other What likelyhoode of continuance hath the House whose ground worke is rotten although the prospect be beautifull and strong God wot the féeblenes of the Foundation will ouerthrowe the firmenesse of the vpper frame Compare this vnequall estate in Mariage with this ouersight in building and you shall finde the discorde as great betwéen the one as the ruine and decay spéedie in the other The good and able Gouernment of the Husband is the foūdation and ground worke of Mariage and the beauty of the Wife the blessing in hauing of Children and the benefite of possessing liuings are the outward buildings of mariage And as they are pleasant in the eye of the world euen so they greatly please the mindes of the maried and giue a singuler grace to this honourable vocation But if the Gouernment of the Husband be inabled with age as in truth Olde Age is no other then a second Infancie In whose desire direction discretion and delight there are imperfections The beautie of the wife will be blasted with sorrow for the insufficiencie of her Husband euill Education will accurse their blessing in hauing of children and negligence will waste their benefites of liuing You holde a yong wife a companion to recreate an olde man but he shall finde her a corsiue that will consume him to death A yong man concludeth the swéetest solace in loue with sighes it is thē like an olde man endes it with teares And God he knowes he often wéepeth more of desire to please his wife then of any deuotion he hath to wantonnesse yet is all his paines to a fruitlesse purpose for that the Game finisheth in his gréefe and neither began nor endes in his wiues contentment You are too quick in aduantage Segnior Soranso Defence c. quoth the Doctor olde Wine though it be dead in the mouth yet is it warme in the Stomack when the new fumes in the head but comforteth not the hart Dry wood maketh a bright fire where gréene bowes consume halfe away in Fume and Smoake The Sunne riseth watrishly and is long before it giueth heate where in the afternoone it scorcheth the face So a yong man deuideth his loue into a hundreth affections and euery fancy pleased there will but a little fall to his wiues share where an old mans loue is setled and his fancy is fixed vpon one And as the recited examples in age are in best hart so to proue an olde mans sufficiencie there is a cōmō Prouerb Graie haires are nourished with green thoughts Now to content his yong wife she shal haue no cause to suspect his Affection abroad and shall not lack to be beloued at home Moreouer which delighteth a yong woman who naturally is ambitious she shal take her place according to the grauitie of her Husband and not as her yong yéeres requireth And to conclude to giue her an honourable name the most precious Iuell with which a woman may be beautified she shal receiue graue directions from her husband and through the swéete delight she taketh in hearing her good gouermēt commended we will put them in execution Doctor Mossenigo replyed not with this vehemencie for any delight he had to commend this vnequall estate in Mariage but to flatter Katharina Trista with an Ambitious hope of great reputation in matching with his aged selfe but she that knew a legge of a Larke was better then the whole carkasse of a Kite would none God thank him And to make him horn wood if he perseuered in his opinion in Soransoes behalfe quoth Bargetto his ancient crosser Maister Doctor there is more pride in your words thē substance in your proofes your hartie olde Wine must be drawen out when it is broached your dry wood is but a blaze and your hotte Sunne doth but sweat for sorrow that he is going to cowche in the darke Caues of Tartessus Reproofe c. But as touching olde men they may well be sufficient in gréene thoughts as you terme them but I am assured that in déeds they are weake and withered and therefore a man cannot speake too much euill of this excesse in dotage withered Flowers are more fit for a Dunghill then méete to decke a house olde rotten Trées are néedefull for the fire but vnnecessary to stand in an Orchard euen so olde decaied creatures are comely in the Church but vnséemely by a yong womans side The olde man which marrieth a yong Wife is sure of this sowre sauce to rellish his swéet imaginations The mischances of an olde man yōgly maried his beloued wife howsoeuer she dissembleth disdaineth him his neighbours all to beflouteth him and soothing Parasites beguileth him common opinion will counterfeit him like Acteon not so much for the ficklenesse they sée in his wife as for the infirmities they know in himselfe And bréefely to conclude his ioy A yong wife is death to an olde man he may perchaunce liue two yéeres with his faire wife but the mischaunce of his Children will remember his infamie for euer Gréene Iuy which catcheth an olde Trée maketh quick worke for the fire and the imbracements of a faire woman hastneth an olde man to his Graue And although it be a hainous wrōg causelesse to cōdemne the wife An honest woman is lightly slaundered by the imperfections of her Husband yet this will be the opinion she killed her Husband with thought to heare and sée how she trespassed both against his and her owne honour Foule fall such a Mariage quoth Maria Belochy where the vertuous Wife shall be slaundered through the imperfections of her Husband It is some wrong quoth Fabritio but shee might haue foreséene the mischiefe Repentance to late while she was frée Well quoth Quéene Aurelia vpon this knowledge of mischaunce The wise are warned by the mischances of others our companie are sufficiently warned Procéede in iudgement as you allow eithers opinion Whereupon Fabritio with Isabella with one accord gaue sentence against Doctor Mossenigo in these wordes An olde man amourous of a yong woman is an enemy both to his health and reputation for the causes aforesaide The rest of the company smyled to heare this iudgement but the Doctor brake foorth many a secret sigh not for the disgrace he tooke in his pleading for he defended an ill matter with colour sufficiēt but in that he knew this verdict would alwaies be a barre in his sute While the Doctor and Soranso argued Quéene Aurelia espied in the Cloth of Arras A Rhinocerot a beast fourmed like an Vnicorne saue that he bare his horn in his nose which beast sléeping laid his murthering horne in a yong Maidens lap and after the question was decided she demaunded what the beast was and what the misterie signified but the meaning was as strange as the sight to most of the company In the end quoth Ismarito Madame The Metamorphose of Rinauius a Gentleman of Naples I haue read of a gallant yong Gentleman of
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
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
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
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