other What likelyhoode of continuance hath the House whose ground worke is rotten although the prospect be beautifull and strong God wot the féeblenes of the Foundation will ouerthrowe the firmenesse of the vpper frame Compare this vnequall estate in Mariage with this ouersight in building and you shall finde the discorde as great betwéen the one as the ruine and decay spéedie in the other The good and able Gouernment of the Husband is the foūdation and ground worke of Mariage and the beauty of the Wife the blessing in hauing of Children and the benefite of possessing liuings are the outward buildings of mariage And as they are pleasant in the eye of the world euen so they greatly please the mindes of the maried and giue a singuler grace to this honourable vocation But if the Gouernment of the Husband be inabled with age as in truth Olde Age is no other then a second Infancie In whose desire direction discretion and delight there are imperfections The beautie of the wife will be blasted with sorrow for the insufficiencie of her Husband euill Education will accurse their blessing in hauing of children and negligence will waste their benefites of liuing You holde a yong wife a companion to recreate an olde man but he shall finde her a corsiue that will consume him to death A yong man concludeth the swéetest solace in loue with sighes it is thē like an olde man endes it with teares And God he knowes he often wéepeth more of desire to please his wife then of any deuotion he hath to wantonnesse yet is all his paines to a fruitlesse purpose for that the Game finisheth in his gréefe and neither began nor endes in his wiues contentment You are too quick in aduantage Segnior Soranso Defence c. quoth the Doctor olde Wine though it be dead in the mouth yet is it warme in the Stomack when the new fumes in the head but comforteth not the hart Dry wood maketh a bright fire where gréene bowes consume halfe away in Fume and Smoake The Sunne riseth watrishly and is long before it giueth heate where in the afternoone it scorcheth the face So a yong man deuideth his loue into a hundreth affections and euery fancy pleased there will but a little fall to his wiues share where an old mans loue is setled and his fancy is fixed vpon one And as the recited examples in age are in best hart so to proue an olde mans sufficiencie there is a cōmō Prouerb Graie haires are nourished with green thoughts Now to content his yong wife she shal haue no cause to suspect his Affection abroad and shall not lack to be beloued at home Moreouer which delighteth a yong woman who naturally is ambitious she shal take her place according to the grauitie of her Husband and not as her yong yéeres requireth And to conclude to giue her an honourable name the most precious Iuell with which a woman may be beautified she shal receiue graue directions from her husband and through the swéete delight she taketh in hearing her good gouermēt commended we will put them in execution Doctor Mossenigo replyed not with this vehemencie for any delight he had to commend this vnequall estate in Mariage but to flatter Katharina Trista with an Ambitious hope of great reputation in matching with his aged selfe but she that knew a legge of a Larke was better then the whole carkasse of a Kite would none God thank him And to make him horn wood if he perseuered in his opinion in Soransoes behalfe quoth Bargetto his ancient crosser Maister Doctor there is more pride in your words thē substance in your proofes your hartie olde Wine must be drawen out when it is broached your dry wood is but a blaze and your hotte Sunne doth but sweat for sorrow that he is going to cowche in the darke Caues of Tartessus Reproofe c. But as touching olde men they may well be sufficient in gréene thoughts as you terme them but I am assured that in déeds they are weake and withered and therefore a man cannot speake too much euill of this excesse in dotage withered Flowers are more fit for a Dunghill then méete to decke a house olde rotten Trées are néedefull for the fire but vnnecessary to stand in an Orchard euen so olde decaied creatures are comely in the Church but vnséemely by a yong womans side The olde man which marrieth a yong Wife is sure of this sowre sauce to rellish his swéet imaginations The mischances of an olde man yōgly maried his beloued wife howsoeuer she dissembleth disdaineth him his neighbours all to beflouteth him and soothing Parasites beguileth him common opinion will counterfeit him like 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 ioy A yong wife is death to an olde man he may perchaunce liue two yéeres with his faire wife but the mischaunce of his Children will remember his infamie for euer Gréene Iuy which catcheth an olde Trée maketh quick worke for the fire and the imbracements of a faire woman hastneth an olde man to his Graue And although it be a hainous wrōg causelesse to cōdemne the wife An honest woman is lightly slaundered by the imperfections of her Husband yet this will be the opinion she killed her Husband with thought to heare and sée how she trespassed both against his and her owne honour Foule fall such a Mariage quoth Maria Belochy where the vertuous Wife shall be slaundered through the imperfections of her Husband It is some wrong quoth Fabritio but shee might haue foreséene the mischiefe Repentance to late while she was frée Well quoth Quéene Aurelia vpon this knowledge of mischaunce The wise are warned by the mischances of others our companie are sufficiently warned Procéede in iudgement as you allow eithers opinion Whereupon Fabritio with Isabella with one accord gaue sentence against Doctor Mossenigo in these wordes An olde man amourous of a yong woman is an enemy both to his health and reputation for the causes aforesaide The rest of the company smyled to heare this iudgement but the Doctor brake foorth many a secret sigh not for the disgrace he tooke in his pleading for he defended an ill matter with colour sufficiēt but in that he knew this verdict would alwaies be a barre in his sute While the Doctor and Soranso argued Quéene Aurelia espied in the Cloth of Arras A Rhinocerot a beast fourmed like an Vnicorne saue that he bare his horn in his nose which beast sléeping laid his murthering horne in a yong Maidens lap and after the question was decided she demaunded what the beast was and what the misterie signified but the meaning was as strange as the sight to most of the company In the end quoth Ismarito Madame The Metamorphose of Rinauius a Gentleman of Naples I haue read of a gallant yong Gentleman of
vnpleasant Her anger kéepeth seruants in awe and her quicknesse ouerséeth their negligence if her tung runne at riot where she hunts there is store of abuse which must be chased either with blowes or words if y◠fury of her spéech offend her Husband it is like that her outrage groweth from his fault and where an iniury is offered it is sufferable if the wrong be blamed but which maketh a ful amends for her furious mood as the clowdy and rainy day lightly cléereth towards night euen so though she bitterly scowld at boord she wil be sure to kisse swéetly a bed The auncient Gentlemen commending the quick wit of this yong Gentleman In blaming mildens is to be vsed vsed this circumstance before he refelled his error Ah quoth he if wit were as aduised in Iudgement as he is ready in conceite his imaginations would turne to wonderfull effects but as fairest colours soonest staine as swéetest flowers are blasted with a breath as beautifull creatures are blemished with a little care as the brightest Sun threatneth suddaine raine yea as euery mortall thing hath his imperfection euen so wit being mortall Wit simply in imperfect and assigned by Nature to make man glorious aboue other creatures by rashnes corrupts the ripenes of his conceites and to good purpose his pride is thus abated for other wise man which inioyeth wit to worship his Creator and to liue content with the liberties of the sea and to kéepe him within the limits of the earth would search the secrets of heauen and I think dispossesse Pluto of hell Yong Gentleman quoth he I vse not this ceremony to represse your liberty of spéech for the errour of your rashnes I will refell with reason and experience but least héeraftèr you should be as arrogant in opinion as you are ripe in conceite I haue thought good fréendly and bréefely to signifie your imperfection and now to answere your late suggestion I affirme that Nature hath created nothing to a néedlesse purpose but not withstanding our abuse or mischance changeth hurtfull things into occasions of our help surfite and sicknes only commendeth Medicine and as you affirme the bloud of a Scorpion cureth the biting of the Viper But take away the cause which procéedeth from our gréefe and you shall finde medicine an enemy to health and the stinge of a Scorpion no better then death and trust me he is to be reckoned a foole and his misfortune to passe vnreléeued that wilfully indammageth his health in hope of remedy In like sort let him liue vnpittied to ouersée the slacknesse of his seruants who will marry a wife whose tung shall ouer-rule himselfe But more particularly to describe the properties of an vnquiet wife and more largely to discourse the displeasures of her vnfortunate husband I will approoue her lowrings as vnprofitable as his life is vnpleasant you say her quicknesse ouerséeth the negligence of sernants but I affirme that her curstnesse maketh them as swift to runne away Shift is vnprofitable for Maister and Seruant as they were slowe to serue her and common vse auowes that often shift is neither beneficiall for Maister nor seruant for proofe as the rowling Stone gathereth no Mosse and want of vse canckereth Iron in likewise thrift flyeth the fléeting Seruant and idlenes consumeth his ability of seruice Now touching the euill reckoning of those which are serued their wandering seruants not onely charge their common accounts with double wages but with secret pilfering they set their maisters in more déepe arrerages The Grecians that in times past neither vsed medicine for sicknesse Gienta a venemous herb one sort wherof is supposed to be Hemlocke nor patience in aduersitie but vpon euery great veration poisoned themselues with venemous Cienta In their Histories remember more that haue voluntarily died through the violence their Wiues tunges then of any other calamity Diogenes being demaunded the diuersity of an euill betwéene ascold a harlot answered They differ as the Viper doth from that crockadill for the scolde saith he with outrage destroyeth her Husband A needfull regarde for yong Gentlemen and the other with dissembling loue consumeth him to death And so concluded thē both enemies to life and quiet liuing of man Phrisio being both modestly warned and throughly answered with a blushful grace replyed the the grauity of his person and the sound reason in his wordes had taken from him al occasion of further Question vnles that women were his Iudges An ill cause asketh a partiall iudge This wittie shift moued such as were within the hearing to smile for where the cause is ill it is necessary to séeke a Iudge that is partiall and which commended Phrisios gouernment vpon a small check he left to contend with this ancient Gentleman for yong men although their wittes be good are not priuiledged to dispute with the grauer sort without licence intreatie or great renerence By this time the Mountibanke with describing the qualities of his vermin and the Zanni in shewing the knauish conditions of his Maister had wasted a good part of the night and wearied the most part of the company so that desire of repose summoned them vnto their lodgings MADONA AVRELIA Her fourth daies pleasures Containing varietie of necessary discourse and yet withall the greater part appertaining to the generall argument of Mariage SO déepe are the impressions of sorrow The great impression as the faining of Poets may be helde for Morall truthes where as they affirme that the bitter mone of Orpheus tung together with the passionate sound of his Instrument moued such ruth in infernall creatures as while he was a suter to Pluto for the restitution of his wife Euridice his plaints so charmed the torments of Hell as for the time the Gripe forbare to teare vpon Titius growing hart Tantalus indeuoured not to drinke Danais daughters leste filling of their brincklesse Tub toyling Sisiphus sate and eased himselfe vpon his rowling Stone yea and Pluto ouercharged with pitie made restitution of Euridice This sorrow to heare that Quéene Aurelia by some distemperature was sick and kept her Chamber wrought such gréefes in the hartes of the whole company that they hung their heads in disgrace like Garden Flowers which séeming as teares are cloyed with the dewe of a foule mistie day True sorrow is knowne rather by sighes then words Among the rest Ismarito although he vsed not so many words of lamēt as some other did yet with the teares of his hart he solemnifed the true rites of a Mourner and to say truth where the tung hath frée passage to talke the hart is occupied with no great gréefe Segnior Phyloxenus séeing Ismarito in this passion and that occasion entertained him with no other busines while the rest of the company were hearing of a little superstitious seruice The Pope hath begun and not yet finished a most rare Gallerie Beautifull attires for a Gallerie lead him into a very faire
Naples named Rinautus that was Metamorphosed into such a Beast by this aduenture passing through the Iland of Circeiū that Homer speaketh of which is now annexed vnto the Continent he was espied of Circes who inhabited that Iland This wrinckled ill-fauoured witch at the first sight was surprised in loue with the goodly shape and beauty of this séemely Gentleman but for all her charmes and inchauntments her art failed either to force him to loue or to frée her selfe from louing for notwithstanding she was a Goddesse he disdained her ouerworne foule and withered visage and she presuming of her sorcerie powred fresh Coles vpon her kindled desire in hope that necessitie would force him to consent to the request frée will contemned but Cupid to whom such power onely belongeth to scourge her presumption in such sorte hardened Rinautus hart that all Circes sute and sorceries tended vnto a fruitlesse successe Insomuch as in her rage she turned him into a Rhinocerot a beast of vnconquerable force who in his nose beareth a horne much like to the Vnicorne But notwithstanding he was thus transfourmed as King Nabuchadonizer in the fourme of an Oxe retained the spirite of a man so he in his altered shape nourished his ancient disdaine of ill fauoured Circes and to be fully auenged with all his force pursueth olde Creatures and such as he ouertaketh he goreth to death yet is he by this pollicie subdued Place a faire Maide in his walke and foorth with he will with a louing countenance repaire vnto her and in her bosome gently bestowe his murthering horne and sodainly as one rauished with cōtentment he falleth a sléep by which meanes he is slaine before he recouereth the vse of his force The company laughed well to heare this strange Metamorphosis In the ende quoth Quéene Aurelia I would Maister Doctor had heard this historie when he so inuayed against Beautie perhaps he would haue béene afraide of her vengeance séeing her power able to conquere sauadge and wilde beastes But the Doctor glad of this aduantage Euill men care not for conscience so they haue a colour for their offences not vnlike the cunning Lawyer the buyeth Robin hoodes penniworthes and yet with some nice forfeitures threatneth the seller with continuall bondage and many times bringeth back his money and kéepeth his bargaine not caring for his Conscience so that he haue a colour for his offence or as the wisest sort of Atheists that liue as though they hoped neither after Heauen nor feared Hell yet confesse God with their mouth because the contrary would make them hated of men so he by this tale found out both a warrant to maintaine his former blasphemie and to excuse his present follie in Loue And to authorise either Madame quoth he the inchaunted Beast approueth mine opinion of Beauties power and his Death is a greater witnesse of her cruelty then is Doctor Mossenigo The force of Beautie who confesseth that men in vaine prescribe remedies for the Affected or receites to preserue men from the infections of Beautie You are welcome vnder our Lée quoth Aluisa Vechio But to take away all hope of good intertainment quoth Catharina Trista no No affliction but hath his remedie no Maister Doctor you deceiue your selfe Beauty neither retaineth the power nor poyson which you speake of and with you Ouid and all the amorous Poets are mistaken who say Affection ariseth from Beautie and not of the frée will of man But say you all what you please good foresight will contrary your opinions There is no sore but hath his salue no gréefe but hath his remedie nor no danger but may be forstoode either by praier or good indeuour Indéede quoth Faliero Socrates altred his inclination by studie of Philosophie Examples to be regarded The Niniuites preserued their Cittie by praier and Virbius doubled his life by mastering of his disposition Floradin be witched with the loue of faire Persida Idlenes nourisheth and exercise remedieth loue his déere fréend Pericles Wife worte in a Table booke fie Floradin fie she is thy fréend Pericles Wife and so often as idlenes presented him with this passion he read his written remembrance and by some honest exercise remoued his imagination This is not your day Maister Doctor quoth Soranso I beléeue there is some vnkindenes betwéene Saturne and Venus by the enuious aspect of some other Plannet this howre It may be quoth the Doctor by the flatterie of Mercurie Flatterie the enemie of truth who is euermore enemy to the plainenes of truth Well quoth Quéene Aurelia let vs leaue this by-matter and consider better of Ismaritos Metamorphosis me thinkes it prophesieth much mischaunce to an olde widdow which marieth a yong man and no great pleasure to the yong maried Bacheler Mariage commended between an olde woman and a yong man O good Madame say not so quoth Soranso for in this fortune lyeth a yonger Brothers welfare and the cause that maketh happinesse accompanie olde women to their Graue Reproofe c. It may well be to their Graue quoth the Doctor but it bringeth sorrow into their House and maketh their life more impleasant then death and if Soranso followe this course perhaps his day will be no better then Doctor Mossenigos Quéene Aurelia smiling saide she feared this contention would bring the company to hell gates Yet quoth she in that I imagine the way wil be pleasant I licence you to perseuer in your purpose Vpon which warrant quoth Soranso to maintaine that to be true Defence c. which I haue already alleadged in the commendation of this estate in Mariage This further reason in my conceite you will neither disallowe nor the maried couple shal haue cause to mislike which is where a fresh yong gentleman either of small liuing or farre spent with lustines A good exchange of Marchandise lightes of a rich olde widdow for that both their desires in this fortune shal be satisfied He shall haue plenty of Coyne the onely Grace he lacked and she the possession of a goodly Personage the chéefest Iewel she loueth which exchange of Marchandise cannot chuse but continue their liking and raise much contentment Clean contrary quoth the Doctor for the follies of a yong man is sufficiently punished by marying an olde woman and the sinnes of an olde widdowe are fully plagued in matching with a yong man for that contrary to your suggestion neither can inioye the cause of their Mariage without annoyance to their mindes for his liking is fastned on her riches which she will not but by necessitie leaue and her loue is setled on his person which for her pleasure he disdaineth to punish The euils in an olde widdow The vnfortunate yongman knowes not what gréefe he ioynes to his gaine in matching with an olde widdow till that experience breakes them foorth in sighes If his wife be rich she will looke to gouerne if she be poore he is plagued both
Virginitie which is the fairest flower of a Single life be precious in the sight of God and in the opinion of men yet is Mariage more precious in that it is a sacred institution of God and more honoured of men the Married are reuerently intertained when the vnmarried are but familiarly saluted The Maried in assemblies are honoured with the highest places the vnmarried humble themselues vnto the lowest To be short Virginitie is the handmaide of Mariage Then by how much the Master is greater then the seruant by so much Mariage is more worthy then is Single life I confesse quoth Ismarito Mariage is an honourable estate Defences of a single life instituted of God and embraced of men but whereon had she her beginning vpon this cause to kéepe men from a greater inconuenience as the Law was founded vpon this reason to punish the trespasses of men But if no offence had béen giuen the Law had not néeded So if man had liued within bounds of reason which before any commaundement giuen was vnto him a Law Mariage might haue béen spared and therefore in the highest degrée is but a vertue vpō necessitie where Chastitie is a deuine vertue gouerned by the motions of the soule which is immortall and participating of the same vertue is alwaies fresh and gréene The euerspringing Bay is the Metamorphosis of chaste Daphnè whome Apollo although he were a soueraigne God could not allure to Mariage which proueth Chastity a true spark of Diuinitie whose twinkling reflexions so daseleth the eyes of imagined Gods whose powers must néedes be more great then the greatest of men as they cannot sée an end of their incontinent desires whereas the beauty of Mariage is many times blasted by fortune or the frailtie of the Maried Therfore think I by how much deuine things are of greater emprise then earthly by so much the Single life is more worthy then the Maried And in aduauntage quoth Lucia Bella where Soranso saith that there is great honor done vnto the married and to the Single is giuen light regard I pray you whether are Bacchus minions or the Muses most reuerenced among men whose places are hyer then the Cleargies and among women whose greater then the religious Dames They haue not this preheminence quoth Faliero because they professe a Single life Defences of Mariage but because their function is more sacred then other mens The cause why the cleargie are reuerenced who if their prayers to God be no more zealous then their vowes to chastity are stedfast you fly to the authority of a company as spotted as Labans Shéepe But where Sir Ismarito saith that Mariage is but a vertue vpon necessity to restraine man from a greater euill I approoue it an estate set downe by Nature and that man hath but amplified it with certain ceremonies to make perfect the determination of nature For we dayly sée in vnreasonable creatures Mariage is in a sorte worshipped Fowles of the Aire I meane the he and the she cupple together flie together féed together and neast together The Turtle is neuer merie after the death of her Mate and in many brute beastes the like constancy is found But generally there is neuer iarre nor misliking betwéen the Male and Female of vnpollitique creatures Vnpollitick creatures reuerence mariage and among the most barbarous people that euer liued by the impresson of nature Mariage hath euermore béen reuerenced and hououred Much more ciuill people ought to affect this holy estate And where Ismarito attributes such glory vnto a Single life because that Daphne was metamorphosed into a Bay Trée whose branches are alwaies gréene In my opinion his reason is faired like the Bay Trée for the Bay trée is barren of pleasant fruit and his pleasing words of weighty matter Furthermore what remembrance is there of faire Sirinx coynesse refusing to be God Paris wife other then that she was metamorphosed into a fewe vnprofitable Réedes Or of Anaxaretes chaste cruelty towards Iphis ouer then that she remaineth an Image of Stone in Samarin Many other such like naked Monuments remain of nice contemners of Mariage But in the behalfe of Mariage thousands haue béen changed into Oliue Pomegranate Mulberie and other fruitfull trées swéete flowers Starres and precious stones by whom the world is beautified directed and nourished In many well gouerned common wealths Sterility hath béene reputed so vile as the Aged was of no man honoured that had not children of his owne to do him reuerence Then by how much those things which nourish with increase are more necessary then those things which but simply please the eye by so much the maried is more worthy then the single life Sir quoth Ismarito it séemeth that you haue read a Leafe more then Saint Katherins Nun Defences of a single life for she simply tried all things and you subtilly vse but what serueth your owne turne you reproach a Single life with Barrennesse and commend the fertility of Mariage but had you showen the wéedes with the Corne bare pasture would haue returned as great a benefite as your haruest The Monsters Serpents and loathsome Creatures mentioned by Ouid in his Metamorphosis were they not I pray you the fruites of Mariage as wel as the blessings which you so affectedly reported Oedipus was glad to scratch out his eyes because he could not indure to beholde the vices of his Children The good Emperour Marcus Aurelius in his aged daies neuer rose that he sighed not neuer dined that he fretted not nor neuer went to bed that he wepte not to heare sée and consider the monstrous euils of his Children Admit the Maried haue vertuous Children they may dye when they are yong then the goodnes of their liues increaseth sorowes by their deathes and where the comfort is so doubtfull it is not amisse to refuse the hazard of the gréefe Vertuous fame is another life neither dyeth there any of Dianas band but that their vertues reuiueth them as the ashes of the Phenix turneth to another Phenix It is for some Phenix sake quoth Quéene Aurelia that you thus stoutly defend a Single life I doo but your commaundement quoth Ismarito I quoth she it is at my commaundement but yet for some others merite Aluisa vechio The impatiencie of women wil not be hid fearing that mariage would receiue some disgrace if that Quéene Aurelia fauoured the Defence of a Single life could not longer suppresse her affections but with a womans Impatiencie blamed the rigour of Diana who condemned Acteon to be deuoured of his owne Hounds who caused swéet Adonis to be staine by a wilde Boare with many other cruell partes vnséeming the naturall pittie of a woman but which might haue saned a great deale of Argument or at the least which will now soone end the Controuersie compare quoth she Iuno and Diana together and by their callings you may easily iudge who is the worthier Diana poore soule is
but a Goddesse here on earth and Iuno is Quéene of Heauen Dianaes force is in her Bow and Arrowes Iuno bestoweth Thunderbolts vpon her enemies Diana is attired with gréene leaues and Iuno with glorious Starres Diana féedeth on rawe fruites and drinketh colde water Iunoes Feastes are of Manna and her bowles are fild with Nectar Dianaes musick is no better then the voyces of a few Nimphes Iuno is recreated with the harmony of Angels Dianaes pastime is a foote to chace the fearefull Roe where Iuno in Phaetons winged Chariot pursueth a thousand seuerall pleasures then by how much the pomp of Iuno excéedeth the naked Triumphs of Diana by so much Mariage must néedes be more worthy then the Single life Lucia Bella that should haue answered Aluisa Vechio not vnlike the Marigolde that closeth her Beauty when Phoebus is attired with his brightest rayes so admired the glory of Iuno Vaine glorious shewes bewitcheth women that as an inchaunted creature her tongue forgot her naturall office the reason was her hart was sodenly surprised with an ambitious desire of honor Which change Ismarito perceiued with the first and least her silence should conclude a yéelding All is not golde quoth he that glistereth Contentment neither followeth the greatest nor scorneth the meanest nor euery thing counterfet that is not curiously garnished a smiling countenance is no ful testimony of a merry hart nor costly Garments of a rich Purse And perchaunce the griefe of Iunoes secret discontentments is greater then the delight of her glorious pomp where Diana who as a Diamond in the darke shineth of her selfe néedeth not the Ornaments of Iuno And as she is simply of a pure substance so her thoughts must néedes be swéet and quiet Sir quoth Maria Belochy our soundest iudgements are of those things that we our selues sée therefore if the apparance of Mariage be worthier thâ—n the apparance of the single life if sentence be truly pronounced it must be in the behalfe of Iuno Quéene Aurelia pâ—rceiuing the increase of Ismaritos aduersaries for who can stop a streame measure the sire weigh the winde or hinder Fancies passages and with all considering how that the controuersie was sufficiently debated commanded the contenders to kéepe silence and referred the question to be iudged by Fabritio and Isabella Who hauing aduisedly considered the reasons on both sides agréed that a single chast life pleased God because Chastity is pure and also delighteth man because shee quieteth the minde but a chast maried life both pleaseth and honoreth God because Mariage hourely presenteth the worlde with the Image of himselfe pleaseth and profiteth man because she giueth him a companion by affection changed into his owne disposition of whom he hath children who in despight of death preserueth him aliue And therefore the sentence of them both was pronounced by Fabritio Sentence giuen in the behalfe of mariage in the behalfe of Mariage who withall enlarged her prayses with the report of many swéete Blessings which she liberally bestoweth vpon her Subiects But lest the company should haue béen fired with too hasty a desire of Mariage hee cooled their affections with such caueats as they that had their voyces ready tuned to sing the prayses of God Hymen were of the sodayne as mute as a fish by reason whereof Fabritio had frée passage for his counselling reporte who after many wordes to either purpose deliuered concluded with the opinion of Plato That Mariage was a paradise on earth Platoes opinion of Mariage if her Lawes be obserued and a Hell in the House where her Statutes are broken The Gentlewomen wist not what to say to Fabritios bitter-swéete commendation of Mariage vntill Bargetto quickned their tongues by this pleasant suggestion Pleasant talk is good phisâ—â—k for sorrowe If quoth he Platoes opinion be law by the same reason women are either Angels or Diuels And why not men as well as women quoth Isabella whose dispositioÌ„ beareth the greatest sway in this vocation I will shew you a reason quoth Doctor Mossenigo men with a meane can temper their passions The extreame passions of a woman when a woman hath no measure in her loue nor mercy in her hate no rule in her pittie nor piety other reuenge no iudgement to speak nor patience to diffemble and therefore she is likened vnto the Sea A Gundelo is a little Boate like a wherry which one while is so milde as a smal Gundelo indureth her might and anon with outrage she ouer whelmeth the tallest ship Ah master Doctor quoth Katharina 〈◊〉 I feare me you are so learned Hien sometimes a man and somtimes a woman as like the Hyen you change your selfe sometimes into the shape of a womaÌ„ but yet of this malitious purpose to learne their dispositions only to reproch their kind but had any of vs the cunning to become a man but a while I imagin we should euer after loue that better to be a woman You haue rather cause quoth Dondolo to let master Doctor kisse your hand for commending your kinde then to blame him by a surmise of iniurie offered vnto women for if there be a few good they couer the faults of a number that are euill as a little golde guildeth a great quantity of iron and for any thing he sayd you haue as generall an interest in vertue as in vice Yea but quoth Quéene Aurelia he is to be blamed for his intent The intent of euill is to be punished which was euil and deserueth not to bee praysed for the good which came of it which was our merite Madame quoth the Doctor so much greater is the good you receiue by my Trespasse as thereby you are honoured with the vertue to forgiue Yea Pardon is to be vsed in ignorant and not in wilful faults but quoth she remission is to bee vsed in ignorant offences and not in wilfull My habite quoth he is a testimonie that I spake not of malice So much quoth she the greater is your fault in that it procéeded vpon pleasure The punishment of great offenders doth most good in examples and where you think to priuiledge your selfe by your habite for example sake you shall at open Supper bath renounce your heresie and make satisfaction or abide the Iudgement of these Gentlewomen If there be no remedie quoth he I must obey The Doctor thus taken tardie gaue occasion of laughter vnto the whole company Which blowne ouer quoth Soran so we haue trauayled this day to an vnfortunate end for that now towards night we are entered into an open Champion where we find many broad wayes to Hell and but one crosse path to heauen Well quoth Quéene Aurelia we will take other times to beate out the true passage And least wee be lated wée will no further to day Whereupon after a courtly reuerence done Quéene Aurelia with her Attendantes shewed her selfe in the great Chamber where she might repose her mind with the choice of
left his victualles to inlarge his feminine praises In the end tasting the goodnesse of the meate hée found prating very vnsauerie and therefore to recouer his losses his lippes laide on loade which Faliero and some other of the pleasant company perceiuing assayed to reward the Frier for his good Sermon with Tantalus dinner and to that end busied him with many questions Questions answered by monosillable which he euer answered in a monosillable so that his tongue hyndred not his féeding as quoth Faliero a question or two Master Frier I pray say quoth he who strikes with the sharpest rod God of all other who is most euill Diuell in distresse who deserueth most ruth Truth who is charged with most crime Tyme what holds the world in most imprice Vice who is the greatest lier Frier desire without flame what maketh the greatest fire Ire what sin is most accurst Lust what bread is best to eate Wheat what drink is worst for the eyne Wine when they could deuise no talke to put life in the Friers tongue doctor Mossengio demaunded why hée was so briefe in his answeres O quoth he Pauca sapienti Then quoth the Doctor it is good taking away this plenty of meate for cloying Frier Bugiardoes wit The whole company hearing the Frier beaten with his owne sentence turned into a contrary sence burst out into such an immoderate laughter as choller that rose to the very throat of the Frier would not suffer him to swallowe one bit more of meate in so much as the boord was taken away and the Frier driuen to say Benedicite with an empty stomack an intertainement as fit for a flatterer as a reward for a faithful seruant The office of courteous reuerence A good reward for Flatterie fully discharged the company retired towards the fire to pause a little after their dinner obseruing therein an olde health rule After dinner talke a while After supper walke a mile Where the pittifull Gentlewomen moned the disgrace of their praise master the Friar but murmured more that he was crossed without a blessing by their enemy the Doctor And to put them out of this matter Bargetto said merisy that the friar had taught him such a cunning way to woo as to melt a woman into pitty he would wish but the oportunitie of thrée howres two to loue and one to praise the thing they like Yea quoth Franceschina Santa his Mistres since women are so mercifull it is necessarie to bridle the subtilty of men and to giue example I enioyne you these thrée dayes to speake no more of loue and questionlesse this paine set vpon Bargettos head was no greater then his ouersight deserued for in doing of these thrée things is great danger and smal discretion to play with fire to striue with water A profitable Note and to giue a woman knowledge of our power therefore he that will discouer his owne secret aduantage is worthie to haue his haire cut with Sampson Quéene Aurelia by this time was ready to walke into the drawing chamber to continue her established exercise and for the execution thereof shée called certaine of her chosen attendants whose appearance being made to obserue her former course for ancient customes profitable are better then new lawes incertaine she commanded the Eunuke to set their witts in an order by the vertue of some swéete harmony who taking his Lute after a dutifull obeysance played and sung this following Sonnet in Italion TO realish Loue I taste a sowrie sweete I finde Repose in Fancies fetters bound Amid the Skies my wish I often meete And yet I lye fast staked to the ground My eye sees Ioy my heart is gripde with paine I know my hurt and yet my good refraine But how these hang the faithfull Louer knowes And yet can giue no reason for the cause The power of Loue mans reach so farre outgoes As bound perforce he yeelds to Cupids Lawes And yet we finde this Libertie in Loue As bard from Ioy Hope dooth our griefes remooue Then Loue sitte crownde as Soueraigne of my thought And Fancie see thou other motions chace To doe whose will Desire in me hath wrought A strength to runne in Gyues sweete Pelops race And those to charme that studie me to stay It may suffise the wisest past my way The double effectes of this Sonet made them freshly to remember the doubtes they left yesterday vnresolued And to auoide digression which raiseth many difficulties and resolueth few Quéene Aurelia caused a repetition of Platoes opinion of Mariage which was She was a Paradice on earth where her Statutes were kept and a Hell in the House where her lawes were broken Whereupon quoth Dondolo with the libertie of Quéene Aurelias fauour I demaunde the causes why that the Male and Female of bruite and wilde creatures loue cherish and take comfort in one anothers companie onely by the impression of nature and man and woman that are beautified both with the vertues of nature and reason many times matches together make a hell of this holy institution By Quéene Aurelias commaundement Reason giueth man souerainty ouer al creatures to answere Sir quoth Faliero the aduantage of reason with which you haue priueledged man and woman is the onely cause thereof no man will denie but that there is a difference of conditions There is diuersitie of condition in euery kinde in creatures of euery kinde some horse an vnskilfull horseman can hardly disorder and some in despite of his rider will haue a iadish tricke Some Bauke though she be euil serued wil not straggle forth some do the Faulkener what he can wil continuallie flie at checkes some hound by no meanes will be rated from riot and some will neuer forsake his vndertaken game euen so some man will filch if his hands be fast bounde and some hauing the aduantage of a bootie will rather starue then steale some woman with an houres libertie will offend and ten yeares louing sute cannot ouercome some other Reason findeth out the imperfection of nature Cause of misliking in mariage But the vice and vertue in euery creature by the opinions of many sage Philosophers procéedeth from the purenesse or the imperfection of nature which is not to be found but by reason and the vse of reason onelie belongeth to man now if by ouer sight in choice maried are deuided in desire differ in life and delight in neithers loue Reason that findeth out this contrarietie Causes of comfort in mariage soweth contention betwéene the vnfortunate couple in Matrimonie thus matched Againe when betwéene the married there is equalitie of byrth yeres and manners no difference in loue nor suspition of others behauiour reason that delighteth in vnitie maketh the ioyes of Mariage innumerable Therefore think I the opinion of Plato may be imbraced as a sound iudgement The whole assembly allowed Falieroes reason and Dondolo himselfe was reasonably well satisfied But quoth he since Mariage bringeth with her
quarrels among the kindred occupieth all the neighhours with slander so the for the most part these forced mariages engendereth sorrowes for the maried disquietnesse to both their friends kindred but which stil renueth griefe the scandal of enemies endeth in neither of their wretchednesse This being said little auayled the further proofes of the contrarie part so ful was the crie Fie of forcement in mariage so that to paint out the inconueniences therof in his proper colours Quéene Aurelia commanded Faliero to confirme his sufficient reasons with the discourse of some rare Historie Whose commandement he willingly satisfied and reported as followeth The History in the reproch of forced Mariage reported by Faltero IN the famous Cittie of Cirene in Affrick dwelled sometims a rich Marchant named Tryfo This Tryfo had a welthy neighbour called Clearches who of long time entertained one another with a neighbourly 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 between their houses concluded a mariage for their vnfortunate Children making no doubt but that they would as well inherite their affections as their liuings of which there was hope enough if the order had béene as good to establish their Lone as the haste great to solemnize the Mariage for that in their persons appéered no signe of disagréement nor in their abilities cause of exception but loue that beholdeth no more quicknesse in a Diamond then in a dym Saphyre though he take impression by sight Loue rooteth by contemplation rooteth in contemplation which deuine exercise of the soule smally delighteth gréene youth who intertain their thoughts with a thousand vaine fancies but to my purpose The Mariage day drew néere and as at the very push of Battell the wise Captain animateth his Souldiers with some plausible oration euen so the night before the Mariage Tryfo schooled his sonne Sicheus with this following aduertisement My good sonne quoth he so great are the follies of men Aduise to a booteles purpose and so cunning the deceits of women as they most especially the yonger sort will credite their lookes without looking into their liues beléeue their words and lightly regarde their workes delight to recount their entertainments and disdaine to reckon their shrewde paiments For as the sick patient comforted with the Phisitions woords leaues to examine the qualities of his receites Euen so the wretched louer cured with the yéelding of his beautifull Mistres Loue yeelds neither to wit strength nor learning with negligence both ouerlooks his own benefite and her behauiour Salomon was deceiued Sampson subdued Aristotle derided and Hercules murthered by the illusions of errant honest women King Demetrius notwithstanding he was both wise and valiant An extreame affection was so bewitched with the wyles of the notorions strumpet Lamia as in open Schooles he raised disputations whether the loue he bare Lamia or the Iewels he bestowed vpon her were the greater or whether her merite excéeded them both or no. Yea when she dyed he caused her to be entombed vnder his bed Chamber window to the ende that with dayly teares he might worship her engraued bones who liuing was of him intirely beloued If the wisest and the worthiest be thus ouertaken in their affections what easie baites may beguile thée who in yéeres art yong of substance delicate and lustie and therefore apt to loue ready in conceit and of consideration vnperfect hotte in desire and in discretion colde My sonne by experience I know and to prenent thy ouerlikely mischaunce in choyce I haue chosen thée a wife faire to please thée rich to continue loue her Parents my assured fréends and she thy affected louer loue her well beare with her insmall faults as a woman and the weaker and 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 die in peace to sée you liue in prosperitie Yong Sicheus regarded his Fathers tale as Schollers doe their Tutors who giuing them leaue to play admonisheth them with all to kéep good rule which they promise and perferme the contrary With the like affection Sicheus embraced mariage He was not so soone weary of dallying with his wife as he was ready to entertaine a Harlot so that in short space he became a common Louer and a carelesse Husband and withall grew as arrogant in defending his liberty The title of Mariage maketh youth arrogant as dissalute in his actions and behauiour If his fréends did gently aduise him he was of age to counsell himselfe if his Parents did sharpely reprehend him he would impudently aunswere 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 wel doing insomuch as he became odious to his fréends 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 vnhappy and ouer hastie Mariage which in the pride of my youth with discontentments makest me resemble a faire Figge trée Abuse of good things worke euill effectes 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 prick our hands Bées vngently vsed sting our faces yet the one pleasant and the other profitable so that if there come any euill of that which is good our folly or fortune is cause thereof Ay me That which is blessing to one may be a curse to an other when I was married I was too yong to be a wife and therfore haue no reason to exclaime on folly But fortune fowle fall shée which coursest me with curses in possessing me with those things which others holde for blessings Wealth that bestoweth pleasures on many is the originall of my woe Mariage which giueth liberty to many inlargeth my Fetters and demaundeth death for my raunsome Beauty that aduaunseth many is to me a disgrace for that inioying her forme Carelesnes of the husband breedeth in the wife I am of Sicheus not fantasied of whom euery foule and common Trull is beloued But therein Fortune thou doost me no wrong for my hate towards him ouerpoyseth his light regarde of me O but my hart is continually afflicted with his euil and his finger neuer akes with my malice Yea Choller is soone quieted but forbearāce increaseth malice but Forbearance edgeth the swoord of Reuenge when Choller though it often strikes it wounds not much Raine falleth euery where yet beateth but the leaues the thunder Boult lighteth in one place but yet teareth
of words both gréeueth the reporter and giueth meane for a thousand sighes to break from the hearer where affected circumstances giue a grace to a pleasant tale Sorrowes causeth silence Sorow to heare their kinde thus stained with crueltie locked vp the tunges of the poore Gentlewomen a pretie while In the end quoth Aluisa Vechio We are bound to shew aswell the cause as to punish the euill a dame more olde and bolde then the rest me séemeth that Faliero hath but little fauored Elysa for he hath showen her euill and the scourge of her euill and in charitie he was bound to shew the cause of her euill I would quoth Doctor Mossenigo that Frier Bugiardo had heard this disputation Good moralitie is better then euill doctrine it might haue béen the breking down of the Altar whereupon he but lately committed blasphemy it would haue more reformed him thē his pleasing Sermon could haue confirmed vs. These aduantages the Doctor tooke to crosse the Gentlewomen his late open enemies There is no trusting of a reconciled enemie and but now his fained fréends not vnlike a sneaking dog that neuer barkes but bites withall And to spite them the more quoth he Monsier Bargetto since you are bound from speaking of loue you haue both cause and oportunitie to talk of womens hate Pardon me quoth Bargetto for this penance was but a due paine for my presumption The example of a naughty nature which I hope to ouercome with patient suffering and sure in this milde answere Bargetto shewed a morall vertue A necessary note and Doctor Mossenigo by his malicious question a canckred nature for simply to offend procéedeth of frailtie but to perseuer in euill is a note of wilfull frowardnesse Well notwithstanding Bargettos temperance a Cauiller caught hold vpon this question as a Mastiue vpon an old dry Marybone A Cauiller hath colours for euery question and to proue a womans hatred more greater then her loue he auouched many cruell authorities But Faliero who had done them some initirie in reporting the late history made them part of amends and put their aduersarie to silence in prouing the contrary his reason was that their hate in the extremest degrée stretched but to the death of an other and their loue many times hath done wilfull murder vpon them selues Then it followeth Womens loue is more great then their hate by how much we prise our selues aboue an other by so much their loue is greater then their hatred Yea quoth the Doctor but their loue and hatred are both violents Women do amis but men are the cause and euery violent is an euill Yea Master Doctor quoth Maria Belochy their euils are the greater for men for by their flattering inchauntments women loue immoderately and stung with mens vnsufferable iniuries they hate mortally The Doctor replyed Beauty ouercommeth the wisest there was more power in her looks then authority in her words but least he should be subdued by the one he would not contend with the other Why quoth Quéene Aurelia beauty works no more impression in a Doctors eye then doth poyson in Mineruas shéelde for he by Philosophy can subdue affection Madame quoth he you may well compare beauty and poyson together EVRIPIDES comparison between beauty and loue for their operations are alike saue that beauty is the more extreame in that she infects with her looks and poyson not vnlesse we taste it or when it is most strong not vnlesse we touch it yea Euripides compareth her inchauntment with the inticements of a kingdome whereas he saith IN these two things a Kingdome to obtaine Or else to worke the faire to their will So sweetly tastes the grace of either gaine As men ne dread their freends with foes to kill The reason is controlement shrinkes the place Whereas a King as soueraigne Iudge doth sit In loue because that reason lackes his grace For to restraine the selfe conceits of wit So that God knowes in danger stands his life That is a King or hath a fayre wife To deale in Princes affayres the company was too gréene but in beauties behalfe there was neither Gentleman nor Gentlewoman that was not desirous to bee reuenged of the Doctors detraction for he that hath a slaunderous tongue iniurieth many Slander is generally hated and is himselfe hated of all men but for that it was now too late to decide any other great question Quéene Aurelia adiourned the ending of any controuersie vntill the next day The Deuice of the second Nights Mask BY a secret foreknowledge of a Maske with which Soranso Bargetto Ismarito and others purposed to honor Segnior Philoxenus and his companie supper was hastened and soone ended and after the one had saluted the other with an accustomed reuerence while the rest of the Gentlemen entertained Time with dauncing or deuising with their mistresses the Maskers withdre with themselues about nine of the clock in this disguise presented themselues agayne A Consort of swéete Musicke sounded the knowledge of their comming the Musitians in Gyppons and Venetians A Gentleman is not to show his passions by his attire of Russet and Black Taffata bended with Murrey and thereon imbrodered this Posie Spero Timeo Taceo expressing thereby the sundry passions of Loue and before them two Torchbearers apparelled in Yellow Taffata Sarcenet the generall apparell of the Maskers was shorte Millaine Clokes Dublet and Hose of Grêene Satten bordered with Siluer Greene silke stockes White Scarpines Rapyers and Daggers Siluered Men in mary case are to be priuiledged for another merit Blacke Veluet Cappes and White Feathers They agréed to be thus attyred to shewe themselues frée in the eye of the world and couertly bound vnto their mistresses Ismarito for courtesie sake because he was a straunger and withal in that his Mistres was the most honourable had the leading of this Maske who lighted with a torch by his Page apparelled in Blew Carnation and White Taffata the colours of his Mistres Ventoy a Fan. entered with a Ventoy in his hand made like an Ashe tree wrethed about with Iuy expressing this poesie Te stante virebo with which vpon fit opportunitie he presented Quéene Aurelia his Mistresse within which were couertly hid these verses in English Italion TWo Soueraigne Dames Beauty and honestie Long mortal foes accorded are of late And now the one dwels in my Mistresse eye And in her heart the other keepes her state Where both to shew the vertue of this peace To garnish her make ryot of their Grace In her fayre eye Dame Beauty doth increase A thousand Gleames that doe become her face And with her heart thus doth the other deale She lowly seemes and mounts through chast disdayne So that her thrals doo serue with honest zeale Or fearing blame doe yeelde vnto their paine The heauenly soules enuies the earths renowne Such giftes diuine in humaine shape to see And Ioue stil moues a
like a blasted tree by thee greene yeeres with hoarie haires are grownd Which makes me sing to solace mine annoy Care Care adiewe my hart doth hop for ioy Care Care adiew thou riuall of delight returne into the Caue of deepe dispaire Thou art no Guest to harbour neere my spright whose poysoned sightes infect the very Aire Wherefore I sing to solace mine annoy Care Care adiew my hart doth hop for ioy Care Care adiew and welcome pleasure now thou wish of ioy and ease of sorrow both To weare thy weede I make a sollemne vowe let Time or Chaunce be pleased or be wroth And therefore sing to sollace mine annoy Care Care adiew my hart doth hop for ioy The note of this Song was farre better then the ditty but for that it answered the determination of the company it passed for currant Whereupon Madame quoth Fabritio if it be your pleasure One square breaketh no custome we will this day varry from our wonted course and according to our Theame begin with some mirth to sharpen our wittes for grauer discourses we haue time enough besides to beate out the passage to Platoes Paradise Vse your discretions quoth Quéene Aurelia and by her commaundement Bargetto was appointed to begin the exercise who obeying reported this following aduenture of Frier Inganno The aduenture of Frier inganno reported by Mounsier Bargetto IN a Village among the Appenine Mountaines not farre from the place where S. Frauncis lyeth intombed there sometimes dwelled a faire yong countrey woman named Farina and for that her house was in the hye way to S. Frauncis holy Reliques she was many times visited with Friers of his order who were intertained rather for their habite the their honestie for the poore ignorant people reuerenced Saint Frauncis as a second Christ for whose sake they holde his Disciples not inferiour to Saints among many that visited Farinas house Fryer Inganno a smugge Chaplaine euer sealed his blessings vpon his dames lippes and yet without suspition of the husband or dishonest intent of the wife for such gréeting was euer taken for a holy fauour Vpon a time after Frier Inganno had well beaked himselfe with a warme fire It is saide S. Francis subdued incontinent desires by tumbling naked in frost and Snowe and a good breakfast the spirite that Saint Frauncis was driuen to coniure downe by tumbling naked in the frost and snow tempted his Disciple with such swéete motions as he was minded wilfully to abiure heauen rather then to deale so roughly with the deuil And taking aduantage of the good opinion the ignorant held of his holynes and was so bolde with Saint Frauncis his Maister as to make a wanton match in his name A premiditated sinne so that after he had a while considered of his perswasion The trick of a knauish seruant vpon a quiet opportunitie Blessed art thou quoth he among the Appenine countrie women for Saint Frances from heauen hath beheld thy charitable vsage of his Disciples and the last Night A gentle perswasion after I had prayed with great deuotion before his Image I behelde him in the Maiestie of an Angell fayre young lustie and in euery proportion like my selfe and nothing at all like his meagre Cripple Image So that I was in doubt of being transformed out of my selfe till with a méeke voice he sayd Be not dismayed I am thy Maister Inganno and am come to bestowe my blessings vpon the good Appenine dames that for my sake cherish you my Disciples But with an especiall Affection I will visite the good Dame Farina And for that her Feminine weaknes can not indure my heauenly presence I will many times borrow thy earthly shape and in my name go salute Farina and shew her that this night in that her Husband is from home I meane to visite her will her to leaue open the Doores because I purpose to come as Fryer Inganno and not as Saint Fraunces This is his message therefore as I began I end Ignorance heareth euery tale as trueth blessed art thou among the Appenine countrie Dames The poore woman as apparant as this trecherie was had not the power to mistrust Flattery eateâ—â— the bread oâ— the Iust but gaue the Frier a good almes for his newes and sayd she would attend Saint Francis blessed will Away goeth the Fryer with a light heart and a heauy Cowle but God to punish his lewd intent and to preserue her from sinning through ignorance so tickled her heart with ioy of this blessing at hand A note of little secresie in a woman as to welcome Saint Frances she must néedes haue the Belles rung The Priest of the Parish hearing the cause smelt out the Fryers cunning and was glad to take one of those Beggers in a Pitfal Enuy setteth hatred between fellowes of euery vocation that with glorious lyes had robbed him of his Parishioners deuotions and withall perswaded her with such reasons as she was fully resolued of the Friers deceit And to bee auenged by the Parsons direction she caused Leayda to lye in her Bed a Mayde so ougly sluttish and deformed as through the Parish she was called the Furie of Lothsomenesse About ten of the clocke finding the doores open Frier Inganno mounts into Farinaes Chamber and without light or leaue An vnwelcome salutatioÌ„ leapes into her bed but he had not blessed Leaydaes lippes before the Priest Farina and others entered with Taper and Torch-light singing Salue Sancte Francisce And knéeling about the Bedsides sung Sancte Francisce ora pro nobis The poore Fryer Pleasure in others increaseth sorrow in the afflicted like a Foxe in a grin being both intrapt and imbrast by a Hag of hel cryed from his heart A dolore inferni libera me Domine After the Priest and the rest of the company were weary of laughing and the Fryer almost dead with wéeping It is an office of charitie quoth the Priest to put Saint Frances againe in his Toombe for it is so long since he was in the world Enuy rude people are not pacified with prayers of the afflicted that he hath forgot the way back into heauen The Fryer leering like the thiefe that hung on the left side of Christ tooke all with patience for well hée wist Prayer booted not Well for that night they bound and stript him like a dead Coarse Rude people extreme reuengers and in stead of swéete Flowers laid him in a bundle of Nettles The next morning the rude countrie people who in reuenge are without ciuilitie or order cruelly scourged the poore Frier And setting him the forenoone naked in the Sunne anointed his body with honey so that the Hornets Wasps and Flyes tormented him with the paynes of hell In the afternoone with a hundred Torches Tapers and other waxen lights this rustick multitude caried second Saint Frances vnto his Toombe The best way to win the communalty and had
honour which if shee consent to staine or deminish she doth iniurie to her whole house The Cardinal of Aragon An inhumain parte aduenged the base choice of his Sister the Duchesse of Malfy with the death of her selfe her Children and her Husband and alleaged 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 Defence c. and glose of Iustice is for this act so often regestred for a Tirant as I feare me hée will neuer come among the number of Saints but the example of these mariages are vsuall Reproofe c. and such ensuing vengeance is but rare and besides her especiall contentment a woman looseth none of her generall titles of dignitie by matching with her inferior In déede quoth Dondolo in common curtesie she enioyeth them A womā that abaseth her selfe in Mariage in law loseth her reputation but not in curtesie but in the strickt construction of the law she is degraded And by this meane is bound to intertaine the meaner with familiaritie least they being proude or reputing her scornefully doo crosse her ouer the thumbes with the follies of her fancy But admit the meane seruant marry his Mistresse and escapeth the mallice of her friends which successe one among ten such suters hardly attaineth The naturall desires of a woman Let him yéeld to pay this rent for his good fortune to suffer his wife to rule to direct and to command his owne determinations And where she ordereth the vncontrouled Wife desireth to bée serued with pompe and to bée set forth with pride which the ruling Husband would represse as well for sauing his wiues honour as for sparing his owne pursse The vncontrouled wife desireth to walke at libertie and to be visited of many of which the ruling Husband would barre her as well to preserue his minde from mistrust as to kéepe his Chimney from being fired The vncontrouled wife disdayneth the Countrie and destreth the Citie which the ruling Husband would mislike for that in the Countrie the exercise of huswiferie inlargeth his Wiues estunation and in the Citie idlenesse hazardeth her reputation The vncontrouled Wife desireth without checke to prattle without discretion to gouerne which the ruling Husband in no wise would allowe for that many wordes is a blemish to his wiues modesty and the rule of his Wife is warrant sufficient for the wise to ouerrule him for a Woodcocke Many other vanities follow the desires of Women which a man thus aduanc'st must forbeare to chasten least hée expose himselfe to a thousand dangers 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 friends and kindred which bondage is not within the Paradice Plato speaketh of For according to the opinion of sundrie Philosophers as Nature will not bée controuled for that she createth as Fortune is wonne with no praiers because she is blinde and shooteth at aduenture no more dooth mariage allow of inequallitie because her wil is to deuide her benefits and blessings among the married with indifferencie To this end Mariage is likened to Sienes grafted in a stocke of contrarie qualitie for as by growth and good order Iudgement in reproofe of lofty loue 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 be 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 cherish one another in the waine of their yeares the swéete Fruites of wedsock will be blasted with repentance Segnior Fabritio to conclude Dondolos opinion with his own iudgement said in truth that Mariage could not away with such seruitude as the Husband who is wise and the chiefe should obay the wife who in common construction is simple weake and the inferiour And where a rich woman as Dondolo hath said Marieth her poore Seruant because she is the cause of his aduancement she wil looke to gouerne which if she doo her indiscretion will moue others to speake and her husband to sorrow if he challenge the priueledge of a husband to direct he shall be bound to a life more bitter then Death Not but that in respect of his former estate he may endure these crossings of his wife but because as he is growne in estimatiō so is he growne in hautines of minde and can now worse brooke an vnkinde word then in times past an imurious déede And therefore in Dondolos behalfe I doo iudge Soranso to be in an errour I wil not dispute against the authoritie of your iudgment quoth Soranso but at aduenture if yonger brethren erre in mariage God send thē to stumble vpon no worser fortune Men must haue regarde how they blame least they bite thē selues Quéene Aurelia who regarded that Dondolo was somewhat too lauish in painting out of the naturall desires of a woman knew as well how to set forth his follies and ouersight and therefore to take a modest reuenge quoth shée If happinesse in Mariage consisteth so much in the Lordly rule of the husband then where a man marieth his inferior in reputation there is a likelyhood of good agréement wherefore Segnior Dondolo because I think you maried your wife with the same Iudgement with which you manifested the inconueniences of loftie Loue I beséech you shew vs the blessings of this inferiour choyce Soranso and the rest began to smile to heare this commandement for wel they knew Dondolo was intrapt with a slaunder of his owne reputation but Dondolo although he were a little gauled set a reasonable florish vpon his bace fancie therefore quoth he as it is alreadie adiudged Defence of bace loue if a man marrie aboue his calling he must beare with his Wife in folly as much as shée was blinded in fancying of him which bondage mariage can hardly endure then if hée match with his inferiour if contraries haue contrarie qualities per consequence she will be as lowly as the other is loftie as pacient as the other is proude and as dutiful as the other is disoainfull if the other prodisgally spond because her portion is large she wil w e huswiferie spare because her substance was small if the other presume because of her Gentrie shée will séeke reputation with her good conditions and if the other bolster her faultes with the countenance of her able Friends A rich dowrie with a woman shée dooing amisse will crie her husband mercie because she lackes succorers to sustains her euill a course as Plato saieth that maketh the dowrie