oblivion that even himself as he had judg'd this occasion as a dream so he should put it out of his remembrance He promised that he would never commit the like with his wife which she for her part also authenticates assuring him that she intended ever hereafter to live according to the laws of honor Afterwards he protests with threats that if for this occasion he should ever disgust Cleria with the least sign of remembring this escape he would reserve to himself a notable revenge The other promiseth what was requir'd of him with the greatest Oathes and Assurances that his Minde could think Obliging himself never more to trouble his thoughts with the remembrance thereof With the truest Acts of a sincere affection this Agreement was made of a peaceable Union Neither was the peace ever broken neither did they fail in their promises Hippolito was oblig'd by the natural baseness of his minde and the fear he conceiv'd from the Lovers threatnings Cleria being warned by this danger was perswaded to keep her replicated faith knowing that it is alwaies dangerous to violate it And Emilio returning to his own Country oppos'd absence to Love whose Laws otherwise perhaps would have forced him to despise all other obligations LIMISINDA NOVEL X. The ARGUMENT Gelindo to gain the love of Limifinda secretly kills her husband she suspecting it and desirous to revenge it invites Gelindo to lye with her and insteed of enjoyment sacrificeth him to her disdain WOMEN have not alwaies as som would perswade bin unfaithfull to their Husbands many examples are read of their imprudence and very many may be related which serve for Rules of Chastity one among others which comes in my minde to discourse certainly may be numbred amongst the most laudible worthy to be recommended to Posterity In that City which after the destruction of Troy was built by Antenore on the most famous River of Brent after that Limisinda and Eusebio had lov'd with a singular correspondence of affection They attain'd from the curteous favour of the Stars and from the concordant will of their parents the desired end of their Loves Being both bound together in the bonds of Matrimony their affectionate union was not diminish'd but so powerfully day by day increased that they were singularly admired by all good husbands and by all kinde wives but paralell'd by none although many at that time by their example oblig'd themselves to illustrate their marriage with an access of affection But Heaven is not alwaies Serene neither do Rivers alwaies run with pure water The beauty of Limisinda was of such a temper that it made even such as Senocrates know themselves to be men although without ornaments borrowed from Art although seldom seen although look'd upon with curiosity by those eyes which beheld them and desired by all hearts innocently murtherous they bound to themselves amongst others the good will of Gelindo a youth to be respected amongst the first of his Country both for the Nobility of his Blood and for the Gentility of his Manners He so fiercely lov'd the Lady that he gave himself over to pursue her with all manner of serviceable diligence After a long succession of time Limisinda was at last aware of the importunate sollicitation wherewith her new Lover pursued her nevertheless either she would not see or car'd not for him but so despis'd him that the miserable man by reason of her honest behaviour was often falling through despair into an excess of phrensy he tempts by the force of prayers and presents to possess himself of her servants that at least he might procure them to present her with his service or his letters but none of them knowing the Ladies disposition durst take the boldness to offer it being confident to incur onely shame and perhaps danger The poor young Gentleman knew not what to do he did his best to free himself from those chaines but all his endeavours were vain Many many months were past yet in vain he could not dispence with his love having not as yet receiv'd the least sign upon which he might ground the least hope at any time of being lov'd again Being agitated with all and the greatest furies which can overwhelm the minde of a desperate Lover The miserable man often thought even to bereave himself of his own life that withal he might free himself from his torments In these perturbations of minde he grew so weak that every man thought he was even at deaths door and that with his loves he would cease to live He had not although he had a long time been a lover of Limisinda discover'd to any the secret of his heart but seeing himself reduc'd to such a condition that he had no more hope of safety he resolv'd to desposit it in the bosom of a friend of his whom before others from his childhood he had singularly preferr'd To him he discover'd what had been so long time hid in his brest and in his words fell even to these expressions that his ill was derived from no other cause but from his love and that he could attribute his death to nothing but the cruelty of Limisinda thus being blinded with passion did he wrongfully cal the Ladies chastity cruelty not knowing that a man cannot dye unless at the fatality of the determin'd time he should beleeve that his death was caus'd by the beauty of a womans face His friend who cordially lov'd him and who would not have spared his own life to preserve Gelindo's having reproved him that he had not before discover'd this secret to him comforts him perswading him to expect the health of his body if he did but intend his cure and so finde a certain remedy for the sickness of his minde Our Lover having receiv'd some ease from his friends words and hoping that some time or other he would tell him some easie and secure way to gain the end of his desires he with patience receiv'd the application of remedies for his disease and after a few daies although his infirmity past slowly yet he found himself freed of his indisposition and scarce had he recover'd but a part of his strength when he had recourse to his friend that the hopes which from him he had conceived in his minde might not be defrauded desiring him to teach him the easiest way he could devise whereby he might enjoy his Limisinda His friend who knew the Ladies vertue to be such that it admitted of no paralel and discovering in Gelindo an excess which might rather be call'd a foolish fury than an amorous affection with a free discourse seeks to reclaim him shewing him that in following the vanity of his Cappricio's or rather in persecuting the praise worthy constancy of Limisinda he behaved himself like a mad man who would plough the Sea and catch the Winde in a Net and finally after a long discourse concludes That if he would not retire from his undertaking some ill accident would certainly befal him That
even his Fathers Genius finds a thousand excuses to delay his journey but they nothing prevailed since our Lover must obey Florida remain'd astonished at the newes of this sad separation and then burst forth into so high a resentment of griefe which the tendernesse of a Woman and the folly of a lover could possibly suggest She with a good will would have followed him had she not fear'd to have ruin'd him by the ruines of her selfe in repute and honour Yet she remain'd like the Heliotrope altogether mortified when the Evening divorceth it from the Rayes of the Sunne Octavio being gone who went away immerc'd with griefe bathing with his tears the earth he stampt on with his feet Being arrived at Bologna in the pleasing quiet of Letters he finds the warre of his affections still the more cruell whence he concludes it false That absence cures the infirmity of love His own thoughts became his executioners alwayes martyrizing him with the memory of his so much regretted felicity then which nothing was more dear The Lectures and Scholastick Conferences so gratefull to the vertuous to him who was opprest with griefe and whose soul was in an agony seemed like Funerall Songs and study appear'd truly the sepulture of the living He tasted not the Nectar of Wisdome since spirits weakned by dissolutenesse usually suffer the disrelish of all good things He then remained in Bologna and though in appearance he frequented the Schooles yet in effect he heard the Masters as an Asp and profited like a stock He liv'd a Scholar in name onely amongst students without study idle at their exercises and so desperate that he even lost his life in that place where others render it immortall with the glory of Learning Octavio was at last in the midst of so many afflictions consolated by Fortune who by the hands of certain Merchants caused his Fathers liberality to fall into his hands converted into showers of gold So that being richly provided with money he ravisheth himselfe to Parthenope to visit his Florida the sweet cause of his cruell torments Being arrived unknown without going to his Father he so orders the businesse that she hath notice of his arrivall so that through the favourable darknesse of the night he came to adore her at a little window of her house It 's superfluous to relate the Complements which past or how many tears were shed out of tenderness since any man knows what affections an unthought-of accident will raise in two hearts tenderly loving one the other and so long tormented with such longing desires to review one another But these pleasures lasted but a few nights for that Octavio refus'd treacherously to tempt his Fortune having already experimented that with velocity she turns her wheele in felicity but slowly in time of misery He therefore parts burthening himselfe by this his new departure with new griefs and being scarce come to Bologna and having hardly furnished himselfe with necessaries that the businesse might not be discovered he retakes his journey back again to Parthenope So that for the space of a whole year he alternatively travelling and resting liv'd betwixt torments and contentments The yeare being almost at an end Octavio being at Bologna falls fick of a Feaver which though it was without danger yet was long and many great perplexities of mind befell him because it diverted him from his journey In the mean time Horatio for so was Florida's father call'd concludes her marriage with Don Fernando Marquiss of Tuedos she having been from her infancy design'd for him He was of Arragon descended from Dukes a Cavalier of a small Fortune of great parentage and for pretences at all He presumed that he had a greater wealth then truly he possest that he was more valiant then indeed he was and yet more Gentile then he seem'd of a short stature of a proud port of a brown complexion and lame so that to give the faire Florida to Fernando was the same thing as afresh to grant a Venus to a Vulcan This was the Bridegroom which Horatio had prepar'd not to accommodate his daughter but to advantage himselfe in the Court of Castile Cursed interest cruel and perverse Numens which necessitates men to sacrifice even their own children unto you Florida having heard the conclusion of the marriage became sad yet seem'd pleas'd to her Father and dispenc'd tears which seem'd of joy but were of grief After a day she feigns herself ill and begs that all publick or privat solemnity might be suspended till her recovery In the mean time she dispatcheth a Letter to Octavio which included this following sense My Lord MY Fathers authority forceth me to break my faith with you to violate my genius and to be no more yours He hath promised me to the Marquess Don Fernando a Cavalier whom I wish a Monarch that I might shew my self the more constant to you by despising a Regal match for your sake I fear my fathers Anger will become murtherous when I shall have discovered him our loves Therefore come my Octavio but come quickly to see your Florida who is inmoveably disposed either to live with you or dye for you Come and hear my mournful Nenias insteed of Epithalamiums And to see how contentedly I shall go to my grave if Fate consents not to joyn me to your bed Remember your self then my Lord if I shall see you no more of your oaths and of our mutual affections and live happy since what ever happens I shall be sure to die Your most faithful FLORIDA THis Letter was an enchantment which would have ravished Octavio out of Hell aswel as from his bed He who already was better'd in his health rose assoon as he had read it and no sooner got to horse but away for Parthenope guided by fury and accompanied with dispair Somtimes with a raging heart he wish'd himself alive only to be reveng'd of his Rival and somtimes with a desperate voice he begg'd Heaven to thunder-strike him that he might not see Florida either subject to death or Fernando's Spouse But Fortune which equally preserves both fools and desperate persons happily brings this unhappy man to Parthenope being arrived at his Father Odoardo's house and before he lighted from his horse having seen the fair Florida appear at the Balcony he salutes her with a joy mixt with grief of heart as ignorant whether he honoured her as his own or as the spouse of another man Fortune would have it so he findes his Father's house without his Father who was newly parted for some Domestick occasion whereby he had the opportunity to speak from his wonted apartment to his dearest who thereby testified inexplicable signes of contentment The first complement past she confirms him the great danger of her life how far greater her faith was and that towards him her affection was supreme She also added my Octavio did you know with how much satisfaction for your sake I shall encounter death perhaps without
as a Buck from a Hound speaking ill of him and covertly threatning revenge Emilio slighting his disdain began to think since he was free from the laws of friendship how he might pursue his loves with Cleria being continually sensible of the flames her beauty had caused which oblig'd all his thoughts Hippolito on the other side repenting his past suspitions every hour condemning his folly for having yeelded to so salfe a belief he resolves to bring his wife to Town again who had notice of all what had past in Lucca whereupon she conceiv'd so great a hatred against Emilio that her desires machinated nothing but his ruin as absolutely beleeving Emilio enamor'd of Silvia Hippolito endeavours to reconcile their former friendship refus'd by the other who now aspir'd to be of his kindred Emilio continued to pass before Cleria's house faigning alwaies to court Silvia who giving credit to the appearances with an amorous corespondence favour'd the demonstrations of his affection as far as the termes and limits of civility permitted her Hippolito at last thought on all those means which might be fit to procure Emilio to be again friendly with him and to that end commands his wife to do the best offices she could possibly in his favour towards Silvia It being Carnevale time he appoints a ball to be danc'd in his own house whereto he also invites Silvia hoping that the love of her would likewise bring thither Emilio So it was taking the opportunity of disguising himself in a masking habit he embraceth the party and comes He was known by Hippolito who orders Cleria who was mask'd to speak to him of Silvia offering her assistance kindly forcing him to enter into a certain chamber to drink imposing on her besides that she would not suffer him to depart before she had pacified him and reconcil'd them as they were before familiar friends Cleria quickly executes her husbands commands and going out of the Feastival Room invites Emilio to dance and danceth with him after the custom of Lucca She begins to discourse with him and asks him of his Mistris Emilio foons discovers her and with a languishing sigh answered her That from her alone he could hear the most desirable news They both prest on the others hands speaking rather with their sighs then with their words The Ball being ended Cleria goes out having Emilio by the hand and brings him into a Chamber joyning to the Hall under pretence that who she had with her would unmasked themselves to drink but would not be known and therefore sends away the servant who kept it The door being shut and she alone with Emilio presently takes off the vizard from both their faces Then she draws out a Dagger and tels him To vindicate the injuries of thy perfidiousness Traytor I should sheath this in thy heart but that I know one death is not sufficient to revenge the outrages thou hast done me At these words Emilio kneeling down opens his naked brest saying Satisfie then O my dearest thy desires although I have erred in nothing but in loving thee too much Thou lyest says she Thou hast to my shame and despight lov'd Silvia Kill me then replies Emilio that in those characters engraven in my heart you may have a sufficient testimony that I alwaies adored none but you Would you have me then kill you replies Cleria so I resolve arise and come with me for even now I will deliciate my self in thy death which having said she opens the door of another little Chamber wherein there was a bed and there knitting her armes about his neck she unloosed them not till she breath'd her soul into him Hippolito expecting to know to what end his wife had brought her undertakings thought well of her stay and with this hope he went merrily and boldly about beleeving that his desires would be felicitated by his reconciliation with Emilio The good man knew not that his Ascendant was then entring into Cupricorn by means of Gemini Cleria and Emilio at last retir'd to the dancing Room diverting the toylsom pastimes of the others in comparison of the private dance they had had He dancing with Silvia whilst retiring aside she sets her self down None observ'd Emilio's return but Hippolito who being curious to know what had been done quickly accosts his wife enquiring of the success She remits the relation to a fitter time tells him onely That if another night she might repeat the endeavours she had made on Emilio's stubbornness she was confident she should gain him He was pleas'd at the motion of another feast for the following night the better to effect the business which was advanc'd being already disposed Hippolito gladly appoints it and thereupon they renew the invitation All succeeding according to what had been ordered the precedent night Cleria invites Emilio into the Chamber which was the Theater of their delights But before them Hippolito to secure himself how his wife managed the business retir'd secretly into the little Chamber hiding himself under the bed Without any suspition the Lovers shut the door and on the Down they solace themselves with the sweetest expressions of their loves Hippolito being astonish'd at so unexpected a success durst even scarce breath He was disarm'd and on the otherside saw Emilio well provided with Pistols so that he thought if he should discover himself he should certainly expose himself to death What his sense was in so rude a necessity to be a witness of the sports and pleasures of the Lovers let him imagine who can beleeve that he was not confounded with various passions At last the amorous wrastlers being weary aband on'd the Field and going out of the Room they heard I know not what russling under the bed Cleria being curious to know what it was findes that it was her husband who was there then she cries out Alas O Emilio we are lost The Lover mov'd at these words and animated at the accident grew bold and with his Pistol in his hand he commands Hippolito to come forth who being afraid would not raise his knees from the ground before he was secur'd they would not take away his life which he submissively begg'd from Emilio He freely offered both to him and to his wife pardon for the injuries they had done his reputation Cleria observing her husbands cowardliness took heart and interposeth her intercessions to divert the other who alwaies shewed himself unresolv'd in the thought of killing him he faigns to yeeld to her prayers and deposing his disdain he accepts the oblation of Cleria's pardon praising Hippolito's prudence for that resolution shewing that such like errors are the more compatible forasmuch as there are commonly but few women who inviolably observe the faith they ow their husbands He said that silence and carelesness were forms fit in such matters that a man need not be oblig'd to live continually disquieted with his arms in his hand that in this present exigent all should sleep in perpetual
demands the cause of her imprisonment in vain she witnessed her own innocency since where its necessary to obey the violence of so many 't is bootless to produce excuses for her deliverance The fame was soon spred abroad that Euridea was imprisoned for poysoning this Lady at her table the publick voice added that she was already condemned to death as that lyer when it cannot offend truth in the substance of the fact yet at least it will prejudice it with false additions Niarpe heard of this accident more confus'dly then others so that in repeating it he even confounded it in himself by reason of the dangers wherein his beloved enemy was This says he to himself is the time to terminate thy pains here is the opportunity of a certain death together with a most indearing deceit to make my faith and affection appear let me but encounter this capital sentence insteed of my Mistris and I shall make it appear that the intention was always impossible in me of killing her when we lov'd when even now when I ought to hate her by my own life I shall free her from losing of hers Arise O my heart run boldly in this occasion to witness thy fidelity to live is no waies desirable since a fallacious dream alone is able to disturb thy contentment even to dispair Hast thou suffered so many torments not to yeeld to be thought an unhappy Traytor unloose thy self from these bonds that thy soul may be at liberty and happily fly away without the weight of such grievous passions which clog it He consulted in this manner with his own thoughts without being aware to what end these counsels directed his resolutions He confounded himself in the vehemency of his desire which aspired to repacifie him with his beloved which inconsiderately precipitated him in the arms of every occasion which his hopes represented favorable He goes to Euridea's house with these revolv'd thoughts in his stupified minde to gain a perfect notice of the fact the servants were astonish'd no less in seeing then in hearing him so perplex'd for their Mistrisses deliverance they knowing of his former passages esteem'd him as a perfideous enemy They which serv'd her said in confirmation of the relation which he had already heard adding with multiplyed oathes that she was innocent of the imputed crime that they had season'd all the meat without the least poysonous ingredient or their being any wayes offended by the tast thereof were the accusation true they doubted onely of the dish which was sent for a present yet that excluded the fault from those of the house as being a recevi'd deceit They the more provok'd him lamenting the sudden and eminent danger of their Lady since without defence she was to maintain all what her incens'd Accuser did instance they thought they might move Niarpe out of pitty to afford her some assistance although they durst not intreat it beleeving his disdain against Euridea to have been equal with what she did beleeve of his cruelty observing besides that her safety was urgent they sollicited him further telling him that all remedy would be fruitless unless suddenly undertaken And according to the property of women easie of beleef when mov'd by fear they thought even that their Lady was already brought to the Scaffold and her head was cuting off by the Executioner The distemper'd minde of the young man could no longer hold at that impression taking the danger far greater then in truth it was and so ravisht away he runs to the Tribunal where his love was to be condemn'd and according to his belief unquestionably to be executed Presenting himself to the Judge I am come says he to deliver the innocent from death the poyson which criminates Euridea as that she had prepared it for her friend was sent by me in the meat which as I perceive was brought to her table at dinner I sent it to intoxicate Euridea her self but baffled by Fortune I see my self betray'd by my own designs repenting to have machinated her death I correct my error neither will I double the crime unjustly suffering that which now lies on her by vertue of a false accusation What sayest thou O foolish Niarpe Thou hazardest thy self to regain the affection of thy dear and to abolish the thought of being a Traytor thou accusest thy self that thou wouldst have poysoned her Doest thou think to discriminate thy self by a sinister belief with this fraud of thine thou castest down thy hopes and rather confirmest her belief by confessing to have endeavour'd to poyson her The more envenom'd against thee at this thy redoubled attempt insteed of a lover thou wilt render her a fury thou shalt die infamous hated by her detested with perpetual ignominy which will follow the assurance of thy twice repeated treachery a wise resolution a prudent counsel What thou didst design to shun thou estrangest thy self from the end which thou didst prescribe to thy amorous resolution But 't is no wonder that he should do thus who trusted a blinde guide spurr'd on by love to this action he went on without thinking what would become of the business weaving a black mantle of guiltiness for his own innocency wherein in speaking he made his tongue the nurse of his love as he had before followed his steps The Judge admits of his voluntary accusation exchanging the Accuser for the Lady whom he declares innocent and taking her out of prison satisfied her curiosity by relating the success which was the occasion of her unlook'd for deliverance She at first wondred at the guilty persons true heart but afterwards understanding that it was Niarpe who had confess'd that that poyson had been design'd for her death those affections then preceding it which will suffer no bridle to wit disdain she exclaimes against his perfidiousness who the second time discover'd his designes of treachery against her life Assuredly said she remorse of conscience hath forc'd thee for such treacheries to condemn thy self O God how can a soul although perverse conceive a hatred against me which seems insatiable even to my death I who lov'd him with so sincere a heart answered him with such a ready compliance and so curteously that I dare swear I never had but amorous desires for him Let Ladies learn to be free to their young Lovers that they may gain so grateful a reward even for the testimonies of tollerable cruelty Beleeve not now that if there were a man more faithful then he that even I could procure my self to overcome the inconstancy of my sex to parralel him in affection Exaggerating after this manner her passion she comes to the presence of the Judge and doubly makes Niarpe guilty discovering his former attempt to kill her in her sweetest rest in her quiet sleep One fault confirms another Euridea having aggravated his fault departs assured that he should be severely punish'd by a mortal sentence she gladly returns home no less for her own liberty then for
their lives were in sometimes excusing his own error promising repentance sometimes protesting his body had sinned without the consent of his heart Deadora being deaf to his entreaties and humiliation continued to injure them both in word and deed When with a face which carried horror and terror in his eyes Gelasio appeared who without sleeping had long heard Aleria and rising to seek her he comes to a place where he hears although indistinctly Deadora's rage Aleria's tears and Lovanio's requests Gelasio having taken a Dagger furiously runs to the noise Scarce sees he Lovanio embracing his wives knees but he knew him guilty of having ravish'd the honesty and reputation of his house whereupon he runs to him and strikes him such a blow on the head that he being disabled to sustain himself falls to the ground with the pangs of death which were more terrible then ordinary seeing that his sensuality had prepar'd a sepulcher as well for Deadora as for himself Gelasio observing Lovanio in a dying condition unable to defend himself turning to his wife with a tone of voice which would have begot horror in a breast of Marble tells her Woman thy crime is so great that to pass by it without punishment would rather be an effect of weakness then of mercy yet since I preserve in my minde the characters of my first affection I shall pardon thee but on this condition that this Adulterer having thy heart thou shalt herewith stab him in the breast Deadora having taken the Dagger with a greater undauntedness then is to be found in a feminine heart says Sir The sins of love deserve some pardon because they oftner come from destiny then from eslection Yet I confess my self unworthy of it for that I could not regulate my dissoluteness Saying these words and faigning to strike Lovanio she sheathes the Dagger in her husbands bosom who scarce could say Cursed woman thus at once to rob me of my life and honor but he lost his speech with a many lowings as if he would rather threaten death then dye so he unhappily ended his daies Deadora having executed that endeavour with but too much courage and but too little justice runs to fetch the last breath from the soul of Lovanio who having violenc'd himself said My dear Deadora I dye content since I dye not unreveng'd Pardon me and suffer that the chastisment of a humane error may terminate with him who committed it I beg of you that with your disdain you make not my ashes unhappy But alas this is the last period of my life Consolate O my dear the miseries of its passage with the last of thy kisses At the end of these words he ceased to live Deadora stupified with grief was rendred immoveable like a Statue after she had said crying out with a deluge of tears Stay O the Soul of my Dearest beloved Lovanio It s not fit that thou shouldst go to the Shades alone Which having said she strikes the Dagger through her own Heart whence her Soul soon issues with her blood Aleria who in the representation of this Tragedy had suffered the torments of a thousand deaths flying from the sight and enquiry of those who in great numbers came to the noise hating at the same time the light and her self retired into the uppermost parts of the House and there having fastened a Halter she miserably throwes away her life giving a just reward to her own dishonesty Hence may be comprehended That all the Pleasures of unlawfull Loves finally terminate Tragedies and that impudent Affections can have no other but an unhappy end EMILIO NOVEL IX The ARGUMENT Emilio a Genuoess retires to Lucca where using to hunt together he contracts a friendship with Hippolito and afterwards with his wife Hippolito grows jealous and becomes his enemy but being assured that Emilio declared himself servant to Silvia and repenting himself of his jealousie he causeth his wife to lead him into a Chamber to reconcile them His wife obeys and enjoys Emilio Hippolito knows it and being discovered and threatned is pacified GENUOA was the place where Emilio was born whose unprosperous successes confirm the opinion That a mans natural Climat is commonly most unhappy He observ'd how the treacheries of hidden enemies plotted his death in conformity with his malignant destiny whereupon he retires to Lucca where his passions had no other release from his estrangment from that heaven where that star shone which was the very Sun of his felicity but the pleasure of hunting spending the greatest part of his time amongst those Hills which surrounded the City he rendred himself as formidable to the wild beasts as he was pleasing and grateful to the Ladies and Cavaliers who in those Villa's enjoy the delights of the Autumn According to the custom of Hunters he often frequented a Coppice which extended it self over a little Hill which the thicker it was appear'd the more delightful He never entred it without bringing away store of game In those parts there was one who being invited by the delights of the scituation and civility of the Inhabitants whose name was Hippolito being a lover of the sport profest a singular friendship to Emilio So that Cleria Hippolito's wife contracted also so great a familiarity with him that upon all occasions of invitation he discoursed and past the time with her with such sports as the diversity of the season and place afforded so that Cleria and Emilio were the promoters of all pastimes The modesty and civility of Emilio although a stranger made way for him to any kinde of familiar conversation He so serv'd the Ladies that there appeared no partiality in him more towards the one then the other Cleria above all was endued by Nature with all those good Graces which are desirable in a Lady besides she was singularly courted by Emilio and differently from the rest acknowledg'd with a particular affections not onely for her qualities but also for the obligations he profest in consequence of the favours he had receiv'd and for the strict friendship he had with her husband Emilio amongst these delights enjoy'd a calm life which was afterwards troubled by Love the occasion of all ill which was rais'd in Cleria towards him Emilio being given to hunting and other honest sports thought those demonstrations which upon many occasions Cleria us'd in her discourse which her flames sent forth sprightly jests from the familiarity of their conversation Now it happened that a day being appointed when the Cavaliers and Ladies were to meet at a Feast in a place somewhat distant whereby the Lovers had leave modestly to make the resentments of their mindes appear On that day's morning the youth appeared in extravagant habits and various desires to witness by those colours the secrets of their hearts Emilio on the other side dispoyld himself of all which might seem to shew any partiality in his thoughts The Company having met at Hippolito's house Cleria being full of caresses began to
The discreet widow shew'd some tokens of joy in her countenance women can faign at pleasure and a fresh commands Fosca that she should go into one of the lower Rooms and prepare a convenient bed for that she was confident her Lover would that very night come to finde her alone and there she intended their amorous enjoyments All was executed Gelindo having open'd the letter reads it and findes these words GELINDO BECAVSE it often happens that those women who easily give themselves in prey to young Lovers finde themselves quickly deceiv'd and penitent I that I might not fall into the like error would from length of time have experience of your faith and affection whereof being assur'd I cannot deny you the reward ef the excesse of the love which I know you bear me If it please you therefore about midnight to come to my house where my Maid shall expect you to let you in to the place where you may be happy we will either contract marriage or otherwise as you shall think fit Since I desire nothing more then to be for ever Your Servant LIMISINDA He was astonish'd at the reading of this Letter and gave Love and Fortune thanks that they had shew'd themselvs so favourable towards him Retiring himself full of thoughts to the others dwelling expecting with impatience grievously sighing after that midnight which was to be the last of his life The hour came and he departs and alone goes to Limisinda's house behinde the door which was half open he findes Fosca who with a small light in a little Lantern stood there expecting him He enters and is presently led into the Chamber which he fancied should be the Theater of his Pleasures but prov'd afterwards that of his Tragedy O how ill doth a man oppose himself to what must happen Alas with what blinde steps Love guides us to precipices The Maid leaves him in the Chamber with some Candles lighted and goes up Stairs to give notice to her Mistris She having taken some Comfits and some costly Wines though sleepy sends back the Maid telling her Bid Gelindo from me refresh himself with these Junkets the better to prepare himself for those delights and then come back and I will presently come to him Fosca goes and returns The lovesick Gelindo forc'd himself although against his will to tast a part of them and having taken a cup of Wine he sends it down his brest sending to his heart the advertisement of his own death He had scarce drunk but he findes his eyes out of measure possest with a heavy sleep He sits himself down on a Chair and scarce was setled but he falls profoundly asleep When Limisinda imagin'd that the Poyson began to work she comes down Stairs and enters the Room where Gelindo was asleep The young Lady was in a confusion and almost repented that she had before taken such a resolution Nevertheless taking up her Heart with a Courage and although she had hid a Dagger in a Corner of the Chamber yet would she not take it but takes from the young man that which he wore by his side and striking it often through his throat he not stirring at all otherwise then streching out his last with his Legs and his Arms. Thus dyed this unhappy man and thus she sacrificed his Soul to the Soul of her dead Husband Having executed this she goes up and brings Fosca with her to terrifie her with the horror of this miserable Spectacle The Maid sayes twice or thrice with a loud voice and with actions as of a desperate person Alas O God! Alas And had follwed it with other words had not Limisinda cryed out and threatned to call out for the Neighbourhood reversing all the crime on her Poor Fosca was thus forc'd to be quiet to fly her own shame and the danger of punishment which the Justice might have inflicted And being help'd by her Mistris they silently carried the body to a place where they buried it that none ever knew any thing of the Fact till many years after it was known from Limisinda her self a while before the hour of her death Let the unwary Youth learn by this History to Regulate his Immoderate Affections Nor so much trust Women as to beleeve they may not at last be deceived IRLANDO and ARMANDO NOVEL XI The ARGUMENT Irlando and Armando love Rosalia and Rosalia and Emilia love Irlando and after many various deceits and turns of Fortune finding fidelity in their Lovers the Ladies fix a constant and sincere affection IN Padua a City the more noble by how much the more ancient the compendium of beauty was to be seen in the likeness of a most graceful Lady who might have boasted to have debauched the graces from Venus to get a glorious train for her self Whensoever she made shew of her self to the eies of others 't was necessary to beleeve that heaven keeping open Court did abundantly disperse its splendors Who with a chance look could steal away pledges of Love she had a perpetual light in her minde which rallied up in the thoughts of all the hight of the greatest beauties which possibly could be admired in a created object Glances need not be repeated in that face which lightning with Majesty oblig'd the errors of a timerous boldness to correct themselves with modesty Sitting sometimes at a window she sent abroad Love her son to hunt after hearts born from her eyes and bred in the cradle of her lips and raigning in the throne of her countenance There were bound with the chains of her looks the souls of a thousand Lovers With an extraordinary violence being so neer the sun every one was constrained either to have the tenderness of his heart melted or burnt with the bait of affections In fine the rayes of Divinity could finde no fitter sphere then that most beautiful face when it would make it self visible to mortal eyes It was once gaz'd on by two Cavaliers born in France but following their studies inhabitants of that City The conjunction of their minds had unanimously led them out of their Native Kingdom and indissolvably link'd them together with the tye of a singular friendship inviolably observing the laws thereof they never suffered their alwaies regulated affections to disturb their mutual contentment They were unanimous in their apparel and diet inseperable in conversation and indivisable in love so that they it seem'd agreeâ— together to lose their liberties the soul willingly following the looks fled away to imprison it self if we may call Heaven a prison in the bosom of so eminent a beauty They unanimously Courted the Idol who on the Altar of her Window receiv'd the victims of their hearts they sometimes fix'd their eyes on one another I know not whether to move a mutual pitty towards eithers ardors and to testifie the excess of that beauty which silencing the tongue rendred the eyes talkative yet was it superfluous for the eyes to speake the language of