owne nature accordinge to the authorytie of the poet affirminge that by loue the rudeman is reduced to a cyuilitie the foole learneth wisedom the cowarde becomes valiaunte and the couetouse nigard settes his purse wyde open to hys frende neyther is there any kinde of curtesye wherwith hee that is in loue doth not participat but who makes an experience of the contrarye I meane without aduise or iudgemente will throwe himselfe hedlonge into the golphe of a folishe and ronning phantasye escapes hardly without the rewarde whiche that frantike passion yeldeth ordenarely to suche as are vnhappelye partakers of suche infection neyther is there any thinge more furthereth the ruyne and dekaie of man then suffriuge the eyes of our vnderstandinge to be seeled with suche ymitate to ymate that as a glott of our gredy desyers whiche nature hathe enioyned to all estates to honour and embrace as a speciall vertue And trulye me thinkes that that folishe and infortunat crewe mighte reserue therrours and destructions of others as speciall pattornes and preceptes to restraine the humor of their owne madnes by the whiche or they be aware they are ledd to the brinke of mortall destruction albeit thindiscretion of that miserable sorte seames nothinge vnlike in comparaison to those that hauinge longe vsed the trade of thefte and robberye and seinge their companions passe by the sentence of a corde lacke grace notwithstandinge to disclaime the wickednes wherin they haue bene nozeled so many yeares neyther is their plage or rather iuste punishmente any thinge inferior for they makinge a chiefe glorye of that whiche is moste imperfecte in loue are eyther so subiecte to dispaire or beastely assotted withe the greedye encownter of the pleasure they fynde that procuring by theyr owne folly and want of order the processe of their fatall sommaunce in the entrey to their felycitye are forced to resigne at one instante their lyfe and loathinge contentmente of lesse contynuance then the paines in loue seame greuous to the mynde that hath y e gift to passe theim ouer by reason And like as a vehement and inwarde greffe of the mynd proceding by the malice of a synister fortune is of such force to close the poares and couduictes of the vitall partes of man that cancellinge the commission of lyfe the soule departes leauinge the body without sence like power I saye hath the vehemencie of semblable gladnes which occupienge all the partes with a generall ioye excedinge the strength of nature makes the mynde insufficent of force to withstande so greate a passion whereby strykinge the saile of lyfe the bodye is seene to vanishe as the candle lackinge waxe or weake or other matter assistinge the flame which giueth light to the beholders wherof we haue diuerse authoryties in the histories of antiquitye as one of the doughters in law to the high priest Helye who hearinge of the death of her husbande the takinge of the arke of the lord ended her lyfe with the dollorous reapport the lyke happeninge vnto her father in law for the ouerthrowe of the children of Israell by the infydelles and vncircumcised in like sorte we haue confirmacion in diuerse prophane discourses of such as haue yelded the ghoste in a traunce of vnreasonable ioye and lawghiuge as Dyagore Rhodiotto the philosopher Chilon who vpon the newes that their children had won the prise at the plaies at Olympus embrased their happye fortune with such exceding gladnes that vpon the place and present they yelded againe their tearme of borowed yeres also a folyshe Romaine woman hearing of the death of her son in a battaile fought against thennemy disgested it with great constancy but seing his safe retorne from the field contrary to her expectacion and former newes she was so assailed with superfluity of gladnes that in place to congratulate his deliuery from the perill of war she dyed in embrasing hym as of a passion of dismeasured contentmeÌ„t which argueth sufficiently the folly of them that in any degre bestowe eyther ioy or sorow so neare their harte that besydes the destruction of the body they become thunnatural morderers of their owne soules wherin w t what enamel so euer they seke to guild colour such vices yet can they not be excused of an humour of madnes proceding of a vaine braine exposing frutes according to y e spirit or guide y e possesseth them neyther is ther any coÌ„mendation at al due vnto such as thorow ympacience giue ende to their lyfe by dispaire with what title or sorname of constancy the fond philosophers of olde time do baptyse those accions of meare fury frenecy wherof as the miserable end of these ii louers yeldes sufficient testymonie dieng both in one hower of diuerse accideÌ„ts the one of a dismeasured ioye the other of a passion of desperatte sorowe so because the discourse is of vndowted troth I wishe it might moue credyt to the reador and councell to al men to eschew the like inconuensence deryued of semblable occasion THE LONG AND LOYall Loue betwene Lyuyo and Camylla together with their lamentable death the one dying of a passion of ioye the first night he embraced his mystres in bedde the other passed also the same way as ouercome wyth present sorow for the deathe of him whom she loued no lesse then her selfe ⧠⸫ AT such tyme as ALEXANDER the sixt surnamed BORGIA supplied the papistical seate at rome dwelt in SYSENNA a yong gentleman called LYVYO with his syster CORNELIA neare vnto whome was the house of a knight bering y e name of RENALDO hauing a son called CLAVVDIO with a daughter CAMYLLA which two yong dame selles by reason of neighborehead and contynuall norryture together duringe their infancye reteyned a league of suche mutuall famylyaritie and conuersacioÌ„ y t their socyetye with often entercourse together seamed no lesse then if nature had made theym the children of one father wherein as Râ—NALDO and his wife reioysed not a litle on the behalfe of their doughter for that CORNELIA was accompted to excede the rest of yonge Ladies in honest behauiour and gyftes of vertue So if it had not bene for a froward disposicion in CLAVVDIO who grudged without cause the companye of LYVYO this conuersacion and haunt of the girles had seamed of easier continuance Albeit as his presence gaue often ympedimente to their metinge so his absence restored their enterviewe in such sorte as he was no soner departed to parforme his fathers affaires at Rome or els where but his syster forgat not to visit her deare CORNELIA passinge theyr pettie follyes and recreacions of honest delyte most coÌ„monly at the lodginge of LYVYO for that there was neither awe of father nor other authoritie to controll their exercise which for the most part was every after none to dresse fyne banquetes striuing to excede one an other in curiositye and conning with a thousande other conceytes and merye chaâ— of huswiferie which seamed of no lesse pleasure to theim
as a blinde guide doth leade them into infynit miseries laborinth of endles annoye where there is no dispense of their follie but losse of libertie perpetual infamie and sometime punishemente by vntimely deathe whyche as they bée worthie rewardes for suche as doat so much in their owne wisedome that they accompte the same hable of it selfe to comprehend the whole globe or compasse the worlde So the wise man affore he entreth into any enterprise of waight beinge carefull for the conueighe of the same dothe not onlye compare the ende wyth the beginning and cast the sequiel and circumstance euerye waye but also entringe as it were into hymselfe he makes a view of that which is in hym and for his better assistance he will not refuce the aduise of his frends by whiche meanes he is sewer to reape the rewarde of his trauell with treble contentmente and seldom is he punished with to late a repentance Herewith also thexample of the wise maryner doth in like sorte aduise vs who comming by fortune or violence of wether vpon an vnknowen coaste doth straight way sounde and trye the depth of the riuer by his plommet and lyne neyther will he let fall his Anker onlesse he be sewer of the fyrmenes of the grounde whiche if it do faile him yet is hee to wythstande the malice of daunger by kepinge the chanell whiche yeldes hym water enoughe So if this wretched ALBANOYS hadde made a view of himselfe his forces afore he became subiect to y e humor of Ialouse suspicion or if he had giuen correction to his falte in tyme and suffred reason to suppresse the rage of his follie afore he was growen to tearmes of madnes he had enioyed his Ladie at pleasure lyued yet in quiet and preuented the fowle note of infamie wherewith the gates and posternes of his house wil be painted till thextreme date of the world and eschewed the peril of dampnable dispair inkilling himselfe with like violacion and bloddie slaughter of his in noceÌ„t lady whose death with y e strauÌ„genes in executioÌ„ being once knoweÌ„ to the multitude it is to be woÌ„dered what generall dule and desolation were in all partes of the citie how al estates and degres of people spared no sortes of teares nor other dollerous tunes bewailinge her misfortune with seueral grudges at the malice of her destinies that in such cruel maner toke froÌ„ amoÌ„gest them y t persoÌ„ of her whose vertues other ornamentes of God nature serued as a special mirror or loking glasse to al ages wherin certeinlie they had great reason for a lady or gentle womaÌ„ equal with her in coÌ„uersacion euexye way I meane chast without argument of dishonestie deuowt and yet hatinge supersticion bowntiful without wasteful prodigalitie wise without vaine vaunting so obediente towardes her husbande as was necessarie and lastlie lackinge the furniture of no good vertue can not be to much honored in her life nor worthely renoumed after her death aswel for y e such rare gifts are no lesse meritorious for the vertues that be in theim then that they serue as special allurementes to prouoke younge ladies and gentlewomen desyrous of like glorye to ymytat thexample and vertues of them whose due fame is hable to excede the length of time and lyue after deathe who hathe no power but ouer our corrupte Soma or masse of fleshe beinge barred to medle wyth the felicitie of the mynde to whome only the title of perpetuity is due wythout exception And as her life and deathe ymporte seuerall vertues and deserue semblable commendation the one for that shee neuer made showe of mislike what wronge soeuer hee wroughte her the other in that shee failed not to honor him til the laste hower of his life So may you also descerne therein .ii. seuerall exaumples the one to warne the lighte and harebrained husbandes not easelie or for smal occasions to enter into suspicion with their wyues whom they ought to loue and honoure no lesse thenne theimselues the other to presente vnto the ladyes of oure tyme the due rewarde of wysedome obedience and chastetie which be the thinges that make this greeke lyue after her deathe beinge worthelye inuested wythe the wreathes of honoure amonge all the ladies of that contreye FINIS The argument BEcause I haue already in diuerse places sufficientlye deciphered the forces of loue and what effectes he exposeth hauing once brued the cuppe of the pleasant poison of our sensual appetyt whereoÌ„ whosoeuer Syppeth swaloweth iustelye the rewarde of suche follies I maye the rather be dispensed wythall eftsones to reitterate in this place that whiche earste hathe bene inferred touchinge the awe whiche that passion hathe ouer the hartes of those whose destenie yeldes theim subiecte to so great an euill Beinge bolde withall to note as a principle or rule of generalitie that that infection procedes rather of the corrupcion of our owne nature then of the perfection of the same Albeit some vaine philosophers are not ashamed to aduowch his beginning of the moste perfect partes that are in the spirite of man wherein I see neyther authoritie to allowe their saing nor reason to confirme their opinion onles they will make it meritorious for thindiscretion and follies whiche appeare in theim that participat with such passion for a familiar testymonie wherof I haue preferred this historie folowing not only affirminge my former protestacion touchinge the disordinat effectes of loue but also to iustefye the opynion of him who makes no difference betwene the deuise of loue and raginge fyttes of frenezy or one posseste with a wicked spirite for here you maye see a gentleman of Myllan to enioye a presence and pleasure of his Laâ—â—â— refuseth not to coÌ„mit himselfe to manifold daungers with diuerse perillous encounters wherof the one seamed no lesse mortal then the other and euerye one threatening the end of his life by present morder albeit his felicitie defended him from harme and the peril passed makes him dread a future plunge SONDRYE PERILLS happeninge to a yonge gentleman of Myllanin the poursewte of his Ladye NOt longe after MAXYMILIANS FORCE by the guide of euill fortune wante of good gouernmente in himselfe hadde lost the state and seigneurye of MILLAN there happened no lesse desolation to the vnhappie faction of the GEBELYNS whoÌ„ the power and pollecie of the great TRIVOLSO did not only abandon their naturall soyle and place of a bode dryuinge theym from the possession of their worldlye porcions but also persecuted their wretched state with suche creweltie that they were readie to yelde to the somonce of dispare if it had not bene for the simple proffer of a certeine hope they reaposed in thassistance of themprour MAXIMILIAN who more willing then hable to restore their desolation pursewed the reuenge of their wronge wyth a puissant armye euen vntill the walls and gates of MILLAN where he receyued suche hoat repulses by the valyaunte encounters of Charles Duke of Burbon
loue you beare me who eftesones desiereth you not to suffer him to liue any longer that triumpheth without measure in the vnworthie slaunder of your most affectionate Blanche maria Yf the laste wordes of this folishe Lady had not broughte her whole requeste in suspicion her importunities peraduenture had procured a consent in therle who conferrynge the pointes of her discourse with her vehemencie in persuading founde in deede that her chiefest meanyng tended to the defence of her owne quarell wherevppon he entred into a pawse measuring in the secret of his mynde the tearmes of her present malice with thexperience and diuerse proffes of the fydelitie of his frende whom he knewe to be more assured in vertue thē to ymagyn so great a villanie against him and albeit he knewe yt was but a fetche of his Lady to sowe y e seedes of quarrel betwene therle GAIAZO and him yet to flatter her fond humor for y e time he promissed to become the mynister of her cursed will for a more shewe and expedicion whereof he tooke his leaue and repaired ymediatlye to Myllan where he ymparted to the Lorde Gaiazo euerie point and Article of the venemous discourse of the Countesse her conclucion and burnynge desyer of his absolute destruction with special sute that only his hādes might be the shamefull execucioners of her execrable deuise wherwith therle Gaiazo was no lesse astonied then he had cause for conferring the tearmes of his present reaport with a freshe remembrance of a former conspiracie by his handes touchinge the death of hym whom she had now suborned to procure the destruction of himself cryed oute of thyniquitie of the gods in sufferynge the earthe to bée infected with the breathe of so wicked a woman and exclaymed agaynst nature in that she dyd not abridge the course of lyfe in so horrible a monster whose pestilent ayre saith he yf God defend not his people is hable to corrupte a whole countreye oh how iustelye hathe God visited the synnes of her father for his cursed vsuries vpon his wretched doughter and rightly punished y e villenies of her predecessors in an ymp sprōg of so vile a stocke how is yt possible to make a froward kite a forwarde hawke to the ryuer or the boochers curr to drawe a true sent to the hurte deare likewise this pattorne of corruption beynge the doughter of a villaine who was borne to no more porcion then vij foote of inheritance in the church yard and her mother more faire then chast and lesse vertuouse then honeste hath not onlye abandoned her contrey and husbande for the glott of her insatiable luste aunsweringe all comers without excepcion in the singler combat of her beastly desyer but also is come to keepe an open boocherie or slaughter house to execute the nobilitie of Italy But for my parte yf yt were not for y e dishonour that wolde attende me in defyling my handes with the blode of suche a filth I assure you I wold drawe her by the haire to the publike theatrie or place of execucion in Myllan where after she had confessed how often and in what sorte she hath desiered me with her handes cloased and eyes full of dyssemblyng teares regardyng the maiestie of the heauēs to comitt morder vppon my deare VALPERGO thies handes should deuide her villanous carkasse into more peeces then there bee dayes in the yere And besydes I was neuer of so vile or base cōdicion but that I durste discouer and aduonche what grudge so euer I had conceiued agaynst any man neyther doo I thynke that you haue other opynion of me then to bée one of your moste loyall and assured frendes whereunto thother replyed that thonlie respect of the fidelitie he reapposed in hym keepte hym from performynge her pernicius and bloddie sommonce and that he had not only disclaymed her acquaintance and companye also but abandoned the place of her beynge for feare of further enchauntement and seynge sayth he that God hathe holden hys holye haunde ouer vs and our fortune hetherunto defended vs from daunger lett the viewe of our perill passed withstande the offer of future mischiefe and in eschewyng the ayre of suche infection let vs also from hensfurthe dysmisse oure deuocion to that ympp and ymage of SATHAN had yt not bene a greate comendacion to vs to haue entred into quarrell and committed mutuall slaughter one of an other for the recreacion pleasure of such a minion whose simple remembrance I assure you is so hatefull vnto me at thys present that I fynde a falte in my selfe that in byddynge her farewell I gaue her not an hundreth estockadoes thorowe the bodye to th ende the example and due hyer of her badd lyfe myghte procure a terrour to others that thurste after the blood of suche vnnaturall morders Albeyt as the course of her wretched lyfe argueth an vnhappie end soo I dowte not but her miserable deathe wyll take suffycient reuenge of the wronge she hathe offred to vs bothe In the meane tyme I wishe in vs both an vtter forgetfulnes of her and her follies And feynge the gayne shee hathe gott by vs maye bée cowched in the leaste corner of her coffers wée haue small cause to greue in any losse sauyng in the ympairiuge of our reputation for yeldynge honour to one so farre vnworthie of our companie wherewyth ended the discourse betwene the ij young Lords who euer after forgatte not to contynue the remembraunce of theyr venemous BASILIKE wyth woordes of oppen infamye in what companye so euer they were bothe what intisynge meanes she hadde to traine menne too her lure and wyth what subteltyes shee dismyssed theyme beynge wearye of their companye or when she sawe an offer of fresh supplye the brute whereof Albeyt gaue her certaine frettynge alarams at the stomake yet nature hadde lente her suche a grace that she neyther blushed at the same nor was moued to remorse wyth the viewe of her euill But disgested both the one and the other wyth an ordynarie face of shameles complexion wherein notwithstanding she was neyther so precise nor constant but the inwarde grypes she felt had almoste forced a depryuacion of libertie and sences the rather with the view of an Italyan Epigram inueighinge bitterlie agaynst her disordered life composed as they sayd by therle VALPERGO whyche because I neuer sawe nor haue meanes to recouer a true copie I leaue without iudgement or reapport But thusmuche I dare aduowche of her collerike passion procedinge chieflye by that inuectiue that if she had had eyther capteine or soldiours at her cōmaundement she had made ij faire Anotomyes of bothe their bodies wherof notwythstandynge Signeur Valpergo escaped not without sharpp pennance as one vppon whom she founded her greatest grudge for that as he was the fyrst that skirmished with her hande to hande in her cloase chamber so he was the last that brake his fayth and dissembled theffect of his promisse By this tyme euery post and posterne in PAVYA
assailed by the other who perswading her to scilence said her brauery was to great for one of her calling and that they came not thither to take pitty of her complaints neither shold she escape so good cheape as she thought she desired theÌ„ to abstein from violation of her body geue her what death they thought good they excused them selfes of any intent to do mordore only saye they we are com hither to bend you by force that will not bow by any entreatye wherefore if you thincke you haue any wronge referr the cause to the longe contynuance of your crueltie which is now at point to be reuenged pytty it was to heare the dolorous tunes of the poore maide with the miserable skrikes which she thrue vpp into the ayre to witnes her innocencye wherein shee contynued wythout any eccho of reschewe til y e detestable pallyard had spoyled the flower of her virginitie and then he begaÌ„ to perswade her to pacyeÌ„ce willing her her eafter not to become so curious of her chastitie nor refuce to admit y e offer of his freÌ„dshipp wherof he promised so largly that if she wold he wold take her from her father and kepe her at his charges presenting at thinstaÌ„t a purse ful of money willing her thensfurth to caste awaye all cause of care and dispose her selfe onlye to cherishe and make much of the rest of her life for the whiche saith he you shal fynde me as careful as you shal thinke conuenieÌ„t and if hereafter you haue a desyre to mary doubt not to repose your selfe therin vpon me for I wil so wel prouide and assiste you wyth so good a porcion that the same shal be plentifull inoughe to susteine you and releue the needfull condicion of your parentes but she no lesse loathing the offer of his filthy promise then detesting the villen that wold not cease yet to corrupt her hauinge by this time recouered her sences defyed him wyth his mynisters of infection saing that although his villeny force hath defiled the chastitie of her body and geuen him theffecte of his lasciuious desier yet shold he neuer be hable eyther wyth his money or other wayes to corrupt the sincerytie of her hart whose innocencye saith she wyl tryumphe ouer thy execrable acte afore him who is to yelde the the due hyer of thy trauaile is it in thy power to satisfie or leue me coÌ„tented y t froÌ„ me which al y t world caÌ„not eftsones restore me No no it is god of whoÌ„ I must claime satisfactioÌ„ in punishing y e two trayterous Borre ans and rauenous spoilers of y e virginitie of me pore wretch who was borne to abyde y e setence of my destinye y e galland thinckyng to appease thextremitie of her passion began to prefer perswacions of coÌ„fort which she defied with such spite and bitter termes of iust reproche against him that lothyng to suffer her eyes to féede vppon him that had infected all the partes of her body tolde him that the only veiwe of his villanous lookes made her forgett all order of pacience which he toke as a comission to depart fearyng withal y t the noyse of her coÌ„plaints might bechauÌ„ce com to y e eares of som that passed y e way who vnderstandyng the discourse of the rape wold make reporte to the bishop whose profession and othe is chefelye to punishe offendours in the like accydentes here the sorowful IVLIA being void of companie sauyng the doleful ecchoes of woodes and ryuers that answered her cryes wyth lyke complaint renewes the warre of her present desaster which tearing her heares without respecte and quarellyng with y e dowery that nature had gyuen her wold gladly haue touched her with ymputacion in makyng her incydent to so wretched a destenye in exclaiming still vppon the malice of her Fortune yf thabundaunce of teares accompayned wyth sighs of pytyfull disposicion hadd not so stopped the course of speche that for the time she was dryuen into scilence and beyng by litte and litle restored againe to the libertie of her tounge and the source of her sorrowe somewhat retyred she made a short inuocacion to God in this sorte oh heuenlye father sayeth she I sée that the rigour of thy iustice hath preuailed aboue the benefytt of thy mercie and that thou doste awarde me this harde penaunce for the punyshment of my faltes passed w t what face alas shal I behold my poore father whose compfort as it consisted in my wel doing so his gréefe wil be without comparison hering of the hard termes of my myschaunce in desolacion shal he knitt vpp the remeynder of his olde yeres that commyng into any place the remembrauÌ„ce of my falte drawing the blood of shame into his face will make him blushe and eschewe the companye wher afor he neded not haue douted to haue marched amoÌ„gest the best and shall I dissemble that whyche I entende not to hydd or kepe it secret that toucheth me so nere No no as thinâ—â—cencye of my mynde is recorded afore god so because the world shall also witnes how clere I was from consente I wil vse no other water to washe away so great a spott then the sacryfice of death which I will followe with no lesse expedicion then the treason of the villaine hath bene cruel in takinge from me that whyche made me to lyue wherwithe dismissing her complaint she ceassed also froÌ„ teares and put herselfe in order to go to the house of her father who by euill â—ucke was not then at home there she puts on the beste garment she had and attyring her self in order to go to some great méeting or banquet shittes the doare of her cotage and leading her yonger syster in her haÌ„d went furthwith to an awnt of hers who as one ouercharged with sicknes and yeres was not hable to sturr out of her bedd affore whome as she was in the middest of the repeticion of her chaunce reueiling the whole order and circumstance of the fact which she cold not do without great effusion of teares for that the very remembrance of the deede restored a freshe alaram of her sorowes she fel sodeinly into a qualme or passion of soundyng wherein she remayned traunced wythout all argument of lyfe til by the helpe of the assistaÌ„ce she was eftsones delyuered to thuse and libertie of her senses when quarelling stil w t the horror of the fact desire to be reuenged by death she seamed to rebuke her owne ymbecillitie and faintnes of corage saing what signe of vertu is this to seame to shrink when argumeÌ„ts of constancy ought chiefly tappere who wyll desire to lyue that hath lost the renoume of honor which ought to be the most precious Iewel and badge of the lyfe or what pleasure is it to possesse the presence of the body alredy spotted with infamye when the soule wery of her habytacioÌ„ is redy to resigne her auncyent aboade what felicitie haue they in lyfe that being
the gaze and wonder of the multytude cannot claime the priuiledge of any place but the people wyl point at them neyther can they hyde theym in so secret a corner but infamye wyll hunt them out shame discouer them atteÌ„ding them to the very end of theyr daies no no let not them lyue that are desirous to dye and death is moste acceptable to suche as hate the fruicion of lyfe for my parte I loth alredy the remembrance of lyfe seing I haue lost the chefest pillor of the same wherof I meane to make spedy declaracion by the sentence I haue alredy pronounced of my ende wherin it shall appeare to the worlde that although my bodye haue tasted of the malice of the wicked by force yet my mynde remains entire without spott or consentement to the villany whiche as my chiefe bequeste and last testament in this worlde I leue registred in the remembrance of you good awnt to make relacion to my desolat parents and the whole worlde besides of thaccideÌ„t of my wretched desaster that although your vnhappy néece and miserable IVLIA hath by meare force lost the outward show of her honor yet her conscience remeinyng vnspotted and soule cleare ready to flye to the heaueÌ„s to witnes her iÌ„tegry tye afore the sacred theatrye or tribunall seate of GOD can not departe wyth worthye contentement afore I offer my lyf to y e waues to purifie the fylthye spottes wherewith my bodye remeins painted on all parts by thinfection of the detestable rape of force wherewith she departed not taryinge the replye of her awnt who thoughte to haue diswaded her from the pursuete of her desperate intent and beinge coÌ„me to the riuer of Oglyo kyssing her sister with a last crye to god to receyue her soule to his mercy she lept hedloÌ„g into the water who as a mercyles element respectinge neyther thinnocency of her cause nor desperate order of dying committed her to the botomles throts goolphes of the sourges whiche was the ende of this miserable IVLIA whose lyfe only deserues commendation for thexample of her vertue and deathe worthie to be committed to oblyuyon for the signes of desperacion wherewyth it was infected But after this chaunce burst out into tearmes became the report of the people God knoweth what generall desolacion was amonge all the estate of the Cytie aswell for the strangnes of the facte as for that the villeyne was fledd that caused the brute who if he had ben taken had don penance of this falte with the losse of his lyfe in example of others the bodye was founde by the diligence of Loys Gonzaga who woulde not suffer it to be buryed in the Churche yarde or other sanctuarye because of the desperat maner of her death but caused it to be solempnelye accoÌ„panyed with the teares great dule of diuerse Ladyes into a place or graue in the felde where he ment in shorte tyme to sett vpp a tombe of marble wyth a monument of the particular discourse of the vertues and singuler gyftes of grace in his pore countrewomaÌ„ whose death I wishe may learne al estats to eschewe the perill of dispaier and order of lyfe to instructe all the yonge Ladyes of England to resiste the charmes and sugred allurements of loue who the more he is feasted with pleasaunt regardes of the eye or encountred with secret conference in corners or courted wyth embassages or lastlye banqueted wyth dishes of delicate toyes or vaine importunityes the more is he redye to inuade and apte to ouercome but on the contrarye parte the waye to kepe warre wyth that vaccabound and to flée his infections is as IVLIA did to marche against hym with a flagge of vertue vsyng wythall the pollycy of VLIXES in stopping your eares from the pepered harmonye of them that delitinge only in the praye of your outwarde beautye haue no respecte to the ornament of the soule whiche beinge kepte pure and vndefyled to th ende yealdes you a rewarde of immortalitye and your renowme neuer to be rased out of remembraunce tyll thextreame dissolucion of the worlde FINIS The argument THere was neuer mischiefe of former time nor vice in present vse wherein men are or haue bene more drowned or drawen by a beastly desyer then in therecrable and deadly synne of whoredome by the which besides that the spirituall fornicacion is figured in some sorte yet is it forbidden vnto vs expresly by thinuiolable lawes not written in the tables wher thauncientes were wonte to graue directions and orders to pollitique states of the Romaines Athenyens Egiptiens or Sparteins but recorded in theuerlasting booke within the whiche the veraie finger of god hath sealed his infallible statutes wher of as he wolde that his children and faithfull heires of his kingdom were made partakers with desyer and indeuor of ymytacion so we are al warned by y e same defence that besides the wrong and harme we do to our owne bodies we offend â—eynously against the health of our soules specially in corruptinge the wife of our neighbour with thabuse of that part of her which is necessarie to be garded with as great care and watche as we reade was vsed somtime in the supersticious ceremonies of the vestals of Rome in keping a contynuall fyer in their temple The greatnes also of this synne of adulterie bringing as you se an equal hurt to the soule and bodye hath forced a wonderful seueretie in both the lawes punishinge by deathe such as do prophane that hollye and invyolable bond and bed of mariage wher is only a place of purity and no oblacion to be offred or admitted but the sacrifice of honeste lawful substaÌ„ce besides what slaunders and mortalitie amongest men haue spronge out of the vicious fountaine of that synne y e mariage bed of Menelaus defyled by y e kinges sonne of Troye hath left sufficient example and cause of exclamacion amongest the phrigiens with reason to all posterities to deteste such villanie as a vice moste abhomynable in Egipt the Sychemetyens for like respect vnder Abraham and Isaac haue felt the mighty hand of god althoughe their offence in some sort was excusable by ignoraunce for that they thought the wyues which they toke had bene vnmaried Likewise if there be any faithe in the poeticall fictions we see thargumentes of most of their tragedies were founded eyther vpon the punishmente or dispair of such as not hable to reuenge the wrong of their lasciuions wife and wicked Sathanist her mynyon conuert and execute their rage and furie vpon theimselues wherin our worlde at this daye is growen to such a malicious golphe and bottomles sea of vices that the wilde nacions without eyther awe of God or feare of his lawes gouerned only by an instinct of nature are more curious to kepe the honor of their bedd then diuerse contryes in the harte and bowells of Christendom wher thadulteror is not punished but by protestacion or attorney and wher the poore
meritt with the cause of his vniuste tormeÌ„t vsynge with all thaduise of reason he hadde not seamed so symple in his owne blyndnes nor bene so sowne abused by y e foly of a folish girle his man dowting any further tattempt hym with perswacions for feare to procure thuttermost of hys displeasure was forced to an vnwillinge patience greuinge notwithstandynge on the behalfe of the misfortune of his maister who with his euill dyott and worse lodgyng quarrelyng both two with his former order of bringing vp was become so pale and hideuse of regarde that he rather resembled the dryed barke of a withered trée then the shapp of a man bearynge lyfe besides the course of continual teares and skorchyng syghes deriued from the bottome of his stomake had so drained the conduites and vaynes fedynge the partes of his bodie with naturall moisture that his eies sonke into his heade his bearde forked and growen oute of order the heares of his headd starynge lyke a forlorne man or one loathinge the vse of longer lyf hys skyn and face ful of forrowes and wrinkelles procedyng of â—retting thought argued him rather a wilde man borne and bredde vpp al the dayes of his lyfe in the wildernes then the valyante Diego whose fame exceded earste the whole compasse and Circuit of Spaine But here lett vs leaue our amarus hermitt ful of passioÌ„s in hys symple cloyster or cane vnder the earthe and see what followed the deliuery of his letters to his cruell Geniuera to whom the seruante the fourthe daye after his departure accordyng to his charge presented the letters not with oute a greate showe of dutie and reuerence who notwithstanding assone as she perceiued by the direction froÌ„ whence they cam forgatt not to retire into her aunciente disdaine and casting in greate anger the letters vppon the ground vouche safed not once to giue leaue to the messenger to declare the reste of his embassage wherwith her mother some what reprehendyng thinciuilitie of her doughter demaunded to sée the packett for saieth she I am perswaded of thonestie of Diego neyther do I doute any deceyte in his vertue nor you doughter for your parte oughte to seame so curious to tooche theym seynge that yf they ymporte anye poyson your beautie only is to be blamed whiche was the firste baite that infected the knighte and if he putt you in remembraunce of your rigour I sée no wronge he doth you considering the greatnes of his deserte and the slender care you haue of his due consideration in whyche meane tyme a page tooke vpp the letters and gaue theym to tholde Ladie who founde his complaynte in suche or semblable tearmes Seynge good madam myne Innocencie is denyed to worke theffecte of her vertue and iuste excuses confirmed with thautoritie of equitie and reason are altogether voyde of force to make a breach into your harte so hardned against me with vniuste disdaine that the simple remembrance of my name is no lesse hatefull vnto you then the offer of any tormente what tiranny so euer it ymporte I fynd the nexte acceptable seruice I can do you is in mortefyinge whollye the cause of your displeasure and with my punishment to yelde you contentemente to putt suche distance betwene vs that neyther you nor any other shall knowe the place of myne abode and muche lesse the pitte of fattal repose where in I entende to cowche my corrupte bones wherein albeit my contynuall passion procedyng of the viewe of your discourtesie hath bredd suche a generall debilitie thorowe all the â—aynes and places of force within me that I féele my self alredye fallen into the handes of the dreadefull messenger So affore theffecte or execution of the extreme hower I am thus holde hereby with the true toochestone or witnes of myne Innocentie to putt you in remembrance of your vnnaturall rigor not for that I meane to accuse you to the hier of your deserte but that the worlde beynge priuie to my case maie be thindifferent iudge betwene my integrity and your crueltie my loyall affection and the wronge you do to y e rewarde of my seruice assurynge my selfe notwithstandynge that the reaporte of my deathe will bringe a remorse to your conscience with a compassion albeit to late seynge the same shal be thequal ballance to paise my sincere and constante intente with your credulous and rashe iudgement in admittinge for trothe the false suggestion of suche as enuyed the vertue of our honeste loue with a suborned informacion of a frendshypp betwene me and the doughter of the Lorde of Sera yf you will make it good madam vnlawful for a gentleman traded in the disciplines of ciuilitie to receiue the presentes of a Ladye or gentlewoman equall in degrée or honor to hym self wherein will you to consiste the pointes of humanitie howe can we glorie or séeme meritorious of the title of nobilitie yf it be an offence to he thaÌ„kefull to suche as do homage to our honour with thoffer of anye courtesie wherein notwithstandynge I was so curious to offende you that thâ—nly respect or feare of your displeasure forcinge me to abuse y e goodnes of myne owne inclination made me retorne the offer of her frendeshypp with a simple Gram mercy And for your parte if your hate hathe taken suche roote against me and your self so resolued to do wronge to the sacred pitie exspected in al women and shrowded commonly vnder the vaile of suche beautie as nature hathe paynted in your face that neyther the sacrefice whiche I haue made of the cause of your vniuste disdaine my languishing penance nor lawful excuses haue power to perswade you to the contrary of your synyster ymagynation I sée no other choyce then to yelde to the partiall sentence of your iudgemente whyche as an enemye to thequitie of my cause fauoreth wholly the iniustice of your conceite wherein seynge the spottes of your mortall displeasure can not be wiped awaie but by the blodd of my lyfe whyche showeth your contente mente to consiste wholly in my destruction I accompte it a dutie of reason to honour you with the sacrafise of my deathè aswell as I founde cause to auowe vnto you the seruice of my lyfe whiche also I am yet to performe so longe as my sowle dothe kepe her holde by the mortall thred and fraile fillett of my bodye fyndinge this one thynge to increase the miserye of my death passynge as the breath of a pleasant sighe whych shall haue power to dysmiss my soule vnder the sommonce of a softe and shorte pange that myne ynnocencye wil alwaies lyue to accuse you as a cruel mordresse of your moste constant and loyall seruant Dom Diego The tragicall contentes of this letter strick such soddaine dollor into the mynd of thold lady that she seamed to participate w t thaffliction of the pore forrestian hermit albeit dissimuling her passioÌ„ affore her howshold seruaÌ„tes retired into her chaÌ„ber with her doughter only whoÌ„ she failed not
theis solitarye desertes aswell to endure the pennance of myne owne indiscretion as also to continue in secrett prayer to thalmightye for the continual quiet of her who may boldly vaunte to be the mistres of the most loyall seruante that euer mente honor or seruice to Ladie Who doubtes in y e merueilous forces of loue let him be absolued with this example seing that as the impressiō which we cal loue hath power to bringe to an vnitie the mindes that liued in seperation make indissoluble peace with the quarells which seame immortall quallifying the rigour of those hartes whiche without this passion no other pollecie could appaise So when he discouereth the full perfection of his effectes he preferres suche a facilitie in thinges whiche earste seamed impossible that by his onely meane they become neither dangerous to pursewe nor harde to obtaine whych appered rightly in this younge Lady in whom as the sinister conceite of a former Ielowsie her affected zeale contracted to an other with her iust cause of anger for his death had engendred a disdayne to Dom Diego an extreme desier to reuenge her wronge vpon Dom Roderico and by the same meane to ende her owne lyfe So loue remouinge the vaile that blinded the eyes of her vnderstandinge and breakinge thadamante rocke planted in the middeste of her stomake brought her in one instante to beholde with open eyes the constancy patience and perseuerance of her first and moste loyall seruant whose last prayer and intercession on her behalf stirred vp in her more remorce thē al y e seruices of court or pennance in the painfull wildernes wer hable to prefer whereof she exposed a present effect in castinge her armes a bout the necke of the desperat knyght to whom she forbare no sortes of kisses nor amarus embrasinges seamynge no lesse passioned wyth ioy and loue on hys behalfe then earste he seamed plunged in dispair and sorowe ballancing indifferently betwene life and death in his presence neyther was she hable to pronownce any worde vpon the soddayne tyll beyng restored to the vse of her tongue by the discontynuance of her traunce she excused her former rigour wyth tearmes of humylitie and desyeringe pardon of the follies wher wyth she had abused hys patience offred her selfe hereafter to be the slaue and seruant of hys shadow takyng thassistāce of thym perfections in loue to be in some sort contrybutarye to her falte for that sayth she as loue hathe this vice of nature that such as accompte theym selues to sée moste cleare are they whych most often commit greatest faltes by ignorance So besydes the confession of the wronge I haue don you so many wayes Lo I am ready to abide the punishment of your owne iudgemeut without crauing any dispence of iustice or moderacion of pennance for any respecte of fauor And albeit for my parte I haue not escaped wythout passiō but y t the stormes of aduersatie which you haue séene me endure haue driuen me to thuttermost of my patience yet I my selfe happie to haue passed that awaye for thexperience I haue made of two effects of verteous extremities the one of constant loyaltie in you whych only hath right to chaleng y e crowne of glory frō hym that sacrafized himself vpon the blodie body of hys Lady who in dyenge so gaue ende to his annoyes where you haue chosen a kynde of languishynge life of more hard tolleracion a thousād tymes then the sharp arrowes of death the other consistes in the clemencie wher wyth you haue mortefied so well the rage of your aduersaries that I whych earst hated you to death am now so vanquished by your courtesye that I accompte myne honor and lyfe of to small value to requite your merit wherin also I acknowledge a debte to Seigneur Roderico whose wisedome makes me ashamed of my follie in resisting his rightfull demaunde touching the reléeffe of your vndeserued destresse wherunto as he wold haue replied wyth semblable humylitie Dom Roderico preuented hys meanynge in embrasinge theym both with peculiar commendacion to theyr vertues and speciall thankes to the goodnes of their fortune for that w t out peril of honor they had passed that dangerus passage aduising them to retorne w t hym to hys castel frō whēce hée sayde he wolde gyue warning to their mothers to whom he also vndertoke to cooler thaccidente wyth some other circumstance of fayned substance wher vpon they mounted on horsbacke leauing the stately hospitall to the nexte hermyt and vsing easye iorneys they toke away the tediousnes of the way with the pleasant deuises whych passed betwen the two louers embrasing one an other in honest sort as a simple recompense of their longe and weary annoyes till tyme with the consent of the churche gaue authoritie to consommat the rest of their desiers from the house of Roderico was aduertisement giuen to the two Ladye mothers in equall care for the loss of their childrē excusing the secret departure of Geniuera in that she went to sée Dom Diego lyinge sicke in a castell of hys frende Seigneur Roderico where if it pleased theym to giue their consente the mariage sholde be performed wherin there nedes no pithie solycitors to neither of the widowes for that for the more honor of the feaste and contentmente in the allyance they failed not there in parson at the day appointed where the mariage was performed with pompp accordyng to the magnificence of both their houses And so it is to be thought that the stormes and tormentes past endured by theim both yelded thys conclucion of other tast then they whych wythout painful trauaile in the presence of loue possesse the fyrste daye the full of their desiers whose pleasures certeinly as they resemble the condicion of hym who norished al the dayes of hys lyf in deintie fare cannot iudge so well of delite as he that some times findes want of suche delicatie soo also an extreme thruste makes vs fynde the wyne more pleasant and a long fasting giues a better taste to oure meate neyther is loue wythout annoye any other thyng then a cause without an effecte for he that wyll takeawaye the paynfull traueills and longe sute robbes the louer of the prayse of hys constancie and doth wronge to the glory of hys pursewt seyng that he only is worthy to weare the crowne of tryumphe who encountringe all conflictes doth reapose more assurance in the vertue of hys constancie then feare in any sorte the malice of any fortune Let thys be then the mirrour of loyal louers in detestacion of thimpudicitie of suche whych feare not to giue a charge wher they fynde good countenance and readye retire at the first repuise ympartinge also a participacion of worthy rebuke to thothers who to contente the humor of their fonde affection doo accompte it a vertue to exchaunge their former generositie wythe a gloriouse title to be reputed as true and faythfull champions of loue for y t the perfectiō to loue
league by franke consente thamytie shall not be onlye mutuall betwene vs till deathe discharge the same by seperation of oure bodies but also remeyne no lesse indissoluble to the posterytie and succession of bothe oure races for euer And as in the firste worke of this newe societie I will not only stryue to excede the in showe of perfecte frendeshippe but also make the waye open by my example to all degrees of nobilitie to attaine to the like honour by semblable vertue So I pronounce heare a further confirmation on my parte with protestation by the faythe and lyfe of a gentleman to embrace the and thy frendes with no lesse affection then my selfe and persecute thy enemyes with no lesse mortalitie then yf they had conspired and put in vse the destruction of the noble house of SALYMBYNO wherwith seinge the necessitie of the tyme craued rather an expedition of diligence then longer discourse or deliberation hee tooke a bagge of a thousande duckattes and weâ—â—ymediatly to y e Deputie receauor of the peynall forfeytures of the state of SYENNA whom hee founde perusinge certaine accomptes in his stodie And after he hadde taken him the bagge with addition that there was the whole demaunde due by DON CHARLES MONTANYN he commaunded to giue an acquitance withe his writte of delyuery from thinstante but tellinge the contentes of the bagge he founde a surplusage of the some due by the prysoner which as he offred to restore so the other did not onlye refuce to take it but also woulde not departe the place till he had dispatched one of his people to the maister of the Iayle who perceiuing a tender of the money wythdrewe the accion sent to fetch y e prisoner out of his doÌ„gion darke cabynet clogged with heauye shackels and clinkinge yrons CHARLES hearinge a noyse of bownsinge at doares and opening of rustie lockes imagined it had bene the comminge of some ghostlie father to heare his shryft and laste confession and that the senatte in respecte of the honour and estimacion of his house had graunted him the priueledge of a secrete execution within the prison for auoydinge the publike shame whiche comonlye attendes the miserye of such as declare their laste testament vppon the skaffolde in the gaze of all the worlde and hauinge alredye examyned his conscience accordinge to the shortnes of his leasure so farfurthe as he seamed only to attende the fatall hower desyred god eftsones to strengthen him with hys grace not leauinge him wythout assistance in his iourneye and passage so perillous where oftentymes the moste assured do not only wauer but vtterly declyne if they be not supported by his speciall fauor in the ende of which secret meditacion he comended vnto his goodnes the lyfe of his deare syster desiering with humble teares in a speciall peticion and last requeste to be protector and defende her alwayes from all assaltes and offers of infamie or dishonour being thus brought into the hal of the Iaylor the tormentours or officers of the prison begaÌ„ to knocke of the boltes from his legges and present hym besydes in show of countenance rather with arguments of consolation then cause of freshe disquiet or distruste of delyuerie which kinde of curtesy not loked for stirred vppe in his troubled minde a soddaine hope or expectation of good fortune with an absolute assurance almoste of that which affore he durste neuer ymagine and muche lesse accompte to come to passe wherof notwithstandinge the effecte appeared at thinstant for the Iaylor showinge him his letters of deliuerie tolde hym it was in his power to vse the benefytte of hys former lybertye for saythe hee the lawe is choked and fullye aunswered of her due and I safysfyed to the vttermoste of the charges and fees of youre imprisonmente desyeringe you Sir if you haue founde worse entreatie att my handes thenne I see youre offence hathe deserued to consider the charge of my office and to impute it rather to the straite comission enioyned mee by the senâ—tt then any desyer of my selfe to deale with you in other sort then the bond and respect of the dutifull zeale I beare you dothe require Here is to be noted a wonderfull difference in the casualties accidentall to man and that the chaunges and alterations in loue be of a contrary disposition to the reste of the passions that trouble the minde neyther nede we doubt by the authoritie of this example no lesse credible then of great admiracion but loue is a certaine vertue of it selfe seinge it workes theffect and exposeth suche frutes as seame to resemble rather the operactoÌ„of a deuine miracle then the suggestion of our fraile fancye for howe had this SALYMBYNO redemed so frelye and in a tyme of such nede the carefull CHARLES beinge firmely confirmed in mortall grudâ—e as you haue harde if the verye vertue whiche we are not hable to tearme by al proper name in loue had not broken by force of azealous affection the angrie inclinacion of his nature and conuerted the humor of his auncient wrath into a compassion exceding the imagination of manne And as it is an ordenarye argument of humanytie to giue succours to suche as neyther haue deserued any thinge of vs and muche lesse wee neuer knewe nor sawe because nature herselfe dothe somon vs all to be thankefull to such as resemble our selues in condition or callinge So that vertue deserueth treble comendation whiche excedinge as it were thauthoritie of nature doth force in vs suche an inclynacion whiche dothe not only mortefye in our hartes the obstinat humor norished of long continuance but makes vs plyable to the thinges which we colde not somuch as admitte afore into oure cogitacions and much lesse performe by any perswacion of the worlde wher of you maye note a familiar experience in the disposition of this SALYMBYN who suffred himselfe to be more ouercome wyth the bewtie vertue and seamelye behauior of ANGELIQVA then with any humilitie or importunatte sute of her brother althoughe hee hadde layen prostrate a thousande tymes afore his knee And what hart is tempered with the mettal of such induracion that is not mollified and made tractable by the regardes of so rare a misterie as the exquisite beautye of this SYENNOYSE or who wil not slacke the Raine of his loftie stomacke and stoupe to the somance of suche a paragon humblynge hymselfe withall euery waye to get the good will of her that gaue place to no creature in the worlde for all perfections of God and nature neyther is there any reason at all to charge hym with imputacioÌ„ of foly that indeuoureth to honor and imbrace in his hart the beautye and other giftes of so vertuous a Ladye nor his trauaile meritorious of other name then the title of honest exercise who addinge an exact diligence to his dutifull zeale and seruice in the pursute of her whose vertues procure his affection hath his harte armed onelye with an vpright meanyng of sincere integritye and
that we seale tharticles of the contract wyth a ful consommation of the secret ceremonies in mariage bothe to take awaye all occasion of offence and also to mortifye the malice of my brother maugre his hart wherin sayth she beinge fully persuaded of youre consente to my proposition and for that in cases of loue delayes and longe consultation bée hurtefull and stâ—rre vp causes of displeasure to the hartes of suche as be striken with the same disease wherof the contrarye the reste of oure humaine affaires require a maturitie of councel to th ende the successe may aunswere therspectation of the parties so I wishe you to attende the benefyt of time this euenynge I meane at the hower of supper when men are gyuen least to suspicion you faile not to come in as secret maner as you can to the gardeine gate wher my woman shal be readye to conueigâ—e you into my chamber to th ende we maye there take aduise of that which we haue to do wherunto LIVIO was not curious in consent and lesse vnmindeful to yelde her the choice of a thousande thankes for offringe the priuiledge which he doubted to demaunde giuyng her assuraunce to vse suche exact wisdome in the conueyghe of so secret a misterie that ARGVS himselfe if he were vpoÌ„ earth shold not descrye his coÌ„ming much lesse any be pryuye to the daunce but such as performed the rounde wherin he was not deceaued for as he was the firste so shee failed hym not at the cloase and bothe theyr miseries of equall qualitie in the ende like as it happenethe often times that those amarous bargaines redoundes to the harmes of suche as bee the parties who albeit do alledge a certaine respect of honestie in theyr doinges by pretence of mariage yet God being the iudge of their offence will not suffer the wronge to the obedience of their parentes in concludyng priuye contractes vnpunished and that wyth suche a penaunce as the remembrance is notorious in all ages But now to our LIVIO who neyther vnmindeful of the hower and lesse forgetfull to kepe appointement attyreth himselfe for the purpose in a nighte gowne girt to hym with a paire of shoes of felte leaste the noyse of his féete shoulde discouer his goinge and for a more honor of his mistres he forgat not his perfumed shyrte spidered with curious braunches accordinge the fansie of his Ladye with his wrought coyffe poudred with diuerse drogues of delicat smell wherewith he stealeth in as secret maner as hée can to the gate of appointement where he founde the guide of his loue whome hee embrased aswell for the seruice he founde in her as also in that she resembled the beautye of his mistres CAMYLLA who after she had taken her nightes leaue of her father and brother with search that euery man was in his place of reste retireth to her chamber with such deuocioÌ„ as commonly they y t fynde themselues in semblable iorneye to worke theffect of such like desir where encountering her infortunat seruant it was concluded to imploye no time in vayne reuerence or idle ceremonies but in a moment they entred their fatal bed together where after certaine amarous threates and other folyes in loue seruyng as a preamble to the part they ment to playe LIVIO entred into the vnhappye pageant of his fatal last pleasure wherin he chaffed hymselfe so in his harnesse and was so gréedie to cooll the firste flower of the virginity of his CAMILLA that whether the passion of ioye preuailynge aboue y e force of the hart and thinner partes smothered with heate coulde not assiste thenterprise accordynge to their office or that he exceded nature in surfettinge vpon his pleasant banquet he founde hymselfe so sharplye assayled wyth shortnes of breath that his vitall forces began to faile him in the middest of the combat like as not longe since it happened to ATTAL VS the cruell king of the HVNES who in y e first nighte of his infortunat mariage in HVNGARYE enforced hymself to so greate a corage in the pleasaunt encounter wyth hys newe wyfe that hys dead bodye founde in her armes the nexte mornynge witnessed his excesse and glottenouse appetit in the skirmyshe of loue whyche also myghte bee the bane of thys LIVIO who respectynge no measure in drinkynge of the delicat wyne no more then yf it had bene but one banquet dressed for hym in the whole course of his lyfe was so ouer charged with desyre in that pleasaunt skirmishe that the conduites of lyfe stoppynge vppon a soddaine barred to adde fourther strengthe to hys gredye appetyt wherevppon he became without m ocion or féelinge in the armes of CAMYLLA who féelynge hym without sence and that he seamed more heauy and rude vppon her then affore dowted a trothe wherin also she was fully satisfyed by the lyght of y e candle which she caused her chamberiere to bringe to the bedde syde where vewinge the dead bodye of him whom she loued no lesse then her self and iudgyng the cause as yt was in deede entred ymedyatly into suche a mortall passion of dollour that albeyt she woulde haue exposed some woordes of compassion on the behalfe of the pytefull accident yet féelyng a generall dymynucion of force thorowe all her partes by thynnundacion or waues of soddaine sorowe she founde her tonge not hable to supplye the desyer of her hart whych wyth the consent of the reste loathynge the vse of longer lyf resigned her borowed tearme to the fates fallynge at thynstant without sence or féelynge vppon the dead body of hym whom shee accompted a dutye to accompanie in the other worlde aswell as she delyted in hys presence durynge their mutuall aboade in thys miserable valey A happye kynde of deathe yf wee had not to consyder the perill whyche attendes suche wretches as hauing no meane to performe theffect of their pleasure but by vnlafull stealthe are so franke for the shortnes of their tyme that in satisfynge the glot of their gredye appetit they make no conscience to sacrifise ther owne lyfe but yf wee passe furthe in the viewe of these offences we shall fynde a derogacion of the honour and integretye of the mynde with a manifest preiudice and hazarde to the healthe of the sowle whyche makes me of opinion that yt is the most miserable ende that maye happen to manne the rather for that the chyefest thynge whyche is regarded in the putsuet of that entreprise is to obeye the sommance of a bestely and vnbridled luste of the fleshe wherein I wyshe oure frantike louers whoe makynge contemplacion vppon causes of loue accomptes yt a vertue to ende their lyues in thys LASCIVIVS bonde of pryuye contract to refrayne that whyche is so indifferent hurtefull bothe to the sowle and body seynge theire death is not onelye without argument of desperation but also their sowles moste sewer to receiue the guerdon of cyuil morder whyche we oughte to feare and eschewe as neare as wee
out of your minde an other shal enioye the swéete and pleasaunt benefit of that deuine beautie of yours whiche oughte to serue but for the dyet of the gods the simple viewe whereof seames hable yf it wer possible to make me suffery e martiredom of ij deaths wherunto she replied w t persuacions to driue hym from his fonde deuise profering her selfe eftesones to dye for companie wherin callynge the maiestie of the highest to witnes she protested againe that if he wolde not be reclaimed from his desyer to dye within a veray shorte moment of tyme she woulde bée as redye to yelde death his tribute as he all whiche she inferred I thinke rather to féede the tyme then of intent to performe the effecte of her offer hauynge the lyke opynion of her husbande whome she thoughte alwayes to haue suche power to represse the euil sprite that possessed hym y the woulde not become the vnnaturall morderer of hymselfe and muche lesse execute the lyke rage on her But alas thinfortunat Ladye brewed heare the brothe of her owne bane and spon the thredâ— of her owne destruction for fallynge nowe vnhappelye into the malice of her destenie thinkynge nothinge lesse then of the secret ambushe of mortall treason her husbande had layed for her went vnhappelye to bed wyth hym the same nighte where for his parte preferringe in his face a shew of fayned contentement consolation to the eye he forced a further quiete of mynde by the ioye he ymagined in the acte he ment to do but chieflye for that he had deuised howe thinnocent Ladye throughe the rage of his villainy sholde bée forced to an effect of her promisse for the spedie execution wherof they had not bene longe in bedd together but he rise from her faynynge a desier to performe the necessitie of nature in the closset or chamber of secretes his erraund in dede being to fetche his dagger which without makynge her priuye he conueyed vnder the bolster of his bed beginnynge euen then to preferre a preamble afore the parte he ment to playe for fallinge from his former complaintes of sicknes he retired into tearmes of extreme â—renâ—zy and madnes brainge out such groanes and sighes of hideus disposicion with owlyng cryeng and foaminge at the mouth like one possessed with an euill sprit that who had séene his often change of coollor and complexion in his face his ghastly regardes arguinge ententes of desperacion and his eyes slaming with furie soÌ„ke into his head with the order of his passion euery waye might easely haue iudged the desyer of his hart to be of no smal importance and the thynge he went about neither common nor coÌ„mendable wherein he was assisted with .iij. enemies of diuerse disposicions loue Ielousie and death the least of the whiche is sufficient of him selfe to make a man chafe in his harneys and take away the courage of his hart in the middest of the combat for the one presented a certaine feare by reason of the horrour of the acte the other sewed as it were for an abstinence or at least amoderacioÌ„ of y e crueltie he had coÌ„menced against his innoceÌ„t wif but y e third being y e beginner of al exceding the rest in power wolde not dismisse him from the stage till he had playd thuttermost acte of his malicious tragedie Marke here good Ladyes the desolation of this vnfortunat Gentlewoman and dispose your selues to teares on the behalfe of her distresse wherin certeinlye you haue no lesse reason to helpe to bewaile her wretched chaunce then iuste occasion to ioyne in generall exclamation againste the detestable acte of her tyrannous husband who disclayminge euen nowe his former state and condition of a man retires into thabite of a monster and cruell enemye to nature and in conuertinge the vertue of his former loue and remembrance of the sondrie pleasures he had heretofore receyued of his deare and louynge wyfe into present rage and vnnaturall furye far exceding the sauage and brutishe maner of the Tiger Lyon or Libards bredd in the desertes of affrike the common Norsse of monsters and creatures cruell without reason whettyng his téeth for the terrible suggestion of the deuill who at thinstant put into his hande the dagger wherewith after he had embraced and kissed her in such sorte as Iudas kissed our Lorde the same night he betraied him he saluted her with ten or .xij. estockados one in the necke of an other in diuerse partes of her bodye renewynge the confilict with no lesse nomber of blowes in her head and armes and because no parte shoulde escape frée froÌ„ the stroke of his malice he visyted her white and tender legges with no lesse rage and furye then the rest wherewith beholdinge in her diuerse vndoubted argumentes of death began the lyke warre wyth hymselfe vsinge the same meane and ministers with his owne handes enbrewed yet with the bloode of his innocent wyfe she wyng notwithstandyng this horrible part and acte of dispaire diuerse and sondrye signes of speciall gladnes and pleasure in his face wherin he contynued till the laste and extreame gaspe of lyfe chieflie for that he sawe him accompanied to death with her whome he was not hable to leaue behinde hym on lyue and who beinge ouercharged as you haue harde with the nomber of woundes the violence whereof preuailinge farr aboue the resistance of lyfe did presse her so muche with the hastie approche of death that the want of breath abridged her secret shryft and coÌ„fession to god with lesse leasure to yeld her innocent soule wyth humble praier into the handes of her redemer and commende the forgeuenes of her synnes to the benefit of his mercie Only she had respyte with great a do to speake to giue order that her bodie might be layde in the tombe of her firste husbande SIGNEVR BARZO But the cursed and execrable ALBANOYS so whollie possessed with the deuill that the gyfte of grace was denied him abhorred to the laste mynute of his lyfe the remembrance of repentance for laughinge as it were at the fowlenes of the facte euen vntill life left him senceles and voyde of breathe he commended his carkes to the gredie Iawes of rauenous wolues seruing also as a fyt praie for y e venemous serpentes and other crepinge wormes of the earthe and his soule to the reprobate socyetie of Iudas and Cayne with other of th infernall crewe The worthie ende of this wicked wretche argueth the iuste rewarde of the euill disposed and suche as are vnhaypelie dropped out of the fauor of god the ordenarye successe of those enterprises that are begâ—n without the consente of wisedom or raison but chiefly theffectes and fortune of such as blinded with the vaile of their owne wil and dymned w t the myst of follye do reapose so muche for theim selues in the opinion of their owne witte that detestinge good councell and thaduise of the wise doo credit onlye the conceite of their owne fancie whiche
doares of his lodgynge tyll the deade tyme of the nyghte sommonynge all sortes of people to reste seamed to putt hym in Remembraunce of hys promisse and the thynge he chiefly desyered to perperforme so that arming himself only with sleues of male and a naked rapiour vnder his mantell he marched towards the pallais of PLAVDINA wyth more haste then good spéede and lesse assuraunce of sauetye then likelihod of good lucke for as he accompted hymselfe no lesse frée from all daungers then farre from any occasion or offer of perill so fortune displayinge the flagge of her malice encountred hym soddainely with a desaster excedynge his exspectation whereby she warned hym as it were of the ambushe of future euils whiche were readye to discouer themselues And albeit this first accident was nothinge in respect of the other straung mischiefes which she ceassed not to thonder vppon hym one in the necke of an other afore the ende of his enterprise yet it oughte to haue sufficed to haue reuoked and made hym cross saile from the pursute of so bad an aduenture seinge withal there appeared neyther reason in the attempt nor honestie in the victorye But who doubteth that the luste of the bodye is not the chiefest thinge that infecteth the minde wyth all syn and that the beautye of a woman dothe not onelye drawe and subdue the outwarde partes but also leuyeth suche sharpp assaultes to the in warde forces of the mynde not sewerly rampierd in vertue that they are not onely denyed to eschewe suche thinges as bée vndoubtedly hurtefull both to the bodye and soule but also drawen to desyer that which they ought not to ymagine and muche more abhorre to do as a thynge of greate detestation besides loue is of so venterous a disposicion sturryng vp such a corage in the hartes of those champions whome he possesseth that he makes theim not onely vnmindefull of all daungers but also to seame hable to passe the lymittes of the Son wyth power to excede the bondes of Hercules and Bacchus neyther makes he any thynge vnlawfull whiche he thinketh reasonable nor gyueth glorie to that enterprise whiche is not accompanied with infynitie of perills But as the wyse man wisheth all estates to deliberat at large afore the deuise bée put in execution yeldyng no difference of rewarde with a successe of semblable and equall effecte to hym that rashely crediteth thaduise of hymselfe and suche as committ theyr bodies and doinges to one stroake of fortune So are we warned by thauthoritye of the same principle to examyne the circumstaunce of our enterprises and caste the good and euil that maye happen wyth so sewer and steddye a iudgement that there can no daunger so soone appeare but we maye bee assisted wyth the choice of ij or iij. remedies to represse hym wherein if CORNELIO had bene as throwly instructed as he seamed altogether infected with the humour of follye he neded not haue fallen into suche daunger as he doubted least nor dispaire of that whiche he seamed to desyer moste and muche lesse assailed euen in the begynnynge and brunt of hys buysynes wyth that soddaine feare whiche earste he was not hable to ymagine and nowe as vnlykely and vnprouided to shâ—n for as he attended the comming of Ianiqueta to open the doare beholde there ronge in his eares a greate brute or noyse of the clatteringe of naked weapons and men in harneys seaminge as it was in déede a set fraye betwene ij enemies in the ende or corner of the same stréete which was so hoatlye pursued that one of the skirmishers beinge hurte to the death brake out of the presse and fleinge towardes the place where CORNELIO stoode fainted and fell downe dead at his féete euen as the maide opened the wicket to take hym in whiche was not so secretlye don but the eyes of certeine neighbours beholdynge the fraye oute of their windowes discouered the goinge in of CORNELIO with a nacked sworde in his hande wherevpon followed the alarame to the innocent louer as you shall heare herafter but beinge within the courte and the gates shotte againe he was léed by the litle Darioletta of their loue into a garderobe or inner gallery till the seruantes were retired to reste who for the most parte laye out of the house that night beinge busye in visiting the banquettes abroade accordynge to the Epicure order of sondrye countreys in christendome durynge the season of shrâ—â—tide when diuerse glottons delite in nothing but to do sacrifyce to their belly And hauing the reste sewerly locked in their chambers and all occasions of suspicion or feare eyther preuented or prouided for as they thought PLAVDINA sent for her seruant into her chamber thin king to worke theffect of both their desyers and plante the maried mans badge in the browes of her husband being absent But here they made their reckoning without their ost and were forced to rise from the banquet rather with increase of appetyt then satisfied with the delicat dishes they desyered to féede vpon for as they had newly begon the preamble to the part they ment to plaie and entred into thamarous exercise of kissinge and embrasinge eche other whereof neyther the one nor thother hadde earste made assaie together beinge at the pointe to laye their hands to the last indeuor and effect of loue which the frenchmanne calleth Ledon Damoreuse mercy they hard a greate noyse and horleyborley in the stréete of the garde and chiefe officers of y e watche who fyndynge the deade bodye at the doare of PLAVDINA began to make such inquisition of y e murthur wyth threatenyng charge to vnderstande the manner and cause of his deathe that amongest the neyghbours whyche behelde the fraie there was one affyrmed that at the same instant that the broyle was moste hoat hée sawe a tall yonge gentleman let in at the gates of PLAVDINA with a sworde in his hande armed on the armes wyth sleues of male whervpon the capteine of the watche beganne to bounce at the doare as thoughe his force hadde bene hable to beate downe the walls wyth suche a rowte and companye of frenchemenne assistynge hys angrye indeuor that bothe the one and the other of oure louers seamed indiffrentely passioned wyth semblable feare the one dowtyng thys soddayne sturre â—proare of the frenchmen to be rather a pryuye search to entrappe him then an Inquirendum for the murdor wherof he was no less ignorant then innocent the other dispairing no lesse of the delyuery of her frende yf he fell once vnhappelye into the handes of thennemye then doubtynge the dyscouerye of her owne dishonestie beynge knowen to conceile a stranger in the secret corners of her house wherein hauyng albeit but bad choice of meanes to auoyde suche ij threatenynge euills and lesse tyme to take councell of their present perill yet beyng of opynion that in the sauetie of the one consisted the sewertye of theym bothe shee vsed the pollecie of the wyse maryner or shypmaister
or out of the window or in other place which denied him fauor or libertie to speake to her I thinke he forgat not to expose arguments of his grefe by the pitiful regards of his countenance wanton torninge of the eye and other messengers of his passion arguing the torment he endewred for the desier he had to do her seruice he vnderstode at last by secret inquisition what churche her mother haunted for the performing of her prayers and that her doughter was her only companion in these deuocions whither also hée directed his pilgrymage and dissymulinge with GOD hée plaide thypocrite in conuertinge his regardes from thalter or place of leuacion to beholde the bewtie of the goldsmithes daughter the saint to whom his hart yelded most honor making of the house of prayer y e shop or forge to frame iniquitie exceding in this respect the barbarouse abuse of the Etheniques turkes and infidells who geue more reuerence to their Mosques wher God is blasepheimed and his Son abiured then the christians now a dayes to the temples and houses dedicated to the Lord to performe the ministracion of the sacraments with open publicacion of the wil of our sauiour Christ whom wyth saint Paule we ought to pray for the subuercion of babilon and restauracion of the true Church dispersed into diuers corners of the world by the malice of the pope and his wicked disciples wherof this Abbot being not the least in authoritie was nothing inferiour to the most abhominable in al vices wherof he gaue sufficiente proofe in two offences of equall detestacion the one in seking to deflowre a mayde contrarye to the othe of hys religion the other in abusinge the house of GOD as a place of bawdye practise to performe theffecte of hys cursed deuise beinge more deuowte in courtinge the Ladies of NAPLES thenne curious to reforme thabuses of his idle couente But the girle notinge thinconstant order of prayer in our reuerende father GONSALDO to gether wyth hys wanton regardes full of lasciueous desyer ymagined by and by wyth what yron the gentlemanne was shod and to what sainct hée would gladlye offer his candell wherefore thinkinge it noo breache of good manner to playe mockhallyday wyth such a maister foole gaue hym skoape now and thenne to hehold her at large and to beat the hammer more depe into his head would requite his amarous glaunce wyth a semblable glée and sodaynly retire and vanish out of hys sight wyth an angry farewel as thoughe shée disdayned his wanton offer wyth intente notwythstandynge to shonne hys voyce and place of presence no lesse then thincounter of any venemus beaste fearinge to reapose eyther credytt in hys honestie or so muche assurance in her owne pudicitie as to open her eare to the charme of a friuolous louer or who thinkes it no offence to take awaye the puritie of a mayde whom wée may compare to the red rose desiered of enery one so longe as the morning dewe mainteineth hym in odyferous smell and pleasaunt coollor but when the force and heate of the son hath mortyfied hys oryent hew and conuerted hys naturall freshnes into a withered leafe the desier to haue it dekaieth wyth the bewtye of the thynge euenso shée that hathe once morgaged the flower of her virginitie is not only dispised of hym to whom shée hath béene so prodigal of that whych shée oughte to make a moste precious Iewell but also in common contempte wyth all men what showe of dissembled courtesie soeuer they presente vnto her wherof the mistres of GONSALDO was nothing vnmindfull who preferringe the honor and reputacion of chastetie affore all the respecttes of the worlde seing wythall that the blinde Abbot pursewed more and more his amarous quest preuented hys expedicion by making her a straunger to his presence shonnynge all places of hys repaire and to take awaye all occasions that myghte geue increase to his desyer shée forbare to visit the churches onelesse it were at suche howers as they were voyde of other companie and yet wyth suche regarde that shée made as it were a priuy searche in all the corners and quyers of the temple to preuent his subteltie in dressinge some ambushe to inuade her vppon a soddaine and if by chaunce hée saw her and saluted her in the stréetes shee crossed saite on the other side and closed her eyes as agaynst some hurtfull encownter yelding hym no other countenance then she mighte haue auowched to the most infydell in the vttermost Ilandes of Tartaria whych brought the sely freare into suche mortall perplexitie that dispaire beganne to appeare wyth thapproche of sondrye perentorie diseases chiefly for y t the hyer of his earnest loue was retorned with sondry sorts of crueltye and disdainefull repulses occupyinge his brayne with suche contrarietie of thoughtes that he was voide of councell to what saint to vow himselfe or vpon what wood to make his arrowes seinge he was neither hable to mortifye nor vse moderacion in his passion and muche lesse was assisted with any meane to communicate the greatnes of his gréefe to her whose beautie had made hym the slaue of follie wherein albeit he sawe a vanitie to vse the office of a Dariolleta or bawde for that the vertue of the maide argued a detestation of suche Embassadors and to write to her appeared a great difficultie for that she was alwayes in the presence of her mother who vsinge the vertue of her doughter as a solace of her olde yeres was no lesse carefull of her honestie then be longed to so precious a Iewell yet felinge a continuall aggrauation of desyer wyth a flatterynge offer of loue to rewarde hym in the ende with the praye of his purseute he determined to suborne a shameles messenger to bewraye his shameful intente and therefore put his requeste vpon tearmes in a letter of this effecte Yf my destenies had don execution vppon my bodie when firste they brought me to the viewe of your beautie I had not ben a presente experience of your crueltye nor you thoccasion of my vnworthie torment for if death by nature had preuented the begynnynge of my loue I had ben frée from the force of passion discharged of all mortall greefe and you dispensed with al from the imputation cause of a double ill the one to abuse the vertue of your selfe do wronge to the renowme of al women by preferring effectes of rigour the other in disdaynyng the seruice of him whose life and death payseth indifferentlye in the ballaunce of your good will dissemblynge also not to sée the circunstaunce of my loue to driue me to desperacion and at the point to vse vnnaturall force againste my selfe Howe often alas haue I made you priuye to thinwarde affection of my mynde by the outwarde regardes glaunces of my exterior partes Howe often haue you acknowledged the same by argument of semblable glée and immediatly denied the whole by a soddaine showe of angrie complexion eyther disdayning vtterly
their diligence doings deserue by iustice like as the grekes and romans painting with an exquisitedexteritie of y e pen their pollicy in warr the valiantnes of their Captaines their wonderfull fortune and good successe in all enterprises with other discourses of their vertues do argue them more glorious in their owne acts then meritorious in deade of true commendacion for that in arrogatinge vnto themselues the only title and name of all knowledge they make our time seme naked of all vertue sauinge such as is deriued from theim and ymytacion of their doings Albeit we maye obiect with the spartayne agaynste thathenians that those lippwise soldiours or scoole orators had a more facilitie in discouering then facylitie in execucion of noble effects not for that I meane to do such wrong to their estimacion as not to yelde to theim a title of singularitie in all perfections yet I may also be bould to preferr the benefit of oure time which participating wyth their golden age in any respect of honest gift or qualitie is hable to preseÌ„t a furniture of as many examples and authorities of vertue as we rede were found in the politike state of Rome when Cato Camilla or Scipio gouerned that proude Citye or when on Pericles Themistocles or Aristides bare authoritie in the florishinge Acadimia of Athens for if we go about to discourse of the valyantnes in armes or stody to be pryuy to y e sleightes and pollecy in warr we nede not thassistance of one Hannybal discipline of Marius pellecy of Pompeius nor corage of Cesar or Alexander seing our fertile Evropa brings furth such store of excellent captaines that if those great couqwerours and subuertors of whole countries amongs the Grekes and Romains wer now in the feilde with their invincible force they should not finde a mettellus orgalozs without armes nor encounter a company of effemynate Persyans or haue to do with serfull Italyans but they shold buckle wyth the valiant cauelery and gendarmy of fraunce fele the force of the couragious englishmen make a proofe of the puisance of the mightie Almaine and make heade agaynst the armes of the loftie Spanyarde wherein as the shortnes of time denieth me to yelde to euerye captein and souldiour his peculyar commendacion so my endeuor could not escape without ympu tacion of superfluitie if I shold enterlard my Catalogue of the gracious gifts of our tyme withe the due glorye of the fathers of iustice deuising wonderful pollicyes and necessarye Lawes for regarde of the publike weale in the senate wherein our world I thinke oweth nothinge to antiquitie neyther neede I preferr the singularitie and exquisite skil of oure payntors or forgers of curious ymages whose arte at this daye contendes wythe the aunciente conninge of Appelles Albeit vppon the commendacions of these dexterities in armes and arts coÌ„cerning y e hands I find attendinge a worthie cause of generall complaynte agaynst the slowthfulnes of our tyme geuinge wyth al the title of iuste prayse to the diligence of thauncyentes who preseruing the memory of such as deserued reuowme amoÌ„genst them for any vertue hath left vs cause to blush in our owne abuses and be ashamed of the negligence we vse in recording the rarietyes of our time or perfections of suche as are iustly meritorious of prayse and albeit of long time thiniquitie of the bad sort of men haue so much preuailed ouer the worthie renowne of vertuous women that they haue not sticked to whet their malicious tongues with diuerse blasphemous reproches agaynst such as by misfortune haue geuen som salfe bownd to their honor yet ought we not to be vnthanckful to the chastetie and honest conuersacion of the rest who rather then they wold departe wyth the badge of their pudycitie haue bene sene with their bodyes full of wounds and faces died with blode and sometime passed the panges of painfull death in resistinge the force and fleshely vylanye of the wicked corrupters of the virginitie wherin if the Goekes â—aue geuen such great comendacion to the faire Hippo who being made a pray amongest other spoyles of y e countrey to a barbarous pirott on the sea with present daunger to depart wyth the badge of her honor chused rather to bury her body in the belly of some fyshe and consecrat her integrytie to the waues then suffer an insydell pallyard to hurt her soule to the deathe in depryuinge her of that which all the worlde are not able to restore or make good if the Boecyans haue not forgot to engraue in pillors of eternetye the memorye of a Ladye in Thebes who forced to the vyolacion of her bodye by a rude souldiour oft he Kynge of the macedonions dissimuled for the time her dystres wyth fayned showes that she delyted in the pleasure til encountringe at laste a conuenient occasion she reuenged the wronge done to her honor with the death of him that had vsed such force agaynst her where also herself loathing the vse of longer yeares hauing already lost the onlye ioye and felicitie in lyfe gaue place to nature and at thinstanct made a blody sacryfice of herself by her own hands And if the Romains haue had alwayes in their mouthe the prayse of Lucrese whose chastetie they haue placed in the theatrye or circle of Mars and geuen her a chiefe place amonges the trains of the chast Diana if all these I say haue bene so thankfull to the vertuouse womeÌ„ of their time that by their diligence the memorye of their vertue remaineth in recorde to the posteritie of all ages what worthie cause of rebuke haue we who lyuyng vnder a better clymat and constellacion enioying more pure lawes and aspiring nerer thymage or semblaunce of dyuynitie will not erpose the noble frutes of our tyme whyche yeldes not onely example of sembla ble vertue to thauncientes but excedes them in contynent lyuinge and chast disposicion wherof we haue an example of Yphygenne doughter of y e kyng of Ethiopia who hauyng already vowed her vyrginitie to the spouse of oure soules accepted rather the offer of present deathe then to be ioyned in Mariage to a wanton younge prince prouyded for her by her father with a nomber of lyke authorities which I colde infer to proue the sinceritie of womeÌ„ who at the beginning when our religion was first founded did lay the cornerstone of puretie without hauing y e knowledge of man neyther is our age so voide of examples of contynency nor the roote of vertue so cleane extirped from amongest vs but we maye se at this day sundry pattorns of pudycitye in the persons of all degres of women aswel noble as of meaner condicion exceding the vertue of such as antiquitie hath in so great veneraion wherin for a familiar reuenge of our Ladyes now a dayes touching the synyster ympositions of dyuers euil tongues inveighinge agaynst the whole sect I haue presented hereupoÌ„ the stage this historie taken out of Italyon whose authoritie as it is sufficient to
presence drowned wyth thinundacion of vndeserued sorow proceding by his wickednes wherewith her eyes performed her desier with such plentie of teares that there was not one of the companie voyed of compassion on the hehalfe of the dollor whych tormented her not ceassing notwithstanding to perswade her to pitie towarde that poore Diego who beynge newely recouered by the diligence of thassistance sprinkling fresh water of the fountayne vpon his face dyd no soner lift vp his sorowfull lyddes beholdinge the lamentable passion of hys mistres with certeine likelehodes he espied showing an encrease of her disdayne towardes hym but he retired to his former debilitie fallinge downe dead betwene the armes of suche as suported hym and albeit hée was eftsones restored yet the force of hys passion assailed hym stil wyth thrée or foure mortal panges one in the necke of an other in such sorte as the whole company gaue iudgment of hys death amongest the whych Roderico was not the leaste amased who greuing indifferently with thobstinate crueltie of Geniuera and present perill of hys deare freÌ„d Diego was in long debate what pollecie to vse to qualifie the one and preuent the daunger of the other he perswaded that if he killed the willful Geniuera he shold also giue ende to the dayes of Diego for that vpon the viewe and remembrauce of the one depended the life of the other and so in doinge no good to any he sholde commit doble offence to god and the world both in spottinge his soule with vnciuill morder and also to become the author of his death in whose lyfe he reaposed his most worldly felycitie on thother side y e vntowardnes of the girle argued her intractable in suche sorte as hee desiered which confirmed the continuall martirdom of hys frend whose distresse as it moued hym to suche inwarde remorce that to procure his deliuerye he made no conscience to lighte a candle afore the deuill so he gaue a newe charge vppon the good will of Geniuera with gentle perswacions lainge afore her what vertue ought to appere in suche tender and delicate yeres and how greatly the vice of ingratitude defaced the renowme of a gentlewoman assisted wyth crueltie without reason wherein gaininge no lesse then if he had neuer put the deuise in execution he retired to thextremitie of his former threates and last pollecie swearinge that she shoulde fynde no difference betwene the sommonce and effecte seing that by her death he should giue ende to her disdayne and desolate state of hys frende whom as he doubted not woulde deserne in tyme what commoditie it were to purge the ayre of suche contagiouse filthes of ingratefull arrogancie so he was also of opynion that tyme wold yelde commendacion to his fact chiefly for that in preseruinge y e honour of a familie he thought it more expediente to exterminat the two principall offenders then to reserue the lyfe of eyther of them for an vtter extinction of the glorye of the whole house wherefore regarding the rest of his traine hee commanded to laye handes of the obstinate gentlewoman with her two companions with charge to vse no lesse mercy in their seuerall executions then the chiefeste of the three extended pitie to the amarus knighte whyche he thoughte wold yelde vp the ghost afore her The Ladye hearinge the sentence diffinitiue of her life escrâ—ed the morder with open mouthe as yf she had exspected some succour to defende her from deathe wherein her hope was frustrate for the deserte fostred no other companye but suche as were readye in the place to commit execution The page and poore Chambriere helde vpp their handes for mercie to Roderico who fainyng an ympedimente in hys hearyng made a signe to his men to put effecte to his commandement Geniuera entreating for the liues of her page and woman desiered that their ynnocentie mighte not do pennance for the offence whych she had don crauyng with great humilitie that the punishement myght be performed vppon her froÌ„ whom the falte yf it be a matter meritorious of blame sayeth she for a womaÌ„ to kepe her fayth to her husbande is deriued and yeld iustice to thies infortunat wretches least th execution of their ynnocentiâ— increase your detestable offence oh saieth she with her handes and eyes beholdyng the heauens thou my most deare and lawfull husbande whose soule I see walkyng in the middest of the loyal louers what better proffe canste thou haue of the sinceritie of my loue then to see me laye my body vppon thalter of ymmolation to vntymely death for thy sake neyther shalte thou for thy parte oh boocher and mortall morderour of my carkasse to whose crueltie my destenie hathe consented in quenching thy thurste with the blodd of a pure mayde glorifie hereafter to haue forced the harte of a simple gentlewoman and muche lesse made a breache into her honor eyther by terrible threates or sugred perswations vpoÌ„ which laste wordes notwithstandyng attended suche argumentes of terrour that a man wolde haue thoughte that the veraye remembrance of death hadd somewhat quallified her vehemency and mortified the greatest part of her former furies Dom Diego by this tyme came to hym selfe and seynge the discourse of the tragedye readye to presente hys laste acte with the death of his faire mistres Geniuera la blonde was driuen to force hym selfe to speake for the lyfe of her whose crueltie hadde committed hym allmoste to the panges of extreme daunger wherefore staynge the diligence of suche as had the charge of execution he addressed hym to Roderico with this requeste My lorde and great frende the present experience of your rare frendshypp hath made so lyberall a prooff of youre vndoubted meanyng towardes me that if I sholde liue the age of a whole worlde I shoulde not be hable to discharge the bondes of your desert So considering the cause of this misfortune procedes only of the malice of mine owne destenie and that it is a vanitie to contende with the thynges which the heauens haue determined vpon vs I beseche you by the vertue of your honor for a confirmation of all the good tornes you haue done me to graunte me yet one requeste whiche is that in pardonning the life of this gentlewoman and her companie you will retourne theim to the place from whence you broughte theim with no lesse assuraunce and saffetie then yf you guided your miserable Dom Diego for my parte being fullie resolued not to kepe warre with my destenies I am perswaded to a contentement touchinge my lot assurynge you for the reste that the sorowe whiche I sée she suffreth giueth me more cause of passion then y e gréef which I endure by her meanes troubleth me let her liue in peace and me in exspectation to receiue ende of my tormentes by the deuouring knif which is ordeyned to cut in sonder the fillet whereuppon dependes the fatall course of my cursed yeres till whiche tyme I haue sworne to kepe resideÌ„ce in