the Nurse to negligence and begetteth such an ouer-presuming boldnesse as afterward proueth to be sauced with repentance so came it to passe with our ouer-fond Louers in being taken â—ardy through their owne folly After they had many times met in this manner the nights according to the season growing shorter and shorter which their stolne delight made them lesse respectiue of then was requisite in an aduenture so dangerous it fortuned that their amorous pleasure had so farre transported them and dulled their sences in such sort by these then continued nightly watchings that they both fell fast asleepe he hauing his hand closed in hers and shee one arme folded about his body and thus they slept till broade day light Old Messer Lizio who continually was the morning Cocke to the whole House going foorth into his Garden saw how his Daughter and Ricciardo were seated at the window In he went againe and going to his wiues Chamber saide to her Rise quickly wise and you shall see what made our Daughter so desirous to lodge in the Garden Gallery I perceiue that shee loued to heare the Nightingale for shee hath caught one and holds him fast in her hand Is it possible saide the Mother that our Daughter should catch a liue Nightingale in the darke You shall see that your selfe answered Messer Lizio if you will make haste and goe with me Shee putting on her garments in great haste followed her Husband and being come to the Gallery doore he opened it very softly and going to the window shewed her how they both sate fast asleepe and in such manner as hath been before declared whereupon shee perceiuing how Ricciardo and Catharina had both deceiued her would haue made an out-cry but that Messer Lizio spake thus to her Wife as you loue me speake not a word neither make any noyse for seeing shee hath loued Ricciardo without our knowledge and they haue had their priuate meetings in this manner yet free from any blamefull imputation he shall enioy her and shee him Ricciardo is a Gentleman well deriued and of rich possessions it can be no disparagement to vs that Catharina match with him in mariage which he neither shall or dare denie to doe in regard of our Lawes seuerity for climbing vp to my window with his Ladder of Ropes wherby his life is forfeited to the Law except our Daughter please to spare it as it remaineth in her power to doe by accepting him as her husband or yeelding his life vp to the Law which surely shee will not suffer their loue agreeing together in such mutuall manner and he aduenturing so dangerously for her Madam Iaquemina perceiuing that her husband spake very reasonably and was no more offended at the matter stept aside with him behinde the drawne Curtaines vntill they should awake of themselues At the last Ricciardo awaked and seeing it was so farre in the day thought himselfe halfe dead and calling to Catharina saide Alas deare Loue what shall we doe we haue slept too long and shall be taken here At which words Messer Lizio stept forth from behind the Curtaines saying-Nay Signior Ricciardo seeing you haue found such an vnbefitting way hither we will prouide you a better for your backe returning When Ricciardo saw the Father and Mother both there present he could not deuise what to doe or say his sences became so strangely confounded yet knowing how hainously hee had offended if the strictnesse of Law should be challenged against him falling on his knees he saide Alas Messer Lizio I humbly craue your mercy confessing my selfe well worthy of death that knowing the sharpe rigour of the Law I would presume so audaciously to breake it But pardon me worthy Sir my loyall and vnfeined loue to your Daughter Catharina hath beene the onely cause of my transgressing Ricciardo replyed Messer Lizio the loue I beare thee and the honest confidence I doe repose in thee step vp in some measure to pleade thine excuse especially in the regard of my Daughter whom I blame thee not for louing but for this vnlawfull way of presuming to her Neuerthelesse perceiuing how the case now standeth and considering withall that youth and affection were the ground of thine offence to free thee from death and my selfe from dishonour before thou departest hence thou shalt espouse my Daughter Catharina to make her thy lawfull wife in mariage and wipe off all scandall to my House and me All this while was poore Catharina on her knees likewise to her Mother who notwithstanding this her bold aduenture made earnest suite to her Husband to remit all because Ricciardo right gladly condiscended as it being the maine issue of his hope and desire to accept his Catharina in mariage whereto shee was as willing as he Messer Lizio presently called for the Confessour of his House and borrowing one of his Wiues Rings before they went out of the Gallery Ricciardo and Catharina were espoused together to their no little ioy and contentment Now had they more leasure for further conference with the Parents and kindred to Ricciardo who being no way discontented with this sudden match but applauding it in the highest degree they were publikely maried againe in the Cathedrall Church and very honourable triumphes performed at the nuptials liuing long after in happy prosperity Guidotto of Cremona departing out of this mortall life left a Daughter of his with Iacomino of Pauia Giouanni di Seuerino and Menghino da Minghole fell both in loue with the young Maiden and fought for hâ—â— who being afterward knowne to be the Sister to Giouanni shee was giuen in mariage to Menghino The fifth Nouell Wherein may be obserued what quarrels and contentions are occasioned by Loue with some particular discription concerning the sincerity of a loyall friend ALl the Ladies laughing heartily at the Nouell of the Nightingale so pleasingly deliuered by Philostratus when they saw the same to be fully ended the Queene thus spake Now trust me Philostratus though yester-day you did much oppresse mee with melancholy yet you haue made me such an amends to day as wee haue little reason to complaine any more of you So conuerting her speech to Madam Neiphila shee commanded her to succeede with her discourse which willingly she yeelded to beginning in this manner Seeing it pleased Philostratus to produce his Nouell out of Romania I meane to walke with him in the same iurisdiction concerning what I am to say There dwelt sometime in the City of Fano two Lombards the one being named Guidotto of Cremona and the other Iacomino of Pauia men of sufficient entrance into yeeres hauing followed the warres as Souldiers all their youthful time Guidotto feeling sicknesse to ouer-master him and hauing no sonne kinsman or friend in whom he might repose more trust then hee did in Iacomino hauing long conference with him about his worldly affaires and setled his whole estate in good order he left a Daughter to his charge about ten yeeres of age with
both returned to great estate and credite 7. Nouell THe Soldane of Babylon sent one of his Daughters to be ioyned in marriage with the King of Cholcos who by diuers accidents in the space of foure yeares happened into the custodie of nine men and in sundry places At length being restored backe to her Father she went to the said king of Cholcos as a Maide and as at first she was intended to be his Wife 8. Nouell COunt D'Angiers being falsely accused was banished out of France and left his two children in England in diuers places Returning afterward vnknowne thorough Scotland hee found them aduanced vnto great dignity Then repairing in the habit of a Seruitor into the King of Fraunce his army and his innocency made publikely knowen he was reseated in his former honorable degree 9. Nouell BErnardo a Merchant of Geneway being deceiued by another Merchant named Ambrosio lost a great part of his goods and commanding his innocent wife to be murthered she escaped and in the habit of a man became seruant to the Soldan The deceiuer being found at last she coÌ„passed such means that her husband Bernardo came into Alexandria and there after due punishment inflicted on the false deceiuer she resumed the garments againe of a woman and returned home with her Husband to Geneway 10. Nouell PAgamino da Monaco a rouing Pyrate on the feas caried away the faire Wife of Signieur Ricciardo di Chiâ—zica who vnderstanding where shee was went thâ—ther and falling into friendship with Pagamino demanded his wife of him wherto be yeelded prouided that she would willingly go away with him shee denied to part thence with her husband and 〈◊〉 Ricciardo dying shee became the wife of Pagamino The third day gouerned by Madame Neiphila 1. Nouell MAssetto di Lamporechio by counterfetting himselfe dumbe became a Gardiner in a Monastery of Nuns where he had familiar conuersation with them all 2. Nouell A Querry of the stable belonging to Agilulffo K of the Lombards found the meanes of accesse to the Queenes bedde without any knowledge or consent in her This beeing secretly discouered by the King and the party knowne hee gaue him a marke by shearing the haire of his head Whereuppon hee that was so shorne sheared likewise the heads of all his fellowes in the lodging and so escaped the punishment intended towards him 3. Nouell VNder colour of confession and of a most pure coÌ„science a faire yong Gentlewoman being amorously affected to an honest man induced a deuout and solemne religious Friar to aduise her in the meanes without his suspition or perceiuing how to enioy the benefit of her friend and bring her desires to their full effect 4. Nouell A Yong scholler named Felice enstructed Puccio di Rinieri how to become rich in a very short time While Puccio made experience of the instructions taught him Felice obtained the fauour of his daughter 5. Nouell RIcciardo surnamed the Magnifico gaue a horse to signior Francesco Vergillisi vpon condition that by his leaue and license he might speak to his wife in his presence which he did and she not returning him any answer made answer to himself on her behalfe and according to his answer so the effect followed 6. Nouell RIcciardo Minutolo fel in loue with the Wife of Philippello Fighinolfi and knowing her to bee very iealous of her husband gaue her to vnderstand that he was greatly enamored of his Wife and had appointed to meete her priuatly in a bathing house on the next day following where shee hoping to take him tardy with his close compacted Mistresse found her selfe to be deceiued by the said Ricciardo 7. Nouelâ— THebaldo Elisei hauing receiued an vnkinde repulse by his beloued departed from Florence returning thither againe a long while after in the habit of a pilgrime hee spake with her and made his wrongs knowne vnto her Hee deliuered her husband from the danger of death because it was proued that he had slaine Thebaldo he made peace with his brethren and in the end wisely enioyed his hearts desire 8. Nouell FErando by drinking a certaine kind of pouder was buried for dead by the Abbot who was enamored of his wife was taken out of his graue and put into a darke prison where they made him beleeue that he was in purgatory afterward wheÌ„ time came that he should be raised to life againe he was made to keepe a childe which the Abbot had got by his wife 9. Nouell IVliet of Narbona cured the King of France of a dangerous Fistula in recompence wherof she requested to enioy as her husband in mariage Bertrand the Count of Roussilion He hauing maried her against his wil as vtterly despising her went to Florence where he made loue to a yong Gentlewoman Iuliet by a queint and cunning policy compassed the meanes insted of his chosen friend to lye with her owne husband by whom shee had two sonnes which being afterward made knowne vnto the Count hee accepted her into his fauor againe and loued her as his loyall and honourable wife 10. Nouell THe wonderfull and chaste resolued continencie of faire Serictha daughter to Siwalde King of Denmarke who beeing sought and sued vnto by many worthy persons that did affect her dearely would not looke any man in the face vntill such time as she was maried The Fourth Day gouerned by Philostratus 1. Nouell TAncrede Prince of Salern caused the amorous friend of his daughter to be slaine and sent her his heart in a cup of Golde which afterward she steeped in an impoysoned water then drinking it so dyed 2. Nouell FRiar Albert made a yong Venetian Gentlewoman beleeue that God Cupid was falne in loue with her and he resorted oftentimes vnto her in disguise of the same God afterward being frighted by the Gentlewomans kindred and friends hee cast himselfe out of her chamber window and was hidden in a poore mans house On the day following in the shape of a wilde or sauage man he was brought vpon the Rialto of S. Mark being ther publikely knowne by the Brethren of his Order he was committed to prison 3. Nouell THree yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fled with them into Canâ—â—e The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of 〈◊〉 request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne friend killeth her thence flyeth away with the elder sister The third couple both man and woman are charged with her death and being committed to prison they coÌ„fesse the fact and fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their â—eepers escaping froÌ„ thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty 4. Nouell GErbino contrarie to the former plighted faith of his Grandfather King Gulielmo foughte with a ship at sea belonging to the King of Thunis to take away hi daughter who was then in the same ship She being slaine by them that had the possession of her he likewise slew
them and afterwarâ— had his owne head smitten off 5. Nouell THe three Brethren to Isabella slew a Gentleman that secretly loued her His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe and shewed her in what place they had buried his body She in silent maner brought away his head and putting it into a put of earth such as Flowers Basile or other sweet herbes are vsually set in she watered it a long while with her teares whereof her Brethren hauing intelligence soone after she died with meere conceite of sorow 6. Nouell A Beautifull yong virgin named Andreana became enamored of a young Gentleman called Gabriello In conference together shee declared a dreame of hers to him and he another of his vnto her whereupon Gabriello fell down sodainly dead She and her Chamber-maid were apprehended by the Officers be oâ—ging vnto the Seigneury as they were carrying Gabriello to lay them before his owne doore The Potestate offering violence to the virgin and she resisting him vertuously it came to the vnderstanding of her Father who approued the innocence of his daughter and compassed her deliuerance But she afterward being wearie of all worldly felicities entred into Religion became a Nun. 7. Nouell FAire Simonida affecting Pasquino and walking with him in a pleasant garden it fortuned that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a leafe of Sage and immediately fell downe dead Simonida being brought before the bench of Iustice and charged with the death of Pasquino she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaues of the same Sage as declaring what she saw him do thereon she dyed also in the same manner 8. Nouell IEronimo affecting a yong Mayden named Syluestra was constrained by the earnest importunity of his Mother to take a iourney to Paris At his returne home from thence againe he found his loue Siluestra maried By secret meanes he got entrance into her house and dyed vpon the bed lying by her Afterward his body being caried vnto the Church to receiue buriall shee likewise died there instantly vpon his coarse 9. Nouell MEsser Guiglielmo of Rossiglione hauing slaine Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno whom he imagined to loue his wife gaue her his hart to eat Which she knowing afterward threw her self out of an high window to the ground and being dead was then buried with her friend 10. Nouell A Physitians wife laid a Louer of her maids supposing him to be dead in a chest by reason that he had drunke water which vsually was giuen to procure a sleepy entrancing Two Lombard Vsurers stealing the chest in hope of a rich booty caried it into their owne house where afterwardes the man awaking was apprehended for a Theefe The Chamber-maid to the Physitians wife going before the bench of Iustice accuseth her self for putting the imagined dead body into the chest wherby he escaped hanging and the Theeues which stole away the chest were condemned to pay a very great summe of money The Fift day Gouerned by Madame Fiammetta 1. Nouell CHynon by falling in loue became wise and by force of Armes winning his faire Ladye Iphigema on the seas was afterward imprisoned at Rhodes Being deliuered by one name Lisimachus with him he recouered his Iphigenia againe and faire Cassandra euen in the middest of their mariage They fled with them into Candye where after they had maried them they wer called home to their owne dwelling 2. Nouell FAire Constance of Liparis fell in Loue with Martuccio Gonâ—â—to and hearing that hee was dead dâ—sperately she entred into a Barke which being transported by the winds to Susa in Barbary from thence she went to Thunis where she fouÌ„d him to be liuing There she made her selfe knowne to him and he being in great authority as a priuy Counsellor to the King he maried the saide Constance and returned richly home to her to the Island of Liparis 3. Nouell PEdro Bocamazzo escaping away with a yong Damosel which he loued named Angelina met with Theeues in his iourney The Damoseâ— flying fearfully into a Forest by chaunce commeth to a Castle Pedro being taken by the theeues hapning afterward to escape from them accidentally came to the same Castle where Angelina waâ— marying her they then returned home to Rome 4. Nouell RIcciardo Manardy was found by Messer Lizio da Valbonna as he sat fast asleep at his daughters chamber window hauing his hand fast in hirs and sleeping in the same manner Wherupon they were ioyned together in mariage and their long loyall loue mutually recompenced 5. Nouell GVidotto of Cremona departing out of this mortall life left a daughter of his with Iacomino of Pauia Giouanni di Seuerino and Menghino da Minghole fel both in loue with the yong Maiden and fought for her who being afterward knowne to be the sister to Giouanni shee was giuen in mariage to Menghino 6. Nouell GVion di Procida being found familiarly conuersing with a yong Damosel which he loued and had bene giuen formerly to Frederigo King of Sicily was bound to a stake to bee consumed with fire From which danger neuerthelesse hee escaped being knowne by Don Rogiero de Oria Lorde Admirall of Sicily and afterward marryed the Damosel 7. Nouelâ— THeodoro falling in loue with Violenta the daughter to his Master named Amarige and she conceyuing with childe by him was condemnd to be hanged As they were leading him vnto the gallowes beating and misusing him all the way hee happened to bee knowne by his owne Father whereupon he was released and afterward inioyed Violent a in mariage 8. Nouell ANastasio a Gentleman of the Family of the Honesti by louing the daughter to signior Pauâ—o Trauersario lauishly wasted a great part of his substance without receiuing any loue from her againe By perswasion of some of his kindred and friends he went to a countrey dwelling of his called Chiasso where hee saw a Knight desperately pursue a yong Damosell whom he slew afterward gaue her to be deuoured by his hounds A tastasio inuited his friends and herâ— also whom he so â—eâ—â—rly loued to take part of a dinner with him who likewise sawe the sâ—â—e Damosell so torne in peeces which his vnkind loue perceiuing fearing least the like ill fortune should happen to her she accepted Anastasio to bee her husband 9. Nouell FRederigo of the Alberighi Family loued a Gentlewoman and was not requited with like loue againe By bountiful expences and ouer liberal inuitations hee wasted and consumed all his lands and goods hauing nothing lefte him but a Hawke or Faulcon His vnkinde Mistresse happeneth to come visit him and he not hauing any other food for her dinner made a dainty dish of his Faulcon for her to feed on Being conquered by this his exceeding kinde courtesie she changed her former hatred towards him accepting him as her husband in marriage and made him a man of wealthy possessions 10. Nouell PEdro di Vinciolo went to sup at a friends house in the City His wife in the meane while had a
sorrow for their friends losse If not thus they would assemble before the doore with many of the best Cittizens and kindred and according to the quality of the deceased the Clergy met there likewise and the dead body was carried in comely manner on mens shoulders with funerall pompe of Torch-light and singing to the Church appointed by the deceased But these seemely orders after that the fury of the pestilence began to encrease they in like manner altogether ceased and other new customes came in their place because not onely people died without hauing any women about them but infinites also past out of this life not hauing any witnesse how when or in what manner they departed So that few or none there were to deliuer outward shew of sorrow and grieuing but insteed thereof diuers declared idle ioy and reioycing a vse soone learned of immodest women hauing put off al feminine compassion yea or regard of their owne welfare Very few also would accompany the body to the graue and they not any of the Neighbours although it had beene an honourable Cittizen but onely the meanest kinde of people such as were graue-makers coffin-bearers or the like that did these seruices onely for money and the beere being mounted on their shoulders in all haste they would runne away with it not perhaps to the Church appointed by the dead but to the neerest at hand hauing some foure or sixe poore Priests following with lights or no lights and those of the silliest short seruice being said at the buriall and the body vnreuerently throwne into the first open graue they found Such was the pittifull misery of poore people and diuers who were of better condition as it was most lamentable to behold because the greater number of them vnder hope of healing or compelled by pouerty kept still within their houses weake and faint thousands falling sick daily and hauing no helpe or being succoured any way with foode or physicke all of them died few or none escaping Great store there were that died in the streetes by day or night and many more beside although they died in their houses yet first they made it knowne to their neighbours that their liues perished rather by the noysome smell of dead and putrified bodies then by any violence of the disease in themselues So that of these and the rest dying in this manner euery where the neighbours obserued one course of behauiour moued thereto no lesse by feare that the smell and corruption of dead bodies should harme them then charitable respect of the dead that themselues when they could or being assisted by some bearers of coarses when they wer able to procure theÌ„ wold hale the bodies alreadie dead out of their houses laying them before their doores where such as passed by especially in the mornings might see them lying in no meane numbers Afterward Bieres were brought thither and such as might not haue the helpe of Bieres were glad to lay them on tables and Bieres haue bin obserued not onely to be charged with two or three dead bodies at once but many times it was seene also that the wife with the husband two or three Brethren together yea the Father and the mother haue thus beene carried along to the graue vpon one Biere Moreouer oftentimes it hath bene seene that when two Priests went with one Crosse to fetch the body there would follow behind three or foure bearers with their Bieres and when the Priests intended the buriall but of one bodie sixe or eight more haue made vp the aduantage and yet none of them being attended by any seemly company lights teares or the very least decencie but it plainly appeared that the verie like account was then made of men or Women as if they had bene Dogges or Swine Wherein might manifestly bee noted that that which the naturall course of things could not shewe to the wise with rare and little losse to wit the patient support of miseries and misfortunes euen in their greatest height not onely the wise might now learne but also thâ— verie simplest people in such sort that they should alwaies be prepared against all infelicities whatsoeuer Hallowed ground could not now suffice for the great multitude of dead bodies which were daily brought to euery Church in the City and euery houre in the day neither could the bodies haue proper place of buriall according to our ancient custome wherfore after that the churches and Church-yards were filled they were constrained to make vse of great deepe ditches wherein they were buried by hundreds at once ranking dead bodies along in graues as Merchandizes are laide along in ships couering each after other with a small quantity of earth so they filled at last vp the whole ditch to the brim Now because I would wander no further in euerie particularity concerning the miseries happening in our Citie I tell you that extremities running on in such manner as you haue heard little lesse spare was made in the Villages round about wherein setting aside enclosed Castles which were now filled like to small Cities poore Labourers and Husband-men with their whole Families dyed most miserably in out-houses yea and in the open fieldes also without any assistance of physicke or helpe of seruants likewise in the high-wayes or their ploughed landes by day or night indifferently yet not as men but like brute beasts By meanes whereof they became lazie and slothfull in their daily endeuours euen like to our Citizens not minding or medling with their wonted affaires but as awaiting for death euery houre imployed all their paines not in caring any way for themselues their cattle or gathering the fruits of the earth or any of their accustomed labours but rather wasted and consumed euen such as were for their instant sustenance Whereupon it fell so out that their Oxen Asses Sheepe and Goates their Swine Pullen yea their verie Dogges the truest and faithfullest seruants to men being beaten and banished from their houses went wildly wandring abroad in the fields where the Corne grew still on the ground without gathering or being so much as reapt or cut Many of the foresaid beasts as endued with reason after they had pastured themselues in the day time would returne full fed at night home to their houses without any gouernment of Heardsmen or any other How many faire Palaces How many goodly Houses How many noble habitations filled before with families of Lords and Ladies were then to be seene emptie without any one there dwelling except some silly seruant How many Kindreds worthy of memory How many great inheritances And what plenty of riches were left without any true successours How many good men How many woorthy Women How many valiant and comely yong men whom none but Galen Hâ—ppocrates and Aesculapius if they were liuing could haue bene reputed any way vnhealthfull were seene to dine at morning with their Parents Friends and familiar confederates and went to sup in another world with their
should both shamefully be put to death The Mother to this regardlesse Daughter hauing heard the angry words of her Husband and how hee would be reuenged on the faultie could not endure that he should be so seuere wherefore although shee was likewise much afflicted in minde and reputed her Daughter worthy for so great an offence of all cruell punishment â—yet shee hasted to her displeased husband who began to entreate that he would not runne on in such a furious spleene now in his aged yeares to be the murtherer of his owne childe and soile his hands in the blood of his seruant Rather he might finde out some milde course for the satisfaction of his Anger by committing them to close imprisonment there to remaine mourne for their follie committed The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples and vsed such plenty of moouing perswasions that she quite altred his minde from putting them to death and he commanded onely that they should separately bee imprisoned with little store of foode and lodging of the vneasiest vntill hee should otherwise determine of them and so it was done What their life now was in captiuity and continuall teares with stricter abstinence then was needefull for them all this I must commit to your consideration Iehannot and Spina remaining in this comfortlesse condition and an whole yeere being now out-worne yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned it came to passe that Don Pedro King of Arragon by the meanes of Messer Iohn de Procida caused the Isle of Sicily to reuolt and tooke it away from King Charles whereat Conrado he being of the Ghibbiline faction not a little reioyced Iehannot hauing intelligence therof by some of them that had him in custody breathing foorth a vehement sigh spake in this manner Alas poore miserable wretch as I am that haue already gone begging through the world aboue fourteene yeares in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity and now it is come must I be in prison to the end that I should neuer more hope for any future happinesse And how can I get forth of this prison except it be by death onely How now replied the Officer of the Guard What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee What affaires hast thou in Sicily Once more Iehannot sighed extreamly and returned him this answer Me thinkes my heart quoth hee doth cleaue in sunder when I call to minde the charge which my Father had there for although I was but a little boy when I fled thence yet I can well remember that I sawe him Gouernour there at such time as King Manfred liued The Guard pursuing on still his purpose demanded of him what and who his Father was My Father replyed Iehannot I may now securely speake of him being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene discouered He was the named and so still if he be liuing Henriet Capece and my name is Geoffrey not Iehannot and I make no doubt but if I vvere free from hence and might be returned home to Sicily I should for his sake be placed in some authority The honest man of the Guard without seeking after any further information so soone as he could compasse the leysure reported all to Messer Conrado who hauing heard these newes albeit he made no shew therof to the reuealer went to Madam Beritola graciously demaunding of her if she had any sonne by her husband who was called Geoffrey The Lady replyed in teares that if her eldest sonne were as yet liuing hee was so named and now aged about two and twenty yeares Conrado hearing this imagined this same to be the man considering further withall that if it fell out to proue so he might haue the better meanes of mercie and closely concealing his daughters shame ioyfully ioyne them in marriage together Hereupon he secretly caused Iehannot to be brought before him examining him particularly of all his passed life and finding by most manifest arguments that his name was truly Geoffrey he the eldest son of Henriet Capece he spake to him alone in this manner Iehannot thou knowest how great the iniuries which thou hast done me my deare daughter gently entreating thee as became a good honest seruant that thou shouldest alwayes haue bin respectiue of mine honor and all that do appertain vnto me There are many noble gentlewomen who sustaining the wrog which thou hast offred me they would haue procured thy shameful death which pitty compassion wil not suffer in me Wherfore seeing as thou informest me that thou art honorably deriued both by father mother I will giue end to all thine anguishes euen when thy self art so pleased releasing thee from the misery captiuity wherein I haue so long time kept thee and in one instant reduce thine honor mine into compleat perfection As thou knowest my Daughter Spina whom thou hast embraced in kindnesse as a friend although farre vnfitting for thee or her is a widow and her mariage is both great and good what her manners and conditions are thou indifferently knowest and art not ignorant of her Father and Mother concerning thine owne estate as now I purpose not to speake any thing Therefore when thou wilt I am so determined that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her she shall become thy honest wife and accepting thee as my Son to remain with me so long as you both please Imprisonment had somewhat mishapen Iehannot in his outward forme but not impaired a iot of that noble spirit really deriued from his famous progenitors much lesse the true loue he bare to his faire friend And although most earnestly he desired that which Conrado now so franckly offered him and was in his power onely to bestow on him yet could he not cloude any part of his greatnesse but with a resolued iudgement thus replied My Lord affectation of rule desire of wealthy possessions or any other matter whatsoeuer could neuer make me a traytor to you or yours but that I haue loued do loue for euer shal loue your beautious daughter if that be treason I freely coÌ„fesse it wil die a thousand deaths before you or any else shal enforce me to denie it for I hold her highly worthy of my loue If I haue bin more vnmaÌ„nerly with her then became me according to the opinion of vulgar iudgment I haue committed but that error which euermore is so attendant vpon youth that to denie it is to denie youth also And if reuerend age would but remember that once he was young measure others offences by his own they would not be thought so great or greeuous as you many more account them to be mine being coÌ„mitted as a friend not as an enemy what you make offer of so willingly to do I haue alwayes desired if I had thought it would haue bin granted long since I had most humbly requested it and so much the more acceptable would it
instructions which Antigonus had giuen her answered her father in this manner Sir about the twentith day after my departure from you a verie terrible and dreadfull tempest ouer-tooke vs so that in dead time of the night our ship being split in sunder vpon the sands neere to a place called Varna what became of all the men that were aboord I neither know or euer heard of Onely I remember then when death appeared and I being recouered from death to life certaine pezants of the countrey comming to get what they could finde in the ship so wrackt I was first with two of my women brought and set safely on the shore No sooner were we there but certaine rude shagge-haird villaines set vpon vs carrying away from me both my women then haling me along by the haire of my head neither teares or intercessions could draw any pitty from them As thus they dragd me into a spacious Woodd foure horsemen on a sodaine came riding by who seeing how dishonourably the villaines vsed me rescued me from them and forced them to flight But the foure horsemen seeming in my iudgement to bee persons of power and authority letting them go came to mee vrging sundry questions to me which neither I vnderstood or they mine answers After many deliberations held among themselues setting me vpon one of their horses they brought me to a Monastery of religious women according to the custome of their law and there whatsoeuer they did or sayde I know not but I was most benignely welcommed thither and honoured of them extraordinarily where with them in deuotion I dedicated my selfe to the Goddesse of chastity who is highly reuerenced and regarded among the women of that Countrey and to her religious seruice they are wholly addicted After I had continued some time among them and learned a little of their language they asked me of whence and what I was Reason gaue me so much vnderstanding to be fearfull of telling them the trueth for feare of expulsion from among them as an enemy to their Law and Religion wherefore I answered according as necessity vrged that I was daughter to a Gentleman of Cyprus who sent me to bee married in Candie but our fortunes meaning such as had the charge of mee fell out quite contrary to our expectation by losses Shipwracke and other mischances adding many matters more beside onely in regard of feare yeelding obediently to obserue their customes At length she that was in cheefest preheminence among these Women whom they termed by the name of their Lady Abbesse demaunded of me whither I was willing to abide in that condition of life or to returne home againe into Cyprus I answerd that I desired nothing more But she being very carefull of mine honour would neuer repose confidence in any that came for Cyprus till two honest Gentlemen of France who hapned thither about two moneths since accompanied with their wiues one of them being a neere kinswoman to the Lady Abbesse And she well knowing that they trauelled in pilgrimage to Ierusalem to visit the holy Sepulcher where as they beleeue that he whom they held for their God was buried after the Iewes had put him to death recommended me to their louing trust with especial charge for deliuering me to my Father in Cyprus What honourable loue and respect I found in the company of those Gentlemen and their wiues during our voyage backe to Cyprus the history would be ouer-tedious in reporting neither is it much materiall to our purpose because your demand is to another end Sayling on prosperously in our Ship it was not long before wee arriued at Baffa where being landed and not knowing any person neither what I should say to the Gentlemen who onely were carefull for deliuering me to my Father according as they were charged by the reuerend Abbesse it was the will of heauen doubtlesse in pitty and compassion of my passed disasters that I was no sooner come on shore at Baffa but I should there haply meete with Antigonus whome I called vnto in our countrey Language because I would not be vnderstood by the Gentlemen nor their wiues requesting him to acknowledge me as his Daughter Quickly he apprehended mine intention accomplishing what I requested and according to his poore power most bounteously feasted the Gentlemen and their wiues conducting me to the K. of Cyprus who receiued me royally and sent me home to you with so much honour as I am no way able to relate What else remaineth to be said Antigonus who hath oft heard the whole story of my fortunes at better leisure wil report Antigonus then turning to the Soldan said My Lord as shee hath often told me and by relation both of the Gentlemen and their wiues she hath deliuered nothing but trueth Onely shee hath forgotten somewhat worth the speaking as thinking it not fit for her to vtter because indeede it is not so conuenient for her Namely how much the Gentlemen and their wiues with whom she came commended the rare honesty and integrity of life as also the vnspotted vertue wherein she liued among those chaste Religious women as they constantly both with teares and solemne protestations auouched to me when kindly they resigned their charge to mee Of all which matters and many more beside if I should make discourse to your Excellencie this whole day the night ensuing and the next dayes full extendure are not sufficient to acquaint you withall Let it suffice then that I haue said so much as both by the reports and mine owne vnderstanding may giue you faithfull assurance to make your Royall vaunt of hauing the fayrest most vertuous and honest Lady to your Daughter of any King or Prince whatsoeuer The Soldane was ioyfull beyond all measure welcomming both him and the rest in most stately manner oftentimes entreating the Gods very heartily that he might liue to requite them with equall recompence who had so graciously honoured his daughter but aboue all the rest the King of Cyprus who sent her home so maiestically And hauing bestowne great gifts on Antigonus within a few dayes after hee gaue him leaue to returne to Cyprus with thankfull fauours to the King as well by Letters as also by Ambassadours expresly sent both from himselfe and his daughter When as this businesse was fully finished the Soldane desiring to accomplish what formerly was intended and begun namely that shee might be wife to the King of Cholcos he gaue him intelligence of all that had happened writing moreouer to him that if he were so pleased hee would yet send her in Royall manner to him The King of Cholcos was exceeding ioyfull of these glad tydings and dispatching a worthy trayne to fetch her she was conuayed thither very pompously and she who had beene embraced by so many was receiued by him as an honest virgine liuing long time after with him in much ioy and felicity And therefore it hath beene said as a common Prouerbe The mouth well kist comes
therefore it is no meruaile if like will to like a beggers brats to keepe company with beggers The Count hearing these contemptible words was not a little greeued thereat and although his courage was greater then his poore condition would permit him to expresse yet clouding all iniuries with noble patience hanging downe his head and shedding many a salt teare endured this reproach as hee had done many both before and after But honourable Sir Roger perceiuing what delight his children tooke in the poore mans company albeit he was offended at his Fathers harsh words by holding his wife in such base respect yet fauoured the poore Count so much the more and seeing him weepe did greatly compassionate his case saying to the poore man that if hee would accept of his seruice he willingly would entertaine him Whereto the Count replied that very gladly he would embrace his kinde offer but hee was capable of no other seruice saue onely to be an horse-keeper wherein he had imployed the most part of his time Heereupon more for pleasure and pitty then any necessity of his seruice he was appointed to the keeping of one Horse which was onely for his Daughters saddle and daily after he had done his diligence about the Horse he did nothing else but play with the children While Fortune pleased thus to dally with the poore Count D'Angiers his children it came to passe that the King of France after diuers leagues of truces passed between him the Germaines died and next after him his Son the dolphin was crowned King and it was his wife that wrongfully caused the Counts banishment After expiration of the last league with the Germains the warres began to grow much more fierce and sharpe and the King of England vpon request made to him by his new brother of France sent him very honourable supplies of his people vnder the conduct of Perotto his lately elected President of Wales and Sir Roger Mandeuile Son to his other Lord high Marshall with whom also the poore Count went and continued a long while in the Campe as a common Souldier where yet like a valiant Gentleman as indeed he was no lesse both in aduice and actions he accomplished many more notable matters then was expected to come from him It so fell out that in the continuance of this warre the Queen of France fell into a grieuous sicknes and perceiuing her selfe to be at the point of death shee became very penitently sorrowfull for all her sinnes earnestly desiring that shee might be confessed by the Archbishop of Roane who was reputed to be an holy and vertuous man In the repetition of her other offences she reuealed what great wrong she had done to the Count D'Angiers resting not so satisfied with disclosing the whole matter to him alone but also confessed the same before many other worthy persons and of great honour entreating them to worke so with the King that if the Count were yet liuing or any of his Children they might be restored to their former honour againe It was not long after but the Queene left this life and was most royally enterred when her confession being disclosed to the King after much sorrow for so iniuriously wronging a man of so great valour and honour Proclamation was made throughout the Camp and in many other parts of France beside that whosoeuer could produce the Count D'Angiers or any of his Children should richly be rewarded for each one of them in regard he was innocent of the foule imputation by the Queenes owne confession and for his wrongfull exile so long he should be exalted to his former honour with farre greater fauours which the King franckely would bestow vpon him When the Count who walked vp and downe in the habite of a common seruitor heard this Proclamation forth-with he went to his Master Sir Roger Mandeuile requesting his speedy repaire to Lord Perotto that being both assembled together he would acquaint them with a serious matter concerning the late Proclamation published by the King Being by themselues alone in the Tent the Count spake in this māner to Perotto Sir S. Roger Mādeuile here your equal competitor in this military seruice is the husband to your naturall sister hauings yet neuer receiued any dowry with her but her inherent vnblemishable vertue honor Now because she may not stil remain destitute of a competent Dowry I desire that Sir Roger and none other may enioy the royall reward promised by the King You Lord Perotto whose true name is Lewes manifest your selfe to be nobly borne and sonne to the wrongfull banished Count D'Angiers auouch moreouer that Violenta shadowed vnder the borrowed name of Gianetta is your owne Sister and deliuer me vp as your Father the long exiled Count D'Angiers Perotto hearing this beheld him more aduisedly and began to know him then the tears flowing abundantly from his eyes he fell at his feete and often embracing him saide My deere and noble Father a thousand times more deerely welcome to your Sonne Lewes Sir Roger Mandeuile hearing first what the Count had said and seeing what Perotto afterward performed became surprized with such extraordinary ioy and admiration that he knew not how to carry himselfe in this case Neuerthelesse giuing credite to his words and being somewhat ashamed that he had not vsed the Count in more respectiue manner remembring beside the vnkinde language of his furious Father to him he kneeled downe humbly crauing pardon both for his fathers rudenes and his owne which was courteously granted by the Count embracing him louingly in his armes When they had a while discoursed their seuerall fortunes sometime in teares and then againe in ioy Perotto and Sir Roger would haue the Count to be garmented in better manner but in no wise he would suffer it for it was his onely desire that Sir Roger should be assured of the promised reward by presenting him in the Kings presence and in the homely habit which he did then weare to touch him with the more sensible shame for his rash beleefe and iniurious proceeding Then Sir Roger Mandeuile guiding the Count by the hand and Perotto following after came before the King offering to present the Count and his children if the reward promised in the Proclamation might be performed The king immediately commanded that a reward of inestimable valew should be produced desiring Sir Roger vppon the sight thereof to make good his offer for forthwith presenting the Count and his children Which hee made no longer delay of but turning himselfe about deliuered the aged Count by the title of his seruant and presenting Perotto next said Sir heere I deliuer you the Father and his Son his daughter who is my wife cannot so conueniently be heere now but shortly by the permission of heauen your Maiesty shall haue a sight of her When the King heard this stedfastly he looked on the Count and notwithstanding his wonderfull alteration both from his wonted feature and forme yet after
and not returne him any answer The Lady with a modest blush much condemned this folly in him that his couetousnesse should serue as a cloake to couer any vnfitting speeches which her chaste eares could neuer endure to heare neuerthelesse being to obey her Husbands will shee promised to doe it and followed him downe into the House to heare what the Magnifico would say Againe he there confirmed the bargaine made with her Husband and sitting downe by her in a corner of the Hall farre enough off from any ones hearing taking her curteously by the hand thus he spake Worthy Lady it appeareth to me for a certainty that you are so truly wise as you haue no doubt a long while since perceiued what vnfained affection your beauty farre excelling all other womens that I know hath compelled me to beare you Setting aside those commendable qualities and singular vertues gloriously shining in you and powerfull enough to make a conquest of the very stoutest courage I held it vtterly needlesse to let you vnderstand by words how faithfull the loue is I beare you were it not much more feruent and constant then euer any other man can expresse to a woman In which condition it shall still continue without the least blemish or impaire so long as I enioy life or motion yea and I dare assure you that if in the future World affection may containe the same powerfull dominion as it doth in this I am the man borne to loue you perpetually Whereby you may rest confidently perswaded that you enioy not any thing how poore or precious soeuer it be which you can so solemnely account to be your owne and in the truest title of right as you may my selfe in all that I haue or for euer shall be mine To confirme your opinion in this case by any argument of greater power let me tell you that I should repute it as my fairest and most gracious fortune if you would command me some such seruice as consisteth in mine ability to performe and in your courteous fauour to accept yea if it were to trauaile thorow the whole world right willing am I and obedient In which regard faire Madame if I be so much yours as you heare I am I may boldly aduenture and not without good reason to acquaint your chaste eares with my earnest desires for on you onely dependeth my happinesse life and absolute comfort and as your most humble seruant I beseech you my dearest good and sole hope of my soule that rigour may dwell no longer in your gentle brest but Lady-like pitty and compassion whereby I shal say that as your diuine beauty enflamed mine affections euen so it extended such a mercifull qualification as exceeded all my hope but not the halfe part of your pitty Admit miracle of Ladies that I should die in this distresse Alas my death would be but your dishonour I cannot be termed mine owne murtherer when the Dart came from your eye that did it and must remaine a witnesse of your rigour You cannot then chuse but call to minde and say within your owne soule Alas what a sinne haue I committed in being so vnmercifull to my Magnifico Repentance then serues to no purpose but you must answere for such vnkinde cruelty Wherefore to preuent so blacke a scandall to your bright beauty beside the ceaselesse acclamations which will dogge your walkes in the day time and breake your quiet sleepes in the night season with fearefull sights and gastly apparitions houering and haunting about your bed let all these 〈◊〉 you to milde mercy and spill not life when you may saue it So the Magnifico ceasing with teares streaming from his eyes and siâ—hes breaking from his heart he sate still in exspectation of the Ladies answere who made neither long or short of the matter neither Tilts nor Tourneying nor many lost mornings and euenings nor infinite other such like offices which the Magnifico for her sake from time to time had spent in vaine without the least shew of acceptation or any hope at all to winne her loue Moued now in this very houre by these solemne protestations or rather most preuailing asseuerations she began to finde that in her which before she neuer felt namely Loue. And although to keepe her promise made to her husband shee spake not a word yet her heart heauing her soule throbbing sighes intermixing and complexion altering could not hide her intended answere to the Magnifico if promise had beene no hinderance to her will All this while the Magnifico sate as mute as she and seeing she would not giue him any answere at all he could not chuse but wonder thereat yet at length perceiued that it was thus cunningly contriued by her husband Notwithstanding obseruing well her countenance that it was in a quite contrary temper another kinde of fire sparkling in her eye other humours flowing her pulses strongly beating her stomack rising and sighes swelling all these were arguments of a change and motiues to aduance his hope Taking courage by this tickling perswasion and instructing his minde with a new kinde of counsell he would needes answere himselfe on her behalfe and as if she had vttered the words he spake in this manner Magnifico and my friend surely it is a long time since when I first noted thine affection towards me to be very great and most perfect but now I am much more certaine thereof by thine owne honest and gentle speeches which content me as they ought to doe Neuerthelesse if heretofore I haue seemed cruell and vnkinde to thee I would not haue thee thinke that my heart was any way guilty of my outward seuerity but did euermore loue thee and held thee dearer then any man liuing But yet it became me to doe so as well in feare of others as for the renowne of mine owne reputation But now the time is at hand to let thee know more clearely whether I doe affect thee or no as a iust guerdon of thy constant loue which long thou hast and still doest beare to me Wherefore comfort thy selfe and dwell vpon this vndoubted hope because Signior Francesco my husband is to be absent hence for many dayes being chosen Podesta at Millaine as thou canst not chuse but heare for it is common through the Country I know for my sake thou hast giuen him thy goodly ambling Gelding and so soone as hee is gone I promise thee vpon my word and by the faithfull loue I beare thee that I will haue further conference with thee and let thee vnderstand somewhat more of my minde And because this is neither fitting time nor place to discourse on matters of such serious moment obserue heereafter as a signall when thou seest my crimson skarfe hanging in the window of my Chamber which is vpon the Garden side that euening so soone as it is night come to the Garden gate with wary respect that no eye doe discouer thee and there thou shalt finde me walking and ready to
most kindly kissed and embraced her said Sweete wife time will not now allow vs those ceremonious curtesies which indeede so long a separation doe iustly challenge but I must about a more weightie businesse to haue your Father safe and soundly deliuered which I hope to doe before to morrow at night when you shall heare tydings to your better contentment And questionlesse if I speede no worse then my good hope perswadeth me I wil see you againe to night and acquaint you at better leysure in such things as I cannot doe now at this present So putting on his Pilgrimes habite againe kissing her once more and comforting her with future good successe he departed from her going to the prison where Aldobrandino lay whom he found more pensiue as being in hourely expectation of death then any hope he had to be freed from it Being brought neerer to him by the prisoners fauour as seeming to be a man come onely to comfort him sitting downe by him thus he began Aldobrandino I am a friend of thine whom Heauen hath sent to doe thee good in meere pitty and compassion of thine innocency And therefore if thou wilâ— grant me one small request which I am earnestly to craue at thy hands thou shalt heare without any failing before to morrow at night the sentence of thy free absolution whereas now thou expectest nothing but death whereunto Aldobrandino thus answered Friendly man seeing thou art so carefull of my safety although I know thee not neither doe remember that euer I saw thee till now thou must needs as it appeareth no lesse be some especiall kind friend of mine And to tell thee the trueth I neuer committed the sinfull deede for which I am condemned to death Most true it is I haue other heynous and grieuous sinnes which vndoubtedly haue throwne this heauy iudgement vpon me and therefore I am the more willing to vndergoe Neuerthelesse let me thus farre assure thee that I would gladly not onely promise something which might to the glory of God if he were pleased in this case to take mercy on me but also would as willingly performe and accomplish it Wherefore demand whatsoeuer thou pleasest of me for vnfainedly if I escape with life I will truly keepe promise with thee Sir replied the Pilgrime I desire nor demand any thing of you but that you wold pardon the foure brethren of Thebaldo who haue brought you to this hard extremity as thinking you to be guilty of their brothers death and that you would also accept them as your brethren and friends vpon their crauing pardon for what they haue done Sir answered Aldobrandino no man knoweth how sweete reuenge is nor with what heate it is to be desired but onely the man who hath been wronged Notwithstanding not to hinder my hope which onely aymeth at Heauen I freelie forgiue them and henceforth pardon them for euer intending moreouer that if mercy giue me life and cleere me from this bloody imputation to loue and respect them so long as I shall liue This answer was most pleasing to the Pilgrime and without any further multiplication of speeches he entreated him to be of good comfort for he feared not but before the time prefixed he should heare certaine tydings of his deliuerance At his departing from him he went directly to the Signoria and preuailed so farre that he spake priuately with a Knight who was then one of the States chiefest Lords to whom he saide Sir a man ought to bestow his best paines and diligence that the truth of things should be apparantly knowne especially such men as hold the place and office as you doe to the ende that those persons which haue committed no foule offence should not be punished but onely the guilty and haynous transgressors And because it will be no meane honor to you to lay the blame where it worthily deserueth I am come hither purposely to informe you in a case of most weighty importance It is not vnknowne to you with what rigour the State hath proceeded against Aldobrandino Palermini and you thinke verily he is the man that hath slaine Thebaldo Elisei wherevpon your law hath condemned him to dye I dare assure you Sir that a very vniust course hath beene taken in this case because Aldobrandino is falsly accused as you your selfe will confesse before midnight when they are deliuered into your power that were the murderers of the man The honest Knight who was very sorrowfull for Aldobrandino gladly gaue attention to the Pilgrime and hauing conferred on many matters appertaining to the fact committed the two brethren who were Thebaldoes Hostesse and their Chamber-mayd vpon good aduise giuen were apprehended in their first sleepe without any resistance made in their defence But when the tortures were sent for to vnderstand truely how the case went they would not endure any paine at all but each aside by himselfe and then altogether confessed openly that they did the deede yet not knowing him to bee Thebaldo Elisei And when it was demanded of them vpon what occasion they did so foule an act They answered that they were so hatefull against the mans life because he would luxuriously haue abused one of their wiues when they both were absent from their owne home When the Pilgrime had heard this their voluntary confession hee tooke his leaue of the Knight returning secretly to the house of Madame Hermelina and there because all her people were in their beds she carefull awaited his returne to heare some glad tydings of her father and to make a further reconciliation betweene her and Thebaldo when sitting downe by her hee said Deare Loue be of good cheare for vpon my word to morrow you shall haue your father home safe well and deliuered from all further danger and to confirme her the more confidently in his words hee declared at large the whole cariage of the businesse Hermelina being wondrously ioyfull for two such suddaine and succesfull accidents to enioy her husband aliue and in health and also to haue her father freed from so great a danger kissed and embraced him most affectionately welcomming him louingly into her bed whereto so long time he had beene a stranger No sooner did bright day appeare but Thebaldo arose hauing acquainted her with such matters as were to be done and once more earnestly desiring her to conceale as yet these occurrences to her selfe So in his Pilgrimes habite he departed from her house to awaite conuenient opportunity for attending on the businesse belonging to Aldobrandino At the vsuall houre appointed the Lords were all set in the Signioria and had receiued full information concerning the offence imputed to Aldobrandino setting him at liberty by publique consent and sentencing the other malefactors with death who within a fewe dayes after were beheaded in the place where the murther was committed Thus Aldobrandino being released to his exceeding comfort and no small ioy of his daughters kindred and friends all knowing perfectly that this had
a man in the skin of a Beare or in the shape of a sauage man or any other forme of better deuice Which being so done he is brought vpon S. Marks market place where being hunted a while with dogs vpon the huntings conclusion the Feast is ended and then each man leades his monster whether him pleaseth If you can accept any of these shapes before you bee seene heere in my poore abiding then can I safely afterward bring you where you would bee Otherwise I see no possible meanes how you may escape hence vnknown for it is without all question to the contrary that the Gentlewomans brethren knowing your concealment in some one place or other wil set such spies and watches for you throughout the City as you must needs be taken by them Now although it seemed a most seuere imposition for Albert to passe in any of these disguises yet his exceeding feare of Lisettaes brethren and friends made him gladly yeelde and to vndergo what shape the poore man pleased which thus he ordered Annointing his naked body with Hony he then couered it ouer with downy small Feathers and fastning a chaine about his necke and a strange vgly vizard on his face hee gaue him a great staffe in the one hand and two huge Mastiue dogs chained together in the other which he had borrowed in the Butchery Afterward he sent a man to the Rialto who there proclaimed by the sound of Trumpet That all such as desired to see God Cupid which the last night had descended downe from the skies and fell by ill hap into the Venetian gulfe let them repaire to the publike Market place of S. Marke and there he would appeare in his owne likenesse This being done soone after he left his house and leading him thus disguised along by his chaine hee was followed by great crowds of people euery one questioning of whence and what he was In which manner he brought him to the Market place where an infinite number of people were gathered together as well of the followers as of them that before heard the proclamation There he made choise of a pillar which stood in a place somewhat highly exalted wherto he chained his sauage man making shew as if he meant to awaite there till the hunting shold begin in which time the Flies Waspes and Hornets did so terribly sting his naked body being annointed with Hony that he endured therby vnspeakable anguish When the poore man saw that there needed no more concourse of people pretending as if he purposed to let loose his Saluage man he tooke the maske or vizard from Alberts face and then he spake aloud in this manner Gentlemen and others seeing the wilde Boare commeth not to our hunting because I imagine that he cannot easily be found I meane to the end you may not lose your labour in comming hither to shew you the great God of Loue called Cupid whom Poets feigned long since to be a little boy but now growne to manly stature You see in what maner he hath left his high dwelling onely for the comfort of our Venetian beauties but belike the night-fogs ouer-flagging his wings he fell into our gulfe and comes ow to present his seruice to you No sooner had he taken off his vizard but euery one knew him to be Friar Albert and sodainly arose such shoutes and out-cries with most bitter words breathed forth against him hurling also stones durt and filth in his face that his best acquaintance then could take no knowledge of him and not any one pittying his abusing So long continued the offended people in their fury that newes therof was carried to the Conuent and six of his Religious brethren came who casting an habite about him and releasing him from his chain they led him to the Monastery not without much mollestation and trouble of the people where imprisoning him in their house seueritie of some inflicted punishment or rather conceite for his open shame shortned his dayes and so he dyed Thus you see faire Ladies when licentious life must be clouded with a cloake of sanctity and euill actions dayly committed yet escaping vncredited there will come a time at length for iust discouering of all that the good may shine in their true luster of glory and the bad sinke in their owne deserued shame Three yong Gentlemen affecting three Sisters fledde with them into Candie The eldest of them through iealousie becommeth the death of her Louer The second by consenting to the Duke of Candies request is the meanes of sauing her life Afterward her owne Friend killeth her and thence flyeth away with the elder Sister The third couple both man woman are charged with her death and being committed prisoners they confesse the facte And fearing death by corruption of money they preuaile with their keepers escaping from thence to Rhodes where they died in great pouerty The third Nouell Heerein is declared how dangerous the occasion is ensuing by anger and despight in such as entirely loue especially being iniuried and offended by them that they loue WHen the King perceiued that Madame Pampinea had ended her discourse he sat sadly a prety while without vttering one word but afterward spake thus Little goodnesse appeared in the beginning of this Nouell because it ministred occasion of mirth yet the ending proued better and I could wish that worse inflictions had falne on the venerious Friar Then turning towards Madam Lauretta he said Lady do you tell vs a better tale if possible it may be She smiling thus answered the King Sir you are ouer-cruelly bent against poore Louers in desisiring that their amourous processions should haue harsh and sinister concludings Neuerthelesse in obedience to your seuere command among three persons amourously perplexed I will relate an vnhappy ending whereas all may be saide to speede as vnfortunately being equally alike in enioying the issue of their desires and thus I purpose for to proceede Euery vice choise Ladies as very well you know redoundeth to the great disgrace and preiudice of him or her by whom it is practised and oftentimes to others Now among those common hurtfull enemies the sinne or vice which most carrieth vs with full carrere and draweth vs into vnauoidable perils and dangers in mine opinion seemeth to be that of choller or anger which is nothing else but a sudden and inconsiderate mouing prouoked by some receiued iniury which hauing excluded all respect of reason and dimde with darke vapours the bright discerning sight of the vnderstanding enflameth the minde with most violent furie And albeit this inconuenience happeneth most to men and more to some few then others yet notwithstanding it hath been noted that women haue felt the selfe same infirmity and in more extreme manner because it much sooner is kindled in them and burneth with the brighter flame in regard they haue the lesser consideration and therefore not to be wondred at For if we will aduisedly obserue we shall plainely perceiue that
not any part or parcell but onely a Ladie for whose sake I haue vndertaken these Armes and freely giue you all the rest contained in the shippe Let vs set on them Gentlemen and my dearest friends couragiously let vs assaile the ship you see how the wind fauors vs and questionlesse in so good an action Fortune will not faile vs. Gerbino needed not to haue spoken so much in perswading them to seize so rich a booty because the men of Messina were naturally addicted to spoile and rapine and before the Prince began his Oration they had concluded to make the ship their purchase Wherefore giuing a lowde shout according to their Countrey manner and commaunding their Trumpets to sound chearefully they rowed on amain with their Oares and in meere despight set vpon the ship But before the Gallies could come neere her they that had the charge and managing of her perceyuing with what speede they made towards them and no likely meanes of escaping from them resoluedly they stood vppon their best defence for now it was no time to be slothfull The Prince being come neere to the Ship commanded that the Patrones should come to him except they would aduenture the fight When the Sarazines were thereof aduertised and vnderstood also what he demanded they returned answer That their motion and proceeding in this manner was both against Law and plighted faith which was promised by the King of Sicily for their safe passage thorow his Sea by no meanes to be mollested or assailed In testimony whereof they shewed his Gloue auouching moreouer that neyther by force or otherwise they would yeelde or deliuer him any thing which they had aboorde their Ship Gerbino espying his gracious Mistresse on the Ships decke and she appearing to be farre more beautifull then Fame had made relation of her being much more enflamed now then formerly he had bin replyed thus when they shewed the Gloue Wee haue quoth he no Faulcon heere now to be humbled at the sight of your Gloue and therefore if you wil not deliuer the Lady prepare your selues for fight for we must haue her whether you will or no. Hereupon they began to let flie on both sides their Darts and arrowes with stones sent in violent sort from their slings thus continuing the fight a long while to very great harme on either side At the length Gerbino perceyuing that small benefite would redound to him if he did not vndertake some other kinde of course he tooke a smal Pinnace which purposely he brought with him from Sardignia and setting it on a flaming fire conueyd it by the Gallies help close to the ship The Sarazines much amazed thereat and euidently perceiuing that eyther they must yeeld or dy brought their Kings daughter vpon the prow of the ship most greeuously weeping and wringing her hands Then calling Gerbino to let him behold their resolution there they slew hir before his face and afterward throwing her body into the Sea said Take her there we giue her to thee according to our bounden duty and as thy periury hath iustly deserued This sight was not a little greeuous to the Prince Gerbino who madded now with this their monstrous cruelty and not caring what became of his owne life hauing lost her for whom hee onely desired to liue not dreading their Darts Arrowes slinged stones or what violence els they could vse against him he leapt aboord their ship in despight of all that durst resist him behauing himself there like a hunger-starued Lyon when he enters among a heard of beastes tearing their carkasses in pieces both with his teeth and pawes Such was the extreme fury of the poor Prince not sparing the like of any one that durst appeare in his presence so that what with the bloody slaughter and violence of the fires encreasing in the Ship the Mariners got such wealth as possibly they could saue and suffering the Sea to swallow the rest Gerbino returned vnto his Gallies againe nothing proud of this so ill-gotten victory Afterward hauing recouered the Princesses dead body out of the Sea and enbalmed it with sighes and teares hee returned backe into Sicilie where he caused it to be most honourably buried in a little Island named Vstica face to face confronting Trapanum The King of Thunis hearing these disastrous Newes sent his Ambassadors habited in sad mourning to the aged King of Sicily complaining of his faith broken with him and how the accident had falne out Age being sodainly incited to anger and the King extreamly offended at this iniury seeing no way whereby to deny him iustice it being vrged so instantly by the Ambassadours caused Gerbino to be apprehended and hee himselfe in regard that none of his Lords and Barons would therein assist him but laboured to diuert them by their earnest importunity pronounced the sentence of death on the Prince and commanded to haue him beheaded in his presence affecting rather to dye without an heire then to be thought a King void of iustice So these two vnfortunate Louers neuer enioying the very least benefite of their long wished desires ended both their liues in violent manner The three Brethren to Isabella slew a Gentleman that secretly loued her His ghost appeared to her in her sleepe and shewed her in what place they had buried his body She in silent manner brought away his head and putting it into a pot of earth such as Flowers Basile or other sweet hearbes are vsually set in she watered it a long while with her teares Whereof her Brethren hauing intelligence soone after she dyed with meere conceite of sorrow The fift Nouell Wherein is plainly proued that Loue cannot be rooted vppe by any humane power or prouidence especially in such a soule where it hath bene really apprehended THE Nouell of Madame Eliza being finished and some-what commended by the King in regard of the Tragicall conclusion Philomena was enioyned to proceede next with her discourse She beeing ouercome with much compassion for the hard Fortunes of Noble Gerbino and his beautifull Princesse after an extreme and vehement sighe thus she spake My tale worthy Ladies extendeth not to persons of so high birth or quality as they were of whom Madame Eliza gaue you relation yet peraduenture it may prooue to be no lesse pittifull And now I remember my selfe Messina so lately spoken of is the place where this accident also happened In Messina there dwelt three yong men Brethren and Merchants by their common profession who becoming very rich by the death of theyr Father liued in very good fame and repute Their Father was of San Gemignano and they had a Sister named Isabella young beautifull and well conditioued who vpon some occasion as yet remained vnmaried A proper youth being a Gentleman borne in Pisa and named Lorenzo as a trusty factor or seruant had the managing of the Brethrens businesse and affaires This Lorenzo being of comely personage affable and excellent in his behauiour grew so gracious in the
lamented Being deliuered out of the Court it was carried to buriall not like a Burgesse or ordinary Citizen but with such pompe as beseemed a Lord Baron and on the shoulders of very noble Gentlemen with very especiall honor and reuerence Within some few dayes after the Potestate pursuing his former motion of marriage and the Father mouing it to his daughter she wold not by any meanes listen thereto And he being desirous to giue her contentment deliuered her and her Chamber-maid into a Religious Abbey very famous for deuotion and sanctity where afterwardes they ended their liues Faire Simonida affecting Pasquino and walking with him in a pleasant garden it fortuned that Pasquino rubbed his teeth with a leafe of Sage and immediately fell downe dead Simonida being brought before the bench of Iustice and charged with the death of Pasquino she rubbed her teeth likewise with one of the leaues of the same Sage as declaring what shee saw him do and thereon she dyed also in the same manner The seauenth Nouell Whereby is giuen to vnderstand that Loue Death do vse their power equally alike as well vpon poore and meane persons as on them that are rich and Noble PAmphilus hauing ended his Tale the King declaring an outward shew of compassion in regard of Andreanaes disastrous Fortune fixed his eye on Madam Emillia and gaue her such an apparant signe as expressed his pleasure for her next succeeding in discourse which being sufficient for her vnderstanding thus she began Faire assembly the Nouel so lately deliuered by Pamphilus maketh me willing to report another to you varying from it in any kinde of resemblance onely this excepted that as Andreana lost her louer in a Garden euen so did shee of whome I am now to speake And being brought before the seate of Iustice according as Andreana was freed her selfe from the power of the Law yet neither by force or her owne vertue but by her sodaine and inopinate death And although the nature of Loue is such according as wee haue oftentimes heeretofore maintained to make his abiding in the houses of the Noblest persons yet men and women of poore and farre inferiour quality do not alwayes sit out of his reach though enclosed in their meanest Cottages declaring himselfe sometimes as powerfull a commaunder in those humble places as he doth in the richest and most imperious Palaces As will plainly appeare vnto you either in all or a great part of my Nouell whereto our Citie pleadeth some title though by the diuersity of our discourses talking of so many seuerall accidents we haue wandred into many other parts of the world to make all answerable to our owne liking It is not any long time since when there liued in our City of Florence a young and beautifull Damosell yet according to the nature of hir condition because she was the Daughter of a poore Father and called by the name of Simonida Now albeit shee was not supplied by any better meanes then to maintaine her selfe by her owne painfull trauell earne her bread before shee could eate it by carding and spinning to such as employed her yet was she not of so base or deiected a spirit but had both courage and sufficient vertue to vnderstand the secret solicitings of loue and to distinguish the parts of well deseruing both by priuate behauiour and outward ceremony As naturall instinct was her first tutor thereto so wanted she not a second maine and vrging motion a chip hewed out of the like Timber one no better in birth then her selfe a proper young springall named Pasquino whose generous behauiour and gracefull actions in bringing her daily wooll to spin by reason his master was a Clothier preuailed vpon her liking and affection Nor was he negligent in the obseruation of her amorous regards but the Tinder tooke and his soule flamed with the selfe-same fire making him as desirous of her louing acceptance as possibly she could bee of his so that the commanding power of loue could not easily be distinguished in which of them it had the greater predominance For euerie day as he brought her fresh supply of woolles and found her seriously busied at hir wheele her soule would vent forth many deepe sighes and those sighes fetch floods of teares from her eyes thorough the singular good opinion she had conceyued of him and earnest desire to enioy him Pasquino on the other side as leysure gaue him leaue for the least conuersing with her his disease was euery way answerable to her for teares stood in his eyes sighes flew abroad to ease the poore hearts afflicting oppressions which though he was vnable to conceale yet would hee seeme to clowd them cleanly by entreating her that his masters worke might be nearly performed and with such speed as time would permit her intermixing infinite praises of her artificiall spinning and affirming withall that the Quilles of Yearne receiued from her were the choisest beauty of the whole peece so that when other worke-women played Simonida was sure to want no employment Heereupon the one soliciting and the other taking delight in beeing solicited it came to passe that often accesse bred the bolder courage ouer-much bashfulnesse became abandoned yet no immodestie passing betweene them but affection grew the better setled in them both by interchangeable vowes of constant perseuerance so that death onely but no disaster else had power to diuide them Their mutuall delight continuing on in this manner with more forcible encreasing of their Loues equall flame it fortuned that Pasquino sitting by Simonida tolde her of a goodly Garden whereto hee was desirous to bring her to the end that they might the more safely conuerse together without the suspition of enuious eyes Simonida gaue answer of her well-liking the motion and acquainting her Father therewith he gaue her leaue on the Sunday following after dinner to go ferch the pardon of S. Gallo and afterwards to visit the Garden A modest yong maiden named Lagina following the same profession and being an intimate familiar friend Simonida tooke along in her company and came to the Garden appointed by Pasquino where shee found him readily expecting her comming and another friend also with him called Puccino albeit more vsually tearmed Strambo a secret well-willer to Lagina whose loue became the more furthered by this friendly meeting Each Louer delighting in his hearts chosen Mistresse caused them to walke alone by themselues as the spaciousnesse of the Garden gaue them ample liberty Puccino with his Lagina in one part Pasquino with his Simonida in another The walke which they had made choise of was by a long and goodly bed of Sage turning and returning by the same bed as their conference ministred occasion and as they pleased to recreate themselues affecting rather to continue still there then in any part of the Garden One while they would sit downe by the Sage bed and afterward rise to walke againe as ease or wearinesse seemed to inuite
of his comming thither or any other blame that could concerne her Which hee both instantly knowing and beleeuing made no more ceremonie but putting on his Garments tooke the dead bodie vpon his shoulders and carried it to the Mothers doore where he left it and afterward returned to his owne house againe When day light was come and the dead body found lying in the Porch it moued very much greefe and amazement considering he had bin seene the day before in perfect health to outward appearance Nor neede we to vrge any question of his Mothers sorrow vpon this straunge accident who causing his body to bee carefully searched without any blow bruise wound or hurt vppon it the Physitians could not giue any other opinion but that some inward conceyte of greefe had caused his death as it did indeed and no way otherwise To the cheefe Church was the dead body carried to be generally seene of all the people his mother and friends weeping heauily by it as many more did the like beside because he was beloued of euery one In which time of vniuersall mourning the honest man in whose house he dyed spake thus to his wife disguise thy selfe in some decent manner and go to the Church where as I heare they haue laide the body of Ieronimo Crowde in amongest the Women as I will doe the like amongst the men to heare what opinion passeth of his death and whether wee shall bee scandalized thereby or no. Siluestra who was now become full of pitty too late quickely condiscended as desiring to see him dead whom sometime she dearly affected in life And being come to the Church it is a matter to bee admired if aduisedly we consider on the powerfull working of loue for the heart of this woman which the prosperous fortune of Ieronimo could not pierce now in his wofull death did split in sunder and the ancient sparks of loue so long concealed in the embers brake foorth into a furious flame and being violently surprized with extraordinary compassion no sooner did she come neere to the dead body where many stoode weeping round about it but strangely shrieking out aloud she fell downe vpon it euen as extremity of greefe finished his life so did it hers in the same manner For she moued neither hand nor foot because her vitall powers had quite forsaken her The women labouring to comfort her by al the best means they could deuise did not take any knowledge of her by reason of her disguised garments but finding her dead indeede and knowing her also to be Siluestra being ouercome with vnspeakable compassion danted with no meane admiration they stood strangely gazing each vpon other Wonderfull crowds of people were then in the Church and this accident being now noysed among the men at length it came to her Husbands vnderstanding whose greefe was so great as it exceeded all capacitie of expression Afterward he declared what had hapned in his house the precedent night according as his wife had truly related to him with all the speeches which past between Siluestra and Ieronimo by which discourse they generally conceiued the certaine occasion of both their sodaine deaths which moued them to great compassion Then taking the yong womans body and ordering it as a coarse ought to bee they layed it on the same Biere by the yong man and when they had sufficiently sorrowed for their disastrous fortune they gaue them honourable buriall both in one graue So this poore couple whome loue in life could not ioyne together death did vnite in an inseparable coniunction Messer Guiglielmo of Rossiglione hauing slaine Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno whom hee imagined to loue his wife gaue her his heart to eate Which she knowing afterward threw her selfe out of an high window to the ground and being dead was then buried with her friend The ninth Nouell Whereby appeareth what ill successe attendeth on them that loue contrarie to reason in offering iniurie both to friendship and marriage together WHen the Nouell of Madam Neiphila was ended which occasioned much compassion in the whole assembly the King who wold not infringe the priuiledge graunted to Dioneus no more remaining to speake but they two began thus I call to minde gentle Ladies a Nouell which seeing we are so farre entred into the lamentable accidents of successelesse loue will vrge you vnto as much commisseration as that so lately reported to you And so much the rather because the persons of whom we are to speake were of respectiue quality which approueth the accident to bee more cruell then those whereof wee haue formerly discoursed According as the people of Prouence do report there dwelt sometime in that iurisdiction two noble Knights each well possessed of Castles followers the one beeing named Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione and the other Messer Guiglielmo Guardastagno Now in regard that they wer both valiant Gentlemen and singularly expert in actions of Armes they loued together the more mutually and held it as a kinde of custom to be seene in all Tiltes and Tournaments or any other exercises of Armes going commonly alike in their wearing garments And although their Castles stood about fiue miles distant each from other yet were they dayly conuersant together as very louing and intimate friends The one of them I meane Messer Guiglielmo de Rossiglione had to wife a very gallant beautifull Lady of whom Messer Guardastagno forgetting the lawes of respect and loyall friendshippe became ouer-fondly enamoured expressing the same by such outward meanes that the Lady her selfe tooke knowledge thereof and not with any dislike as it seemed but rather louingly entertained yet she grew not so forgetfull of her honour and estimation as the other did of faith to his friend With such indiscretion was this idle loue carried that whether it sorted to effect or no I know not but the husband receiued some such maner of behauiour as hee could not easily digest nor thought it fitting to endure Whereuppon the league of friendly amity so long continued began to faile in very strange fashion and became conuerted into deadly hatred which yet hee very cunningly concealed bearing an outwarde shew of constant friendshippe still but in his heart hee had vowed the death of Guardastagno Nothing wanted but by what meanes it might best be effected which fell out to bee in this manner A publicke lust or Tourney was proclaimed by sound of Trumpet throughout all France wherewith immediately Messer Guiglielmo Rossiglione acquainted Messer Guardastagno entreating him that they might further conferre theron together and for that purpose to come and visit him if he intended to haue any hand in the businesse Guardastagno being exceeding gladde of this accident which gaue him liberty to see his Mistresse sent answer backe by the messenger that on the morrow at night he would come and sup with Rossiglione who vpon this reply proiected to himselfe in what maner to kill him On the morrow after dinner arming himselfe and
to comfort him in this deep distresse and in such manner as I will relate vnto you Pasimondo had a Brother yonger then he in yeares but not a iot inferiour to him in vertue whose name was Hormisda and long time the case had bene in question for his taking to wife a faire yong Gentlewoman of Rhodes called Cassandra whom Lysimachus the Gouernour loued verie dearly and hindred her marriage with Hormisda by diuers strange accidents Now Pasimondo perceiuing that his owne Nuptials required much cost and solemnity hee thought it very conuenient that one day might serue for both the Weddinges which else would lanch into more lauish expences and therefore concluded that his brother Hormisda should marry Cassandra at the same time as he wedded Iphigenia Heereuppon he consulted with the Gentlewomans parents who liking the motion as well as he the determination was set downe and one day to effect the duties of both When this came to the hearing of Lysimachus it was very greatly displeasing to him because now he saw himselfe vtterly depriued of al hope to attaine the issue of his desire if Hormisda receyued Cassandra in marriage Yet being a very wise and worthy man hee dissembled his distaste and began to consider on some apt meanes whereby to disappoint the marriage once more which he found impossible to bee done except it were by way of rape or stealth And that did not appear to him any difficult matter in regard of his Office and Authority onely it wold seeme dishonest in him by giuing such an vnfitting example Neuerthelesse after long deliberation honor gaue way to loue and resolutely he concluded to steale her away whatsoeuer became of it Nothing wanted now but a conuenient company to assist him the order how to haue it done Then he remembred Chynon and his friends whom he detained as his prisoners and perswaded himself that he could not haue a more faithfull friend in such a busines then Chynon was Hereupon the night following he sent for him into his Chamber and being alone by themselues thus he began Chynon quoth hee as the Gods are very bountifull in bestowing their blessings on men so doe they therein most wisely make proofe of their vertues and such as they finde firme and constant in all occurrences which may happen them they make worthy as valiant spirits of the very best and highest merites Now they being willing to haue more certain experience of thy vertues then those which heeretofore thou hast shewne within the bounds and limits of thy fathers possessions which I know to be superabounding perhaps do intend to present thee other occasions of more important weight and consequence For first of all as I haue heard by the piercing solicitudes of loue of a senselesse creature they made thee to become a man endued with reason Afterward by aduerse fortune and now againe by wearisome imprisonment it seemeth that they are desirous to make triall whether thy manly courage be changed or no from that which heretofore it was when thou enioyedst a matchlesse beautie and lost her againe in so short a while Wherefore if thy vertue be such as it hath bin the Gods can neuer giue thee any blessing more worthy of acceptance then she whoÌ„ they are now minded to bestow on thee in which respect to the end that thou mayst re-assume thy wonted heroicke spirit and become more couragious then euer heeretofore I will acquaint thee withall more at large Vnderstand then Noble Chynon that Pasimondo the onely glad man of thy misfortune and diligent sutor after thy death maketh all hast hee can possibly deuâ—se to do to celebrate his marriage with thy faire mistris because he would pleade possession of the prey which Fortune when she smiled did first bestow and afterward frowning took from thee again Now that it must needs be very irkesome to thee at least if thy loue bee such as I am perswaded it is I partly can collect from my selfe being intended to be wronged by his brother Hormisda euen in the selfsame maner and on his marriage day by taking faire Cassandra from me the onely Iewell of my loue and life For the preuention of two such notorious iniuries I see that Fortune hath left vs no other meanes but only the vertue of our courages and the helpe of our right hands by preparing our selues to Armes opening a way to thee by a second rape or stealth and to me the first for absolute possession of our diuine Mistresses Wherefore if thou art desirous to recouer thy losse I wil not onely pronounce liberty to thee which I thinke thou dost little care for without her but dare also assure thee to enioy Iphigenia so thou wilt assist mee in mine enterprize and follow me in my fortune if the Gods do let them fall into our power You may well imagine that Chynons dismayed soule was not a little cheared at these speeches and therefore without crauing any long respit of time for answer thus he replyed Lord Lysimachus in such a busines as this is you cannot haue a faster friend then my self at least if such good hap may betide me as you haue more then halfe promised therefore do no more but command what you would haue to be effected by mee and make no doubt of my courage in the execution whereon Lysimachus made this answer Know then Chynon quoth hee that three dayes hence these marriages are to bee celebrated in the houses of Pasimondo and Hormisda vpon which day thou thy friends and my self with some others in whom I repose especiall trust by the friendly fauour of night will enter into their houses while they are in the middest of theyr Iouiall feasting and seizing on the two Brides beare them thence to a Shippe which I will haue lye in secret waiting for our comming and kil all such as shall presume to impeach vs. This direction gaue great contentment to Chynon who remained stil in prison without reuealing a word to his owne friends vntil the limited time was come Vpon the Wedding day performed with great and magnificent Triumph there was not a corner in the Brethrens houses but it sung ioy in the highest key Lysimachus after he had ordered all things as they ought to be and the houre for dispatch approached neere he made a diuision in three parts of Chynon his followers and his owne friendes being all well armed vnder their outward habites Hauing first vsed some encouraging speeches for more resolute prosecution of the enterprize he sent one troope secretly to the Port that they might not be hindred of going aboord the ship when the vrgent necessity should require it Passing with the other two traines of Pasimondo he left the one at the doore that such as were in the house might not shut them vp fast and so impeach their passage forth Then with Chynon and the third band of Confederates he ascended the staires vp into the Hall where he found the Brides with
they be abused The harsh and vnciuill vsage in her grew very distastefull to Anastasio and so vnsufferable that after a long time of fruitlesse seruice requited still with nothing but coy disdain desperate resolutions entred into his brain and often he was minded to kill himselfe But better thoughts supplanting those furious passions he abstained from any such violent act gouerned by more manly consideration determined that as she hated him he would require her with the like if he could wherein he became altogether deceiued because as his hopes grew to a dayly decaying yet his loue enlarged it selfe more and more Thus Anastasio perseuering still in his bootelesse affection and his expences not limited within any compasse it appeared in the iudgement of his Kindred and Friends that he was falne into a mighty consumption both of his body and meanes In which respect many times they aduised him to leaue the City of Rauenna and liue in some other place for such a while as might set a more moderate stint vpon his spendings and bridle the indiscreete course of his loue the onely fuell which fed this furious fire Anastasio held out thus a long time without lending an eare to such friendly counsell but in the end he was so neerely followed by them as being no longer able to deny them he promised to accomplish their request Whereupon making such extraordinary preparation as if he wer to set thence for France or Spaine or else into some further distant countrey he mounted on horsebacke and accompanied with some few of his familiar friends departed from Rauenna and rode to a country dwelling house of his owne about three or foure miles distant from the Cittie which was called Chiasso and there vpon a very goodly greene erecting diuers Tents and Pauillions such as great persons make vse of in the time of a Progresse he said to his friends which came with him thither that there hee determined to make his abiding they all returning backe vnto Rauenna and might come to visite him againe so often as they pleased Now it came to passe that about the beginning of May it being then a very milde and serrene season and he leading there a much more magnificent life then euer he had done before inuiting diuers to dine with him this day and as many to morrow and not to leaue him till after supper vpon the sodaine falling into remembrance of his cruell Mistris hee commanded all his seruants to forbeare his company and suffer him to walke alone by himselfe awhile because he had occasion of priuate meditations wherein he would not by any meanes be troubled It was then about the ninth houre of the day and he walking on solitary all alone hauing gone some halfe miles distance from his Tents entred into a Groue of Pine-trees neuer minding dinner time or any thing else but only the vnkind requitall of his loue Sodainly he heard the voice of a woman seeming to make most mournfull complaints which breaking of his silent considerations made him to lift vp his head to know the reason of this noise When he saw himselfe so farre entred into the Groue before he could imagine where he was hee looked amazedly round about him and out of a little thicket of bushes briars round engirt with spreading trees hee espyed a young Damosell come running towards him naked from the middle vpward her haire disheuelled on her shoulders and her faire skinne rent and torne with the briars and brambles so that the blood ran trickling downe mainly shee weeping wringing her hands and crying out for mercy so lowde as shee could Two fierce Blood-hounds also followed swiftly after and where their teeth tooke hold did most cruelly bite her Last of all mounted on a lusty blacke Courser came gallopping a Knight with a very sterne and angry countenance holding a drawne short Sword in his hand giuing her very vile and dreadfull speeches and threatning euerie minute to kill her This strange and vncouth sight bred in him no meane admiration as also kinde compassion to the vnfortunate woman out of which compassion sprung an earnest desire to deliuer her if he could from a death so full of anguish and horror but seeing himselfe to be without Armes hee ran and pluckt vp the plant of a Tree which handling as if it had beene a staffe he opposed himselfe against the Dogges and the Knight who seeing him comming cryed out in this manner to him Anastasio put not thy selfe in any opposition but referre to my Hounds and me to punish this wicked woman as she hath iustly deserued And in speaking these words the Hounds tooke fast hold on her body so staying her vntill the Knight was come neerer to her and alighted from his horse when Anastasio after some other angry speeches spake thus vnto him I cannot tell what or who thou art albeit thou takest such knowledge of me yet I must say that it is meere cowardize in a Knight being armed as thou art to offer to kill a naked woman and make thy dogges thus to seize on her as if she were a sauage beast therefore beleeue me I will defend her so farre as I am able Anastasio answered the Knight I am of the same City as thou art and do well remember that thou wast a little Ladde when I who was then named Guido Anastasio and thine Vnckle became as intirely in loue with this woman as now thou art of Paulo Trauersarioes daughter But through her coy disdaine and cruelty such was my heauy fate that desperately I slew my selfe with this short sword which thou beholdest in mine hand for which rash sinfull deede I was and am condemned to eternall punishment This wicked woman reioycing immeasurably in mine vnhappie death remained no long time aliue after me and for her mercilesse sinne of cruelty and taking pleasure in my oppressing torments dying vnrepentant and in pride of her scorne she had the like sentence of condemnation pronounced on her and sent to the same place where I was tormented There the three impartiall Iudges imposed this further infliction on vs both namely that shee should flye in this manner before mee and I who loued her so deerely while I liued must pursue her as my deadly enemy not like a woman that had any taste of loue in her And so often as I can ouertake her I am to kill her with this sword the same Weapon wherewith I slew my selfe Then am I enioyned therewith to open her accursed body and teare out her hard and frozen heart with her other inwards as now thou seest me doe which I giue vnto my hounds to feede on Afterward such is the appointment of the supreame powers that she re-assumeth life againe euen as if she had not bene dead at all and falling to the same kinde of flight I with my houndes am still to follow her without any respite or intermission Euery Friday and iust at this houre our course is this way