minde to heare mee For it should bee contrary to all reason that I having indeavoured from the very instant that I knew you not to give you any distaste but did all to your content and liking that now at this present for my last farewell I should bee the cause of giving you any the least griefe or sorrow At these words Marco Antonio opened his eyes and steadily fixed them on Leocadias face and having recollected himselfe and taken her in a manner into his knowledge more by the Organe of her voyce then by her countenance with a weake and feeble voyce as one that was full of paine hee sayd unto her say on Sir what you please for I am not yet so neare my end that I cannot listen unto you neither is this voyce of yours so harsh and unpleasing unto me that it should cause any fastidiousnesse or loathing in me to heare it To all this Dialogue Theodosia was most attentive and every word that Leocadia uttered was a sharpe Arrow that went athwart her heart and wounded likewise the very soule of Don Rafael who also heard her And Leocadia prosecuting what shee had begunne went on thus if some blow on your head or to speake more properly if one greater hath not lighted on my soule it could not Semor Marco Antonio beate out of your memory the image of her who not long since you were wont to say was your glory and your Heaven you may very well call to your remembrance who Leocadia was and what was the word that you gave her signed in a Schedule with your owne hand nor can you bee forgetfull of the worth of her parents the integritie of her retyrednesse and honestie and of the obligation wherein you stand bound unto her for having applyed her selfe to your gust and liking in all whatsoever you desired If you have not forgotten this howbeit you see me in this so different a habit you may easily know that I am Leocadia who being fearefull least new accidents and new occasions should quit me of that which is so justly mine as soone as I knew that you were gone out of the countrey treading under foote and sleighting all whatsoever though never so infinite inconveniences I resolved with my selfe to follow after you in this habit with intention to seeke you out in all parts of the earth till I had found you out whereat you ought not to marvaile if your selfe hath at any time felt the force of true Love and the rage of a deceived woman Some troubles I have passed in this my demande all which I account well bestowed with that discount which they have brought with them in making me so happy as to see you And considering the case wherein you are if that it shall please God to take you from this to a better life by your doing that which you ought as worthie your selfe before your departure out of this life I shall thinke my selfe the happiest woman in the world promising you to betake my selfe to such a course of life after your death that but little time shall be spent therein before I follow you in this your last and inforced journey And therefore first of all I beseech you for the love you beare unto God to whom my desires and intentions goe directed next for your owne sake who oweth much to your qualitie and therefore ought to bee the same you are And lastly for my sake to whom you owe more then to any other person in the world that now presently you will receive me for your lawfull spouse not permitting that justice should inforce you to that which with such and so many reall obligations reason ought to perswade you unto And here Leocadia stopt the current of her speach and sayd not a word more and all they that were in the roome were in a wonderfell still silence all the while that shee talked with him and with the same stilnesse and silenee they expected what answer Marco Antonio would make her which was this I cannot Leocadia deny my knowing of you for your voyce and countenance will not give me leave so to doe Neither can I deny how much I am bound unto you nor the great worth of your noble parents togeather with your owne incomparable honestie and retirednesse neither doe I nor will I esteeme you in lesse for that which you have done in comming to seeke me out in a habit so different from your owne but for this I do shall ever esteeme of you in the highest degree that may be imagined But since that my time you say is now come and that I likewise beleeve that this may be the last day of my life and since that such kinde of trances as these are the Chrysolls of truth purifying the Gold from the drosse truth from falsehood I will tell you a truth which if it shall not bee now pleasing unto you it may bee that hereafter it may turne to your good I confesse faire Leocadia that I lov'd you well and so did you mee and likewise I confesse that the schedule which I made you was more to comply with your desire then mine owne For many dayes before that I had signed it and set my hand thereunto I had delivered up my will and my soule to a Damsell of the same place where I live whom you very well know Her name is Theodosia the daughter bee it spoken without disparagement of as noble parents as yours are And if I gave you a schedule firmed with my hand I gave her my firmed hand and accredited with such workes and witnesses that I remaine impossibilited to give my libertie to any other person in the world That which passed betwixt my selfe and Theodosia was the obtaining of that fruit which shee could give mee and which I was willing shee should give me plighting my faith unto her that I would be as truly I am her husband And if at one and the same time I left both her and you you suspensefull and deceived and shee fearefull and as shee thought robbed of her honour I did therein unadvisedly and undescreetly and as a young man as I am without any discourse or judgement Thinking with my selfe that all those things of this nature were but tricks of youth and of little or no importance and that I might doe them without any scruple at all Accompanied with other the like thoughts which came then in my head which did solicite me to doe that which I did which was to goe for Italy and to imploy therein some few of my youthfull yeares and afterwards to returne home to see what was become of you and of my true Spouse But heaven as it should seeme being offended and having complayned of mee to the highest power there I verily beleeve that God hath permitted given way to put me into that condition wherein you see me to the end that by confessing these truths arising from my many sins I may pay in this life
knowne to be a Spaniard Feare you nothing Sir for such succour is now come to you as shall not fayle you till his life faile Bestirre your selfe and set your selfe roundly to them for traytours though they be many are able to doe but little To these words replyed one of the adverse part thou lyest in thy throate for here is no traytour but for the recovering of a mans lost honour it is lawfull to take this or any other advantage whatsoever There passed no more words betweene them because the haste which they made to offend and wound their enemies would not give them leave to talke who were to Don Iuans seeming some six of them They did presse so hard upon his companion that at two home thrusts which they made at him at once full in his brest they layd him flat on the ground Don Iuan thought that they had kild him and with strange nimblenesse and valour hee bestird him and set upon them all whom hee made to give ground by the force of a shower which hee rayned downe upon them of blowes and thrusts But all his diligence had not beene able for to offend them and defend himselfe if good fortune had not offered him her ayde by causing the neighbours thereabouts in that streete to open their windowes and come forth with lights and to call out aloud to the Iustice. Which they of the contrary part perceiving forsooke the street and turning their backs went their way Now by this time hee that was fallen had got up againe for those Stocaâ—…os and thrusts that were made at him lighted on a privy coate which he had that was as hard and impenetrable as if it had beene a rock of Diamonds Don Iuan in this fray had let fall his hat and seeking for it in stead of his owne lighted by chance on another which he clapt on his head without looking whether it were his owne or no. His fellowe that was fallen came unto him and sayd Sir whosoever you be I confesse that I am indebted to you for my life the which with all that my estate besides can reach unto I will spend in your service Let me intreate you to doe me the favour to tell mee who you are and what is your name to the end that I may know to whom I owe so much that I may manifest my thankefulnesse Whereunto replyed Don Iuan I will not Sir seeing my selfe now disinteressed be discourteous with you To cumply therefore with your desire and to fulfill your pleasure I shall onely tell you that I am a gentleman a Spaniard and a student in this Vniversitie if the knowing of my name may any whit import you I shall tell it you But if happily you shall bee pleased in any other thing to make use of my service I would then Sir have you to know that my name is Don Iuan de Gamboa You have done mee a great favour herein replyed hee that was fallen But I Senior Don Iuan de Gamboa will not tell you who I am nor my name because I am willing you should rather know it from another then my selfe and I will take care that both shall bee made knowne unto you Don Iuan had but a little before asked of him whether or no he had not received some hurt because hee saw that they had given him two great stocadas whereunto he answered that the goodnesse of his privy coate next under God had defended him But that yet notwithstanding his enemies had made an end of him if hee had not stuck so close unto him By this time there came towards them a company of people more in number then those they had before to doe withall whereupon Don Iuan sayd if these bee those our enemies stand Sir upon your guard and behave your selfe like your selfe I beleeve replyed the other that they are not enemies but friends which make towards us And it was so indeed For they that came were in all eight persons who compassed him round that was fallen and whispered some few words in his eare but they were so soft and so secret that Don Iuan could not heare them The partie defended turned presently aside from them to Don Iuan and sayd unto him had not these my friends come in unto me I would by no meanes Senior Don Iuan have left you till you had finished this your well begun worke by setting mee in some place of safetie But now with all the indearingnesse that I can I shall intreate you that you will leave me for it much importeth mee that you yeeld to my requeste Having sayd this hee put his hand to his head and found that he was without a hat and turning himselfe to those that came to him he spake unto them to give him a hat for his owne was in fighting falne from him He had scarce spoke the word but that Don Iuan put that which he had found upon his head He that fell felt it with his hand and returning it to Don Iuan sayd unto him this hat is none of mine As you love me Don Iuan take it and carry it away with you as a Trophee of this skirmish and keepe it well for I beleeve it is knowne They gave him another hat and Don Iuan for to comply with that which he had intreated of him interchanging some other but shorte compliments he left him not knowing who he was and came home to his owne house without offering to goe to that doore where they had given him the babe because he perceived that all the whole street was up being awakened out of their sleepe and in a kinde of tumult and uproare by reason of this quarrell It so then happened that in his returning to his lodging he met in the mid way with Don Antonio de Ysunca his Comrade and knowing him Don Antonio sayd returne with me Don Iuan a little up this way and as we walke along I shall recount unto you a strange story which hath befallen mee and I beleeve in all your life you never heard such passages as I shall now acquaint you with Whereunto Don Iuan replyed come let us goe whither you will and tell me this your strange story Don Antonio led the way and sayd You shall understand that little more then an houre after that you were gone out of the house I went forth to seeke you and not 30. paces from this place I saw comming as it were to meete me the black bulke of some person which came in great haste and the party approaching nearer unto me I knew it was a woman clad in a long habit who with a voyce interrupted with sighes and sobs sayd unto me are you Sir a stranger or one of the Citie I replyd a stranger and a Spaniard Are you wounded Lady or doe you beare about you some evill presages of death It may be quoth shee that the evill I bring with me will be my death if I have not speedy remedy By that
so principall a person as you have voiced your selfe to be and as I my selfe and all the world knowes Now Sir it remaineth that you resolve upon the time of our going hence And as I conceive the sooner the better for the Iron is to bee wrought whilest it is hot and the heate of choller doth increase courage and an injury whilst it is fresh doth rouze and stirre up revenge Lorenzo rose up from the forme whereon hee sate and with close imbracements claspt Don Iuan in his armes and sayd having so generous a brest as yours is Senor Don Iuan it is needlesse to move it by setting before it any other interest then that of that honour which you shall gaine in this action the which shall be wholly yours in case we come off happily with this businesse And for an addition I offer unto you all whatsoever I have hold or possesse as farre as I am or can bee able And if you like of it I would willingly that wee should take our journey to morrow morning for I shall be able to day to provide all things necessary for it I like very well of it replyed Don Iuan But I pray give me leave Senor Lorenzo that I acquaint therewith a gentleman my companion and friend of whose valour and silence you may be bolder to build upon then on mine Since that you Senior Don Iuan have as you say taken my honour to your charge dispose thereof as you please and speak thereof what you will and to whom you will how much more to your companion and friend who be he what he will bee being of your choyce cannot choose but be good This said they imbraced each other and tooke their leave Signor Lorenzo telling him that he would send one unto him the next morning to call him and that they would take horse without the Citie and goe on their pretended journey in some disguise that there might no notice be taken of them Don Iuan came home and gave an account to Don Antonio and Cornelia of that which had passed with Lorenzo and the agreement made betweene them Lord blesse me said Cornelia great Sir is your courtesie and as great your confidence How and so suddainly have you put your selfe into a businesse so full of inconveniences And how do you know Sir whether my brother will carry you to Ferrara or some other place But whither soever hee shall carry you you may assure your selfe that there goes along with you faithfulnesse it selfe though my selfe I confesse as a wretched and unfortunate woman doe stumble at the motes of the Sunne and am afrayd of every shadow and can you blame mee for being afrayd since that my life or my death dependeth on the Dukes answer And what doe I know whether or no hee will answer so temperately that my brothers choller may containe it selfe within the bounds and limits of his discretion And say it should breake out doe you thinke that he is to deale with a weake enemy And doe not you likewise thinke that all the while that you shall be absent I shall remaine hanging betwixt heaven and hell fearefull and suspensefull expecting the sweete or bitter newes of the successe of this businesse Doe I love so little either the Duke or my brother that I doe not drâ—…ad the disgrace and misfortunes of them both and feele the anguish of them in my very soule You discourse much and feare more Lady Cornelia said Don Iuan. But let me perswade you amongst so many feares to leave some place for hope Put your trust in God in my industrie and good desires I doubt not but you shall see yours fulfilled with aâ—…l felicâ—…tie and happinesse Our going to Ferrara is not to be excused as little my desisting to assist your brother as yet wee doe notknow the Dukes intention as little whether he know that you be missing And all this we must know from his owne mouth no man can better put this question unto him then my selfe And Lady Cornelia I would have you to know that the welfare and content of your brother the Duke I have placed in the apples of mine eyes and will be as carefull of them as I am of these Heaven prosper you Senior Don Iuan replyed Cornelia and give you the power to bring this businesse to a good issue and me a thankfull acknowledgment for the good comfort I receive from you In the midst of these my troubles thanks to your goodnes I hold my selfe very fortunate Now however feare may afflict me in your absence or hope hold me in suspence me thinkes I would faine see you gone and as faine see you quickly returne Don Antonio approved the determination of Don Iuan and commended the good correspondence which Lorenzo Bentivogli's confidence had found in him Moreover hee told him that hee would goe to accompanie them in regard of that which might happen not knowing whether things would bee fairey carried and so for feare of the worst would be ready if occasion served to see how the game went and to prevent all foule play O by no meanes said Don Iuan as well because it is not meete that the Lady Cornelia should be left alone as also that Signor Lorenzo may not thinke that I would as if I wanted true valour underprop mine owne weakenesse with the strength of others What concernes you concernes mee answered Don Antonio and therefore though unknowne and keeping aloofe off I meane to follow you and I presume my Lady Cornelia will bee well pleased therewith Neither will shee remaine so all alone that shee shall want one to serve attend and keepe her company Whereunto Cornelia answered it will be a great comfort to me gentlemen that yee goe both together or at least in such sort that if need should require you may ayde and helpe each other and since that to my seeming you goe upon a peâ—…ce of service which may be subject to much perill and danger doe me the favour Gentlemen to carry these reliques along with you and shee had no sooner said so but shee tooke â—…rom out her bosome a Crosse of Diamonds of inestimable valew and an Agnus Dei They looked both of them on these rich Iewells and did â—…alew them in more then they had the hatband But they returned them backe againe unto her saying That they did carrie reliques with them though not so well set forth and richly adorned yet at least as good in their qualitie Cornelia wâ—…s very sorry that they would not accept of them but in fine shee must doe as they would have her The woman tooke great care and paines in tending and cheering up Cornelia and knowing the departure of her masters for they had acquainted her therewith but not what they went about nor whither they went she tooke it to her charge to looke well unto the Lady whose name as yet shee did not know so that they might not at their returne have any
it selfe to the Cadi which in his owne opinion was greater then all the rest it running still in his heat that his wife Halima would not let him goe to Constantinople unlesse he would carry her with him But presently they did facilitate that telling him that in stead of the Christian which they were to buy and must dye and be turn'd over-boord instead of Leonisa Halima would serve excellently for that purpose and none better of whom he desired to be freed more then from death With the same facilitie as he entertained this in his thought with the like did Mahamut and Ricardo yeeld thereunto And being firmely resolved thereon that very day the Cadi breakes with Halima about the voyage which hee thought to make to Constantinople to carrie the Christian to the Grand-Signior by whose liberalitie hee hoped hee should hee made the great Cadi of Cayro or of Constantinople Halima told him that shee liked very well of his determination thinking that hee would leave Ricardo at home But when the Cadi had certified her that hee would carrie him along with him and likewise Mahamut shee beganne to change her opinion and to dis-advise him from that which before shee had advised him to doe In fine she concluded that if he did not take her with him she would in no hand give way to his going The Cadi would not crosse her but if she would needes have it so her will should be his thinking then with himselfe that he would quickly shake off that yoake which lay so heavie on his necke All this while Hazâ—… Basham was not carelesse in soliciting the Cadi to deliver up the Slave unto him offering him mountaines of gold having besides given him Ricardo before for nothing whose ransome he prized at two thousand Crownâ—… All these gifts and promises wrought no further good with the Cadi then to make him hasten the more his deparâ—… and so solicited by his desire and by them importunities of Hazâ—… together with those of Halima who likewise build vaiâ—… hopes in the â—…yre Within 〈◊〉 dayes he had fitted and rigged up a 〈◊〉 of fiâ—… 〈◊〉 thankes manning it with voluntary Souldiers lusty young able men partly Moores partly Greeke Christians Therein he embarqued all his wealth and 〈◊〉 left not ought aâ—… home in her house of any moment and entreated her husband that he would give her leave â—…o carry with her her Father and Mother that they might see Constantinople Halima's intention was the same with that of Manamut meaning to deale with him and Ricardo that when they were on their voyage they should make themselves Masters of the Bregantine and goe away with it But she would not open her minde nor declare her selfe unto them till she saw her self embarqued and this too with with a full purpose and resolution to goe to the Christians Countrey and to returne to that Religion which she had first beene of and to bee married to Ricardo being verily perswaded that carrying such store of wealth along with her and turning Christian he would not refuse to take herto wife In this interim Ricardo had speech with Leonisa and declared unto her his whole intention and shee againe acquainted him with Halima's purpose who had imparted the same unto her They injoyned each other secresie and recommending themselves to God they stood expecting the day of their departure Which being come Hazan went forth accompanying them with all his Souldiers to the Sea-side and did not leave them till they had hoysed sayle neither did he take off his eye from the Bregantine till hee had quite lost the sight of it And it seemed that the Ayre and breath of those sighes which the enamoured Moore vented forth did fill and drive forward with greateâ—… force the sayles which wasted away his soule But he as one who a long time liv'd in such torment oppressed by love that hee could take no rest thinking on that which hee was to doe that hee might not dye by the hands of his violent desires omitted not â—…o put that presently in execution which with long deliberation and a resolute determination hee had forecasted And therefore in a Vessell of seventeene bankes which he had made readie in another Port he clapt into her fifty Souldiers all his friends and acquaintance whom he had obliged unto him by many gifts and promises giving them in charge that they should put forth to Sea set upon and take the Cadi's Bregantine and all the wealth that was in her putting to the edge of the sword as many as went in her save Leonisa the Captive for she was the onely spoyle that he look't after prizing her above all the other riches and treasure which were in the Vessell He likewise gave order that they should sincke her so that not any one thing might remaine that might give any the least signe or token of their perdition The covetousnesse of the spoyle added wings to their feet and courage to their hearts howbeit they knew very well that they should find but little resistance in those of the Bregantine in regard that they were disarmed and without any the least suspition that any such unexpected accident should befall them Two dayes had the Bregantins now gone in her intended course which to the Cadi seemed two Ages for the very first day of all he would feigne have put in execution his determination But his Slaves advised him that the businesse must first be so carried that Leonisa should fall sicke to give thereby some colour to her death and that this would require some daies of sicknesse He did not like of that but would have it given out that she died suddainly and so quickely make an end of what they had projected by dispatching his Wife out of hand that he might allay the heare of that fire which by little and little went consuming his bowels But in conclusion he must condiscend to that which the other two thought fit Now in this meane while Halima had declared her intent to Mahamut and Ricardo and they were readie to put it in execution as soone as they had doubled the points of Alexandria or passed by the Castles of Natolia But the Cadi was so hasty with them and so sharpe set that they promised to performe the taske they undertooke upon the first occasion that should offer it selfe unto them And one day at the end of sixe which they had sailed another Voyage and that now it seemed to the Cadi that the feigning of Leonisa's sicknesse was sufficient he did importune his Slaves that they should conclude the next day with Halima and throw her wrapt up in a winding sheet into the sea saying it was the Captive of the Grana-Signior The day afterwards beganne to breake wherein according to the intention of Mahamut and Ricardo was to be the accomplishment of their desires or the end of their dayes when loe they might desery a Vessell which with sayle and oare came chasing them They were afraid
come to above 30. thousand Crownes All this mayest thou freely enjoy with much pleasure quietude and content and Heaven grant that it may continue many long and happie yeares As for my selfe being made unfortunate by some squint-eyed starre at my birth since that I must be without Leonisa I am content to be poore for he lives too long who lives without Leonisa This sayd he was silent as if he had knit a knot upon his tongue But within a very little while before that any other spake recollecting himselfe he said Oh Heavens how do pinching troubles disturbe the understanding I gentlemen out of the desire which I have to doe good have not weighed well what I sayd For it is not possible that a man should shew himself liberall of that which is anothers not his owne What jurisdiction or power have I in Leonisa for to give her unto another or how can I make offer of that which is so farre from being mine Leonisa is his and so much his that were her Parents dead but long may they live her affection would finde no opposition And if there may stand perhaps in her way those obligations which being as she is discreet she ought to thinke she owes me from this day forward I disclaime them cancell them and acknowledge them to be wholy voyd and of none effect and therefore unsay what I sayd before I give then to Cornelio nothing because I cannot onely I confirme the grant of my goods made to Leonisa without desiring or looking for any other recompence save that shee esteeme for true my honest thoughts and that she will have this beliefe of them that they were never directed nor looked towards any other point save that which stood with her incomparable honestie her great worth and infinite beauty And here Ricardo ended his speech Whereunto Leonisa answered in this manner if any favours oh Ricardo you imagine I did Cornelio when as you were enamoured and jealous of mee imagine likewise that it was both meete and honest as being guided by the will and order of my Parents who intending to make a match betweene us laid their command upon me to do him those favours If you rest satisfied with this well may you satisfie your selfe with that which experience hath made knowne unto you of my honestie and reservednes I speake this for to give you Ricardo to understand that my will was alwaies subject to anothers will to wit my Parents whom I now most humbly as is meet beseech and earnestly entreat that they will give me leave and libertie freely to dispose of that which your valour and Liberalitie hath bestowed on mee Her Parents with a very good will gave her their leave so to do relying on her discretion that she would make use thereof in such sort as should redound alwaies to her owne honour and their profit Having obtained this licence discreet Leonisa proceeded thus I shall entreate you as many as be here present that you will beare me witnesse that I had rather incurre the censure of lightnesse and inconstancie which none of you all can or shall ever be able to charge me therewith then to bee taxed which is hatefull both in the sight of God and man of unthankfulnesse and ingratitude And therefore oh valiant Ricardo my good will and affection hitherto so reserved so perplexed and doubtfull shall now declare it selfe in your favour To the end that you men may know that all women are not ingratefull by my expressing of my thankfulnesse to you I am thine Ricardo and will bee thine till death if some better knowledge move thee not to deny me thy hand for I desire nothing more then to have thee to be my Husband Ricardo hearing these words was so transported with joy and in a manner so besides himselfe that hee neither knew how nor could not answer Leonisa in any other language then humbling himselfe on his knees before her and kissing her hands which hee held fast by force bathing them often with his tender and loving teares Cornelio did shed teares too but of griefe and sorrow so did Leonisa's Parents but of joy and gladnesse and of admiration and contentment all the standers by The Bishop of that Citie was then there present and with his Benediction and Licence brought them to the Cathedrall Church and dispensing with the time instantly married them The joyfull newes of this wedding was quickly spread over all Trapana and that very night in token of rejoycing infinite lights were set up and great bonfires made accompanied with ringing of bells and divers loud musicall instruments And for many daies after there were Maskings Commedies sporting with Canes running of Bulls and solemne invitations and feastings made by the Parents of Ricardo and Leonisa Mahamut and Halima were reconciled to the Church who impossibilited of fulfilling her desire in being Ricardo's wife contented her selfe in matching with Mahamut To Halima's Parents and kinsmen Ricardo gave liberally of those spoyles which he had taken wherewith they might be enabled to live not onely sufficiently but plentifully In conclusion all of them remained fully contented and satisfied and the fame of Ricardo going beyond the bounds of Sicily spread it selfe through all the parts of Italy and many other places under the name of the Liberall Lover And even to this very day continueth fresh in those many Children which he had by Leonisa who was a rare example of discretion honestie reservednesse thankfulnesse and beautie The end of the third Booke THE FORCE OF BLOOD THE FOVRTH BOOKE IN a hot summers night there returned from recreating themselues at the river of Toledo an ancient gentleman accompanied with his Wife a little young sonne a daughter of the age of 17. yeares and a maid-servant The night was cleare and bright the houre eleven the way open and their pace slow that they might not loose through wearines those pleasures which the meadowes lying along the river side of Toledo did afford them And relying on the security which the strict course of Iustice and the well disposed people of that City did promise the good old gentleman went walking leasurely along with his small family farre from any thought of the least disaster that might befall them But forasmuch as misfortunes commonly then come when wee least thinke on them contrary wholly to his thought and quite beyond all imagination there happened one which disturbed their present pleasure and gave them occasion to weepe many yeares after There was a gentleman of that City about the age of 22. whom his great wealth his noblenes of blood his depraved disposition his too much assumed liberty and the loose and licentious company that hee kept made him to doe such insolent and extravagant actions as did ill beseeme his quality and gave him the attribute of impudent and insolent This gentleman then whose name for good respects wee shall conceale and call Rodolpho with foure other friends of his all young men
and like a raw yong man unexperienced in the world hee knew not either what to say or doe whose silence made Leocadia the more to wonder who by her hands sought to dis-deceive her selfe and to try by touching whether it were a phantasma or a ghost that was with her but when she found that she touched a bodie a very bodie and did call to her remembrance the force which was done her going along with her Parents shee fell into a true reckoning of her misfortune and with the very thought thereof shee returned a new to sent those words which her many sighes and sobbes had interrupted saying Oh 〈◊〉 bold daring man for thy actions make me to judge thee to bee of no great yeares I pardon thee the wrong thou hast done me and forgive thee that foule offence thou hast committed so that thou wilt promise and sweare unto mee that as thou hast covered it with this darkenesse so likewise thou wilt cover it with perpetuall silence without acquainting any bodie therewith It is a small recompence which I crave of thee in comparison of so great an injurie Yet to mee considering the case that I am in it will bee the greatest that I can begge of thee or thou canst give mee consider besides that I never saw thy face neither doe I desire to see it For though I cannot but still thinke on the offence done mee yet will I not thinke upon my offender neither will I lay up in my memorie the image of the authour of my hurt I shall poure forth my complaints between my selfe and Heaven without desiring that the world should heare them which doth not judge of things by their successe but according unto that which is settled in it's opinion I know not how it is that I utter these truthes unto thee which usually are wont to be grounded upon the experience of many Cases and on the discourse of many years mine amounting to no more then 17 yet doe I understand thus much that griefe and sorrow doth alike tye and untye the tongue of the afflicted one whiles exaggerating the received wrong that others may be therby the better induced to beleeve it and another whiles burying it in silence that others may not give any remedy thereunto So that which way soever it be whether I speake or hold my peace I perswade my selfe that I cannot but move thee either to beleeve mee or to remedie me since that not to beleeve me were ignorance and to remedie me impossible Yet maist thou give me some little ease of my griefe whereof I will not despaire since it will cost thee but little to give it me This then is that which I will say unto thee see that thou doe not flatter thy selfe with expecting or hoping that time shall allay or pacifie that just rage and indignation which I beare and still shall towards thee neither doe thou goe about to heape more wrongs upon mee because thou art not likely further to enjoy me and having already enjoyed me me thinkes thy evill desires should be the lesse enflamed Make account that thou offendest me by accident without giving way to any good discourse and I will make account that I was not borne and brought forth into the world or if I were it was for to be unfortunate Put me therefore presently forth into the street or at least neere unto the great church for from thence I shal know how to go directly home Moreover thou shalt likewise swear unto me that thou shalt not follow me nor seek to know where I dwel nor ask me neither my Parents or mine own name nor of my kinsfolke and Allies who for that they are so rich and so noble they may not be in me so unhappy and unfortunate Return me answer to these my demands and if thou art afraid that I may hap to know thee by thy voice I would have thee again to know that excepting my father and my Confessor I have not spoken with any man in my life and very few are they which I have heard speake in their ordinary talk and communication that I could bee able to distinguish them by the sound of their voice The answer which Rodolfo returned to the discreet discourse of afflicted Leocadia was no other save his embracing her and making show that he had a minde to renew in himselfe his lustfull desire and in her her further dishonour the which being perceived by Leocadia with greater force and resistance then her tender age could promise she defended her selfe with her feet with her hands with her teeth and with her tongue saying Know traytour as thou art and thou wicked man without soule or conscience whosoever thou beest that those spoiles which thou hast had of mee were such as thou mightst have taken from a stocke or stone without any sence or feeling whose conquest and triumph which cannot but redound to thy reproach And therfore that which thou pretendest thou shalt not obtain but by my death When I was in a swound thou took'st thy pleasure and didst what thou listest with me but now that I am come to my selfe and have my spirits and wits about me thou shalt sooner kill me then overcome me for if now being awake I should without resistance yeeld to thy abhominable lust thou mightest and not without just cause imagine that my swounding was feigned when thou wast so bold and insolent in working my utter ruine and destruction In conclusion Leocadia so bestirred her selfe and made such stout and resistance that the strength and courage and with it the desires of Rodolfo began to flagge And for that the insolencie which hee had used with Leocadia had no other beginning then from a violent lascivious impetuousnes from which never springeth that true love which is permanent but instead of that impetuousnesse which passeth away there remaineth onely repentance or at least a coldnesse of will to second it Rodolfo then growing somewhat cooler but much more wearie without speaking any one word left Leocadia in his bed and lodging and went to seeke out his companions for to consult and advise with them what he were best to doe Leocadia perceived that shee was left all alone and fast shut up whereupon rising from the bed she went roming about the roome groping the walls with her hands for to see if she could finde a doore to get out at or a window to leape down She found the doore but too strongly lock't for her to open it and she lighted on a window which she was able to unhaspe by which the Moone shined in so clear and so bright that Leocadia could distinguish the colours of certaine Damasks which adorned the lodging She could discern that the bed was guilded so richly furnished that it seemed rather the bed of a Prince then of a private gentleman She reckoned the number of the chairs and stools and of the Escritorios and Cabinets she noted the place where the door stood