moderacion in his pleasures the tyran and morderor moued to compassion touching the cause of thin nocent and the vnthrift reclaymed to an honest staie of lif whiche makes me of opynion that this passion giuen vs by nature albeit it be an infection of it selfe yet it serues also as a contrepoison to driue out another venym according to the propertie of the Scorpion which of her selfe and in herself carieth the sting of mortal hurte and oyntmeÌ„t of spedie remedie thoccasioÌ„ of preseÌ„t death and meane to preserue life not meaning for all this to perswade that it is of necessitie we make our selues subiect altogether to this humor of good and euill disposicioÌ„ nor allow them that willingly incurr the perill of such fre ymprisonment but placinge it for this tyme amongest thinges of indifferent tolleracion because he neither seamed blind nor void of discrecioÌ„ on the behalf of those whose eraÌ„ples I meane to prefarr in this historie I maye boldlie aduoche that which we call affection to be a passion resembling in som respect the condicion of true amytie and yet not muche vnlike for the moste parte the generall euill whiche the Grecians â—al Philautia and we tearme by the title of loue or vaine flatterie of our selues chiefly when we see any so frently to his desiers that to satisfye the inordinat thruste or glot of his gredie appetit he forgettes hothe honor and honestie with the respect and duetie of his conscience besides what ymages of vertue curtesie or bowntiful dispocision soeuer our louers do ymagyn in theim whom they serue dymming the eyes of the worlde wyth a miste of dissembled substance as thoughe the cause of their liberall offer of seruice were deriued of an intent of honest frendshippe yet their trauailes that way concludes we se with other end for that they hunt only the chase of pleasure procedinge of the viewe of an exterior bewtie wherin their meaninge is sufficiently manifeste in the sugred oracions discourses of eloquent stile which those amarus orators seme to prefer when their mindes occupied whollie in the contemplacion of their mistresses do commit the praise of the perfection in their Ladies to the filed fordge of their fine tongue in which what other thing do they more chiefly commend then a deuyn misterie or conninge worke of nature painted with a dy of white or redd in her face A delicate tongue to dilate of matters of fancie an entysinge countenance with a grace and behauiour equal with the maiestie of a princes al which as they argewe the vanitie of him that reapose delite in such fondnes differinge altogether from the true ornamentes of the soule or pattorne wherby the perfectioÌ„ of vertue is discerned by thunfayned workes and absolute accion So dismissing this fond philosophie not coÌ„tending greatly whether loue be a natural corrupcion or a thing perticipating with vertue we may be bold to aduouche his power to preauile in things which seame of ympossibilitie to thother passions that be common vnto vs for what thinge can be of greater force in a man then that which constrainynge an alteracion of custome and breach of that which by contynuance hath taken rote within vs doth make as it were A new body and the mynd a meare straunger to her former cogitacions which I neither inferr without cause nor menteyne this argument without great reasoÌ„ for that as of al the vices which spot the lif of maÌ„ ther is none except y e excecrable syn of whoredom which makes vs soner forget god good order then the detestable exercise of vnlawful game neither are we so hardly reclaymed froÌ„ any thing as that cutthrote delite for that it is almost as possible to conuert the crueltie of a she wolffe or lyones into a present mekenes as to mortefie the desier of plaie in him which hath bene norrished and nozelled therin froÌ„ the beginning of his yeres Euen so notwithstanding the force of loue wrought such a misterie in an vnthrist of Naples that of the mo ste prodigall and ryotous spendor that hath bene noted in any age hee made a most staide and sparing gentlemaÌ„ that Italy hath brought furth of many yeres since or afore his time Albeit euen vpon the point and beginning of his new fondacion beinge redie w t all to expose frutes of his happye chang frome euill to good trade he was encowntred wyth the malice of his destinies which abridged hys felicytie and life in one moment wherof you maye discerne a manifeste profe in the sequeile of the historie folowing PERILLO SVFFRETH muche for the loue of Carmosyna and marienge her in the ende vvere both tvvo striken to deathe with a thonderbolte the firste nighte of their vnfortunat mariage IT happened not long synce in the riche and populus Citie of NAPLES who norrisheth ordinarylie an infinitie of youth of all degrees that amongest the rest of the wantons broughte vpp there at that tyme there was one named Anthonio Perillo who enioyenge a libertye more then was necessarye to one of so younge yeres and greene vnderstandyng made absolute declaracion affore the race of youthe did stopp in hym what it is to passe the yeres of correction without the awe of parentes tutour or controller for his father hauyng performed his Jornaye whiche nature appointed hym in this woorlde resigned hys bodie to earthe and his goodes and possessions to his sonne who fyndyng so manye golden cotters and chestes full of treasure to assiste his prodigal and wanton dispocision forgat not ymediatly to enter into the trade of a licencius life Wherein he founde no staye nor ympedyment to his will for that the necligence of his father had lefte hym withoute the awe or authoritie of any And albeit in the life of his father he was a continuall hawnter of the Berlea or common house of vnthriftie exercises where for wante of sufficient demers to furnishe his desier with skill in casting the three deceitfull companions of blacke and white vppon a square table he was forced often tymes to forbeare to playe and learne conynge in lokyng vppon yet tyme with his owne diligence made hym so artificiall that beyng but a cryer of awme there were fewe hable to excede his sleyghte in castinge twelue affore sixe of two dyce or tooke halfe so good accomte or regarde to the course of the cardes and yet notwithstanding he was not so wel grownded in the principles of his arte but often tymes his conyng beguilyng hym he was preuented with a contrarie sleighte and onelye his purse paide the charge of the whole companye whiche was not vnmarked of some two or three of the famyliars of hys father the respect of whose frendship and vertue with sondrie argumentes of ymynent destructioÌ„ to his sonne moued theym to enter into tearmes of admonicion layinge affore him the circumstance of his sondrie faltes but chiefly reprehendinge the greate wronge he did to his owne estimacion for that the waye to atteyne to renowne
as a blinde guide doth leade them into infynit miseries laborinth of endles annoye where there is no dispense of their follie but losse of libertie perpetual infamie and sometime punishemente by vntimely deathe whyche as they bée worthie rewardes for suche as doat so much in their owne wisedome that they accompte the same hable of it selfe to comprehend the whole globe or compasse the worlde So the wise man affore he entreth into any enterprise of waight beinge carefull for the conueighe of the same dothe not onlye compare the ende wyth the beginning and cast the sequiel and circumstance euerye waye but also entringe as it were into hymselfe he makes a view of that which is in hym and for his better assistance he will not refuce the aduise of his frends by whiche meanes he is sewer to reape the rewarde of his trauell with treble contentmente and seldom is he punished with to late a repentance Herewith also thexample of the wise maryner doth in like sorte aduise vs who comming by fortune or violence of wether vpon an vnknowen coaste doth straight way sounde and trye the depth of the riuer by his plommet and lyne neyther will he let fall his Anker onlesse he be sewer of the fyrmenes of the grounde whiche if it do faile him yet is hee to wythstande the malice of daunger by kepinge the chanell whiche yeldes hym water enoughe So if this wretched ALBANOYS hadde made a view of himselfe his forces afore he became subiect to y e humor of Ialouse suspicion or if he had giuen correction to his falte in tyme and suffred reason to suppresse the rage of his follie afore he was growen to tearmes of madnes he had enioyed his Ladie at pleasure lyued yet in quiet and preuented the fowle note of infamie wherewith the gates and posternes of his house wil be painted till thextreme date of the world and eschewed the peril of dampnable dispair inkilling himselfe with like violacion and bloddie slaughter of his in noceÌ„t lady whose death with y e strauÌ„genes in executioÌ„ being once knoweÌ„ to the multitude it is to be woÌ„dered what generall dule and desolation were in all partes of the citie how al estates and degres of people spared no sortes of teares nor other dollerous tunes bewailinge her misfortune with seueral grudges at the malice of her destinies that in such cruel maner toke froÌ„ amoÌ„gest them y t persoÌ„ of her whose vertues other ornamentes of God nature serued as a special mirror or loking glasse to al ages wherin certeinlie they had great reason for a lady or gentle womaÌ„ equal with her in coÌ„uersacion euexye way I meane chast without argument of dishonestie deuowt and yet hatinge supersticion bowntiful without wasteful prodigalitie wise without vaine vaunting so obediente towardes her husbande as was necessarie and lastlie lackinge the furniture of no good vertue can not be to much honored in her life nor worthely renoumed after her death aswel for y e such rare gifts are no lesse meritorious for the vertues that be in theim then that they serue as special allurementes to prouoke younge ladies and gentlewomen desyrous of like glorye to ymytat thexample and vertues of them whose due fame is hable to excede the length of time and lyue after deathe who hathe no power but ouer our corrupte Soma or masse of fleshe beinge barred to medle wyth the felicitie of the mynde to whome only the title of perpetuity is due wythout exception And as her life and deathe ymporte seuerall vertues and deserue semblable commendation the one for that shee neuer made showe of mislike what wronge soeuer hee wroughte her the other in that shee failed not to honor him til the laste hower of his life So may you also descerne therein .ii. seuerall exaumples the one to warne the lighte and harebrained husbandes not easelie or for smal occasions to enter into suspicion with their wyues whom they ought to loue and honoure no lesse thenne theimselues the other to presente vnto the ladyes of oure tyme the due rewarde of wysedome obedience and chastetie which be the thinges that make this greeke lyue after her deathe beinge worthelye inuested wythe the wreathes of honoure amonge all the ladies of that contreye FINIS The argument BEcause I haue already in diuerse places sufficientlye deciphered the forces of loue and what effectes he exposeth hauing once brued the cuppe of the pleasant poison of our sensual appetyt whereoÌ„ whosoeuer Syppeth swaloweth iustelye the rewarde of suche follies I maye the rather be dispensed wythall eftsones to reitterate in this place that whiche earste hathe bene inferred touchinge the awe whiche that passion hathe ouer the hartes of those whose destenie yeldes theim subiecte to so great an euill Beinge bolde withall to note as a principle or rule of generalitie that that infection procedes rather of the corrupcion of our owne nature then of the perfection of the same Albeit some vaine philosophers are not ashamed to aduowch his beginning of the moste perfect partes that are in the spirite of man wherein I see neyther authoritie to allowe their saing nor reason to confirme their opinion onles they will make it meritorious for thindiscretion and follies whiche appeare in theim that participat with such passion for a familiar testymonie wherof I haue preferred this historie folowing not only affirminge my former protestacion touchinge the disordinat effectes of loue but also to iustefye the opynion of him who makes no difference betwene the deuise of loue and raginge fyttes of frenezy or one posseste with a wicked spirite for here you maye see a gentleman of Myllan to enioye a presence and pleasure of his Laâ—â—â— refuseth not to coÌ„mit himselfe to manifold daungers with diuerse perillous encounters wherof the one seamed no lesse mortal then the other and euerye one threatening the end of his life by present morder albeit his felicitie defended him from harme and the peril passed makes him dread a future plunge SONDRYE PERILLS happeninge to a yonge gentleman of Myllanin the poursewte of his Ladye NOt longe after MAXYMILIANS FORCE by the guide of euill fortune wante of good gouernmente in himselfe hadde lost the state and seigneurye of MILLAN there happened no lesse desolation to the vnhappie faction of the GEBELYNS whoÌ„ the power and pollecie of the great TRIVOLSO did not only abandon their naturall soyle and place of a bode dryuinge theym from the possession of their worldlye porcions but also persecuted their wretched state with suche creweltie that they were readie to yelde to the somonce of dispare if it had not bene for the simple proffer of a certeine hope they reaposed in thassistance of themprour MAXIMILIAN who more willing then hable to restore their desolation pursewed the reuenge of their wronge wyth a puissant armye euen vntill the walls and gates of MILLAN where he receyued suche hoat repulses by the valyaunte encounters of Charles Duke of Burbon
such indeuor to make declaration of the dutifull zeale he bare her that she shoulde fynde hym nothing inferior to any gentilman that euer made profession of loue or other seruice to his Ladye nor haue cause any way to mislike her choise for y t he wold neuer be so rash in promise as redie to expose an effect nor she so willyng to require as he twyse diligent to parforme thuttermost of her cōmaundements she felyng her selfe clawed in y t place that ytched most replyed with a smyling countenance that ther perience of the often breache of promisse in suche as vse to court vs simple Ladyes wyth the marchandise of loue doth argue so much thincōstancye of men saith she that for my part if I sawe a present effect of true loyaltye before myne eyes yet could I hardlye he brought to repose eyther credit or assurance in any promise seing men them selues nowe a dayes are infected wyth the ayre of such fragility that they neyther respect the honestye of their word nor the vertue in parformyng the least effect of a thousand liberal offers they make at vnwares Albeit as he y t chargeth the guyltles with the offence of the murderer doth wrong to his innocencye so I haue learned that it is a speciall vertue to be persiall in opinion toward straūgers and iudge the best of euery man wherfore for your part syr if you will enlarge the offer of your fyrst faith with this addicion that I may be bold to imploye you in one spectall affaire of mine at suche time as I shall sommon you therunto I am content not onely to put you in possession of your request But also to bynd my selfe to no lesse loyaltye on your behalfe then euer appeared in any Ladye to wards her faythful seruant The captayne that would willyngly haue sacrifised hym selfe for the raunsome of her fauor stoode not to examine what charge she would enioyne him vnto but cōfirmed an assurance with sundry sorts of othes being no lesse rashe in y e promise of euel thē hastie to performe th executiō as herafter you shal heare Here was brewed the broth or preparatyue of the fatall obsequies of her former loue the earnest penny gyuē of the blodie bargayn death of Seigneur Valpergo for she by the too liberall vnhoneste vent of her honor made him the Borreau vnnatural executioner of noble blod defacinge by y e same meanes the gentrie of his house which he ought to haue preserued til the last drop of blood in his body And remaining there al that night she made him so pleasant a bāquet of delicat kysses other exercises of y e bed that the more he tasted of y e pleasure the more he thrusted with desyre to cōtinue y e sport y e subtil Cirses for her part semed so vehemēt in loue with dissimuled arguments of vnfayned affection that in persuading himselfe of the victorye of her good wyl he thought he had made a conquest of the whole easte parte of the worlde seming so drowned in the deuocion of his new Sainte charmed with the enchauntmentes of her art which peraduenture lente her some power or assistance of legierdemain to force his humor of earnest zeale that if she had sayd the worde he had made no conscience to haue committed the whole Citye of Myllan to the mercie of fyre and gunpowder lyke as Blouse de Cume was redye to put fyer into all partes of the cytie of Rome if the Sedicius Tyberyus Gracchus had geuen it hym in charge suche is the rage and frantyke folye of youth when they suffer their amarous transport to excede the caryr of reason or discression and from this fountayn haue distilled heretofore many destructions of Realmes with subuerciōs and alteracions of monarchies wherin also may be noted a maruelous corrupt and vaine disposicion in such as wyl rather affect and haunte the companye of a publike curtysan then honor the vertue of a chast lady although she were his lawful wyfe and companion of bedd and yet those gallandes wyll not sticke to Ieste and point at the maried man gouerned sometime by the sage aduice of his lawful wife wher they seme readye at the commaundemente of a strompet or arrand whoare not only to hazarde the price of their honor but also in fauoring thinstygaciō of her wickednes to make their testament vpon a skafolde layinge their heades vnder the edge of the sworde of Iustice wherin I nede not torne ouer many bokes for copy of exāples seing you may be sufficiently satisfyed wyth y e view of the folye of this bastarde of Cardonne in performinge the suggestion and malice of this mordering corntesse who seinge her captayne sufficientlye framed to the postey of her wyll thoughte it was now time to put him in remembrance of his promise and somon him to the reuenge of them that thought no more of her cōspiracyes nor traynes of treason wherin as the howre approched that her Lasciuious trade of life shoulde be enioyned to open pennance and the wrong violacion of faith to her husbād with her pernicious intentes effectes of murders receyue theire due hyre and punishment and that the rage of destenie woulde not be appeased tyll som man weare committed to execution so for a more expedicion of the fatall ende of her miserable lyfe she entised her bastard louer into a close arbor in the gardin where only y e byrdes weare witnes of their discours and brake with hym in this sorte Yf nature Sir hath gyuen to euery one a speciall care to holde the vse of lyfe moste deare with a peculyar desyer to fauor the cours of our dayes wyth so lōg a tearme as we can how much more are we bounde to embrace and be carefull of that whiche causeth vs to lyue wyth a singuler renome from amongst the rest of the baser sort of people who lyenge alwaye in watch to marke oure order of lyuing are no lesse glad to haue an occasion of slaunder then redye to impart it to all the worlde with such percialitye of vnworthie bruit y t the greater we seame in degrée the more hainous they make our offence and mortal fautes not only scarse noted but also tollerable in meaner personages wherin as we women are most incident to the awe of that malicious clymat of people both for that they Sift vs and our doings more narrolye thē the rest and because we beinge the weaker companye are not armed with sufficient force to resiste their rage so the indifferēt sorte ought not to be rashe in iudgement on their sydes nor gyue sentence of discredit or dishonesty againste vs the rather by a sinister suggestion of suche a vulgar and barbarous crewe neyther ought we to spare or feare anye sort of reuenge whiche maye aduaunce the recouerye of that wherof we are wrongfully deuested Thus much I haue inferred syr as a preamble to the request I meane to make which I take
the gaze and wonder of the multytude cannot claime the priuiledge of any place but the people wyl point at them neyther can they hyde theym in so secret a corner but infamye wyll hunt them out shame discouer them atteÌ„ding them to the very end of theyr daies no no let not them lyue that are desirous to dye and death is moste acceptable to suche as hate the fruicion of lyfe for my parte I loth alredy the remembrance of lyfe seing I haue lost the chefest pillor of the same wherof I meane to make spedy declaracion by the sentence I haue alredy pronounced of my ende wherin it shall appeare to the worlde that although my bodye haue tasted of the malice of the wicked by force yet my mynde remains entire without spott or consentement to the villany whiche as my chiefe bequeste and last testament in this worlde I leue registred in the remembrance of you good awnt to make relacion to my desolat parents and the whole worlde besides of thaccideÌ„t of my wretched desaster that although your vnhappy néece and miserable IVLIA hath by meare force lost the outward show of her honor yet her conscience remeinyng vnspotted and soule cleare ready to flye to the heaueÌ„s to witnes her iÌ„tegry tye afore the sacred theatrye or tribunall seate of GOD can not departe wyth worthye contentement afore I offer my lyf to y e waues to purifie the fylthye spottes wherewith my bodye remeins painted on all parts by thinfection of the detestable rape of force wherewith she departed not taryinge the replye of her awnt who thoughte to haue diswaded her from the pursuete of her desperate intent and beinge coÌ„me to the riuer of Oglyo kyssing her sister with a last crye to god to receyue her soule to his mercy she lept hedloÌ„g into the water who as a mercyles element respectinge neyther thinnocency of her cause nor desperate order of dying committed her to the botomles throts goolphes of the sourges whiche was the ende of this miserable IVLIA whose lyfe only deserues commendation for thexample of her vertue and deathe worthie to be committed to oblyuyon for the signes of desperacion wherewyth it was infected But after this chaunce burst out into tearmes became the report of the people God knoweth what generall desolacion was amonge all the estate of the Cytie aswell for the strangnes of the facte as for that the villeyne was fledd that caused the brute who if he had ben taken had don penance of this falte with the losse of his lyfe in example of others the bodye was founde by the diligence of Loys Gonzaga who woulde not suffer it to be buryed in the Churche yarde or other sanctuarye because of the desperat maner of her death but caused it to be solempnelye accoÌ„panyed with the teares great dule of diuerse Ladyes into a place or graue in the felde where he ment in shorte tyme to sett vpp a tombe of marble wyth a monument of the particular discourse of the vertues and singuler gyftes of grace in his pore countrewomaÌ„ whose death I wishe may learne al estats to eschewe the perill of dispaier and order of lyfe to instructe all the yonge Ladyes of England to resiste the charmes and sugred allurements of loue who the more he is feasted with pleasaunt regardes of the eye or encountred with secret conference in corners or courted wyth embassages or lastlye banqueted wyth dishes of delicate toyes or vaine importunityes the more is he redye to inuade and apte to ouercome but on the contrarye parte the waye to kepe warre wyth that vaccabound and to flée his infections is as IVLIA did to marche against hym with a flagge of vertue vsyng wythall the pollycy of VLIXES in stopping your eares from the pepered harmonye of them that delitinge only in the praye of your outwarde beautye haue no respecte to the ornament of the soule whiche beinge kepte pure and vndefyled to th ende yealdes you a rewarde of immortalitye and your renowme neuer to be rased out of remembraunce tyll thextreame dissolucion of the worlde FINIS The argument THere was neuer mischiefe of former time nor vice in present vse wherein men are or haue bene more drowned or drawen by a beastly desyer then in therecrable and deadly synne of whoredome by the which besides that the spirituall fornicacion is figured in some sorte yet is it forbidden vnto vs expresly by thinuiolable lawes not written in the tables wher thauncientes were wonte to graue directions and orders to pollitique states of the Romaines Athenyens Egiptiens or Sparteins but recorded in theuerlasting booke within the whiche the veraie finger of god hath sealed his infallible statutes wher of as he wolde that his children and faithfull heires of his kingdom were made partakers with desyer and indeuor of ymytacion so we are al warned by y e same defence that besides the wrong and harme we do to our owne bodies we offend â—eynously against the health of our soules specially in corruptinge the wife of our neighbour with thabuse of that part of her which is necessarie to be garded with as great care and watche as we reade was vsed somtime in the supersticious ceremonies of the vestals of Rome in keping a contynuall fyer in their temple The greatnes also of this synne of adulterie bringing as you se an equal hurt to the soule and bodye hath forced a wonderful seueretie in both the lawes punishinge by deathe such as do prophane that hollye and invyolable bond and bed of mariage wher is only a place of purity and no oblacion to be offred or admitted but the sacrifice of honeste lawful substaÌ„ce besides what slaunders and mortalitie amongest men haue spronge out of the vicious fountaine of that synne y e mariage bed of Menelaus defyled by y e kinges sonne of Troye hath left sufficient example and cause of exclamacion amongest the phrigiens with reason to all posterities to deteste such villanie as a vice moste abhomynable in Egipt the Sychemetyens for like respect vnder Abraham and Isaac haue felt the mighty hand of god althoughe their offence in some sort was excusable by ignoraunce for that they thought the wyues which they toke had bene vnmaried Likewise if there be any faithe in the poeticall fictions we see thargumentes of most of their tragedies were founded eyther vpon the punishmente or dispair of such as not hable to reuenge the wrong of their lasciuions wife and wicked Sathanist her mynyon conuert and execute their rage and furie vpon theimselues wherin our worlde at this daye is growen to such a malicious golphe and bottomles sea of vices that the wilde nacions without eyther awe of God or feare of his lawes gouerned only by an instinct of nature are more curious to kepe the honor of their bedd then diuerse contryes in the harte and bowells of Christendom wher thadulteror is not punished but by protestacion or attorney and wher the poore
his mistres was in deuise by what meanes he might eftsones bord the goodwil of her father whō he iudged colde vse small reason in refusinge his requeste seinge his richesse were equall to thappetit of his gredie mynde and his possessions and patrymony nothing inferior to the best of y e Citie wherfore for the more honor and solemnitie of the demand he sent hys vncle to sommon the faire Carmosyna in sorte of lawfull mariage with an offer of dowry at the discrecion of her father who not ignorante of the league of longe loue betwene his doughter and Perillo whome hee knewe to haue firste entred into chaunge of lyfe for the onely respect of her fauor thought it as great conscience to condiscende as they had reason to make the request wherupon addinge an effect of expedicion to their present agrement the bale of contract was drawen and the mariage published ymediatly betwene Antonio Perillo and the faire Carmosyna to the speciall content ment of theym selues and singler pleasure of the parentes on both sides which notwythstandinge was vnhappelye abbridged contrarye to all their exspectacions by the malice of a pitifull accident which fell vpon theym the very night of their mariage in the house of tholde Minio it was in the middest of the moneth of Iune at what time the heates beinge most vehemente do force terrible thonders and rage of weather in great extremitie by certein drye vapours and exhalacions whych the heat ayre draweth vp from the drye earth when as our infortunat Louers were newe gon to bedd deuisinge together of their sondrye misfortunes since the begynnynge of their loue and as they disposed theym selues to discharge the pleasante shot of mariage behold the eleamentes aboue conuerting theym selues into angrie regardes sett abroche the roaring noyse of the fearefull thonder with suche ympetuositie of blusteringe windes that the trees and houses of depe foundacion in the earthe where not hable to resiste their furie together with an vnnatural openynge of the skye whereby the whole earthe seamed to borne with a glowe or fearefull flame of lyghtenynge at laste the ayre not hable to conteine the heate was forced to auent when a man myghte haue séene fall in waters and places of fyrme ground diuerse stones of sundrye formes some square some rownde some forqued and other longe piked at both endes of the sharpnes of a nedell deriued be like of the congealed substance of the heat vapours of the ayre whereof as the feare of the tempest hadd dryuen the bride and bridgrom to embrase one an other So one of the sayd fatall mynisters of destenye whyche we call properly thonderboltes darted with suche vehemencie vppon the one and other louer percynge the place of lyfe of theim bothe that it gaue ende to their pleasure and life at one blowe Here you sée y t he whych escaped a merueilous peril of shyy wrake was deliuered out of the hāds of the Barbaryans when he dispayred of all reléefe is not hable to shon the surie of the heauens and inclemencye of his fates and muche lesse to excede the momente whyche his destinie determyned vpon hym Albeit if there be any one sparke of pleasure in suche misfortune he was assysted with a moderacion in the greatnes of hys distresse bothe for that he dyed in the armes of her whome he loued no lesse then hym selfe also hadd her companie to hys graue whome he cold not enioye being on liue but in thoughte inward regarde such was y e end of his loue wherī sewer if loue wer a creature of either sēce or feling he deserued to be reprehēded of iniustice for y t he is pertiall showeth fauor not only to such as practise y e sleighte of thefte and stealth in amarus affaires I meane such as albeit they bare not aduow their lasciuious and wanton trade yet he guydes theim saffelye to the praye of theyr desyer and retournes them without the offer of perill but also giueth good successe to theim that dissembling with the vertue of true loyaltie haue no other respecte but to satisfye the glott of their voluptuouse pleasure where on the contrarye this infortunat Perillo embracing his wife in chaste and honeste sorte was no lesse iniustly reuenged then cruelly smothered by the fyery force of thonder whiche strange kinde of death gaue no small amaze to the whole citie of Naples bothe for the rarietie of thaccident and also the greate wronge whiche the guider of amarus destinies semed to do to the loyaltie of the younge man who deserued a better consideracion for his sondrie distresses then a fatall suffocacion or deadlye blowe of the heauens in the firste begynnynge and earnest penny of his pleasure with his deare Carmosyna with whome he was shrined in a Tombe of marble wyth a certeine Epitaphe in Latten whiche I haue here composed in our vulgary verse whiche it maye please your Ladishipp to ymagine to heare pronounced by the mouth of the dead Perillo appearynge halfe out of his graue in his sheete trussed at eyther ende wyth a fatall knott speakynge with a voice of terror according to his ghastelye regarde The Epitaphe vpon the tombe of Perillo and Carmosyna FRom cloddye Couche rise vpp consumed corse You captiue knightes vvhom Cupide sterude vvith care And louers ye that lyue comme take remorce On tvvo that founde suche death as happs but rare See here the sheete that shroudes such faithfull tvvayne As selde are founde to serue in loyall trayne Fovvre vvinters long I ranne a carefull race Wherin I founde the frutes of Crabbed fate Ne colde I gett the graunte of fortunes grace But pinched still vvith panges of misers state I felt the force of euery mortall blaste There vvas no yll vvherof I did not taste My folly forcde a fall of all I hadd And frendes forsoke me in my greatest need My rentes retird vvith route of roisters trade And fancy fedd me vvith the foode of euill spede I soughte to sovve the seedes of stayed lyfe vvhen lo I cropt the frutes of greater stryfe And though the Seas did spite my good intent Yet did they spare to spill me in their sandes But adding force to that vvhich long my fates haue men◠My goodes and I fell in the Pirottes handes VVher I in person pinchd vvith euery pang of care My pennance paide vvith many a hongry share Ne vvas my loue deuoide of lyke annoye Syth she vvith equall grieff paid tribute to my paine She vveard her youth in dule in steade of ioye The vievve of my mishapps bredd vvo in euery vayne Her pleasant tyme passd in continuall teares VVhose sooddes aye bathd her greene and mayden yeres But oh geue eare vvhen vve by happy lott Did deame to fynde the ende of all distresse And as in bedd vve hopte to chaunge the note Of former paine to perfect ioyfulnes Behold alas the flagg of fatall vvrathe Orespred vs both vvith panges of present death Oh heauy happ ô