cannot but be greatly greeued for the small regarde you hadde of so faithfull a friend and then when it is to late will repent you of your great ingratitude Be not therfore so obstinately bent I beseech you to seeke his confusion that woulde accoumpte all payne but pleasure which he shoulde suffer in seeking your safetye consyder in what case your deuine bewtye hath broughte him and be not so carelesse of his welfare as you will suffer him to perishe for wante of pittie that cannot receiue any comforte but by your clemencye which to denye him weare extreame crueltye and woulde procure your perpetuall infamy The rather for that the remedye rested in you and that my grefe being taken in time might be easily cured to my comfort and your contentment as you shal be forced in the end of your selfe to confesse if you haue pittie vpon me as I hope you will wherein being fully resolued I rest for euer Your pore faithfull friend and obedient seruaunt The great loue that Itafernes wyfe bare to her brother WHen I tafernes with all his famely Were taken captiue By Darius army And cast into prison with great extremity His wife euery day Came to the kings gate making pittifull mone That these her plaints to take pittie vpon At last he was moued with 〈…〉 rcye alone As wrighters doe say In so much aâ— one vnto her he sent Who willed hee then with right good intent In the Kings name to â—cast to lament And freelye to chose The deliuery of one and she should him haue Then she 〈◊〉 the rest her Brother did craue Whose life and libertie she most sought to saue To lessen her woes The King then wondring that she would prefer Her Brother before the rest that were there 〈…〉 and children most deare This aunswere she gaue An other husband I may get quoth shee And other Children if Gods will it be But my Parentes being dead more bretheren then he I neuer can haue A Louer that stoode at an vncertaine staye wrighteth this for aunswere to a Letter that he receyued from her whome he loued MYstresse 〈◊〉 I receiued your Letters whiche 〈◊〉 vnto me so 〈◊〉 as I a 〈…〉 thereby broughte as it were into a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whiche I knowe not well how to winde me Some time you giue me hope and by and by crosse me with the contrary your wordes are so obscure as my simple capacitye cannot conceiue the meaning of them plaine dealing is best among friendes good meaning must not be couered with a counterfet collour I haue made you an honest demaund but can receiue 〈◊〉 certaine aunswere of it if you thinke mee vnworthye of you let me vnderstand it in plaine speeches and I will soone seace my fute for if you cannot fancy me I neither maye nor will inforce you to it If you like of my demaunde driue mee not of with doubtfull delayes for that is very daungerous Your vertuous education and commendable quallityes are the onely causes that haue constrained me to loue you for the which I more esteeme you being as you are then otherwise I woulde doe weare you neuer so welthye you say my sute is reasonable and yet ye reproue it as vnprofitable you confesse me to be worthy of you and yet refuse to render your selfe vnto me being the partie whome aboue all other I chiefely desyre and would most willingly possesse if so it pleased you In deede I confesse that good deliberation and carefull consideration is to bee had in so waighty a cause which I had in remembraunce before I made anye motion thereof vnto you yet if there bee anye thing that I haue neglected if you would let me vnderstaÌ„d wherein and what it is it should be better respected and being amisse most willingly amended And whereas you refuse to yeeld your consent without the counsel of others to aske councel in any thing it is commendable and to follow it if it be good is right profitable but whose counsell you craue I know not â—â—les it be your parentes which if it be the same I hope wil not be contrary to my contentation yet do I not so much depend vpon that as I will thefore seeke to them before I haue assayed you haue some assuraunce the thing I seeke for which is only in 〈◊〉 to graunt and without you cannot be obteyned or if it be it must be by compulsion then were a maÌ„ better be without it for forced mariages haue neuer good effect But peraduenture you haue some further purpose in it then I am priuy vnto it may be that you imagin my good will to be grounded vpon so light an occasyon as gaining my purpose I would quickly flie from my former professions make more haste in the matter then reason requyreth or vse some drifte to deceiue your present expectation but how farre my good meaning is from these imaginations God and myne own conscience only knoweth you challenge me as if I had bene ouer lauishe of my langwage in blazing things abrode that are not yet brought to passe which if I should doe as I take God to witnesse I haue not I might worthely be condemned for a foole serue as a laughing stock to all men that shal see it fal out otherwise hereafter And therefore I beseech you put such imaginations out of your minde and condemn me not as guiltye before you haue cause to accuse me And in conclusion I hartily beseech you not to trifle oute the time anye longer but to render me a ready aunswere to that whiche I demaund of you howsoeuer it be I care not for I can better brooke a flat refusall then suffer my selfe to be fedde with foolish hope for a thing so vncertaine and therefore where subtlely you say at the foote of your letter yours for so it may be henceforward either refuse me flatly or else put downe plainely in the place of it yours I am wil be so shall you both satisfy me sufficiently and also greatlye ease your self of the trouble that my tedious writing if so you accoumpte it doth presentlye put you vnto and so fare you well The straunge pangs of a pore passionate Louer NOt as I am nor as I wish to be But as falce Fortune frames mytroward fate Euen so I am not bound nor fully free Not quite forlorne nor yet in quiet state I wish for death and yet the death I hate This life leade I which life is wondrous strannge yet for no life would I my lyfe exchaunge I seeke the sight of that I sigh to see I ioy in that which breedes my great vnrest Such contraries doe dayly comber me As in one thing I find both ioy and rest Which gaine he gets that is Cupidos guest For whome he catcheth in his cursed snare He giues great hope yet kils his hart with care Finis Of the thankefulnesse of a Dragon towardes a man that had brought him vp AS Bruson mention makes one Thoas
meate My selfe can serue the turne full well Let him therefore that sowde the seede Enioy the fr 〈…〉 e thereof ac will His last is fittest for thy foote To roâ—â— thy Barge he best can skill Finis A Letter written to a yong widdowe that was before matched with a very olde man perswading her to make choyse of one whose yeares weare more agreeable with her owne MIstresse if I thought it necessarye for you to morne for the death of your dead Husband or if his lyfe had bene so delightfull vnto you as his death was happy for himselfe because thereby he was not onelye cid of the great torments that his pore afflicted body sustayned in this world but also attained to a more blessed life in the kingdom of heauen I wold neither blame you for wishiÌ„g him aliue again or perswade you froÌ„ lamenting his death though I know it is nothing auayleable but rather would exhort you thereunto and with teares as an vnfayned friende helpe you to bewayle the losse of so comfortable a Companyon But seing he was old angry weake impotent and continually so afflicted with sicknesse as he was and you so yong and comlye a gentle woman as you are you haue no cause to lamente his losse or be sorry for his death seeing it pleased God by calling him to his mercy both to release him of paine and 〈…〉 se yon of 〈◊〉 great trouble long sustained with him and therefore I would wish you to shake of the vaine Ceremonies that in such causes are commonlye vsed and frame your selfe againe to that blessed estate of matrimony chasing one who as well in yeares as otherwise may be more agreeable to your seemelye selfe then your late husbande whose old age was rather corsy then a comforte to your hart being in nothing correspondent to your minde or meete for your personage for so ought euery true christian woman to doe as well for procreation of Children as for other necessary commidities incident therevnto whereof by meanes of your greater yeares and more often excercise in worldly affayres you haue better experience then I and as you are not ignoraunt how conuenient it is to marrye and how inconuenient to leade a single life so am I well assured that you are not to learne what kind of person were most meete for you to match with all The Discommodities growing by the companye of an old man you haue already to your paine ouer long experimented and therefore I doubte not but you will beware how ye light on the like againe And to marry with a yong man vnlesse it bee one of whose demâ—anour you haue made some tryall maye be as perrillous as the other for if he be ritch he will ouer rule you if he be prodigall he will waste your substaunce and his owne patrimony if he be couetous he will keepe you bare and withhold from you that which is necessary to be had if he be laâ—iuâ—â—uâ—he will leaue you and like better of others Finally if he be viciously bent how ritch or yong sooner he be yet were you better to be buried then matched with him Let n 〈…〉 them the vayne vanities of the worlde so allure you or the perswasion of your friendes beare suche swaye with you as you will thereby be moued to take one for his w 〈…〉 whome ye cannot loue and to refuse him whome ye well like of for want o◠〈◊〉 â–ª considering what incon 〈…〉 groweth by the 〈◊〉 and what pro 〈…〉 may arys of the other waying withall how great an offence both to Bad and your owne conscience it is to do a thing so contracy to your own liking Wherefore it were best for you to make choyse of some poore yong man whose condicions and behauioure is already partly knowen vnto you to be good with whom you may with a contented minde leade a quiet and peaceable lyfe and haue all thinges at your owne desyre without interruption And if I thought not my selfe to sy 〈…〉 le for one so worthy as you are I would both offer my selfe 〈◊〉 you not as a Husbande but as a Steward to do al thinges at your direction and also hazard my lyfe to obtain such fauour at your handes assuring you that if it might so please you to accept of me you should of a pore friend finde mee so faithfull so conformable to your will so carefull for your welfare so redy to please you and so loth to offend you as you shall not haue cause eyther to thinke your loue euill imploted or repent you of the election of so base a personage And although in byrth I be farre inferiour and in wealth nothing comparable vnto those that I knowe you maye haue if you please yet dare I thus much vaunt of my selfe that there is not in the whole worlde any one that woulde more loue esteeme and cherish you then I would do if my hap might be so good to inioy you And if my purpose be not as my wordes doe pretend and my deedes agreeable with my promises I wishe the earth might gape and swallow me vp or fyre from heauen consume me for I protest vnto you before God from whome no secretes are concealed that it is not so much for youre welth or liuing that I desyre you as for your wisedome curtesy comly behauyour and other commendable vertues that abound in you wherefore long before youre husbandes departure I was so greatly enamoured as if feare of your displeasure and mine owne infamie had not deteined me with the raines of reason I had long since reuealed it vnto you But now that time hath offred mee so meete opportunity as I maye more lawfully and wyth lesse daunger do it I haue presumed though peraduenture more rashly then beseemeth me yet not withoute vrgente cause to manifest my meaning vnto you crauing both pardon for my bold attempt and easemente of my sorrowe so long sustayned for the loue of you which withoute yours grace or mine owne great perrill cannot possible bee repressed wherefore hoping of your accustomed clemency to find you fauourable in the furtheraunce of my desyre I do wholy commit my health lyfe and liberty vnto you whom I doe and will faithfully serue and obay for euer as your moste humble seruaunt A pretty fancy of the fynding of a Whyte wherein is collourablely included the course of a Captiue Louer in purchasing his desyred purpose NOt long agoe with bow in hande and arrowes by my syde An Archer like I went abrode my cunning to haue tride And being entred in the field 〈◊〉 cast mine eye a 〈◊〉 And loc a goodly glistering whyte before my face did glaunce Which pleasaunt sight did please me so as to suruay the same Me thought it did my hart much good and was my greatest game Narcissus fond did neuer gaâ—â— Upon his shadow more Nor by the Image which he made Pigmallyon set such store As I did by that 〈…〉 y wbyte which so reuiude my hart
my wished will the blame doth bide in mee For feare Loues mortall foe which caused me to hyde My secrete sorrowes long sustainde from thee in whome doth byde The cure of all my care hath made me faile to finde The thing that most might ioy my harte and ease my troubled minde But now all feare expulst Loue hope and hote desyre Hath forced me in lew of paine to craue deserued hyre Which gwerdon either graunt else shalt then shortly see That life will leaue my leathsome corpes and all by meanes of thee Which loth I am should chaunce least to thy great reproch It blazed be that thou art she that set my bale abroche Take pitty on my payne peruse my dolefull vearse Let trickling teares and secret sighes into thy intrailes pearce Oh rue my rufull state my youthfull yeares respect And let the tormentes I sustaine enforce thee to reiect All retchlesse rigour take imbrace loue like and neuer leaue The wight that will in spight of spight to thee for euer cleaue Who heare in lew of loue doth vow himselfe to thee Thy slaue thy seruaunt and thy friend till dying day to be Finis Certaine verses written in commendation of the Rose AS sundry sortes of men in world there be So sundry mindes in them also remayne And in one point they sieldome do agree That one thinkes good another thinketh vayne That one desyres another doth disdayne And I that doe in Flowers great pleasure take Desyre the Rose my nosegay sweete to make The vallyaunt man doth most delight in warre The coward craues to liue at home in peace Thastronomer to view eche twinkling starres The couetous carle his substaunce to increase The prisoner pore doth couet most release But I that doe in Flowers great pleasure take Desyre the Rose my nosegay sweete to make The husbaudman full barnes desyre to haue The Faulkener doth in Faulcon most delight The Hunter be good houndes doth chiefely craue The mighty man reioiceth in his might The amorous Daine to shew her hewry bright But I that doe in Flowers great pleasure take Desyre the Rose my Nosegay sweete to make The pretty collour I commend Though in the same no sweetenesse restes at all From Basill doth a sauour sweete assend yet doth the same the sences sore appall The appetite is marred much withall Therefore doe I in Flowers that pleasure take Desyre the Rose my Nosegay sweete to make Distild it makes a water wondrous sweete Of vertue great and good for many thinges The oyle thereof full many thinke more meete Because much case in them it often bringes The Flower is worne of Ladyes Lordes and Kinges And I that doe in Flowers great pleasure take Desyre the Rose my Nosegay sweete to make From point to point to praise this pleasaunt Flower And yeeld it that it doth deserue by right For learnings lacke it lyes not in my power Therefore to them that better can indighte I leaue the same to put in perfect plight But still I will in Flowers that pleasure take Desyre the Rose my nosegay sweete to make Finis The Louer after long absence hauing onewed his loue by beholding the bewty of his beloued mistresse sueth vnto her for grace for the appeasing of his passyons VVHether it were by my good of euil aduenture that of late I beheld ye I know not but surely at the same time I did so contemplate the rare bewtye and other excellent Ornamentes of nature Where with you are most plentifully inriched as euer since I haue 〈◊〉 in my selfe so cruell and continuall a Combate as I feare me withoute your speciall grace and fauour for furtheraunce of my seruent desyre I shall not be able long to continue loue on the one syde assayleth me Reason on the other syde inuadeth me Hope pricketh me forward and feare pulleth mee back from attempting that whiche maye eyther reaue my lyfe or restore my libertye according to the good or euill successe that it hath But loue at the last vanquishing reason and hope abandoning feare the rather by meanes of the good intertemment friendly fauiiliarity and vndeserued curtesy which I haue hither to found in you I am the more imboldned by these few lynes to make you priuy to y passions which I continually suffer for your sake thereby to case my mind of the greefes that grow by concealing it and to purchase remedy for the greeuons mallady that putteth me to suche importable paine which being only in you to graunte I hope you will not be so cruell harted as to denaye it mee For as my loue towardes you farre excelleth all others and as my faithfull seruice and true intent deserueth better recompence then a rashe and rigorous refusall So am I fully perswaded to fynd your pittifull hart ready to rue my calamities and with the balme of your beneuolence faluing the sore that so afflicieth mee render mee a recomdence worthe my deseruing wherein referring my selfe wholy to your clemency I leaue to trouble you any further for this time Of a Souldyer who for couirousnesse of a little money lost his owne lyfe WHen Prenest had bine long besiegne by enemyes strength With hunger and thyrst they were full sore opprest at length That many a one for lack of foode was forst to dye Amongst which sort there then was one did lykewise lye As did the rest in extreame payne vntillhe caught A little Mouse which one of him for money bought A hundred pence he more esteemde then lyfe to saue Although long time the vse thereof he might not haue So conitons was this mysers mynde of worldly muck That when he might haue saude his lyfe such was his luck For loue of money he lost the same but was not he Requited with a iust rewarde as he should be Finis The complaint of one Sidaspo who was imflamed with loue through the bewty of his seruaunt Aletha OLâ—thsome lyfe oh 〈…〉 ning fate Oh Fortune most vnkinde Oh death come pierce my painefull brest to ease my troubled minde Oh loue nay lust oh foude desyre oh cursed blinded boye What meanst thou thus to worke my wâ— and breede my great annoy I burne alas continually in such ercessiue heate That nothing may therewith compare it semes to me so great More hote it is a thousand times then Lothsome Limbo lake Or Aetna hill whose flashing flames no thing hath power to slake And yet some time more cold then yee I am pore wretch againe Then by and by aboundantly the raging herte doth raine Whereas I was a mayster late and had ech thing at will Now must I serue as seruill slaue to please my seruaunt still What remedy it boteth not for me at all to striue Against the mighty power of loue or any man aliue The Prince for all his Princely power cannot his force withstand The valyauntest wight that euer liude durst not hold vp his hand Against Cupido for to striue or combat for to make The wisest can not shun
be for I know there is nothing so difficult but the wit of man if wil be with it may well bring it to passe comforting my selfe with this assured hope that God will neuer suffer them to perrishe that put their trust in him Thus muche my good harmena I haue thoughte good to wryte vnto you because I coulde not finde conuenic 〈…〉 tyme or mete opportunity to deliuer it vnto you in 〈◊〉 I pray you consyder of it aduisedly that I may know your resolute aunswere therein And so fare you well The Louer being promised a resolute aunswere to that he desyred wrighteth to his beloued Mistresse in this manner wherein he perswadeth her to pittie his passions THe pore miserable wretch that hath long continued in Captiuity and knoweth not what shall become of him cannot be more troubled in mynde or tossed with more intollerable tormentes to increase his callamity then I am at this present for feare to finde your aunswere contrarye to my expectation And surelye were it not that I knowe your clemency to be such as cannot with crueltye counteruayle the courtesy of so faithful a frind as I to my smal power haue alwayes shewed my selfe to be towardes you I should long since rather haue bereaued my lyfe to prooue my loyaltie then by attending the dreadful sentence of my condemnation be adiudged to dye without deserte by her whose welfare I haue preferred before all worldly Treasure The law of nature bindeth you to bend most to him that loueth you best and bydeth moste sorrowe for your sake Iustice also inioyneth you to render to euery one his right which if you performe accordingly as you must needes do if you desyre to be demed worthye of the estimation which belongeth to such a one as you are I doubt not but I shal receiue from you that comfort which I haue long tyme couited I meane your friendlye fauour and franke consente in loue to knit with me the knot of perpetuall amitye as with him that for his loyall loue hath aboue all other best deserued it and desyreth rather to dy then liue and lack it The tragedy of Meliager sonne to Oeneus King of Calcedonia PArthaons sonne Oeneus King of calcedonia lande To all the Gods did institute and offer with his hande His sacrifise saue onelye to Diana dyre whome he For hatred or forgetfulnes remitted wherewith shee Full greatly gretude a huge great Bore did send to waste the lande That made much spoyle in many a place and no man might withstand Untill Oeneus at the last in mind opprest with greefe A generall hunt ordeyned had whereof his sonne was cheefe That Meliager hight with whome besides his vnckles twayne That â—oxeus and Plexippus hight there went as bookes shew plaine A Uirgin fayre the Daughter of Iasius great of Fame Through alf Arcadia where he raign de Atlanta was her name who with a stroke she gaue that Bore Did make him fyrst co bleede And therefore when the Bore was slaine to recompence that deede To her the head and humbles both did Meliager giue which soone from her his vnckles tooke so much it did them greeue Wherewith Meliager sore displeasde did therefore slay them both Which when his mother Althea knew she waxing wondrous wroth Into the fyre the brand did cast whereon his lyfe depended Which being wasted cleane away then straight his life it ended For whose dicease his Sisters all full lamentably mourned Till they at last amidst their wo to Turky Hennes were turned Lenuoy THese foresayde thinges who noteth well to fyre them fast in mynde He shall not fayle for his auayle good fruicte therein to fynde Fyrst by Oeneus are we taught at no time to neglect The duty which we owe to God. but chiefely haue respect To honour him and laude his name that leddeth lyfe to all which errth contâ—ines who lifts vs vp and likewise lets vs fall whome Seas obay whome heauens a dore and all thinges else besyde who sees and knowes our secret thoughtes though we the same would hyde And as he is a God moste iust so iustly will he render His grace vnto the penitent although a great offender Deseruing death most damnable so mercifull is he That as he saith he doth not seeke a sinners death to see For when from depth of hart we will our hainous crimes confesse And craue forgiuenesse at his handes we soone shall finde redresse But when no mendment he perceiues nor warninges to preuayle Then with his mighty hand he doth vs wicked wight as assayle And vs and all our progeny vnto the death pursues Then praise we God and vnto him all reuerence let vs vse And you O Captaines that doe guyde and gouerne Armies great Ye Magistrates and Rulers all that are with pryde repleate Leaue of lyke lawlesse Lordes to liue Of Meliager learne To yield to ech his due desert as reason shall disearne Who merrits golden gaine to get for worthy workes committed In countreyes cause let his reward in no wise be remitted So shall you surely reape renoune and purchase peoples loue Yea valyaunt minds to vallyaunt actes thereby you soone shall moue you enuious sorte at prosperous state of men that doe repine That grutch to see another gaine with most mallicious eyne Forsake that foule infyrmitye that hurt with vertue heale Which vexeth euery vaine of you for grace to God appeale Else shall confusyon come to you and that which you did craue To light on others that be sure your selues alone shall haue By Meliager murtherers may a good example see To cause them shun to seeke their blood with whome they greeued be Least that the same to heauenly Ioue from earth do vengeaunce erye and so their soules be damde in hell when corpes in graue doe lye For God so much a murderer hates that be he Priuce or peare yet blood craues blood and vnto God the Begger is as deare In all respectes as is the King that rules in regall raigne Who murdereth shall be murdered who slayeth shall be slaine What measure men to others meate with that they shall againe Be measured this finde we true by tryall euery day Now last of all let sâ—sters learne where vertue beares cheefe sway To loue their bretheren feruently as nature doth requyre So shall they purchase praise of all that know their good desyre Finis A letter written by one to a ritche Widdow wherein vsing earnest perswations he soliciteth his sute and craueth to be accepted LIke as the Captaine maye well bee counted a Coward and vnworthy of victorye that for a small discomfiture at the fyrst encounter will be cleane discouraged so may he bee deemed but a dissembling Louer that for one denyall will bee drawne cleane awaye neither doth he deserue to reape so greate a commoditye as the consent of her that he loueth maye bring vnto him But my loue being grounded vpon good occasyons and setled on so sure a foundation as it cannot be easily ouerwhelmed so
are vsde the pleasaunt Poets fayne As how that Phlegias to his treble paine Upon a turning wheele is fixed fast which makes him lothe his lyfe that long doth last How Sisiphus doth rowle the restlesse stone which to the top attaind turnes back againe How silly Titius making mostful mone Unto a Rock fast tyde doth stil sustaine The griping greefes that rauerring byrds constraine who on his entrailes dayly feede their fill And yet he liues to trye these tormentes still How Tantalus amidst the streame that standes Up to the chin is like for drouth to dye And goodly Apples almost in his hand with hunger nipt in extreame payne doth lye How Danaus daughters doe themselues apply with pailes that bottomes want a tubbe to fill That wanteth bottome to which passeth still But all their paiues may not compared be To that which I doe euery hower abyde For all at once assembled are in me There is no torment that I haue not tryde To me the heauens haue happy ha 〈…〉 denyde The Plannets all appointed me by fate to liue and leade my life in lothsome state All day my minde with fancies fond is fraught which greatly wastes my witte and breakes my braine To no effect at all when sleepe hath caughte Some holde of me at night alas my paine Growes greater farre for dreadfull dreauies restraine My quiet rest all myrth is mone to me All pleasure paine I loth the light to see Of all the wightes that euer liude in loue was neueralone whose 〈◊〉 was lyke 〈…〉 my 〈…〉 though grefe thein gript though pain they long 〈◊〉 proue yet did they gaine their wished will in fyne Their Ladies liking did it loue â—iclyne And they inioyde their ioy and hartes delight At wished will their wretched woe to quight Though pastor Paris past the surging Seas And many perrils more for Holl 〈…〉 sake yet he at last his heauy hart to ease Enioyde her loue and reft her from her make which deede the Greelies so gréeuousely did take As Troy therefore they did to ruine bring The fittest fruicte that of such loue doth spring when Peseus had with tedsous foyle distrest The Monstet huge that laboured to deuoke Andromada that 〈◊〉 Rock did rest Fast bound with chaines expecting euery hower For dread ull death he cropt the costly flower which fancy forst him seeke with such annoy And after led his life in lasting ioy And many more such lyke aâ—â—enge Ieoulde who after paine did 〈…〉 hase their desyre I might bring in Nastagio if I would Hippomanes that fryde in Cupids fyre And Pelops to if cause did so requyre But these will serue my faying true to trye That none for loue hath led such lyfe as I. For Ialas of all men most a 〈…〉 Haue spent much time with care and busy cure And when I thought me best my haâ— was worst when safe I seemde then sate I most vnsure Not deadly dole that I did long 〈◊〉 Not trickling teares 〈…〉 could serue To purchase that which I doe well deserue When as I glaunce my glaring eyes on her She bendes ger lookes vpon some other thing When as I would with wordes my sute preferre Then angry she away from me doth fling Saying take heede the Siren now doth sing And when with pen my passyons I depaint She rentes my writ and scornes my pittious plaine If messengers I send with her to treate And pleade my caufe as they can best deuise Their wordes so set her haughty hart in heate who causelesse still doth meso much despise As when she heares me narnde her blood doth rise An when my friendes doe her present with aught She frets and fnmes as one with fury fraught Through places scarcely knowne both day and night through wods through groues marish grounds I rode Through Forrests fennes and furrowes voyde of lighte yea ouer hautye hilles where I abode Full many bitter blastes before I trode The trustlesse where I this Tiger found whose diuelish deedes doth cause my cares abound Then cursed be the hower and eake the days wherein I did to her my iorney frame I would I had bene murdered by the way Before I came to see that cruell Dame who for good will doth yield me bitter blame For then the death had me depriude of all The daungers dyre wherein I dayly fall But all to late to shut the stable dore When so saith the prouer be olde I wisely should haue thought of this before I did attempt her bewty to beholde Who hath my heauy hart so hard in holde As needes I must both loue and serue her still Though she me lothe and seeke my blood to spill you yonglinges all where euer that you be That sibiect are vnto the lawes of loue Take hede in time be wysely warnd by me On whome you looke least lookes that liking moue Ingendring loue make you more paines to proue Then I pore wretch that dayly wish to dye And yet doe liue these tormentes straunge to trye Finis A yong man being in loue wiih a fayre Gentlewoman that was but his equall desyreth to be accepted for her husband THe passyons extreme which for your sake I haue long sustained being now through continuaunce of tyme so wonderfully augmented and increased that being no longer able to collerate the extreme paine thereof I am coacted and perforce constrained in most humble wise to craue grace at your handes which is the onely meane whereby I may be cured of this moste greeuous and in fupportable mallady Refuse not therefore I pray you this my petition which is both honest and reasonable let not my good will be required with disdaine nor my curtesie with crueltie for that were a point voyde of all humanitye and far different from all maydenlike modestie Dido Queene of Carthage loued Aeneas a straunger and a banished man Euphinia Daughter to the King and heyre to the crowne of the Kingdome of Corinth matched herselfe with Acharisto her fathers dondman The Dutchesse of Malsey chose for her husbande her seruaunt Virico And Venus also if we may giue credite to the fixions of Poets who for hee surpassing hewry was cauonized a Goddesse refused noe to be the wife of lame Vulcanus Much lesse neede you then that are mortal and but of a meane progenye in comparison of the worste of all those princely Dames before repeated to thinke scorue of mee that am no Straunger but your owne natiue contreyman no wandring exile but a true and faithfull Subiect continuing in the countrey where I was first borne and fostered neither seruaunt to you nor slaue to any other but vtterly free from the yoke of seruitude and bondage vntil such time as by contemplating the bright beames of your surpassing hewry my poore hart was so captinated that I was constrained to commit my selfe wholy vnto your clemency nor yet so monstrous and mishapen a creature whereby you might haue iuste occasion so mislike of mee but God I giue him thankes for it
your rigour whiche you haue of long time extended towardes mee that am youre own so mollified that feeling my selfe recomforted by your compassion I may say that as by your be wyte I became amourous so doe I thereby also inioy the lyfe which if your hauty hart incline not to my prayers would without doubt be in such sort consumed as I shoulde shortelye dye and so might you be called and accoumpted the Murtherer of me and yet should my death be no honor at al vnto you notwithstanding I beleeue that when at any time the same should come to youre hearing you woulde saye to your selfe Alas what euill haue I done in not hauing compassyon of my Magniffico and beeing then to late to repente you of any thing that is past it will be vnto you an occasion of very great greefe Wherfore to the end that it come not so to passe haue now some compassion vpon mee and before I be past remedy render me that which may releue me for in you onelye doth it rest to make mee the moste contented or most discoutented Creatureliuing hoping alwayes that your curtesy shall be so great as you wil not suffer me to receiue death for recompence of suche and so great good will as I beare vnto you but will with a ioyfull and gracious aunswere recomforte my pore sprightes which altogither ouercome with feare doe tremble at your presence Then Magniffico making an ende and hauing shedde some teares after many greeuous sighes he began to harken what the Lady wold answere now she whom neither the long sutes made vnto her the Iustes and Turneyes nor lost time or anye such like thing which Magniffico had done for the loue of herre had neuer before mooued anye thing at all to loue him was nowe mooued therevnto by the effectuall words vttered by her moste feruente Louer and began to feele that which she had neuer felt before and iudged this to proceede only of loue and though to fulfill the charge that her husbande had giuen her shee held her peace notwithstanding by the secret sighes which she sent forth it mighte easilye bee coniectured what aunswere she would willingly haue made to her beloued Magniffico if she might He hauing a while attended her aunswere and perceiuing that shee aunswered nothing at all greatlye mernailed and beganne to perceiue the deceipte and subtiltie of her husband but yet in regarding her countinance and perceiuing some glaunces of her eyes cast vpon him besides that remembring the sighes which shee sent foorth from the bottome of her hart he receiued some good hope And building herevppon bethought himselfe and then began to aunswere her as though she her selfe had sayde in this manner Friend Magniffico I did long since surmise that thy loue towardes me was very great and perfecte and nowe am more certaine of it by thy words whiche are of farre greater force wherewith I am as well contented as may be notwithstanding if it seeme vnto thee that I haue hitherto bene hard and cruell vnto thee yet woulde I not haue thee to thinke that my harte hath bene suche as my countinance hath shewed me to be but rather y I haue loued and held thee more deare then any other but it was meete I should for y time conceale it as well for feare of others as to keepe my good name vnspotted but now the time commeth that I may make thee more plainely to vnderstand whether I loue thee or no and giue thee a meete guerdon for the loue which thou hast so long borne vnto me Wherefore comfort thy selfe and haue good hope for Seigne or Fransisco must go within these fewe dayes as Potentate to Millan as thou thy selfe knowest when thou for my sake hast giuen him thy good ambling Gelding and so soone as he is gone thou shalt be most welcome vnto me and we wil then giue ful accomplishment to our loue and therefore haue regarde from henceforth when thou findest two Kerchefes hanging out of my chamber window ouer the garden and then in the Euening when it is somewhat darke repaire thou vnto me by the garden dore hauing good regard that no body see thee there thou shalt finde me ready to receiue thee then will we take our pleasure togither all the whole night and make as greate cheare as we may When Magniffico had in the person of the Lady spoken all this he began to aunswere for himselfe and sayde Deare Lady my spirites are so much occupied by the aboundaunt ioy that I conceiue by your wordes that I can hardlye frame an aunswere or vtter anye thing to giue you condigne thankes for the same and if I could yet should I not finde sufficient time to gratifie youre good wil as I desyre and as it is mere I should and therfore I beseeche you that what soeuer I desyre to do cannot by wordes declare it you will vouchsafe to conceiue the same in your minde Only I assure you that without faulte I will performe your charge order all my actions according to your good direction and when meete opportunity shall serue me to receiue the fauour whiche you haue so freely promised I wil inforce my self in all I may to yeeld you the greatest thankes that I am able And now hauing no more to saye vnto you at this presente wishing you such ioy and welfare as your hart desyreth I commit you to God. For all this the Lady aunswered not a word wherefore Magniffico rise began to retourne towards her husband who seeing him vp went to meete him and sayd O syr what thinke you now haue I kept promise with you No Syr aunswered Magniffico for you promised me that I should talk with your wife you haue made me to speake with an Image of stone This answere greatly pleased Seigneor Fransisco who although he had a good opinion of his wife before yet now he thought better of her then euer he did and said but yet the ambling gelding that was yours is nowe myne Wherevnto Magniffico aunswered yea syr but if I had thought to reape no better Fruite then this by the fauour I found at your handes without demaunding the same I would freely haue giuen you my Gelding And would to God I had done so in deede for then had I not in selling him bought mine owne sorrow nor in seeking safety lost my former liberty Seigne or Fransisco laughed hartely at this aunswere and seing himself so wel prouided of an ambler shortly after set forward on his iorney towardes Millan The Lady then remayning in her house all alone thinking vpon the wordes that Magniffico had before time vsed vnto her remembring his loue and how he had for her sake giuen her Husband his good ambling Gelding seing also the sayd Magniffico diuerse times to passe to and fro before her dore she said vnto her selfe What shall I doe wherefore should I lose my youth my hand is 〈◊〉 to Millan and will not retourne again
husband to the end it be not found if she he content that you haue transgressed the Lawe Maister Conrade hearing that hee was the sonne of this Ambassador maruailed greatly and imputing great fault to Fortune confessed that which Phinee had sayde to bee moste truet So he retourned incontinently to his house and sent one with all speede to seeke Maister Emery and to tell him all that was happened mayster Emery that thought his Daughter and her yong sonne were alredye dead was the heauiest man in the world for that which he had done knowing well that if she were not dead all that was amis might now be amended wherfore he sent with all speede to the place where his Daughter remained to the end that if they had not fulfilled his commaundement they should not do it at all he that went thither found the seruant that mayster Emery had sent thither who hauing set the sword and poyson befor his Daughter because shee made no hast to take the one nor the other vsed manye threatnings against her and would haue constrained her to take one of them But when he heard the commaundment of his mayster he let her alone and retourning vnto him tolde him howe the case stoode Mayster Emery very well contented with it wente to the Ambassadour Phinee and weeping excused himselfe so well as he could for that which was happened requyring pardon at his handes and promising him that if Theodore would take her to his wife he was right well content to bestowe her vpon him Phinee willingly excepted of his excuses and aunswered It is my will and intente that my Sunne take youre Daughter and if he will not I am contente the sentence pronounced against him be put in execution Phinee and mayster Emery being agreede they went togither to seeke Theodore at the place where he was yet feareful of deth and ioyfull that hee had founde his father who asked him what he was determined to doe in this matter Theodore hearing that Violenta should be his wyfe if he would his ioy was so great that he thought he leaped out of Hell into Paradice And said he would thinke himselfe right happy to haue it so They sent likewise to Violenta to knowe her intente who hearing that which was hapned to Theodore and what should come to passe where before she was the heauiest Creature liuing onely expecting death after manye doubts in the end giuing confidence to that whiche they tolde her she receiued some comforte and aunswered that if she might obtaine her desyre in this behalfe there coulde not happen a thing that would more content her then to be the wife of Theodore But notwithstanding shee sayd shee woulde doe that which her father had commaunded her if so it pleased him when this matche was thus agreede vppon on all sides mayster Emery made a sumptious feast to the greate contentment of the whole Cittie The yong wife comforting herself and causing her yong chyld to be nourished became shortly after more fresh and fayre then euer shee was And when Phinee retourned againe from Rome she vsed such reuerence towards him as apperteined to her Father and he being very well concent to haue so fayre and honest a Daughter hauing celebrated the Nuptials with great cheare and feasting he receiued her for his Daughter and euer after so accoumpted her and within a fewe dayes after he his sonne his fayre Daughter and his little Nephew tooke shipping and sayled to Laiazze where the two Louers remayned so long as they liued in peace and quietnesse Finis ¶ One named Salard departing from Genes came to Montferat where he transgressed three commaundementes that his Father gaue him by his last will and Testamente and being condemned to dye was deliuered and retourned againe into his owne countrey RIghte happye and blessed is that chylde which with dutifull reuerence sheweth himselfe obedient to his Parentes For in so doing he fulfilleth the commaundement that God hath giuen him and shall therefore liue long vpon the earth hauing good successe in al his affayres where contrariwise the disobedient child is alwayes accoumpted miserable and moste vnhappy for commonly his enterprises haue an euel and wicked end as you may easily perceiue by this fable following In Genes which is a very auncient Cittie and possibly as full of pleasaunt delightes as any other there was dwelling not long since a Gentleman named Renaulde Scaille a man truely no lesse abundant in the giftes of fortune then in the graces of the minde moreouer being so ritch and learned as he was he had a sonne named Salard whome he loued most intyrely Wherefore like a good and louing Father he instructed and taught him not suffering him to want any thing that was profitable or praise worthy for him Now it happened that Renauld being well stricken in yeares fell into a great and greeuous mallady and perceiuing himself to be at the point of deth sent for a Scriuener to make his wil whereby he constituted Salard for his heyre praying him as a good father to obserue three commaundementes which he prescribed vnto him without euer transgressing them The fyrst was that for any loue that he bare to his wyfe he should neuer reueale his secretes vnto her The second was that he should not nourish and bring vp as his childe or take for his heyre one that was not of his owne issue The thyrde was that he should neuer subiect himselfe to anye Lorde that gouerned his countrey after his owne minde This done hauing blessed him hee tourned his heade towardes the Wall and shortlye after yeelded vp the Ghost Now Salard that after his Fathers death remayned sole inheritour of all his goods and possessions perceiuing himselfe to be yong ritch and of a good progenie whereas he should haue wholy applied himselfe to consyder of his fathers commaundementes and the waighty affayres which were falne vnto him by the newe possession of his patrimony he determined to take a wyfe and suche a one and of such a famely as should well content him So well he applied his businesse followed the matter so effectually that ere one whole yeare was fully expired after his fathers decease hee matched himselfe with one Theodore Daughter to one maister Odescale Doria a Gentleman of Genes and one of the chiefe in all the cittie This Gentlewoman being faire and very well fauoured though she were somewhat shrewish was so well beloued of her husband as neither by day nor night he could well abide to be out of her company When they had continued a while togither withoute hauing any issue at all betweene them Salard with his wiues consent was minded to chose some one for his childe Adoptiue contrary to the will and commaundement of his father purposing to bring it vp as his own and according to that his determination presently putting the matter in execution he chose for his chylde adoptiue a yong gyrle named postume that was Daughter to a poore widdowe
ridinges of it he will die for anger and despight and therwith pulling out the dead hawke from vnder his cloke he deliuered it vnto his wife charging her to cause it to be dressed saying that hee would feede vpon it for the Marques sake Theodore hering her husbands words and seing the dead hawke made great mone and turning towardes him began to reproue him for the offence he had committed I maruaile qd shee how you could finde in your hart to commit such a trespas against my Lord Marques that beareth you so great good will he hath alwayes bene ready to pleasure you in anye thing that you would requyre of him appointing you alwais the place next to his owne person Alas husband you haue hereby wrought our vtter ruine It by il hap the Marques haue the least inkeling in the worlde that you haue done this e 〈…〉 l deede what shall become of you surely you shal be in great daunger of death where vnto Salard replyed how should the Marques haue vnderstanding of it There is none but onely you and I that kneweth it wherefore I praye you for the loue that you alwayes haue borne and yet doe beare vnto me that you will not in anye wyse reueale it for if you doe it will be an vtter vndoing to vs both Doubt you not of that sayde she For I had rather dye a thousand deathe then open such a secret when the hawke was drest and redy to be eaten Salard and Theodore seite them down togither at the table but Theodore notwithstanding that he requesting her very earnestly would not eate one morsell of it wherefore perceiuing how small accoumpt she made of his wordes as one throughly angred he gaue her so great a blow on the face with his fist that her cheeke waxed very red withall whiche shee taking moste greeuouslye fell straighte on weéping and complayned greatlye of his hard dealing with her And then rising from the table in a furye mâ—â—bling the Deuils Pater noster threatned him and sayd shee woulde remember that iniury all the dayes of her lyfe and woulde bee sufficiently reuenged both of the time and place The next morning rising before her ordinarye hower without longer lingering shee repayred to the Marques telling him from point to point of the death of his Hawke Which when the Marques hearde being inflamed with fury not attending what Salard coulde says for himselfe presently caused him to be apprehended and without further consideration of the matter condemned him to bee hanged and to lose all his goods which he willed to be deuided in three partes whereof the first should remaine to his wife for accusing him the second to his Daughter and the thyrd to him that would doe the execution vpon him Now Postume that was grown to be a proper and well fauoured wench vnderstanding what sentence was pronounced against her father for that which she was not greatly greeued went presently to her mother and saide vnto her Mother were it not much better that I by doing the execution vpon my father should gaine the third part of his goods then a straunger Then her mother said surely my Daughter this is very well considered of thee and I wold it were so for by that meanes all his goods shall remaine vnto vs two Then went Postume to the Marques and made sute vnto him that she might be suffred to do the erecution vppon her father to the end that as he had ordayded she mighte thereby be the inheritour to the thyrde parte of his goods vnto which her request the Marques willingly accorded Salard hauing now secretly informed his friend Fraunces of the whole matter intreated him that when hee was at the poynt to be led to the place of execution there to be put to Death he would presently repayre to the Marques and intreate him that he might be brought before him and that he would vouchsafe to heare him speake a few words vnto him before he was put to death which Fraunces when time serued perfourmed accordingly In the meane time Salard remayning in Prison with Fetters on his feete expecting euery hower when hee should be led to the place of execution there to suffer a shamefull and villanous death weeping bitterlye sayde vnto himself Now doe I playnly perceiue but all to late that my good aged father with his long experience did councell mee to nothing but that which mighte haue bene for my health and singuler commoditye if I hadde well wayed it He like a wise and graue person gaue me good preceptes and I vnhappy and witles wretch made no accoumpte of them Hee commaunded me for my ease and benefiete to flye from these my domesticall ennemies and I to offer them the occasion whereby they myghte bring mee to this shamefull ende and to make them conceaue great pleasure in the same haue yeelded my self vnto their discretion my father lykewise knowing the nature of Princes to be such that in one hower they will both loue and lothe exhault and pull downe counsayled mee to seperate myselfe from them and I foole that I am to be depriued of my goods honour and life haue moste vnwisely sought after them O Salard Salard how much better had it bene for thee if thou hadst followed thy fathers steppes suffering flatterers and lewde persons to follow the courts of princes and great Lordes Now see I wel to what passe I am like to come by trusting to much to my selfe my wicked wife vngracious chylde and aboue all by to much beleeuing the fained friendship of the vngrateful Marques Now do I certainly know how well hee loued me what might he doe worse vnto meâ—surely nothing for at one instaunt would he take from me my liuing lyfe and honour alas how soone is his great loue conuerted to cruell and bloody hatred I see this prouerbe is not vsed in vain that these great Lords are like vnto wine in a Bottle which is good in the morning nought at night O vnhappy Salard to what pas art thou come where is thy nobillitye where are thy deare parents where is thy great riches where is thy loyaltie thy good inclination and accustomed curtesy O my louing father I am sure if you were aliue againe to beholde me in this place redy to suffer death For noue other offence but onely for infringing your fatherlye precepts through the dede deferue far greter punishment theÌ„ this that is now alotted vnto me you wold not only seke sue to saue me from it but wouldalso hartily pray to God to haue pitty vpon my youthful sollies the offences wher vnto only ignorance hath led me and I for my part as an vnthankfull and disobedient chyld that haue not regarded your graue and gracious commaundements would moste humbly beseech you to pardon me whilst Salarde was thus debating and complayning to himselfe his daughter Postume like a good and wel instructed hangman repayred to the prison where he was and there most arrogantly
presenting her selfe before him she vsed these or such lyke wordes Father for as much as froward fortune hath ordayned that according to the seÌ„tence which my Lord Maques hath pronounced against you you shall this day withoute faile suffer death and that the third part of your goods is alotted vnto them that shall doe the execution vppon you knowing the loue that you beare vnto me I hope you wil not be offended if I take vpon me to discharge that office my selfe for in so doing your goods shall not fall into the handes of straungers but remain stil to those of your own famely wherwith me thinketh you should be well contented Salard that gaue attentiue eare to his daughters wordes aunswered in this manner God blesse thee my daughter thy reasons are very good and please me right well and though before I were vnwilling to dy now would I gladly end my life doe then thy office my daughter and deferre the time no longer Then Postume crauing pardon kissing him toke the halter and put it about his neck exhorting him to take his death patiently Salard seing the sodain alteration of thinges was greatly astonished and issuing out of the prison with his hands bound behind him the halter about his neck accompanied with the bayly al the rest of the officers ministers of iustice he passed with all speede to the place of execution being come thither tourning his back towards the ladder that was set against the Gibbet hee wente leyserlye from steppe to steppe till hee came to the toppe where with a stoute courage and stable countenaunce he behelde the people on euery syde declaring treateablye and with greate deliberation why he was brought thither and then in louing and friendlye mauer crauing pardon for-al his faults and offences committed earnestlye exhorted Chyldren to bée obediente to their Parents and Elders when the people had hard the whole cause of Salards condemnation there was not one in the companye but wepte and greatelye lamented the hard hap of this pore yong man and desyred GOD to giue them the grace to take example by him Whylste these thinges were a doing his friende Frauncis that was not vnmindefull of him tooke his way to the Marques Pallaice and hauing founde fit opportunity in moste humble wise besought him that Salard mighte be broughte to his presence to aunswere for himselfe before he were put to death assuring him that he was not gilty of the crime for which hee had condemned him and there vppon pleadged his lyfe So that at the last with much adoe the Marques caused Salard to be repriued willed he should be brought vnto him with the Haltex about his neck and the hangman with him which was perfourmed accordingly So soone as Salard was come into the Marques presence whose face was yet in flamed with furye he beganne with a bolde courage and stedfast countenaunce not being any thing troubled in his mind to vtter these suche lyke wordes Syr the seruice that I haue done you and the loue that I haue borne vnto you hath not deserued the outrage and shame that you haue done vnto me in condemning mee to dye so shameful villanous a death And although the displeasure that you haue taken against my great follye if it may be termed â—olly hath prouoked you to vse such cruelty towards me contrary to your naturall disposition yet shoulde you not so sodainly condemne me to deth without hearing me aunswere in my owne behalfe for the Hawke for the which you are so much offended thinking that it is dead is yet liuing and in as good case as euer it was And thinke not Syr that I woulde presume to kill or hurt it by any meanes but this that I haue done was to make try all of certaine thinges that I was before warned of as I will manifest vnto you