runne headlong to mischiefe and haue no helpe Go to thy mother go vile Girle And so he left her This sharpe cheâ—ke surprizde poore Katherinas passionate soule with such vehement supposes that halfe distracted of her sences scarce able with her trembling féete to ascend the stairs craued her Closet where when she entred fetcht déepe and heartie-shiuering sighes faintly drawing breath fell into a suddaine sowne and hauing againe recured her memorie she vttered to her selfe this sorrowfull complaint Ah Loue quoth she the onely Lampe and Load-starre of life how peruersly art thou burthened with Atlas loade Ah life the greatest light of the world how art thou clowded with the counterfait of death Ah death the onely phisitian to cure a gréeued heart Why withdrawest thou mercilesse as thou remainest thy piercing dart to cut off my woful dayes lengthned too long by the spitefull Destenies Ah Destenies the continual consumers of mortal life cut ah cut off the twist of my daies for I abhorre all my liuing daies prolonged by the lingring slacknesse of doating Tyme Ah Tyme the deuourer of all earthly things suffer this hateful breath of mine to forsake my wretched breasts habitation that my poore soule with the winges of a Doue may mount vnto the glorious heauens Ah heauens the predominant gouernours of mortal bodies and blessed receptacles of deified soules deliuer a wretched soule from a distressed bodies poyson to haue some comfortable content with your sacred selues amongst the glorious Seraphins Heauens Destenies Tyme and Death accord in one to the end my miserable life and with my life my inspired and yet discomfortable loue Then she staide from her wofull heart shooting footh volleys of sad sighes and powring from the conduicts of her Christall eyes streames of teares that trilled downe her Lilly dide chéekes and hauing by these meanes a little lightened her burthened stomacke shée thus againe beganne to ruminate And shall my Fathers browes furrowed with frownes or his words as sharpe as the blastes sent foorth by Boreas turne or driue away my Loue that ought to me his dearest life No by the Gods no whilst I liue if his heart remaine loyall as though his heart too would remaine otherwise that thus thou pleadest with Ifâ— oh whilest I liue I say will I loue my Iacomin But and then she shoote foorth â—alt teares our Fathers our froward and furious Fathers ah that Parentes should séeme crosses to the godly proceedings of their children our Fathers that should be our best helpes are our most hinderers our Fathers who in furthering our choyce should chiefly pleasure vs doo chiefly displeasure vs their enmitie confuseth our amitie their contentions infrindge our contentaâ—iâ—ns their armours our amours their aggreuates our agreements their frownes our affections their hardie spéeches our heartie sportings Ah hard hard hard happe Goe to thy mother vile Girle quoth he and so â—lung from his onely childe in anger Should I tell my mother what would she replie I know what I must not loue his ofspring that Serpent-like intends my Parents downfall As though the faulte of the Father were rightly to be reputed to the sonne who wisheth peace if it were possible requireth quiet if it might bee graunted requisite commendeth concord thereby to haue all reconciled And yet is he ah he my ioy and comfort my Iacomin he is had as an Agent in these hurly-burlies Therefore Katherina wretched and miserable Katherina sith thine eyes are debarred from beholding the light of thy vniuersall consolation let thy Closette become a sollitarie Cell which mantled all about with blacke sorrowe may séeme to thy best content euen the shades of Cymmeria for what more may excruciate a macerated soule whose eyes abhorre the light than to behold the lightsome day Hauing thus said abounding passions stopt the organons of her voice and féeling her selfe faint laid her féeble limmes on her woe-acceptable bed there neither permitting her outward eyes nor yet her inward minde to enioy any rest Now turne we on the other side to yong Iacomin whose eares hauing heard in some part howe shée was ratled and rated at by Bartolo stealing sadly to his Chamber with eyes fuâ—l of teares brest swolne with sobbes and hart burdened with passion hée burst forth into these disconsolate clamours O haplesse helplesse and hopelesse Caitiue Haplesse because voide of all good happe and therefore vnfortunate Helplesse for that thou wretched thou wantst all comfortable help and therefore accursed And hopelesse in that all hope of comfort hath fled thy company and therefore desperate And sith thou art so vnfortunate so accurst and desperate banne Fortune curse the Fates and so dispaire and die for onely death may bring thée some happe to win helpe or some helpe to enioy hope of future comfort where now thou remainest wholly comfortlesse Then he pawsed a space and with milder moode thus went forward And yet Iacomin remember thy selfe be not driuen to dispaire through distrust As thou hast lost thy ioyes so may thy ioyes againe chaunce to be found Policrates had a precious Iewel in the belly of a fish serued at his boord which he let fall into the sea This onely chaunce hath made this chaunge Thou hadst not long since libertie and leaue not only to behold but also to imbrace thy Loue in thy Parents presence But that libertie is lost that leaue is out of date that fréedome is past and thou art made the bond-slaue of all miserie And yet the caurse of time may restore them all but when And with that he stood as though he had beheld Medusas head â—ill after a while comming to himselfe he procéeded with these exclaimes O vnhappie estate of Princes whose dignities placed on the whirling whéele of vnconstant Fortune stand in such vncertaintie as when they mount to the highest degree and loftiest altitude of honour prosperitie euen at an instant they arâ— lopsie turuie ouerturnd tumbled downe to the lowe touch of the ground with disgrace beggery Percutiunt fulmiâ—a montes non valles iâ—fimos Would I had bene of baser Parentage so might I haue obtained more patience to endure misfortunes I patience perfect patience is a salue to heale all the smartful scourages of Fortune But yet it is a vertue for cowards and crauens not for valiant venterous youth whose minds couragious minds dare with the Gyants again in the Phlaegraean fields Bellare cum dijs to threaten and pronounce wars against great loue and all the other Gods climbing vp the heauens as did braue Bellerophoâ— on winged Pegasus and breaking the infernal gates of hel bind tryplâ—-headed Cerberus in chaines as did Hercules in his labors of wonders to appease the wrath of angry Iuno But why Iacomin ouercome with rage like to blinde bayards doest thou obraid the glorious Sun or with the witlesse Wolues séem to bark against the Moone hope wel haue wel intreat the gods Quid enim nisi vota super sunt with praiers to pacifie those
so commaunded her glorious Foules whose wings and taile-plumes stood proudly spread in haste to carrie her vnto the highest heauens from whence shée entred to behold the consequent minding wholly to conserue them both in safetie although she should sée them bound at stake and stand in extreamest peril of kindeling flames Soundly yet rested these slumberings friends little thinking what sowre sawce the King had ordained minding it should bee mingled mongst their swéetes til the trauayling Sunne was gone well onwarde in the East All which time did the Kings Guard attend them Assoone as their eyes awaking opened they were informed of the Kings being there and of his bloudie sentence pronounced against them Whereat first they mourned but afterward well resolued to endure their menaced death made themselues readie to take the end of their liues on earth Now my Loue quoth Katherina shall the world beholde in vs a spectacle presenting fidelitie In thée loue in mée loyaltie in thée constancie in mée chastitie in both firme affection and sure confidence As shée would procéed the Executioners came and bounde their armes which both indured with admired patience the punishers pittying their distresse with some kinde remorse and would haue spared them had not they all bene bound on paine of death to doo the Kings commaund This while were some busied in putting vp the stake some prouiding Faggots Pitch â—ales Strawe and all other Fuell Which bréeding a rumour with suddaine admiration in vulgar eares multitudes came in heapes vnto the place of execution expecting the performance of a wofull stratagem Foorth at last were brought these wofull Louers guarded on each side with Billes and Holbards like rebellious Traytors and bound they were to the stake backe to backe contrary to their mindes who earnestly intreated the araigners to suffer them end their liues face to face But the cruel King had otherwise giuen in charge and that bred their greatest griefe Yet patience preuailed with them in this their too seuere handling What my deare quoth Iacomin they may by this seperation robbe vs of comfortable countenance in this fraile and transitorie life but their crueltie cannot bereaue vs of sight in the glorious Sphere on hie when our immortal ghoastes going towards Ioueâ— Pallace shal méete in the milke-white way Which words vttered with gastly voice moued at the beholders to bewaile the downfall with deawie teares of so faire a couple Then were remorslesse brandes of fire brought to enkindle the Fuel and Iuno had in readinesse placed watrie Iris directly ouer that clymate to shoote forth showres When loe as pleased the iust pooming Deities that at their good pleasures can preserue the vertuous from vniust persecutions and vndeserued punishments the Lorde high Admyrall drawne in a costly Coache of Ebonie code by and of the people inquired what the prisoners were but was not resolued by any but was told by all they were straungers that were to die His honour therefore standing on his saddle-cloth questioned comming neare vnto the stake their names He answered Iacomin mine and mine Katherina said shée Of what Countrey replied the Admirall are ye Of Scicilia saide they Of what place in Scicilia quoth the Admirall Both of Palermo answered Iacomin Of what Parents in Palermo are you sprung saide hée I am the haplesse sonne of Signior Iacomin Pierro answered the one And I the daughter of Don Alexander Bartolo saide the other Dooth the King who hath condemned ye quoth he then hastily know either of you Neither of vs and it shall please you answered they neither skils it much that our extreame fortunes and perils indured should be knowne to his maiestie for these flames shall ende our liues and with our wretched liues our extreame miseries Yet be not driuen to dispaire replied the Admirall I wil to the Court and conferre with the King concerning you And then giuing in charge on paine of death that they should deferre a while til they had word againe from him to kindle the fires he caused his Coachman to yerke onwarde his light-hoofed Iennets to the Court where when he was arriued and dismist from his Coache was come into the Kings presence after some salute he thus with bold stomacke breathed forth spéeches Can they quoth he that place Kings pull downe Kings then looke thou once again to be beaten out of Tunise For Scicilia once our chiefe aide will become our cruellest enemie and thou be enforced to séeke a new Kingdome The King hauing heard these cracking thunders strooken with feare of some scorching lightnings to follow mildly answered the Admirall with these words Why what is the cause my good Lord said he of these sudden threatnings how haue I giuen occasion to make our friends foes or Scicilia our enemies Thou séekest replied the Admirall to burne the flourishing braunches of those fruitefull stocks which in thy greatest extreams stood as strongest supporters to hold thy féet from falling vnder Rebells yoake Doest thou not remember how scarce thrice seuen yeares sithens Seigneor Iacomin Pierro and Don Alexander Bartolo the two egregious Uiceroyes of Scicilia did by sending thée assistant Forces seate thée subduing valiantly thy insulting foes safely in thy Kingdome and now for requitall doest thou séeme to burne the onely issue of them both for that the two faithfull Louers séeke the fruition of their loues why the younge Gentleman that is yonder like a Traytor at the stake is the sonne of Iacomin and she the daughter off Bartolo both euen destroyed through thy vnknowne ignorance Oh heauens quoth the King breaking off this Dréery tale ere it was ended I would not for my Crowne and Kingdome haue proued so tyrannous So tyrannous replied the Admirall I well know not whether they are not yet tortured and turned to ashes or no the executioners were by thée so straightly charged to hasten on their torments and inkindle the fires By Iupiter then inraged said he I am then vndone vtterly vndone vndone for euer Ho whose there ho come hither one Gallope to the stake yonder on a Courser that can outrunne Pegasus in swift set race and sée if the prisoners there standing do yet breathe aliue what not there yet Oh how my heart houers for heauinesse in my breast as though it would get forth and run thither before my posting seruant had I ouer-carowst my selfe and ouerdrenched my braines with wine as would the great golbing Alexander that so drunkenly I condemned these straungers enquiring neither what they were whence they came nor whither they would Oh infortunate chaunce Oh synister chaunge By the Gods if they suruiue I will excommunicate from my breast this ill humour of lustfull venerie engendred in me through wanton sloath and will banish from my hosome all those Curtezan-like Danies whose blandishments and insnaring flatteries haue so liuely vpheld my youthes leaud lust For now and neuer till now did I conceiue what was true Loue with which improper tytle my subtle Concubines queanish and whorish drabs
Loues Load-starre LIVELY DECIphered in a Historie no lesse commendable than comfortable for all those that in their louely affections haue by the enmitie of their friends bene molested with the menacing meteors of crossing misfortunes Leading also all kinde and true Louers that in their choyces are frownd at by froward Parents vnto the portfull Paradise of pleasurde Patience and patient Pleasures By Robert Kittowe student Ignauis nulla corona datur LONDON Printed by Th. Creede dwelling in the Old Change at the signe of the Eagle and Childe neare Olde Fish-streete 1600. The Authour to both the captious and the courteous Reader health Reader reuolue not rashly any worke On which thy curious eye doth chance to looke Better not reade then when thou readst to lurke Even Critique-like to braide an Authors booke Regard with Souldiers toyle the Students paine That little good hath often this lesse gaine Know that the finest Lawne hath checquered strakes In purest Wines some hoarie dregges are seene The squamie rust verdure from Iron takes The fairest Rose with prickles pluckt hath beene One shaft what Archer may not shoote amisse What worke so well that no where faultie is Farewell Rob. Kittowe TO ALL GENErous Gentlemen that fauour the springing Flowres of Artes bodily health and eternall happinesse GEntles I haue with your fauours deciphered a Load-starre in whose gleames shine good will whose glory is made splendent with loyall loues onely grace Sometime when Eagles haue tried their yong Birds with the Sun-beames they wil direct their vndazeled eyes to gaze at the bright gleames of Poets a lesse starre whose twinkeling sparkelings may encrease their disports And generous hearts if your eyes that haue viewd the glorious Sun-shine of Artes graces deigne after the natures of those mightie and magnanimous byrds to beholde the dimme twinckeling of this vnperfect Load-starre you shall not only hereafter giue life to my labors but by your gentle acceptance make me bold to aduenture the archtecture of some worthier worke The subiect which serues for the Zodiack to this wandring Starre which coÌ„tinues the yeerly course of the Day-starre through the twelue Astronomicall signes is but meane and therfore deserues no costly colours to make it seeme splendent If theÌ„ it please any so much I account it the better reckon it you estimable by how much it can displease none It may be some Zoylist will barke as doo Wolues against the Moone following against it the humorous phrase of the base backbiter all whose byrdes seeming to himselfe Swannes and other winged foules but night Crowes vomits forth to his owne shame what hee supposeth should disgrace others credits and wanting teeth as dooth the infectious Serpent Porphyrius not being able to bite is by his suscepted enuious conceit ingendred of the supposition of his owne singularitie himselfe mostly martyred And what maisterdome is it to nip blossomes in their first spring Can yoong byrdes flie till they proue and trie to plie their winges Better kill Flies with a flap than be idle greater credit to play small game with his owne charge than great summes at a cast to others cost and more commendable to accomplish plaine labors than to be reckoned mongst his acquaintance and friends for a sluggish loyterer These weake reasons Gentlemen builded on a good ground may not be denide to goe for currant towards the free passe of this my pilgrim-like Starre through the clymate of your acceptable eies whose wandring course when you beholde if you like it loue it if dislike it I pray leaue it It hath tane arising by Astronomicall computation at the first beginning of the gay Springtide the 9. of March last past in the 1599. yeare of the worldes redemption noted by the vertue of an Easterne Starre to three Sages and from the worldes first creation and the dayes of olde Adam 5562. when the Sunne tooke his direct entrance following his accustomed progresse towards the first minute of Aries which signe Astronomers about that tide tearme Equinoctiall because then when the Sunne enters therein the dayes which in length were before shorter than the nightes become with them checke-mate in equall Longitude The naturall heate moisture of which pleasant time makes euery creature as well vnreasonable as reasonable to receiue comfort and in their kinde to encrease and multiply When the chaunting birds eccho in the woods and fields many a delectable kerelie when the earth araide in her pride and deckt with diuers colours yeelds admiratioÌ„ to those that coÌ„template on natures ornaments which farre surpasse the reach of heauen-searching Art And when what pleasure may be obtained in Gardens dyapred with sundry sorts of flourishing Roses and Flowers or what solace to see the springing meades and pastorall Countries and what health may bee had by following Phisicke rules is both sought and practised The worst is that the coniunction then of Iupiter and Saturne noting a corruptnesse of the aire may bee coniectured that many shall bee tormented with a chollericke melancholie frenzie which disease if it chance to breed enmitie mongst the friends of mutuall Louers may hap to increase their grieuous sorrowes Thus much I thought most conuenient to haue noted as a Preludium to the originall and first arising of this Load-starre whose lustres Gentles I doubt not but your kinde aspects beholding will indeuour to make it seeme resplendent and rarely bountifull Yours well-wishing Rob. Kittowe Loues Load-starre AT what time as the Historicall Records of auncient Anualls make mention the King of Tunis through the attempting brauados of some insulting Rebels held the holde of his royall seate in hazard as daily awaiting his downe-fall drawne through ciuil warres and warlike mutinies There liued in Palermo the chiefe Citie of Scicilia two most renowned Families by whose spéedy helpes and strong supportes both for men and Munition prouided and sent forth both by sea land the distressed Kings enemies were mightily discomfited and farre discarded from his territories of Tunis and he himselfe quietly repossessed his right to the no smal comfort of the rebellious foe For the Scicilian suffrages were so copious and so correspondent to the Kings petition wholy passionate for want of peace as that the Rebels being conuinced and vtterly subiected were so scattered here and there with the suddaine assault of flie flie as that some ranne to the matchlesse mountaines and there wrought on themselues ruthfull massacres Others sought out shelters in the wilde Forrests and there for want offâ—â—de and surprized with feare of wilde beastes remained in the iawes of dreadful death Others as extrauagant vagaboÌ„ds exiled themselues from their natiue homes into forraign lands and fearing their owne Country would proue too hot for their rebellious hearts Others became Gally-slaues Rouers and Pyrates at sea ventering the meane of their best liues twixt Scilla rauenous Charibdis fewe submitting to their Liege for feare of the penaltie of lawe yet fewe or none through the iust decrée of the dooming heauens escaping
with paces as swift as their distempered féete could support they hasted both to their seuerall homes Don Andrea Alizandra considering this vnexpected chaunge through so vnfortunate a chaunce set downe his censure as a principle that Omnia humana mutabilia But what saith he should I that from my infancie haue bene attendant on the buckelings of couragious Mars now séeme to muster in sentences vnder the correction of graue Minerua Victa est fortuna ferendo I haue indurde and so haue ouercome They are but Fortunes nouices that cannot with patience oppugne any inconuenience A death is due to nature and the sooner that we die the sooner are our debtt's satisfied Men may not be mortall then would the creature aduance him beyond the Creator As Prometheus would attempting to steale the fire of eternall life from heauen for which cause Iupiter adiudged him to be tyed at colde Caucasus and there eternally to haue his limmes deuoured by a Uulture Contentus sua sorte beatior Policrate I I a contented minde is all in all Did we not sometime taste the sowre we should not well perceiue the swéet were we not now and then crost with misfortunes we could not know what it were to be fortunate Peace is the mother of securitie and securitie the nurse of pouertie and pouertie the author of infamie for nil habet infoelix paupertas durius in se quam quod ridiculos homines facit And yet must we gratefully welcome all that the supernall Gods do send to worke our triall and happie yea thrice happy is that man that so may be purified Hauing thus contemplated with himselfe on the foresaid accidents to driue off that encreasing melancholy passion he tooke in hand his Lute and thereon recorded this Dittie Men gainst Gods once did warre Which should haue preheminence But the end of their iarre Bred mans fall for his offence Men ought not to fall at oddes In any case with th' immortall Gods Aspiring minde brought Phaëton To all extreames of wretchednes The like endur'd Bullerophon Through his audacious venterousnes The one would gouerne Phoebus carres The other mount vp to the starres Rest content in your estates Be they high or be they lowe Shun you shall then debates That on mindes distempered growe Still take heed by others fall A minde content surpasseth all Contentus esto esto foelix By this time were Pierro and Bartolo come home and made eye-witnesses of their former supposed mishappes Iaconim sawe his sonne shiuering as it were surprized with a quartane feuer Bartolo beheld his daughter shaking and quaking as though she were set on by the falling sicknesse Both of these patients made shews gaue signes and tokens to the amazement of all that were present in their bed-chambers and so much the more because they spake no word but were alwaies silent Some said this miraculous maladie of these yoonglings was bred by ill sight some said they were Planeâ— strooken some againe saide they were straungely bewitched Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus c. euery one vttered diuersly what their mindes gaue them to excogitate But the wofull parents hauing on both sides visited and reuisited these miserable Orphanes had the skilfullest Doctors sent for with all spéed possible all preseruatiues prouided that had vertue cureable leauing nothing vnsought nor meanes vnmade that might be deuised auaileable Yet nought released them of their extreame traunces nor mitigated their perillous maladies Which encreased the sharper sorrowes of the parents the griefe of their noble kindred the vexatioÌ„ of their friends and the discomfort of all the people of Palermo Sic variat Fortuna vices You that haue séene a Merchant standing on the hatefull shore beholding the Uessell which on the seas remaineth fraught with his whole venture in hazard of sincking and lifting his eyes to the heauens crieth out O Gods I am vndone â—tterly vndone In the like passion or a more vehement may you suppose all present to remaine for these two distressed and diseased members For if men take heauily common contrary casualties as the husbandman receiuing an vnfruitfull haruest the craftsman deceiued of his substance by beguilefull debters the shepheard hauing his flocks pestered though the infection of some scabiosum pecus and such like disparaging inconueniences how may it happen otherwise but that fathers take tenne times more grieuously the losse of their onely children vnlesse they had the incomprehensible Faith of the auncient Patriarch that obeying his makers commaund was content to sacrifice his onely sonne of whom he had tryple promise from his God there should procéed so many renowned Tribes and nations multiplied in such number as incomparabilitie shuld equal the innumerable starres of the resplendent heauens Now generous Readers must my pen shew the cunning of a Painters Pencil as this with shadowes and colours of varietie so that with some proper deciphering spéeches to portraie a reuiuing noueltie The Destenies had not yet cancelled the date of those Louers dayes nor Atropos knife was yet preparde to cut the twist wheron hung the tenurs of their liues The scars which both of their brests had receiued as â—mpression of wanton Cupids shafts stucke so neare their tender hearts as for a while till the stintie sting and pricking wound thereof was delaied their whole bodies in euery ioynt continued distemperate and their hearts panting and disconsolate For the euening before that nights regiment when both their Parents as is before rehearsed were feasting with Don Andrea Alizandra these two prittie peates méeting eache other at their Fathers doore for the two dwelling places the beauteous building of that flourishing Citie were ioynde hard the one with the other attended on both sides with hansome hand-maides and propper Paces for their yeares had not yet brought them to the state of man and woman for he was then but a youth and she but a girle both of some twice fiue yeares of age as faire a couple as were the two beauties of the Goddes Sapho and Phao where after gentle salutations imparted according to theyr kinde dispositions bestowed on them by bountifull Nature at their births they accorded taking with them so many of their young followers as they thought conuenient to walke into a groaue which stood on the Westerne side of the Citie accounting such sheltring vallies farre more pleasaunt in the winters season than are the plaine fields What parley they had walking on the way it were tedious to recite onely thus much would I wish you to note that euery step of theirs traced now towards that company whose presence they in manner reiected because as vnbidden guests they came into their company disexpected As they were walking by the groaues side listning to the murmurings of a bubling brooke Katherina espied a Uermin that with gréedie gaping mouth was pursuing his praie which she shewing to Iacomin for her name was Katherina also he was calde Iacomin after his Father and hée perceiuing it to hasâ—en
Parents whose blondie broyles bréede your disaster disparagements that in ioyes for Olim meminisse muabit abounding your former penances in future memorie may support your pleasures with greater delights But thine eyes thy longing eyes may not view her beauteous eyes nay thine eares thy wretched eares now hencefoorth neuer shall againe receiue the melodious sounde of her swéete voyce Ah wretch ah wretch of all others most miserable confused and accursed Hauing so saide as he would haue giuen more scope to his complaint he was by a seruant cald to conuerse with his Father which made him suspect some â—arther mishap either fearing the checke or at least the reproofe for awaiting counterbuffes for his loue-sicke sweats But it was otherwise for his Father Pierro hauing not séene him many houres before welcomming certaine friends of his newly come to Palermo caused young Iacomin to come in presence who then for the absence of one hated the presence of all to kéepe them conference and beare them company Who after imparted salutations as from a mind oueâ—-cloide with cares vttered laconicall answeres to all their vaine questioning Items with no and I without any other circumstances So that these new-come straungers could finde by supposes that this faire yong-lings tender minde was benummed by some agonizing maladie Thus did these ciuil iarres not only ruinate the Scicilian state and authoritie of the Péeres all which were left now to roaue at randome like a maisterlesse shippe without a Marryner mongst the swallowing surges either to sincke or swim but also shake the healths and well-fares both of these illusterous Families and their children Whereby may séeme as apparant as in a Christ all glasse what daungerous discommodities accompany ciuil warres like daily seruitors For these broyles in these Countries made such a straunge metamorphosis as that where Scicilia before was had in chiefe regard of her neighbour Countries for polliticke and peaceful gouernment now ruled by common Democracie it was had in as great disgrace and contemptible and dishonourable The crabbed clawes of Cancer hath long detainde the course of our Load-starre which now by the prescript rule of time is entering Leo which couragious signe bringes our Louers some incouragement to encounter Fortune face to face and in despight of her power to worke their ioyes by fearing no colours of disaster mishaps They on both winges expected their safeguardes to procéed through sounding a retreate to their Parents controuersies but theyr enuious hatred was growne so rancke that their maligne mindes woulde entertaine no perswasions to peace but wholy imployed their humours how best to worke reuenge Which young Iacomin pondring and considering with himselfe thus began to expostulate And wil it be no otherwise quoth hée can Eagles thirst be pacified by nothing else but bloud Can men alwaies lyke Lyons skirmish possess with the heate and warmth of raging and furious wrath I sée that old ages angers represent Torches flames which the longer they burne the fiercer waxeth their fire Is it méete for youth to be shut vp in a continuall Labyrinth of displeasant crosses daily indaungered by the monitaure dispaire If Palermo that was once accounted the glorius Scicilian Metropolis shining in his ornaments like an illusterous Mycrocosmus now being metamorphosed from the Pallace of peace to the Lent of tumultuous warre can yéeld no quiet yet yet what And there hauing pawsde replide yet may thy abiding in other Countries affoord such a swéete habitation as neuer is likely to be enioyed in thy natiue home Skilful Dedalus remaining in bondage vnder domynering Minus by Art framed winges to flie from seruitude and so got fréedome And shall not Loue lend me Eagles winges to claspe as did Ioues Armour-bearer the beauteous Nymph Ganimede my deare Katherina and beare her a matchlesse pitch frée from the frownes of her froward Syre and mine Calum non animum mutant quitrans mare currunt If shée wil consent wée le trudge and sée Don Lorenzo and the rest of our good friends in Spaine And in this hastie resolue with ynkie Penne on paper wrote as followeth to his louely Katherina Iacomins perswasiue Letter vnto his inthralled Loue. ALthough our eyes through disiunction of place may not behold one anothers countenance yet dooth the coniunction of my vnmoueable minde cause mee to contemplate on our generall welfare And though we dare not on pain of parents frowns displeasures rebukes alreadie euen incurred be once seen talkatiue but alway toong-tied yet hath Loue taught me a slight with you to haue in secrecie some desired conference Know then my dearest Katherina that my heart burthened with heauinesse my minde ore-borne with melancholy and my brest subued with passion for our disquiets and life-sticking subiections to auoid such slauish â—eruilitie haue all within mee accorded to escape imprisonment although they flie into straunge Countries so that by the way they may enioy your company Iacomin will to Spaine Katherina if your sweete selfe would bee copartner in his trauailes and there with his friends and yours remaine vntil he vnderstand that reconciled peace hath made a period to these common controuersies I know deare Loue what sorrowes you sustaine for my sake what heauie cares for my cause to cure the which you must practise with me to depart froÌ„ Palermo for sweeter are the hony-sopps of content than all the courtly iunckets and daintie caâ—es sauced with doubtfull double cares This if your loyall heart can fancie no doubt but our happinesse in the end will be multiplied and all our former mishaps abolished Herein then delaie not for nothing may so much breed our daunger Else if you like not this motion for feare of after-claps I will not seeme to constraine your cowardise to the combat No farewell Katherina till death destroy my life so I exspect a speedie answere Yours or not his owne yong Iacomin Hauing written these fewe lines he stood studying how to haue them deliuered He would not aduenture to trust any of his Fathers family for feare to haue his secrets reuealed what should he doo It were but madnesse for him to cast it ouer the wall for her Father sooner than his Katherina might happe to take it vp Standing a while in a maze hauing twice or thrice walked too and fro in his Chamber heard at the staire foote a poore woman begging an alms to whom he went and questioning with her of her parentage vnderstood that Fortune had plaid an aduerse part and bereft her not only of her friendes but bereaued her of all her earthly substance The circumstance of whose case were too troublesome to be rehearsed and too tedious to be heard But her he thought the fittest bearer of his counsailes that the earth could yéelde Wherefore giuing her Golde to make her gladsome Woman quoth hée thy distresse hath bredde my good will thus much towardes thée in that thy griefes haue made mée compassionate hie thée now to the nexte Gate and there craue their
beneuolence and watch a time when conueniently thou canst present this Paper closely to a young Gentlewoman there whose votion towardes the poore is neuer wanting Tell her I commende mée heartily vnto her and doo intreate her to receiue on my behalfe this plaine Pasport and thereto to returne a spéedie answere by thée my vnsuspected messenger Be aduised in this enterprise and thou shalt not depart vnrewarded The aged woman whose siluer haires were tokens of experieÌ„ce taught by time perceiuing a litle which way the wind blew hoping it would turne to her aduantage with a lowe curchie receiued the writ he telling her how the message she went in was to faire Katherina promising she would be circumspect in euery respect to accomplish his desires Doo so good woman quoth he and if her answere bréed me any pleasure thou shalt not remaine without profit And so shée past toward Bartolos doore where she had not long vsed her accustomed ceremonies but that Katherina's presence presented it self before the womans eyes of whom she begged an alms being by her demanded whence she came and what benefites her earnest praiers had procured her she mildly in humble maner answered Uertuous and faire mistresse quoth shée amongst the commons my paines haue bene recompenced with slender profit but the liberall hand of the gallant yoong Gentleman your next neighbour hath farre beyond any deserts of mine made me prosperous wiâ—h his bountie Hath he so quoth Katherina and for neighbourhoods amitie thou shalt not be sent hence comfortlesse And then being about to open her purse the woman reacht her Iacomins Letter with these words Good mistresse my silly selfe hath by him bene made so happy as to be trusted with deliuering this message before many of my betters and I hope your gentle nature will with patience conceale my rude nurture I promised and in that I promised I will performe my dutie what so ere befide For I trust and in that trust am throughly perswaded that his noble heart herein towards you imparteth no harme But how replied the Princesse couldst thou tell whether my selfe were the partie to whom he minded this message I hope mistresse it is your selfe said she for my aged eyes obserue in you the phistognominate tokens that the Gentleman willed me to consider And thou hast hit the marke good woman answered the Princesse And yet not got the game good mistresse quoth the woman againe vntill you vouchsafe to returne an answere That shall not be awanting said Katherina because I knowe it will bee best welcome Stay a while and I will in some sort performe the Gentlemans pleasure With that she entred her closet where hauing ouerread the Letter after a short studie shee returned in writing this answering Appeale Katherina appealing to her Loue. THe wandring Knight forsaking the Carthaginian coast was cause of Carthages faire Queenes decay Herâ— threw her selfe headlong into Hellespont for Leanders loue whom she beheld dead lying by the Riuers side Iphis hanged her selfe Procris slew her selfe because they were forsaken of their dearest and best beloued friends Then wende not away my deare Iacomin and leaue me in the iawes of dispaire least that on my selfe I worke the like massacre with meere disparagement Medea hauing by powerfull spells gotten Iason free libertie to gaine the Colchian golden fleece beeing by him contemned sought reuenge by his children and fathers murthering And Scilla renowned Nisus daughter presenting to Minos her fathers purple haire which she had cut off as her father slumbred on possession whereof did fatally consist the safeguard of his Crowne and Kingdome being by Minos for loue repaide with hate grew frantick and desperate Then if you loue me do not leaue meâ—â—ah do not leaue me for I will rather then be left behind thee take warfare with thee And because we will freely passe watch and all vnespâ—ed I will prouide me such apparell as did Minerua when like an aged woman shee would perswade Arachne from presumption I am thine sweete heart or not mine owne whose onely life is maintained by thy loue whose health is strengthned by thy happinesse and estate consisting on all thy fortune If the lanâ— haue thy sweete selfe in hold it also shall haue me if the seas be thy habitation the seas likewise shall serue for my home if you liue I enioy life and if you die my heart dyeth also Therefore I will not say farewell though from the faire well of thy wel-fare doth flowe all poore Katherinas happinesse till death end my life-dayes and leauing to liue must leaue mortally to loue If not yours no bodies Katherina Hauing framed this Appeale to her Loue shee folded it closely vp and comming to the old woman who was busied in saying her Créede told her she had framed an answere to the Gentleman and said she for thy trustinesse there annointing her hand with the precious oyle of Angels is somewhat for to helpe thy want and take good héed safely to redeliuer backe this Letter The poore woman humbly thanked her for her bountie and stirring her aged stumps back againe toward Signeor Iacomins Pierro's doore met gentle Iacomin who awaighted her returne To whom she imparted Katherinas courtesie extended towards her deliuering him her answerable Letter whose superscription when he had beheld rauished with admirable conceit he slung the poore woman some more crownes and so she merily departed blessing the houre time and place of her so lucky arriuall thither happie for her owne behoofe aduanced by the liberall gifts of these yoonglings Iacomin reading Katherinas exampled propositions admiring at her feruent loue and famous learning for she was as much addicted to the one as adioynd in mind to the other after some silent meditation breathed sorth these spéeches Fire trieth gold and I see that aduersitie can make best triall of friends I am thine saith she and not mine owne Oh words of a louing heart and therefore if you loue me do not leaue me No Katherina thy Iacomin list not leaue thée till life leaue him for if he would he néed not to incurre onely for thy sweete sake all other his friends displeasures which likewise thy louely selfe for his sake hast sustaind Ah sacred Deities the maintainers of Loues destinie whose essence is immortall and accidence fatall be now propitious to our procéedings aid our enterprise and support vs against perills then shall your Altars be couered all ouer with our gratefull offrings and the swéetest perfumes of Myrrhe and Frankencense shall purifie your temples Ah sacred Iuno with thy power protect our pretences and Hymen lighten those lamps of thine to consecrate our liues to Loues obeysance Is not Loue the hand maid of the immortall soule the purified superficies of celestial motion secretly inspired into the Cordials the eyes prospectatiue contemplation of beauties Idaea wherby the Creator is made to admire at the obiectiue creature Is it not a vertue metaphisicall containing the perfect substance both of Art and nature
heart infected What is it to view the glorious architecture of this depainted house but as it were to looke on the Apple with Eua And what will it be to taste the pleasures that this place presents but euen to swallowe morsells of procuring penaltie with Eua So that as that on the one side so this on the other imparts a mappe of horred miserie But more literately to define what is this pollished place but like a painted Sepulchre an habitation for rotten bones What are these pretie couerings but representments of shadowed euills what are these drawnâ— flowers but species of follies these pictures but the genus of vices these golden spangling knobs but the accident of il happes to conclude what is the cloath of Arras and all but euen the proprium of all perills the subiect of all pollutions and the continent of all calamities Some Humerists in their Similies compare women to Syrens their faces to the fauor of Medusa their spéeches to the laughtures of Hyena and their wailings to Crocadiles teares Al which slaunderous compares are to be obiected to their Authors enuie not to womens deserts tâ—at poore soules being weaker vessels are borne by the prouocations of men vnto a thousand mischiefes Though Medea were a sorceresse yet could not her drugs though mightie to worke miraculous metamorphoses constraine men to kéepe their affections within the lists of continencie For in fiercenesse they excéed the angry Tyger in wilinesse equallizâ— the subtill For in wantonnesse accompany the toyish Ape in lust and leaudnesse surpasse the libidynous Goate in crueltie goe beyond the rauenous Wolfe and in anger wax more wrathfull than the roaring Lyon and onely through them are women brought to wretchednesse Now doth the prospectiue of this contemplation present before my thoughts a double genus contained mongst men viz. a good and bad On the one side stands and then shaking her head shée fetcht a grieuous sigh my deare ah and then groand my dearest loue and life estraunged Iacomin On the other side sits the wanton King ah that these should séeme to protect and gouerne others that cannot direct nor guide themselues who séeketh the spoile of my chastitie The one haue the vniust Deities throwne downe to distresse the other haue they extold with partiall dignitie The one was alway the Disciple of Uertue the other remaines a seruitor vnto vice The one directed and obedient to diuine loue the other subiected and attendant on diuellish lust And yet are they both men and yet the one liues orderly like a reasonable creature and the other without good order euen like a brutum quoddam Ah! now I sée that the blinde Goddesse whom men commonly call Fortune holdeth highest dominion on the earth whose partiall hand through her buzzardly blindnesse deales gifts to the vndeserued and bestowes small benefites on good deserts else am I surely perswaded the vertuous should neuer be so continually crossed and the vicious so pleasantly and maiestically supported Shall the faithfull and honest wight be thrust on thornes of tribulations and shall dishonest and leaud veneriâ—â—s tread on Roses Shall the good eate Cole-worts with the Cynicke and the badde féed on dainties with the Courtier Are the one constrained to drinke the Worme-wood water and the other suffered fréely to carowse bowles of Wine Ah heauens Ah Deities What is the earth then but the vpholder of iniquitie and destroyer of iustice And how may that be when the Gods theron haue constituted mortall members till they are by death all called thence with vprightnesse to remaine and spend their mortallitie with such Angelicall integritie as that when their liues leaue the earth they may be immortalized in the glorious heauens Ah how blinde is the earth that can be content to be mapt with the vaile of vanitie Uertue bandieth daily against Uice but Uice is had in such regard as though the mightinesse of those vile multitudes that Champion-like braue it mangre Uertues worthy martialists whose honours haue béene atchieued by sheading and sustaining the losse of their liuely bloud that séeme to saueguard that deceitfull Strumpet the world is ledde captiue to bée obseruant to all most wretched and villainous misdemeanours And therefore by how much the company of Uertues Souldiers are the scarcer by so much more worthy are their famous Uictories to bée registred in the Records of eternall Remembrance The renowned Virginius of Rome rather respected his daughters virgin-like martyring death than to saue her life to liue in leaudnesse with dishonour Chaste Lucrece grieuing at her violent rape to eschew the disgrace of her inforced offence would by no meanes be perswaded to liue but cut off her dayes to auoyd discredit with a deadly knife Daphne the Nymph to saue her honestie wished rather to remaine for euer in the Barke of a Bay trée than for leaudnesse to bee made a Beare as was the Trull that afterwarde beeing in daunger whilest shee wandred in the woods with Lycaon Actaeon Priapus and such leaudones like a beast to be staine by the shaft of her owne sonne was by Iupiter taken vp in a cloude and made the Starre Vrsa Maior and her sonne Vrsa Minor Biblis lamenting her misdemeanour with continuall and vncessant teares neuer remitted her heart from sighes and her breast from swelling sobbes nor her minde from wofull thoughts vntill shée became euen a watrie Fountaine Hast thou read all these Katherina or at leastwise heard these and many more and yet doest thou refraine to follow any of their famous examples Wilt thou be content to a be Kings Concubine and spot thy soule with sinnes that is new as white as the driuen Snowe as blacke and vgly as pitch Be mindfull vile caitiffe at thy birth the sinceritie of thy parents and vertues of thy friends and wilt thou then become the onely blemish of thy kinred through vile folly Then she raged and thus abandoned her ill haps Auaunt quoth she you infernall Furies and hellish hagges that tempt a wofull Soule after the sufferance of disanulling miseries to taste of sugred mischiefes Why séeke you co ensuare me with your poysoning baites on guilded hookes I am not yet prouided for the draught of your perditions nettes My good Genius guide mée in these extreames and helpe to vnloose me from their entangling snares for if I rightly consider mine owne cause I was neuer in such daungerous case I am shut vp in a glorious prison to serue sinne like a Iaile whelpe and there is no man that friends mée so much as in my behalfe to set in baile to frée me from this seruitude But my noble minde that tooke life from the loines of Princes will neuer I hope debase it selfe so lowe as to yéeld it selfe a seruile bondslaue to the greatest Monarch in the world to serue his lust How are all comforts exilde Katherina from this Cabine The spangled imblazures glister like Silkwormes in the darke as if they meant to sporte thine eyes with sparklings as