so oft both humane power and wisedome is subdude there happinesse surceaseth nor can be mentioned or imagined a brutish thing nor more base then a woman that decrepit is Now before she attaines to this their generall miserie she must make vse of all those offered sutes if her life be placed on the right hand she must not vse it to the left What to the Lyon happen would if he put not in vse his naturall ferocitie or wherein would mans wit auaile if in due time he make not vse thereof If so shee her beautie which vnto her as proper a vertue is as to the Lyon force and wit vnto the man may vse while it doth last while they may they must it inioy enioy it I say for time doth flye and yeeres doe passe away to repaire the ruines of their passed colde olde age If youth in them be but once onely lost it neuer doth grow greene againe And to a countenance both hoare and wan Loue may well turne a Louer neuer doth Therefore I pray you let vs beare with them but tell mee what would you doe if that you vnderstood your selfe most highly by a woman loued A. Shee being tyrannous a monarcke impious an Oracle of lyes a lodge of ire I would no credit doubtlesse vnto her giue E. For any thing I can see you neuer tryed the ioyning lippes to lippes the sweet departure from life but onely some lying or disdainefull woman oh had you but once onely tasted the sweet courteous and gentle what vnspeakeable contentment is enioyed in the adoration of a kinde woman to enioy as much as you loue to haue as much as you desire Oh a thousand times most fortunate and a thousand hee that is borne vnder such a Starre but because you are angred a corrupt taste hates all sweetnesse A. As the world goes that you delights and pleaseth which me displeaseth vtterly Oh true and happy life that knowes not what it meanes to dye before death for that briefe pleasure includes in it much sorrow so as it burdens the soule with a most grieuous waight E. Where vertue wants power is of no great force and he that nothing can for nothing cares A. That fire which man doth thinke extinguished by colder seasons and by elder age renues both flame and martyrdome in minde and euen with yeeres hee cannot change desires but looke the more one faileth in his power the more his will increaseth and this I meane should be in vertues lore E. Such vertue I esteeme such Art that yeelds his owne desire that old foole fondly soakes himselfe vvhom Loue doth pricke it is fitte time then to lay the cloakes on him and panch him vp vpon his fat and seame A. Whether old or young rich or poore present or absent fooles or wise mee seemeth that they are all subiect to the influence of this vnhappy Starre and I pray you let vs not recall the shame of the dead without speaking of the liuing How many euery day are there that doe nought else saue spend their time amongst women not blushing to be emulatours of the infelicitie of Hercules who hauing banished all his honour was found at vnawares by the Ambassadours of the Lidians in the lappe of his beloued who drew his rings from his fingers and he had her shooe in his hand and shee his crowne Others follow the ill lucke of Dionisius Siracusanus who being more wilde then the wildest beast by the loue of his vnchaste Mirta became so softned and domesticall that hee left the care of the businesse of his Kingdome and all was dispatched by the hand of a Queane Or are not ashamed to be such as one Athenearicus a most famous King of the Gothes who being blinded by the loue of his beloued Pintia while shee combed her head this good King wiped her shooes E. A King in name but indeed more vile then a woman There are others also that are so inamoured of womanish Idols that they exceede Themistocles that famous Captaine of Greece who being taken with the affection of a woman vvhile she did purge hee also did purge if she voyded bloud he also did the same thereby shewing that she was the Mistresse himselfe the seruant A. But which is worse there are infinite others that surpasse the foolishnesse and infidelitie of the Emperour Caligula who when he gaue onely sixe thousand Sesterces for the rebuilding of the Romaine wals gaue an hundred thousand for the furring of one of his Concubines petticotes giue little or nothing to the poore but spend their part as also that of their posteritie amongst whores and in Gnisippus his house from vvhence they returne no lesse vncleane then beasts Gainst the good Lord who humane hope Did raise by leauing his immortall soule Armes Epicurus and hence his fame doth grone E. But what shall wee tell of the Grecians among whom these Owles onely borne to entrappe and ensnare were in such veneration that they were appointed by the Lawes to pray for common safetie A. Oh what hot prayers what deuout supplication what feruent requests they shewed vvell herein how they hoped nor beleeued in no good from heauen so I know they did when Xerxes King of the Persians meant to make war against them for publicke harlots were enioyned to pray vnto their Gods E. The thoughts of man are nothing but expresse follie whervnto many times the vvisest are most tributarie and therefore vvee neede not wonder though God now punish the Grecians they being more vnhappy then all the vvorld besides A. You make me remember Aristotles example vvho creeping like a dogge vvas ridden like a foole by Alexander the great his wife vvhich vvoman to be reuenged of him because he had disswaded Alexander euery night from lying with her had counterfaitely promised to doe him a pleasure in which deed hee being found by her Husband whom the Queene had formerly aduertised thereof and drawing out his sword to haue slaine him the malicious Philosopher pacified him with this deuise he alledging know Alexander I did this but to the end that thou mightest learne by my liuely example to auoid women as much as is possible for if they could deceiue me a Philosopher much more easily will they deceiue thee being Alexander E. But what thinke you of the same Philosopher who offered vp diuine honours to Hermia his Trull A. Who is he that oftentimes followes not his steps lesse caring to offend then to please and satisfie his owne sensualities E. It seemes that Goges King of the Lidians exceeded euery one in this point for after hee had spent many dayes in sighing and lamenting for the death of his she friend not being satisfied here with hee built for her a sepulchre of such an height and so towrie as that from the top thereof the vituperious pots wherein the luxurious ashes of this infamous strumpet were put might be discerned ouer all Lidia A. Who did more in this respect then Sardanapalus
opinions this world doe infect And who himselfe from errour can protect And to the end he may easily imbrace the truth and relinquish falsities But by reason of humane nature wee haue daily experience that as humours and Genioes so affections and Iudgement which oftentimes is vassall to them and euery other thing else doth vary and alter I haue inserted into this present Worke many passages diuers sentences sundry no lesse pleasant then profitable sayings and necessary aduertisements the more easily to allure euery mans minde and if not fully yet at least in a great part to satisfie euery curious and noble vnderstanding and to preuent so it be any wayes possible all euill construction I might put into thee I haue endeuoured in my speech and phrases as the most pleasing and acceptable to follow the more beaten stile and way and which hath beene traced by the best Authors And if peraduenture any body thinke much that in varying one and the selfe same word I haue made vse of another diuerse from it which in his iudgement was not to be vsed he must vnderstand that hauing obserued it in excellent Writers I might iustly haue beene ashamed blaming me vniustly for annexing it vnto the others so as in this he must not censure mee but his owne incapacitie Besides this if any shall iudge that I am but a careles Orthographist in omitting too often the graue and sharp accents or in occurrence by doubling those letters which shold be but single or in writing some single which according to their iudgements should haue bin doubled about this matter he must conceiue that I hauing many times obserued good Authours to vary within themselues herein I haue likewise in such wordes pleased mine owne humour touching the other I confesse that the accent is taken for the note or sound and as one may say the harmonie the sound thereof making vs to vnderstand the sillables and the office of an Accent is to rule and moderate the word so as it seemes that as we cannot frame a voyce without sound so a word cannot well consist that wanteth Accent this being as it were the very soule and spirit of the wordes Neuerthelesse in that from my tender yeeres I haue beene brought vp in continuall studie and hauing in this time obserued the most corrected Prints as that of Aldo Manutio as also hauing seene Verses and Prose written with the proper hand of most learned and rare Writers and moderne Authours as of Poet Guirino of Toquato Tassoes of the excellent Philosopher and Poet Caesar Cremonino publike Professour in Padua I doe plainely perceiue that the crowning and garlanding of words with so many graues and accutes is but as a famous Professor of Italie told me the meere curiositie of some Tramontanes and of such in conclusion which doe it onely vt videantur that so they might be thought to enioy that wherein they were neuer brought vp But the aboue-mentioned Presses and those good Writers worthy of euery one to be imitated doe onely vse the forementioned notes or markes of Graues and Accutes in necessarie places that is where the Reader may be doubtfull which is the Coniunction e or the Verbe è or to the end the Diphthong may be taken for one onely Sillable as in più già or such like or else to shew the difference betweene the feminine Article la and the Aduerbe là as also in like manner vpon the Preter-perfectence amò being different from the tence Preter of amo and of many other such like So also in cases of doubt where the accent should be placed ouer the first or ouer the last Syllable as amerò or améro the Adiectiue and the preterperfectence of the Verbe leggerò or leggèro although the proper office thereof is to fall with the last Sillable as in virtú beltà and such like short words as also ouer the decorted Verbes fé potè compiè vdì sentì Then for the copulatiue hauing heard and seene diuers rules obserued with sundry distinctions following herein the opinion of some Learned and Wise I will euer preferre it before the Coniunction it being his propertie to fasten and conioyne the sentence Neuerthelesse I know that let an Authour proceede with neuer so good iudgement and reason yet the world being vitious as it is and euer hath beene hee shall be but as a white to the arrow of euery mans tongue for some being naturally replenished with a kinde of vitious emulation and superstitious iealousie they cease not continually to obserue anothers proceedings interposing all designes and malitious practises by meanes whereof they may disturbe eyther the benefit or the least sparke of reputation and honour that might accrew thereof or else because euery one hath some particular light and vnderstanding more in one thing then in another and peraduenture in this specially and most of all Or else it may be because others like drowsie Tassoes sleeping in the obscure darknesse of a thousand of their owne imperfections yet for all this they forbeare not to make profession of shewing light to others being so puffed vp with philantie and selfe-conceit that like the Ape they thinke any young one of their owne how deformed soeuer to be so perfect and beautifull as it is worthy of all imbracement and that their very wordes are like precious pearles though indeede they rather resemble monsters of sundry kindes their heads Guelfe and their legs Gibelline and they neuer speake but their words be as baites vpon hookes or twigges limed and the better to colour their owne deformities by blemishing anothers beautie they are so dazeled that like Mastiue curres they neuer linne barking behinde ones backe So that in this infamous profession they farre exceed the worse kinde of Pharisaicall ostentation and so surmounting beyond all comparison eyther Molorcus Licophron Demogorgon Anaxarchus who for his detracting and biting tongue was pestled to death in a brasen morter foule mouthed Burchiello wicked Bernia Niuius Carbilius Pasquine an arch-type of the Pope for he being insensible and blinde in diuine matters yet still with greater blindnesse hee will offer to illuminate those that discerne all more clearely then himselfe Francus Bauius Meuius and wicked Momus these miserable wretches goe groping and sometimes on all foure to set vp as they doe a faire shop at other mens cost and charge and so making marchandize of anothers mans credit by their owne diuulged and dispersed ignominie they impudently seeke by anothers dishonour to set a shamelesse face on the matter and thus to put out their immodest and shamelesse hornes being so inamoured with such a miserable and base condition that growing thus stone-blinde they shame not in their tongues to carry the Gall of Rabilius and in their chappes the poyson of Colimachus in their mouthes the flame of Mount Etna in their eyes Iupiters lightning which he vsed against the Centaurs in their words Lucifers darts in their thoughts Bellonaes arrowes in their Serpentine words the filth
bread or of my powder of Almond cakes with Beane flower and the little sheeres also M. Heere they are A. The ruffe band M. I haue it in my hand A. Because it is somewhat hot this morning it were better for me to weare a falling band M. So I thought behold I giue it you A. Seeing you will be a Scholler of the Art of Memorie I will now tell you in good earnest some locall memoriall M. All will be well Sir so as conformable to our first couenants you will please Sir to command and call but not strike A. Tush after the receipt wee le reckon of all Oh Sir now I come with all my hart to doe all seruice to my deare Master Pompilio P. No no Sir not to serue but as a Master to commaund me A. Gentle Sir tell me haue you seene in your life a man sooner ready then I am P. No intruth A. I sleepe or watch when and as long as I please or thinke good P. I cannot conceiue how so liuely a spirit as you are in the Morning when the spirit vseth to fructifie should suffer it selfe to be subdued by drowsie sleepe A. Why I pray you Sir know you not that the falling of the starres doth inuite vs to sleepe and that euery creature which liueth must necessarilie likewise sleepe considering that all creatures through long labour and vigilancie doe waste and perish and therefore they had neede to be restored with the generation of some new radicall humiditie and by the renouation of weake spirits which are obtained from moderate sleepe P. Who knowes it not Vigilancie being an earnest fixing of of the minde from his beginning to all the parts of the body so that when it is moderate it excites all the senses disposeth of all the faculties to their due operations and expels the excrements of the body but if it be immoderate it corrupts the temperature of the braine it causeth distracting of the wits enflameth the humours procures acute infirmities it produceth hunger it makes men leane and of a foule aspect it debilitates the vertue concoctiue dissolues the spirits replenisheth the head with vapours makes hollow eyes augments heate kindleth choller hindereth digestion and causeth a cruditie in our receiued meates and therefore it must be moderated corrected by interposition of sleep From whence we must confesse that Aleander spake wisely when hee said Somnus est omnibus valetudo viâ—e saniâ—as corporis It is the health of the body and safety of the soule A. It cannot be denyed but if a man would liue it is needfull hee should eate and eating of necessitie hee must sleepe for sleepe is procured by the eleuation of the vapors from the receiued meate which mounting vp to the braine and finding it cold and thicke are congealed and so growne waightie and discending they opilate the pores sensitiue of the members after the selfe same manner as raine is ingendred in the middle region of the Aire by the rising vp of vapours On the contrary wakefulnesse is procured by the superfluous heate of the braine and it causeth tribulations of minde indigestion of meates whereupon naturall heate which is the first instrument of life doth become weake and seruing to all the members it leaueth the concoction of meates by which meanes without sleepe crude humours and many defects in the body would ensue the which sleepe is the quietnesse of the minde and the repose of the animall facultie and in conclusion it heates and corroborates the members it expelleth the excrements augments naturall humiditie fatens the body cures the infirmities of the soule and mittigates the molestations of the minde and at that time the faculties being at rest as is said Nature workes the more effectually Therefore Tassus saith Whilst the Sunne delighteth it is time to trauaile for in the night euery creature would be at rest Let vs suppresse the griefes and let vs sweeten the hart vnder the silence of the secret nightly horrour But a thousand inconueniences I beleeue is caused if it be superfluous P. Now in truth you speake like a gentleman for besides that watchfulnes notes an hart addicted to vertue and waightie enterprizes too much sleepe cooleth debilitates and dryes vp naturall heate it makes bodies flegmaticke from whence proceedes sloathfulnes further it sends vp vapors into the head from whence are engendred distillatioâ—s and Catars it hurts fat bodies wonderfully in â—ound and weake bodies it causeth shortnesse of winde it prepareth them to Apoplexies Epilexsies to stupifaction and feauers it procures that the excrements cannot come forth in due time but that they are detained too long in their vessels it makes many vnprofitable with a thousand other inconueniences And therevpon diuine Plato admonisheth vs that superfluous sleepe is not onely impertinent to the soule and body but also for any negotiations or affaires A. The selfe same Eschines deciphered hee holding opinion that sleepe was more befitting the dead then the liuing P. Of the same opinion was Gorgias the Philosopher who drawing neere to death said Sleepe doth commend mee to his brother A. Philo also called it the very image of death P. And Alexander by reason of his workes fame and glory surnamed the great being after the manner of Courtiers deepely flattered by his followers and called a God wisely made answere I know my selfe to be mortall by sleepe which is the true portrature of death A. Diuine Petrarch saith Sleepe is a kinne to death And Tas saith Hee that is opprest by sound sleepe hath but a little passage to death P. Sleepe therefore being so detestable that Wise man saide How long will thou sleepe O sluggard when wilt thou awake from out thy sleepe To that effect the Apocalipse concludes saying Happy is hee who watcheth and keepeth his garments to the end his shame may not appeare and then hee addes I therefore say vnto you watch A. All this is true so it be seasoned with Platoes salt that is our health euer considered P. Surely I thinke I may beleeue and not without reason that eating soberly and not according to the desire but the necesitie of his constitution he vvil also sleepe soberly therupon A. Oh oh you will transforme mee into some Tuskaine or a sober Genouese or rule me in such manner that after the simiorike I ought to subiect myselfe to clinicall phisicke P. Let a man be of what nation hee will hee must needes order his life and little will satisfie to the Nature therefore Tassus If the desire be little also our neede is small whereby our life is preserued A. Why but a man must necessarily eate and drincke because without these two offices neither sound or sick can continue for the bodies of liuing creatures remayning in a daily ebbing and flowing so that momentally the corporall spirits are dissolued and consumed as also in like manner the humours and solide
on horse-backe in Gods name Who beginneth well hath halfe the worke Nor one beginneth not well but from heauen A mortall enterprise cannot haue a fortunate issue If the heauens doth not prosper it B. Doe you please to haue any thing else sir F. No but get you vp likewise marrie first tell me one thing did you aske which way we should goe and turne B. I haue set downe in order the names of the Villages and Townes the miles and distance from one place to another F. See how pleasant it is in this hot season to ride in the coole of the morning B. So me thinkes likewise but God and heauen helpe vs in so many turnings and by-wayes F. I beleeue the heauens can make easie the way B. Here is a crosse from the which commeth so many wayes that now at the last euery one resteth in such manner dazeled that one knoweth not surely which way to goe F. Not the crosse but men with their varying make others to stray but let it be as it will be for by some one we must goe wherefore doe you feare Doest thou not know with how many forces God helpeth me B. But yet by that which in truth seemeth to me most secure large and beaten I see no body goe there truly but onely in appearance F. Be not astonished at it that Direction wanteth not to a Pilgrim that hath a tongue B. But if hee were one of those that in the manner of Merchants did seeke not onely to liue but to inrich himselfe with his merchandise and with his tedious and superfluous discourse perswadeth that such a path is the most secure when he knowes it worse then my selfe and yet playing the Reynald he will himselfe faine to goe by it setting me in the steepe way which cannot be plainely discerned but at certaine times when he with raynes in the necke keepes alwaies the lower I looking about me and perceiuing that in truth he auoides all that which with naked words hee perswaded me vnto and therefore beleeue me I beleeue him not F. And yet sure it is as necessarie there should be one good way for vs if thou wilt not say that alone there is one saluation for the desperate is to dispaire of saluation Are you a Pilot ah looke vp to heauen and be of good cheere away forward follow on without interest or any peruersenesse that which by the true footings seemes to thee to be the truest way B. But my heart throbs least any body should see vs. F. Doubt not For vertue neuer failes a valiant man and He that hath swarued from the right way must thither returne againe Who hath no Plate or else the same hath lost Must quench his thirst out of a drinking glasse B. Why then hereafter I must be more bold F. Yes bolde and yet with circumspection B. But what would you say sir while we stand thus in the Sunne to his owne good hap and our bad fortune some famished Wolfe should come vpon vs. F. We would doe contrarie to the Poets aduise Doe not remaine in any darksome night Vnder the poore skie by light of waterish Moone But we must looke out further for a bad night a worser day succeedes yet be not daunted seeing euery one from his birth-day hath his Fortunes set downe B. So me thinks I haue obserued and yet they said that euery one is the framer of his owne hap F. It often happens that one wise and valiant Is the Author of some happy fortune to himselfe but So haue you not seene that when I will I haue astonishment In my eies and death in my hand besides in truth nothing can terrifie me for I haue often made triall of The diuers assaults and cruell feare of death The great vncertainties of chance and of instable lot and yet if I were to die I would in dying seeme vnvanquished but whereat laugh you doe you thinke it would be a worke rather of furie then of hope B. Let vs confesse the truth we not hauing supped we shall be readie for a dainty supper for him and this I take to be the worldly prouidence so much exalted to beautifie as it were one with the extreame misery of many but to auoide this danger let vs hasten our pace F. Amidst all daunger valour is secure In vertue lyeth all my happinesse Valour from vertue vertue from faith proceedes and therefore you feare because you wauer in faith and that you beginne not where you should and ought And trust not in that Lord who good men helpes And doth preuent your prayers with his grace But why stay you alight for we will ease our beasts while some desperate fellow comes that may shew vs the way whether good or bad B. Oh what faire sightly and pleasant fields are here In beholding their beautie my heart euen growes young againe F. There shines in vs a fauour new deuine Did you euer feele such a sweet aire O goodly countries and delightsome streames O pleasant hils Flowers chearefull happy and sweet springing grasse Most louely and pale violets Vmbragious vines whereon the Sunne doe beate Who vvith his beames you proud and pleasant makes B. Surely if there be any Paradise in the world this is one F. Zipherus returnes and brings with him faire weather With flowers and hearbes his pleasant familie Progne does prattle and Philomell laments It 's now the faire virmilion pleasant spring When meadowes laugh and heauen serenefies Ioue smiles to see his louely daughter faire The aire earth water is with loue possest Tree-barkes grow tender and so each greene plant More ioyfully his verdure reassumes The Doues their kisses doe redouble oft All creatures are by loue now reconcilde Me thinkes the hard Oake and the Laurell chaste With all the leafie ample familie And earth and water doe both forme and breath sweet sighes and sents of an inflamed loue B. Oh what a goodly country what faire grounds are here F. Heere 's pleasant aire faire skie with pleasant Meadowes trees and waters pure and cleare Where midst the myrtles beautifull A fount doth rise a little brooke ore runnes Which raine into her bosome hearbs and still sweet sounds With murmuring noise of leaues that shake and stir The birds do sing the marbles and the gold I doe conceale For Art and workemanship most wonderfull The Elme Trees to whom sometime the Vine doe leane And with his crooked feete climes toward heauen B. The aire odour shaddow and refreshings all to you doe seeme to bend and to incline F. To tell thee my thoughts to an haire my deare Bulugante I ruminate and midst my tossed thoughts I am assailde with pittie of my selfe and In so diuers thoughts I know not which to choose For sad I passe the day and sad and sorrowfull The night while morning peepes againe Neither in
me such vertue doth remaine That readily I can discerne of things B. Courage Master there 's good being euery where F. I know it and good remayning in euery country The valiant man each place his country deemes The reasons as you thinke are not alike And goods once lost are not recouered To him not wholy of sence depriued His country soile is pleasant and most deare For Nature in our humane procreation Towards the country where each one is borne Inserts a secret firme affection Which euer liues and neuer groweth old Euen as the loadstone though both farre and neare The skilfull Pilot carry it round about Both where the Sunne doth rise and goeth downe Yet this the secret vertue neuer looseth With which it still affects the blustring North Euen so he that farre from his country goes Though he enuiron much and oftentimes Resideth in a strange and forraine land Yet doth he alwayes this firme loue retaine Which doth encline him to his natiue soile O vnto me beloued more and deare Then any other land faire Italy Which with my foote I touch and worship in my minde Though to thy borders gentle Mother mine I should with blinded eyes arriue and come Yet could I know thee quickly by and by O're all my veines a priuy humour runnes So full of tender loue of sweet delight That in each veine and part my bloud it felt Thou therefore Bulugante who hast beene my companion both in the way and my other discommodities it is no lesse reason but that thou shouldst haue a part with mee in the ioy of my short delights B. Questionlesse all earthly contentment is but short and yet me thinkes to enioy so happy a Country exceedes all the rest F. Hard heart if now thou doest not teare and rend Euer may'st thou lament if thou canst not waile Oh wicked Fortune alwayes mine enemie Vnto defence I am not now so swift But that more ready thou art to offence And yet if by defence I answere make A fresh thou me assail'st and if I fall Then much more cruelly thou me offend'st Fortune I thee resist and yet some shew Of flight this my resistance makes Vaine Trophee ouer a Towne abandoned Doe what thou canst I nothing feare at all Fraile Fortune plainely thou do'st vnderstand Thou canst not hurt me more then thou hast done B. Sir you must take all in good part and comfort yourselfe in others example F. I take example by other meane estates By others harmes instructing well my selfe Receiuing comfort in mine owne distresse B. Little or great euery one must carrie his owne sacke on his backe F. Seeing my iniurious Fortune Hath so remou'd me from my greatest blisse In teares I alwaies will delighted be And greeue to laugh absinth and poyson be my sustenance My widdow nights and dayes so sorrowfull Night is my griefe and faire day darke to me My bed is the hard field of a bloudy battell And yet at my griefe no man does lament The more I looke for end the further it is off B. Oh sir me thinkes it is the part of a wise man to liue as long as one can and mens manner is rather to call for death formally then with a resolued and firme desire to die F. I know it 's common vse and Art Mongst Louers for to threaten death And yet effects but seldome doe ensue By that I heare you know me not full well The world and men I doe contemne with death B. He that giues ouer all let him not care nor complaine for nothing F. My friend Bulugante it is most true And yet my griefe me thinkes procures my ioy Wherefore I oftentimes doe thus discourse O Lord that in this prison hast me shut O Lord that plainely seest each secret thought of mine Now haue I past halfe of my course The morne a childe the euen I am growne olde I hoard returne from whence I parted faire Spare not O Lord thy fauours towards me Thou seest me Lord not now a mortall man But dead now to delights I liue in dole When my hard starre and fortune ominous Draue me into places so vncouth and strange Cause me not to abuse thy pittie Lord Wearie I am and greeued longer to liue And euery day the path more rough doth seeme Of sailing through these horrid fearefull waues I see the windes my passage doe disturbe In the hauen a storme and wearied out of breath My Pylot broke my Masts and rent my sailes I am like the Pylot that from sea deceites Hath brought his Ship to a desired Port. I must now winde vp my dispearsed sailes And trust no more vnto the cruell Seas B. I but you must obserue Maister how it is a man-like thing to hope and endure F. I know and hope for euil's diminished When hope in me no whit impaired is I hope the falling Sunne will rise againe And the heauen when least it shines Brings backe againe his first serenitie But my friend Bulugante know assuredly I am so weary vnder the burden olde Of my offences and my ill led life That I feare much to faint in the mid way And so to light vpon mine enemie My sinfull burden worthy is of death Victor vanquisht thou canst make me Lord And in the midst of all misfortunes make A greater way then when I ouercame B. Oh God sir euen now you perswaded mee to be all heart from whence then comes all this heart griefe here about they preach that they haue power with their breath and fingers to bow heauen and open hell F. My Falsorino for so I will call you seeing thou followest me Falsorino Religion must not be contaminate I am so with the darknesse of this world And of the flesh so clad and couered That Ganges Nilus or the deepe Ocean Cannot me cleanse and purifie Onely heauens grace that part of me vncleane Can make most pure to heauen therefore I turne And humble pardon craue I doe reueale My secret faults lament and humbly pray B. Sir it were better for vs to goe and make merry for so by changing place we shall change our thoughts F. Superfluous griefe I know vnhealthfull is And yet this humour I cannot refraine My soule what thinkest thou on or yet what doest Thou must not thinke ere to returne againe Nor yet once hope returne not lawfull is And sound aduise it is Quickly to leaue what thou canst not retaine Ah my deare Italie this onely ardent sigh Be in true witnesse of that louing hart Which was excited thus to honour thee Pardon I craue from fount of pietie Oh Lord I also hope that after so many Labours one day thou wilt me full restore And this will surely be a thing diuine When the reward our seruice shall preceed B. Maister in this life
then loue in Daliaes false flatteries as also in the kisses of false trayterous Iudas and yet euery one affects them E. And yet man is so foolish in the prosecution of them that though he obtayne them to his owne preiudice hee reputes himselfe happy and him on the contrary vnhappy that cannot attaine thereunto A. Neuerthelesse God visiting vs with tribulations doth declare that he is with vs or desireth to be with vs. E. But I beseech you sir how stands it with your good Father A. Why haue you not heard E. What I heartily pray you A. To satisfie you in a word sir hee was first conducted and then introducted within the gates of death E. Possible he is departed to a better life A. Although not onely for goodnesse of life example of manners but also for singularity of wit and excellencie of learning hee might be tearmed the principall light of this our age yet in that he died well all of him is not dead E. The life of the learned is no other but a comment vpon death the which they expect as the onely deliuerie from an obscure and tedious imprisonment A. Yet I would it had pleased God that hee might haue liued long for so he might long time haue bin able to do good E. Oh for a last word sir what is man more then a violl of bloud which euery little thing breakes and then all is corrupted A. Nay let vs rather say what the meaning of this his death is why peraduenture he hath ended herein to be miserable and begun to be happy E. Be it as it will sir when we are ripe for Hell or Paradise the one must either needes receiue or the other swallow vs vp A. We must be mindfull of this our course to death as we would be of a short dreame E. All men must once die and in seeing euery day that death grants not any estate it may inure vs the better to die A. The world is growne such as we may rather wonder at him that is borne then lament for him that dies E. Therefore I commend them of Thrace who mourne bitterly when their children are borne but being remoued out of this life they accompany them with songs and laughter to their graues A. This Euripides affirmes saying We must lament when that a sonne is borne As one that shall great troubles vndergoe But when by death all griefes he comes to scorne Then should we ioy and lay aside all woe Smiling when he to buriall doth goe E. He that would but duly way things present cannot but thinke man much bound to God and Death Howbeit Petrarch saith Each creature naturally Gainst death seekes remedie A. It is most true for man dying is freed from all bonds and discharged of all duties E. Your meaning is that by death all miserie is ouercome all labour likewise is dead and this life is onely the beginning of mans glory Therefore diuine Petrarch I liue but yet thou dead do'st still remaine Said she and so will be while the houre comes That must remoue thee from this nether world And in another place One onely comfort and that 's death And againe Happy the day when out this prison vile Making escape I leaue my mortall roabe A. It is very true this present life being but a cloudy Winters day E. Nay surely the whole course of our life may rather be termed a most short dreame and a vanishing shadow A. Death onely is that which like the pillar of fire in the hollow cloud conducts vs out of this our mortall Aegipt E. Nay out of a worse place then Aegipt was for none can glorie that in this world he hath so much as one drop of sweet without an infinite bitternesse A. Certainly reason doth pacifie and experience dries vp very great riuer of teares E. Wherein we read that though olde age comes not to make the vertuous man olde but to make him venerable yet to die olde of yeares is often no other then to die olde in sinnes and offences A. Therefore to be young cannot be counted a mishap but a good fortune â—herefore the Poet saith How many happy are already dead in the cradle And how many miserable in their old age Some say happy he that is neuer borne E. And yet many will not forbeare though in vaine to lament for the dead A. We reade of such follies And at this day it is obserued in Naples for hipocrisie where many women or old wiues hyred for eleauen dayes doe nothing but lament in the house of the dead party declaring the vertues and actions of the deceased E. Lamentation is proper to a woman but you might well say in hipocrisie as that great Matron did who being left sole heyre to her husband for feare of loosing this rich will shee put it into her bosome vnder her gowne body and so crossing her hands ouerthwart her breast she howled most pittifully ouer the dead coarse with throbbes yellings teares and out-cryes most tenderly vttering these words Oh my ioy oh my onely happinesse When the foolish vulgar supposing she had spoke this of her husband she meant it onely of the rich will A. She was not so simple as that playne country hinde who hauing his Father and an Oxe both dead in one day lamented most impatiently and his neighbours and friends herevpon comforting of him by saying that his Father was gone to heauen he returned answere oh how happy are you for I grieue not nor lament so much for my father who already had liu'd longer then hee should as I mourne for my Oxe by whom I got my liuing E. Howsoeuer it is what wise man will mourne for the dead who by this meanes goes from all dolours and griefe and who will repine that hee should goe before when we must follow after with hasty steps Therefore Petrarch saith Life slydes away with long and full large steps A. To bewaile the dead is an argument of blindnesse of minde or to mourne for priuation of life in the defunct E. In very truth they are teares that deserue teares A. They are rather teares full of enuie and passions worthie of compassion E. It is a wiser part to prepare for death then to lament for him that is dead A. It is true therefore the diuine Petrarch said Who dies well dying rids himselfe of griefe And Tasso also The honest man needes no teares nor lament For dying to the world he liues in heauen And it receiues him mongst her choise elect A thousand times most happy is that soule Which weares the Palme Crowne of her good deeds And againe the same in another place He dies not for his vertues him preserue In that instant and he scales heauen in peace E. Notwithstanding as Christ said the flesh is weake though the spirit be willing therefore the diuine Poet Petrarch In his last passage he had neere at hand A flesh infirme
but a prepared soule A. I would willingly be of that nation of which the said Petrarch spake There 's borne a people whom death not grieues E. As for my selfe according as I can iudge of my selfe I see that So weake's the thread That holdes my painefull life As without others helpe Before due time his end it doth obtaine Therefore This gift of God I onely doe demand That when out of his sacred will The houre of my death shall draw neere hand He will renowne me with a worthy end A. Soft and faire this wood of the world spoileth it selfe and reuesting it selfe with new leaues all things by little and little change their countenance E. God receiue the dead into his glory and giue true contrition to the liuing and to me a fresh memory of dying A. Seeing all our hope In death we put So that both when and where We meet with it we may be ready found And they which hitherto haue blindly slept Now let them ope their eyes and stand for feare Each day and houre prepared for the same Let none in force trust or in younger yeares Or in high dignities Seeing nothing is more certaine Then our mortall death And yet vncertain nothing more then th' houre therof E. To doe well is the onely meanes to prepare a mans selfe to die well A. O time O turning heauen thou doest in flying Deceiue the blinde and miserable mortall man Oh euery one admires the sodaine night of life Which in the Sunnes-continuall declining The ruine of the world doth manifest to all E. This is the onely ioy of euery faithfull liuing since that Life gaue death to vs and death onely can giue life A. This is not life but a long death But against death no hope saue death But I pray you sir tell mee so it be lawfull to know what make you in these parts E. Why surely I came with all obseruance to visite you not to stirre vp loue but to awake the louer A. Although fire not reuiued will goe out vnder the ashes of a long silence yet so doth not loue in the forge of a louers breast E. By loue we onely vnderstand the language of loue but for you sir who I know loues me better then I deserue you cannot but euery day haue heard with the eares of your thoughts newes of me who with the wings of my minde flie continually vnto you A. The principall vertue of him that answeres is to know the meaning of him that propounds for with the eyes of my vnderstanding I haue alwaies seene you you were euer really in my presence and in my heart I continually einoyed you and knew your desires E. He that should haue forgot you must needes haue forgotten vertue her selfe I was onely absent from you in body but not in minde A. Neither did I euer conferre with mine owne memorie but I discoursed with your selfe as also I neuer conuersed vvith bookes but I entreated of your vertues as also you can procure me no more inestimable ioy then the liuely memoriall you seemed to retaine of me E. Sir your departure which like lightning Prius tenuit quam tonuit and your absence made me offer vnto you that obseruance which so often I performe with my heart but now your presence spurres me forward to as much as my entire affection demands A. As I discerne the integritie of your minde in the sinceritie of your words so haue I proued and found no lesse in your actions E. Sir you left your selfe behinde with so fresh a memoriall of your loue and courtesie as I may confidently affirme that you neuer departed from me or rather that I neuer left you but that together with you I my selfe departed likewise A. When you seperate me from your sweet selfe you leaue me without departure E. When I leaue you sir I know not whether I am possest with a greater griefe for your departure or a greater desire after your returne or if you loose me with your eyes yet loose I not you with my heart A. Many times I haue receiued you with my minde and oftentimes you haue beene resident in the aboade of my hart but now visibly entertaining you I behold honor admire you E. Now I see sir that you are arriued in good health who was inwardly before vnited to my selfe I thanke God with my whole heart and tongue together and am come both to reioyce and thanke you that you haue thus vouchsafed to mitigate the griefe of your absence A. Through my departure there was no absence of ioy nor by my returne they haue no renouation for they neuer yet came nor which is more I looke not for them in this life E. He hath true ioy that possesses vertue which is better knowne by the want then the enioyance thereof A. Friendly visitations afford no small recreation but yours sir serue me for an excellent remedy they prouoking and stirring me vp to vertue E. It is my proper inclination to visite the vertuous as it is your property to deserue it A. Oh good sir this is rather a confounding then honouring of me E. No in troth Sir I thinke it to be the least part of my dutie and your vertue I was absent from you with obligation but am present both with obligation and affection and so together with them both and my presence I come to visit you A. Now I perceiue that my continuall desire was no little hope of obtayning and inioying your presence E. The courtesie of friends and discourtesie of time haue hitherto delayed my comming to visite you A. Your courtesie is an authentike Patent and perpetual Record of the fauour wherein you please to retaine me E. The same carefull desire which liues in me to serue you the same I say will not permit that I should deferre the doing of you all reuerence A. And the liuing without your presence hath beene as vnacceptable to me as now your presence is gratefull E. There can be nothing more deare vnto me then your comming euen as nothing more dâ—spleasing then your departure A. As likewise your viâ—itation is to me which confirmes the ancient worthinesse of your minde and fastneth a knot vpon another E. What is but deferd is not quite laide aside my intent was to come sooner A. And I O bad fortune when you came to salute mee prepared to visite you and therefore Sir you are the more welcome the slacker my visitation fell out E. And yet in common opinion he that failes in diligence failes in loue A. Excuse me sir delay doth not alwayes pretend negligence E. Loue and affection like flame operates without all delay A. I beseech you sir doe me the fauour as in stead of seruice to accept of my intentiue desire to serue you E. Your requesting of my fauour is the doing of me many A. And affection supplies defect for though you preuent mee in courtesie yet can you not doe it in
desiring that our delight be also our theft our rauishing and not her gift and if the Louer see a Gentlewoman flâ—e let him know that shee flieth not as a Doe but as a Dame to the end shee may at a time more opportune at better ease and in a place more commodious be catched clipped and embraced vvhich femine Art I not yet knowing in first my beginning so vnwarily I did remaine wailed with Loue that with the Poet I might truly say I finde not peace and yet I cannot warre I feare yet hope I burne yet still am Ice I soare towards heauen yet still remaine on earth I nought retaine yet all the world embrace Such one hath me in prison that neither opes nor shuts She neither makes me hers nor yet she lets me goe Loue doth not kill me and yet giues me life It neither will I liue nor yet be gone from hence I see yet want my eyes I haue no tongue and crie And seeke my end and yet I call for ayde I hate my selfe and others I desire I feed with griefe and laugh when I lament Both life and death displease me equally Mistresse in this estate I liued for your sake In which state perseuering for a great vvhile in that affliction whets on the vnderstanding I grew so vvarie in amorous exercises that Philosophizing most amorously within my selfe I miserably began to vaunt vvith the Poet saying thus to my selfe I know how the heart is from it selfe disioyn'd And would conceale all griefe though prickt it be I know the serpent lurketh mongst the grasse Twixt two I wake and sleepe as serpents doe Not languishing yet languish I and die I can a friend choose out and know full well How a Louer is transform'd into his loue Midd'st sighes profound and laughters very short I haue beene forc'd to change my will and hiew And also life my soule from hurt disioyn'd A thousand times a day my selfe I change My fire I follow where so eu'r she flies To burne farre off and freeze full hard neere hand In fine a little sweet with great bitternesse Loue doth repay But at last opening my eyes and discerning though too late all that past my vvhole force being vnited and knit together about my heart and subiugating my sence to my vnderstanding and to right reason euery inward ill gouerned feminine affection as also shaking off from my necke the vnhappie yoake of Loue. I said of a seruant thou art now become free neuer mayest thou hereafter be a vassall to blinde Loue nor a seruant to an instable vvoman and choose rather to dye then to vndergoe seruitude so that I may say Loue came vpon me but conioyned me not to himselfe and herevpon growing old in hatred I could better define it then Loue yet notwithstanding for your satisfaction I wil say thus much that Loue is no other then a passion that gouernes the heart and by that which I haue concluded Loue is all in all though in truth it be nothing because none can be bound except hee will himselfe and therefore the Poet saith Loue reasons bridle no wayes doth respect And he that sees is vanquisht by the will E. But if it be not Loue as you say what then is that which so pricketh humane hearts and so if Loue it be who and what manner of thing is he whether good or bad if good whervpon comes hee to be so cruell and mortall and if bad how comes all his torments to be so sweete and if it be in our power and that we burne but out of our owne wils from whence grow our complaints and lamentations and if a louer complaine whether he will or no to what end are these complaints A. Herevpon you know that Loue is a liuing death and a delightsome voluntary and vnuoluntarie euill for out of the first consent the louer feeding himselfe with vaine hopes and and perseuering in this consent hee suffers voluntarily and so suffering contrary to his expectation he suffers against his owne will and therefore if hee complaine hee complaineth wrongfully yet neuerthelesse not to leaue you altogether doubtfull I will adde thus much That as the kindes of loue are different from their meanes and end so wee may easily iudge which is each one in particular as for diuine Loue and the loue of our neighbour I leaue the definition thereof to Diuines and Cannonists although I can briefely shew you that one is the loue of honour and the other a loue or desire of some good but the loue of louers is a passion that inclines the louer to the person beloued or an inward affection that alwayes produceth diuers effects towards the beloued obiect and therevpon a learned man said Iactor crucior agitor stimulor in amoris rota nullam mentem animi habeo vbisum ibi non sum And another the louer is neuer without the lamentable passions of Loue vaine desires vncertaine hopes foolish cogitations vrgent sorrowes anger disdaine furie teares despights follies wreakes iealousies reuenges with a thousand other vanities and therefore not without some reason was Loue painted in forme of a foolish and vaine boy naked in his simplicitie winged in his flight from all best contentments blind-fold in his reprochfull conuersation and in briefe as a God not that he is such an one indeed there being but one onely God but in that man suffering himselfe wholy to be gouerned by passion he is altogether subiect to the same and obeyes the same as his God who in spight of his teeth gouernes him and rules him at his pleasure And hereupon the Poet in his triumph of Loue faineth such men to be bound and Loue to be their Conductor nay their God and the number of them to be greater that follow sense then of those that follow reason and vnderstanding because Where Loue triumphes true vertue conquereth not Such not being able with their outward force to testifie this flame where inward vertue and wisedome is wanting the Poet addes Gainst whom nor shield nor helmet doth preuaile And afterward to shew their great number Innumerable mortals round about And who these be imitating amorous Ouid Otia si tollas periere Cupidinis artes He thus deciphered him Loue That borne he was of humane idlenesse Nourisht with pleasant and delightfull thoughts The onely Lord of people fond and vaine And Tasso Content thou liuest O Thyrsis more then euer and yet liu'st idlely And loue from idlenesse doth alwayes spring And Caualiere Guirinus O Goddesse and yet Goddesse thou art none Except of people idle blinde and vaine Who with mindes vnpure Religion foolish and prophane Altars and Temples to thee consecrate E. Though all this be most true yet me thinks a man is worthy to be excused for doe but obserue how the sight of that proud woman that comes toward vs doth excite one questionlesse she is very faire nay More faire I thinke her then the
issue forth and because the separation of the soule from sensible things to be totally vnited to those intelligible may be deciphered in a kisse hereupon Salomon said Kisse mee with the kisse of thy mouth to note the intensiue desire of the soule vvhich is rauished out of diuine Loue to contemplation of celestiall beautie so as it being in this sort inwardly vnited thereunto it doth in a manner abandon the bodie E. If either the one or the other were endued with grace and replenished with such a spirit a kisse could be no lesse then commended the which notwithstanding as I am perswaded should not onely not be beloued but further vtterly abhorred for where the spirit raignes it vnites not it selfe but rather flies from sence as from his proper enemie A. Why a kisse is naturall and therefore if it be not to be commended neither deserues it blame E. Naturall things are as it were infinite which not being well gouerned turne to expresse vice and especially those which immediatly are vnited vnto sence which being more fraile then any other thing it the more easely remaines corrupted and vanquished and therefore the further off it is kept the more neare and pure it is perserued and giues greater notice of secret vertue and triall of commendable honestie A. Why our Sauior Christ conuersed amongst women E. True it is but hee kissed not women and his conuersation was onely necessarie and therefore he being seene to talke with the Samaritane the Text sayes Discipuli admirabantur quod cum muliere loqueretur they wondred that hee would talke with a woman A. Christ rising first appeared to a woman E. Woman first knew sinne and so first also the Iustifier and Redeemer of sinne and yet Christ said vnto her touch me not A. And yet we may obserue that feminine sex is very courteous and humane and therefore in all reason vvomen must be courteously and kindly vsed E. Nay but rather they being a very corrupt matter wee must flie farre from them for feare of being likewise corrupted our selues wherefore S. Augustine saith Breuis et rigidus sermo cum mulieribus habendus est nec minus sunt cauendae quia magis sunt diuotae we should vse briefe and austere conference with women and no whit the lesse auoid them when they seeme or appeare most deuout and yet I no vvayes meane this of the honourable sort who through their libertie and vrbanitie shine the more brightly A. But a man being as much oblieged to law deuine as a vvoman in this respect mee thinkes Italians keeping their wiues with so great care circumspection and iealousie and themselues hauing their neckes altogether free from this yoake it is a thing altogether repugnant to reason especially when euery one knowes as in the transgression from iustice and equitie so in Adulterie man likewise incurres infamie A. No doubt but a man being bound he breakes the oath of Matrimonie as often as he companieth with a free woman but though he deserue blame for the same yet looseth hee no honour herein in that hee iniuries none but his owne wife but if being free or married he knowes in this sence a married woman he remaines dishonoured in that he sinnes extreamely against the vertue of temperance failing also wonderfully in Iustice in that he iniuries anothers honour a thing more precious then any other outward good and hereupon by ciuill and municipall lawes of wel-gouerned Cities there is a greater punishment imposed on Adultery then on theft because the one doth but preiudice in inferiour goods the other impaires honor which is a greater good E. And yet now me thinks ouer all Europe this adultery tearmed by you so infamous by common vse hath purchased an honorable title men are not only not ashamed of it but often the greater men will boast thereof and I cannot remember that euer I saw it punished but theeues in whole multitudes A. Though men blush not at that which should and ought to make them truely blush a manifest presumption of the banishment of all honestie vertue and honour though an euill custome yet notwithstanding both the men and this offence cannot auoid the being most infamous E. But because you told me that a man onely lost his honour when he accompanied with a marryed woman may wee also say that a marryed woman is onely infamous when shee offends with a marryed man and not when with one free A. Vnderstand sir that as a man ordinarily exceedes in capacitie and vertue a woman so in this case a man is of a better condition then a woman and a woman in worse state then a man for she being marryed and accompanying with others together with her owne she staines her husbands honour also secondly she being according to the Philosophers saying and that of S. Paul in all reason where reason beareth sway subiect to man shee performes the greater iniurie herein because the iniurie of the Inferiour towards the Superiour is greater thirdly because shee may bring into her Husbands house strange children to wipe her husbands owne childrens nose of their share in his goods and falsifie all whatsoeuer so as not being honest it will be hard to know which was Georges and which was Martinoes sonne and therefore we read that a very poore woman being almost at the point of death and her husband lamenting for the great burthen of children which was like to lye vpon him his sicke wife replied good husband doe not feare nor take thought for such a sonne of mine vvas such a Gentlemans the other of such a Lord the other of such a Merchant the fourth was one of my seruants when the youngest of all who though he were very young yet he could vnderstand and speake well falling vpon his knees said Oh louing Mother appoint mee a very good Father E. Questionlesse not without great reason Plato and Aristotle with all the other in setting downe the meanes for well ordaining of a Common-wealth and to educate honest and vertuous men their principall care studie was about good and lawfull procreation the which basiâ— being ouerthrowne there ensues a beastly and brutish confusion A. Miserable blind world that doth not discerne that wheresoeuer the flesh seeketh refection it findeth defection and of a strong body is become weak of a nimble heauy of a faire deformed of an healthfull sick of a young old of a liuing dead E. But you must consider sir that all men doe not follow Bacchus nor are disciples of Sardanapalus nor any such like neither are all the women brought vp in the I le of Cyprus nor yet the schollers of vnchast Venus A. Who knowes not that as in Noahs Arke there was both the Doue the Crow so in euery place are good bad therfore by reprouing the bad I intend not to disgrace the honest and the vertuous but rather by dispraising vice exalt vertue E. Let it be how it will Because both you