sée you liue in prosperitie Young Sicheus regarded his Fathers tale as Schollers doo their Tutors who giuing them leaue to playe admonisheth them with all to kéepe good rule which they promise and performe the contrary With the like affection Sicheus embraced Mariage He was not so soone wearie of dallying with his Wife as he was ready to entertayne a Harlot so that in shorte space he became a common Louer and a carelesse Husband and withall grew as arrogant in defending his libertie as dissolute in his actions and behauiour If his friends did gently aduise him he was of age to counsell himselfe if his Parents did sharply reprehend him he would impudently aunswer he was past correction if his Wife found her selfe agréeued with his hard vsage she might well complaine but he would take no time to amend so that his dayly actions of euill tooke away all after hope of weldeeing in so much as he became odious vnto his friends that beheld his lewde inclination and a plague vnto his Wife who was dayly oppressed with his monstrous vices So that the ouercharge of sorrow made her many times passage for these and such like passions O vnhappie and ouer hastie Mariage which in the pride of my youthe with discontentments makest me resemble a fayre Fig Tree blasted with the after colde of an vntimely Spring but why blame I Mariage which is honourable alas because the abuse of good things worke euill effectes Roses vnaduisedly gathered pryck our hands Bees vngently vsed stinge our faces yet the one pleasaunt and the other profitable so that if their come any euil of that which is good our folly or fortune is cause thereof Aye me when I was married I was
to young to be a wife and therefore haue no reason to exclayme on folly But Fortune fowle falle thée which crossest me with cursses in possessing me with those things which others holde for blessings Wealth that bestoweth pleasures on many is the orriginall of my woe Mariage which giueth lybertye to many inlargeth my Fetters and demaundeth death for my raunsome Beautie that aduaunseth many is to me a disgrace for that inioying her forme I am of Sicheus not fantasied of whom euery foule and common Trull is belooued But therein Fortune thou doost me no wronge for my hate towards him ouerâ—…ayseth his light regarde of me O but my hart is continually afflicted with his euill and his finger neuer akes with my mallice Yea but Forberaunce edgeth the sword of Reuenge when Choller though it often strikes it woundes not muche Raine falleth euery where yet beateth but the leaues the thunder Bowlt lighteth in one place but yet teareth vp the rootes so though I dissemble tyll oportunitie Sicheus shall féele my hate to death and though I endure a space I will redéeme my dying life and perseuering in this resolution Elisaes thoughts that were lately drowned in sorrow now flamed with desyre of Reuenge and the Deuill who is the Executioner of Vengeance presented her foorthwith this vngratious meane A Yonge Gentleman named Chion among a troupe of other Ladyes and Gentlewomen beheld fayre Elisae with such a burning affection as he foorthwith dispossessed his owne hart to make his bosome the seate of her imagined Image so that his soule that continually eyed her beautie and his heart at the direction of his Mistresse gaue such a heate to his desire that had he béene sure to haue receiued Ixions torments for his ambitious attempting of Iunoes loue he could neither haue left to loue nor haue forborne to séeke for grace so that follow what would he foorthwith presented his affections in this ensuing Letter ⧠Chions Letter to Elisae FAyre Mistresse had I vertue to perswade you to ruthe as you haue power to make me loue the discouerie of my blasing affections would melt you were you a Mountaine of Ice to pitty But for that Loue is more vehement in the heart then in the tongue I appeale to your owne motions for grace if you haue euer loued if not I hope for such iustice at Venus handes as you shall loue and yet thus much I saye although I affye nothing in my perswations because they be but wordes I presume of my indeuours for that I haue vowed my life to death to do you seruice of which you can haue no better assuraunce then imployement nor I a hyer fauor then to be imployed Good Madame martir me not with ordinary doubts in that my affections are not ordinary For as your beautye excelleth all other Dames as the fayre Rose eache Garden Flower euen so the full power of loue hath made me in the estate of flaming flaxe that is presently to receiue grace or in a moment to perish Thus longing for your sweete aunswer I somewhat succour my torments with the imagination that I kisse your gratious hand No more his owne Chion This Letter sealed and subscribed was delyuered to so cunning a Messenger as néeded no instructions in Chions behalfe The Letter presented and aduisedly reade by Elysa surprised her with an vnmeasurable ioye not so much for that she had purchased her self a faithfull Loouer as procured her Husband a mortall enemy of which Chions Letter gaue her not so great assuraunce as the disposition of his countenaunces in a former regarde and thervppon pursuing Sicheus with more hate then minding Chion with affection she mused vppon an number of mischéefes inuented by desyre to be reuenged and suppressed by feare to be defamed In fine remembring that she had read Loue quickeneth a mans wit although it burieth Reason To trie if he could define what Seruice she desired she retourned Chion a Briefe wherin he had a light to mischiefe and yet might be read without bleamysh of her honour the Effect wherof was this Whyle CICHEVS doth lyue ELISA can not loue CHION receyued this Scrowle But yet before he presumed to reade the Contents he kissed and rekissed the same houldyng an opinion that commyng from his Mistresses handes it deserued suche honour althoughe it contayned Sentence of his death not vnlyke the foolishe Mahometians who vpon their Emperours Commaundementes are ready Executioners of their owne lyues But to my purpose when Chion had throughly pervsed this strange Aunswere weare it Cicheus his heauy Destinie or a iust Scourge for his fore trespasses accursed that he was he became too iust an Executioner of Elisaes wicked wil but yet with this interpretation that the loue she bare her Husband directed her in this answer In so much as ouercom with a furious hate towards Cicheus as the Barre of his welfare lyke a Lyon that bites the Iron grate which houlds him from his pray sodenly with this salutation he sheathed his Sword in Cicheus intrayles CICHEVS shall not lyue To hinder CHIONS loue The fact was so fowle and withall so publique as the Officers of Iustice immediatly seased vpoÌ„ Chion for y t his bloodie sword was a witnes of the trespas there was no Plea to saue him for wilfull faultes may be pitied but deserueth no pardon and to say trueth neither did he desire to lyue because ELISA the vertue of his lyfe by the charge of Lawe was bownd to sue him to death who followed the processe with an apparance of sorrow suche as if her Conscience had bene without scruple of guiltinesse or her harte a thowsande degrées from ioye when God knowes she was puffed with the one and the other so that the wonder at her dissimulation equalled the reproche of her notorious hatred To be shorte this was the Iudges sentence Chyon should be beheaded as amends for Cicheus death and the Widdow should be endowed with his goods for the dammage done vnto her but God which knoweth our seacret faultes when Iudges though they rule as Gods know but what they heare and sée as men not willynge to hide such an haynous offence First amased all the hearers with an vnknow voice Elisaes harte is as Gyltie as Chions hand and therewithal thundred this following vengeance vppon the cleared malefactor The Infant in Eysaes wombe as it were engendred of the Parents malyce at the verie instaunt not obeying the course of Nature so tyrannised her Intrailes as with very agony she dyed and with all remayneth an opinyon that the Husband Wife and Sonne by the appointment of the Gods were Metamorphosed into Vipers whiche venimous Beastes are thrall to these curses The female after shee hath engeÌ„dred murdreth the Male because she wil not be ruled as an inferiour and the yong eate themselues forth of their Dams Intrailes because they wil not be bound to the obedience of Nature