pretence of adulterie hee slew my husband in his bed chamber so the better to obtaine his purpose After whome I call the Gods to witnes I haue liued for no other cause but to see this day neither hath the gaine of a crowne counteruaâ—…ed my former content the glistering shewe of dignitie hath not tickled my minde with delight the vaine pleasure of preferment neuer made me proude onclie worthie péeres of Egypt the hope that one daie I should make reuenge of poore Maenons inâ—…urie hath made me liue in such contented patience which nowe is come for it befitteth a quéene in iustice to be impartiall and two mischiefes are neuer founde to escapâ—… mishap therefore how saiest thou Nynus quoth shee declare heere before the Lordes and commons of Egypt wert thou not the sole murtherer of my husband without my consent Nynus aunswered as one halfe afraide at the countenance of Semyramis I conâ—…sse that â—…ly Maenon was murthered by me but for the loue of thâ—… whâ—…ch I hope thou holdest not in memorie while this time Yes Nynus and now will I reúenge the iniurie offered to Maenon and therefore I command that without further delaie thy head bee heere â—…mitten off as a punishment due for murther and adulterie The nobilitie and commons hearing the seâ—…ere sentence of Semyramis intreated for the life of their soueraigne but it was in vaine for she departed not from the scaffolde till shee sawe her command executed which done she intombed his bodie roiallic and in so famous a sepulchrâ—… that it was one of the seuen wonders of the world and after swaied the kingdome with politike gouernment vntill her sonne Nynus was of age to rule the kingdome Seignior Cosimo hauing ended his tale Farneze greatly commended the discourse applying the effect of this historie to the Gentlâ—…men present telling them that in déede the yeuth of Florence were greatlie giuen to this folly as a vice predominant amongest them Peratio who meant to be pleasant with the olde Countie tolde him that he had learned this fruit in Astronoâ—…ie that the influence of Venus and Saturn kept the same 〈◊〉 to inferre as wel age as youth and that respect and experience had taught him that olde men were like léeâ—…es gray headed and oft gréene taiâ—…de that they would finde one foote at the doore for a young wife when the other stumbled in the graue to death so that Diogenes being demanded where a man left off from lust vnlesse quoth â—…e he be vertuous not vntill the coffin be brought to his doorâ—… meaning that time neuer wore out this follie but by death And yet to see quoth Benedetto what cynicall axiomes age wil prâ—…scribe to youth when they themselues are neuer able to performe their owne precepts allowing more priuiledge to their 〈◊〉 haires than to our greene yéeres anâ—… 〈◊〉 vnder the shadowe of vertue the verie substance of vice beeing as intemperate in the sâ—…ostie winter of their age as we in the glowing summer of our â—…outh and yet for that they are olde and though they cannot deale more caste yet will worke more caâ—… and simplie conceale that wee rashlie reueale they are in age generally taken sor Gods when compared euen with youth they are meere deuils Yet by your leaue messieur Benedetto quoth the Ladie Margeret you speake too generally of age for the verie constitution of the naturall temperature of our bodies is able to infringe your reasons séeing that same naturalis calor is ouerpressed with a cold drâ—…nesse in age which in youth furthered with moisture causeth such voluptuous motions Cupid is painted a childe Venus without wrinkles in her face and they which calculate the influence of Saturne set not down many notes of venerie Howe philosophically you speake quoth Peratio and yet small to the purpose for although naturall heate be extinguished in age yet remaines there in the minde certain Scyntillulae voluptatis which confirmed by a saturnall impression were harder to root out than were they newly sprong vp in youth neither did messieur Benedetto conclude generally of olde men but brought in as a premisse or proposition that age as well as youth was infected with this folly but well it is Ladie Margeret that our discourse stretcheth not so farre as women nor to talke of their wanton affections least happilie we had â—…ntied such a 〈◊〉 of their lasciuious vanities as might haue made vs sooner desire our rest then end the discourse You are alwaies glancing at women quoth Cosimo not that you are a 〈◊〉 and hate that sexe for sir I knowe your lippes 〈◊〉 digest such lettâ—…ce but that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were out of temper if once a daic you had not a woman in your mouth héerein resembling Marcus Laepidus who made an innectiue against sumptuousnesse of diet himselfe being called the glutton of Rome not that hée was sparing in his chéere but that Athâ—…n abstaining srom daintie â—…ates might leaue the market more stored with delicate dishes Benedeâ—…to was nipt on the head with this sharpe replie espâ—…cially for that all the whole companie lauâ—…ht to see how he answered with silence Farneze about whom the talke began made this answer I can not denie Gentlemen but anger is subiect to many foolish and intemperat passions therfore to be compreheÌ„ded within the compas of this folly but neither age or youth it breedeth many inormities so that for this night I will take in hand to send you all to bed with a farewell of foure verses which I read once in the monastery of Santo Marco in Uenice the author I know not the verses are these Quatuor his paenis Certo afficietur adulter Aut Egenus erit Subita vel morte peribit Aut Cadet in causam qua debet Iudice vinci Aut aliquod membrum casu vel Crymine perdit The time of the night beeing somewhat late they tooke his iest for a charge and solempnly taking their leaue euerie man departed quietlie vnto his lodging The third discourse of Follie. THe inâ—…ning being 〈◊〉 and the Sun displaying her radiant beames vpon the glomie mantle of the earth Flora presented her glorious obiectes to the eâ—…e and swéete smelling parfumes to the nose with the delight of sundrie pleasing and odoriferous flowers when these young Gentlemen ashamed that Tytan should sommon them from their beddes passing into the garden sound the olde Countie his wife and foure daughters walking for health and pleasure in a fresh and grâ—…ne arâ—…our where after they had saluted each other with a mutuall God morrowe they ioyned all in seuerall parlies amongst the rest â—…ernardino spying a â—…arigesde opening his leaues a little by the â—…cate of the Sonne pulling Ladie Frances by the sléeue began his morning mattens on this manner The nature of this hearbe Ladie Frances which we call the marrigolde and the Grecians Helitropion and the Latinistes Sol sequiam is thought by the ancient Philosophers to bee framed onely by nature to teach
entered the house where â—…ding all thinges in a readines they wâ—…t to dinner the fresh aire had procured good appetite that little talke past till they had ended their repast dinner being done counting it Phisicke to sit a while the olds Countesse spying on the finger of seignior Cosimo a ring with a deaths head ingrauen circled with this posie Gressus ad vitam demanded whether hee adorde the signet for profit or pleasure seignior Cosimo speaking in truth as his conscience wild him tolde her that it was a fauour which a Gentlewoman had bestowed vpon him and that onely he wore it for her sake Then quoth the countesse t is a whetstone to sharp fancie if it be madam quoth Cosimo I am not so olde but I may loue nor so young sir quoth shee but you may learne by that to leaue such folly as loue no doubt nature works nothing vaine the Lapidarie cuts not a stone but it hath some vertue men weare not iems only to please the sight but to be defensiues by their secret operatioÌ„s against perils so seignior Cosimo wold I haue you vse the gentlewomans fauour not for a whetstone to further folly but for a cooling card to inordinate vanities Themistocles wore in his shield the picture of a storke his motto Antipelargein for that he would not be stained with ingratitude Socrates had but one toie in his house and that wos the counterfait of patience for that he had a shrew to his wife By your leaue madame quoth Cosimo had not Socrates couÌ„terfait also a senteÌ„ce yes answered Farneze but my wife plaies like the Priest that at his Eleuatio left out his Memento the motto was this Neque haec sufficit meaning patience was as good a medicine to cure a waspish woman of sullenes as an ants egge in sirop for him that is troubled with the Sciatica The Gentlemen laught at the drie frumpe of Farneze and the Countesse for that she had talkt of patience tooke it for a president and prosecuted â—…er intent in this maner 〈◊〉 howe you please Gentlemen still I saie that well cannot be gainsayd how the image of death figured in Cosimos ring should be a glasse whereby to direct his actions that the pagans who builde their blisse in the swéete conceit of Fame vsed the picture of death as a restraint to all forward follies Alexander when he named himselfe the son of Iupiter was reuoked from heresie by the sight of a dead mans scull that Calistenes presented to him in a casket Augustus Caesar set on the dore of his banketting house the scalpe of a dead man least extremâ—…ie should turne delight to vice so seignior Cosimo vse you your mistres fauor as a benefit to profit the minde not as a toy to please fancie Cosimo was driuen into a dump with this sodain insinuation of the countesse as in déed he stood like the picture of silence whereat Bernardin smiling made the Countesse this answere I cannot denie madame but you say well yet your censure is a little too peremptorie neither can I gainsay but such a resolution would do well in age whose sappe shronke from y â— branches coÌ„forts the water but affoords no blossoms your hairs being siluer had a soÌ„mons vnto death therefore to be armed with deuotion our yeres growen budding forth a restles desire to plesure which if we should cut off with a continuall remembrance of death we shuld preuent time metamorphose our selues by conceit into a contrary shape the Astronomer by long staring at the stars forgets the globe at his féet so feareful was Phaeton of the signe in the zodiaock that he forgat his course so would you haue the delight of youth dasht with the sight of a death head y â— laying aside al recreation we should fall to be flat Saturnists By this doctrine madam you would erect againe the Acadenne of the â—…ks make young men either apathoi to liue without passions or els so holy to die without sin the gentlemen were glad that Bernardino had made such an answere Farneze to draw them farther into talke told his wife y â— he thought she was driuen to a non plus no sir qd she but the gentleman mistakes me for I meane not to haue him so holy as to liue without sinne but so honest as to liue without follies which our Florentins shrowd vnder the shadowe of youth that in déede are meere enemies to the glorie of youth Messieur Benedetto interrupted the countesse as one amongst al the companie most giuen to follie for he was a fine courtier and was thus quicke in his replie I remember madame that Phocion carped at all men that went shod because he him selfe was euer barefoot Antisthenes admitted no guest but Geometritians None supt with Cassius but such as neuer laught and they which feele your humour must though not in yeres yet in action be as old as you or else they are fondlings But they which at â—…ood Diogenes tubbe came as well to laugh as to learne and we that heare you may sooner fall a sléepe than follow your doctrine for I perceiue vnder this worde folly you abridge young gentlemen of euerie laudable pleasure and delight allowing mirth in no measure 〈◊〉 pourd out after your proportion As to hunt to hauke to daunce to loue to go cleanly or whatsoeuer else that contenteth youth his folly And thus by an induction you conclude omnia vanitas The Lady Katherin hearing hir mother so sharply shaken vp by messieur Benedetto proâ—… hir boldnesse with a modest blushe made this answere And sir quoth she they which laught at Diogenes perhaps were as foolishe as he was cynicall might with Alexander whatsoeuer they brought take a frump for a farewell my mother sets not downe peremptorie precepts to disallow of honest recreation but necessary perswasion to diswade men from vanitie she séekes not with Tullie to frame an Orator in conceipt with Plato to build a common wealth vpon supposes nor with Baldeslar to figure out a courtier in impossibilities but séeing the wings of youth trickt vp with follies plumes 〈◊〉 to perswade him with Icarus from soaring to high And I pray you qd Benedetto what terme you follies womens fancies no sir quoth she mens fauours Sylenus asse neuer sawe a wine bottle but he would winch and you can not heare the name of folly but you must frowne not that you mislike of it in thought but that deckt in your pontificalibus a man may shape cetera by your shadow Benedetto let not this bitter blow fall to the ground but told hir hir Latine was verie bad aud worst placst for cetera was no word of art for a foole but in déede he did remember Parrats spake not what they thinke but what they are taught And so quoth Cosimo you make a bare exchange with Ladie Katherine for a soole to deliuer a popingay but in déede to take hir parte in this we
fauour of fortune to subdue affection is a gift from the Gods loue in kings is princely but lust is pernitious kinges therefore weare crownes because they should be iust iustice giue euerie one his due Semiramis is Maenons wife and therfore his inheritance the Gods threaten Princes as well as poore men hot loue is soone colde she eie is variable inconstant and insatiate Adulterie is odious though graced with a scepter beautie is a slipperie good Princes concubines prise honour too deare in selling the precious iewell of honestie for golde death is a farre more swéete than discredite fame to bee preserred before friendes Nynus is a king whose seate is sure sancturie for the oppressed Sâ—…miramis is poore yet honest loue of Maenon in her youth and loyall tâ—… him in hir age resolued rather to dye than be proued 〈◊〉 subiects pray for their soueraignes wishing they may liue princely and dye vertuous Semyramis the faithfull wife of poore Maenon This confused chaos of principles being written and sealed vp she deliuered it to the Secretarie who courteously taking his leaue hied in hast to the Court where the king carefully expecting his comming receiuing the letter vnript the seales where in stead of an amoroâ—…s reply he found nothing but a heape of philosophicall axiâ—…mes and yet his 〈◊〉 answered to the full the â—…ithie sentences of Semyramis whome by hir pâ—…nne he found to be poore honest beautifull and wise did not take 〈◊〉 which poore soule she aimed at for in â—…tead of cooling his mind with good counsayle she inflamed his mind with a deeper affection for where before he onely was allured with hir beautie nowâ—… he was entised with hir wisedome Pallas gaue him a déeper wounde than Venus and the inwarde vertues were more forcible than the outwarde shadowes sâ—… that he persisted in his passions and began to consider with himselfe that the meanes to procure his content was onely the simplicitie of Maenon with whome he woulde make an exchange rather than be frustrate of his desire an exchange I meane for Ninus being a widower had one oâ—…ely childe which was a daughter about the age of sixtéene yeares hir he determined to giue in marriage vnto Maenon rather than he would not enioy Semyramis thinking that the feare of hiâ—… displeasure the burthen of his owne pouertie the hope of preferrement the tickling conceit of dignity woulde force the poore â—…assall to looke twise on his faire wife before he refused suche a proffer thinking this pretence to bee his best pollicie hee resolued presentlye to put it in execution and therefore foorthwith 〈◊〉 a Pursuiuant to fetche Maenon vnto the Court who comming with commission vnto the poore mans house founde him and his wife at dinner to whome after he had declared the summe of his â—…essage he departed willing him with as much spéede as might be to repaire vnto the Court Maenon although amazed with this newes yet for that his conscience was cléere feared not but with as much hast as was possible made him selfe readie to goe Semyramis dissembled the matter 〈◊〉 hir husbande foorth his newe hose and his best iackâ—…t thinking to spunge him vp after the 〈◊〉 fashion that Ninus might sée she had cause to loâ—…e and like so proper a man setting hir husbande therefore foorth in print he tooke his waye vnto the Câ—…urt where at the gate the Secretarie awayted to bring him into presence whither no sooner hee was entered but the â—…ing takinge the poore man aside beganne to common with him in this manner Maenon for the Soueraigne to make a long disscourse vnto the subiect were friuolous séeing as the one for his maiestie is priuiledged to commandâ—… and constrayne so the other by obedience is tyed to obeye therefore omitting all néeâ—…elsse preambles thus to the purpose Maenon thou art poore and yet a Lorde ouer Fortune for that I hearâ—… thou art content for it is not richesse to haue much but to dâ—…sire little yet to thy want thou hast sucâ—… a fauour graunted thâ—…e by the Destinies as â—…uerie waie may counterâ—…ayle thy pouâ—…rtie I meane the possession of thy wife Semyramis whome mine eye can witnesse to be passing faire and beautiâ—…ull enuie that grudged at thy happinesse and loue that frowned at my libertie ioyning their forces together haue so disquieted my mindâ—… with sundrie passions as onely it lies in thy power to mittigate the cause of my 〈◊〉 for know Maenon I am in loue with thy wife a censure I knowe which will bee hard for thee to digest and yet to be borne with more patience for that thou hast a king and thy soueraigne to bee thy riuall ber Maenon I craue of thée to bee my concubine which if thou grant not thinke as nowe thou hast pouertie with quiet so then thou shalt haue both conâ—…ent dignitie The pooreman who thought by the kings speeches that his wife had bene consenting to this pretence framed the king this answere I knowe right mightie soueraigne that Princes may command where poore men cannot intreate that the title of a king is a writ of priuiledge in the court of Loue that chastitie is of small force to resist where wealth and dignitie ioyned in league are armed to assault kings are warranted to command and subiects to obey therefore if Semiramis be content to grant the interest of her affections into your maiesties hands I am resolued to redâ—…liuer vp my fee simple with patience No Maenon qd Ninus as thy wife is faire so she is honest and therefore where I cannot command I wil them constraine I meane that thou force her to louâ—… me Maenon grieuing at the wordes of the king made this replie If my wife mightie Ninus bee contented to preferre a cottage before a crowne and the person of a poore labourer before the loue of a Prince let me not good my Lord be so vnnaturall as to resolue vppon such a villanie as the very beasts abhorre to commit the lion killeth the lyonesse beeing taken in adulterie the swanne killeth her make sor suspition of the saâ—…e fault and shall I whom reason willeth to be charie of my choise force my wife persorce to such a folly pardon my liege neuer shall the loyaltie of my wife be reuenged with such treachery rather had I suffer death than be appeached of suche discourteâ—…ie Ninus hearing the poore man so resolute thought there was no adder so 〈◊〉 but had his charme no bird so fickle but had hir call no man so obstinat but by some meanes might be reclaimed therfore he made him this answer Maennon be not so fonde as to preferre fanciâ—… before life nor so insolent as to refuse the fauour of a king for the affection of an inconstant woman though I meane to depriâ—…e thee of a present ioy so I means to counteruaile it with a greater blisse for the exchange of Semyramis I meane to giue thée my daughter Sarencida in marriage so of a subiect to make thée a