friend Felice as she entered so departed Who not withstanding left part of her sorrow behinde in Cornaros heart whose cheareles countenance whē Malipiero perceiued quoth hee let not the martyrdome of this woman afflict you for her fault deserueth this vengeaunce and so recounted the reported aduenture And in aduantage she wed him her prison A honourable fauour and the Anatomie of her dishonour and withall licensed him to talke with Felice to heare what plea shee had for her discharge Vppon which warrant quoth Cornaro Madame if your patience bee equall with your torment I holde you the most happy Woman of the world Felice with a countenance abased and Chéeks dewed with teares tolde him in humble words The true ensigne of sorrow that her trespasse was ten times greater then the torment which the Lord of the house whome shee was not worthy to call husband had appoynted her And therewithall the sorrow of her heart tooke away the vse of her tongue Whereupon Malipiero led the Gentleman away who rendred him affected thankes in that besides his good entertaynment hée witsafed him the honour to know so great a secresie withall moued with compassion he effectually intreated Malipiero to accept Felices sorrow True repentance is to be receiued in satisfaction of offences the true witnesse of grace and amendment as satisfaction of her offence which procéeded of frailtie and withall importuned him with such earnest reasons as Malipiero mas content to send bath for her and his owne friends Perfect loue cannot be so iniured but it will alwaies retaine some affection To be partly ruled and partly aduised by them in her behalfe The parentes and friends of euery side séeing the humilitie sorrow and patience of poore Felice were all earnest sutors for her remission The roote of auncient loue not altogether dead in Malipiero was comforted with their intercessions and quickned with the hope of amendment in so much as vpon solemne promise to be henceforth of good behauiour hee receiued her to grace and to repayre her crased honour with the fauour of both their parents he new maried fayre Felice in which holie estate A reparation of dishonour they liued loued and agréed many happie yeares afterward together And with the bones of Marino Georgio buried the remembrance of former iniuries Master Doctor quoth Fabritio you haue reported a very necessary historie for it contayneth many héedfull notes both of admonition and aduise Besides the due punishment of rashnes in Marriage For therein we may sée how hungerstarued want compelleth the best natured man to deceiue his friend and yéelde vnto his owne slaunder Againe how that monster Golde conquereth the honour of the fayrest Yea quoth Isabella corrupteth that conscience of the wisest so that this is no example of any honour to you men because Golde inticed Felice to be disloyall to her husband for it draweth many of you both from the feare and loue of God Well quoth Soranso let it passe Felice in her repentance hath made a large amends of her trespasse and I feare me if euerie like offence were so sharpely punished wee should haue Mazers of mens Skuls more ordinary then siluer Boules and pouled women more common than balde men Not so quoth Quéene Aurelia Feare of correction brideleth the affections of the euill for a few of these examples would bridle the incontinent affections both of man and woman if not for the loue of vertue for the feare of correction After these and a fewe other Moral notes were culled out of Doctor Mossenigoes History What hurteth one instructeth the other Madame quoth Dondolo if we continue this course it will be a good while before we doo finde out the Paradise that Plato speaketh of Be it so quoth Quéene Aurelia but if we still continue the way to his house Hell our errour will instruct others and since we haue yet long respite it shall not bée amisse euery day to take a sundry hie way vntil we find out the true passage And for that our Question is concluded and our houre glasse run we wil for this Day make here an end The Question that arose by beholding the Mountebanks in the third Nights Pastime AT the accustomed houre Supper was serued in with manie dayntie Dishes which were sauced with sundry short ciuill and pleasant euents of the Gentlemen and Gentlewomens wits For he or she was held of weake capacitie that either of forestudy or vpon offered occasion could say nothing of good regarde In the ende when supper was done Breuitie is best for Table talke and Quéene Aurelia and the most Honourable of the company had taken their places vpon a Scaffold made for the nonce there mounted a Mountebanke his neck bechayned with liue Adders Snakes Mountebanks of Italie are in a maner as English pedlers Eau'ts and twentie sundry kinde of venymous vermines whose mortall stinges were taken away by Arte and with him a Zanni and other Actors of pleasure who presented themselues onely with a single desire to recreate Segnior Philoxenus and his worthy company and not with the intent of common Mountibankers to deceiue the people with some vnprofitable Marchandise In the middest of this pastime an ancient Gentleman of the Societie séeing these Viperous Beasts by cunning vsage to be made so Domesticke and affable whether it were vpon an impression of his owne griefe or of the experience he had of another mans Plague I knowe not but sure I am he burst into these passions O God The strange nature of 〈◊〉 womans tung quoth he of what mettal is a womans toung which correction cannot chastise nor lenitie quiet when these dumb Serpents by the one or the other are tamed Marie quoth a pleasant companion it is made of the same mettall that Virgils Brasen Flayle was of which strooke both his friends and foes But quoth the Gentleman Virgil knew and taught others how to pacifie this engine It is true quoth the other but in teaching the secrete vnto his scruant cost him his own life So a womā knowes how to holde her tongue by hauing of her will but if a man thinke to stay it he must beate her to death A young youth named Phrisio thinking to winne the Spurres Defences for a chiding wife by building a Fortresse for women who haue no weapons but their tongues to defend and offend tooke vpon him to prooue a chiding wife though she bee a little vnpleasant both profitable and necessary his reasons were these Vnsauourie receits turne to holsome effectes The strongest Poyson is pleasant in taste and the remedie for the poysoned offendeth the mouth with tartenesse Nettles that stinges the hande maketh Pottage to comfort the heart the blood of the Scorpion cureth the biting of the Viper If poysoned vnpleasant and bitter thinges retayne a vertue for the benefite of man in my imagination quoth he an vnquiet wife is not vnprofitable though she be a little
Virginitie which is the fairest flower of a Single life be precious in the sight of God and in the opinion of men yet is Mariage more precious in that it is a sacred institution of God and more honoured of men the Married are reuerently intertained when the vnmarried are but familiarly saluted The Maried in assemblies are honoured with the highest places the vnmarried humble themselues vnto the lowest To be short Virginitie is the handmaide of Mariage Then by how much the Master is greater then the seruant by so much Mariage is more worthy then is Single life I confesse quoth Ismarito Mariage is an honourable estate Defences of a single life instituted of God and embraced of men but whereon had she her beginning vpon this cause to kéepe men from a greater inconuenience as the Law was founded vpon this reason to punish the trespasses of men But if no offence had béen giuen the Law had not néeded So if man had liued within bounds of reason which before any commaundement giuen was vnto him a Law Mariage might haue béen spared and therefore in the highest degrée is but a vertue vpō necessitie where Chastitie is a deuine vertue gouerned by the motions of the soule which is immortall and participating of the same vertue is alwaies fresh and gréene The euerspringing Bay is the Metamorphosis of chaste Daphnè whome Apollo although he were a soueraigne God could not allure to Mariage which proueth Chastity a true spark of Diuinitie whose twinkling reflexions so daseleth the eyes of imagined Gods whose powers must néedes be more great then the greatest of men as they cannot sée an end of their incontinent desires whereas the beauty of Mariage is many times blasted by fortune or the frailtie of the Maried Therfore think I by how much deuine things are of greater emprise then earthly by so much the Single life is more worthy then the Maried And in aduauntage quoth Lucia Bella where Soranso saith that there is great honor done vnto the married and to the Single is giuen light regard I pray you whether are Bacchus minions or the Muses most reuerenced among men whose places are hyer then the Cleargies and among women whose greater then the religious Dames They haue not this preheminence quoth Faliero because they professe a Single life Defences of Mariage but because their function is more sacred then other mens The cause why the cleargie are reuerenced who if their prayers to God be no more zealous then their vowes to chastity are stedfast you fly to the authority of a company as spotted as Labans Shéepe But where Sir Ismarito saith that Mariage is but a vertue vpon necessity to restraine man from a greater euill I approoue it an estate set downe by Nature and that man hath but amplified it with certain ceremonies to make perfect the determination of nature For we dayly sée in vnreasonable creatures Mariage is in a sorte worshipped Fowles of the Aire I meane the he and the she cupple together flie together féed together and neast together The Turtle is neuer merie after the death of her Mate and in many brute beastes the like constancy is found But generally there is neuer iarre nor misliking betwéen the Male and Female of vnpollitique creatures Vnpollitick creatures reuerence mariage and among the most barbarous people that euer liued by the impresson of nature Mariage hath euermore béen reuerenced and hououred Much more ciuill people ought to affect this holy estate And where Ismarito attributes such glory vnto a Single life because that Daphne was metamorphosed into a Bay Trée whose branches are alwaies gréene In my opinion his reason is faired like the Bay Trée for the Bay trée is barren of pleasant fruit and his pleasing words of weighty matter Furthermore what remembrance is there of faire Sirinx coynesse refusing to be God Paris wife other then that she was metamorphosed into a fewe vnprofitable Réedes Or of Anaxaretes chaste cruelty towards Iphis ouer then that she remaineth an Image of Stone in Samarin Many other such like naked Monuments remain of nice contemners of Mariage But in the behalfe of Mariage thousands haue béen changed into Oliue Pomegranate Mulberie and other fruitfull trées swéete flowers Starres and precious stones by whom the world is beautified directed and nourished In many well gouerned common wealths Sterility hath béene reputed so vile as the Aged was of no man honoured that had not children of his owne to do him reuerence Then by how much those things which nourish with increase are more necessary then those things which but simply please the eye by so much the maried is more worthy then the single life Sir quoth Ismarito it séemeth that you haue read a Leafe more then Saint Katherins Nun Defences of a single life for she simply tried all things and you subtilly vse but what serueth your owne turne you reproach a Single life with Barrennesse and commend the fertility of Mariage but had you showen the wéedes with the Corne bare pasture would haue returned as great a benefite as your haruest The Monsters Serpents and loathsome Creatures mentioned by Ouid in his Metamorphosis were they not I pray you the fruites of Mariage as wel as the blessings which you so affectedly reported Oedipus was glad to scratch out his eyes because he could not indure to beholde the vices of his Children The good Emperour Marcus Aurelius in his aged daies neuer rose that he sighed not neuer dined that he fretted not nor neuer went to bed that he wepte not to heare sée and consider the monstrous euils of his Children Admit the Maried haue vertuous Children they may dye when they are yong then the goodnes of their liues increaseth sorowes by their deathes and where the comfort is so doubtfull it is not amisse to refuse the hazard of the gréefe Vertuous fame is another life neither dyeth there any of Dianas band but that their vertues reuiueth them as the ashes of the Phenix turneth to another Phenix It is for some Phenix sake quoth Quéene Aurelia that you thus stoutly defend a Single life I doo but your commaundement quoth Ismarito I quoth she it is at my commaundement but yet for some others merite Aluisa vechio The impatiencie of women wil not be hid fearing that mariage would receiue some disgrace if that Quéene Aurelia fauoured the Defence of a Single life could not longer suppresse her affections but with a womans Impatiencie blamed the rigour of Diana who condemned Acteon to be deuoured of his owne Hounds who caused swéet Adonis to be staine by a wilde Boare with many other cruell partes vnséeming the naturall pittie of a woman but which might haue saned a great deale of Argument or at the least which will now soone end the Controuersie compare quoth she Iuno and Diana together and by their callings you may easily iudge who is the worthier Diana poore soule is
Naples named Rinautus that was Metamorphosed into such a Beast by this aduenture passing through the Iland of Circeiū that Homer speaketh of which is now annexed vnto the Continent he was espied of Circes who inhabited that Iland This wrinckled ill-fauoured witch at the first sight was surprised in loue with the goodly shape and beauty of this séemely Gentleman but for all her charmes and inchauntments her art failed either to force him to loue or to frée her selfe from louing for notwithstanding she was a Goddesse he disdained her ouerworne foule and withered visage and she presuming of her sorcerie powred fresh Coles vpon her kindled desire in hope that necessitie would force him to consent to the request frée will contemned but Cupid to whom such power onely belongeth to scourge her presumption in such sorte hardened Rinautus hart that all Circes sute and sorceries tended vnto a fruitlesse successe Insomuch as in her rage she turned him into a Rhinocerot a beast of vnconquerable force who in his nose beareth a horne much like to the Vnicorne But notwithstanding he was thus transfourmed as King Nabuchadonizer in the fourme of an Oxe retained the spirite of a man so he in his altered shape nourished his ancient disdaine of ill fauoured Circes and to be fully auenged with all his force pursueth olde Creatures and such as he ouertaketh he goreth to death yet is he by this pollicie subdued Place a faire Maide in his walke and foorth with he will with a louing countenance repaire vnto her and in her bosome gently bestowe his murthering horne and sodainly as one rauished with cōtentment he falleth a sléep by which meanes he is slaine before he recouereth the vse of his force The company laughed well to heare this strange Metamorphosis In the ende quoth Quéene Aurelia I would Maister Doctor had heard this historie when he so inuayed against Beautie perhaps he would haue béene afraide of her vengeance séeing her power able to conquere sauadge and wilde beastes But the Doctor glad of this aduantage Euill men care not for conscience so they haue a colour for their offences not vnlike the cunning Lawyer the buyeth Robin hoodes penniworthes and yet with some nice forfeitures threatneth the seller with continuall bondage and many times bringeth back his money and kéepeth his bargaine not caring for his Conscience so that he haue a colour for his offence or as the wisest sort of Atheists that liue as though they hoped neither after Heauen nor feared Hell yet confesse God with their mouth because the contrary would make them hated of men so he by this tale found out both a warrant to maintaine his former blasphemie and to excuse his present follie in Loue And to authorise either Madame quoth he the inchaunted Beast approueth mine opinion of Beauties power and his Death is a greater witnesse of her cruelty then is Doctor Mossenigo The force of Beautie who confesseth that men in vaine prescribe remedies for the Affected or receites to preserue men from the infections of Beautie You are welcome vnder our Lée quoth Aluisa Vechio But to take away all hope of good intertainment quoth Catharina Trista no No affliction but hath his remedie no Maister Doctor you deceiue your selfe Beauty neither retaineth the power nor poyson which you speake of and with you Ouid and all the amorous Poets are mistaken who say Affection ariseth from Beautie and not of the frée will of man But say you all what you please good foresight will contrary your opinions There is no sore but hath his salue no gréefe but hath his remedie nor no danger but may be forstoode either by praier or good indeuour Indéede quoth Faliero Socrates altred his inclination by studie of Philosophie Examples to be regarded The Niniuites preserued their Cittie by praier and Virbius doubled his life by mastering of his disposition Floradin be witched with the loue of faire Persida Idlenes nourisheth and exercise remedieth loue his déere fréend Pericles Wife worte in a Table booke fie Floradin fie she is thy fréend Pericles Wife and so often as idlenes presented him with this passion he read his written remembrance and by some honest exercise remoued his imagination This is not your day Maister Doctor quoth Soranso I beléeue there is some vnkindenes betwéene Saturne and Venus by the enuious aspect of some other Plannet this howre It may be quoth the Doctor by the flatterie of Mercurie Flatterie the enemie of truth who is euermore enemy to the plainenes of truth Well quoth Quéene Aurelia let vs leaue this by-matter and consider better of Ismaritos Metamorphosis me thinkes it prophesieth much mischaunce to an olde widdow which marieth a yong man and no great pleasure to the yong maried Bacheler Mariage commended between an olde woman and a yong man O good Madame say not so quoth Soranso for in this fortune lyeth a yonger Brothers welfare and the cause that maketh happinesse accompanie olde women to their Graue Reproofe c. It may well be to their Graue quoth the Doctor but it bringeth sorrow into their House and maketh their life more impleasant then death and if Soranso followe this course perhaps his day will be no better then Doctor Mossenigos Quéene Aurelia smiling saide she feared this contention would bring the company to hell gates Yet quoth she in that I imagine the way wil be pleasant I licence you to perseuer in your purpose Vpon which warrant quoth Soranso to maintaine that to be true Defence c. which I haue already alleadged in the commendation of this estate in Mariage This further reason in my conceite you will neither disallowe nor the maried couple shal haue cause to mislike which is where a fresh yong gentleman either of small liuing or farre spent with lustines A good exchange of Marchandise lightes of a rich olde widdow for that both their desires in this fortune shal be satisfied He shall haue plenty of Coyne the onely Grace he lacked and she the possession of a goodly Personage the chéefest Iewel she loueth which exchange of Marchandise cannot chuse but continue their liking and raise much contentment Clean contrary quoth the Doctor for the follies of a yong man is sufficiently punished by marying an olde woman and the sinnes of an olde widdowe are fully plagued in matching with a yong man for that contrary to your suggestion neither can inioye the cause of their Mariage without annoyance to their mindes for his liking is fastned on her riches which she will not but by necessitie leaue and her loue is setled on his person which for her pleasure he disdaineth to punish The euils in an olde widdow The vnfortunate yongman knowes not what gréefe he ioynes to his gaine in matching with an olde widdow till that experience breakes them foorth in sighes If his wife be rich she will looke to gouerne if she be poore he is plagued both
accompany his yong Wife with graue Matrons and to set her foorth with costly ciuill attire that séeing the reuerence honour that is giuen her for her Husbands grauitie she wil studie how to please him though she displese her owue disposition The yong wife that hath an olde Husband A regarde for an olde mans yong wife is bound to make much of him at home for the reputation she receaueth in his life and for the wealth she is like to haue by his death and abroad must be sober in her behauiours discréete in her talke and no harkener to yong mens tales least her owne lightnesse make her openly infamed where her Husbands imperfections could cause her but to be secretly suspected The yong Husband is to beare with his olde wife in her will as wel for the reuerence due to her yéeres A regarde for an olde woans yong husband as for the aduauncement the loue bringeth to himself least the neighbours terme his wife an vnfortunate olde woman and him-himselfe a naughty froward vile natured yong man The olde wife to giue excuse to her dotage A regard for a yong mans olde wife must in open assemblies commend her yong husband of modest and staied gouernement and secretly to be louingly vsed must kisse him with Midas lippes for if she fill not his pursse by faire meanes with foule intreatie he will be his owne Caruer if she complaine she ioyneth but scorne to her own mischance Generally Modest familiaritie not to be forbidden the wife the Husband ought not to forbid his Wife in assemblies modestlie to intertaine time in deuising with the better sorte for in such ielous restraint he shall leaue a suspition that he enioyneth her this open pēnance for some secret trespasse and so both slaunder himselfe and infure his Wife The wife should haue an especiall care Light company to be shunned of the Wife to shun the company of light Women for the multitude though they can charge her with no misdemeanour yet they will condemne her honour by the knowen euils of her companions Many other néedfull directions may be giuen to preserue vnitie in Mariage quoth Segnior Philoxenus too cūbersome for me to reporte and too tedious for this honorable company to hear whose patience I haue already iniured too much but finding my errour I end my tale and remaine ready to make satisfaction in some other seruice Sir quoth Fabritio the end of your tale puts vs in remēbrance of our dutie and your right which is for this honourable fauour to remaine your indebted seruants to embrace your counsels and to commend and submit our reasons to your learned Censure It is your fauour and not my merite quoth Segnior Philoxenus Sir quoth Quéene Aurelia I wil beare the blame of this daies importuning of you and you alone shall haue the honour in graunting of my requests who to the former ioyneth this one more fauour which is that you conclude this your worthy exercise with some rare historie at large Madame quoth Segnior Philoxenus this is the least of your commaundements considering that Histories make mention of thousands who in their vnseparable loues haue sounded the excellency of Mariage wherefore I obey your pleasure The worthie Historie of Phrigius and Pieria Reported by Segnior Philoxenus IN the Register of Fame wherein the Monuments of the vertuous are Cronicled as presidents for their posteritie I read that in the famous Cittie of Miletum in Ionia as soueraigne Prince and Gouernour there raigned a worthie Duke called Nebeus who to comfort and support his aged yéeres had to his Sonne and onely heire Phrigius a yong Gentleman of such rare towardliues as it may be a question whether he were more beholding to Nature for the perfections of his body to Vertue for the qualities of his minde or to Fortune in suffering him to be so nobly borne In Myos a neighbour Cittie to Miletum there was also a Prince of much renowne named Pythes whose Daughter and heire was faire Pieria by whose vertues all Ionia was renowned The ancient enuie betwéene the Citizens of Miletum and Myos was turned into amitie and the open war betwéene Duke Nebeus and the noble Pithes was peceably and honourably ended All such happie euents succéeded this following aduenture Vpon the Festiual day of Diana the Citizens of Myos without the iniurie of Souldiers might lawfully repaire to Miletum to sacrifice to Diana vpon which safe conduct with many other Ladies and Gentlewomen of Myos faire Pieria waighted on her Mother to Dianas Temple whose rare beauty was such as dazeled the eies of the beholders like the reflections of a Mirror placed against the Sunne Among many that loued and fewe or none that sawe possibility of grace such was the renowne of her chaste disoain yong Phrigius behelde Pieria with such a setled eye as Dianas Temple shéelded him not against the Arrowes of Loue but as a wounded Stag at the first séemeth little dismaide so Phrigius with an vnappalled chéer returned to the Takes Pallace and as a pledge of truce he sent his hart to Myos The Ceremonies and Sacrifices of Diana ended the wars renued the wonted Massacres Murthers Rapines and outragious cruelties practised by the Souldiers of either part insomuch as Lawe gaue place to Arnies equitie to violence and all publique order was peruerted and vpon the point to be destroyed The Captaines of Myos encouraged their Souldiers of the one part but the Souldiers of Miletum were driuen to comfort their Captaine with a threatning of disgrace But ah poore Phrigius what answere shouldst thou make to sée thy Souldiers slaine and thy citties spoyled without proffers of rescue were dishonourable to bend thy forces against thy owne hart were vnnatural to make the best choise of these two euils required leasure and iudgement And therefore aduisedly to consider of his estate at this time Phrigius satistied his souldiers with hope of some spéedy venturous exploite and dangered not his enemies with the proffer of any violence so the either power kept their trenches peaceably but yet with this indifferent perill that they attended oportunitie to make the one conquerors and the other Captiues for the long ciuill contention had now made the estate of either as desperate as the fortunes of two that haue their substance vpon the chaunce of Dice the one to haue all the other to be vndone When Phrigius had with stender hope thus quieted the acclamations of the people he retired himselfe into a solitary Chamber to be the sole companion of his outragious passions with whom he thus deuised Ah traiterous eyes betraiers of my whole body the scourge of Miletum and enemies of my honour the vengeance of Oedipus is too gentle for your iniuries what doost thou say oh blasphemous tung riuall of humanitie calumner of Beautie and hinderer of thy Countries peace thou reprocher of vertue and Phrigius welfare know to thy shame the perfection of my eyes haue constantly behelde Pieria
but a Goddesse here on earth and Iuno is Quéene of Heauen Dianaes force is in her Bow and Arrowes Iuno bestoweth Thunderbolts vpon her enemies Diana is attired with gréene leaues and Iuno with glorious Starres Diana féedeth on rawe fruites and drinketh colde water Iunoes Feastes are of Manna and her bowles are fild with Nectar Dianaes musick is no better then the voyces of a few Nimphes Iuno is recreated with the harmony of Angels Dianaes pastime is a foote to chace the fearefull Roe where Iuno in Phaetons winged Chariot pursueth a thousand seuerall pleasures then by how much the pomp of Iuno excéedeth the naked Triumphs of Diana by so much Mariage must néedes be more worthy then the Single life Lucia Bella that should haue answered Aluisa Vechio not vnlike the Marigolde that closeth her Beauty when Phoebus is attired with his brightest rayes so admired the glory of Iuno Vaine glorious shewes bewitcheth women that as an inchaunted creature her tongue forgot her naturall office the reason was her hart was sodenly surprised with an ambitious desire of honor Which change Ismarito perceiued with the first and least her silence should conclude a yéelding All is not golde quoth he that glistereth Contentment neither followeth the greatest nor scorneth the meanest nor euery thing counterfet that is not curiously garnished a smiling countenance is no ful testimony of a merry hart nor costly Garments of a rich Purse And perchaunce the griefe of Iunoes secret discontentments is greater then the delight of her glorious pomp where Diana who as a Diamond in the darke shineth of her selfe néedeth not the Ornaments of Iuno And as she is simply of a pure substance so her thoughts must néedes be swéet and quiet Sir quoth Maria Belochy our soundest iudgements are of those things that we our selues sée therefore if the apparance of Mariage be worthier thâ—n the apparance of the single life if sentence be truly pronounced it must be in the behalfe of Iuno Quéene Aurelia pâ—rceiuing the increase of Ismaritos aduersaries for who can stop a streame measure the sire weigh the winde or hinder Fancies passages and with all considering how that the controuersie was sufficiently debated commanded the contenders to kéepe silence and referred the question to be iudged by Fabritio and Isabella Who hauing aduisedly considered the reasons on both sides agréed that a single chast life pleased God because Chastity is pure and also delighteth man because shee quieteth the minde but a chast maried life both pleaseth and honoreth God because Mariage hourely presenteth the worlde with the Image of himselfe pleaseth and profiteth man because she giueth him a companion by affection changed into his owne disposition of whom he hath children who in despight of death preserueth him aliue And therefore the sentence of them both was pronounced by Fabritio Sentence giuen in the behalfe of mariage in the behalfe of Mariage who withall enlarged her prayses with the report of many swéete Blessings which she liberally bestoweth vpon her Subiects But lest the company should haue béen fired with too hasty a desire of Mariage hee cooled their affections with such caueats as they that had their voyces ready tuned to sing the prayses of God Hymen were of the sodayne as mute as a fish by reason whereof Fabritio had frée passage for his counselling reporte who after many wordes to either purpose deliuered concluded with the opinion of Plato That Mariage was a paradise on earth Platoes opinion of Mariage if her Lawes be obserued and a Hell in the House where her Statutes are broken The Gentlewomen wist not what to say to Fabritios bitter-swéete commendation of Mariage vntill Bargetto quickned their tongues by this pleasant suggestion Pleasant talk is good phisâ—â—k for sorrowe If quoth he Platoes opinion be law by the same reason women are either Angels or Diuels And why not men as well as women quoth Isabella whose dispositioÌ„ beareth the greatest sway in this vocation I will shew you a reason quoth Doctor Mossenigo men with a meane can temper their passions The extreame passions of a woman when a woman hath no measure in her loue nor mercy in her hate no rule in her pittie nor piety other reuenge no iudgement to speak nor patience to diffemble and therefore she is likened vnto the Sea A Gundelo is a little Boate like a wherry which one while is so milde as a smal Gundelo indureth her might and anon with outrage she ouer whelmeth the tallest ship Ah master Doctor quoth Katharina 〈◊〉 I feare me you are so learned Hien sometimes a man and somtimes a woman as like the Hyen you change your selfe sometimes into the shape of a womaÌ„ but yet of this malitious purpose to learne their dispositions only to reproch their kind but had any of vs the cunning to become a man but a while I imagin we should euer after loue that better to be a woman You haue rather cause quoth Dondolo to let master Doctor kisse your hand for commending your kinde then to blame him by a surmise of iniurie offered vnto women for if there be a few good they couer the faults of a number that are euill as a little golde guildeth a great quantity of iron and for any thing he sayd you haue as generall an interest in vertue as in vice Yea but quoth Quéene Aurelia he is to be blamed for his intent The intent of euill is to be punished which was euil and deserueth not to bee praysed for the good which came of it which was our merite Madame quoth the Doctor so much greater is the good you receiue by my Trespasse as thereby you are honoured with the vertue to forgiue Yea Pardon is to be vsed in ignorant and not in wilful faults but quoth she remission is to bee vsed in ignorant offences and not in wilfull My habite quoth he is a testimonie that I spake not of malice So much quoth she the greater is your fault in that it procéeded vpon pleasure The punishment of great offenders doth most good in examples and where you think to priuiledge your selfe by your habite for example sake you shall at open Supper bath renounce your heresie and make satisfaction or abide the Iudgement of these Gentlewomen If there be no remedie quoth he I must obey The Doctor thus taken tardie gaue occasion of laughter vnto the whole company Which blowne ouer quoth Soran so we haue trauayled this day to an vnfortunate end for that now towards night we are entered into an open Champion where we find many broad wayes to Hell and but one crosse path to heauen Well quoth Quéene Aurelia we will take other times to beate out the true passage And least wee be lated wée will no further to day Whereupon after a courtly reuerence done Quéene Aurelia with her Attendantes shewed her selfe in the great Chamber where she might repose her mind with the choice of
vp the roots so though I dissemble till oportunitie Sicheus shall féele my hate to death and though I endure a space I will redéem my dying life and perseuering in this resolution Elisaes thoughts The Diuell is the executioner of vengeance that were lately drowned in sorrow now flamed with desire of Reuenge and the Deuill who is the Executioner of Vengeance presented her forth with this vngratious meane A yong Gentleman named Chion among a troupe of other Ladies and Gentlewomen beheld faire Elisa with such a burning affection as he foorthwith dispossessed his owne hart to make his bosome the seate of her imagined Image so that his soule that continually eyed her beauty and his hart at the direction of his Mistresse gaue such a heat to his desire that had he béene sure to haue receiued Ixions torments for his ambitious attempting of Iunoes loue he could neither haue left to loue An extreame passion of loue nor haue forborne to séek for grace so that follow what would he foorth with presented his affections in this ensuing Letter ⧠Chions Letter to Elisa FAire Mistresse had I vertue to perswade you to ruth as you haue power to make me loue the discouery of my blazing affections would melt you were you a Mountain of Ice to pittie But for that Loue is more vehement in the hart then in the toung I appeale to your owne motions for grace if you haue euer loued if not I hope for such iustice at Venus hands as you shall loue and yet thus much I say although I affye nothing in my perswasions because they be but words I presume of my indeuours for that I haue vowed my life to death to do you seruice of which you can haue no better assurance then imployment nor I a hyer fauour then to be imployed Good Madame martyr me not with ordinary doubts in that my affections are not ordinary For as your beauty excelleth al other Dames as the faire Rose each Garden Flower euen so the full power of Loue hath made me in the estate of flaming flaxe that is presently to receiue grace or in a moment to perish Thus longing for your sweet answere I somewhat succour my torments with the imagination that I kisse your gracious hand No more his owne Chion This Letter sealed and subscribed was deliuered to so cunning a Messenger as néeded no instructions in Chions behalfe The letter presented and aduisedly read by Elisa surprised her with an vnmeasurable ioy not so much for that she had purchased her selfe a faithful Louer as procured her Husband a mortall enemy A naturall feare in a woman surpriseth many of their euil affections of which Chions Letter gaue her not so great assurance as the disposition of his countenaunces in a former regarde and thereupon pursuing Sicheus with more hate then minding Chion with affection she mused vpon a number of mischiefes inuented by desire to be reuenged and suppressed by feare to be defamed In fine remembring that she had read Loue quickneth a mans wit although it burieth Reason To trie if he could define what seruice she desired she returned Chion a Briefe wherein he had a light to mischiefe and might be read without blemish of her honour the effect whereof was this While SICHEVS doth liue ELISA cannot loue CHION receiued this Scrowle but yet before he presumed to read the Contents he kissed and rekissed the same holding an opinion that comming from his mistresses hands it deserued such honour although it contained Sentence of his death not vnlike the foolish Mahometians An example for Christian Subiects who vpon their Emperours Commaundements are ready Exerutioners of their owne liues But to my purpose Craft hath many times his wil with an opnion of honestie when Chion had throughly perused this strange aunswere were it Sicheus his heauy Destinie or a iust scourge for his foretrespasses accursed that he was he became too iust an Executioner of Elisaes wicked will but yet with this interpretation that the loue she bare her husband directed her in this answere Insomuch as ouercome with a furious hate towards Sicheus as the barre of his welfare like a Lyon that bites the Iron grate which holdes him from his pray sodenly with this salutation he sheathed his Sword in Sicheus ntrailes SICHEVS shall not liue To hinder CHIONS loue The fact was so fowle and withal so publique Wilfull faults deserue no pardon as the Officers of Iustice immediatly seased vpon Chion and for that his bloodie swoord was a witnes of the trespas there was no Plea to saue him for wilfull faults may be pittied but deserueth no pardon and to say trueth neither did he destre to liue because Elisa the vertue of his life by the charge of law was bound to sue him to death who followed the processe with an apparance of sorrow such as if her Couscience had béen without scruple of guiltinesse or her hart a thousand degrées from ioy when God knowes she was puffed with the one and the other so that the wonder at her dissimulation equalled the reproch of her notorious hatred To be short A fauour euill bestowed this was the Iudges sentence Chyon should be behaded as amends for Sicheus death and the Widdow should be endowed with his goods for the dammage done vnto her but God which knoweth our secret faults when Iudges though they rule as Gods know but what they heare and sée as men not willing to hide such an hainous offence This Iudge is not partiall for fauour gaine or feare First amased all the hearers with an vnknown voice Elisaes hart is as guiltie as Chions hand and there with all thundred this following vengeance vpon the cleared malefactor The Infant in Elisaes wombe as it were ingendred of the Parents malice at the very instant not obeying the course of Nature so tirannised her Intrailes as with very agony she dyed and withall remaineth an opinion that the Husband Wife and Sonne by the appointment of the Gods were Metamorphosed into Vipers which venimous Beastes are thrall to these curses The female after she hath engendred The curses giuen vnto a Viper murdreth the Male because she will not be ruled as an inferiour and the yong eate themselues forth of their Dams intrailes because they will not be bound to the obedience of Nature Well quoth Soranso though your Metamorphosis be vnlikely yet it is not vnnecessarily applyed For for the most part those which are forced to Mariage agrée little better then Vipers But it séemeth to me Segnior Faliero you haue too fauourably reported this History in Elysaes behalfe considering the mortall venime she tempered in her hart O quoth Faliero long fowle wayes Breuitie is best in passionate matters and affectation in pleasant both tyreth the Horse and wearieth his Rider where both the one and the other ouercommeth the length of faire passages with pleasure Euen so in a ruthfull History ouer plenty
Goddesse her to crowne Which is decreed when nature shall agree Thus happy I in Fortunes frownes long whirld A Goddesse serue and Soueraigne of the world BArgetto lighted by a Page apparelled in his Mistresse colours Greene Carnation and White followed Ismarito hauing the mouth of his Maske closed with a small Golden Lock as a witnesse of the true execution of his Mistres commandement and vpon his fist he carried a Parrate to prattle to his Mistres vpoÌ„ pausing betwéen euery solemne Almain couertly vnder the Parrates wing was hidden this passion HEnce burning sighes which sparkle from desire To pitty melt my Mistresse frozen Hart Her frozen hart that Fancy cannot fire Nor true intent perswade to ruâ—my smart Haste haste I pray the Icye paâ—â—â—e breake And pleade for him that is forbid to speake What though at first you faile to calme her rage Yet as the Sunne from earth doth draw the Rayne Your vertues so the stormes of scorne may swage Or feede Desire with showers of disdaine For euen as drinke doth make the Dropsie drie So colde disdaine compels Desire to frie. Her will be done but I haue sworne to loue And with this vow will nourishe my delight Her scorne my woe nay time may not remoue A faithful zeale out of my troubled spright Yea more then al I le Sacrifice my blood And fire my bones to doe my Mistresse Good SORANSO lighted by a Page in Orange Tawny Watched and Greene was the next that presented himselfe who vpon his left side had a Hart of Crimson Granado Silke so artificially made and fastened to his dublet as if his body had opened and his heart appeared which fell downe at his Mistresse féete vpon such a Fortune as shee was bound to take it vp which opened she might beholde the picture of berselfe reading this submission EVen as the Hart a deadly wound that hath Retyres himselfe with sighes to solace griefe And with warme teares his gored sides doth bath But finding mone to render smal reliefe Impatient Beast he giues a heauy bray And hastes the Death that many would delay So I whose Loue beyond my hap doth mount Whose thoughts as Thornes yet prick me with Desire Whose sute and zeale return's with no accompt Whose hope is drye set in a harte of Fire Holde this for ease foorthwith to spoyle the eye That lookte and lou'de thâ—â— in despayre to dye A happy Doome if it for law might stand But men condemnde themselues may not dispatch Their liues and deathes are in their Soueraignes hand So mine in hers whose Lookes did me attach And therefore I to pardon or to kill Must yeeld my selfe the Prisoner of her will L'ENVOY THen Lady fayre receiue what longes to thee A fettered thrall attyred with disgrace And at thy feete his wounded heart here see And in the same the Image of thy face Which bleeding fresh with throbs throwes forth his mone Rueth rueth deare Dame for that I am your owne DONDOLO lighted by his Page apparelled in Tawny Blew and Black Taffata was the fourth who vpon his Breast bare a Myrrour set the outside inward and yet fastened so siope as it might receiue light with an imagination that he shewed his Heart the Beauty of his Mistresse and in the thought he wrote vpon the outside Bastache Spero within which glasse this Sonet was cunningly conueyed which vpon a fit oportunitie he presented vnto his Mistresse Lucia Bella. FRom shore to sea from dales to mountaines hie From meddowes fayre amid the craggie rocke Loue doth me leade I know not whither I But euermore a passage doth vnlocke Now doe I fight now weepe now death I feare In all these stormes yet loue the healme doth steare In desart woods I wander too and fro Where I wilde beastes and firie Serpents meete Yet safe I passe Loue doth direct me so In tempests rough my barke doth alwayes fleete Yea when Sun Moone and starres forsake the skie Loue giues me light from my faire Mistresse eye I mount to heauen I know not with what winges I sinke to hell yet drowne not in distresse Twixt Ice and flame Loue me in safety bringes But to what end in sooth I cannot gesse Yet hap what shall Loue giueth me this scope In dangers mouth to liue alwayes in hope FALIERO lighted by a Page attired in Peach colour yellow and popeniay greene Taffata was the fifte and last that entered who as if she were climing vp his Arme caried a white Turtle so artificially made as it deceiued no lesse then Parrhasius paynted Table Cloth In whese Beake were finely rowled these Verses IF on firme fayth one Hart vncharg'd with fraud One langour sweete one wish desire doth moue If honest Zeale a gentle brest doth lawde If wandering long in the Lab'rinth of Loue If wan pale cheekes are witnesses of woe If reaking sighs throwne from a burning heart If all these and thousand sorrowes moe May charme Mistrust and make you rue my smart Faire Mistresse looke but in my Meagre face And you shall reade that I haue neede of Grace In this order and with these deuises the Maskers entred and after they had saluted Quéene Aurelia and the honourable of the company they placed themselues some of the one side of the great Chamber and some of the other obseruing therein a more discréete order then the ordinary Maskers who at their first enterance either daunce with themselues or rudely sease vpon the Gentlewomen but these Maskers entertayned a small Time with their Musicke while they had leasure to looke about and espie who were the worthiest among the Ladies In the ende Ismarito kissing his hande with a Countenance abased humbly desired Quéene Aurelia to doe him the grace to daunce with him Next Bargetto made choyce of Franceschina Santa after him Soranso chose Maria Belochi Dondolo raysed Lucia Bella and last of all Faliero tooke his Mistresse Catherina Trista and thus they obserued in their choyce the same course they kept in their enterance After this company had performed all the ciuill Seruices of Maskers leauing behinde them their Mistresses honoured and the whole company much contented they departed in the good order they entered sauing that their Mistresses were possessed with their seuerall Deuices Which done the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen began to shrinke out of the great Chamber as the starres séeme to shoote the Skie towardes the breake of day MADONA AVRELIA Her third daies pleasures Containing sundry Moral Precepts With a large discouery of the inconueniences of Rash Mariages THE Authoritie is daylie Experience that prooueth howe that the bitterest worldly Sorrow â—he vncertainâ—â— of worldly â—â—ings soone endes either by benefite of Fortune or violence of death neither is the firmest worldly pleasure of more continuaunce then an Imagination which is straight crost with a contrary Suggestion What difference was there betwéeue the Fortunes of Caesar and Pompey Both Pompey and Caesar diâ—d violently when their endes were both
offend through ignorance which is excused without a pardon for ignorance is without intent of euil therefore to be suffered though not to be cherished a man may offend through necessitie which commendeth Iustice with the vertue to forgiue for necessitie is bound vnto no law and therefore deserueth not to be punished with the rigour of law To the third a man may offend through rashnes and make amends with repeutance which Iustice may pardon without preiudice to equity and herein faire Mistres I haue showen my trespas and the reparation of my trespasse To your third thrée questions Three iniuries may pas vnteuenged a man may hurt his friend against his will which is an iniurie yet ought not to be reuenged for reneng can but afflict the trespasser and the misfortune grieueth him before the husband a man may kisse the wife by mistaking which is an iniury not to be reuenged for the wife may wipe away the wrong with her hand and the husband by reuenge may make worke for the Chirurgion and to the last a man must be content to take good words of a beggerly debtor which is an iniury not to be reuenged for a man can haue of a Cat but her skin and of a begger but his scrip vnles he will sell the Apothecary the greace of the one and the dice maker the bones of the other The whole company gaue a verdict that Bergetto had expounded his Mistres doubts without blemish to Iustice and therefore were ernest suters for his remission Whome shée pardoned with this prouiso that hée should behaue himselfe honourably towards women hereafter For his libertie Bargetto reuerently kissed his Mistresses hand and thus all vnkindnesse pacified Quéene Aurelia mouing a little raisde the company from the Table who a pretty time after dinner had respyt to prepare their wits for the accustomed exercise The Clocke had no sooner sounded the disputation houre but Quéene Aurelia and her Ladies were ready in the drawing Chamber and vpon warning the chosen Gentlemen gaue their attendance who hauing taken their places the Eunuck knowing his charge vnto the Lute sung this Sonet TO thee I send thou fairest of the fayre The vowes and rites of an vnfained heart Who with my plaints doe pearce the subtill Ayre That Beautie thou maist heare and see my smart Who sues but that thy deputie on earth May take in gree my off'rings of good will And in account returne my Loue in worth With charge thy priests my bones to ashes burne And with the same thy aulters all to meale That I may make to serue eache louers turne The peace off'ring with Sacrifice of zeale This Sonet in Beauties behalfe put the whole companie in remembrance of Doctor Mossenigoes last nights lauish spéech of Beautie and the scandalous comparing of her to poyson or which is worse a more subtill infection and therefore to bée resolued of his wrong or her gyltines Quéene Aurelia appointed Monsier Bargétto to bée her Champion and to assist him for it was agréed that frée choice of Mariage should this day be disputed whose affection for the most procéedeth from the vertue of Beautie she lycensed euery one that fauoured her cause which done she willed the Doctor and his fauorers to spit their venym Maddame quoth the Doctor Olde men are bound by their grauitie to say no more then they will stand to it neither beséemeth the stayednes of my yeares nor agréeth with the grauitie of my profession in such an assembly to speake the thing I dare not auouch therefore since it cōmeth to this issue that I must hazard vpon a charge or shrinke away with shame though my enemies be many my cause is iust vpon which warrant I am feareles of my foes and resolute in mine opinion Bargetto likewise glad of this fauour protested before Quéene Aurelia and the whole company that in the faithfull execution of his charge the prodigall spoyle of his life should giue contempt to death The Doctor The dash of a Pen is more grieuous then the counterbuse of a lance that had giuen as many déepe wounds with his Pen as euer he had done with his lance shronke no more at these threats then an Oke at the Helue of an Axe but coldely willed him to vse his pleasure hée was ready to defend or to die in his opinion Whereupon Bargetto to strengthen himselfe the better made this remembrance of the yester dayes report It is quoth he already approoued Free choise in mariage defended if the married in forced mariages could as well finish with the Church as they can account with their consciences their ioy to be Maried was not so colde as their destre to bée deuorsed would bée whot therfore by this awke ward successe in forcement a frée choise in Mariage cannot choose but continue as I think as much loue betwéene the Maried as the other sowed debate Rashnes and constraint quoth the Doctor are both violents Reproofe c. Defence c. and euery violent is a vice then how can a vicious attempt haue a vertuous successe men doo euill quoth Bargetto that good may come of it and it is allowed And men doo good quoth the Doctor that euill may come of it and it is forbidden Reproofe c. for it is the intent both in good and euill that commendeth or condemneth and what good intent hath the foolish young man that by his rashnes in mariage robbeth his parents of their comfort and himselfe of his credit He satisfieth his fancy quoth Bargetto a special regarde in Mariage where there is a swéete accord betwéene the Maried the parents cannot but reioyce and the neighbours are bound to speake well and beautie in his wiues face wil féed his heart with a thousand delights so that he shall sustaine want with little griefe labour to get wealth with a great desire for where vnitie is small things growe to great Such may be the vnitie quoth the Doctor as smal griefes may growe to great sorrowes Reproofe c. when the winde is in the neck of a stooping Trée it falleth downe right and when the vnthriftines of the Husband agréeth with the euill huswiferie of the Wife Sorrow striueth to be in the maried mans bosome before the maried be in his wiues bead and what other expectation may there be either of the one or the other when he satisfieth his fancie before he considereth of the duties of Mariage and she in taking an husband that is ignorant in the affaires of husbandrie and in offices of Mariage It is the office of the maried to be aduised ere he loue Duties before Mariage and louing to be reposed in his choise It is the office of the maried to be prouide for an household before he take possessiō of his hearts delight and it is the office of the maried to examine the conditions of his mistresse before he enter into any couenant of mariage And how
can he be aduised that marieth without the priuitie of his Parents And how can he support an household that marrieth with his Parents displeasure vpon whose deuotion he liueth and how can he iudge of his mistresse conditions that wanteth discretion to consider of his owne estate and where you alledge the beauty of his wiues face wil féede the husband with delight his delight will starue his body without other supplies so that when charge shall increase and his wealth diminish let the foolish young maried man impose himselfe vpon this fortune that he cannot so oft kisse the swéete lippes of his beautifull wife as he shal be driuen to fetch bitter sighes from his sorrowfull heart Sir quoth Soranso Defence c. taking Bergettos part of two euils the least is to be chosen and it is lesse euill for a man to liue a while hardly and satisfie his owne fancie then to liue euer discontented and please his friends The good behauiour of the maried may win the parents to consent and amend their exhibition or death may come and put them in possession of their parents liuing If either of these chance as one is shortly like to happen the penance that they indured will season their prosperitie and counsell the maried to kéepe within their teacher to leap within their latchet and liue within their compasse the louing aduise of the husband will reforme the disposition of euill in the wife No man nor woman but in some point deserue to be blamed and in some other to be praised For as Plato saith there is no woman so perfect good but in some one point may be reprehended nor no man so faultlesse but that some what in him may be amended so that if the Husband gently reprehend the fault of his Wife and the Wife patiently suffer the offence of her Husband the abilitie of their estate will sustaine a household and their loue and agréement will bée an especiall comfort vnto themselues and a commendable example vnto all the neighbours The best of both your euils quoth Doctor Mossenigo is starke naught Reproofe c. but our question was not to chuse the least of euils but that which is simply good not withstanding to answer to the sequell of this rashenes in mariage you say their good behauiours may recouer their parents good will but I prophesie that their euill demeanours are more likely to extinguish the affection of a Father for necessitie will accustome the Husband with dishonest shifts and kéepes his fayre Wife from being idle for want must bée supplyed what shame so euer ensue Then is it likely that the parents which did shut their purses in the beginning to punish the contempt of their Children wil now fast lock them to be reuenged of their infamie And where you gaue them a hope by their parents death I say no man dyneth worse Their pennance is great that liue in incertaine hope then hoping Tantalus nor none are more wetshod then they which expect dead mens shooes and when they fall the soules perhaps will bée worne I meane the Father in his life time may take order to die euen with the world or at least leaue his liuing maimed and the most of his substance wasted for in a tempest at Sea what Pylot hath any care of goods that féeth the ship at the point to sinke An vngodly child maketh an vnthrifty father euen so what parents can haue any ioy of worldly wealth more then to defend necessitie when hée séeth the heyre both of his labor and liuing out of hope of well dooing so that through this rashnesse many sonnes during their fathers liues with hard shiftes shift of necessity and after their deathes liue disinherited and not altogether so much for their owne contempt The seuerall paines of offences as for their wiues incontinency and truely in the first although the parents may be thought cruell yet are they not to be reputed vnnaturall for that euery offence hath his proper scourge restitution is the true paine for robbery an eye is reuenge for an eye a hand for a hand death challēgeth death and disobedience in the sonne deserueth disinheritance by the father Incontinency slandereth an honest mans house Touchiug this dishonesty of the daughter in law as it is great hazard but that necessitie thus bestowed will bend her a little the seueritie is sufferable if her husbands father shut her forth of his doores for that the honour of a mans house is so delicate as it can away with no staine and reseruing your fauours vertuous dames where a strumpet entereth she stuffeth the house with slander as carraine infected the ayre with stincke yea the occasion is iust if the father spare to get and the mother cease to saue nay if they spend that which they haue for it were great pittie that there should bée any thing left either of their liuing or labour to support a harlots pride O how innumerable are the inconueniences of this temeritie in mariage The wise by coniecture and dayly experience séeth and the foolish with sorrowe in their owne entrailes féeleth and therefore as a hainous offence the auncient Philosophers which without partiallitie checked Vice and cherrished Vertue punished this contempt of Children Plutarke saieth the sonne that marieth without his Parents consent among the Gréekes was publikely whipped Paines for temeritie in mariage among the Lacedemonians disherited and among the Thebanes both disinherited and of his parents openly accursed The yonger company began to feare a restraint of Fréeloues libertie and their Goddesse Beauties disgrace The Doctor gaue Capitaine Bargetto such crosse blowes who though he fainted in his opinion yet like a Cocke that hath one of his eyes stricken out his head bared to the braines yet striketh vntill he dyeth he assayled the Doctor with this one more reason Master Doctor quoth he they goe far that neuer returne Defence c. and the battaile is very cruell where none escapes what although a number spéede ill in making of their owne choice many haue prospered well In matches of the best foresight good Fortune hath not alwaies béen found and yet foresight is not to be blamed nor the other aduenture to be dispitefully condemned Ouid saith that Forma numen habet then by vertue of her Diuinitie it is like shée will sustaine them in aduersity that in prosperity became her vowed Seruants neither dooth this stayne of the wiues behauiour often follow for where Beautie Loue and Frée choise maketh the Mariage they may be crossed by Fortune yet continue faithfull Piramus and Thisbie Romeus and Iuliet Arnalt and Amicla and diuers others at the point to possesse their loues were dispossest of their liues but yet vnstained with dishonesty This want with which you threaten them what is it in respect of the pleasures these Louers possesse Wealth which is the contrary A description of wealth abused what is it being
ill vsed a beautie in the Chest a bondage to the minde and a blot in the soule but a couple vnited by this affection for a little Fleabiting of worldly penury suck Nectar betwéene their lips cram Manna into their Bowels possesse heauen in their harts How farre Master Doctor argueth from the opinion of ancient Philosophers and famous Schoolemen these authorities witnesseth A ioy of true loue Ouid Nigidius Samocratius Petrarke and others in their life time adored Beauty with their bookes honored her by their deaths eternized her glory But for that her vertues be diuine and Maister Doctor is soyled with slannder blasphemy and mallice he is vnworthy to be perfected with one thought of her excellency which ignorance maketh him so obstinate The yonger company began to take hart in hearing of this tale so that the Gentlewomen strengthened Bargetto with good countenances for for modesties sake they were silent and the Gentlemen succoured him with their best reasons but all this hope proued but a lightning ioy for Doctor Mossenigo double enraged partly for the check he receiued partly for the countenance the company gaue his aduersary but chéefely for to beholde a new Dye set vpon a stained matter so sharpely refuted Bargetto as he had no delight to reply nor his supporter desire to succour him Quoth he Ouid dreamed of a diuinitie in beauty but neuer tasted other then a swéete venime to procéede from her He loued Iulia Augustus daughter and enioyed her but with what fortune Sundry famous Philosophers and Poets punished for their loues Cause of rash Mariages marry he was stript of his liuing and spoyled of his liberty for her sake Nigidius an ancient Romaine and in great fauour with the people for this folly tasted of Ouids fortune which was to dye in exile Samocratius was in youth so prodigall of his Loue as in age hated of his fréends he died in prison with famine And as for frantick Petrarke I feare me Madonna Laura smiled more often in reading of his follies then he him selfe did with the swéet recompences of his fancies All these were men learned wise and in their other actions for their grauitie were admired and onely for their lightnesse in loue liue to this day defamed For your other authorities your owne remembrance of their deaths shew a vengeance sufficient for the contempt of their children But where you say Beauty Loue and Frée-choyse lade the Maried with such pleasures that they endure pouertie as a Fleabiting Indéede want will so quicken them as the husband will leap at a crust and the wife trot for her dinner But suppose the best thus maried whose loues are indifferent with patience doo indure the afflictions of Fortune their agréement is no generall warrant The greater number of these Mariages are not solemnized through equalitie of liuing The couetous Marchant with no more delight heareth the passing bell of his rich neighbour which promiseth him the first loppe of his sonnes liuing then the poore Gentleman eyeth the able heire with desire to match him perhaps with his faire proud daughter Then as pleasant baites baineth Fish as counterfeit Calles beguileth foules and as Crocodiles teares intrappeth fooles to like destruction lures are throwne to lime this gallant fréendly vsage shall intice him good wordes shall welcome him curtesie shall chéere him Beauty shall bewitch him and faire promises shall altogeather beguile him Newe vessels are apt for any liquour and yong heads empty of experience are seduced with easie subtilties to be short he shal be betrothed by cunning An vnfortunate Mariage his promise once past for that in delay is danger the Mariage must be in poste haste and the misliking at leasure but in most of these matches the sorrow beginneth before the solemnity of the Mariage endeth The father hearing of the indiscretion of his sonne galleth his hart with gréefe the mother spoyleth her eyes with teares and the fréend occupieth his tung in bemoning of his kinsemans folly There is yet a further sorrow bitter to the father and vnbeneffciall to the sonne The father that thought to bestowe his daughter with the Mariage money of his sonne is forced to diminish his inheritance for her aduauncement and by this meanes the ioy which begun in the beauty of his wife is like to ende in the beggerye of himselfe and since these vnsauery effects growe from the vertue of beauties diuinitie let Mounsier Bargetto burne in his heresie But Doctor Mossenigo will holde himselfe happie neuer to be warined by her fire Bargetto had not a woord more to say A Gentleman in his reuenge ought not to offend a ciuill company but angerly looked vpon his swoord with a countenance that promised vengeance vpon the Doctors blasphemous tung had he not béen staied with a reuerent consideration of the company In the end because Maister Doctor should not be too proud of his conquest nor Bargetto ouermuch apalled with his defeate quoth Segnior Fabritio Iudge of the controuersies in a single controuersie the argument of the one is to be allowed as truth and the cauilling of the other to be reiected as error but for that this hath béene a double contention as in defence and reproofe both of Beauty and Frée-choise of mariage Madona Isabella and I pronounce sentence with Bargetto in the behalfe of Beauty for Beauty is a blessing and if she worke euill effects in some their naughty disposition and not Beauty is to be blamed and with Doctor Mossenigo we likewise giue iudgement in reproofe of rashnes in Mariage This iudgement pleased Quéene Aurelia and the whole company who were glad that they were thus forewarned of the inconuenience of Frée-choyse in Loue which they a little fauoured but yet were moreglad of the triumph of beauty whom they all affectedly honoured Vertue commendeth heselfe and therefore quoth Quéene Aurelia good wine néed no Iuie Bush fine Marchādise are sold without a Signe and beauty is sufficienly commended by her own excellency and therefore we will spare Bargettos ready seruice vntill oportunitie present further imployment But for that your triumph shal haue his full right we licence you to tel some one historie to confirme your reasons The Doctor glad of this liberty who although he had receiued no disgrace yet he repined that he had not that whole honour of the disputation determined in his history a little more to nettle that fauourers of beauty with which intent vpō Quéen Aurelias commaundement he reported as foloweth The History in reproofe of rash Mariages reported by Doctor Mossenigo BEsides Capo Verdo in times past the capitall Citie within the kingdome of Naples sometime dwelled a forward yong Gentleman called Marco Malipiero Beauty half a Dowry in a woman the sonne heire of Caualiero Antonio Malipiero in his youth renowned for many valiant seruices This yong Gentleman in the pride of his youth became inamoured of a most faire Gentlewoman named Felice the Daughter
this florish to make accorde betwéen the Sonne and the father as now his Table was furnished with emptie platters The misery of want and his Audit bags with a set of Counters So that Want that will make a toothlesse woman to bite at Brasen walles entred into Prouolos House and swore both him and his whole houshold vnto the statutes of necessity whose lawes were so straite that although they all had great occasion of sorowe they had no leasure for shifting to supply their wants insomuch as in short time there was no Neighbour that Prouolo was not in his debt or danger and no good natured youth there abouts that Marco Malipiero had not boorded or coosoned And what should faire Felice doo in this extremetie liue vpon her husbands trauell and be idle her selfe that were no good Huswiferie and yet poore Malipiero loued her so déerly that he would haue ventured vpon a thousand infamies to maintain her in the state of an honest Gentlewoman but although his shifts helped they defraied not her desire to be braue A Diamond hath not his grace but in gold nor a faire Woman her full commendation but in the ornamentes of brauerie So that attired to her best aduantage Brauery belengeth to Beuty Piatso a market place or a place of assembly faire Felice would many times walk vnto that Piatso Richio a place where the brauest Gentlemen assembled and where the finest deuices were solde she taking this liberty to walk bound the gal lant yong gentlemen in eurteste to Court her curteous seruice is to be accepted with thanks acceptance of seruice inlargeth acquaintance acquaintance ingendreth familiarity and familiarity setteth all follies abroach So that let other Maried men take warning by Malipieros hard Fortune A necessary note for if their wiues loue gadding like faire Felice be inconstant do want or finde in their husbands miscontentmēt twenty to one they will pawn their honors to please their fancies Well Felice lost nothing by these iournies for some one Gallant would present her with a Ventoie to coole her selfe some other with a mirrour to beholde her selfe and some with Lawnes Curtesie done with an euill intent Ruffes Coyfes and such necessaries to set out her selfe and yet vpon no dishonorable condition but by your leaue with hope of an after fauour This trafique faire Felice vsed vntill among a number that temperately affected her Marino Giorgio the rich Orphant of Capo verdo immoderately loued her and withall the honors of curtesie serued her But notwithstanding his lusty personage might please his louely countenance might intice and his rare wit passing through a swéet tung might be witch a woman in loue for that Malipiero was inriched with these perfections Felice regarded Marino Georgio but with an ordinary grace Disdaine haunteth desire and had it not béene for that Archinchaunter Golde perhaps would neuer haue béene inconstant This light account of Felice inlarged the affection of Marino The fire of loue for as drinke increaseth the dropsies drouth so disdaine heapeth coles vpon desire whereof Marino Teste seipso hath left an infallible authoritie whose torments were so gréeuous as the fire which of all flames burneth most and appearesh least burst out of his mouth the smoake of such furious sighes that where he was but late of a pure Sanguine Complection he séemed now nothing but Choller adust So that his fréends mourned and many moned his strange alteration who counselled him to take the Phisitians aduice But neither Galen Hipocrates nor their enemy Paracelsus could skill of his cure so that he was in danger to haue consumed to Cinders had not Macrello the Phisition of Loue vndertaken his health who comforted him with many swéet words of hope Phisick cureth not loue but Marino continually afflicted himselfe in recounting an impossibility of fauour Why quoth Macrello is not your personage séemely Yes but it doth not please Is not your face louely Yes but it doth not allure Is not your wit quick and good Yes but it can not perswade Is not Felice a woman Yes and more an Angell Well then quoth Macrello be of good comfort Angels be not cruell nor stéely harted O quoth Marino but Felice is constant and true to he husband who to continue her affection is graced with these and many more perfections Yea quoth Macrello but hee wanted one of your chiefest beauties What one is that quoth Marino Euen that The force of Golde that opened the double locked doore of Acrisius brasen Tower and put Iupiter in possession of his daughter Danais loue And thinke you this golden Beauty will not make a passage into poore Malipieros bed-chamber I warrant you yeas you haue Golde more at commaundement than I but I know the vertue better then you This short tale quickned dying Marino as the flashe of Rose water doth a sullen swounding childe Whereupon quoth he Macrello if your medicine bee of no lesse vertue to restore my life then your wordes to giue me hope the fortune shall be your profite as wel as my pleasure Hope comforteth but Loue cureth the Louer Well quoth Macrello sustaine your selfe with hope and for that your inuention is delicate deuise you some curious rich Iewel let me alone quoth hée both to charme and to present it and so with a remembrance in the hande he left Marino to contemplate of his loue and to consider how to recouer his life who in the end concluded to sende faire Felice the Image of himselfe in Golde inameled black his face meagre and pale and by a deuice the blacke mantle throwen aside for to appeare the bared Carkasse of Death with the intrayles consumed and in the seate of his life Marinoes present to his Mistresse to place Felice attyred with Diamonds Rubies Emrods and other precious Stones looking vpon his smoking heart whereupon was written these two briefes Loue onely giues me health Not Medicine nor wealth This Image made vnto his fancie he wrote this following Letter Marino Georgios letter to Felice the faire FAyre Mistresse if I enioyed any health I would wish you parte but what I doe possesse I acknowledge to bee yours and my selfe to be but your Steward And for this seruice because it is duetie I craue nothing but leaue my merite wholly to your consideration Yet lest my silence should rob the glory of your pittie and my death reaue you of a faythfull Seruant more of zeale to doe you long seruice then of any desire I haue to liue I here present you my consumed selfe only kept aliue by the life of fayre Felice who sitteth crowned in the Pallace of my heart which bleeding at her feete sheweth the meanes of my cure which if you witsafe I liue if not you see my death And thus doubtfull betweene both vntil I kisse your sweete answere I remaine Vnto my latter gaspe Your faythful Marino Georgio THis letter Sealed and Subscribed To the handes
not other Fryers vsed milde and plawsible requests in his behalfe they would surely haue buried him aliue for threatning increaseth a tumult whē faire words may peraduēture stay it The poore Fryer discharged from the hands of these vngentle people learned afterwardes to be more warie but for al this punishmēt was nothing the honester For among men of his Habit remayneth an opinion that the faultes which the Worlde séeth not God punisheth not After the company had well laughed at Fryer Ingannoes penance Quéene Aurelia asked master Doctor the Archdetracter of Women how many such stories he had read of the religious Dames None quoth he that hath béen so sorely punished but of a number that haue as highly trespassed What quoth Helena Dulce by such subtil practises Men offend subtilly women simply No quoth the Doctor but through simple affection Well quoth Aluiso Vechio their euils are written in their foreheads Womens euils are writ in their foreheads that slanderous mens tongues may reade and inlarge them And your great euils are buried in the bottome of your heartes that vnlesse the Diuel meane to shame you the world knoweth not how to blame you Mens faults lie hid in their hearts This was the Gentlewomens day wherefore the ciuill Gentlemen would not offer to crosse them much so that following their aduantage A ciuil curtesie in a Gentlemā Madame quoth Isabella with your fauour and patience I will reporte an Historie that open such a haynous trecherie done by a man as shal take away all possibility from a woman to commit so impious an Act. Quéene Aurelia willed her to procéede and the whole cōpany séemed to be attentiue whereupon Isabella reported as followeth The rare History of Promos and Cassandra reported by Madame Isabella AT what time Coruinus the scourge of the Turkes This history for rarenes thereof is liuely set out in a Comedy by the reporter of the whole worke but yet neuer presented vpon stage raygned as King of Bohemia for to well gouerne the Cities of his Realme he sent diuers worthy Magistrates Among the rest he gaue the Lord Promos the Lieutenantship of Iulio who in the beginning of his gouerment purged the Citie of many auncient vices and seuerely punished new offenders In this Citie there was an olde custome by the suffering of some Magistrates growen out of vse that what man soeuer committed Adultery should lose his head A hard lawe for incontinent persons the womā offender shuld euer after be infamously noted by the wearing of some disguised apparell For the man was helde to be the greatest offender and therefore had the seuerest punishment Lord Promos with a rough execution reuiued this Statute and in the highest degrée of iniurie brake it himselfe as shall appeare by the sequell of Andrugioes aduentures This Andrugio by the yéelding fauour of fayre Polina trespassed against this ordinance who through enuie was accused by Lorde Promos condemned to suffer execution The wofull Cassandra Andrugios Sister prostrates her self at Lord Promos féete and with more teares then words thus pleaded for her brothers life Most noble Lord and worthy Iudge vouchsafed me the fauour to speake whose case is so desperate as vnlesse you beholde mée with the eyes of mercie the frayle trespasse of condemned Andrugio my Brother will be the death of sorrowfull Cassandra his innocent Sister I wil not presume to excuse his offence or reproch the Law of rigor for in the generall construction Lawe adiudgeth by the generall offēce hée hath done most euill and the Law hath iudged but what is right But reuerent Iudge pardon that necessitie maketh me here tell that your wisdome already knoweth The most Soueraigne Iustice is crowned with Laurell although she be girt with a Sword And this priuiledge she giueth vnto her Administrators that they shall mitigate the seueritie of the Law Iustice is more renowmed by lenitie then seueritie according to the qualitie of the offence Then that Iustice be not robbed of her gratious pittie listen good Lord Promos to the nature of my Brothers offence and his able meanes to repayre the iniurie He hath defiled no nuptiall Beb the stain whereof dishonoureth the guiltlesse Husband He hath committed no violent Rape In which Act the iniured maid can haue no amends But with yéelding consent of his Mistresse Andrugio hath onely sinned through Loue and neuer ment but with Mariage to make amendes I humbly beséech you to accept his satisfaction A good cause to moue pittie and by this Example you shal be as much beloued for your clemencie as feared for your seueritie Andrugio shal be well warned and he with his Sister wofull Cassandra shall euer remaine your Lordships true Seruants Promos eares were not so attentiue to heare Cassandras ruethful tale as his eyes were settled to regarde her excellent Beauty And Loue Loue fauoureth no degree that was appoynted Headsman of Andrugio became nowe the Soueraigne of his Iudges thought But because he would séeme to bridle his passions he answered fayre Damsel haue patience you importune me with an impossibilitie he is condemned by Lawe then without iniurie to Lawe he cannot be saued Princes prerogatiues are aboue Law Princes and their Deputies Prerogatiues quoth shée are aboue the Lawe Besides Law truelie construed is but the amends of iniurie and where the fault may be valued and amends had The true intét of the Law the breach of the law is sufficiently repayred Quoth Lord Promos your passions mooueth more then your proofes and for your sake I will repréeue Andrugio A good turne vpon an euill cause and studie how to doe you ease without apparant breach of Law Cassandra recomforted Authority in euil Magistrates is a scourge vnto the good with humble thankes receiued his fauour and in great hast goeth to participate this hope with her dying Brother But oh that Authoritie should haue power to make the vertuous to doe amisse as well as through correction to inforce the vicious to fall vnto goodnesse Promos is a witnes of this priuiledge who not able to subdue his incontinent loue and withall resolued that Cassandra would neuer be ouercome with fayre wordes A monstrous request large promises or rich rewards demaunded the spoyle of her Virginitie for raunsome of her Brothers libertie Vnlesse they be reprobate good example may reforme the wicked Cassandra imagined at the first that Lord Promos vsed this spéech but to trie her behauiour Answered him so wisely as if he had not béen the Riuall of vertue he could not but haue suppressed his lewde Affection and haue subscribed to her iust petition But to leaue circumstances Promos was fiered with a dicious desire which must be quenched with Cassandraes yéelding loue or Andrugio must die Cassandra moued with a chast disdaine departed with the resolution rather to dye her selfe then to stayne her honour And with this heauie newes gréeted her condemned
Brother poore man alas what should hee doe Life was swéet but to be redéemed with his sisters Infamie could not but be alwayes vnsauerie To perswade her to consent was vnnaturall to yéelde to death was more grieuous To choose the least of these euils A hard choice of two euils was difficult to studie long was dangerous Fayne would he liue but shame closed his mouth when he attempted to perswade his Sister But Necessitie that mastreth both shame feare brake a passage for his imprisoned intent Swéete Cassandra quoth he that men loue is vsual but to subdue affection is impossible and so thorny are the motions of incontinent desire The force of necessitie as to finde ease the tongue is only occupied to perswade The purse is euer open to entice and where neither words nor Giftes can corrupt with the mighty force shall constraine The force of Loue. or dispight auenge That Promos doe loue is but iust thy beauty commaunds him That Promos be refused is more iust because consent is thy Shame Thou mayst refuse and liue but hée being reiected I die For wanting his will in thée he will wreake his téene on me This is my hard estate My life lyeth in thy Infamie and thy honour in my death Which of these euilles be least I leaue for thée to iudge The wofull Cassandra answered A hard fortune that death was the least whose darte we cannot shunne when Honour in deaths despight outliueth time It is true quoth Andrugio but thy trespasse will be in the least degrée of blame Death is to bee preferred before dishonourable life For in forced faultes Iustice sayth there is no intent of euill Oh Andrugio quoth she intent is now adayes little considered thou art not condemned by the intent but by the strickt word of the Law The venemous nature of Enuy. so shal my cryme be reproched and the forced cause passe vnexcused and such is the venome of Enuy one euil déede shal disgrace tenne good turnes and in this yéelding so shall I be valued Enuy Disdayne Spight The vertuous are assured of many enemies and incertaine of any frendes Malice Slaunder and many moe furies will endeuour to shame me and the meanest vertue will blush to help to support my honor so that I sée no liberty for thée but death nor no ease for me but to hasten my end O yes quoth Andrugio for if this offence be knowne thy fame wil be enlarged because it will likewise be knowne A cause that may excuse the breach of honour that thou receiuedst dishonr to giue thy brother life If it be seceret thy conscience will be without scruple of guiltinesse Thus knowne or vnknowen thou shalt be deflowred but not dishonested and for amends we both shall liue This further hope remayneth that as the Gilliflower both pleaseth the eye and fâ—edeth the sence euen so the vertue of thy chast behauiour may so grace thy beauty A faint hope as Promos filthy lust may be turned into faythfull loue and so moue him to salue thy honour in making thée his wife Or for conscience for beare to doe so heynous an iniurie Soueraigne Madame and you fayre Gentlewomen quoth Isabella I intreate you in Cassandraes behalfe these reasons well weyed to iudge her yéelding a constraynt and no consent who weary of her owne life and tender ouer her brothers with teares of her louely eyes bathed his chéekes with this comfortable sentence Liue Andrugio and make much of this kisse A louing kisse which breatheth my honour into thy bowels and draweth the infamie of thy first trespasse into my bosome The sharpe incounters betwéene life and death so occupied Andrugioes sences that his tongue had not the vertue to bid her farewel To gréeue you with the hearing of Cassandraes secret playnts were an iniurie vertuous Ladies for they concluded with their good Fortune and euerlasting fame But for that her offence grew neither of frayltie A good consideration in Cassandra frée will or any motion of a woman but by the méere inforcement of a man because she would not stayne the modest wéedes of her kinde she attyred her felfe in the habite of a Page and with the bashfull grace of a pure Virgine she presented wicked Promos Andrugioes precious ransome This diuel in humane shape more vicious then Heliogabalus of Rome A damnable offence and withall as cruell as Denis of Sycil receiued this Iewell with a thousand protestations of fauour But what should I say In the beginning of his loue Promos was Metamorphosed into Priapus and of a Féende what may we expect but vengeance heaped vpon villany And therefore let it not séem straunge the after this Hel houÌ„d had dishonored Cassandra he sent his warrant to the Gayler priuily to execute Andrugio with his head crowned with these two Briefes A villainous ingratitude in Promos name to present Cassandra Fayre Cassaudra as Promos promist thee From Prison loe he sends thy Brother free This was his Charge whose cursed will had béen executed had not God by an especial prouidence at the houre of his Death An especiall prouidence of God possessed Andugio with the vertues of the two braue Romanes Marcus Crassus and Marius the one of which by the force of his tongue and the other by the motions of his eyes caused she Axe to fal out of the Headsmans hand and mollified his cruel minde With like compassion the Gayler in hearing Andrugioes hard aduenture left his resolution And vpon a solemne oath to liue vnknowen yea to his deare Sister hee gaue him life and in the dead of the night betooke him to God and to good fortune A signe of an honest nature which done this good Gayler tooke the head of a young man new executed who some what resembled Andrugio and according to leawd Promos commaundement made a present thereof to Cassandra How vnwelcome this Present was An vnwelcom present the testimonie of her former sorrowes some what discouer but to giue her present passion a true grace were the talke of Prometheus or such a one as hath had experience of the anguishes of hel O quoth she swéete Andrugio whether shall I first lament thy death exclayme of Promos iniurie or bemone my owne estate depriued of honour and which is worse cannot die but by the violence of my owne handes Alas the least of these griefes are too heauy a burden for a man then all ioyned in one poore womans heart cannot bee eased but by death and to be auenged of iniurious Fortune I will foorth with cut my Fillet of life But so shall Promos lewdnesse escape vnpunished what remedie I am not of power to reuenge to complaine I expresse my owne infamie but withall proclaime his villanie and to heare his lewdenes reproued would take away the bitternesse of my death I will goe vnto the king who is iust and mercifull he shall heare the ruthfull
euents of Promos Tiranny and to giue him example of vengeance I will seale my complaints with my déerest blood Continuing this determination Cassandra buried her imagined brothers head and with spéede iornyed vnto king Coruinus Court before whose presence when she arriued her mourning Attire but especially her modest countenāce moued him to beholde her with an especiall regarde Cassandra vpon the graunt of audience with her eyes ouercharged with teares A mischeefe wel preuented reported the already discoursed accidents with such an apparance of gréefe as the King and his Attendants were astonied to heare her and sure had she not béen happily preuented she had concluded her determination with chaste Lucretias destinie A noble fauour The King comforted her with many gratious wordes and promised to take such order that although he could not be reuiued her Brothers death should fully be reuenged and her crased honour repaired without blemish of her former reputation Cassandra vpon these comfortable words a little succoured her afflicted hart with patience attended the Iustice of the King who with a chosen companie made a Progresse to Iulio and entred the Towne with a semblance of great fanour towards Promos A necessary pollicy by that colour to learne what other corrupt Magistrates ruled in this Cittie for well he knew that Birdes of a feather would flie together and wicked men would ioyne in affection to boulster eche others euill After this gratious King had by héedfull intelligence vnderstoode the factions of the people vnlooked for of the Magistrates he caused a proclamation to be published in which was a clause that if any person could charge any Magistrate or Officer with any notable or hainous offence A royall grace Treason Murder Rape Sedition or with any such notorious Crime where they were the Iudges of the multitude he would himselfe be the Iudge of them and doe iustice vnto the meanest The clamors of the poore and the consciences of the rich like Hell Sorrowe and Shame the attendants of Cassandra Vpon this Proclamation it was a hell to heare the exclamations of the poore and the festered consciences of the rich appéered as loathsome as the Riuer of Stix Among many that complained and receiued iudgement of comfort Cassandras Processe was presented who lead betwéene sorrow and shame accused Promos to his face The euidence was so plaine as the horrour of a guiltie conscience reaued Promos of all motions of excuse so that holding vp his hand An vnusuall place for a Iudge amongst the worst degrée of théeues the little hope that was left moued him to confesse the crime and with repentance to sue for mercy O quoth the King such especiall mercy were tiranny to a common wealth A necessary regarde in a Prince No Promos no Hoc facias alteri quod tibi vis fieri You shall be measured with the grace you bestowed on Andrugio O God quoth he if men durst barke as dogges many a Iudge in the worlde would be bewrayed for a théefe It behoueth a Prince to know to whom he committeth Authoritie least the Swoord of Iustice appointed to chasten the lewde Princes beares the blame of euill Officers extortion wound the good and where good subiects are wronged euill Officers receiue the the benefit and their Soueraignes beareth the blame Well A iust iudgement wicked Promos to scourge thy impious offences I héere giue sentence that thou foorth with marry Cassandia to repaire her honour by thée violated and that the next day thou lose thy head to make satisfaction for her Brothers death This iust iudgement of the good king in the first point was foorth with executed The good prorect the lewde But sacred is the authoritie that the vertues of the good are a Shielde vnto the lewde So swéete Cassandra who simply by vertue ouercame the spight of Fortune The duetie of a wife truely shewen in this mariage was charged with a new assault of sorrow and preferring the dutie of a wife before the naturall zeale of a Sister where she before prosecuted the reuenge of her brothers death she now was an humble suter to the King for her Husbands life The gracious King sought to appease her with good words but he could not doo her this priuate fauour The common weale is to be regarded before priuate honour without iniurie vnto the publike weale for though quoth he your sute be iust and the bounden duety of a wife yet I in fulfilling the same should do vniustly and generally iniure my Subiects and therefore good Gentlewoman haue patience and no doubt vertue in the end will giue you power ouer all your affections There was no remedy Cassandra must departe cut of hope to obtaine her sute Siue bonum siue malum Fama est But as the experience is in dayly vse the dooings of Princes post through the world on Pegasus back And as their actions are good or badde so is their same With the like spéede the Kings iustice and Promos execution was spread abroad and by the tung of a Clowne was blowen into Andrugios eares who till then liued like an Outlawe in the Desart woods But vpon these newes couertly in the habite of an Hermit Good motions proceede frō the soule and euill from the flesh by the diuine motion of the Soule who directs vs in things that be good and the Flesh in actions that be euill Andrugio goes to sée the Death of his Capitall enemy But on the other parte regarding the sorrow of his sister he wished him life as a fréend To conclude as well to giue terrour to the lewd as comfort to his good subiects the King personally came to sée the execution of Promos who garded with Officers and strēgthened with the comfortable perswasions of his Ghostly fathers Among whom Andrugio was méekely offered his life as a satisfaction for his offences A gratefull parte which were many more then the Law tooke knowledge of and yet to say the truth such was his Repentance as the multitude did both for giue and pittie him yea the King wondred that his life was gouerned with no more vertue considering the grace he shewed at his death Andrugio beholding this ruthfull Spectackle was so ouercome with loue towards his Sister as to giue her comfort he franckly consented a new to emperill his own life And followinge this Resolution in his Hermits wéede vpon his knées hee humblye desired the Kinge to speake The King graciously graunted him Audience Whereupon quoth he regarded Soueraigne if Lawe may possibly be satistied Promos true Repentance meriteth pardon Good Father quoth the King he cannot liue Murther asketh death and no other satisfaction and the law satistied vnlesse by miracle Andrugio be reuiued Then quoth the Hermite if Andrugio liue the law is satissied and Promos discharged I quoth the King if your praier can reuiue the one my mercie shall acquit the other I humbly thank
your Maiestie quoth Andrugio and disconering himselfe shewed the preuidence of God and the meane of his escape and tendring his Sisters comfort aboue his owne safetie he prostrated him selfe at his Maiesties féete humbly to obey the sentence of his pleasure The King vpon the report of this strange aduenture Princes are bound to their word after good deliberation pardoned Promos to kéep his word and withall holding an opinion that it was more beneficiall for the Citizens Of two the least euill is least dangerous to be ruled by their olde euill Gouernour new reformed then to aduenture vpon a newe whose behauiours were vnknowne And to perfect Cassandras ioye he pardoned her brother Andrugio with condition that he should marrie Polina Thus from betwéene the téeth of danger euery partie was preserued and in the end established in their harts desire Madame quoth Soranso your good conclusion hath likewise preserued vs from a great danger Ruthfull tales raiseth remorce in the hearers for had you ended with the sorrow you began we had béen al like to haue béen drowned in teares Indéed quoth Katharina Trista you men haue had cause sufficient of sorrowe by hearing your kinde reproched with such monstrous euils By example of euill the euill are feared By example of the good the good are strengthened and we women frée passage to lament in beholding none but crosse fortunes to succéed the good indeuours of a vertuous Lady It is true quoth Fabritio but to participate of their ioye we men haue learned out of Promos example of euill for feare of his like punishment of euill to doo well and you women by example of Polinas vice and Cassandras vertue are both warned and incouraged to weldooing Indéede quoth Quéene Aurelia there are many Morall precepts in either Historie to be considered Good order is to be kept among such as haue beene late sick which I hope the company haue so regarded as there néedeth no repetitition And further because I will not be too bolde of the victory ouer my late distemperature we will héere end And therewith she arose and retired into her Chamber with charge that the company should attend her in the same place vntill Supper who obeying intertained time euery one with their speciall fancy The question that arose at Supper vpon the fourth daies exercise MAny prettie nippes passed betwéene the retyred Company this night at Supper as well on the Gentlewomens parte as of the Gentlemens insomuch as presuming vpon this Daies honour when the Table was readie to be taken away Aluisa Vechio tooke vpon her to maintaine a woman to be a creature euery way as excellent and perfect as man Comparison breedeth contention For naturall shape quoth she they are more beautifull of a better temperature and complection then men In valiant exploytes what difference was there betwéen Semiramis and her Husband Ninus betwéene the Amazon women and Alexander For constancie of minde Excellent vertues in women did not Loadice imbrace death with lesse feare then Mithridates her Husband Asdruballes Wife then Asdruball himselfe And what man hath kept a constant resolution of death so long as Lucretia In Vertues you men that read Histories and Cronicles of all ages shall finde women renowmed for learning gouernment and pollicie In Mecanicall Artes there are Women likewise experienced In the vertue of Diuining what man hath come néere the Sibils To be short what man hath béen so perfect in any vertue but histories make mention of a woman as perfect Yea quoth Dondolo but there be so fewe of these women Cauillers neuer answere directly as an easie wit may remember them But it will cumber your tung to report them quoth Katharina Trista The other Gentlemen although they were willing to giue place vnto the Gentlewomen in small matters A disgrace in honour a Gentleman may not beare with yet this comparison of equall soueraignty nettled them a little In as much as Soranso answered Madame Aluisa you haue made a bolde comparison and but a bare proofe Where you vaunte to be more excellent in shape and more delicate in substance then men It is an ouer ruled question that Women receiue perfection by Men Aristotles problemes and Men imperfection by Women then by how much the vertue is of more emprise that is simply of it selfe then that which is compound of an other by so far we excéede you in this perfection Your honour of valiātnes died with your examples and although there hath béen Women learned and experienced in Mecanicall craftes Extraordinary things are not to be compared with ordinary yet to heare a Woman plead at the Barre preach in a Pulpit or to sée her builde a house is a wonder and no example in vse How short your diuining Sybels come of the credit of the Prophets in the olde Testament is no question disputable Life is precious For your constancie at death you know not how precious life is which maketh you rash and not constant and in truth what you haue frowardly determined you will not be forbidden As she that had her Tung cut for calling of her husband Théefe would yet notwithstanding make the signe of the gallows Well sir quoth Quéene Aurelia Epicarias obstinacy Epicaria in the trembling pas sage of death was constant who endured to be rent in péeces before she would confesse the conspiracy against Nero would haue béene holden for a vertue of staidenesse in a man And what say you of Leena PLIN. Lib. 34. Cap. 2. that bit off her tung and spit it in the Tirant Hippias face because she would not bewray a conspiracy against him Madame with your fauour quoth the Doctor had she not had this foresight An enuious Suggestion it had béen like the Athenians should haue béene driuen to haue made a brazen bell as a Monument of her talk rather thē a tungles Liōnes as they did in honour of her silence for had she not mistrusted her imperfection she would neuer haue committed that tiranny vpon her self Had her tung béene venomed with your mallice it is like quoth Quéene Aurelia that the Athenians had verified your slaunderous opinion herewith she looked a skawse vpon her fauoured seruants as who would say I check the omission of your dutie in not defending of my right Vpon which warning and especially for the excellencie of this sex A man may praise a woman without reproching a man quoth Ismarito a man may doo iustice vnto an other without iniury to himselfe and sure without the reproche of men a man may commēd the excellencie of women in whose behalf although I wil not cōdemne Sir Soransos reasons yet in my opinion he erred in the first Article where he toucheth the perfection of Men and the imperfection of Women for neither of themselues are perfect Chaste talke ought especially to be vsed in the presence of women Aris. Prob. nor may haue
honour which if shee consent to staine or deminish she doth iniurie to her whole house The Cardinal of Aragon An inhumain parte aduenged the base choice of his Sister the Duchesse of Malfy with the death of her selfe her Children and her Husband and alleaged in defence that he had done no iniurie to Nature but purged his House of dishonour for Nature quoth he is perfect and who blemisheth her is a monster in Nature whose head without wrong to Nature may be cut off Yea quoth Soranso but this Cardinall for all his habit Defence c. and glose of Iustice is for this act so often regestred for a Tirant as I feare me hée will neuer come among the number of Saints but the example of these mariages are vsuall Reproofe c. and such ensuing vengeance is but rare and besides her especiall contentment a woman looseth none of her generall titles of dignitie by matching with her inferior In déede quoth Dondolo in common curtesie she enioyeth them A womā that abaseth her selfe in Mariage in law loseth her reputation but not in curtesie but in the strickt construction of the law she is degraded And by this meane is bound to intertaine the meaner with familiaritie least they being proude or reputing her scornefully doo crosse her ouer the thumbes with the follies of her fancy But admit the meane seruant marry his Mistresse and escapeth the mallice of her friends which successe one among ten such suters hardly attaineth The naturall desires of a woman Let him yéeld to pay this rent for his good fortune to suffer his wife to rule to direct and to command his owne determinations And where she ordereth the vncontrouled Wife desireth to bée serued with pompe and to bée set forth with pride which the ruling Husband would represse as well for sauing his wiues honour as for sparing his owne pursse The vncontrouled wife desireth to walke at libertie and to be visited of many of which the ruling Husband would barre her as well to preserue his minde from mistrust as to kéepe his Chimney from being fired The vncontrouled wife disdayneth the Countrie and destreth the Citie which the ruling Husband would mislike for that in the Countrie the exercise of huswiferie inlargeth his Wiues estunation and in the Citie idlenesse hazardeth her reputation The vncontrouled Wife desireth without checke to prattle without discretion to gouerne which the ruling Husband in no wise would allowe for that many wordes is a blemish to his wiues modesty and the rule of his Wife is warrant sufficient for the wise to ouerrule him for a Woodcocke Many other vanities follow the desires of Women which a man thus aduanc'st must forbeare to chasten least hée expose himselfe to a thousand dangers for the wife taking pepper in the nose will suffer him yea perchaunce agrée to make him a pray to the displeasure of his enemies I meane her able friends and kindred which bondage is not within the Paradice Plato speaketh of For according to the opinion of sundrie Philosophers as Nature will not bée controuled for that she createth as Fortune is wonne with no praiers because she is blinde and shooteth at aduenture no more dooth mariage allow of inequallitie because her wil is to deuide her benefits and blessings among the married with indifferencie To this end Mariage is likened to Sienes grafted in a stocke of contrarie qualitie for as by growth and good order Iudgement in reproofe of lofty loue they both become of one nature euen so man and woman vnited in this honourable estate with good vsage become of one disposition Againe as Sienes thus grafted without speciall Husbandrie while they be tender come to no proofe euen so man and woman thus ioyned in Matrimonie vnlesse in the prime of their Mariage with equall care they loue and cherish one another in the waine of their yeares the swéete Fruites of wedsock will be blasted with repentance Segnior Fabritio to conclude Dondolos opinion with his own iudgement said in truth that Mariage could not away with such seruitude as the Husband who is wise and the chiefe should obay the wife who in common construction is simple weake and the inferiour And where a rich woman as Dondolo hath said Marieth her poore Seruant because she is the cause of his aduancement she wil looke to gouerne which if she doo her indiscretion will moue others to speake and her husband to sorrow if he challenge the priueledge of a husband to direct he shall be bound to a life more bitter then Death Not but that in respect of his former estate he may endure these crossings of his wife but because as he is growne in estimatiō so is he growne in hautines of minde and can now worse brooke an vnkinde word then in times past an imurious déede And therefore in Dondolos behalfe I doo iudge Soranso to be in an errour I wil not dispute against the authoritie of your iudgment quoth Soranso but at aduenture if yonger brethren erre in mariage God send thē to stumble vpon no worser fortune Men must haue regarde how they blame least they bite thē selues Quéene Aurelia who regarded that Dondolo was somewhat too lauish in painting out of the naturall desires of a woman knew as well how to set forth his follies and ouersight and therefore to take a modest reuenge quoth shée If happinesse in Mariage consisteth so much in the Lordly rule of the husband then where a man marieth his inferior in reputation there is a likelyhood of good agréement wherefore Segnior Dondolo because I think you maried your wife with the same Iudgement with which you manifested the inconueniences of loftie Loue I beséech you shew vs the blessings of this inferiour choyce Soranso and the rest began to smile to heare this commandement for wel they knew Dondolo was intrapt with a slaunder of his owne reputation but Dondolo although he were a little gauled set a reasonable florish vpon his bace fancie therefore quoth he as it is alreadie adiudged Defence of bace loue if a man marrie aboue his calling he must beare with his Wife in folly as much as shée was blinded in fancying of him which bondage mariage can hardly endure then if hée match with his inferiour if contraries haue contrarie qualities per consequence she will be as lowly as the other is loftie as pacient as the other is proude and as dutiful as the other is disoainfull if the other prodisgally spond because her portion is large she wil w e huswiferie spare because her substance was small if the other presume because of her Gentrie shée will séeke reputation with her good conditions and if the other bolster her faultes with the countenance of her able Friends A rich dowrie with a woman shée dooing amisse will crie her husband mercie because she lackes succorers to sustains her euill a course as Plato saieth that maketh the dowrie
owne will and of his owne Spirite so wrought to his owne affection that betwéene them there is séene two bodyes and but one thought perceiued The Maried ioy alike sorrow alike are of one substance one concord Loue to our Parēts reuerent one wealth one pouertie companions at one Boord and in one Bed The loue we beare vnto our Parents Loue to our brethren naturall is or ought to be reuerent and dutifull because they gaue vs life vnto our Brethren naturall because of the priuitie in blood to our friends affectionate by certaine motions and consents of the minde Notwithstanding Loue to our friends affectionated that these Loues be thus great yet are there diuers causes to lessen them But bet wéene the maried no mischance or infirme fortune is cause sufficient of hatred for none gouerned by reason Loue between the maried irrcuocable is so inhumane as to malice his own flesh Cōpare their seueral affections by sorrow and you shall sée the weakenes of the one in regarde of the strength of the other The greatest mone we make for the death of our Father Brether A good meane to trie the loue of the maried or Friend appeareth in sighes or most vehement in teares whereas if we our selues are but a little wounded we crie outright so that by how much we excéede in sorrowing our own mischances The ring a triall of the loue betweene the maried aboue another mans by the same reason so much we loue our selues more than another The King that is giuen by the husband put on the wiues finger ought to be of golde to witnes that as golde is the most precious of Mettals so the loue of the maried excéedeth all other loues To which effect Another figure of the ring Propertius sayth Omnis amor magnus sed aperto in coniuge maior Moreouer the close ioyning of the ring is a figure of true vnitie of the maried betwéene whom there should be no deuision in desire nor difference in behauiour Christ was borne of a maried woman To honour this holy iustitution of God God would haue his onely begotten sonne to be borne of a wife perfectly maried saue that she was not carnally soyled Licurgus the good King of the Lacedemonias Licurgus lawe for the vnmaried so reuerenced this sacred estate as he made a Law that what Lacedemonian soeuer were vnmaried after the age of thirty eight yeares should be chased and hissed out of all publique playes and assemblies as one vnworthy to be séene and that in the colde winter he should naked indure the reproches of the people and withall was bound to confesse how he iustly suffered that punishmēt as a Mispriser of Religion a contemner of Lawes and an enemie to nature The Romanes were not so seuere The Law of the Romanes for the vnmaried but yet the aged vnmaried were condemned according to their abilitie to pay vnto the Treasurer for publique vse a good summe of money Plato in his Lawes enacted that the vnmaried should execute Platoes lawes for the vnmaried no honourable Office Estate nor dignitie in the common wealth The good Emperour Alexander Scuerus although he maried rather to giue ende to his mother Mammeas importunities then as he thought to begin a more happy life yet fayre Memmia his wife so naturally accorded with his disposition as when she died he would often renew his sorrow and remember her vertues in these wordes Alecander Scuerus loue to Memmia his wife So great a Treasure as I haue lost a man seldome findeth Death were gentle if he tooke nothing but that which offendeth but oh he hath reaued the better part of my selfe How wonderfully was the loue of Paulina sage Senecaes wife who opened her Veines not onely Paulinaes rare loue to her Husband Seneea with an intent to accompany him to death but also with a desire to féele her husbands maner of death Quintus Curtius reciteth that King Darius with an vnapauled Spirite The precious loue of king Darius to his wife tooke his ouerthrowes by Alexander the Great the ruine of his kingdome the danger of his Royal person But hauing knowledge of his wiues death he wept bitterly shewing by this sorrow that he loued his Quéene farre aboue his Crowne King Admetus being fore sicke receiued this answere from the Oracle that if he liued his best friend must dye The deuine loue of king Admetus wife which when the good Quéene heard she presently slew her selfe and in the trembling passage of death censtantly said To giue King Admetus life his Queene and dearest friend doth dye Tiberius Graccus finding two Serpents in his chamber The exceeding loue of Tiberius Graccus towards his wife went to the Augurs to knowe what they diuined Who answered that he was bound to kill the one of these two Serpents if he slew the male he should die himselfe if he killed the female he should lose his wife who murtherer of himselfe slew the male and saued his wife and so by his rare loue raised a question whether his wife were more fortunate in hauing such a husband The wonderful loue of Queene Artimesia towards her husband Mausolus or vnhappie in loosing of him One of the seuen wonders of the world is an eternall testimonie of the loue which Quéene Artimesia bare to her husband Mausolus who for to engraue his dead Coarse erected a Sepulchre so royall and sumptuous as tooke away the glory of all Princely Toombes before her time and left no possibilitie for any in time to come to excell the same One of the seuen wonders of the woilde but holding this too base a mansion for his kingly heart she dried the same to pouder spicing her wine therwith she buried it in her owne bowels to crowne his fame with an euerlasting memorie for that that ruine of his Sepulchre was subiect to the iniurie of time with great rewards she encouraged Theopompus Theodectes Naucrites Isocrates foure of the most famous Orators of Greece to renowme his vertues Among whom Aul. Gel. in lib. de nocti aiti Theopompus as we reade receiued the triumph of victory in that learned skirmish I could reportè many other authorities of vnseparable Loue betwéene the Maryed the least of a hundred whereof would equall the friendships of Titus and Gisippus or of Damon and Pithias the two wonders of mens affections But for that I know the able wits here present can cloth my naked proofes of the excellencie of Mariage and of the diuine Loue betwéene the maried with many other sounde reasons I will giue place Madame that you and the rest of your Ingenious company may doo better seruice to the one and Iustice to the other desiring that that which is sayd may discharge my promise though not satisfie your expectation Sir quoth Quéene Aurelia if you giue vs good lawes to preserue Loue among the
whose deuine beauties emblemed in humane shape dazeleth the yongest sight in Ionia Then to reuile them thus thou tirannisiest nature to demaund why I loue and serue Beautie thy question is blinde and deserueth a double answere But aye me though my eyes and loueh aue doone but what is iust Fortune hath dealt too rigourously with me to render my hart captiue to his Daughter who is the riuall of my Father what hope may I giue to my affections when possibilitie of comfort is taken away the Parents are readie to sheath their Swoords in one an others entrailes is it then like the Children shall imbrace a mutuall affection O no for though milde Venus consent that they loue wrathfull Mars will seuer their affection O cruel Warre thou art not vnproperly called the scourge of God The vengance of Warre for in thée is contained a greater vengeance then might be imagined by man thou armest the Sonne against the Father the Vnckle against the Nephewe the Subiect against his Soueraigne Thy drinke is blood thy foode the flesh of men thy fiers are flming Citties thy pleasures spoyling of Widdowes rau ishment of Virgins subuersion of Lawes and publique benefite thy Iudges Tiranny and Iniustice and where thou remainest her knowne enemy is not so dangerous as the fained fréend But why exclaime I of Warre who double Crowned Alexander with the riches of Asia and Affrica who honoured Caesar with imperiall triumphes and rewarded Hanniball for the trauailes of his life with renowne after death by whom Millions of men are registred in the life booke of Fame and through whome Phrigius giueth expectation of benefite to his Countrey comfort to his aged Father and honour to his posteritie I receiued my wound in the time of peace nay in the Temple of Diana shall I then exclaime of Peace and vpbraide Chastitie fowle fall the hart that should moue and shame woorme the tung that pronounceth such blasphemie O blessed peace thou fast chainest Treason Tiranny Murther Theft and Wrath with all disturbers of common tranquilitie and in the highest dignities placest Iustice The blessings of peace Pietie Temperance Concorde and Loue with many other Morrall vartues by whome the lewde are chastened the good are cherished and Common weales prosper and flourish O Chastitie thy diuine vertues deserue a better Trumpet then my iniurious tung thy excellency is written in the browe of Pieria And is Pieria the Deputie of Diana O yes and Phrigius the seruant of Venus too true is it then impossible they should agrée in affection yea sure O vnfortunate Phrigius through peace which receiuedst thy wound before Dianas Alter and by cruell warre art seperated from the Surgion that should cure thée These sundry conflicts Phrigius had with his bitter passions which pursued their aduātage with such thornie feares as if he had not béene suddenly succoured by the aduise and comfort of Lord Miletus a fauoured Counseller to Duke Nebeus and an assured fréend to his sonne Phrigius he had béene like to haue yéelded to dispaire Miletus was glad to sée him thus affected and sorry to beholde him so dangerously afflicted for in this loue he foresawe an end of the ancient enuie and enmitie betwéene the Citizens of Miletum and Myos whose ciuill Fraies had buried more yong men in the Féeldes then aged in the Churches and Churchyardes Therefore to confirme his affection and to comfort him with hope Lord Phrigius quoth he to blame your affection were cruelty and no sound counsell for you loue Pieria the Paragon of the worlde to discomfort you with an impossibilitie of her fauour were clean against the possibilitie of your fortune for besides that your person alluringly pleaseth your authorities commaund yea Pithes cannot but reioyce Pieria consent and all Myos desire is to solemnize this Mariage My selfe and the grauer sort of the counsell will motion the matter to the Duke your Father who I trust wil holde the affection of his sonne rather to procéede from the iustice of Diana then the iniurie of Cupid Who regarding the zelous offering◠o◠Pieria agreed that you should be wounded that Pieria might haue the honour to cure you in whose vertues all Ionia hopeth to be blessed Therefore to make your affection knowen in some pleasing Letter to Pieria cōmend your seruice and to deale with both your Fathers refer the care to me How swéete the smallest hope of grace is to a condemned man or the least word of comfort from the Phisition to the infirmed patient the sodaine change of Phrigius mone truely manifesteth who now began to looke chéerefully and with hope appeased his passions so that imbrasing Miletus hée committed his life to the fortune of his discretion and while his passion was quick he presented both loue seruice to Pieria in this following letter Phrigius Letter to Pieria FAire Pieria sith it is a common thing to loue and a miracle to subdue affection let it not seeme strange that I am slaue to your beautie nor wonder though I sue for grace The wounded Lyon prostrateth himselfe at the feete of a man the sicke complaineth to the Phisition and charged with more torments the louer is inforced to seeke comfort of his Mistresse To proue that I loue needeth no other testimony then the witnes of your rare perfections to giue me life is the only worke of your pittie Wherefore Madame since the vertue of your eye hath drawne away my heart as the Adamant dooth the steele I beseech you that my heartles body may so liue by your ruth as I may haue strength as well as will to doe you seruice and let it suffice for more honor of your tryumph that by the power of beautie your vertues haue atchiued a more glorious conquest then might the whole strength of Myos and which is more of a puissant enemie you haue made so perfect a friend as Phrigius shall hold himselfe in no fortune so happie as to encounter with the oportunitie to do Pieria and her fauourers seruice or their enemies damage if which amends may repaire all iniuries past I shall holde the safeconduit blessed that licensed you to enter Myletum if greater ransome be demanded it must be my life which if it be your will shall forth with bee sacrificed notwithstanding in such crueltie Dianas Temple shall be prophaned before whose Aulter I receiued my wound from the eyes of faire Pieria but holding it vnpossible that a stonie heart may be enemie to so many Graces as liue in your face I Balme my wounds with hope that I kisse your gracious hand that your answer wil returne an acceptance of seruice He whose heart waighteth on your beautie PHRIGIVS THis Letter sealed and subscribed To faire Pieria Tryumph after victorie was deliuered vnto a trustie Messenger who hauing safeconduit to passe through both the Armies in good houre arriued at Prince Pythes Pallace and in the presence of her mother other friends reuerently kissing the same deliuered Pieria