Selected quad for the lemma: death_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A49179
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The novells of Gio. Francesco Loredano a nobleman of Venice. Translated for diversion into English.
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Loredano, Giovanni Francesco, 1607-1661.; J. S.
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1682
(1682)
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Wing L3068; ESTC R217734
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56,614
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155
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I do not envy the happiness of my Mistress in possessing your whole Heart I only bewail the misery of my Fortune which hath put me in a condition to be despised even by those for whom I continually do services Having thus spoken she kissed his Hand which she held pressed between her own with so much passion that Lovanius who at first laughed at her folly being not able to resist any longer let himself be overcome by sensuality so much the rather because the Features of Aleria were so excellent that he rather would have been counted a fool than a constant lover who should have let slip the occasion of enjoying her Lovanius and Aleria were ingulfed in Amorous Pleasures when Deadora thinking long e're she was called and perhaps not being without jealousie since true Lovers pay this interest for their pleasure having seen her Husband in bed she came softly down into the ground Chamber There having found her lover engaged in amorous action being hurried by a precipitous rage without remembring the dangers that were imminent to her Life and Honour she began furiously to lay about her both with her hands and tongue Traitors said she do you thus triumph over my disgrace are these the rewards of my confidence and fidelity I 'll handle you in such manner that by seeing you buried in my destruction I will rejoice that my ruine shall not be infested either by your derision or lasciviousness These words were accompanied with so many blows and bites that fetched bloud in many places about Aleria Lovanius in this interim throwing himself at her feet entreated her with such sweet words as would have softned the hardest stones Sometimes he put her in mind of the danger their lives were in Sometimes he excused his own errour promising amendment And other times he protested that his body had sinned without the consent of his soul Deadora nevertheless being deaf to these supplications and humiliations continued her assaults both in words and deeds when Gelasius with a look full of horrour and fierceness came thither He had waking long attended Aleria's coming whereupon rising for to look after her he came where he heard though not distinctly the complaints of Deadora the crys of Aleria and the prayers of Lovanius Gelasius therefore taking a Poniard in his Hand ran in a rage whither the noise called him He had no sooner seen Lovanius embracing his Wifes knees but he concluded him to be the enemy of her Chastity and the reputation of his House wherefore running furiously on him he wounded him in such manner in the head that not being able to support himself he fell flat upon the ground with the Agony of Death upon him which also appeared more terrible unto him because he saw that his sensualities had prepared a grave not only for himself but also for Deadora Gelasius seeing Lovanius in a condition not to live long much less to make any defence turning about to his Wife with a tone so terrible that would have struck horrour into the stoutest heart he said Woman thy offence is so heinous that to let it go unpunished would be an effect rather of weakness than of compassion Yet the characters of my former affection being still imprinted in my mind I will pardon thee but on this condition that seeing this Adulterer hath gotten thy heart thou wilt by the help of this weapon tear it from his breast Deadora taking the Dagger with an undaunted courage greater than is required in any Woman said unto him Sir the errors of love do deserve some kind of pardon because they proceed rather from Fate than out of choice But I confess my self unworthy of it because I could not regulate my dissoluteness She spoke these words and then making as if she would have run the Dagger into Lovanius's body she stabb'd her Husband to the heart who scarce could say Cursed Woman dost thou thus in one moment rob me of my Honour and my Life but losing his Speech in a number of groans in a manner threatning rather than yielding to death he unhappily departed this life Deadora having performed this much more generous than just enterprize she ran to suck in the last breath of Lovanius who striving against the pangs of Death spoke thus unto her My dear Deadora I now dye contented in that I dye not unrevenged Pardon me I pray you and let the chastisement of an humane errour terminate with him that hath committed it For Gods sake let not your anger disturb my ashes But Oh me this is the last minute of my life Give me O my Dear your last kisses for a consolation at this my departure In ending these words he ended his days Deadora being oppressed with grief stood immoveable as a Statue and after a Deluge of tears she cryed out saying Stay a little O thou Soul of my most dear Lovanius 'T is not just that thou shouldst go alone into the Shades In saying so she gave her self a Stab upon the Heart and thereupon in a moment she pow'red forth her Soul with her Bloud Aleria who in the representation of these Tragedies had suffer'd the torments of a thousand Deaths flying from the sight and interrogation of all those whom the noise had drawn thither in great numbers and hating at once both to see her self and the light retired unto the uppermost part of the House Thereby fitting a Cord and therewith miserably expiring she gave a worthy reward to her own immodesty From hence it may be gathered that the joys of all illegitimate love do terminate in sorrows and that unchast affection can have no other than an unhappy end The Argument The Countess of Castelnovo in a certain great exigency sends for assistance to the Marquess Oliverio He being fervently enamoured of her doth most readily comply with her desires The Countess having her want supplied doth by a neat contrivance carried on by favour of the night both save her own honour and satisfie the discretion of the Marquess NOVELL IV. IN the City of Alexandria situate in the Province of Puglia upon the Confines of Monferrat there was a most Noble Gentlewoman whom I will at present distinguish by no other name than that of the Countess This Lady was graced with such singular perfection of Beauty that she could not be beheld by Men without ardent love nor by Women without great envy The content which Lovers had in looking upon the most admirable features of her Face did extort from them the loss of their liberty In short this glorious Sun did dazle the hearts no less than the eyes of the Spectators He was rather deem'd a fool than wise who could not be subject to such sweet Tyranny and he was almost reputed a Sacrilegious Person who did not offer up his heart in Sacrifice to this idolized Beauty This Treasury of all the riches of Nature was by right of Matrimony in the possession of the Count de Castelnovo a Gentleman endued