truellie cōsistes not in passion or pyning cares much lesse cometh he to the ful of his desier by sighes dollorus regardes or lamentable exclamaciōs accordīge to the Spanyard nor so lemne vowes to visitt far places for her sake or childishe feares as the amarus Italyan to whom also we may ad this barceloniā Diego who thought thorow his desperat penānce in the desertes of Pireneus to reclayme the goodwill of his mystres seing that as in al our affayres we ought not excede the institucion of vertue so she chiefly is to beare a swaighe in y e knot of this indissoluble amytie besids we se heare that the diligence of a perfect frende is of more force in those cases then all the passions panges letters of pithie perswacion orother ymportunyties whatsoeuer tollerated in matters of loue neither can a man iudge what a treasor it is to haue an assured frende tyll eyther the want of suche a Iewell or experience of his frendshipp make hym tast the benefit of so great and rare a gift seyng that a true frende beinge the second part or one moyetie of our selues is alwayes so guided by a natural Sympathya of affection towardes hym whō he loueth that he reioyseth in the pleasure and commodytie of hys frende and is readye to participat with hys aduersaty when fortune is disposed to plaie any part of her accustomed mobilitie whereof albeit we fynde not at thys daye so many thorowly perfect in that vertue as the whole worlde on all partes swarmes withe infynitye of the contrarye faction whych the Grecian philosopher calleth Microphilos That is a demye or halfe frende accordynge to thinglishe phrase Yet am I moued by diuerse occasions to passe ouer suche discourse contentinge my selfe that the diuersatye of my histories gyue recreaciō to the reader wythout stayinge to infer authorities whych may touche or sift the conscience of any And obseruing chiefly as nere as I colde an order of truth my seconde respecte was to prefer suche examples as myghte best serue to instruct our youthe who as they maye sée heare the faltes of fragilitie punished with shame losse of honor cruell deathe and perpetual infamie to their posteritie So haue they also of the contrarye speciall patternes of vertue alluringe theym to ymytacion of semblable honestye wyth diuersitie of authorities prouinge the reward of vertue and vertuouse lyuinge whereof lett all degrées make their proffit as they thinke good accordinge to the flée in the milke fedinge of the good and vertuous frute and leaue the reste as poison and bitter dregges to such as are wholly drowned in the desiers of the fleshe and buryed in a pitt of worldly filthe and as I haue seamed in some places to enterlarde this profane traslation with certeyne testimonies oute of sacred recordes So I hope the same will the rather defende th'integritie of myne intente againste all obiections consideringe that the most parte of the simple and ignoraunte sorte are rather moued with suche examples then reduced with the seuere sentences of somme great philosopher or reformed theologyan Besydes in theis discourses of loue th' adulteror is putt in remembrance of his faulte the morderer séeth the rewarde of his iniquitie he that yeldes to the sommonce of fowle cōcupiscence is sewer to be touched with the marke of infamie and suche as passioneth him selfe vpon creadit maye beholde heare the méede of his follye wherein for my parte as I greue that the worlde at this presente swarmeth with so greate a nomber of insensed men readye to dye for a pleasure of so small momente as the contentemente of the bodie So I wishe that as in writynge thies tragicall affaires I haue founde the falte of mine owne life that also the reste of the younglinges of our countrey in reding my indeuor maye breake the slepe of their longe follye and retire at laste to amendement of lyfe leaste in remeyninge still in the laborinth of sensuallitie they serue not hereafter as a fable and stage playe to the posteritye of a multitude for ende I exspecte no other hier of my traueile then that my diligence maye seame thankefull to her to whose honor and goodnesse I owe no lesse then all that I haue FINIS The Table A Wounderful vertue in a Gentleman of SIENNA on the behalfe of his enemie whome he deliuered from death and the other to retorne his courtesye with equall frendshipp presented hym wyth his syster whome he knewe he loued entierelie Histo 1. Fol. 4. The longe and loyal loue betwene LYVIO and Camylla together wyth theyr lamentable death the one dyenge of a passion of ioye the firste nighte he embraced his mistrys in bedd the other passed also the same waye as ouercome with present sorowe for the death of him whome she loued no lesse then her selfe Histo 2. fol. 39. A younge Ladye in Myllan after she had longe abused the vertue of her youth and honor of mariage with an vnlawfull haunte of diuerse yonge Gentlemen becomes an vnnaturall morderor of the frute of her wombe for that she was forsaken of him who gatt her with childe Histo 3. Fol. 62. An Albanoise Captayne beynge at the point to dye killed his wyf because no man sholde enioye her beautie after his death Histo 4. Fol. 80. Sondrye perills happenyng to a younge Gentleman of Myllan in the pursute of his Ladie Histo 5. Fol. 95. The villanie of an Abbot in séeking to seduce a mayde by force and her vertue in defending her honor against him and his companions of trayson Histo 6. fol. 124. The disordered lyfe of the Countesse of Celant who lyuynge long in adulterie and after she had procured diuerse morders receyued the hyer of her wickednes by shamefull death Histo 7. Fol. 136. IVLYA drowneth her selfe for that her bodye was abused by force Histo 8. Fol. 170. The impudent loue of the Ladye of Chabrie with her procurer Tolonyo together with the detestable morders committed betwene theim Histo 9. Fol. 188. LVCHIN is longe in loue wyth a simple maide whom he woeth and can not wyn by anye passion he endureth at laste necessitie yeldeth her into his handes when he dothe not onelye refuce to abuse her bodie but also takes order to susteine her and supplie her wantes no lesse amplie then yf she had bene his syster Histo 10. Fol. 208. The crueltye of a wydowe in enioynynge her woer to a pennance of thre yeres losse of his spéeche the folishe loyaltye in hym in performynge her commaundement and the meane whereby he was reuenged of her rigour Histo 11. Fol. 226. PERYLLO suffreth muche for the loue of Carmosyna marying her in the ende were both two stricken to death with a thonderbolte the first nighte of theyr infortunat mariage Histo 12. Fol. 252. A wonderful constancie in Dom Diego who for the respect of Geniuera la Blunde vndertooke a harde pennaunce vpon the mountes Pyreney where he led the lyfe of an Hermitt til he was founde out by chaunce by
as a blinde guide doth leade them into infynit miseries laborinth of endles annoye where there is no dispense of their follie but losse of libertie perpetual infamie and sometime punishemente by vntimely deathe whyche as they bée worthie rewardes for suche as doat so much in their owne wisedome that they accompte the same hable of it selfe to comprehend the whole globe or compasse the worlde So the wise man affore he entreth into any enterprise of waight beinge carefull for the conueighe of the same dothe not onlye compare the ende wyth the beginning and cast the sequiel and circumstance euerye waye but also entringe as it were into hymselfe he makes a view of that which is in hym and for his better assistance he will not refuce the aduise of his frends by whiche meanes he is sewer to reape the rewarde of his trauell with treble contentmente and seldom is he punished with to late a repentance Herewith also thexample of the wise maryner doth in like sorte aduise vs who comming by fortune or violence of wether vpon an vnknowen coaste doth straight way sounde and trye the depth of the riuer by his plommet and lyne neyther will he let fall his Anker onlesse he be sewer of the fyrmenes of the grounde whiche if it do faile him yet is hee to wythstande the malice of daunger by kepinge the chanell whiche yeldes hym water enoughe So if this wretched ALBANOYS hadde made a view of himselfe his forces afore he became subiect to y e humor of Ialouse suspicion or if he had giuen correction to his falte in tyme and suffred reason to suppresse the rage of his follie afore he was growen to tearmes of madnes he had enioyed his Ladie at pleasure lyued yet in quiet and preuented the fowle note of infamie wherewith the gates and posternes of his house wil be painted till thextreme date of the world and eschewed the peril of dampnable dispair inkilling himselfe with like violacion and bloddie slaughter of his in noceÌ„t lady whose death with y e strauÌ„genes in executioÌ„ being once knoweÌ„ to the multitude it is to be woÌ„dered what generall dule and desolation were in all partes of the citie how al estates and degres of people spared no sortes of teares nor other dollerous tunes bewailinge her misfortune with seueral grudges at the malice of her destinies that in such cruel maner toke froÌ„ amoÌ„gest them y t persoÌ„ of her whose vertues other ornamentes of God nature serued as a special mirror or loking glasse to al ages wherin certeinlie they had great reason for a lady or gentle womaÌ„ equal with her in coÌ„uersacion euexye way I meane chast without argument of dishonestie deuowt and yet hatinge supersticion bowntiful without wasteful prodigalitie wise without vaine vaunting so obediente towardes her husbande as was necessarie and lastlie lackinge the furniture of no good vertue can not be to much honored in her life nor worthely renoumed after her death aswel for y e such rare gifts are no lesse meritorious for the vertues that be in theim then that they serue as special allurementes to prouoke younge ladies and gentlewomen desyrous of like glorye to ymytat thexample and vertues of them whose due fame is hable to excede the length of time and lyue after deathe who hathe no power but ouer our corrupte Soma or masse of fleshe beinge barred to medle wyth the felicitie of the mynde to whome only the title of perpetuity is due wythout exception And as her life and deathe ymporte seuerall vertues and deserue semblable commendation the one for that shee neuer made showe of mislike what wronge soeuer hee wroughte her the other in that shee failed not to honor him til the laste hower of his life So may you also descerne therein .ii. seuerall exaumples the one to warne the lighte and harebrained husbandes not easelie or for smal occasions to enter into suspicion with their wyues whom they ought to loue and honoure no lesse thenne theimselues the other to presente vnto the ladyes of oure tyme the due rewarde of wysedome obedience and chastetie which be the thinges that make this greeke lyue after her deathe beinge worthelye inuested wythe the wreathes of honoure amonge all the ladies of that contreye FINIS The argument BEcause I haue already in diuerse places sufficientlye deciphered the forces of loue and what effectes he exposeth hauing once brued the cuppe of the pleasant poison of our sensual appetyt whereoÌ„ whosoeuer Syppeth swaloweth iustelye the rewarde of suche follies I maye the rather be dispensed wythall eftsones to reitterate in this place that whiche earste hathe bene inferred touchinge the awe whiche that passion hathe ouer the hartes of those whose destenie yeldes theim subiecte to so great an euill Beinge bolde withall to note as a principle or rule of generalitie that that infection procedes rather of the corrupcion of our owne nature then of the perfection of the same Albeit some vaine philosophers are not ashamed to aduowch his beginning of the moste perfect partes that are in the spirite of man wherein I see neyther authoritie to allowe their saing nor reason to confirme their opinion onles they will make it meritorious for thindiscretion and follies whiche appeare in theim that participat with such passion for a familiar testymonie wherof I haue preferred this historie folowing not only affirminge my former protestacion touchinge the disordinat effectes of loue but also to iustefye the opynion of him who makes no difference betwene the deuise of loue and raginge fyttes of frenezy or one posseste with a wicked spirite for here you maye see a gentleman of Myllan to enioye a presence and pleasure of his Laâ—â—â— refuseth not to coÌ„mit himselfe to manifold daungers with diuerse perillous encounters wherof the one seamed no lesse mortal then the other and euerye one threatening the end of his life by present morder albeit his felicitie defended him from harme and the peril passed makes him dread a future plunge SONDRYE PERILLS happeninge to a yonge gentleman of Myllanin the poursewte of his Ladye NOt longe after MAXYMILIANS FORCE by the guide of euill fortune wante of good gouernmente in himselfe hadde lost the state and seigneurye of MILLAN there happened no lesse desolation to the vnhappie faction of the GEBELYNS whoÌ„ the power and pollecie of the great TRIVOLSO did not only abandon their naturall soyle and place of a bode dryuinge theym from the possession of their worldlye porcions but also persecuted their wretched state with suche creweltie that they were readie to yelde to the somonce of dispare if it had not bene for the simple proffer of a certeine hope they reaposed in thassistance of themprour MAXIMILIAN who more willing then hable to restore their desolation pursewed the reuenge of their wronge wyth a puissant armye euen vntill the walls and gates of MILLAN where he receyued suche hoat repulses by the valyaunte encounters of Charles Duke of Burbon
theis solitarye desertes aswell to endure the pennance of myne owne indiscretion as also to continue in secrett prayer to thalmightye for the continual quiet of her who may boldly vaunte to be the mistres of the most loyall seruante that euer mente honor or seruice to Ladie Who doubtes in y e merueilous forces of loue let him be absolued with this example seing that as the impressiō which we cal loue hath power to bringe to an vnitie the mindes that liued in seperation make indissoluble peace with the quarells which seame immortall quallifying the rigour of those hartes whiche without this passion no other pollecie could appaise So when he discouereth the full perfection of his effectes he preferres suche a facilitie in thinges whiche earste seamed impossible that by his onely meane they become neither dangerous to pursewe nor harde to obtaine whych appered rightly in this younge Lady in whom as the sinister conceite of a former Ielowsie her affected zeale contracted to an other with her iust cause of anger for his death had engendred a disdayne to Dom Diego an extreme desier to reuenge her wronge vpon Dom Roderico and by the same meane to ende her owne lyfe So loue remouinge the vaile that blinded the eyes of her vnderstandinge and breakinge thadamante rocke planted in the middeste of her stomake brought her in one instante to beholde with open eyes the constancy patience and perseuerance of her first and moste loyall seruant whose last prayer and intercession on her behalf stirred vp in her more remorce thē al y e seruices of court or pennance in the painfull wildernes wer hable to prefer whereof she exposed a present effect in castinge her armes a bout the necke of the desperat knyght to whom she forbare no sortes of kisses nor amarus embrasinges seamynge no lesse passioned wyth ioy and loue on hys behalfe then earste he seamed plunged in dispair and sorowe ballancing indifferently betwene life and death in his presence neyther was she hable to pronownce any worde vpon the soddayne tyll beyng restored to the vse of her tongue by the discontynuance of her traunce she excused her former rigour wyth tearmes of humylitie and desyeringe pardon of the follies wher wyth she had abused hys patience offred her selfe hereafter to be the slaue and seruant of hys shadow takyng thassistāce of thym perfections in loue to be in some sort contrybutarye to her falte for that sayth she as loue hathe this vice of nature that such as accompte theym selues to sée moste cleare are they whych most often commit greatest faltes by ignorance So besydes the confession of the wronge I haue don you so many wayes Lo I am ready to abide the punishment of your owne iudgemeut without crauing any dispence of iustice or moderacion of pennance for any respecte of fauor And albeit for my parte I haue not escaped wythout passiō but y t the stormes of aduersatie which you haue séene me endure haue driuen me to thuttermost of my patience yet I my selfe happie to haue passed that awaye for thexperience I haue made of two effects of verteous extremities the one of constant loyaltie in you whych only hath right to chaleng y e crowne of glory frō hym that sacrafized himself vpon the blodie body of hys Lady who in dyenge so gaue ende to his annoyes where you haue chosen a kynde of languishynge life of more hard tolleracion a thousād tymes then the sharp arrowes of death the other consistes in the clemencie wher wyth you haue mortefied so well the rage of your aduersaries that I whych earst hated you to death am now so vanquished by your courtesye that I accompte myne honor and lyfe of to small value to requite your merit wherin also I acknowledge a debte to Seigneur Roderico whose wisedome makes me ashamed of my follie in resisting his rightfull demaunde touching the reléeffe of your vndeserued destresse wherunto as he wold haue replied wyth semblable humylitie Dom Roderico preuented hys meanynge in embrasinge theym both with peculiar commendacion to theyr vertues and speciall thankes to the goodnes of their fortune for that w t out peril of honor they had passed that dangerus passage aduising them to retorne w t hym to hys castel frō whēce hée sayde he wolde gyue warning to their mothers to whom he also vndertoke to cooler thaccidente wyth some other circumstance of fayned substance wher vpon they mounted on horsbacke leauing the stately hospitall to the nexte hermyt and vsing easye iorneys they toke away the tediousnes of the way with the pleasant deuises whych passed betwen the two louers embrasing one an other in honest sort as a simple recompense of their longe and weary annoyes till tyme with the consent of the churche gaue authoritie to consommat the rest of their desiers from the house of Roderico was aduertisement giuen to the two Ladye mothers in equall care for the loss of their childrē excusing the secret departure of Geniuera in that she went to sée Dom Diego lyinge sicke in a castell of hys frende Seigneur Roderico where if it pleased theym to giue their consente the mariage sholde be performed wherin there nedes no pithie solycitors to neither of the widowes for that for the more honor of the feaste and contentmente in the allyance they failed not there in parson at the day appointed where the mariage was performed with pompp accordyng to the magnificence of both their houses And so it is to be thought that the stormes and tormentes past endured by theim both yelded thys conclucion of other tast then they whych wythout painful trauaile in the presence of loue possesse the fyrste daye the full of their desiers whose pleasures certeinly as they resemble the condicion of hym who norished al the dayes of hys lyf in deintie fare cannot iudge so well of delite as he that some times findes want of suche delicatie soo also an extreme thruste makes vs fynde the wyne more pleasant and a long fasting giues a better taste to oure meate neyther is loue wythout annoye any other thyng then a cause without an effecte for he that wyll takeawaye the paynfull traueills and longe sute robbes the louer of the prayse of hys constancie and doth wronge to the glory of hys pursewt seyng that he only is worthy to weare the crowne of tryumphe who encountringe all conflictes doth reapose more assurance in the vertue of hys constancie then feare in any sorte the malice of any fortune Let thys be then the mirrour of loyal louers in detestacion of thimpudicitie of suche whych feare not to giue a charge wher they fynde good countenance and readye retire at the first repuise ympartinge also a participacion of worthy rebuke to thothers who to contente the humor of their fonde affection doo accompte it a vertue to exchaunge their former generositie wythe a gloriouse title to be reputed as true and faythfull champions of loue for y t the perfectiō to loue
one of his frendes by whose helpe he recouered both fauor and mariage of his cruel mistrys Histo 13. Fol. 265. The ende of the Table A vvitnes or cronicler of tymes a caÌ„dle to the trothe the life of the memorie the maister of a mans life and the reaporter of all antiquityes Iucundi acti labores Nescire quid antequam natus sis acciderit est semper esse puerum Lyuye Histories a librarie or store house of knovvledg Executed for religion in Fraunce by the Emperor Seuerus in the yere 178. Hannyball forced a passage for his armi through the Alpes Ingratitude the chiefeste ennemy to the honor of nobilitye Children do commonly rather excede their fathers in vice then resemble them in ver 〈◊〉 â–ª Ytaly a store house for mutinies Thexercise of hunting is both pleasant and profitable The proffit in huntinge The daunger of a prince in Iermanye in hunting A courte of peynall forfeitures or coÌ„demnatioÌ„ for money The frutes which true vertue exposeth All things are subiect to chaunge Deathe the due hyer of vnnaturall conspiracye A kinde of curtesye or amarus gretiÌ„g in Italye Hope is a chiefe comforte in affliction An vngodlie Lavve The taste of life pleasante to all men The couetous minde is neuer in quiet according to the vvordes of thappostle God the highe iudge Salymbyno debateth vvith himself touching the deliuerye of his ennemie Yt is more easye to conquer by clemencie then by crueltie Parentâ—s The noble harte soonest enclined to loue Montanyno seketh to re quit the good torne of his enemye Fortune not to be holden against her vvil and god is bound to no time Height of estate ought not to alter the goodnes of nature The Athenians punished vnthaÌ„kfulnes by death The ansvver of Augelyqua to her brother Loue hathe povver to vvorke a facilitie in that vvhiche all men thinke ympossible Venus Angeliqua falleth into a sound Angeliqua consenteth to her brothers requeste Montanyn to Seigneur Salymbyno Fortune accordinge to the poetes is the change and alteration of the vvorld ly affayres Salymbyn to his frendes so the mariage of Angeliqua Vertue firme and not subiect to chaÌ„ge The noble mynde inuincible agaynst fortune King Cyrunorished and brought vp in the contreye Romulus brought vp amonge shepherdes Of vnlavvfull vvinning of the father coÌ„mes iust losse to the sonne The romains respected more the vertuous pouertie then allovved the rich man conuerted into vice Loue make vs more apte to desier then hable to attaine Mariage the first thing vvherin christ glorified himself by miracle In the choice of our vvife vvee ought to respect the vertue and gyftes of the mind and not the riches or exterior beautye Aduersitie is necessary for that it makes vs parfect The vertues in loue in a noble minde Sondry vertues in loue Loâ—e is an humor of infecâ—â—on deriued of the corrupte partes in our selues Loue. VVords haue force to further the effecte of anye thinge Desert soyles be harbors mete for solitary persons The coÌ„plaint of Lyuyo The Cameleon is norished by the breath of the ayre Cicero Cornelya to her brother The ansvver of Cornelyo to his sister Ho bearethe his misery beste that hideth it most It is necessary to knowe the impersectious of the worlde 〈◊〉 the true messengers of the dollor of the harte The disease of Loue contrary to the disposition of other griues The coÌ„plaint of Camylla Liuio at the poiÌ„t of death speaketh to his misters Quintus Scipio The complainte of Camilla Loue is naked and vvith out eyes Brutus vvarned of his ouerthrovve in his sleepe Lyuyo vvriteth to Câ—mil lâ— The propertie of the svvan beinge neare her deathe Delaies be hurtefull in cases of loue The kinge of the hunes died in the excesse of pleasure vvith his vvife the first night of their mariage Livyo died of the like in the armes of his Camilla Badde argumeÌ„t in a yong vvoman Her parentes Money is hable to batter the strongest fortresse vnder heauen The order of a fearefull louer in disclosing his affection Slaunder Her bevvtie Parthonope vvritteth to Pandora Of true loue Pandora allovveth the requeste of her louer Companion of bed or lieu tenaunt VVhoremonger Marcyano disvvadeth his frende from Pandora Callinge Pandora vvriteth to partho nope Pandora exclaimeth Herselfe and the child vvith in her Nedea and Circe 2 great enchannteresses PaÌ„dora seÌ„des her mayd to practise vvith the vvitches of the vale Net her certaintie nor assuraÌ„ce in the art of enchaÌ„tyng God suffred the magicions of Egypte to vvorke vvonders in the sight of Pharao The studye of scripture ought to bee thexercise of the religions Abbaies the chiefest pillors that men teine superstion and ydolatrye Abbayes and Nonries tenementes of Babylon Freares bee couetous Suggestion of the fleshe makes vs sonest forget God A deuelish of deuise of Pandora The euill is but light vvhere councell takes place Paris Whoremaâ— â–ª mâ—â—ster Ielosye excedes al the tormentes in the vvorlde Hunger and colde 2. coÌ„moÌ„ enemies attendinge the campe of miserie In euery mischiefe fortune beareth the greatest svvaighe No maÌ„ vvith in the daunger of fortune but suche as lake assurance in vertue Vertue yeldes good frutes to such as embrace her vnfaynedly The chiefest vertue in a vvise is to be obedient to her husband Fortune is alvvayes Ialouse of the ease of man The malice of the vvorld rageth moste vpoÌ„ vvidovvs and fatherles children The vse of the nedle a conuenient exercise for any degree of vvomen The Captain to his frend Thoffice of true frendship vvhere in it consistes Touchinge dyuynacion of the mynd The propertie of a she ape in embrasing her younge on s Fiue vertue vvill alvvayes yeldes frutes according to the goodnes of the thing 〈◊〉 the coÌ„mon catyer of tales Albeit death is most certeine yet the hovver and time of his coÌ„ming is not knovven The Ladye comfortes her husbande Death the messenger minister of God The graue is the house of reste A ceremonie amongest the barbarians to sacrifise theÌ„selues vppon the tombes of their deade frâ—ndes The captaine riseth to fetche his dagger to kyll his vvyfe Here he killeth his vvyf A comparisoÌ„ deriued of the pollicie vvhiche the vvise mariner or shipmaister doth vse Giftes vvhich ought to appeare in an honest vvoman Deathe hath no povver but ouer our bodye Loue Procedes of the corrupcion of our ovvne nature Secret solicitors of the invvard affection of the harte Cornelio vvriteth to plaudyna The eyes be the secret signes and mesengers of loue Plaudyna aunsvvereth the letter of her seruant Portune a blind goddes The 〈◊〉 her bodye Plaudina menteth the absence of her freÌ„d vvith complaint 〈◊〉 gainste her ovvne misfortune Loue estemeth no dauÌ„ger The desyerous harte is seldom at rest and doubtefull mindes dreede alvvayes deceite The complaint of Cornelyo beinge in exile His mistres The order of a desolate louer The desier of a desperat louer The firste metinge of the baude vvith Cornelio Men more constant then vvomen Cornelyo aunsvverethe the
By toyling trade the trifling wares which they for money sel Then why should Fenton feare to purchace prayse of men To whom he fraÌ„ckely gyues the gift of this his pleasant pen If he his busye browe haue beate for our auayle And for our pleasure taken paynes why should his guerdon fayle No gredye golden fee no Iem or Iewell braue But of the reader good reporte this writer longes to haue No man of meanest witt no beast of slender brayne That thinckes that such a volume great is wrought with slender pain The thinge it selfe declares what toyle he vndertooke Ere Fentons curious fyle could frame this passing pleasant booke The Frenche to Englishe phrase his mother language hee The darcke to lighte the shade to sonne hath brought as you may see The learned stories erste and sugred tales that laye Remoude from simple common sence this writer doth displaye And what before hee tooke his painfull quyll to write Did lurcke vnknown is playnelie now to be disternd in sight Nowe men of meanest skill what Bandel wrought maye vew And tell the tale in Englishe well that erst they neuer knewe Discourse of sundrye strange and Tragicall affaires Of louynge Ladyes haples haps theyr deathes ad deadly cares And dyuers thinges beside wherby to flee the darte Of vyle deceytefull Cupids bowe that woundes the louers harte Synce this by Fentons meane and trauayle thou doct gayne Good reader yeld hym earned prayse and thanckes for taken paine Then I that made this verse shall thincke as well of the As Fentons worke doth well deserue accompted of to be PETER BEVERLEY IN PRAISE of the translator RYfe is the rule that blames the Idell mynde The ground as great that blaseth trauels gayne Eache tonge can tell a vvorld of vyces kynd And Scacred lynes appoints offences payne But Fenton shovves in svvete and sugred stile What pleasaunt bayte doth eache state beguile What carelesse youth that sees the toylyng Ant But shames to vveare his goulden tyme in vayne VVhose tender lymmes in sommer tyme do haunt The frutfull felds to rest in Borias Rayne VVhen she doth sucke the svvete of heruest toyle And fynds in frost relefe in dryed soyle The slender store that sum do novv possesse VVhose idell boones did loth in youth the lode To those that lyue suffyseth to expresse The loytring child in age knovves no abode But as the shippe tost vvith the byllovv greate So he doth yelde him selfe to fortunes threte VVhat pride deserues vvhat is blacke hatreds hiere VVhat enuye theft vvhat is the mysers mede In fyne vvhat fovvle offence vvhat fact so dire But scripture shovves his rights if thou list rede VVherby each may both shunne the vilest sinne And learne such lyfe as lasting Ioye doth vvinne But Fentons frame hath vvouen an other vvebbe His paynfull penn hath died a straunger hevve He tels vvhen vvitt is in his lovvest ebbe And vvarns the Shunne the bayne that coms by vievve VVhich so doth chaunge the sence of euery vvight That from a man to beast it tournes him quitt As vvhen the mynd through vvant of reasons rayne Vnbridled yelds to fond affections force And feding still the hart vvith amours vayne Conuert each part vnto a sencles cors VVherin he lyues so odde from right and lavve As mountayn beare that prayes deuoyd of avve And subiect thus vnto svvete folyes lore If vvishe he vvinne he shovves vvhat sovver svvete The pacient suckes vvhat bytter blisse in store He heapes vvhen age vvith iudgment iust shall mete VVhen profe shall saye of all vnhappyest vvight That reapest care in lyevv of hopte delight But if disdayne shall quyt him vvith dispyght And yeld him loth for long desired grace Then stabbing glayue the desperat brest must smyte Or frantycke vvyse runne out a sauage race Thus if of gladd or sad he happ the gayne Both haue this end in loue nought is but vayne VVhich reckles race to bring in vvisdoms guyde And for to raine vvith bytt of better skill My paynfull frend did this discours prouide As brake to breake affections lavvles vvill Gyue Fenton then but freuts of his desert And gather thou that best maye please thy hart P. B. The argument I Meane nothere to increase the merueile of menne withe a particular description of the sumptuous buildinges of Princes the magnificall scites and scituations of greate mens houses nor restore to memory the wounderfull pollecies and artificiall deuises of oure Auncestoures in making plats and firme fondacions of Castels and Cities in the bottom of the sea and muche lesse trouble you withe a reaporte of their ingenious trauaill in castinge downe hils and makynge Craggy mountaynes flat with the face of the earthe or forcing stonie Rockes with places here to fore impassible to oppen and make waye to their huge armies but I haue in presente intente to discouer vnto you the meruellous effects of loue which excedinge the opynion of common thynges seames more straunge then the curious construction and frame of any Pallais for necessitie or pleasure threatrie or place of solace buylded by art or industrie of man or other stately Court what sqware quadrante or triangle forme so euer it conteines or other misticall worke yeldinge cause of wonder to the vniuersitie of the earthe seing that a mortal grudge grounded vppon greate spite confirmed withe the continuance of a longe time and pursued extremelye wythe bloddye persecution and vnnaturall crueltie is not onely conuerted vpon a sodaine into perfecte frendeshippe but also by an effecte and operation of loue made so indissoluble that no future accidente or synister deuise of enemyes could once make a breache and muche lesse vtterly dissolue the league of amity so happely begon and sewerly knite together by the vertue of affection whyche wee call commonlye the passion procured by loue wherunto is also added alike effecte of a thankefull mynde arguing vnto vs whythe a famyliar example that as ingratitude is the greatest vice y e raynes in the disposition of man and principall ennemy to the honor of nobilitie soo the contrary deserueth by iustice the tytle of the moste precious vertue y t is wherein as the Thebans were shamefully reproched for the respect of their greate Capttaines Epaimy nondes and Pelopides so the Plateons on the contrarye were worthely renounâ—ed for the large recompence and consideracion they vsed to the benefyte of the Greekes who deliuered them from the seruitude of the Persians like as also the Sycyoniens weare yet the crown of eternal comendacion for the thankefull returne of the curtesye of Aratus by whome they were frankely taken oute of the handes of cruell tyrantes if the acte of Philip Marya late Duke of Myllan deserueth detestacion for the vnnaturall crueltye he committed vppon the person of his wife who albeit was equall in nobilitie exceded him in the giftes of fortune and large possessions of indifferente beaw tye to content a reasonable man nothinge inferior to the beste Ladye of the countrye in
on thaduerse partie is leaste exspecte or hope of succoure for how canne a man lay a more sewer soundation of perpetuall glorye then in correctinge the humoure of hys fowle appetite and conquerynge the vn bridled affections of the wilful mind to make them bound vnto the by thy benefyts who wer in dispaire to receiue any pleasure at thy hands y t whiche declaration of true vertue lyke as it happeneth so seldom amongest men now a dayes that we may ve raye well terme it a thinge excedinge the common course and order of nature So he that wyll chalenge the title of true nobilitie seame to excel the rest in thappeale of perfect honor muste prefer in publike suche absolute effects of hys worthynes and vertue as the same may iustlye appeare meritorious of an immortal memory in the successe of al future ages The chiefest pointes of so large cōmendacion which so many recordes of antiquitye do attribute vnto the greate Dictatoure CESAR consiste more in the clemencye hée vsed to his ennemies being vanquished and vnder the awe of hys mercye then in the mortall and manye battailes he fought agaynst the valiaunte GALLES and britons or subduing the renowned POMPEY the grrat ALEXANDER deserued no lesse honor for the pytie and curtesie hee vsed towardes SYSIGAMBIS the mother of DARIVS with other desolate Ladyes whyche hée tooke prysoners in the battaile foughte at Arobella thenne fame in the conqueste of the kynge and contreye of PERCIA and MEDIA and at the death of the wyfe of DARIVS in hys camppe hee let fal no lesse effucion of teares then if hée had bene presente at the buriall of OLYMPIAS his naturall mother neyt her coulde hee haue made so greate a conqueste of the whole easte worlde wyth hys small crewe and companye of MACEDONIANS if he had not subdued more contreys by clemencye thenne force of armes besydes who is ignorante of the late curtesye of DON RODERICO VIVANO of Spayne who all bée it myghte haue reuenged thinfydelytye of DON PIETRO thenne kyng of Aragon for that hée wente a bowte to ympeshe his expedicion agaynst the sarazins being then at Granado did not only for beare to punish hym or put hym to ransom but also beinge his prisoner by order and lawe of armes dismissed hym into his countreye with no lesse honour then belonged to his estate withoute any exaction of his person or realme wherin for my parte the more I reaue in the rariety of their noble vertues so muche the more oughte I to increase my indeuor in thymitacion of the like examples and of the crontrary what great cause haue I to preferre a continuation of the grudge ended alredye by warre or why shoulde I sturre vp eftefones a freshe Remembrance of the faulte alredye forgeuen what iniury haue they don to me ormine which was not retorned vnto them without intrest of double reuenge admit their predecessours haue bene ennemies to my house haue they not borne a more harde penance then the greatnes of their offence deserued What cause haue I then to renew the alaram of their miserie or why stay I to succour their desolate state in some satisfaction of the iniuries they haue receiued by me and mine besides the wrathe of God accordyng to the wordes of the Apostle is alwaies hanginge ouer the heades of suche as seame to take pleasure in the affliction of their neighbour reioyce in the misfortune or misery of an other if all thies lacke sufficient force to mortifie the remembrāce of auncient malice within me and in exposing contrarie to the exspectatiō and opinion of the world a wonderful example of vertue to moue me to releue his distresse that dispaireth of all succour and reclaim by liberalitie the frendeshipe of him who if he euer offended is alredye pardoned like as also if his innocency haue bene abused by me and mine my cōscience calleth me to a remorce in rendring satisfaction in so nedeful a time yet am I drawen by a band of further dutye and incensed by a somaunce or special instigacion of the honour and seruice which my harte hath alredye vowed on the behalfe of her whose beauty vertue deserues a greater méede then the vttermost that I can do eyther for the cōtentement of her or consolation of her brother for like as ther is no man onlesse he bee vtterlye deuested from the gyfte of humanitye beinge passioned with equall affection and sosomoned by semblable desire to doo some notable seruice to my deare ANGELIQVA as I am that woulde not racke hys power to the highest pyn to take awaye the chiefe causes of her dolefull teares and restore her to a spedie contentment conuenient for her merite So in louinge her I muste also imbrace suche as shee accomptes and by good righte are moste deare vnto her And if I will make a declaration of the true zeale I beare her why do I staie to expose it in so nedefull a time and on the behalfe of him whome shee loueth no lesse then her selfe attending euen now the fatall stroake of the morderinge sworde for a tryfflinge due of a thousande florentes and why shoulde I doubte to make it knowen in publike that only the force of loue hathe made me trybutary to the faire ANGELIQVA for seinge that kinges and the greateste monarkes of the Worlde do drawe vnder the yoke of his awe it is not for me to eschewe that by speciall pryuiledge whiche is incidente to all men by nature neyther ought I herein to refuce the offer of my destenie nor straun gers to enter into muche maruaile if I beinge of the mettall of other men and subiect to no lesse impression and passions of mynde then the reste do make presente dedication of my harte and seruice to her whose vertue I am sewer is so in vincible agaynst all aduersitie that neyther necessitie nor the moste extreame message that fortune can send her is hable to make her forfeyte the leaste pointe of her honestie or forgette the renowme of the genelogie wherof she is discended wherin as honest loue hath sturred vp this mocion in me with composicion to expose imediatlye the frutes and effecte of semblable vertue So the spedye delyuerye of thy brother Oh ANGELYQVA shal argue sufficientlye to all men that it is only the regarde of thy beawtie that hath paied the price of his raunsom and remoued frome his tender legges the heauye yrons whiche the penaunce of harde imprisonemente had vniustlye enioyned vnto him tryumphinge also with this increase of further glorye that onlye the regardes and glauncis of thy glisteringe eyes haue made a breach into the hart whiche earste hathe defyed the malice and vttermoste of all force and made hym bowe of his owne kinde that neuer colde bee broughte to bende or stowpe to any of what degree or condition so euer they were And thou SEIGNEVR CHARLES for thy parte hast this daye gained so assured and perfecte a frende that if thou wilt confirme the
with notes of vuiuersall prayse in pillers of eternitie then to be buried without pompe in the tombe of darke obliuion Ah deare brother what is become of thy auncient generosity and vertue of minde whych heretofore thou hast exposed on the behalfe of the honest chast Ladies of thy kinred race haste thou conuerted that care and curious zeale whiche hythervnto all men haue noted in the on my behalfe into a present intent to take awaye my lif renowme after my death because thy peruersed fortune hath depriued the of the moste part of thy possessions liuinges wilt thou therfore that I make lyke sale of min honor whyche I haue kepte hethervnto with so greate watche and diligence wilte thou my deare brother that ANSEAMO do triumphe with more glory in the victorie of my virginity then if he had cōstrained the rest remeinder of our miserable race to passe by the edge of his mordrynge sworde Remember alas that the hurtes and diseases of the soule be farre more vehement and of a contrary disposition to them which afflict annoy the body And is it I vnhappie thryswretched girle that must do penaūce for thoffences of vs all is this the iustice of the gods or rigorous dome of my angry destinies if y e heauens haue resolued my ruine why do they not rather cōmitt me to fatal execution thē present me vpon the Alter of fylthie ymolacions or offrings to the deuouring goddesse of filthie lust and that to appease the appetit of a young man who peraduenture desiereth no other pray then y e spoiles of my honor How pappie was the noble VIRGINIA of Rome who was slaine by the hādes of her owne father to auoyde violaciō of her bodye by y e lasciuious Emprour APPIVS the cōmon enemie to the honor reputacion of al honest Ladies alas why staith my brother to purchasse like renowme by performing semblable execution vpō me rather then of his owne mind to become the infamous minister of my life readye to abide the daunger of dishoneste force if God become not the protectour of his seruant take my cause into his hande why dothe death deferre to do his dutie or staye to dip the end of his venemous dart in the congeiled blod of my dieng sprit dispatch me with spede to visit the shadowes of my happy predecessours who vnderstanding my present distresse can not be voyde I am sewer of passion on y e behalfe of my wretched extremety why did not God nature giue power to the midwyf to smother me at thinstant that her cursed handes receiued me from the wombe of my mother rather then in preseruyng my lyfe with the milke of tender norriture to make my youth subiect to sondry sortes of affliction now in the age exspectation of quiet to present me the choice of ij of the most mortall euils in the world what councel haue I to assiste me in so doubtefull a case or whiche waye can I tourne me where I am not indifferently assailed with remorse on the behalf of my brothers request shame with desperacion in the simple remembrance of the fact Alas shall I loase him whom nature and law of kinde haue named the one halfe of my selfe and to cōmit theffect of his demande is no lesse dampnable afore God then if I did violence force against my selfe with mine own handes neyther haue I remedie or reason to eschew either of theis euils but by thassistance of the oh cruel Attropos whom I besech with the laste teares of this complaint to whet thy fatall knif and shred in sonder with spede y e twyst of my wretched daies least in preuentinge thy slacknes or slender haste theis handes of mine vndertake to supplie thine office with vnnaturall reuenge of my present sorow wherewith her teares sighes ceassed vpon a sodaine and her tounge foltering in her mouth her complexion of face was also conuerted into a pale ghastlye regard in suche sorte as the passion of this traunce stopping the conduites and course of her breath she seamed to haue as litle féeling or show of lyfe as the seat wheron she sat which when CHARLES behelde with resolution that the misterie conteined neither vision nor dreame nor charme of deceit but that his syster had bene as vtterly without hope of recouery as she seamed senceles and without breath ouercome with dolor and dispair to lyue after her whome he onely had preferred to so wretched a death fel vpon a sodaine from the place wher he sat vpon the grounde without mouing either hand or foote the noise of whose fal restored ANGELIQVA to some litle rebalation and vse of breath recouerynge in like sorte the opening of her eyes with a general mocion and féelyng in al her parts being thus at libertie of frée consideracion her eyes disclosed immediatly the piteous estat of her brother whom she iudged now to haue deliuered her of further care to performe his requeste wherein seing a generall retire of all his sences and onelye viewe of his deade bodie remeynynge to encrease her doloure she stoode at the point to vse the same reuenge of her selfe that THIS BE dyd when she founde her frende dead but finding his bodye warme wyth some argument of recouerye she forgat not the vse of any medecine wherin she iudged vertu to reclaime life and falling with all flat vpon the body of her deade brother shée began to curse her fortune and accuse the starres of crucltie inueighing withal against the slēder frendship of her selfe towardes hym who made no cōscience to offer to dye to preserue his patriimonie and inheritaunce only for her sustentation in the ende by thapplicatiō of certeine medecines and odoriferous smels somtime sprinkling colde water vpō his face dropping viniger into his mouth and somtime rubbynge his temples and pulses wyth other sleightes to reuoke hym that is but halfe dead she brake the bed of his traunce openyng a vent to vtter the course of his breath wherewith also his eys disclosed and chalenged their wonted lyght beholdinge with dolefull regardes his desolate syster who seinge all his partes replenished eftsones with vital mocions that he was in case to vnderstand and gyue iudgement of her wordes sayed vnto hym seinge my mishap is so great that she will admit no dispense of her malice thou deare brother so whollie resolued in thy wilful imagination that I must yelde to thy somance become the minister of the sentence of thy harte more prodigall and bountiful then is conuenient by the consent of raison I am content to become thankefull accordyng to thy desyer and more readye to performe thy requeste then thou haste raison to eracte so muche vppon me wherefore do awaye thy desperat regardes and lookes not vnliket o him that is plunged in a passion of tremblyng feare receyuynge with gladnes the present offer of thy carefull syster who here presentes herselfe the handemaide of
her bead in a litle cabynett ioyninge to the lodginge of LIVIO who by the thinnes of the wall which only deuided their chambers was pertaker of the leaste worde that was spoken in the lodgynge of hys sister whose greuous groanes forced by the violence of a burnynge feuer gaue such increase to the daunger of LIVIO that he was at point to yelde to the laste alaram of life if the sicknes of his sister had not broughte the spedye remedye of hys dysease for CAMILLA astonied without measure that she neyther mette CORNELIA at the churche sawe her at the gate nor wyndowe nor any assemblye what soeuer learned so much by inquisicion that she was aduertised of the mortall daunger of LIVIO together wyth thertremitye of hys syster who yf they were not reskewed by greate merueyle were at poynte to be shrined together at one instante in theyr fatall tombe Here CAMYLLA began to recante her auncient creweltye for in ceassynge any longer to dissimule her secrett affection to her LIVIO and the sorowe shee suffered for thafâ—â—iction of hys syster she seamed to purifie the wronge shee hadde donne to theym bothe thorowe a ryuer of affected teares distillynge by suche aboundance from her watery eyes that she seamed at the poynte to visitt the purgatorye of thother woorlde to doo penaunce for the twoe euilles whereof she confessed her selfe to bee thonlye occasion wherein after she hadde spente certainne howers in publicke complainte whose dollour seamed of force to moue the heauens to teares and staye the course of the sonne fealynge still an increase of passion by the vehemencye of loue shee was constrayned to abandon the place and performe the reste of her exclamacion agaynste her crueltie all alone in her chamber with thys tearmes What furye or force infernall is thys whyche shakyng the fortresse and most constante parte in me hathe made me in one moment yelde to that wherin I haue bene hitherto inuincible is it possible alas that that whyche I iudged a dissembled passion in thys infortunat Gentleman shoulde torne to a true effecte of vndowted faith confirmed by the power of that whiche we call loue in the hartes of men why haue not I considered that the horse whyche is of noble corage will be gouerned by the shadowe of a Rodde where the dull beaste is skarcely sturred with the princkyng of the spurres the fearefull dogge doth also barke more then bite and depest riuers do ronne with leaste noyse so nature hathe imparted a peculiar instinct to the noble minde not only to be more delicate in diet and ardante in affection but also to embrase the obiecte of their fancie with a more vehemencie of desite and passion then the rest of the rude and grosse sorte who are not worthy to be partakers of the misteries in true loue Ah LIVIO LIVIO howe doo I feele a mocion of that whych I can not tearme other wayes then a free force without constrainte and a dollour without cause of complainte for I am possest with an euill wherein I take pleasure and feeles an experience of a paine without the which I thinke the lyfe of man can hardely be sustained and yet my mynde wauereth in suche dredefull conceites that I feare to make declaracion of that which bothe law of loue and dutie of my conscience bindes me to expose for the solace and relyefe of thy presente affliction but alas the renoume of myne honeste name is so deare vnto me that I wyshe rather to embrase the extreme panges of death then giue one symple occasion of discredit to mine auncient vertue for that as mans wisdome is hable to supplie y e losses of all other thinges so it is not only vnfurnished of meanes to restore the forfait of our honestye but also voyde of arte to couer the falte of so greate an offence but is it a iuste imputation or worthye falte when in our busynes wee respecte vertue and concludes the ende of our enterpryse wyth an honeste meanynge ys it not a deede of compassion to gyue soccours to hym that standes in watter vpp to the throte and at the pointe to peryshe for want of help what can we do lesses then be careful to recouer hym who offereth hys lyfe in the sacrefise of affection for our sakes who can iustly tearme our doynges by the title of offence when we yelde a mutual amitye to hym that pursueth our goodwill wyth a respecte and intente of lawfull mariage no no CORNELIA thowe shalte not lose thy brother nor I the companie of so deare a frende for lacke to aunswere in reciprocal wil to him who with the peril of his life coÌ„ceiles the argument of hys sorow Ah most constant loyall LYVIO seyng the reputacion of myne honour denieth me accesses and coÌ„ference with the and y e shame doth close my mouthe from discouerynge the secret of my good meaning towardes y e take courage discharg thou thoffice of a bolde soliciter to her that is no lesse readye to graunte then thou meritorious to haue and dispoiled alreadye of all hagarde crueltie is not onely prest to reknowledge the honour whyche thou offreste me but also whollye framed to the POSTEY and appetit of thy will and nowe do I fele that againste the force and power of loue the strongest resistaunce is to weake neyther is the whole worlde of sufficient strength to put to vtteraunce the soldiours whome he preferreth in the feylde whereof who is a more late experience then my selfe who earste defyinge hys malice am nowe to attende vpon the chariott of hys triumphe and yeld me prisonner to hym who beyng hither unto my bondman hathe nowe made me the slaue of his importunat requestes And seynge the sentence is alredye paste and confirmed by the voice of my destymes why do I conceile my passion in the myddest of a thousande flames whiche tormentes me within or why do I dissemble that I desire moste or retire myne eyes from the view wherein they chieflye delite why do my feete staye to transporte thys body to the place where the harte hath already taken possession wherwith she determyned the spedye consolation of LYVIO wyth no other drogue or confection then a free consente of her loue yf the same were eftesoones demaunded and there vppon collored her goynge to hys logynge to see CORNELIA whome as shee founde in her bedde wythe more argumentes of deathe then apparance of lyfe by reason of a generalle weakenes whyche hadde mortyfyed the whole strengthe of her body so she hadde not spent in any wordes in the consolation of her companion but LIVIO smellynge as it were the presence of hys ladye asked hys syster who was wyth her who aunswered that onely CAMYLLA kepte her companye wherewith forcing a supplie of courage in his fainte harte with intente to knowe the fynall areste of his lyfe or death began to plede wyth hys absent mistres in this sorte Yf there be any hope in extremetye or expectacion of
viewe of the wronge and discurtesye of her brother seamed for a tyme to staie the course of sleepe yet in the often repeticion of her sorowes appeared a litle of qui ette whiche closed her eyes and cast her into a slomber wher in she seamed to beholde standing afore her thymage of her LIVIO halfe deade embrasing her with a pale and hydeous regarde which forced her to suche a feare that she brake soddainely oute of her dredefull sleape spendinge the reste of the wearye nighte in pytifull complaintes wherin certeinly she had raison for that in that dreame or rather misticall vision was fygured the desaster whiche not longe after ouerwhelmed theim bothe neyther oughte wée to fynde it strang if thapprehensions appearing in our slepe do geue vs warninge of the good or euill happeninge vnto vs for that wée haue certeine recordes which iustefye the same in the person of one BRVTVS hee whiche was vanquished in the feldes of PHARSALEMO whether he were awake or in the depthe of his sleepe seamed to see in his tente a terrible shappe of a certaine sprite pronouncinge his ouerthrow besides thaushorytie of naturall reason mouethe vs to confesse that as the ympression of a greate feare or longinge desyer of any thinge do presente often tymes affore the eyes of our mynde the bodie beinge in reste the ymage of that whiche we loue or feare So also the sprit that is voyde of passion or at point to fall into some perilous accident encountreth commonly in his sleape the thing which hee wisheth not to happen and abhorreth to remember when his eyes haue dismissed the drowsy humor of slepe for CAMILLA desiered nothing lesse then the death of her LYVIO and yet not longe after the pre sage or forewarninge of her dreadefull vysion she only witnessed the effect assistinge his funeral with her presence in the tombe aswell as she was willynge to admit his companie in the secret bedd of their infortunat mariage LIVIO for his part was not voide of passion on the behalfe of the frowarde successe of his busynes albeit seing he colde no way bribe the goodwill of fortune hee resolued to geue place to her presente malice and in attending the benefytt of a better tyme to practise CLAVDIO by circumstance and mediacion of his neare frendes Albeit felinge in the meane while an intolleracion of loue with contynnall increase of desier to coll the flower of his affection and taste of the pleasant Iewyste of the grape which quencheth the thirste of the loyall louer he ymparted his paine and request to his Ladye in a letter of this substance Seinge there is no iustice good ladye to supporte the consent to your owne disquiet and suffer me to lyue in passion without comparaison methinke you do wronge to thindiffrent contentment of vs both for if you desyer my death you nede vse no other minister for fatall execution then the alarams of dollor which I encounter daily by your meanes but if you haue care of my quiett and greue no lesse with thimposicion of my mortal torment why make you suche conscience to yelde me consideration of the honeste zeale I beare you seing the same dothe also ymporte a speciall contentment to your selfe you knowe what is alredie passed betwene vs neyther are you ignorante of the small respect your parentes vse towardes you wherwyth if the mutuall consente conclude the mariage you ought also to vnderstande that neyther the tyrannye of the one nor wante of corage in the other hath power to wythholde you from that which you are bound to performe nor hinder me to enioye the benefyt of my desert wherin I appeale to the tooch of your consience with request to consider in what sort you will aduise mée to th ende that by thassistance of your councell I maye the better carye ouer the greatnes of my extremetie which as it is deuided into spedie releefe or presente dispaire so seinge I am of force to passe by the one I doubt of which of the two to make my moste proffyt for albeit the firste hath power to performe the full of my felycity yet in attendinge theffect I consume in a flame of burning desyer and the other if it ymporte a present abridgmente of my tormente by vntymely deathe yet in the verye acte consistes a spot of dishonour to my selfe and an euerlastinge surname of crueltie to her in whose ballance waigheth thindyffrent sentence of the lyfe or deathe of the moste desolate and LOIALL LIVIO CAMILLA whyche desired nothing lesse then to delay the desire of her seruant for that her selfe labored of the same disease retorned y e messengier with no other aunswer theÌ„ that at after dinner she would vysitt CORNELIA when also shee wold satisfie his maister by mouth for y t she feared y e subteltie of her brother wolde intercepte her letters where with thinfortunat LIVIO not knowyng the thred of mischiefe which fortune was now spynnynge for him entred into such solace that the chamber wherein he walked seamed to litle to conteine bys present gladnes the rather for that he ymagined y t hys mistresse woulde now dismysse all excuses and impedimentes to theffect of hys longe desyer seynge there wanted nothynge to consommate the mariage but solemne publicacion in whiche passion of ioye he supplied the tyme in attendynge the commynge of his Ladye with singynge and softe musicke accordyng to the nature of the Swan who the nearer she draweth to the ende of her destiny the pleasanter note she synges bathinge and pruninge her selfe in the purest streame she can fynde to th ende to do honor to her funerall â—ate and as he ymagined thus to be at the point to arriue in the subburb of his paradise behold the approch of y e goddesse of his deuocion deare mistres CAMILLA with her Chambriere who as she was alredye priuye to the whole practise So she vsed her companie nowe to auoyde suspicion imparting the same to LIVIO to th ende he nede not distruste her presence yf by chaunce they entred into parley touchynge any secret matche where neded not thassistance of manye wytnesses And being thus in armes together God knoweth if anye sorte of kysses or other follies in loue were forgotten wherin as it is a common experience that neither bytt nor bridle is hable to gouerne the furye of loue when we be at point to enioye the pleasures we desyer so there appered suche an indifferent vehemencie of appetit betwene theiâ— that at thinstant they made a plat or begynnyng of that whiche the same euenynge gaue ende to the pleasure and lyfe of theym both wehrof CAMILLA as more hoate in desyer or lesse hable to beare the burden of her burnyng affection preuented the request of LYVIO and made plaine the first entrey path to both their mishappes saying that forasmuch as our consentes haue concluded a mariage and that in the breache of our promisse appeareth a perentory preiudice to our consciences
can afore the sequestration of the earthelye substance from the part of diuinitie whyche wee partycipat with God and what contentement or glorye so euer they reappose in thys monstrous abrydgement of nature reprehendynge theym of destoyaltie whyche do the contrarye yet their acte merites none other name then the title of brutalitie neyther can I thynke but their opynion is guided by some sprite or humor of frantyke follye lyke as yt is not the part of a Christiā as the Appostle affirmeth to prefer the fyckle pleasures of the flesh whych are of shorter moment then the thoughtes of a man afore the feare of God recke of our life and care to present our sowles with out spot afore the troane of mercie in the daye of generall accompte when all thoughtes shal bee deciphered and no falte vnpunyshed the poore girle of the chamber to the dead CAMILLA seynge thys fatall misterye wyth the distresse she was in for that she was a companion of the conspiracye thinkynge to giue ende and playe the laste acte of the tragedy serched about the chāber for some glaue or sword or other thinge apte to make the minister of her blody intent being deceaued that way she had no other meane to playe doble or quit but with impetuosity of dollor wherein she raged with such doleful skryches that the brute of her cōplaint awaked the whole house whereof the first that entred the chamber of funeralles was the tyraunt CLAVDIO whoa albeyt was thenly cause of this dolorous massacre yet in place of confessyng his falte or yelding sorow to the losse of such ij loiall louers he grewe in more rage by the viewe of the dead body of LIVIO wherof as he would willingly haue cōmitted a new morder sauing that he sawe him without respiration or argumēt of lyfe so his anger being torned into wodnes rage into furye he wreaked his collor vpon the poore girle to whome he gaue iij. or iiij estockados with hys dagger thorowe the bodye and slonge ymediatlye oute of the chamber to the greate amaze and terrour of hys vnfortunat father who seynge hys house full of morders and hys sonne committed oppen slaughter in the person of the innocent gyrle coulde not so gouerne his passion of dolour but he seamed more ready to passe that waye then desyrous to enioy longer life albeit beyng kepte from doynge force agaynst himselfe by certaine hys seruauntes that were there he vttered sompart of hys inwaerde gref by open exclamation agaynste hys owne misfortune inveighynge chyeflye agaynste the inordin at will of hys daughter with aduise to all fathers to kepe a steddye eye vppon their slypprye y outhe wherein he comended vnto theym the example of hys owne follye in fauoryng so much the fonde appetit of hys daughter that he gaue leaue to her Libertye to excede the viewe or pursewte of his eye accusynge chieflie the impedyment he gaue to the mariage seynge that in the same appeared the perentory ruine of hys house continuall desolation to hys old yeres and in the ende to leaue hys goodes and lyuynge to straungers for want of an heire of his bodye for that hauynge but ij children the one was already dead and the other no lesse worthe by y e mortal violence he had vsed vpon the innocencie of the mayd who after y e surgeants had somwhat stayed y e bledyng of her woundes confessed the contract and circūstance of the loue whereof you haue harde a particular declaracion whiche rather encreased the dule of tholde man then gaue moderation to his sorowe whyche notwithstandynge by the perswacions of hys neighbours and constraint of necessity whych as a vertue giueth pacience perforce to all extremeties he dysmissed in outeward showe and disposed hymself to the funerall obsequies in as solēne manner as he cold erectynge a tombe of marble in Sainct francys churche wherin were shryned the bodies of the ij louers as dead at one time and by one occasion to the great regreat of the whole towne wherein euerye one was so indifferentlye passioned wyth sorowe that a man should hardly haue hard any other tunes then publike exclamacion against the cruelty of CLAVDIO by whyche generall complaint together with the depositiōs of the mayde who dyed within three dayes after her hurtes DOM RAMYRO CATALANO gouernor of CESENNA vnder CESAR BORGIA began to enter into tearmes of compassion on the behalfe of the ij dead louers and mortall anger against CLAVDIO for that his cruelty only was the cause of the death of the ij only flowers peragōs in Italy wherin he purseued so vehemently y e rigour of his office equity of iustice y t CLAVDYO lost his head secretly within the castel for feare of mutine or tumulte of his frendes This was y e miserable end of y e loue lif of y e ij SISENNOIS wose death and discorse of amarous traffique for y t it doth not exced the remēbrāce of our time I haue preseted as a familiar exāple affore y e eyes of our youth to th end y t euery one respecting y e duty of his own indeuor may vse y e misery of this precedēt as a paterne to preuēt y e like myschief in thē selues wherin also as we may note that loue is but a rage or humor of frātike follye deriued of our selues conuerted to our owne harme by thindiscrecion that is in vs so y e next remedy to withstand that furye is to encounter him vnder thenseigne of raison slee the occasions whyche weaken the mynde wythout trauell and bringe the bodye in the ende to the theatrye of execution wee are also warned here to temper the delites wee possesse with suche measure that forgettynge the blyndenes of LIVIO we maye eschewe the horrour of hys acte with detestation of the folys he vsed in the glott of his vnlawfull pleasure FINIS The argument ACcording to thoppinion of the wise Demosthenes there is no one vertue that hath made more famous the fathers of formèr time thenne the gyft of cyuill curtesy neyther is nature more glorifyed in the ympes of her creation then in that we dispose our selues doings according to the dispocition of the clymat whiche shee hath appointed to gouerne our accions and thoughtes respecting chiefly to refraine from violacion of innocent blodde which in al ages hath restored a name of great clemencie to diuerse Albeit touching other effectes they were ambycius tyrantes and cruell enemyes to their owne common wealthe whiche vnnatural crueltie also as it hath bene is of such detestacion amongest y e rudest companions of the world that the verye barbarians haue alwaies had in horrour the wickednes of suche as pursewed the queste of guiltles blodde and toke awaye the life of him that had not committed offence So they haue alwaies had in honour the vertue of suche as soughte to extirppe the roote of tyranical furies borne for the ruine and destruction of man like as among the romaine emprours
capteine being one of the traine of the lord Iames TRIVOVLSE a great fauorer of the faction of GEBALYNO in Italye and at that tyme gouernor of the duchie of MILLAYNE vnder y e frenche kinge LOYS the thirde of that name whether it were to make a further proffe of the pacience of his wife or by absence to mortefie and forgett his fonde opinion conceiued without cause retired vpon a soddaine to Neweastel y e court and ordenarie place of abode of y e sayd Lord TRYVOVLSE which albeit was of hard disgestion to the ladie for a time yet beinge not vnaquainted with such chaunces and no pren tise in the practise of her husbande retired to her auncient patience and contentment by force dyssimuling with a new greefe and secrete sorowe this newe discourtesie to th ende that her waspishe husbande should take no excepcions to her in any respect but fynde her in this as the former stormes bent wholly to obey thappetit of his will and not to mislike with that whyche he fyndes necessarye to be don This TRIVOVLSE hadde not spente many monethes in fraunce but there was commenced informacion agaynste him to the king that he was reuolted from the frenche and become frend to the Swytzers and sworne to their seigneurye and faction wherewyth ymediatelye fame the common carier of tales filled all eares of MILAN and the prouince there about with this further â—ddicion that the king for that cause had seÌ„t him headles to his graue albeit as fame is rather a messenger of lyes then a treasure of truthe and ra her to be harde then beleued so this brute beinge not true in the laste did ymporte a certeine credit in the fyrste for TRYVOVLSE not liking to liue in the displeasure of his prince abandoned his charg and came into Lumbardy wher beinge sommoned by the messenger of deathe gaue place to nature and dyed who beinge the onelye maister and meynteynor of the ALBANOYSE capteine whilest bee liued colde not casely be forgotten of him after his death for after his departure was past the general doubte of the people and eche voice resolued that he was laide in hys graue Don Capitaino spado resolued whollye into teares seamed here to pass the mistery of a newe traunce whiche with the freshe remembraunce of his auncient harme and gréene wounde of vnworthie Ielowsye bledynge yet in his minde broughte hym in that case that he neyther desyred to liue nor doubted to die and yet in dispaire of theim both his solace of the daye was conuerted into teares and the howers of the night went awaye in vistons and hollowe dreames he loathed the companye of his frendes and hated the thynges that shoulde susteine nature neither was he contented with the presente nor cared for the chaunce of future tyme which sodaine alteracion in straunge maner driue his carefull wife into no lesse astonishement then she had cause and being ignoraunt of the occasion she was also voide of consolation which doubled her gréefe till tyme opened her at laste a meane to communicate familiarly with hym in this sorte Alas syr sayth she to what ende serue these pininge conceites forcing a generall debilytie thorow al your parts or why do you languishe in griefe without discoueryng the cause of youre sorowe to suche as holde your health no lesse deare then the swéete and pleasant taste of their owne lyfe from whence coÌ„mes this often chaÌ„ge of complexion accoÌ„panied with a dispositioÌ„ of malencolicke dompes arguing your inward fretting care of minde why staye you not in time y e source of your skorching sighes that haue alredye drayned your bodye of his wholsome humours appointed by nature to giue sucke to thintrals and inward partes of you and to what ende serueth this whole riuer of teares flowynge by such abundance froÌ„ your watery eyes almost worne awaye with wéeping is your gréefe growen great by coÌ„tinuance of time or haue you conceiued some mislike of newe Yf your house be out of order in any sorte or that wante of dutie or diligence in me procureth your grudge declare the cause to th ende the faulte maye be reformed in me and you restored to your auÌ„cieÌ„t order of quiet we both enioye a mutual traÌ„quillitie as apperteineth But he that labored of an other disease then is incideÌ„t coÌ„monly to men of good gouernemeÌ„t absolued her of all faultes or other mislikes he founde in the state of his house or other his affaires committed to her order lesse lacke of her diligence to make declaracion of her dutye to thutermoste but alas saith he with a depe sighe deriued of the â—retinge dolour of his minde and doubled twise or thrise within his stomacke afore he coulde vtter it what cause of comfort or consolation hath he to lyue in this world from whom the malice of destenie hath taken the chiefeste pillor of his life or to what ende serueth the fruicion or interest of longer yeres in this vale of vnquietnes when the bodie abhorreth alredie the longe date of his abode heare or why shold not this soma or masse of corrupcion which I receiued of the world bée dismissed to earth and my soule haue leaue to passe into the other worlde to shonne this double passion of present torment whiche I féele by the death of my deare frende Ah my deare Ladye and loyall wyfe my grief is so great that I dye to tell you the cause and yet the veray remembrance presents me with treble torments wherin I must confess vnto you that since the death of the late Lorde Ihon Tryuulso I haue had so lytle desyer to lyue that all my felicitie is in thinking to die neyther can ther be any thinge in the world more acceptable to me then death whose hower and time if they wer as certeine as himselfe is moste sewer to coÌ„me in the ende I could somwhat satisfye the greate desyer I haue to die moderate the rage of my passion in thinking of the shortnes of the dome that should giue ende to my dyeng ghost and vnrulye sorowes together besides waighing thinâ—inite miseries of our time accompanieng vs eueÌ„ from the wombe of concepcion with the reaste and reapose which dead men do finde And knowing withall how muche I am in the debte of him that is dead I can not wishe a more acceptable thinge then the spedie approche and ende of my dayes to th ende that being denied the viewe of his presence here I may folow him in thother world where participating indiferently such good and euil as falleth to his share I may witnes with what duetiful zeale affectioned harte I sought to honor and serue hym in all respectes But the Ladye that sawe as farre into the disease of her husbande as his phizicion into his vryne knowynge well enoughe that he dyd not languishe so muche for the desyer of hym that was dead as the ticklishe humour of Ielowsye troubled hym was content to admit his coollours
mockerye in the ende that they sticke not to discribe their vaine and fonde humor vppon publike stage in the hearinge of all the worlde yet am I of opynion that as the garmente that is fyt for euery man is well framed for no man so the harte that is as apte to declyne as the appetit is readie to sommon is neyther meritorious of fauor in any sort nor meete to kepe place in the rancke of the vertues chieflye where hee refuseth thobiecte of his owne choice neyther is it possible that two sonnes geue lighte to y e world at one instante nor once conueniente for the mynde of one man to embrace thymage or figure of more then one saint wherein thexample of CORNELIO callinge vs to thymytacion of the like vertue serues also to confute thopposicions of certeine couetous Ladies now a daies who rather gredie of glorie thenne hable to deserue it do not sticke to whet their wittes and inueighe synisterly against thinconstancie of men transporting the whole title and honor of true loyaltie to themselues as though there remained no sparke nor showe of that vertue in the hartes of men who as they were the firste partakers of that gifte so the constante order of their doinges and lyues beinge founde for the moste parte the longeste in breath do argue them no lesse worthy of that perfection then hable to excede that flatteringe crew of flickeringe creatures who in robbinge vs of that which we deserue by iuste title doo seame to bewtifye theimselues wyth the merite of other mens vertues But because the eares of al women can not brooke the hearinge of a troth and that the pursewte of this quarrell arguinge a more daunger in thaduenture then gaine in the victorye mighte set abroache the faltes of some of our contreywomen I am contente to geue theim that they will haue by force and retiringe to the place of my historie declare vnto you the aunswer of CORNELIO to the messenger I am sorye saieth he the large honor and liberall offer whyche you seame to presente vnto me on the behalfe of your Lady and mystrys is of a more highe momente thenne eyther I am worthys to possesse or hable to requite wyth equall merite wherein because the harde condition of my presente state seames my chiefeste enemye to soo greate a prefermente I doubte howe to seame thankefull to her and satisfye the tyme both together albeit as thinges ympossible are not to bee pursewed and offences forced of necessitie are moste meritorious of pardon so beynge not hable to aunswere her exspectacion in counterchaunge of affection I am onlye to racke the litle tallent that is lefte me to so highe a pyn that onlye shee shall dispose of my honor and lyfe wyth all that I haue in the worlde at her pleasure whyche it maye like her to vse as a supplie of y e presēt dutie and seruice she demaundes at my hand onelye being at this presente not the maister of my selfe nor the vse of my harte in mine owne possession my sute is that shee rather blame the wronge whiche time offreth to vs bothe then note me of any disdayne in refusing the frendshippe of her who merites more then I am hable to performe for if my harte were as frée from forreine and former bondes as shée deserueth to be serued and that my affections did not excede thordenary ympressions whiche assaile the mynde of man assure youre selfe shee shoulde not lyue longe vnsatysfyed to her contentmente and muche lesse haue cause to enter into suspection of Ieleous disdaine in me for retorning the offer of that which maye serue for a present to the greatest prince in ITALY neyther will I so much abuse the proffer of her acquaintance or cause of your cōming as eyther her liberal offer or vehemēcie of your importunities on her behalf shal moue me to resolue a worseopynion or more slēder credyt on y e honor or honestie of her y t sente you desyeringe you for end to preferr my excuse accordinge to thintegretie of the same with this further addicion and humble requeste that she bee as bolde to employe me in any other respecte no lesse amplye and so far furthe as my honor and lyfe will extende more honestlie saithe the messenger colde you not refuce the offer of that whyche earste was neuer presented to any and muche lesse so neare the poynte to make a price of so precious amarchandise neyther do I thinke you worthie of the title of that courtesye whereof you are commended nor yet am I of mynde that youre harte is capable of the noble vertue of loue seynge y e renowne honor of her whose bewty only hath the greatest princes of Italye in awe canne make no breache nor enter And who woulde seame of so slender iudgemente onlesse hee hadde quite disclaimed the order of reason that beinge proffered frelie that whiche princes can not get by any sute and not onely desired but pursewed wyth greate instance wolde let slippe the gyft of so good a fortune and make chippes of the frendshippe of so faire and curteons a Ladye wyth what face dare you visyt hereafter th assemblies of greate dames hauynge committed so greate a falte on the behalfe of her whose goodwill you do not deserue if her curtesye did not call you to that prefermēt are you of opynion that the merite of your bewtie and other proporcion excedes the honore and heighte of her that woeth you ymagyn the same to bee of suche force that it is hable to drawe Ladyes to doate of you euen vnto deathe woulde you become so harde harted as to encrease your glorye wyth thexployt of so great a crueltie If you bee subiecte to soo fonde an humor you muste nedes bee incydente to the iuste reuenge which the god of loue is readie to thonder vpon such as seame to hold his loare in skornful contempte whereof as I haue harde mo examples then my skill is hable to reueile in good order being neuer trained in the torning ouer of volumes histories So I wishe chieflie the plage of NARCISSVS maye put you in remembrance of your present ouersighte leaste in disdaininge the frendshippe of such as excell your selfe euery way you doate vppon thymage of your owne shadowe and by that meanes yelde treble vsurye to the wronge you offer her whose loyall affection deserueth a better rewarde then the retorne of a repulse of so small ymportance wherwith CORNELIO cuttinge of the reste of her waspishe discourse desyered her to presse him wyth no greater ymputacion then his offence deserued for saieth he in tearminge me vnworthie of the title of curtesye and that my hart is to harde to admit the impression of loue you rather slaunder me by ignorance then accuse me by iustice seinge the onlye force of loue hath forced alreadie a vowe of my affection and harte to a Ladie of MILLAN whose presence albeit thiniquitie of fate hath taken from me for a
endowed me with the gyfte of thanckfull contentacion that my estate with contynuall vse of honest trauaile ys no lesse plesannt to me theÌ„ y e dilicate order ful of superfluite of vaine pompe vsed by great Ladyes now a dayes wantonlye norished in pallays and places of princes beynge more redy to roÌ„ne vnder the danger of a thowsand torments yeldyng death hys tribute with the sacrifyce of my bodye then to laye my chastitie in pawne as you perswade me for thinlarging y e hard condicion of my selfe or state of my poore parents neither haue I hetherto felt any mocioÌ„ of that follie which you call loue and muche lessemene I to make anye experience of his flatteryng offers howe great so euer they appere wherfor let yt suffice you to haue broached the vessel of your villanie afore her that in respecte of your yeres is coÌ„tented to comytt your filthye message to scilence wyshyng you hensfurth to broake in matters of more honestie or at y e least to seke to solicit such as are as careles of theyr honour as you redy to seduce it for my part I haue weighed min honour and lyfe in indifferent ballaunce with intent to exchange both the on and the other at equall price and as for the galland y t sent you he makes true declaration of the loue he bears me in semyng more desyerous to enioye the pleasure of my bodye then carefull to preserue myne honour or preueÌ„t the dauÌ„ger of my soule you as y e vnnatural bourreaâ— suborned to subuert the chefest ornameÌ„t of my life are coÌ„tent to become his messenger and minister and vnder the coollor of deuacion to communicate matters of bawdry so for his part let him kepe that he hath won and pay hym selfe with y e tribut of his own folly for I am not only resolued heÌ„sfurth once to speke to hym but also to shonne the place wher he is as a venemous serpent and rauenous wolfe rather desyerous to make marchaÌ„dise of my body then careful any waye of my reputacioÌ„ wishyng you also for end to depart y e place least your long taryeng yelde you the due reward of your trauaile whiche sharpe repuâ—se and last threates so amased the bawde nipped her in y e head y t although she wer more excelleÌ„t in y e gyfts of an oratour then beloÌ„ged to one of her trade yet durste she neyther truste the smoth and sugred stile of her tounge in excusinge the cause of her comming nor seme eftesones to credite the fynes of her wytt in deuisyng newe charmes to enchaunt the pudicitie of the mayde but as one no lesse ashamed of that she had don then fearynge to be discouered and committed to shame retyred with lesse noyse theÌ„ ioye of her message leuynge Iulya reioysyng the goodnes of her Fortune that had delyuered her so saffelye from the perils of so greate a mischiefe persuadynge her selfe hensfurth to vse the pollycye of the serpent in stoppynge her eares leaste with the assistaunce of time and libertie to here her speke she might unhappely fal into the daunger of her charme wherin she semed to obserue y e rule of wisdoÌ„ which bidd all women of honest parte the cacquett or companye of theÌ„ that go about to corrupte their chastetie seinge that she y t willingly admittes listeneth to the infectious that of such deuouring cater pillers semes in y e iudgemeÌ„t of y e world to be of disposition redy to obey their loare and what greate battery nede we to beate that fortresse whose captaine demaunds a parley and seweth for composition but what was the passion all this while of the poore Ferrarois of not such as commonly is incident to them that languishe of the lyke desease for waftinge indifferently betwene hope and dispaier he semed more redye to incurr the daunger of the on then hable to conuert the benefyte of the other into a helpe for himself wherin he was the rather furthered by the reporte of his bawde who denied to perform any ê‘te of her promise and lesse hable to answere his exspectation retorned as it wer w t a flea in her eare being no less ashamed of y t she had don theÌ„ doubtful to procede any further semed w t y e report of her colde successe to pronounce the extreme sentence finall arrest of his life but loue who first stirred vp the humor of his folly vndertaking to be his guide during y e conueigh of this buysines wolde not leue him alone in the middeste of his pagaunte without sufficiente matter to treate vppon neither thought he it time to present the catastrophe or dismiss him froÌ„ the stage till he had plaied the vttermost acte of his folly wherfore fedyng the fondling with vaine suggestioÌ„ dandlynge him stilw t dyuerse arguments and likelyhodes of good successe offred therwith the assistaunce of a new deuise which was that seing praiers could not preuaile nor importunityes take place y e fraÌ„ke offer of his coÌ„tinual seruice not only refused but resolued her so depely in the disdaine hate of his remeÌ„brance that she abhorred his coÌ„pany no lesse then the preseÌ„ce of the Cockatrice or baselyke serpeÌ„t he shold retire to thatteÌ„pte of money as a sure helpe to supplie y t weakenes of his former deuises whose force albeit is so great y t of it selfe it is hable to pearce the strongest tower of a kyngdom being the chefest engin as the poets faine that opened Iupiter the doare of the brasen tower wherin the faier doughter of Achrises was curiously kept yet hath it no power to approche the pallais of vertue and lesse hable to inuade or make any breache into the hart confirmed in pure chastitie wherof our poore Iulya hath left an vndowted example to all degrées of future succession for she resolued wholy in y e true ymitacioÌ„ of vertu reiected al offers of filthy gaine accoÌ„pting the contentment of the mynde to excede al the riches of the world neyther thought shée her worthy of due veneracion nor méete to be admitted in the feloshypp of the tryed sorte that with aconstaÌ„t profe of their faith do not make their chastitie of as greate admiration as the frugilitie of man semes great in doating vpon a beautie that fadeth as a shadow and of lesse continuance then a flower but nowe to your Vallett of chamber who somwhat reuyued with a new hope of goodlucke in the sequele of this second deuise preferred yt ymedyatly to execucion and encoraging the bawde with the offer of his hope instructed her eftesones with new termes more vehement to perswade then likely to spede and so dismissing this seconde embassage commites her to the goodnes of fortune here mother bée loden with money Iewels retires again to her former trade of shame wher marching with no lesse corage then hope of good spede thought her selfe armed w t sufficieÌ„t wepons to enter the fortresse and to put the prisoner into the
the gaze and wonder of the multytude cannot claime the priuiledge of any place but the people wyl point at them neyther can they hyde theym in so secret a corner but infamye wyll hunt them out shame discouer them atteÌ„ding them to the very end of theyr daies no no let not them lyue that are desirous to dye and death is moste acceptable to suche as hate the fruicion of lyfe for my parte I loth alredy the remembrance of lyfe seing I haue lost the chefest pillor of the same wherof I meane to make spedy declaracion by the sentence I haue alredy pronounced of my ende wherin it shall appeare to the worlde that although my bodye haue tasted of the malice of the wicked by force yet my mynde remains entire without spott or consentement to the villany whiche as my chiefe bequeste and last testament in this worlde I leue registred in the remembrance of you good awnt to make relacion to my desolat parents and the whole worlde besides of thaccideÌ„t of my wretched desaster that although your vnhappy néece and miserable IVLIA hath by meare force lost the outward show of her honor yet her conscience remeinyng vnspotted and soule cleare ready to flye to the heaueÌ„s to witnes her iÌ„tegry tye afore the sacred theatrye or tribunall seate of GOD can not departe wyth worthye contentement afore I offer my lyf to y e waues to purifie the fylthye spottes wherewith my bodye remeins painted on all parts by thinfection of the detestable rape of force wherewith she departed not taryinge the replye of her awnt who thoughte to haue diswaded her from the pursuete of her desperate intent and beinge coÌ„me to the riuer of Oglyo kyssing her sister with a last crye to god to receyue her soule to his mercy she lept hedloÌ„g into the water who as a mercyles element respectinge neyther thinnocency of her cause nor desperate order of dying committed her to the botomles throts goolphes of the sourges whiche was the ende of this miserable IVLIA whose lyfe only deserues commendation for thexample of her vertue and deathe worthie to be committed to oblyuyon for the signes of desperacion wherewyth it was infected But after this chaunce burst out into tearmes became the report of the people God knoweth what generall desolacion was amonge all the estate of the Cytie aswell for the strangnes of the facte as for that the villeyne was fledd that caused the brute who if he had ben taken had don penance of this falte with the losse of his lyfe in example of others the bodye was founde by the diligence of Loys Gonzaga who woulde not suffer it to be buryed in the Churche yarde or other sanctuarye because of the desperat maner of her death but caused it to be solempnelye accoÌ„panyed with the teares great dule of diuerse Ladyes into a place or graue in the felde where he ment in shorte tyme to sett vpp a tombe of marble wyth a monument of the particular discourse of the vertues and singuler gyftes of grace in his pore countrewomaÌ„ whose death I wishe may learne al estats to eschewe the perill of dispaier and order of lyfe to instructe all the yonge Ladyes of England to resiste the charmes and sugred allurements of loue who the more he is feasted with pleasaunt regardes of the eye or encountred with secret conference in corners or courted wyth embassages or lastlye banqueted wyth dishes of delicate toyes or vaine importunityes the more is he redye to inuade and apte to ouercome but on the contrarye parte the waye to kepe warre wyth that vaccabound and to flée his infections is as IVLIA did to marche against hym with a flagge of vertue vsyng wythall the pollycy of VLIXES in stopping your eares from the pepered harmonye of them that delitinge only in the praye of your outwarde beautye haue no respecte to the ornament of the soule whiche beinge kepte pure and vndefyled to th ende yealdes you a rewarde of immortalitye and your renowme neuer to be rased out of remembraunce tyll thextreame dissolucion of the worlde FINIS The argument THere was neuer mischiefe of former time nor vice in present vse wherein men are or haue bene more drowned or drawen by a beastly desyer then in therecrable and deadly synne of whoredome by the which besides that the spirituall fornicacion is figured in some sorte yet is it forbidden vnto vs expresly by thinuiolable lawes not written in the tables wher thauncientes were wonte to graue directions and orders to pollitique states of the Romaines Athenyens Egiptiens or Sparteins but recorded in theuerlasting booke within the whiche the veraie finger of god hath sealed his infallible statutes wher of as he wolde that his children and faithfull heires of his kingdom were made partakers with desyer and indeuor of ymytacion so we are al warned by y e same defence that besides the wrong and harme we do to our owne bodies we offend â—eynously against the health of our soules specially in corruptinge the wife of our neighbour with thabuse of that part of her which is necessarie to be garded with as great care and watche as we reade was vsed somtime in the supersticious ceremonies of the vestals of Rome in keping a contynuall fyer in their temple The greatnes also of this synne of adulterie bringing as you se an equal hurt to the soule and bodye hath forced a wonderful seueretie in both the lawes punishinge by deathe such as do prophane that hollye and invyolable bond and bed of mariage wher is only a place of purity and no oblacion to be offred or admitted but the sacrifice of honeste lawful substaÌ„ce besides what slaunders and mortalitie amongest men haue spronge out of the vicious fountaine of that synne y e mariage bed of Menelaus defyled by y e kinges sonne of Troye hath left sufficient example and cause of exclamacion amongest the phrigiens with reason to all posterities to deteste such villanie as a vice moste abhomynable in Egipt the Sychemetyens for like respect vnder Abraham and Isaac haue felt the mighty hand of god althoughe their offence in some sort was excusable by ignoraunce for that they thought the wyues which they toke had bene vnmaried Likewise if there be any faithe in the poeticall fictions we see thargumentes of most of their tragedies were founded eyther vpon the punishmente or dispair of such as not hable to reuenge the wrong of their lasciuions wife and wicked Sathanist her mynyon conuert and execute their rage and furie vpon theimselues wherin our worlde at this daye is growen to such a malicious golphe and bottomles sea of vices that the wilde nacions without eyther awe of God or feare of his lawes gouerned only by an instinct of nature are more curious to kepe the honor of their bedd then diuerse contryes in the harte and bowells of Christendom wher thadulteror is not punished but by protestacion or attorney and wher the poore
my vnworthynes makes me dispair euer to cooll the frute of so greate a gaine and the feare I féele to craue that I desyer moste yeldes me no lesse doubtefull of theffect of your offer albeit on thother part the honor and felicitye I ymagin in the preferment hath prickt me alredye so full of corage that the worlde hath nothyng of suche hardnes which I dare not attempte nor any thinge of so greate impossibilitye whiche wyll not appeare easye in the pursuete so that my trauell maye receiue his hyer at the haÌ„des of your bountye pardon me I beseche you in discoueryng that whiche almost I kepte secret from mine owne harte and yf my rashenes haue offended you it maye lyke you to do iustice vpon your selfe whose authoritie with the force of extreme passion hath forced me to a lauishenes in the thyng whiche I durste not determyne and muche lesse séeke to set abroche in déede Here the shameles Lady tolde him his last request had preuented her longe meaninge for saith she you haue hyt the marke whereat I thoughte to shoote wherein as I am coÌ„tented to imparte credit to your wordes w t persuacioÌ„ of sufficient assurauÌ„ce in your fidelitye so I praye you embrace mine offer of semblable curtesye w t addicioÌ„ that your desyer to enioye me is nothing in respect of the firme opinion I haue to be so wholly yours as your selfe shal deuise wherof I am heare to seale tharticles of assuraÌ„ce iÌ„ such sorte as you thinke good wherupon I thinke no sortes of kysses or follyes in loue were forgotten no kynde of crampe nor pinchyng by the lytle finger nor his hande layed softelye in her delicate dugge and she againe with her armes aboute his necke to yelde tribut to his curtesye was not vnmindefull I am sewer to coÌ„municate in this place the circumstance of her longe loue and howe often she had béene at point to make declaration of her zeale with the causes of restraint till that hower whiche yf she blessed accordynge to the greatnes of her felicitie he thought it a dutye to honor with treble thanke sgeuynge performing there their firste earnest of their vnhappye pleasure to thindifferent contentement of both thadulterous who there gaue order for the conueighe of the rest of their licencious sequele Here besides a consommacion and effect of detestable whordom wherein the one with impudencie obteineth a gloot of her insatiable luste and the other vnhappely yeldes to thâ—nbridled will of a deuelishe woman yet is the foundacioÌ„ laied betwene the ij wretches to encrease their offence with an acte of greater synne for besides the vice of contaminacion of an other mans bedd the wicked doctor aggréed to a mortall conspiracie and treason agaynste hym whoe was neither doutful of hys honestye nor suspicious of hys fayth and whose lyberallitye deserued a retourne of more credit then to weaue the webb of his distruction for that his chiefest meane of sustentation grewe by the fées and other assistance of the gentleman Ioseph the Hebrue abstained from like acte although he was assailed with semblable importunities in the hoÌ„use of the prince of Egypte desyeryng rather to proue thuttermuste rigour of hym who thoughte hym selfe offended then to synne haynously in the syghte of the great god from whose eyes no secrett is conceiled which in the end he doth not discloase w t no lesse iustice in punishing the faulte then he hath vsed longe pacience in tolleracion of the wickednes Let euery man beholde here an experience of the malice of those that vnder the vaile of good learnyng bolstered with a dissembled showe of a certeine vaine knowledge and skill to discerne the good from the euil and trye the differeÌ„ce of the iuste from the vniuste do studie altogether the peruercion of iustice to seduce all good order honesty and abuse vnder coolour of honest faith the simplicitie of the good sorte whereof how many exaÌ„ples of iniquitie do we sée now a daies in diuerse our professours of learning whose vanitie procureth so many diuorcementes betwene the man wyf yet they affirme for the most part y e such actes are not tollerable neither by thordinance of God institution of men nor any authoritie in the Cyuilyâ—n skoole besides howe many are to be séene who puffed vp w t a litle smatteringe skil in eyther of the lawes which rather settes abroache the humour of their vanity then coÌ„firmes them in good order or integritie of iudgement or lyuing do trade only in corrupting the good sound partes of euery one indusing some to sedicioÌ„ other to thefte periurye false witnes bearing others to habaÌ„don their countrey parentes with the societie felowshipp of all their frendes yet who hath a better grace then they in preferryng an absolute puritye of lyfe a feare of the lawes obedience to theyr soueraignes reuerence to their parentes respecte to the league of loyal frindship yea our vnhappye world or rather the malice of our cursed tyme hath sturred vpp amongest vs suche store of skilfull clarkes or rather dyuinyng deuills who bolking out a false philosophie haue God amende it infected the whole worlde with the ayre of their corrupcion and not satisfyed in thabuse of the mortall wretches and seducyng the fragilitye of man wyth a flattering allurement of sensualitye and pleasures of the fleshe begyn by litle and lytle to dresse war againste God with opinion to conquere that inuincible power and first cause who laughing for a tyme at their follyes wil no doubte make theÌ„ féele in y e ende w t the due punishment and smart of their fond ymaginacions that neither maÌ„ nor his vaine knowledge is of any force against hym froÌ„ whose troane wee receaue thinspiracioÌ„ breath of all goodnes vertue wisdom wherin I am moued to such a playnenes touchynge the vanitie of diuerse our learned meÌ„ now a daies by the sinister succes diuersatie of rare matters happening amongest vs for that we se the most parts of christendom rather tormented by such as abuse y e vertue of true knowleadge with desier to inceÌ„se contrarietie of sectes theÌ„ inuaded with thincursions of the blasphemous infidells and ennemies of our religyon and trulye the domesticall seruant in credit or truste with his maister euil gyuen or affected towardes his Lord is more to be feared then a whole armye of ennemies standyng in battaile araye in the felde whereof the Lorde of CHABRY maie bée a familiar experience by the meanes of this pernicious aduocat who abusyng the Ladye and she comittyng lyke wronge on the behalfe of her husbande determyned bothe for the better conueighe of their abhomynable lyfe the death of the poore gentleman whereuntâ— they added thexecucion with more then an ordynarye spéede for this villanous lawyer practised ymediatlie with a knaue of hys owne disposicion who receiuynge some tj or itj. hundreth crownes with promysse of further rewarde consented to performe the meanyng of his bloddye request attendyng
wrongefull conceyte of suche a villenie dothe troble you whyche shée forgatt no too accompanye with all sortes of syghes and sygnes of dollour entrermedled with suche regardes of dyssembled pitie in all partes of her face that albeyt he was paste all dowte touchynge the trothe of hys owne conceyte yet the teares of hys deceytefull mother moued hym to admitt her excuses with suche compassion of her sorowe that he seamed also to passe the panges of her present passion with protestacion vnder tearmes of greate humilitie that he greued no lesse in that he hadde sayd then shée hadd greate reason to complaine of the wronge he hadd donne to the renowne of her vertue albeyt saythe he wyth a countenance of repentance yf you measure the force of my affection with the cause of my late plaines your discrecion I hope will conster my woordes accordyng to the honeste intent of my hart with excuse to my rashenes whyche you shall sée hereafter so mortefyed in me that I will neyther bée so hastye to accuse nor suspect without better aduise for the whyche shée seamed thankefull vnto hym with a present appeasement from Anger attendyng the offer of oportunitie when she myghte preferr her sōne to a parte in the tragedye whyche her wickednes hadde alredye begon vppon hys late father for shée was doutefull styll of the youngeman and gaue lesse faythe to his wordes wherein certeinely appeareth an experience of an ordinarie custume in the wicked who payseth thinfydelitie of others in the ballance of their owne iniustice and wante of faithe for the tyrant dowteth to whose creditt to comitt the sauetie of himselfe because his crueltie is hated of all men neyther dothe he good to any yf not for the respect of profit or to performe some malicius attempte wherein as they consider thaffexcions of their people by the passions in theimselues soo in passynge theyr owne lyfe in continuall feare they procure lyke terror to suche as bée conuersant with theim makyng the disquiett of others equall to the miserie of theimselues lyke as thys new Megera or tyrannouse monster of oure tyme who no more satiffied with the blood of her husband then glutted or cloyed with y e continual pleasures in whoredome with her detestable Tolonyo determined to rydde the world of her innocent sonne to thend their villanous trade mighte passe with more assurance and lesse cause of feare or suspicion of any for th executiō wherof her wickednes deuised this spedy and necessarie meane There was within the castel a highe gallery borded vnderfote with certeine plankes fastned to rotten planchers where as y e young gentleman vsed his dailye recreacion in walkinge by reason of the delitefull ayre pleasant prospect vppon dyuerse feldes and gardyns so the Tygresse his mother reserued that place as a most chiefe mortal minister in the death of her son for she and her pernicius proccurer one euenyng knocked oute of either ende of diuerse of the plankes the nayles that kepte theime cloase to the plancher in suche sorte that the nexte that happened too make hys walke there shoulde haue no leasure to discouer the traison and much lesse lyue to bring reapport of the hardnes of the rockes growing in the diches vnder the sayd gallerie which chaunced vnhappelie to the sonne of this she wolffe who no more happie in a mother then his father fortunate in a wife renewed the next day his accustumed walkes in the valte wher he had not spent thre or foure tornes but his destynie brought hym to treade vppon the fatall bourd es who hauinge no holde nor staye to rest vpon disioyned theimselues wyth the wayght of thinfortunat gentleman who falling soddeinly vpon the rockes wyth hys heade forwarde was brused to peces beinge dead in dede almost so sone as he felte thapprehencion of death Who wold haue iudged such trayso in a mother to work such an end to her son or noted such wate of pitie in any of y e sect as to soe the séedes sprong in her owne flankes deformed and he wed in peces vpon the edge of sharppe and piked stoanes what mistortune to the sonne and villanie in a mother seinge the title of a sonne ought to be so deare and name of a mother is so delicate and of such vertue that no hart of what mettal soeuer it be made is not mollefyed and doth homage to that dignitie yea euerye one holdeth his blodde so deare that the beastes theimselues by a prouocacion of nature although other wayes insensible haue such affectioned regarde to their fawnes that they feare not to contend against euery peril of death to defende their youngons from daunger what greater felicity hath mā trauelling in the stormy sea of this worlde then to see as it were a regeneracion of hymselfe in hys children wyth a plentifull and gladsome encrease of his séede for whych cause chiefely god ordeyned the holye institucion of mariage not respecting altogether the mortefyeng of the ticklyshe instinctes of our declayning fleshe but rather of regarde as thappostel affirmeth to kepe the societie of man in order making it appear'e pure and aeceptable to the great monarke and syrst founder of so noble a worke But to retorne now to our historie this ympp of th infernall lake and hellish Lady beinge already dispoyled of all affection and dutie required in a woman towardes her husband detested also euery point of charitie and zeale whych nature chalenged in her to the frute flowered wythin the tender partes of her intralls whose fall and miserable deathe as you sée filled ymediatlie euerie corner of the castel with desolacion and teares some weping in the want of their brother other complayned the lacke and misfortune of ther kynsman the viewe of whose dysmembred bodye sturred vp also a freshe sorowe on the behalfe of their late Lorde but all their dollor was nothing to the howlinge and cries of the detestable mordress who entermedled her greffe wyth such argumentes of desperacion that her sorowe seamed sufficient to make the earth tremble and moue the heauens to teares neyther seamed she to make other accompte of the world then a place of most loathsome abode by which masqued semblance of outwarde heauines she couered an inward ioye at her hart and by this pollecie of painted dule she blaired the eyes of the simple multitude who after y e retire of the heate of theyr lamemtable stormes consulted vppon the buyrial wyth general consent in the ende that thinnocent striplinge should be laiede in the tombe of his infortunate father to thend he might participat with hym in the fatal pitt as he was equal to hym touching the malice of his mother And now as this bloddie Lady had in this sort discharged as she thought euery doubt and feare hereafter chiefly for that she stoode no more in awe of any Censor or spie to kepe a kalender of her faltes wherby she vsed lesse care in the conueigh of her beastly traffique wyth her
moderacion in his pleasures the tyran and morderor moued to compassion touching the cause of thin nocent and the vnthrift reclaymed to an honest staie of lif whiche makes me of opynion that this passion giuen vs by nature albeit it be an infection of it selfe yet it serues also as a contrepoison to driue out another venym according to the propertie of the Scorpion which of her selfe and in herself carieth the sting of mortal hurte and oyntmeÌ„t of spedie remedie thoccasioÌ„ of preseÌ„t death and meane to preserue life not meaning for all this to perswade that it is of necessitie we make our selues subiect altogether to this humor of good and euill disposicioÌ„ nor allow them that willingly incurr the perill of such fre ymprisonment but placinge it for this tyme amongest thinges of indifferent tolleracion because he neither seamed blind nor void of discrecioÌ„ on the behalf of those whose eraÌ„ples I meane to prefarr in this historie I maye boldlie aduoche that which we call affection to be a passion resembling in som respect the condicion of true amytie and yet not muche vnlike for the moste parte the generall euill whiche the Grecians â—al Philautia and we tearme by the title of loue or vaine flatterie of our selues chiefly when we see any so frently to his desiers that to satisfye the inordinat thruste or glot of his gredie appetit he forgettes hothe honor and honestie with the respect and duetie of his conscience besides what ymages of vertue curtesie or bowntiful dispocision soeuer our louers do ymagyn in theim whom they serue dymming the eyes of the worlde wyth a miste of dissembled substance as thoughe the cause of their liberall offer of seruice were deriued of an intent of honest frendshippe yet their trauailes that way concludes we se with other end for that they hunt only the chase of pleasure procedinge of the viewe of an exterior bewtie wherin their meaninge is sufficiently manifeste in the sugred oracions discourses of eloquent stile which those amarus orators seme to prefer when their mindes occupied whollie in the contemplacion of their mistresses do commit the praise of the perfection in their Ladies to the filed fordge of their fine tongue in which what other thing do they more chiefly commend then a deuyn misterie or conninge worke of nature painted with a dy of white or redd in her face A delicate tongue to dilate of matters of fancie an entysinge countenance with a grace and behauiour equal with the maiestie of a princes al which as they argewe the vanitie of him that reapose delite in such fondnes differinge altogether from the true ornamentes of the soule or pattorne wherby the perfectioÌ„ of vertue is discerned by thunfayned workes and absolute accion So dismissing this fond philosophie not coÌ„tending greatly whether loue be a natural corrupcion or a thing perticipating with vertue we may be bold to aduouche his power to preauile in things which seame of ympossibilitie to thother passions that be common vnto vs for what thinge can be of greater force in a man then that which constrainynge an alteracion of custome and breach of that which by contynuance hath taken rote within vs doth make as it were A new body and the mynd a meare straunger to her former cogitacions which I neither inferr without cause nor menteyne this argument without great reasoÌ„ for that as of al the vices which spot the lif of maÌ„ ther is none except y e excecrable syn of whoredom which makes vs soner forget god good order then the detestable exercise of vnlawful game neither are we so hardly reclaymed froÌ„ any thing as that cutthrote delite for that it is almost as possible to conuert the crueltie of a she wolffe or lyones into a present mekenes as to mortefie the desier of plaie in him which hath bene norrished and nozelled therin froÌ„ the beginning of his yeres Euen so notwithstanding the force of loue wrought such a misterie in an vnthrist of Naples that of the mo ste prodigall and ryotous spendor that hath bene noted in any age hee made a most staide and sparing gentlemaÌ„ that Italy hath brought furth of many yeres since or afore his time Albeit euen vpon the point and beginning of his new fondacion beinge redie w t all to expose frutes of his happye chang frome euill to good trade he was encowntred wyth the malice of his destinies which abridged hys felicytie and life in one moment wherof you maye discerne a manifeste profe in the sequeile of the historie folowing PERILLO SVFFRETH muche for the loue of Carmosyna and marienge her in the ende vvere both tvvo striken to deathe with a thonderbolte the firste nighte of their vnfortunat mariage IT happened not long synce in the riche and populus Citie of NAPLES who norrisheth ordinarylie an infinitie of youth of all degrees that amongest the rest of the wantons broughte vpp there at that tyme there was one named Anthonio Perillo who enioyenge a libertye more then was necessarye to one of so younge yeres and greene vnderstandyng made absolute declaracion affore the race of youthe did stopp in hym what it is to passe the yeres of correction without the awe of parentes tutour or controller for his father hauyng performed his Jornaye whiche nature appointed hym in this woorlde resigned hys bodie to earthe and his goodes and possessions to his sonne who fyndyng so manye golden cotters and chestes full of treasure to assiste his prodigal and wanton dispocision forgat not ymediatly to enter into the trade of a licencius life Wherein he founde no staye nor ympedyment to his will for that the necligence of his father had lefte hym withoute the awe or authoritie of any And albeit in the life of his father he was a continuall hawnter of the Berlea or common house of vnthriftie exercises where for wante of sufficient demers to furnishe his desier with skill in casting the three deceitfull companions of blacke and white vppon a square table he was forced often tymes to forbeare to playe and learne conynge in lokyng vppon yet tyme with his owne diligence made hym so artificiall that beyng but a cryer of awme there were fewe hable to excede his sleyghte in castinge twelue affore sixe of two dyce or tooke halfe so good accomte or regarde to the course of the cardes and yet notwithstanding he was not so wel grownded in the principles of his arte but often tymes his conyng beguilyng hym he was preuented with a contrarie sleighte and onelye his purse paide the charge of the whole companye whiche was not vnmarked of some two or three of the famyliars of hys father the respect of whose frendship and vertue with sondrie argumentes of ymynent destructioÌ„ to his sonne moued theym to enter into tearmes of admonicion layinge affore him the circumstance of his sondrie faltes but chiefly reprehendinge the greate wronge he did to his owne estimacion for that the waye to atteyne to renowne
presence drowned wyth thinundacion of vndeserued sorow proceding by his wickednes wherewith her eyes performed her desier with such plentie of teares that there was not one of the companie voyed of compassion on the hehalfe of the dollor whych tormented her not ceassing notwithstanding to perswade her to pitie towarde that poore Diego who beynge newely recouered by the diligence of thassistance sprinkling fresh water of the fountayne vpon his face dyd no soner lift vp his sorowfull lyddes beholdinge the lamentable passion of hys mistres with certeine likelehodes he espied showing an encrease of her disdayne towardes hym but he retired to his former debilitie fallinge downe dead betwene the armes of suche as suported hym and albeit hée was eftsones restored yet the force of hys passion assailed hym stil wyth thrée or foure mortal panges one in the necke of an other in such sorte as the whole company gaue iudgment of hys death amongest the whych Roderico was not the leaste amased who greuing indifferently with thobstinate crueltie of Geniuera and present perill of hys deare freÌ„d Diego was in long debate what pollecie to vse to qualifie the one and preuent the daunger of the other he perswaded that if he killed the willful Geniuera he shold also giue ende to the dayes of Diego for that vpon the viewe and remembrauce of the one depended the life of the other and so in doinge no good to any he sholde commit doble offence to god and the world both in spottinge his soule with vnciuill morder and also to become the author of his death in whose lyfe he reaposed his most worldly felycitie on thother side y e vntowardnes of the girle argued her intractable in suche sorte as hee desiered which confirmed the continuall martirdom of hys frend whose distresse as it moued hym to suche inwarde remorce that to procure his deliuerye he made no conscience to lighte a candle afore the deuill so he gaue a newe charge vppon the good will of Geniuera with gentle perswacions lainge afore her what vertue ought to appere in suche tender and delicate yeres and how greatly the vice of ingratitude defaced the renowme of a gentlewoman assisted wyth crueltie without reason wherein gaininge no lesse then if he had neuer put the deuise in execution he retired to thextremitie of his former threates and last pollecie swearinge that she shoulde fynde no difference betwene the sommonce and effecte seing that by her death he should giue ende to her disdayne and desolate state of hys frende whom as he doubted not woulde deserne in tyme what commoditie it were to purge the ayre of suche contagiouse filthes of ingratefull arrogancie so he was also of opynion that tyme wold yelde commendacion to his fact chiefly for that in preseruinge y e honour of a familie he thought it more expediente to exterminat the two principall offenders then to reserue the lyfe of eyther of them for an vtter extinction of the glorye of the whole house wherefore regarding the rest of his traine hee commanded to laye handes of the obstinate gentlewoman with her two companions with charge to vse no lesse mercy in their seuerall executions then the chiefeste of the three extended pitie to the amarus knighte whyche he thoughte wold yelde vp the ghost afore her The Ladye hearinge the sentence diffinitiue of her life escrâ—ed the morder with open mouthe as yf she had exspected some succour to defende her from deathe wherein her hope was frustrate for the deserte fostred no other companye but suche as were readye in the place to commit execution The page and poore Chambriere helde vpp their handes for mercie to Roderico who fainyng an ympedimente in hys hearyng made a signe to his men to put effecte to his commandement Geniuera entreating for the liues of her page and woman desiered that their ynnocentie mighte not do pennance for the offence whych she had don crauyng with great humilitie that the punishement myght be performed vppon her froÌ„ whom the falte yf it be a matter meritorious of blame sayeth she for a womaÌ„ to kepe her fayth to her husbande is deriued and yeld iustice to thies infortunat wretches least th execution of their ynnocentiâ— increase your detestable offence oh saieth she with her handes and eyes beholdyng the heauens thou my most deare and lawfull husbande whose soule I see walkyng in the middest of the loyal louers what better proffe canste thou haue of the sinceritie of my loue then to see me laye my body vppon thalter of ymmolation to vntymely death for thy sake neyther shalte thou for thy parte oh boocher and mortall morderour of my carkasse to whose crueltie my destenie hathe consented in quenching thy thurste with the blodd of a pure mayde glorifie hereafter to haue forced the harte of a simple gentlewoman and muche lesse made a breache into her honor eyther by terrible threates or sugred perswations vpoÌ„ which laste wordes notwithstandyng attended suche argumentes of terrour that a man wolde haue thoughte that the veraye remembrance of death hadd somewhat quallified her vehemency and mortified the greatest part of her former furies Dom Diego by this tyme came to hym selfe and seynge the discourse of the tragedye readye to presente hys laste acte with the death of his faire mistres Geniuera la blonde was driuen to force hym selfe to speake for the lyfe of her whose crueltie hadde committed hym allmoste to the panges of extreme daunger wherefore staynge the diligence of suche as had the charge of execution he addressed hym to Roderico with this requeste My lorde and great frende the present experience of your rare frendshypp hath made so lyberall a prooff of youre vndoubted meanyng towardes me that if I sholde liue the age of a whole worlde I shoulde not be hable to discharge the bondes of your desert So considering the cause of this misfortune procedes only of the malice of mine owne destenie and that it is a vanitie to contende with the thynges which the heauens haue determined vpon vs I beseche you by the vertue of your honor for a confirmation of all the good tornes you haue done me to graunte me yet one requeste whiche is that in pardonning the life of this gentlewoman and her companie you will retourne theim to the place from whence you broughte theim with no lesse assuraunce and saffetie then yf you guided your miserable Dom Diego for my parte being fullie resolued not to kepe warre with my destenies I am perswaded to a contentement touchinge my lot assurynge you for the reste that the sorowe whiche I sée she suffreth giueth me more cause of passion then y e gréef which I endure by her meanes troubleth me let her liue in peace and me in exspectation to receiue ende of my tormentes by the deuouring knif which is ordeyned to cut in sonder the fillet whereuppon dependes the fatall course of my cursed yeres till whiche tyme I haue sworne to kepe resideÌ„ce in
baude Narcissus doateth vpon his ovvne shadovve Constancie VVomen deriued of the imperfections of men Faith to be obseruedvvhere the desyer is performed Cornelio giueth his laâ—â— aunsvvere to the baude Plaudyna Plaudyna aduertiseth her louer of the departure of her husband Delyo persuadeth Cornelyo not to go to Millan perills be greater in reaport then daungerous in thaduenture Cornelio astonied in the presence of his Ladye Cornelio speketh to his Ladye Lyfe Plaudina replieth to her seruant Her husband Loue makes a man valiant or rather folishe hardie An order not necessarie for a commâ—â— vvealth A woman more readye of vvitt then a man in exeremeties Necessetie geueth corage to the fainte harte The doubtefull mynd is rather apt to beleue the vvorste then credyt thinges that bâ—◠〈◊〉 A discrip cioÌ„ of Naples accordig to the cronicles of tuskan Diuerse englishe gentlemen enterteined there at this daye Loue a common enemy to the ease of man The Abbot vvriteth to his mistres Loue. Thexclamacion of the Abbot His letter BlaÌ„che maria maried to the Viscount hermes The order of a wise husbaÌ„d in repre hendinge the follies of his gyife The vvise aunsvvere of the Viscount thouchynge the gouernement of hys vvife The visecount dieth VVomenne muste avoide asvvel the suspicion as thact of euyll A pollecye of the serpent Alteracyons in a louer in the presence of his ladye The carle vvoethe the vvidovve The Ytalian Ielousie by nature The vvidovves replye A contracte forced is a vyolacion of mariage A litle falte in a great lady is made a mortal offeÌ„ce in the iudgement of the vvorlde A vvoman reformed rather by faire intreatie the force of constraint Phedra She letteth her banke of money â—oÌ„ne in interest at Myllan She rouneth from her husbande The honor of a maÌ„ ought not to be defaced by the deshonestie of his vvife Shame ought to direct the doinges of vvomen Demosthenes refused the companie of Lays for that she held a nightes lodging at to high a price The first vnlavvfull louer of the countesse The order of a curtisan to allure men to affection Th erle valpergo proffereth his seruice to the countesse She graunteth fauor to therle Acteon transformed into a hart by Dyana Fortune dravven in shape and attire of a vvoman The couÌ„tesse vvoeth therle Gaiazo by letter Morder most haâ—nous in the sighte of god She entreateth her second frend to kyll her firste louer She discontinueth her freÌ„dship vvith the Lord Gaiazo Some faultes may be excused that can not be pardoned The barbarians more curious theÌ„ vve in obseruinge their lavves Shame as necessarie for age as avve for yong meÌ„ Death the due revvâ—â—de of morder The sin of the father punished vpon the children The couÌ„tesse to her last louer No morder escapeth vnpunished Ydlenes the mother of mischiefe In doing nothinge men learne to do euill Loue. The geÌ„tlemaÌ„ maketh loue to Iulya Iulya ansvvereth God The dovvtefull mynde is neuer in quiett The bavvde to Iulya VvomeÌ„ ought to be curteus by nature Iulya reprehendeth the baude Money the mynisters of corrupcion The beginning of euery thing seames harde Iulya rauished by force Money the ministers oâ— infection Beautie Iuly a drovvneth her selfe The bible thinfallible booke Dyuine and humaine lavves The Ladye wâ—â—the her procurer vnder a complaint against the vveakne in her husbande The knights slaine by the â—â—â—â—soÌ„ of hys 〈◊〉 The Ladye â—ayneth a sorovv for the death of her husband Death the messenger of the vvill of God The eldeste sonne chargeth his mother vvith incestuose life vvith tolonyo Honor. She replyeth to her sonne Vertue is coÌ„tinualie assailed vvith enuye spite Her eldest sonne slaine by treason Yt is easye to corrupt him vvhich is euil of himselfe Her seconde sonne slaine by her vvickednes The deuill Tolonyo kil leth his vvife Her father in lavve coÌ„plaineth to the iudge criminall The Ladye fleethe to po getto Tolonyo repenteth and praieth to God for forgyuenes of his sinnes Iere .xxxi. Luke .xxii. Tolonyo exe cuted A vvonderful vertue in a romaine Capteine A merueilus contynencie in the great Alexander The order of the hungrye Spanyarde Yt is necessary to feele sometime a chaunge of fortune Beautye VvomeÌ„ seame masquers in painting their faces beautie Mearemaides Ianiquetta aunsvvereth her compaignion The norsse Luchyne vvoeth Ianiquaette Ianiquetta aunsvvereth Luchyn God Loue. Golde and syluer The bavvde vvoeth Ianiquette Riches Ianiquette reprehendethâ— the bavvde Money A maide ought to defend her honestie euen to the laste dropp of her blodde The Shebaud in LondoÌ„ car yeth a basket in her hande the he bavvde a ring in his mouth Vvomen deriued of thim perfection of men Love The frendes of Luchyn persvvade hym to mary age and amendment of life Honor and liuynge Nothing 〈◊〉 sausfye the couetusâ—â—s of man The husbaÌ„d The bable of of the people is rather of custome then of creditt Necessetie forceth Ianiquette to offer her selfe in praie to Luchyn Luchyn abstained from vyolacion of Ianiquetta Luchyn coÌ„pforteth Ianiquetta Luchyn presenteth Ianiquetta to his vvyfe Xenocrates refused a yoÌ„g maid layed in bedd vvith hym GentlevvomeÌ„ oughte to be skilful in houskeping The charge of a mistris or gouernor of housholde Parentes Phillyberto falleth in loue vvith the vvydovve He vvas made â—understande of thinciuili tye of the vvydovve Loue. Seigneur phil liberto vvoeth his neighbor to solicite his loue to zylia The aunsvver of his neyghbour His neighbour makes a second offer of her helpe Philliberto vvriteth to his Ladye The messenger to the vvy dovve Zilia ansvvereth the messenger The coÌ„plaint of Seigneur Philiberto Loue not seuiahle to any order VVomen are borne to bee obedient to men Fleshelie louers coÌ„pared to the Scorpion Zilya repre hendeth her vvoer 1451. 143â— Written in their boke of 〈◊〉 called caâ—alogue des martuis The desier of vnhoâ—eâ—te gaine the fountaine of all euills Crassus fell into the handes of 〈…〉 Zylpa sorovveth her for mer crueltie Honestie the chiefest support of lyfe Vertues in loue Dicesing house Perillo repreheÌ„ded of cer teine his fren des The house of play a store house of all vices Tenaunte by the high vvay side called theaues in plaine englyshe Loue. Riches most respected in mariages novv a dayes Perillo vvriteth to Carmosy na Carmosyna aunsvve rethe the letter of Perillo Mynio denie the to mary his doughter to Perillo The coÌ„plaiÌ„t of perillo Perillo taken prisonner and his goods spoiled The complaint of Peaitllo in prison The Sea Carmosina complayneth the misery of perillo Richeâ— A speciall chalenge The poore man demaunding his almes is the deputie of Christ vvho saithe vvhat vve geue to the nedy vve bestovve vppon hym Perillo redemed from pryson Carmosyna comfortethe Perillo Perillo and Carmosyna maried Perillo his vviffe slaine vvith Athonder oolte Loue. Dom Diego made knyght The first meting vvords betvven Diego and Geniuera A discriptioÌ„ thattiâ—e and beautye of Geniuera Geniuera fal leth in loue vvith Diego Loue procedes of a fond opynion Dom diego passioned vvith loue Slepe the ceremonies of the night Geniuera and her mother at the house of Diego Diego vvoeth Geniuera in a daunse Geniuera auÌ„ svvereth vvith half consent to his request Yt is hard to conceile the passion of loue Mariage Geniuera falleth iÌ„ disdain vvith Diego Geniuera exclaimeth against Diego Geniuera reprocheth Diego by a letter The coÌ„plaint of Diego Death the last and best repose of mise rye His man dissuadeth hym from the pilgrims voiage The most perfect victorie is to make a conquest of our selues Diego begin neth his pilgrymage Diego complaineth his chaunge of estate vpon the vvaye The contentes of Diegos letter to geniuera Deathe the dreadefull messenger The havvke Venice taken and putt to sacke by Pirro Fregos Theues Roderico dis couereth embraseth his frende Dom Diego Diego acknovvledgeth himselfe to Roderico Thoffice of a noble man or one in authoritie Diego excuseth hys departure from his contrey The vvise man vvil neuer comytt councelle to children VVomen coÌ„pared to infates Roderico killeth the biskaine Cupido Roderico to geniuera Geniuera exclameth against Roderico Diego vpon his knees 〈◊〉 ueth pytye Dom Diego being stil prostrate crieth for coÌ„passion to his mistrys Roderico threatneth Geniuera Geniuera be ginneth to shovve arguments of compassion diego sevveth for the lyf of Geniuera Her hart Ge niueâ—a eâ—â—useth her former faiâ—e and folâ—â—e vvich promise of vnfayned fayth to Diego The conclucion of the traÌ„slator vpoÌ„ his volume of tragicall discourses