which secretely they thought was about to escape away giuing them straight charge that by no meanes they shoulde returne without hir When the 〈◊〉 drew neare the shippe Poris bent him self to encourage the mariners to hoyse by saile againe and to make way with their oares into the sea if it were possible to auoide the imminent and present danger to saue the life of him selfe his wife children then he erected his handes vp vnto the heauens to implore the healpe and succor of the Gods which the stoute Gentlewoman Theoxena perceiuing and manifestly séeing the daunger wherein they were callyng to hir mynde hir former determinate vengeance which she ment to do and beholding 〈◊〉 in his prayers she prosecuted hir intente preparing a poysoned drinke in a cuppe and made redie naked swordes All which bringyng forth before the childrens face she spake these words Death alone must bée the reuēge of your siely liues whervnto there be two wayes poison or the sworde Euery of you choose which ye list to haue or of whether of them your heart shall make the frankest choyse The Kings crueltie and pride you must auoyde Wherfore dere children be of good 〈◊〉 raise vp your no ble courage ye the elder aged boyes shew now your selues like men and take the sword into your handes to pierce your tender hearts but if the bloudie smart of that most dreadfull death shal feare and fright your gréene and vnripe age then take the venomed cuppe and gulpe by sundrie draughts this poisoned drinke Be franke and lusty in this your destenied death sith the violence of Fortune by sea doeth let the lengthning of your life I craue this request of choise and let not the same rebound with fearful refuse of this my craued hest Your mother afterwardes shal passe that straight wherof she prayeth hir babes to bée the poastes yée the vaunt currours and shée with your louing 〈◊〉 shall ende and finishe Philips rage bent agaynst vs. When shée had spoken these wordes and 〈◊〉 the enimies at hand this couragious dame the 〈◊〉 of the death egged prouoked these yong 〈◊〉 childrē not yet wel resolued what to do with hir encharmed words in such wise as in the ende some dranke the poison and other strake them selues into the bodie and by hir commaundement were throwen ouer boorde not altogether dead and so she set them at libertie by death whom tenderly she had brought vp Then she imbracing hir husbande the companion of hir death both did voluntarily throw them selues also into the sea And when the Kings espials were come aboorde the ship they found the same abandoned of their praye The crueltie of which fact did so moue the cōmon people to detectation and 〈◊〉 of the king as a generall cursse was pronounced against him his children which heard of the Gods aboue was afterwardes terribly reuenged vpon his stock 〈◊〉 This was the end of good Poris and his stout wise Theoxena who rather than she would fall into the lapse of the Kings furie as hir father Herodicus and hir other husbande did chose violently to die with hir owne handes and to cause hir husbands children and hir owne to berieue them selues of life which although agaynst the louing order of naturall course and therefore that kinde of violence to be abhorred as horrible in it selfe yet a declaration of a stoute minde if otherwise she had ben able to reuenge the same And what coward heart is that that dare not vpon such extremitie whé it séeth the mercilesse ennimie at hand with shining blade redie bent to strike the blowe that without remedie muste ridde the same of breath specially when it séeth the trembling babe naturally begotten by his owne kinde and nature before the face imploryng fathers rescue what 〈◊〉 heart dare not to offer himself by singular fight though one to twētie either by desperate hardinesse to auoide the same or other anoyance aduenture what he can which in Christians is admitted as a comely fight rather than with that Pagane dame to doe the death it selfe But now returne we to describe a facte that passeth all other forced déedes For Theoxena was compelled in a maner thus to do of méere constraint to eschue the greater torments of a tyrants rage and thought it better by chosen death to chaunge hir life than by violent hands of bloudie butchers to bée haled to the slaughter But this Hidrusian dame was wearie of hir life not for that shée feared losse of life but desperate to think of Fortunes 〈◊〉 staye which 〈◊〉 Fortunes darlings would regarde in time they would foresée their slippery hold A Gentlewoman of Hidrusa ¶ A Straunge and maruellous vse which in olde time was obserued in HIDRVSA where it was lawfull with the licence of a Magistrate ordeined for that purpose for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and woman that list to kill them selues The nynth Nouell BAndello amongs the company of his 〈◊〉 telleth this Historie and in his owne person speaketh these woords If I should begin to tell those things which I sawe in the time that I sailed alōgs the leuāt seas very tedious it would be for you to heare and I in reporting could not tell which way to ende bicause I saw and heard things right worthy to be remembred Notwithstanding for satisfaction of diuers that be my frendes I will not sticke to reherse some of them But first of all one straunge custom which in the Romans time was vsed in one of the Ilandes of the sea Aegeum called Hidrusa in these dayes by the trauailers called Cea or Zea and is one of the Ilandes named Ciclades whilome full of populous and goodly Cities as the rumes thereof at this day do declare Ther was in old time in that Iland a very strange lawe and ordinaunce which many hundred yeares was very well and perfectly kepte and obserued The Lawe was that euery person inhabitant within the sayde 〈◊〉 of what sexe and condition so euer béeing thorough age infirmitie or other accidents wearie of their life might choose that kinde of death which liked them best howbeit it was prouided that the partie before the dooing of the same shoulde manifest the cause that moued hym therevnto before the Magistrate elected by the people for that speciall purpose which they ordeyned bycause they sawe that diuers persons had volūtarily killed themselues vpon triflyng occasions and matters of little importance accordyng to whiche lawe very many men and women hardily with so mery chere went to their death as if they had gone to some bankette or mariage It chaunced that Pompeius Magnus that dreadfull Romane vetwene whō and Iulius Caesar were foughte the greatest battailes for superioritie that euer were Pompeius I say sailing by the sea Aegeum arriued at Hidrusa and there goyng a land vnderstode of the inhabitants the maner of that law and how the same day a woman of great worship had obteined licence of the Magistrate to poison hir selfe Pompeius hearing tell hereof
daughter of CHERA goyng for that treasure and busily serching for the same found the halter wherwithal for despaire she woulde haue hanged hir selfe but forbidden by ELISA who by 〈◊〉 espied hir she was restored to parte of hir losse leading afterwards a happie and prosperous life The. xj Nouell FOrtune the ladie Regent gouernesse of mās life so altreth and chaungeth the state thereof as many times we se the noble born from that great mightie port wherin they be debased so farre as either infamously their life is spent in the hungrie lappe of dame penurie or else contriued in the vgly lothsom house of Wantonnesse the stepdame of all honestie and vertue Sometimes we make the vnnoble ladde that was nooseled in the homely countrey 〈◊〉 or rude ciuile shoppe attaine to that whiche the onely honorable and gentle do aspire and he againe that is ambicious in climbing vp the turning whéele throwen downe beneth the brinke of 〈◊〉 lucke whelmed in the ditche pit of blacke despaire We note also somtimes that the carelesse wyght of Fortunes giftes hath vnlooked for his mouthe and throte crammed full of promotion and worldes delights Such is the maner of hir fickle stay When of this Historie ensuing giueth some intelligence by remembring the destenied lucks of thou poore sorie girles that were left destitute of desired things both like to fall into despaire and yet both holyen with that thei most desired which in this sort beginneth In the time that Scipio Affricanus had besleged the Citie of Carthage Chera that was a widow dwelling there seing the daunger at hand wherin the Citie stode and doubtyng the losse and ouerthrowe of the same and that the honor of the dames and womankinde coulde vneths be safe and harmelesse determined not to abide the vttermoste and hauing a good quantitie of golde and precious stones she bestowed the same in a casquet and hid it vpon one of the beames of hir house purposing when the stirre and daunger was past to retourne to hir house againe for those hir hidden things Which done in the habite of a poore womā with hir onely daughter in hir hand that was aboute b. or bf yeares of age she went out of Caithage and passed ouer the seas into Scicilia where falling sick after she had ben there thre or foure yeares at length died But before she departed she called hir daughter before hir then about x. yeares of age and tolde hir the place where she had 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 casket And by reason of the 〈◊〉 gotten by Scipio the citie was maruellously chaunged and amongs other things the house of Chera was giuen to a Roman 〈◊〉 that was so enriched with nobilitie of mynde as he was poore of Fortunes goods Which Chera vnderstanding was sorowfull and doubted of hir things secretly bestowed vpon the beame Whervpon she sayd vnto hir daughter that for so much as their house was in the posfession of an other she ought to be wise and circumspect in the recouerie of hir hidden goods and that hir death was the more sorowfull vnto hir bicause she must leaue hir so yong a maiden vnprouided of frendes for hir good gouernement But yet she incouraged hir and sayd that sith necessitie approched she must in childishe age put on a graue and auncient mind and beware how she bewrayed that casket to any person for that of purpose she reserued the knowledge thereof to hir self that it might serue for hir preferment and procure hir a husbande worthie of hir selfe And the maiden demaunding the value of the same she told hir that it was worth CC. 〈◊〉 and gaue hir in writyng the particulers inclosed within the Caskette and sayde that the lyke bill shée shoulde finde within the same written with hir owne hande And so the good woman wythin a while after dyed leauing behynde hir the yong mayden hir Daughter that maruellously lantented the death of hir mother accordingly as Nature taught hir and eche other reasonable wyght depriued from their dearest friends The maiden for hir yeres was very wise and would disclose to none what hir mother had sayd kéeping the writing very carefully and 〈◊〉 Not long after Philene which was the maidens name fell in loue with a Gentleman of Scicilia of greate reputation and authoritie who all bée it he sawe hir to be very faire and comely yet cared not for hir loue in respecte of mariage for that he knewe hir to be poore and without dowrie mete for a Gentleman iesting and mocking to sée hir fire hir mind on him for desire to haue him to hir husbande that was a personage so noble and rich which refusall pierced the heart of that tender maiden bicause she saw hir self forsaken for nothing else but for want of goods which made hir to think and consider howe shée myght recouer the riches that hir mother had layed vp in Carthage It chaunced as shée was in this thought that the daughter of him to whome the house of Chera was giuen called Elisa was likewise enamoured of a noble yong gentleman in Carthage who bicause Elisa was the daughter of a souldiour and not very rich in like manner laughed iested at hir loue no lesse than the other did at Philene Notwithstanding Elisa attempted all meanes possible to induce the yong man to loue hir but hir practise and attemptes tended to none effect And last of all desirous to haue a resolute answere and thereby vnderstode that he woulde rather die than take hir to wife she fell into despaire and curssed fortune and hir fate that she was not borne riche enough to match with hir chosen Gentleman and that she being poore must fal in loue with such a personage whervpon she miserably formented hir selfe styll bewayling hir vnhappie lucke that she could not win him to be hir husbande for which only intent and purpose she loued him And this amorous passion incredibly growing in hir the rootes whereof bée planted in the restlesse humor of melancholie and wanting all hope and comforte to stay that ranke and rāmishe wéede it so increased in hir as shée franticke in raging loue gaue hir self ouer to the spoile of hirself And to rid hir from that griefe she determined to kill hir selfe imagining which waye she might doe the same At length she was resolueb with hir fathers sword to pierce hir body But hir heart not seruing hir therevnto deuised by the halter to ende hir life saying thus to hir self that at lest wise my death shall doe me good bicause that cruel man shall know that for his sake I haue done this facte and shall performe my funerals with some teares or sighes And if his heart be not of yron or stéele he can not chose but sorowe and lament that one which loued him better than hir owne life hath made such wretched ende onely for his crueltie Elisa concluding vpon this intent prepared a halter And being alone in hir house in the chamber where the Casket lay vpon
recouer the 〈◊〉 which hir mother had hidden there to 〈◊〉 she might obtaine if not by other meanes with some rich dowrie the yong Gentleman to husband whome she so derely loued And then re-enforcing hir complaint she said that 〈◊〉 Fortune had 〈◊〉 hir of that which might haue accomplished hir desire resting no cause why she shoulde any longer liue the halter was prepared for hir to ende hir dayes and to rid hir life from troubles And therfore she prayed hir to be cōtented that she might make that end which hir misaduenture and wicked fortune had predestinate I doubt not but there be many which vnderstading that the treasure did belong to Philene if they had 〈◊〉 the like as Elisa did would not only not haue forbidden hir the deth but also by spéedie méanes haue 〈◊〉 the same for so much as by that occasion the hidden tresure should haue bene out of strife and contention so great is the force of Couetousnesse in the minde of man But good Elisa knew full well the mutabilitie of Fortune in humaine things for so much as she by séeking death had founde the thing which not onely deliuered hir from the same but made hir the best contented woman of the worlde And Philene séeking hir contentation in place therof and by like occasion found the thing that would haue ben the instrumēt of hir death And moued with very greate compassion of the mayden desired to haue better aduertisement howe that treasure could belong to hir Then Philene shewing forth hir mothers writing which particularly remēbred the parcels within the casket and Elisa séeing the same to be agreable to the hand wherwith the other was writen that was founde in the casket was assured that all the gold and Iewels which she had found did belong vnto 〈◊〉 and sayde vnto hir selfe The Gods defende that I should prepare the halter for the death of this innocent wench whose substance hath yelded vnto me so gret contentation And comforting the maiden in the end she sayd Be contented Philene and giue ouer this thy desperate determination for both thy life shal be prolonged and thy discontented minde appeased hoping thou shalte receyue the comforte thou desirest And with those words she losed the halter from hir neck and taking hir by the hande brought hir to the place where hir father and husbande were and did them to vnderstand the force terms whervnto the fier of loue and desperation had broughte that amorous maiden telling them that all the treasure and Iewels which she had found where she left the halter and wherwith Philene was minded to hang hir self did by good right and reason belong to hir then shée did let them sée the counterpaine of that bil which was in the 〈◊〉 in all pointes agreable thervnto declaring moreouer that very mete and reasonable it were like 〈◊〉 should be vsed vnto hir as by whome they had receyued so great honor contentation Hir husband which was a Carthaginian borne very churlish and couetous albeit by conferring the writings together he knewe the matter to be true and that Philene ought to be the possessor therof yet by no meanes wold agrée vnto his wines request but fell into a rage calling hir foole and 〈◊〉 and saying that he had rather that she 〈◊〉 ben a thousand times hanged than he would giue hir one peny and although she had saued hir life yet she ought to be banished the Citie forsomuch as the same and all the 〈◊〉 therof was brought into the Romanes handes and amongs the same hir mothers house and all hir goodes in possession of the victors and euery part therof at their disposition pleasure And moreouer for so much as hir mother and shée had departed Carthage and would not abide the hazarde and extremitie of their countrey as other Citizens did and hauyng concealed and hidden those Riches whiche ought to haue ben brought forth for the common defense of their countrey and gone out of the citie as though she had ben a poore simple woman poorely therfore she ought to liue in Scicilia whither she was fled Wherfore he was of opinion that she in this maner being departed when the citie had greatest nede of hir helpe was disfranchised of all the rightes and customes of the countrey and that like as a straunger can recouer nothing in that citie except he haue the priuiledge and fréedom of the same euen so Philene for the considerations before sayde ought to be compted for a stranger not to participate any thing within the citie accordingly as the lawes forbid When he had so sayd he was like by force to 〈◊〉 the sorowful maiden out of the house These wordes greatly grieued Philene who doubted least his father in law would haue toyned 〈◊〉 him and agrée vnto hys alleaged reasons which séemed to be of great importaunce and effect and therfore thought newly to returne to the halter for 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 griefs but it otherwise chaunced for the father of Elisa whiche was a Romane borne and affected with a Romane minde and therfore of a gentle and well disposed nature knew full well that although the house was giuen vnto him by the cōsent of Scipio and other the captains yet he knew that their pleasure was not to 〈◊〉 on him the treasure hidden in the same and therefore ought to be restored to the true owner or else 〈◊〉 and proprely due to the Romane 〈◊〉 or cōmon treasure house of the same And albeit that it was true that hir mother went out of Carthage in the time of the siege and therfore had forfaited the same yet he determined to shew some 〈◊〉 vnto the yong mayden and to be thankful to fortune for the benefite which by hir meanes he had receyued thynkyng that she would be displeased with him if he with vngratefull minde or dishonourable intent should receiue hir giftes For in those dayes the Romanes highly reuerenced lady Fortune and in hir honor had directed Temples and dedicated Aultars and in prosperous time and happy aduentures they 〈◊〉 vowes and did sacrifices vnto hir thinking although supersticously that like as from God there proceded none euill euen so from him all goodnesse was deriued that all felicitie and other good happes which chaunced vpon the Romane common wealth proceded from Fortune as the fountaine and moste principall occasion and that they which would not confesse hir force and be thankfull vnto hir godhead incurred in the ende hir displeasure and daungers very great and heinous This Romane then hauing this opinion being as I sayd before of a gentle 〈◊〉 would at one instant both render thankes to Fortune and vse curtesie vnto that maiden by 〈◊〉 ches and goodes from lowe degrée he was aduaunced to honourable state Wherefore turning his face vnto hir with louing countenance he spake these wordes Kight gentle damosel albeit by the reasons alleged by my sonne in lawe none of the treasure hidden by thy mother and founde by my
your rancor into the lap of your Countrey that she may put him in exile for euer who like a pitifull and louing mother would gladly sée all hir children of one accorde and minde Which if ye doe ye shall do singulare pleasure to your friendes ye shal do great discōfort to your foes ye shal do singular good to the cōmon wealth ye shal do greatest benefit to your selues ye shal make vs humble wiues ye shal encrease your posterity ye shall be praised of all men 〈◊〉 finally shall depart the best contented men that euer the world brought forth And now bicause ye shall not thinke that we haue piked out this tale at our fingers ends thereby to séeke your sauegard and our fame and praise beholde the letters which you sent vs beholde your owne hands subscribed to the same beholde your seales assigned therunto which shall rendre true testimonie of that which vnfainedly we haue affirmed Then both deliuered their letters which viewed and séene were wel known to be their own husbāds hāds and the same so wel approued hir tale as their husbāds were the gladdest men of the world and the Duke and seignorie maruelously satisfied contēted In so much as the whole assēbly with one voice cried out for their husbands deliueraunce And so with the consent of the Duke the whole seignorie they were clerely discharged The parents cosins and friends of the husbands wiues were wonderfully amazed to here this long historie and greatly praised the maner of their deliuery accompting the women to be very wise and mistresse Isotta to be an eloquent gentlewoman for that she had so well defended the cause of their husbands of themselues Anselmo and Girolamo openly in the presence of all the people embraced and kissed their wiues with great 〈◊〉 And then the husbandes shaked one an other by the hands betwene whome began a brotherly accorde and from that time forth liued in perfect amitie and friendship exchaunging the wanton loue that either of thē bare to others wife into brotherly friendship to the great cōtentation of the whole Citie Whē the multitude assembled to heare this matter throughly was satisfied the Duke with chéereful countenance loking towarde Gismonda sayd thus vnto hir And you faire Gentlewoman what haue you to say Be bolde to vtter your minde and we will gladly heare you Mistresse Gismonda bashful to speake began wonderfully to blush into whose chekes entred an orient rud intermixed with an Alablaster white which made hir countenaunce more 〈◊〉 thā it was wont to be After she had stode still a while 〈◊〉 hir eyes declined towards the ground in comly wise lifting thē vp again with shamfast audacitie she begā to say If I most noble prince in opē audiēce shold attēpt to speake of loue wherof I neuer had experience or knew what thing it was I should be doubtful what to say therof and peraduēture durst not open mouth But hering my father of worthy memorie many times to tel that your maiestie in the time of your youth disdained not to opē your hert to receiue the amorous flames of loue being assured that ther is none but that doth loue litle or much I do not doubt but for the words which I shal speake to obtain both pitie and pardon To come then to the matter God I thank him of his goodnesse hath not permitted me to be one of that sort of women that like hipocrites do mumble their Pater nosters to saincts appering outwardly to be deuout holy and in fruite do bring forth deuils and all kindes of vices specially ingratitude whiche is a vice that dothe suck drie vp the foūtain of godly pietie Life is deare to me as naturally it is to all next which I estéeme mine honor that peraduēture is to be preferred before life bicause without honor life is of no reputatiō And where mā woman do liue in shame notorious to the world the same may be termed a liuing death rather thā a life But the loue that I beare to mine onely beloued master Aloisio here present I do esteme aboue al that iewels treasures of the world whose personage I do regard more thā mine owne life The reson that moueth me ther to is very great for before that I loued him or euer mēt to fire my minde that way he derely regarded me continually deuising which way he might win obtain my loue sparing no trauell by night day to seeke the same For which tender affectiō shold I shew my self vnkind and froward God forbid And to be plaine with your honors he is more deare acceptable vnto me than that balles of mine owne eyes being the derest things that appertaine to that furniture of the body of man without which no earthly thing can be gladsom and ioyfull to the sense and féeling Last of all his amorous and affectionate demonstration of his loue towards me by declaring him self to be careful of mine honor rather more willing to bestow his owne than to suffer the same to be touched with the left suspicion of dishonestie I can not choose but so faithfully imbrace as I am readie to guage my life for his sake rather than his finger shold ake for that offense And where hath there ben euer foūd such liberalitie in any louer What is he that hath ben euer so prodigall to employ his life the moste speciall pledge in this worlde rather than he would suffer his beloued to incurre dishonoure Many histories haue I red and Chronicles of our time and yet I haue founde fewe or none comparable vnto thys Gentleman the like of whom be so rare and seldome as white crowes or swannes of color blacke O singular liberalitie neuer heard of before O fact that can neuer be sufficiently praised O true loue most vnfained Maister Aloisio rather thā he wold haue my fame any one iote to be impaired or suffer any shadow of suspition to blemish the same frankly hath confessed himself to be a théefe regarding me mine honor more than himselfe life And albeit that he might a thousand wayes haue saued himself without the imprisonment aduersitie which he hath sustained neuerthelesse after he had said being then past remēbrāce through the fal that he fel downe frō my window perceiued how much that confession would preiudice and hurt my good name and spotte the known honestie of the same of his good wil chose to die rather than to speake any words that might bréede yll opinion of me or the least thing of the worlde that might ingendre infamie slaunder And therefore not able to cal back the words he had spoken of the fal nor by any meanes could coloure the same he thought to saue that good name of another by his own hurt If he then thus redily liberally hath protruded his life to manifest dāger for my benefit sauegard preferring min honor aboue the care of himself shall not I
〈◊〉 of one of their Queenes called THALESTRIS to visit ALEXANDER the great and the cause of hir 〈◊〉 The first Nouel WHere the first boke began with a Cōbate foughte and tried betwene two mighty cities for principalitie and gouernment the one hight Rome after called the heade of the world as some thinke by reason of a mans head foūd in the place where the Capitole did stand the other Alba. To which Combat 〈◊〉 gentlemen of either citie wer appointed and the victorie chaunced to the Romaine side In this second parte in the forefront and first Nouel of the same is described the beginning continuaunce and ende of a Womans Common wealth an Hystorie 〈◊〉 and straunge to the vnlearned ignorant of the 〈◊〉 fickle ruled stay which contended with mighty Princes and puissant Potentates for defense of their kingdome no lesse than the Carthaginians and Romaines did for theirs But as it is no wōder to the skilful that a whole Monarche and kingdom should be inticrly peopled with that Sexe so to the not wel trained in Hystories this may seme miraculous Wherfore not to stay thée from the discourse of those straunge and Aduenturous women diuers be of diuers opinions for the Etimologie of the word wher of amonges the Grecians 〈◊〉 diuerse iudgementes These Amazones were moste excellent warriers very valiant and without mannes aduise did conquer mighty Countreyes famous Cities and notable Kingdomes continuing of long time in one Seigniorie and gouernment These people occupied and enioyed a great part of Asia Some writers deuide them into two Prouinces one in Scithia in the North parte of Asia other by the hill Imaus which at this day is called the Tartarian Scithia different from that which is in Europa the other sort of the Amazones were in Libia a prouince of Africa But bicause the common sort of Authors doe vnderstand the Amazones to be those of Asia I meane to leaue off the differēce The Scithians were a warlike people and at the beginning of theyr kingdome had two kings by whome they were gouerned Notwithstanding the nature of dominion being of it self ambicious cannot abide any companion or equal Which caused these two Kinges to beat variance and afterwardes the matter grew to ciuill warres wherein the one being Uictory two of the principal 〈◊〉 of the contrary faction called Plinius and Scolopithos were banished with a great number of their 〈◊〉 all which did withdraw themselues to the limites of Cappadocia in the lesser Asia in despite of the Countrey Pesantes dwelled alonges the riuer of Thermodon which entreth into the sea Euxinum otherwise called Pontus And they being made Lordes of the countrey of the places adioyning raigned for certain yeres vntill the peasantes and their confederates made a conspiracie against them and assembling by policie ouercame them and slewe them all The newes of their deathe knowen to their wiues dwelling in their countrey caused them to cōceiue great heauinesse and dolor extreme And although they were womē yet did they put on māly courage and determined to reuenge the death of their husbandes by putting their handes to weapons wherwithall they did exercise themselues very ofte And that they might all be equal their sorow commō they murdred certain of their husbands which remained there after the other were banished Afterward being all together they made a great army and forsoke their dwelling places refusing the mariage of many suters And arriuing in the land of their enimies that made smal accōpt therof although foretolde of their approache they sodenly came vpon them vnprouided and put them all to the sword This being done the women toke the gouernāce of the Countrey inhabiting at the beginning along the Riuer of Thermodon where their husbands wer stain And although many Authors do differ in the situaciō of the place where the Amazones did dwel yet the truth is that the beginning of their kingdome and of their habitacion was vpon that Riuer But of their manifolde conquestes be engendred diuers opinions declared by Strabo and others They fortified them selues in those places and wanne other countries adioyning chosing among them two Quenes the one named Martesia and and the other Lampedo Those two louyngly deuided the armie and men of warre in two parts either of them defending with great hardinesse the Lands which they had conquered and to make them selues more dreadfull such was the credite and vanitie of men that time they fained themselues to be that daughters of Mars Afterward these miraculous womē liuing after this maner in peace iustice considered that by succession of time for wante of daughters that might succéede warres and time wold extinguishe their race For this cause they treated mariage with their neighbors named Gargarians as Plinie sayeth with condition that vpon certaine times of the yeare their husbands shold assemble together in some appointed place and vse them for certaine dayes vntill they were with childe which being done and knowen they shoulde returne home againe to their owne houses If they brought forth daughters they norished and trained them vp in armes and other manlyke exercises and to ride great horsse They taught them to run at base to follow the chace If they were deliuered of males they sent them to their fathers And if by chaunce they kept any backe they murdred them or else brake their armes and leggs in suche wyse as they had no power to beare weapons and serued for nothing else but to spin twist and to doe other feminine labour And for as much as these Amazones defēded themselues so valiantly in the warres with Bowe and Arrowes and perceiued that their breasts did verie much impech the vse of that weapon and other exercises of armes they seared vp the righte breastes of their yong daughters for which cause they were named Amazones which signifieth in the Gréeke tong without breasts although that some other do giue vnto that name an other Etimologie Afterwardes increasing by course of time in numbre force they made great preparation of weapons and other 〈◊〉 for the warres and leauing their coūtrey which they thought was very small in the keping of some whom they specially trusted the rest marched abrode cōquering subduing all those which they foūd rebellious And hauing passed the riuer of Tanais they entred Europa where they vanquished many countreys directing their way towardes Thracia from whence they returned a whyle after with great spoile and victorie and comming again into Asia they brought many prouinces vnder their subiection proceding euen to Mare Caspium They edified and peopled an infinite numbre of good cities amōgs which according to the opinion of diuers was the famous Citie of Ephesus the same béeing the chiefe of all their Empire and the principal place that stoode vpon Thermodon They defended them selues in warres with certaine Tergats made in fashion of a half Moone and entring into battaile vsed a certaine kinde of flutes to giue the people corage to
excéeding faire crown of Gold apt and mete for the 〈◊〉 head Afterwards when he saw time conuenient he 〈◊〉 that in the market place of the Citie a pearche should be erected and 〈◊〉 with tapestrie Arras 〈◊〉 other costly furnitures suche as Princes palaces are 〈◊〉 decked withall Thither with sound of 〈◊〉 he caused the Falcon to be conueyed where the King 〈◊〉 ded one of his noble men to place the Crowne vpon his head for prise of the excellent pray atchieued vppon the Egle. Then he caused the hangman or common executioner of the Citie to take the Crowne from the Faucon and with the trenchant sworde to cut of his head Upon these contrary 〈◊〉 the beholders of this sight were amazed and began diuersly to talke thereof The King which at a window stoode to beholde this fact caused silence to be kepte and so loude opened his Princely voice as he was well hearde speaking these wordes There ought good people none of you all to 〈◊〉 and grudge at the present fact executed vpō the Faucon bicause the same is done vpon good reason and iust cause as by processe of my discourse you shall well perceyue I am persuaded that it is the office and duetie of euery magnanimous prince to know the valor and difference betwene vertue and vice that all vertuous actes 〈◊〉 thie attempts may be honoured and the contrary 〈◊〉 punished otherwise he is not worthy of the name of a King and Prince but of a cruell and traiterous tyrant For as the Prince beareth the title by principalitie and chief so ought his life chiefly to excell other whome he gouerneth and ruleth The bare title and dignitie is not sufficient if his condicions and moderation bée not to that supreme state 〈◊〉 Full well I knew and did consider to be in this dead Faucon a certaine generositie and stoutnesse of minde ioyned with a certaine fierce 〈◊〉 and nimblenesse for which I crowned and rewarded hir with this golden garland bicause of the stoute slaughter which she made vpon that mightie Egle worthie for that 〈◊〉 and prowesse to be honoured after that solemne guise But when I considered how boldly and rashely she assailed and killed the Egle which is 〈◊〉 Quéene and maistresse I thought it a part of iustice that for hir bolde and vncomely act she shoulde suffer the paine due to hir 〈◊〉 For vnlaufull it is for the seruaunte and vnduetifull for the subiecte to imbrue his handes in the bloud of his soueraigne Lord. The Faulcon then hauing slaine hir Quéene and of all other birdes the soueraigne who can with reason blame me for cutting of the Falcons head Doubtlesse none that hath respecte to the quiete state betweene the Prince and subiect This example the 〈◊〉 alleaged against Ariobarzanes when they pronoūced sentence And applying the same to him ordeined that first Ariobarzanes for his Magnanimitie and liberall Curtesie should be crowned with a Laurel Garland for the generositie of his minde and excéeding curtesie but for his great emulation earnest endeuour and continuall 〈◊〉 to contende with his prince and in Liberalitie to shew him selfe superior 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spéech vttered against him his hed ought to be striken of Ariobarzanes being aduertised of this seuere 〈◊〉 he purposed to sustain the 〈◊〉 darte of Fortune as he had endured other bruntes of that enuious inconstant Lady and in suche maner behaued and directed his 〈◊〉 and countenance as no signe of choler or dispaire appeared in him onely pronouncing this sentence with ioyful 〈◊〉 in the presence of many Glad I am that at length there resteth in me so much to be liberal as I employ my life and bloud to declare the same to my soueraigne Lorde which right willingly I meane to do that the world may know that I had rather lose my life than to saint and giue ouer in mine 〈◊〉 liberalitie Then calling a Notarie vnto him he made his will for so it was lawful by the Persian lawes and to his wife and daughters he increased the dowries and to his kinsfolk and frends 〈◊〉 bequethed diuers riche bountifull legacies To the King he 〈◊〉 a great numbre of most precious Jewels To Cyrus the Kings sonne and his by mariage bisides a great masse of money he bequeathed all his armure and 〈◊〉 with all his instrumentes for the warres and his whole stable of horsse Last of all he ordeined that if perhaps his wife shoulde be founde with childe and broughte to bed of a Sonne he should be his vniuersall heire But if a woman childe to haue the like dowrie that his other daughters had The rest of his goods and cattell he gaue indifferently to all iii. equally to bée deuided He prouided also that all his 〈◊〉 according to their degrée should be rewarded The day before he shoulde be put to death according to the custome of Persia his praises and valiant factes as well by Epitaphes fixed vpon 〈◊〉 as by 〈◊〉 were generally sounded 〈◊〉 the Realme in suche wise as eche wight 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to be the moste liberall and noble personage that was in all the Countrey and in the borders 〈◊〉 vpon the same And if there had not bene some enuious persones néere the King which studied and practised his ouerthrow all other would haue déemed him vnworthy of death Such is the enuie of the maliciously disposed that rather than they would sée their equals to be in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Prince than them selues studie and deuise all policie either by flatterie or false 〈◊〉 to bring them in discredite or to practise by false accusation their vtter subuersion by death or vanishement But whiles 〈◊〉 was disposing his things in order his wife and daughters with his friends and 〈◊〉 were affected with great sorow day and night complaining for the heauie 〈◊〉 of that noble Gentleman The eight day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the lawe allowed that space to the condemned for disposition of their things a skaffolde was made by commaundement of the King in the middes of the Market place all couered with blacke 〈◊〉 and an other righte ouer against the same with purple and 〈◊〉 where the King if he 〈◊〉 in the mids of the Judges should sitte and the inditement redde iudgement by the Kings owne mouth declared shoulde be executed or if it pleased him discharge and assoile the condemned And the King vnwilling to be present gaue to one of the 〈◊〉 Judges his full power and authoritie But yet sorrowfull that a Gentleman so noble and valiant his father and 〈◊〉 in lawe should finishe his life with a death so horrible would néedes that morning be presente him selfe at that execution as well to sée the continent and stoute ende of Ariobarzanes as also to take order for his deliuerie 〈◊〉 the time was come Ariobarzanes by the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 was brought vnto the Skaffolde and there apparelled in riche 〈◊〉 the Laurell Crowne was set vpon his head and so continuing for a certaine space the
But the prophet of the Citie whom the Citizens had wel tried and proued to be faithfull and trustie manifested vnto them the great daūger that hong ouer the tyrants head such as the like neuer before The confederats which had conspired with Hellanicus made great spéede to prosecute their enterprise and the nexte night to kill the tyrant The very same night Hellanicus dreamed that he sawe his dead sonne to speake vnto him these woords What meane you father this long time to slepe I am one of your sonnes whom Aristotimus hath slaine know you not that the same day you attempt your enterprise you shal be captaine prince of your coūtrie By this vision Hellanicus confirmed he rose bytimes in the morning and exhorted the conspirators that day to execute the benefit of their Countrie That time Aristotimus was certified how Craterus the tyran of another Citie with a great armie was comming to his aide against the banished people of Elis and that he was arriued at Olympia a Citie betwéene the Mounte Ossa and the mountaine Olympus With which newes Aristotimus being incouraged thought alreadie that he had put to flight and takē the banished persons which made him to aduenture himself abrode without guard or garrison accompanied only with Cilon and one or two of his familiar frends the very same time that the conspiratours were assembled to doe the facte Hellanicus seing the time so cōuenient to deliuer his beloued Countrie by the death of the traiterous Tyrant not attending any signe to be giuen to his companions although the same was concluded vpon the lusty old man lifting vp his handes and eies vnto the heauens with cleare and open voice cried out to his companions and said Whie stay ye O my Citizens and louing country men in the face of your Citie to finishe this good and commendable acte At which woords Cilon was the first which with his brandishing blade killed one of those that waited vpon the Tyrant Thrasibulus thē and Lampidus assayled Aristotimus vpon whose sodaine approch he fled into the Temple of Iupiter where he was murdred with a thousand woundes vpon his body accordingly as he deserued He being thus deseruedly slain his body was drawen vp downe the stréetes and proclamation of libertie sounded vnto the people Where vnto eche wight assembled amongs whome the imprisoned women also brake forth and reioysed with their countrey deliuerers of that egregious enterprise by fires and bankettes outwardly disclosing their excéeding great ioye within and in midde of their mirth the people in great throngs and companies ranne to the Tyrants palace whose wife hearyng the peoples noyse and certified of hir husbands death inclosed hir selfe in a chamber with hir two daughters and knowing how hatefull she was vnto the Citizens with a 〈◊〉 corde vpon a beame she hong hir selfe The chamber dores being broke opē the people viewed the horrible sight of the strangled ladie wherwithall not moued they toke the two trembling daughters of the tyrant and caried them away purposing to rauish violate the same firste to saciate their lust with the spoile of their virginitie and afterwards to kill them those Gentlewomen were very beautifull and mariageable and as they were about to do that shamefull déede Magistona was tolde therof who accompanied with other Matrons sharply rebuked their furie saying that vncomely it were for them which sought to establish a ciuile state to doe such a shamelesse act as tirants rage wold scarce permit Upon that noble matrons authoritie and interception they ceassed from their filthie fact and then the woman tooke the 〈◊〉 oute of the peoples handes and brought them into the chambre where their strangled mother was And vnderstandyng that it was decréed that none of the Tyrants bloud shoulde rest on liue she turned hir face to the two yong Gentlewomen and sayde The chiefest pleasure which I can doe to you resteth in this choise that it shall be lawfull for either of you to choose what kinde of death you list by knife or halter if you will to dispatche your liues from the hedlesse peoples greater furie vpon whose two white and tender bodies if they doe seaze the Gods doe know and we doe feare the crueltie and great abuse which they doe meane to vse I thinke not for despite of you but for the iust reuenge of your most cruell fathers actes for the tyrannous life of whom the Gods do thunder downe the boltes of their displeasure afflicting his nearest bloud and beste beloued wife and children wyth vengeance poured from heauens Upon the sentence of this their fatall ende the elder maiden of the twaine vnlosed a girdle from hir middle and began to tie the same to hang hir selfe exhortyng hir yonger sister to doe the like and in any wise to beware by sparing of hir life to incurre the beastly rage of the monstrous people which cared not to do eche vile and filthie acte vnworthie theyr estate The yonger sister at those wordes layed handes vpon the fastened corde and besought hir right earnestly first of all to suffer hir to die Wherevnto the elder aunswered So long as it was lawfull for me to liue and whiles we led our princely time in our fathers courte both were frée from enimies danger all things betwene vs two were common and indifferente wherefore the Gods forbidth at now the gates of death be opened for vs to enter when with the Ghostes of our dere parents our soules amids the infernall fieldes be predestined to raunge and wander that I shoulde make deniall of thy request Therfore go to good sister mine and shrink not when thou séest the vgly face of hir that must consume vs all But yet déere sister the deadly sight of thée before my selfe will bréede to me the woe and smart of double death When she had so sayd she yelded the coller to hir sister counselled hir to place the same so néere the neck bone as she could that the sooner the halters force might stop hir breath When the vnfearefull yonger sister was dead the trēbling hands of that dredlesse elder maid vntied the girdle from hir neck couering in comly wise hir senslesse corps Then turning hir self to Megistona she hūbly prayed hir not to suffer their two bodies to bée séene naked but so sone as she could to bury them both in one earthly graue referring the frutes of their virginitie to the mould wherof they came When she had spokē those wordes without any staye or feare at all with the selfe same corde the strangled hir self and so finished hir fatall dayes The guiltlesse death of which two tender maids there was none of the citizens of Elis as I suppose so stonie hearted voide of Natures force ne yet so wroth against the tyrant father but did lament as well for the constant stoutnesse and maner of their death as for their maydenlyke behauioure and right honest petitions made to that sobre matrone Megisthona who afterwardes
Odenatus Emperour and lords of all the Orient during which time hée recouered all the landes and prouinces lost by Galienus and paide the Romane army all the arrerages of their wages due vnto them But Fortune full of inconstancie suffred not this good Prince very long to raigne For hauing in hys house a kinsman of his named Meonius to whom he bare great good will for that he sawe him to be a valiant man of warre although ignorant of his enuie and couetousnesse it chaunced vpon a daye as they two rode on hunting galloping after the pursute of a wilde Bore with the verie same bore speare which Meonius caried to strike the beast hée killed by treason his good cousin Odenatus But that murdre was not long time 〈◊〉 For the borespeare wherwith he had so cruelly killed the Emperor his cousin was incoÌ„tinently knowne by the hunters which folowed Odenatus whervpon that daye the heade of Meonius was striken off And Galienus vnderstanding the death of Odenatus gaue great rewardes presents to them that brought him the newes being so ioyfull as the Romans were angrie to vnderstand those pitifull tydings bycause through the good 〈◊〉 which Odenatus vsed in Asia they had great traÌ„quillitle peace thorowout Europa Now after the death of this good Emperour Odenatus the Armies chose one of his two sonnes to be Emperour of the Orient But for that hée was yong they chose Zenobia to bée Protector of hir sonne and gouerner ouer the said Orient Empire Who séeing that vpon the decease of Odenatus certain of the East Cuntries began to reuolt she determined to open hir Treasure reassemble hir men of warre and in hir owne person to march into the fielde where she did such notable enterprises as shée appalled hir enimies and made the whole worlde to wonder About the age of xxxv yeares Zenobia was widow being the Tutrix of hir children Regent of an Empire and Captain general of the armie In which weighty charge she vsed hir selfe so wiselie and well as she acquired no lesse noble name in Asia than Quéene Semiramis did in India Zenobia was constant in that which she toke in hande true in wordes liberall myide seuere where she ought to be discrete graue and secrete in hir enterprises albeit she was ambicious For not content with hir title of Gouernesse or Regent she wrote and caused hir selfe to bée called Empresse she loued not to ride vpon a Mule or in a littor but greatlie estemed to haue greate horse in hir stable and to learne to handle and ryde them When Zenobia went forth of hir Tent to sée the order and gouernement of hir Campe she continually did put on hir Armure and was well guarded with a bande of men so that of a woman she cared but onely for the name and in the facts of Armes she craued the title of valiant The Captains of hir Armie neuer gaue battell or made assault they neuer skyrmished or did other enterprise of warre but she was present in hir owne person and attempted to shewe hir selfe more hardie than any of all the troupe a thing almost incredible in that weake and feble kynde The sayde noble Quéene was of stature bigge and well proporcioned hir eyes black and quicke hir forehedde large hir stomake and breastes fayre vpright hir face white and ruddy a litle mouth hir téeth so white as they semed like a rancke of white pearles but aboue all things she was of such excellent spirit and corage as she was feared for hir stoutnesse beloued for hir beautie And although Zenobia was indued with so great beautie liberalitie riches puissance yet she was neuer stayned with the blemishe of vnchaste life or with other banitie and as hir husband Odenatus was wont to say that after she felt hir selfe with childe she neuer suffred him to come nere hir such was hir great chastitie saying that women ought to marie rather for children than for pleasure She was also excellently well learned in the Greeke and Latine tong She did neuer eate but one meale a day Hir talke was verie litle and rare The meate which she vsed for hir repaste was eyther that hanch of a wilde Bore or else the syde of a déere She could drinke no wine nor abyde the scent thereof But she was so curious in good and perfect waters as she would gyue so great a price for that as is ordinarilie gyuen for wyne bée it neuer so excellent So sone as the Kings of Egipte of Persia and the Greekes were aduertized of the death of Odenatus they sent their Ambassadours to Zenobia as well to visite and comforte hir as to bée hir confederats and frendes So much was she feared and 〈◊〉 for rare vertues sake The affaires of Zenobia being in such estate in Asia the Emperour Galienus died in Lombardie and the Romanes chose Aurelianus to bée Emperour who although hée was of base obscure lineage yet hée was of greate valiance in factes of armes When Aurelianus was chosen 〈◊〉 he made great preparacion into Asia to 〈◊〉 warres vpon Quéene Zenobia and in all his tyme hée neuer attempted greater enterprise for the Romanes When hée was arriued in Asia the Emperour proceded against the Quéene and she as valiantlie defended hir selfe continually being betwene them greate alarms and skirmishes But as Zenobia and hir people were of lesse trauell and of better skyll in knowledge of the CuÌ„trie so they did greater harme more anoiaÌ„ce vnto their enimie and therof receiued lesser damage The Emperour seing that hée should haue much adoe to vanquishe Zenobia by armes determined to ouercome hir by gentle wordes and faire promisses for which cause he wrote vnto hir a letter the tenor wherof ensueth Aurelianus Emperour of Rome lord of al Asia to thée the right honorable Zenobia seÌ„deth greting Although to such rebellious women as thou art it shold séeme uncomely and not decent to make request yet if thou wilt séeke ayde of my mercie and rendre thy selfe vnder mine obedience bée assured that I will doe thée honor gyue pardone to thy people The golde siluer and all other riches within thy Pallace I am content thou shalt enioye together with the kingdome of Palmyres which thou maiest kepe during thy life leaue after thy death to whom thou shalt think good vpon condition notwithstanding that thou abandone all thine other Realmes and Cuntries which thou haste in Asia and acknowledge Rome to bée thy superior Of thy vassals and subiects of Palmyres we demaund none other obedience but to bée confederats and frendes so that thou breake vp thy Campe wherwith thou makest warre in Asia disobeyest the citie of Rome we wil suffer thée to haue a certain number of men of warre so wel for the tuiâ—ion of thy person as for the defense of thy kyngdome And thy two children which thou haddest by thy husband Odenatus He whom thou louest best shal remaine with thée in Asia and the
was sent forth on businesse of the kings The conclusion of which practise was that when she caried meate to Acharisto according to the ordre appointed she should faine hir selfe to bée violentlie dispoyled of the prison-key by Acharisto who taking the same from hir should shut hir in the prison and escape and wheÌ„ hir husband did returne she should make compl 〈…〉 of the violence done vnto hir according to which deuise the practise was accomplished And when hir husbande returned home hearing his wife crie out within the Tower was meruellously amazed and vnderstanding that Acharisto was deade ignorant of the pollicie betwene his wyfe and Euphimia hée fell into great rage speâ—delie repaired to the king and tolde him what had chauÌ„ced The King thinking that the breache of prison was rather through the womans simplicitie than purposed malice did mitigate his displeasure 〈◊〉 forthwith he sent out Scoutes to spie and watche in to what place Acharisto was gone whose secrete flight made all their trauell to be in vaine Then the King when he saw that hée coulde not be found made proclamation throughout his realme that who so would bring vnto him the hed of Acharisto should haue to wife his onely daughter and after his decease should possesse his Kingdome for dowrie of that mariage Many knightes did put themselues in redinesse to themselues that enterprise aboue al Philon was the chiefe not for gredinesse of the kingdome but for loue which hée bare vnto the Gentlewoman Wherof Acharisto hauing intelligence and perceuing that in no place of Europa he coulde be safe and sure froÌ„ daunger for the multitude of them which pursued hym vnto deth caused Euphimia to vnderstand the miserable estate wherin he was Euphimia which bent hir mind employed hir studie for his safegarde imparted hir loue which she bare to Acharisto to an aged Gentlewoman which was hir nurse gouernesse besought hir that she wold intreat hir sonne called Sinapus one very wel beloued of the King so reach his help vnto hir desire that Acharisto might return to the court again The Nurse like a wise woman lefte no persuasion vnspoken nor counsell vnremembred which she thought was able to dissuade the yong gentlewoman froÌ„ hir conceiued loue but the wounde was so déepely made and hir heart so greuously wounded with the thrée forked arrows of the litle blinde archer Cupide that despising all the reasons of hir beloued nurse she sayde howe shée was firmely bente eyther to runne from hir father and to séeke out Acharisto to sustaine with hym one equall fortune or else with hir owne handes to procure death if some remedie were not founde to recouer the Kynges good grace for the returne of Acharisto The Nurse vanquished with pitie of the yong mayden fearyng bothe the one and the sorte daunger that myght ensue sent for Sinapus and vpon their talke together Euphimia and hée concluded that Acharisto shoulde bée brought agayne vnto the Courte and that shée hir selfe should present him to the Kyng wherin should want no kinde of diligence vntill the Kyng did enterteyne him againe for his faithfull seruaunt as hée was woont to doe Upon which resolution Acharisto was sente for and being come Sinapus and Euphimia together wyth the Nurse tolde hym in what 〈◊〉 they thrée had concluded touching his health and safegarde Which of him being well lyked did giue 〈◊〉 humble thankes And then Sinapus went vnto the Kyng and tolde him that there was one newely arriued at Corinth to make a present vnto his grace of the hed of Acharisto At which newes the King shewed him selfe so ioyful as if he had gotten an other Kingdome and being placed vnder his cloath of state with his Counsell and Princely trayne about him telling them the 〈◊〉 of that assemblie coÌ„maunded hym that brought those newes to bring the partie forth newely come vnto the Citie to presente the head of Acharisto Then Sinapus broughte Acharisto before the presence of the King who no sooner looked vpon hym but fell into such a rage as the fire séemed to flame out of his angrie eyes and commaunded hym presentlye to bée taken and put to death But Acharisto fallyng 〈◊〉 vpon his knées humbly besoughte his Maiestie to gyue hym leaue 〈◊〉 speake But the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sufferyng hym to vtter one woorde 〈◊〉 him away Then the Counsellours and other Lordes of the Courte intreated his grace to heare him At whose requestes and supplications hée 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 contente Then Acharisto began to say Most sacred Prince and redoubted Soueraigne Lord the cause of thys my presumptuous repaire before your Maiestie is not to shew my selfe guiltie of the late beuised conspiracie ne yet to craue pardon for the same but to satisfie your Maiestie with that contented desire whiche by proclamation ye haue prondunced through your highnesse 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 whiche is to offer this heade for reuenge of the fault vniustly laid vnto my charge by those foure which woorthily haue tasted the deserued pame of their 〈◊〉 Whersore I am come hither of mine owne accorde to shewe the loue and greate desire whiche euer I had to serue and please your Maiestie And for that I would not coÌ„sume my lyfe in your displeasure I make offer of the same to your mercifull will and disposition chosing rather to die and leaue your maiestie satisfied contented than to lyue in happie state your princely minde displeased But desirous that hour maiestie shuld know myne innocencie I humbly besech your grace to heare what I can say that my fidelitie may bée throughly vnderstanded the wickednesse of the 〈◊〉 myne accusers wel wayed and considered Then hée began to rehearse all the things done by him for the seruice of his crowne and maiestie and finally into what daunger he did put himself when he killed the Lacedemonian king that went about by treason to murder him which enterprise might appere vnto him to be 〈◊〉 sure and euident testimonie that he ment nothing hurtfull or preindicial to his highnesse And that hée cstemed not his life when he aduentured for his seruice sauegarde to employ the same after these alleaged causes he added briefly that the loue which his maiestie knew to bée betwene him Euphimia his daughter ought to 〈◊〉 persuaded him that 〈◊〉 had rather haue suffered death himselfe than commit a thing displeasant to Euphimia And knowing that a more 〈◊〉 thing could not chauÌ„ce to hir than the 〈◊〉 death of hir father he might wel thinke that he wold haue deuised the death of a thousand other rather than that horrible 〈◊〉 déede such as his greatest enimie would neuer haue done much lesse 〈◊〉 which was bounde vnto him by so many receiued benefits for whose service preseruacion he had dedicated vowed his life and soule But if so be his maiesties rancor and displeasure could not bée mitigated but by doing hym to death hée desired that none of his alleaged reasons should bée accepted and
custodie and sodainly assailed the Palace of Acharisto And finding the Gates open he entred the citie crying out vpon the wickednesse and treason of Acharisto At which words the whole Citie began to rise to helpe Philon in his enterprise For there was no state or degrée but abhorred the vnkind order of that variet towards the noble woman their Quéene Philon aided with the people assaulted the Palace and in short space inuaded the same and the Uarlet béeing apprehended was put to death The Corinthians séeing the noble minde of Philon and the loue which he bare to Euphimia and knowing that their late Kyng was disposed to haue matched hir with Philon were very willing to haue him to be their king and that Euphimia shold be his wife supposing that vnder the gouernement of a Prince so gentle and valiant they might liue very happily and ioyefully Execution done vpon that moste 〈◊〉 varlet Philon caused the Ladie to be conueyed home into hir royall Pallace And the people with humble submission began to persuade hir to marie with that yong Prince Philon. But shée which had lodged hir thoughts and fixed hir minde vpon that caytife who vnnaturally had abused hir would by no meanes consent to take a new husband saying that the seconde mariage was not to bée allowed in any woman And albeit that she knew howe greately she was bounde to Philon as during life not able to recompence his louing kindnesse and baliant exployte performed for hir safegarde yet for all hir vnhappie fortune shée was minded still to remayne a widowe and well contented that Philon shoulde possesse hir whole domynion and kingdome and she pleased to liue his subiecte Whiche state she sayd did like hir best Philon that not for desire of the Kingdome but for loue of the ladie had attempted that worthie and honourable enterprise sayd vnto hir Euphimia it was onely for youre sake that I aduentured this dangerous indeuor to ridde you from the slander that might haue ensued youre innocent death and out of the cruell hands of him whome unworthily you did so dearely loue No desire of kingdome or worldely glorie induced me herevnto No care that I had to enlarge the boundes of my countrey soile pricked the courage of my minde that is altogether emptie of ambition but the passion of carelesse loue whiche this long time I haue borne you in your happie fathers dayes to whome I made incessant sute and to your selfe I was so long a suter vntil I receiued extreme repulse For which I vowed a perpetuall single life vntill this occasion was offred the brute wherof when I heard first so stirred the minde of your most louing knight that drousie sléepe or gréedie hunger could not force this restlesse bodie to tarrie at home vntill I reuenged my self vpon that vilaine borne which went about with roasting flames to consume the innocent flesh of hir whom I loued best And therfore mustred together my men of armes and in secret sort imbarked our selues and arriued here Where wée haue accomplished the thyng we came for and haue settled you in quiet raigne frée from perill of traiterous mindes crauing for this my fact nought else of you but willing minde to be my wife which 〈◊〉 you do refuse I passe not for rule of your kyngdome ne yet for abode in Corinth but meane to leaue you to youre choise For satisfied am I that I haue manifested to the world the greatnesse of my loue which was so ample as euer King could beare to vertuous Quéene And so fare well At which wordes he made a signe to his people that they should shippe them selues for returne to Poloponessus But the Senatours and al the people of Corinth seing the curtesie of Philon how greatly their Quéene was bound vnto him fel downe vpon their knées and with ioyned hands befought hir to take him to husband neuer ceasing from teares and supplication vntill shée had consented to their request Then the mariage was solemnised with great ioy and triumphe and the whole Citie after that time lyued in great felicitie quiet so long as nature lengthened the dayes of those two noble Princes The Marchionisse of Monferrato ¶ The Marchionisse of MONFERRATO with a banket of hennes and certaine pleasant wordes repressed the fonde loue of PHILIP the French King The. xvj Nouel GOod Euphimia as you haue heard did fondly applie hir loue vpon a seruile mā who though bred vp in Court wher trayuyng and vse doth cōmonly alter the rude condicions of suche as bée interteyned there yet voyde of all gentlenesse and frustrate of natures swéetenesse in that curteous kinde as not exchaungyng natiue 〈◊〉 for noble aduauncement returned to his hoggish soile and walowed in the durtie filthe of Inhumanitie whose nature myght well with Forke or Staffe bee expelled but home againe it would haue come as Horace pleadeth in his Epistles O noble Gentlewoman that mildly suffred the displeasure of the good King hir father who woulde faine haue dissuaded hir from that vnséemely matche to ioyne with a yong Prince a King a Gentleman of great perfection And O pestilent Carle being beloued of so honourable a pucell that for treason discharged thy head frō the block of a donghill slaue preferred thée to be a King wouldest for those deserts in the ende frame 〈◊〉 matter to consume hir With iust hatred then did the noble Emperor Claudius Caesar prosecute those of bonde seruile kinde that were matched with the frée and noble Right well knew he that some tast of egrenesse wold rest in such sauage frute therfore made a law that the issue of them shold not haue like libertie and preheminence as other had which agréeably did couple What harme such mariage hath inferred to dyuers states and persons to auoide other exāples the former Nouel teacheth Wherfore to ende the same with bewailing of Euphimia for hir vnluckie lot begin we now to glad our selues with the wise and stoute aunswere of a chaste Marquesse a Gentlewoman of singular beautie and discretion made to the fond demaunde of a mightie Monarch that fondly fell in loue with hir and made a reckenyng of that which was doubtfull to recouer This King by louing hir whome he neuer saw fared like the man that in his sléepe dreamed that hée had in holde the thing furthest from him For the King neuer saw hir before he heard hir praised and when he hearde hir praised for purpose to winne hir he trauailed out of his way so sure to enioy hir as if he had neuer séene hir This historie although briefe yet sheweth light to noble dames that be pursued by Princes teacheth them with what regard they ought to interteine such suters The Marquesse then of Monferrato a citie in Italie beyng a Gentlemā of great prowesse and valiance was appointed to transfrete the Seas in a generall passage made by the christians with an huge Armie and great furniture And as it chaunced vpon
〈◊〉 loued and a newe borne childe bothe supposed to be dead by hir friendes and therefore intombed in graue The other chaunce a singular desire of a gentlewoman by hūble sute for conseruation of hir honour although long time pursued by a gentleman that reuiued hir almost frō 〈◊〉 and thought vtterly to 〈◊〉 voide of life To praise the one and to leaue the other not magnified it were a part of discurtesie but to extoll bothe with shoutes and acclamations of infinite praise no dout but very commēdable If comparisons may be made with Princes of elder yeres and not to note those of later truely Maister Gentil by that his fact 〈◊〉 not much inferior to Scipio Affricanus for sparing the wife of Indibilis ne yet to king Cyrus for Panthea the 〈◊〉 of Abradatas although both of them not in equal state of loue as wholy 〈◊〉 from that passion like to master Gentil who in dede for subduing that griefe and motion deserueth greater praise For sooner is that torment auoided at the first assault and pinche than when it is suffred long to flame raigne in that yelding portion of man the heart which once fed with the 〈◊〉 of loue is seldome or neuer loosed To do at large to vnderstand the proofe of those most 〈◊〉 persones thus beginneth the historie At Bologna a very notable Citie of Lombardie there was a Knight of very great respect for his vertue named maister Gentil Carissendi who in his youthe fell in loue with a gentlewoman called mistresse Katherine the wife of one maister Nicholas Chasennemie And bicause during that loue he receiued a very yll coūterchange for his affection that he bare vnto that gentlewoman he went away like one desperate to be the iudge potestate of Modena wherunto he was called About that time the husband being out of Bologna and the gentlewomā at 〈◊〉 Manor in the country about a mile a halfe from the Citie whither she went to remaine bicause she was with childe it chaunced 〈◊〉 she was 〈◊〉 surprised with a sicknesse which was such and of so great force as there was no token of life in hir but rather iudged by all Phisitians to be a dead woman And bicause that hir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayd that they heard hir say that she could not be so long time with childe 〈◊〉 that the infant must be perfect and ready to be 〈◊〉 and therefore 〈◊〉 wyth some other disease and 〈◊〉 that would bring hir to hir end as a 〈◊〉 or other swelling rising of grosse humors they thought hir a dead woman and past recouerie wherfore vpō a time she falling into a 〈◊〉 was verily supposed and left for dead Who after they had mourned hir death bewailed the 〈◊〉 expiration of 〈◊〉 soul caused hir to be buried wtout 〈◊〉 of recouery euen as she was in that extasie in a graue of a church adioyning harde by the house where she dwelt Which thing 〈◊〉 was aduertised master Gentil by one of his frēds who although he was not likely as he thought to attaine hir fauor in vtter dispaire therof yet it grieued him very muche that no better héede was taken vnto hir thinking by diligence and time she would haue come to hir self againe saying thus in the end vnto him self How now 〈◊〉 Katherin that death hath wrought his will with you and I could neuer obtein during your life one simple looke frō those your glistering eies which lately I beheld to my great ouerthrow and decay wherfore now when you cānot defend your self I may be bold you being dead to steale from you some desired kisse When he had said so being already night and hauyng taken order that none should know of his departure he 〈◊〉 vpon his horse accompanied with one only seruaūt without tarying any where arriued at the place wher his Lady was buried and opening the graue forthwith he entred in and laying him self down bisides hir he approched 〈◊〉 hir face and many times kissed hir pouring forthe great abundance of teares But as we sée the appetite of man not to be content except it procéede further specially of such as be in loue being determined to tarye no longer there and to departe he sayd Ah God why should I goe no further why should I not touche hir why shold I not proue whither she be aliue or dead 〈◊〉 then with that motion he felt hir 〈◊〉 and holding his hand there for a certeine time perceiued hir heart as it were to pant thereby some life remaining in hir Wherefore so softly as he could with the helpe of his man he raised hir out of the graue and setting hir vpon his horsse before him secretely caried hir home to his house at Bologna The mother of maister Gentil dwelled there which was a graue and vertuous gentlewoman who vnderstanding by hir sonne the whole effect of that chaunce moued with compassion vnknowne to any man placing hir before a great fire and cōforting hir with bathe prepared for the purpose she recouered life in the gentlewoman that was supposed to be deade who so soone as she was come to hir selfe threwe forth a great sigh and said Alas where am I now To whom the good olde woman 〈◊〉 Be of good chéere swete hart ye be in a good place The gentlewoman hauing wholly recouered hir senses and looking roūd about hir not yet well knowing where she was and séeing 〈◊〉 Gentil before hir prayed his mother to tell hir howe she came 〈◊〉 To whome maister Gentil declared in order what he had done for hir and what meanes he vsed to bring hir thither Whereof making hir complaint and lamenting the little regard and negligence of hir frends she rendred vnto hym innumerable thankes Then she prayed him for the loue which at other times he bare hir and for his 〈◊〉 that she might not receiue in hys house any thing that should be dishonorable to hir person ne yet to hir husband but so soone as it was daye 〈◊〉 suffer hir to goe home to hir owne house wherunto 〈◊〉 Gentil answered Madame what so euer I haue desired in time 〈◊〉 nowe I purpose neuer to demaunde of you any thing or to do here in this place or in any other 〈◊〉 but that I would to mine 〈◊〉 sister sith it hath pleased God to doe me suche pleasure 〈◊〉 from death to life to render you to me in consideration 〈◊〉 the loue that I haue borne you heretofore But this good woorke which this nyght I haue done for you well deferueth some recompence Wherfore my desire is that you deny me not the pleasure which I shall demaund whome the gentlewoman curteously answered that she was very redy so the same were honest in bi r power to doe Then said maister Gentil Mystresse all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and all they of Bologna doe beleue for a trouthe that you be deade wherfore there is none that loketh for you at home and the pleasure then which I demaund is
shall not make me beleue at this tyme that ye be marchantes and so I bid you farewell Saladine hauing taken his leaue of all them that were in companie with maister Thorello aunswered him Syr it may come to passe that we may let you sée our marchandise the better to confirme your belefe And fare you also heartily well Saladine then and his companions being departed assuredly determined if he liued and that the warres he looked for did not let him to doe no lesse honor to master Thorello then he had done to him fell into great talke with his companions of him of his wife of his things actes and déedes greatly praising all his entertainment But after he had serched by great trauaile all the West parts imbarking him self and his company he returned to Alexandria and throughly informed of his enimies indeuors prepared for his defence Master Thorello returned to Pauie and mused a long time what these thrée were but he neuer drew nere ne yet arriued to 〈◊〉 truth When the time of the appointed passage made by the Christians was come and that great preparation generally was made master Thorello notwithstanding the 〈◊〉 and prayers of his wife was fully bent to goe thither and hauing set all things in order for that voyage and ready to get on horsbacke he sayd vnto hir whome he perfectlye loued Swéete wife I am going as thou séest this iourney aswell for mine honoure sake as for health of my soule I recommende vnto you our goodes and honoure And bicause I am not so certaine of returne for a thousand accidents that may chaunce as I am sure to goe I pray thée to do me this pleasure that what so euer chaunceth of me if thou haue no certaine newes of my life that yet thou tarie one yeare one moneth and one day before thou marry againe the same terme to begin at the daye of my departure The Gentlewoman which bitterly wept answered I know not deare husbād how I shal be able to beare the sorow wherein you leaue me if you goe away But if my life be more strong and sharpe than sorow it self and whether you liue or die or what so euer come of you I will liue and die the wife of master Thorello and the onely spouse of his remembrance Whereunto master Thorello sayd Swéete wife I am more than assured that touching your selfe it will proue as you doe promise But you be a yong woman faire and well allied and your vertue is great and wel knowne throughout the Countrey by reason wherof I doubt not but that many great personages Gentlemen if any suspition be conceiued of my death wyll make requestes to your brethren and kinred from whose pursute although you be not disposed you can not defend your selfe and it behoueth that of force you please their will which is the onely reason that moueth me to demaund that terme and no longer time The Gentlewoman sayd I will doe what I can for fulfilling of my promise And albeit in end that I shal be constrained to doe otherwise be assured that I will obey you in the charge which now you haue giuen me I humbly thanke almightye God for that he neuer brought vs into these termes before this tyme. Their talke ended the Gentlewoman wéeping embraced master Thorello and drawing a ring from hir finger she gaue it him saying If it chaunce that I die before I sée you remember me when you shall beholde the same He receiuing the ring got vp vpon his horsse and taking his leaue went on his voyage and arriued at Geuoua he shipped him selfe in a Galley and toke his way whereunto winde and weather so fauoured as within fewe dayes he landed at Acres and ioyned with the armye of the Christians wherein began a great mortalitie and Plague during which infection what so euer was the cause eyther by the industrie or fortune of Saladine the rest of the Christians that escaped were almost taken and surprised by hym without any fighte or blowe stricken All which were imprysoned in many Cities and deuided into diuers places amongs which prisoners master Thorello was one who was caried prisoner to Alexandria where being not knowne and fearing to be knowne forced of necessitie gaue himselfe to the kéeping of Hawkes a qualitie wherein he had very good skill whereby in the end he grewe to the acquaintance of the Souldan who for that occasion not knowing him that time tooke him out of prison and retained him for his Fawconer Master Thorello which was called of the Souldan by none other name than Christian whome he neyther knewe ne yet the Souldan hym had none other thing in his minde and remembraunce but Pauie and manye times assayed to escape and run away But he neuer came to the point Wherfore diuers Ambassadoures from Genoua being come to Saladine to raunsome certaine of their prisoners and being ready to returne he thought to wryte vnto his wife to let hir know that he was aliue and that he would come home so soone as he coulde praying hir to tarie his retourne Which was the effect of his letter very earnestly desiring one of the ambassadoures of his acquaintance to doe so much for him as safely to deliuer those letters to that hands of the Abbot of S. Pietro in ciel Doro which was his vncle And master Thorello standing vpon these termes it chaunced vpon a day as Saladine was talking with him of his Hawkes master Thorello began to smile and to make a 〈◊〉 with his mouth which Saladine being at his house at Pauie did very wel note by which act Saladine began to remember master Thorello and earnestly to viewe him and thought that it was he in déede Wherefore leauing his former talke he sayd Tell me Christian of what countrey art thou in the West parts Spy sayd master Thorello I am a Lombarde of a Citie called Pauie a poore man and of meane estate So soone as Saladine heard that as assured wherof he doubted said to him selfe God hath giuen me a time to let thys man know how thankfully I accepted his curtesie that he vsed towardes me and without any more woords hauing caused all his apparell in a chamber to be set in order he brought him into the same sayd behold Christian if amongs al these roabes there be any one which thou hast séene before Master Thorello began to looke vpon them and saw those which his wyfe had giuen to Saladine but he could not beleue that it was possible that they should be the same notwithstanding he answered Sir I know them not albeit my minde giueth me that these twaine do resemble the roabes which sometimes I ware caused them to be giuen to thrée marchaunt men that were lodged at my house Then Saladine not able to forbeare any longer tēderly imbraced him saying you be master Thorello de Istria and I am one of the thrée marchantes to whome your wife gaue those roabes and nowe
the same with ill digesture that muche a do shall I haue to be agréed with them and to remoue the grief which they shall conceiue against me for this mine enterprise wherefore I would the same should secretely be kept vntil without perill and daunger either of my self or of him whome I pretende to mary I may publish and manifest not my loue but the mariage which I hope in God shall soon be consummate and accomplished with one whome I doe loue better than my self and who as I full well do know doeth loue me better than his owne proper life Maister Bologna which till then harkned to the Dration of the Duchesse without mouing féeling himself touched so néere and hearing that his Ladie had made hir approche for mariage stode stil astonned his tongue not able to frame one word only fantasied a thousand 〈◊〉 in the aire and formed like numbre of imaginations in his minde not able to coniecture what hée was to whome the Duchesse had vowed hir loue the possession of hir beauty He could not thinke that this ioy was prepared for himself for that his Ladie spake no woord of him and he lesse durst opē his mouth and yet was wel assured that she loued him beyōd measure Not withstāding knowing the ficklenesse and vnstable heart of women he sayd vnto himself that she would chaunge hir minde for seing him to be so great a Cowarde as not to offer hys seruice to a Ladie by whome he saw himself so manie times bothe want only looked vpon intertained with some secresie more thā familiar The Duchesse which was a fine and subtile dame séeing hir friend rapt with the passion and standing stil vnmoueable through feare pale amazed as if hée had bene accused and condempned to die knew by that countenaunce astonishment of Bologna that she was perfectly beloued of him and so meaning not to suffer hym any longer to continue in that amaze ne yet to further fear him wyth hir dissembled and fained mariage of any other but with him she toke him by the hand and beholding him with a wāton and luring eye in such sort as the curious Philosophers themselues would awake if such a Lāpe and torch did shine within their studies she sayde thus vnto hym Seignor Anthonio I pray you be of good chéere torment not your self for any thing that I haue said I know well and of long time haue perceyued what good and faithfull loue you beare me with what affection you haue serued me sithens first you vsed my companie Thinke me not to be so ignorant but that I know ful wel by outward signes what secretes be hid in the inner heart and that coniectures many times doe giue me true and certaine knowledge of concealed things And am not so foolish to thinke you to be so vndiscrete but that you haue marked my countenaunce maner and therby haue knowen that I haue bene more affectioned to you than to any other For that cause sayd she straining him by the hād very louingly with cherefull coloure in hir face I sweare vnto you doe promise that if you so thinke méete it shall be none other but your self whom I wil haue desire to take to husband and lawfull spouse assuring my self so much of you as the loue which so long time hath ben hidden couered in our hearts shal appeare by so euident proofe as only death shal end vndoe the same The gentleman hearing such sodain talk the assurāce of that which he most wished for albeit he saw that daunger extréeme wherunto he laūched himself by espousing this great Ladie the enimies he shold get by entring such aliance notwithstanding building vpon vaine hope and thinking at length that the choler of the Aragon brother would passe away if they vnderstoode that mariage determined to pursue that purpose not to refuse that great preferment being so prodigally offred for which cause he answered his Lady in this maner If it were in my power madame to bring to passe that which I desire for your seruice by acknowledging of the benefits fauors which you depart vnto me as my mind presenteth thāks for the same I wold think my self the happiest Gentlemā that lyueth you the best serued Princesse of the world For one better beloued I dare presume to say and so long as I liue wil affirm is not to be found If til this time I delayed to opē that which now I discouer vnto you I beséeche you Madame to impute it to the greatnesse of your estate and to the duetie of my calling office in your house being not séemely for a seruant to talk of such secretes with his Ladie and mistresse And truely that pain which I haue indured to holde my peace and to hide my griefe hath bene more noysome to me than one hundred thousand like sorowes together although it had ben lawfull to haue reuealed thē to some trusty friend I do not deny madame but of long time you did perceiue my follie and presumption by addressing my minde so high as to the Aragon bloud and to such a Princesse as you be And who cā beguile the eye of a Louer specially of hir whose Paragon for good minde wisedom gentlenesse is not And I cōfesse to you bisides that I haue most euidently perceiued how certain loue hath lodged in your gracious heart wherwith you bare me greater affection thā you did to any other within the compasse of your familie But what Great Ladies hearts be fraught with secretes conceits of other effects than the minds of simple womē which caused me to hope for none other guerdon of my loyal faithfull affection than death the same very short Sith that litle hope accompanied with great nay rather extreme passion is not able to giue sufficiēt force both to suffer to stablish my heart with constancie Now for so much as of your motion grace curtesie liberalitie the same is offred that it pleaseth you to accept me for yours I hūbly beseche you to dispose of me not as husband but of one which is shal be your seruaunt for euer such as is more ready to obey thā you to cōmaund It resteth now Madame to consider how in what wise our affairs are to be directed that things being in assurāce you may so liue without peril and brute of slaunderous tongues as your good fame honest port may continue without spot or blemish Beholde the first Acte of the Tragedie and the prouision of the fare which afterwardes sent them bothe to their graue who immediately gaue their mutuall faith and the houre was assigned the next day that the fair Princesse shold be in hir chamber alone attended vpon with one only Gentlewoman which had ben brought vp with the Duchesse frō hir cradle was made priuie to the heauy mariage of those two louers which was consummate in hir presence And
part of a faithfull companion to deceiue his friend But in end pleasure surmounting reason and the beautie ioyned with the good grace of the Lady hauing blinded him and bewitched his wits so wel as Ardizzino he toke his way towards hir house who waited for him with good deuotion whither being arriued hée failed not to vse like spéeche that Valperga did either of them after certain reuerences and other fewe words minding and desiring one kinde of intertainment This practize dured certaine months and the Countesse was so farre rapt with hir newe louer as she only employed hir selfe to please him and he shewed himselfe so affected as she thought to bridle him in all things whereof she was afterwards deceiued as you shall vnderstād the maner Ardizzino seing himself wholly abandoned the presence and loue of his Ladie knowing the she railed vpon him in all places where she came departed Pauia halfe out out of his wits for anger and so strayed from 〈◊〉 order by reason of his rage as hée displayed the Countesse thrée times more liuely in hir colours than she could be painted and reproued hir with that termes of the vilest and most 〈◊〉 strumpet that 〈◊〉 ran at rouers or shot at randon Bianca Maria vnderstoode hereof and was aduertised of the good reporte that Ardizzino spread of hir throughout 〈◊〉 which chafed hir in suche wise as she fared like the Bedlem furie ceasing night nor day to plaine the vnkindnesse and follie of hir reietted Louer Sometimes saying that she had iust cause so to doe then flattering hir selfe alledged that men were made of purpose to suffer such follies as were wrought by hir and that where they termed themselues to be womens seruauntes they ought at their mistresse hands to endure what pleased them In the end not able any longer to restrain hir choler ne vanquish the appetite of reuenge purposed at all aduēture to prouide for the death of hir aūcient enimy and that by meanes of him whome she had now tangled in hir nettes Sée the vnshamefastnesse of this mastife bitche and the rage of that female Tiger how shée goeth about to arme one friend against an other and was not content onely to abuse the Counte Gaiazzo but deuised to make him that manqueller And as one night they were in the midst of their embracements she began pitifully to wéepe and sigh in such wise as a man wold haue thought by the vexation of hir heart that the soule and body wold haue parted The yonge Lord louingly enquired the cause of hir heauinesse and sayd vnto hir that if any had done vnto hir displeasure hée would reuenge hir cause to hir contentation She hearing him say so then in studie vpon the deuice of hir enimies death spake to the Counte in this manner You know sir that the thing which moste 〈◊〉 the Gentle heart and minde that can abide no wrong is defamation of honoure and infamous reporte Thus much I say by reason the Lord of Massino who to say the trouth hath bene fauored of me in like sort as you be now hathe not vene ashamed to publishe open 〈◊〉 against me as thoughe I were the arrantest whoore that euer had giuen hir selfe ouer to the Galley slaues alongs the shore of Sicile If he had vaunted the fauoure which I haue done him but to certaine of his friendes I had incurred no whit of slaunder much lesse any little suspition but hearing the common reports the wrongfull woords and wicked brute that he hath raised on me I beséeche you syr to doe me reason that he may féele his offence and the smart for his committed fault against hir that is all youres The Lord Sanseuerino hearing this discourse promised hir to doe his best and to teache Valperga to talke more soberly of hir whome he was not worthy for to 〈◊〉 but in thought Notwithstanding he sayde more than he ment to do for he knew Ardizzino to be so honest sage and curteous a personage as hée would neyther doe nor say any thing without good cause and that Ardizzino had 〈◊〉 quarell against him by taking that from him which he loued althoughe it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 discontinuance from that place and vpon the only request of hir Thus he cōcluded in mind stil to remain the friend of Ardizzino and yet to spend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Countesse which he did and vsed certaine months without quarrelling with Valperga that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 with whom he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 liued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 commonly vsed one table bed togither Bianca Maria séeing that the Lord of Gaiazzo cared not much for hir but onely for his pleasure determined to vse like practise against him as she did to hir former louer and to banish him from hir house So that when he came to sée hir either she was sicke or hir affairs were such as she could not kéepe him company or else hir gate was shut vpon him In the end playing double or quit she prayed the sayd Lord to shewe hir such pleasure and friendship as to come no more vnto hir bicause she was in termes to goe home to hir husband the Counte of Celant who had sent for hir and feared least his seruaunts should finde hir house ful of suters alleaging that she had liued long inough in that most sinfull life the lightest faultes whereof were to 〈◊〉 for dames of hir port calling concluding that so long as she liued she would beare him good affection for the honest companie and cōuersation had betwene them and for his curtesie vsed towards hir The yong Erle were it that he gaue credit vnto hir tale or not made as though he did beleue the same and without longer discourse forbare approche vnto hir house and droue out of his heade all the amorous affection which he caried to that Piedmont Circes And to that end hée might haue no cause to thinke vpon hir or that his presence 〈◊〉 make him slaue againe to hir that first pursued him he 〈◊〉 in good time to Millan by which retire hée auoided that mishap wherwith at length this 〈◊〉 woman wold haue cut him ouer the shinnes euen 〈◊〉 his mind was least thereon Such was the malice and mischief of 〈◊〉 heart who ceasing to play the whort applied hir whole 〈◊〉 to murder Gaiazzo being departed from Pauie this Venus once againe assayed the 〈◊〉 of hir Ardizzino and knew not well how to recouer him againe bicause she feared that the other had discouered that enterprise of his murder But what dare not she attempt whose minde is slaue to sinne The first assaies be hard the 〈◊〉 in doubt and conscience gnawing vpon the repentance worme but the same once nousled in vice roted in the heart is more pleasant and gladsome for the wicked to 〈◊〉 than vertue familiar to those that folow hir So that shame separate from before the eyes of youth riper age noursed in 〈◊〉 their sight is so daseled as they can see nothing that either
began somewhat to moderate that heat 〈◊〉 acknowledge all the exhortations which he had made to be 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 purpose And then determined to put them in proofe and to be present 〈◊〉 at all the feasts and assemblies of the citie without bearing affection more to one woman than to another And continued in this manner of life 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 months 〈◊〉 by that meanes to quench the sparks of auncient 〈◊〉 It chanced then within 〈◊〉 dayes after about the feast of Christmasse when feasts bankets most commonly be vsed and maskes according to the custome frequented And bicause that Anthome Capellet was the chief of that familie and one of the most principal Lords of the Citie he made a banket and for the better solempnization of the same inuited all the noble mē and dames at what time ther was the most partof that youth of Verona The family of the Capellets as we haue declared in that beginning of this History was at variance with the 〈◊〉 which was the cause that none of that family repaired to that banket but onely the yong Gentleman Rhomeo who came in a 〈◊〉 after supper with certain other yong Gentlemen And after they had remained a certaine space with their visards on at length they did put of the same and Rhomeo very shamefast withdrew himself into a corner of the Hall but by reason of the light of the torches which burned very bright he was by by known and loked vpon of the whole company but specially of the Ladies for bisides his natiue beautie wherewith nature had adorned him they maruelled at his audacitie how he durst presume to enter so secretly into that house of those which had litle cause to do him any good Notwithstanding the Capellets 〈◊〉 their malice either for the honor of the company or else for respect of his age did not misuse him either in word or déede By meanes whereof with frée liberty he behelde and viewed the ladies at his pleasure which he did so wel and with grace so good as there was 〈◊〉 but did very well like the presence of his person And after hée had particularly giuen iudgement vpon the excellency of each one according to his affection he saw one gentlewoman amongs the rest of surpassing beautie who although he had neuer séene hir tofore pleased him aboue the rest attributed vnto hir in heart the 〈◊〉 place for all perfection in beautie And feastyng hir incessantly with piteous lookes the loue which he bare to his first Gentlewoman was ouercomen with this new fire which tooke such norishement and vigor in his heart as he was able neuer to quench the same but by death onely as you may vnderstande by one of the strangest discourses that euer any mortal man deuised The yong Rhomeo then féelyng himselfe thus tossed with this new tempest could not tel what coūtenaunce to vse but was so surprised and chaunged with these last flames as he had almost forgotten him selfe in suche wise as he had not audacitie to enquire what shée was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bent hym selfe to féede his eyes wyth hir 〈◊〉 wherewyth he moystened the swéete amorous venom which dyd so empoyson him as hée ended his dayes with a kynde of moste cruell death The Gentlewoman that dydde put Rhomeo 〈◊〉 suche payne was called Iulietta and was the daughter of Capellet the maister of the house where that assemblie was who as hir eyes dydde roll and wander too and fro by chaunce espied Rhomeo whiche vnto hir séemed to be the goodliest Gentleman that euer shée sawe And Loue which lay in wayte neuer vntyl that tyme assailing the tender heart of that yong Gentlewoman touched hir so at the quicke as for any resistance she coulde make was not able to defende hys forces and then began to set at naught the royalties of the feast and felt no pleasure in hir hart but when she had a glimpse by throwing or receiuing some sight or looke of Rhomeo And after they had cōtented eche others troubled hart with millions of amorous lokes whiche oftentymes interchangeably encountred and met together the burning beames gaue sufficient testimonie of loues priuie onsettes Loue hauing made the heartes breach of those two louers as they two sought meanes to speake together Fortune offered them a very 〈◊〉 and apt occasion A certaine lorde of that troupe and company tooke Iulietta by the hande to daunce wherein shée behaued hir selfe so well and with so excellent grace as shée wanne that daye the price of honour from all the maidens of Verona Rhomeo hauyng foreséene the place wherevnto she minded to retire approched the same and so discretely vsed the matter as he found the meanes at hir returne to sit beside hir Iulietta when the daunce was finished returned to the very place where she was set before and was placed betwene Rhomeo 〈◊〉 other Gentlemā called Mercutio which was a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gentlemā very wel beloued of all men and by 〈◊〉 of his plesāt curteous behauior was in al 〈◊〉 wel intertained Mercutio that was of audacitie amōg maidēs as a lion is among lābes seased inçōtinently vpon the hande of Iulietta whose hands wontedly wer so cold bothe in winter sommer as the mountain yee although the fires heat did warme the same Rhomeo which sat vpon the left side of Iulietta seing that Mercutio held hir by the right hand toke hir by the other that he might not be deceiued of his purpose straining the same a litle he felt himself so prest with that newe fauor as he remained mute not able to answer But she perceiuing by his change of color that the fault proceded of very vehemēt loue desiring to speake vnto him turned hir selfe towards him with 〈◊〉 voice ioyned with virginal shamfastnesse intermedled with a certaine bashfulnesse sayd to him Blessid 〈◊〉 the hour of your nere aproche but minding to procéede in further talke loue had so closed vp hir mouth as she was not able to end hir tale Wherunto the yong gentleman all rauished with ioy and contentation sighing asked hir what was the cause of that right fortunate blessing Iulietta somwhat more emboldned with pitiful loke and smiling countenance said vnto him Syr do not maruell if I do blesse your comming hither bicause sir Mercutio a good time with frosty hand hath wholly frosen mine and you of your curtesie haue warmed the same again Wherunto immediatly Rhomeo replied Madame if the heauēs haue bene so fauorable to employ 〈◊〉 to do you some agreable seruice being repaired 〈◊〉 by chaunce amongs other Gentlemen I estéeme the same well bestowed crauing no greater benefite for satisfaction of all my contentations receiued in this worlde than to serue obey and honor you so long as my life doth last as experience shall yeld more ample proofe when it shall please you to giue further assay Moreouer if you haue receiued any heat by touche of my hand you may be well assured that those flames
of his Parents and alies were committed and after he had well aduised beholden many wounded hurt on both sides he sayd to his companions My friends let vs part thē for they be so flesht one vpon an other as they wil all be 〈◊〉 to pieces before the game be done And saying so 〈◊〉 thrust himself amids the troupe and did no more but part the blowes on either side crying vpō them aloud My friends no more it is time henceforth that our quarel cease For bisides the prouocation of Gods iust wrath our two families be slaunderous to the whole world and cause this common wealth to grow vnto disorder But they were so egre and furious one against the other as they gaue no audience to Rhomeo his councel and bent themselues to kill dismēber and teare eche other in pieces And the fight was so cruell and outragious betwene them as they which looked on were amased to sée them endure those blowes for the ground was al couered with armes legges thighs and bloud wherein no signe of cowardnesse appeared and maintained their fight so long that none was able to iudge who had the better vntill that Thibault cousin to Iulietta inflamed with ire and rage turned towards Rhomeo thinking with a foine to run him through But he was so well armed and defended with a priuie coate which he wore ordinarily for the doubt hée had of the Capellets as the pricke rebounded vnto whom Rhomeo made answer Thibault thou maist know by the pacience which I haue had vntill this present time that I came not hither to fight with thée or thine but to 〈◊〉 peace and attonemēt betwene vs and if thou thinkest that for default of corage I haue failed mine endeuor thou doest great wrong to my reputation And impute this my suffrance to some other perticular respect rather than to wāt of stomake Wherfore abuse me not but be content with this great effusion of bloud and murders already committed and prouoke me not I beséeche thée to passe the bounds of my good wil mind Ah Traitor sayde Thibault thou thinkest to saue thy self by the plot of thy pleasant tong but sée that thou defend thy selfe else presently I will make thée féele that thy tong shall not garde thy corpse nor yet be the buckler to defend the same from present death And saying so he gaue him a blowe with such furie as had not other warded the same he had cut of his head from his shoulders And the one was no readier to lend but the other incontinently was able to pay againe for he being not only wroth with the blow that he had receiued but offended with the iniurie which the other had done began to pursue his enimie with such courage and viuacitie as at the third blow with his sweard he caused him to fall backewarde starke deade vpon the grounde with a pricke vehemently thrust into his throte which he followed till his swearde appeared through the hinder parte of the same by reason whereof the conflict ceased For bisides that Thibault was the chief of his companie he was also borne of one of the Noblest houses within the Citie which caused the potestate to assemble his Soldiers with diligence for the apprehension and imprisonment of Rhomeo who séeing yl fortune at hand in secrete wise conueyed him self to Frier Laurence at the Friers Franciscanes And the Frier vnderstanding of his facte kept him in a certaine secrete place of his Couent vntil Fortune did otherwise prouide for his safe going abrode The brute spred throughout the Citie of this chaunce done vpon the Lord Thibault the Capellets in mourning wéedes caused the dead body to be caried before the signory of Verona so well to moue them to pitie as to demaund iustice for the murder before whome came also the Montesches declaring the innocencie of Rhomeo and the wilful assault of the other The Counsel assembled witnesses heard on both parts a straight cōmaundement was giuen by the Lord of the Citie to giue ouer their weapons and touching the offense of Rhomeo bicause he had killed the other in his owne 〈◊〉 he was banished Verona for 〈◊〉 This cōmon misfortune published throughout the Citie was generally sorowed and lamented Some complained the death of the Lord Thibault so well for his dexteritie in armes as for the hope of his great good seruice in time to come if he had not bene preuented by such cruell death Other bewailed specially the Ladies and Gentlewomen the ouerthrow of yong Rhomeo who bisides his beautie good grace wherwith he was enriched had a certaine naturall allurement by vertue whereof he drew vnto him the hearts of eche man like as the stony Adamant doth the cancred iron in such wise as the whole nation and people of Verona lamented his mischance but aboue al infortunate Iulietta who aduertised both of the death of hir cosin Thibault and of the banishment of hir husbande made the aire sound with infinite numbre of mornefull plaints and miserable lamentations Then féeling hir selfe too much outraged with extreme passion she went into hir chamber and ouercome with sorow threw hir self vpon hir bed where she began to reinforce hir dolor after so strange fashion as the most constant would haue bene moued to pitie Then like one oute of hir wittes she gazed héere and there and by Fortune beholding the window whereat Rhomeo was wont to enter into hir chamber cried out Oh vnhappy windowe Oh entry most vnlucky wherein were wouen the bitter toyle of my former missehaps if by thy meanes I haue receiued at other times some 〈◊〉 pleasure or transitorie contentation thou now makest me pay a tribute so rigorous and painefull as my tender body not able any longer to support that same shall henceforth open the gate to that life where the ghost discharged from this mortall burden shall séeke in some place else more assured rest Ah Rhomeo Rhomeo when acquaintance first began betwéene vs and I reclined mine eares vnto thy suborned promisses confirmed with so many othes I wold neuer haue beleued that in place of our continued amitie and in appeasing of the hatred of our houses thou 〈◊〉 dest haue sought occasion to breake the same by an acte so vituperious and shamefull whereby thy fame shall be spotted for euer and I miserable wretch desolate of spouse and companion But if thou haddest bene so greadie after the Capellets bloud wherefore didst thou spare the deare bloud of mine owne heart when so many times and in such secrete place the same was at the mercie of thy cruell handes The victorie which thou shouldest haue gotten ouer me had it not bene glorious inough for thine ambitious mind but for more triumphant solempnitie to be crowned with the 〈◊〉 of my dearest kinsman Now get thée hence therefore into sonte other place to deceiue some other so vnhappy as my selfe Neuer come againe in place where I am for no excuse shall héereafter take holde
to asswage mine offended minde In the meane time I shall lament the rest of my heauie life with such store of teares as my body dried vp from all humiditie shall shortly search reliefe in earth And hauing made an ende of those hir woords hir heart was so grieuously strained as she could neither wéepe nor speake and stoode so 〈◊〉 as if she had bene in a traunce Then being somewhat come againe vnto hir self with 〈◊〉 voyce she sayde Ah 〈◊〉 tong of other mennes 〈◊〉 howe 〈◊〉 thou so 〈◊〉 to speake of him whome his very enimies doe commend and praise How presumest thou to impute the blame vpon Rhomeo whose vngiltinesse and innocent déede euery man alloweth Where from henceforth shal be his refuge sith she whiche ought to be the only bulwarke and assured rāpire of his distresse doth pursue defame him Receiue receiue then Rhomeo the satisfactiō of mine ingratitude by that sacrifice which I shall make of my proper life and so the fault which I haue committed against thy loyaltie shal be made open to the world thou being reuenged my self punished And thinking to vse some furder talke all the powers of hir body failed hir with signes of present death But the good olde woman which could not imagine that cause of Iulietta hir long absence doubted very much that she suffred some passion and sought hir vp and downe in euery place within hir fathers palace vntill at length she found hir lying a long vpon hir bed al the outward parts of hir body so colde as Marble But the good olde woman which thought hir to be dead began to cry like one out of hir wittes saying Ah deare daughter and 〈◊〉 how much doeth thy deathe now grieue me at the very heart And as she was séeling all the partes of hir body she perceiued some sparke of life to be yet within the same which caused hir to call hir many times by hir name till at length she brought hir out of hir sounde Then she sayd vnto hir Why Iulietta myne own deare dareling what meane you by this turmoiling of your self I can not tel from whēce this your behauior that immoderate heauinesse doe procede but wel I wote that within this houre I thought to haue accompanied you to the graue Alas good mother aunswered wofull Iulietta doe you not most euidently perceiue and sée what iuste cause I haue to sorrow and complaine losing at one instant two persons of the worlde which were vnto me moste deare Me thinke answered the good woman that it is not semely for a Gentlewoman of your degrée to fall into such extremitie For in time of tribulation 〈◊〉 shoulde most preuaile And if the Lord Thibault be dead do you thinke to get hym againe by teares What is he that doth not accuse his ouermuch presumption would you that Rhomeo had done that wrong to him his house to suffer himselfe outraged assailed by one to whome in manhode and prowesse he is not inferiour Suffiseth you that Rhomeo is aliue and his affaires in such estate who in time may be called home again from banishment for he is a great lorde and as you know wel allied and fauored of all men wherfore arme your self from henceforth with pacience For albeit that Fortune doth 〈◊〉 him from you for a time yet sure I am that hereafter shée will restore him vnto you againe with greater ioy and contentation than before And to the end that we be better assured in what state he is if you will promise me to giue ouer your heauinesse I will to day knowe of Frier Laurence whether he is gone To whiche request Iulietta agréed and then the good woman repaired to S. Frauncis where she foūd Frier Laurence who told hir that the same night Rhomeo would not faile at his accustomed houre to visite Iulietta and there to do hir to vnderstand what he purposed to doe in time to come This iorney then fared like the voyages of mariners who after they haue ben tost by great troublous tempest séeing some Sunne 〈◊〉 pierce the heauens to lighten the land assure them selues agayne and thynkyng to haue auoyded shipwracke and sodainly the seas begin to swell the waues do roare with such vehemence and noyse as if they were fallen againe into greater daunger than before The assigned houre come Rhomeo fayled not according to his promise to bée in his Garden where he found his furniture prest to mount the chamber of Iulietta who with displayed armes began so straightly to imbrace hym as it séemed that the soule woulde haue abandoned hir body And they two more than a large quarter of an houre were in such agonie as they were not able to pronounce one worde and wettyng eache others face faste closed together the teares trickeled downe in suche abundaunce as they séemed to bée thoroughlye bathed therein Whiche Rhomeo perceyuing and thynkyng to staye those immoderate teares sayde vnto hir Myne owne dearest friende Iulietta I am not nowe determined to recite the particulars of the straunge happes of frayle and inconstaunte Fortune who in a 〈◊〉 hoystethe a man vp to the hyghest degrée of hir whéele and by and by in lesse space than in the twynckelyng of an eye shée throweth hym downe agayne so lowe as more miserie is prepared for him in one day than fauour in one hundred yeares whyche I nowe proue and hauc experience in my selfe whiche haue bene nourished delicately amonges my friendes and mainteyned in suche prosperous state as you doe little knowe hopyng for the full perfection of my felicitie by meanes of oure maryage to haue reconciled oure parentes and friends and to conducte the residue of my lyfe accordyng to the scope and lotte determined by Almyghty GOD and neuerthelesse all myne enterprises bée put backe and my purposes tourned cleane contrarye in suche wyse as from henceforthe I muste wander lyke a vagabonde thorough dyuerse 〈◊〉 and sequestrate my selfe from my friendes withoute assured place of myne abode whiche I desyre to lette you wete to the intente you maye be exhorted in tyme to come pacientely to beare so well myne absence as that which it shall please God to appointe But Iulietta all affrighted with teares and mortall agonies woulds not suffer hym to passe any further but interruptyng hys purpose sayde vnto hym Rhomeo howe canst thou bée so harde hearted and voyde of all pitie to leaue mée héere alone besieged with so many deadly myseries There is neyther houre nor Minute wherein Death dothe not appeare a thousande tymes before mée and yet my missehappe is suche as I can not dye and therefore doe manyfestelye perceyue that the same Deathe preserueth my lyfe of purpose to delyghte in my griefes and triumphe ouer my euyls And thou lyke the mynister and tyrant of hir crueltie doest make no conscience for oughte that I can sée hauynge atchieued the summe of thy desyres and pleasures on me to abandon and forsake me Whereby I well perceyue
an hundred thousand deathes did stande about hir haling hir on euery side and plucking hir in pieces féelyng that hir forces diminyshed by litle and litle fearing that through to great debilitie she was not able to do hir enterprise like a furious and insensate womā without further care gulped vp the water within the viol then crossing hir armes vpon hir stomacke she lost at that instant al the powers of hir body and remained in a traunce And when the mornyng light began to thrust his head out of his Orient hir chamber woman which had lockte hir in with the key did open the doore and thinking to awake hir called hir many times and sayde vnto hir Mistresse you sléepe to long the Counte Paris will come to raise you The poore olde woman spake vnto the wall and 〈◊〉 a song vnto the deafe For if all the horrible and tempestuous soundes of the worlde had bene canoned forth oute of the greatest bombardes and sounded through hir delicate eares hir spirits of lyfe were so fast bounde and stopt as she by no meanes coulde awake wherewith the poore olde woman amazed beganne 〈◊〉 shake hir by the armes and handes which she founde so colde as marble stone Then puttyng hande vnto hir mouthe sodainely perceyued that she was deade for she perceyued no breath in hir Wherfore lyke a woman out of hir wyttes shée ranne to tell hir mother who so madde as Tigre bereft of hir faons hyed hir selfe into hir daughters chaumber and in that pitifull state beholdyng hir daughter thinking hir to be deade cried out Ah cruell death which hast ended all my ioye and blisse vse thy laste scourge of thy wrathfull ire against me least by suffering me to lyue the rest of my woful dayes my tormente do increase then she began to fetchsuch straining sighes as hir heart dyd séeme to cleaue in pieces And as hir cries beganne to encrease beholde the father the Counte Paris and a greate troupe of Gentlemen and Ladies which were come to honour the feast hearing no soner tell of that which chaunced were stroke into such sorowfull dumpes as he whiche had behelde their faces wold easily haue iudged that the same had bē a day of ire pitie specially the lord Antonio whose heart was frapped with such surpassing wo as neither teare nor word could issue forth knowing not what to doe streight way sēt to seke that most expert phisitians of the towne who after they had inquired of the life past of Iulietta déemed by common reporte that melancolie was the cause of that sodaine death then their sorowes began to renue a 〈◊〉 And if euer day was lamentable piteous vnhappie and fatall truely it was that wherin Iulietta hir death was published in Verona for shée was so bewailed of great small that by the cōmon plaintes the common wealth séemed to be in daunger not without cause For besides hir natural beautie accompanied with many vertues wherewith nature had enriched hir she was else so humble wise and debonaire as for that humilitie and curtesie she had stollen away the heartes of euery wight and there was none but did lamente hir misfortune And whilest these things were in this lamented state Frier Laurence with diligence dispatched a Frier of his Couent named Frier Anselme whome he trusted as himselfe and deliuered him a letter written with his owne hande commaunding him expressely not to gyue the same to any other but to Rhomeo wherein was conteyned the chaunce which had passed betwene him and Iulietta specially that vertue of the pouder and commaunded him the nexte ensuing night to spéede him self to Verona for that the operation of the pouder that time would take ende that he should cary with him back again to Mantua his 〈◊〉 Iulietta in dissembled apparell vntill Fortune bad otherwise prouided for them The frier made such hast as too late he ariued at Mantua within a while after And bicause the maner of Italie is that the Frier trauailing abroade oughte to take a companion of his couent to doe his affaires within the Citie the Frier went into his couent but bicause he was entred in it was not lawfull for him to come out againe that day for that certain dayes before one religious of that couent as it was sayd did die of the plague Wherefore the magistrates appointed for the healthe and visitation of the sicke commaunded the warden of the house that no Friers shold wander abrode the Citie or talke with any citizen vntill they were licenced by the officers in that behalfe appointed which was the cause of the great mishap which you shal heare hereafter The Frier being in this perplexitie not able to goe forth and not knowing what was cōtained in the letter deferred his iorney for that day Whilest things were in this plight preparation was made at Veronna to doe the obsequies of Iulietta There is a custome also which is common in Italie to place all the beste of one lignage and familie in one Tombe wherby Iulietta was layde in the ordinarie graue of the 〈◊〉 in a Churcheyarde harde by the Churche of the Friers where also the Lorde Thibault was interred And hir obsequies honourably done euery man returned whereunto Pietro the seruant of Rhomeo gaue hys assistance For as we haue before declared his master sente him backe againe from Mantua to Verona to do his father seruice and to aduertise hym of that whiche shoulde chaunce in his absence there who séeing the body of Iulietta inclosed in tombe thinkyng with the rest that she had bene dead in déede incontinently toke poste horse and with diligence rode to Mantua where he founde his maister in his wonted house to whome he sayde with his eyes full of teares Syr there is chaunced vnto you so straunge a matter as if so bée you do not arme your selfe with constancie I am afrayde that I shal be the cruell minister of your death Bée it knowne vnto you syr that yesterday morning my mistresse Iulietta left hir lyfe in this world to seke rest in an other and wyth these eyes I saw hir buried in the Churchyarde of S. Frauncis At the sounde of which heauie message Rhomeo began wofully to 〈◊〉 as though his spirites grieued with the 〈◊〉 of his passion at that instant woulde haue abandoned his bodie But strong Loue whiche woulde not permitte hym to faint vntill the extremitie framed a thoughte in his fantasie that if it were possible for hym to dye besides hir his death shoulde be more glorious and 〈◊〉 as he thought better contented By reason whereof after 〈◊〉 had washed his face for 〈◊〉 to discouer hys sorrow he went out of hys chamber and commaunded hys man to 〈◊〉 behynde hym that hée might walke thorough oute all the corners of the Citie to fynde propre remedie if it were possyble for hys griefe And 〈◊〉 others beholdyng an Apoticaries shoppe of lytle furniture and lesse store of boxes and other thynges requisite
of him which doth abuse it Thus much I haue thought good to tell you to the intent that neyther teares nor iron ne yet suspected houre are able to make me guiltie of the murder or make me otherwise than I am but onely the witnesse of mine owne conscience which alone if I were guilty should be the accuser the witnesse and the hangman which by reason of mine age and the reputation I haue had amongs you and the litle time that I haue to liue in this world should more torment me within than all the mortall paines that could be deuised But thankes be to mine eternall God I féele no worme that gnaweth nor any remorse that pricketh me touching that fact for which I sée you all troubled amazed And to set your hearts at rest and to remoue the doubts which hereafter may torment your consciences I sweare vnto you by al the heauenly parts wherein I hope to be that forth with I will disclose frō first to last the entire discourse of this pitifull tragedie which peraduenture shall driue you into no lesse wondre and amaze than those two pore passionate louers were strong and pacient to expone themselues to the mercy of death for the feruent and indissoluble loue betwene them Then the Fatherly Frier began to repeate the beginning of the loue betwene Iuhetta and Rhomeo which by certaine space of time confirmed was prosecuted by woordes at the first then by mutuall promise of mariage vnknowne to the world And as wythin fewe dayes after the two louers féeling themselues sharpned and incited with stronger onset repaired vnto him vnder colour of confession protesting by othe that they were both maried and that if he would not solempnize that mariage in the face of the Church they should be constrained to offend God to liue in disordred lust In consideration whereof and specially seeing their alliance to be good and conformable in dignitie richesse and Nobilitie on both sides hoping by that meanes perchance to reconcile the Montesches and Capcllets and that by doing such an acceptable worke to God he gaue them the Churches blessing in a certaine Chappell of the Friers Church whereof the night following they did consummate the mariage fruites in the Palace of the Capellets For testimony of which copulation the woman of Iuliettaes chamber was able to depose Adding moreouer the murder of Thibault which was cosin to Iulietta by reason whereof the banishment of Rhomeo did 〈◊〉 and how in the absence of the said Rhomeo the mariage being kept secrete betwene them a new Matrimonie was intreated wyth the Counte Paris which misliked by Iulietta she fell downe prostrate at his féete in a Chappell of S. Frauncis Church with full determination to haue killed hir selfe with hir owne hands if he gaue hir not councel how she should auoide the mariage agréed betwene hir father and the Counte Paris For conclusion he sayd that although he was resolued by reason of his age and nearenesse of death to 〈◊〉 all secrete Sciences wherein in his yonger yeares hée had delight notwithstanding pressed with importunitie and moued with pitie fearing least Iulietta should doe some crueltie against hir self he stained his conscience and chose rather with some little fault to grieue his minde than to suffer the yong Gentlewoman to destroy hir body and hazarde the daunger of hir soule And therefore he opened some part of his auncient cunning and gaue hir a certaine pouder to make hir sléepe by meanes wherof she was thought to be 〈◊〉 Then he tolde them how he had sent Frier Anselme to cary letters to Rhomeo of their enterprise whereof hitherto he had no answere Then briefly he concluded how hée founde Rhomeo deade within the graue who as it is most likely did impoison himselfe or was otherwise smothered or suffocated with 〈◊〉 by finding Iulietta in that state thinking she had bene dead Then he tolde them how Iulietta did kill hir selfe with the dagger of Rhomeo to beare him company after his death and howe it was impossible for them to saue hir for the noise of the watche which forced them to flée from thence And for more ample approbation of his saying he humbly besought the Lord of 〈◊〉 and the Magistrates to send to Mantua for Frier Anselme to know the cause of his 〈◊〉 returne that the content of the letter sent to Rhomeo might be séene To examine the woman of the chamber of Iulietta and and Pietro the seruaunt of Rhomeo who not attending for 〈◊〉 request sayd vnto them My Lordes when Rhomeo entred the graue he gaue me this 〈◊〉 written as I suppose with his owne hand who gaue me expresse commaundemēt to deliuer them to his father The pacquet opened they found the whole 〈◊〉 of this story specially the Apothecaries name which solde him the poyson the price and the cause wherfore he vsed it and all appeared to be so cleare and euident as there rested nothing for further verification of the same but their presence at the doing of the particulers therof for the whole was so wel declared in order as they were out of doubt that the same was true And then the Lord Bartholomew of 〈◊〉 after he had debated with that Magistrates of these euents decréed that the woman of Iulietta hir chamber should be 〈◊〉 bicause she did conceyle that priuie mariage from the father of Rhomeo which if it hadde bene knowne in time had bred to the whole Citie an vniuersal benefit Pietro bicause he obeyed his masters commaundemēt and kept close his lawful secrets according to the wel 〈◊〉 nature of a trusty 〈◊〉 was set at liberty The Poticarie taken rackt and founde guiltie was hanged The good olde man Frier Laurence as well for respect of his auncient seruice which he had done to the common wealth of Veronna as also for his 〈◊〉 lyfe for the which he was specially recōmended was let goe in peace withoute any note of infamie Notwithstandyng by reason of his age he voluntarily gaue ouer the worlde and closed him selfe in a hermitage two miles from Veronna where he liued v. or vj. yeares and spente his tyme in cōtinuall prayer vntil he was called out of this transitorie worlde into the blisfull state of euerlasting ioy And for the compassion of so straunge an infortune the Montesches and Capellettes poured forth such abundance of teares as with the same they did euacuate their auncient grudge and choler whereby they were then reconciled And they which coulde not bée broughte to attonement by any wisedome or humane councell were in the ende vanquished and made friendes by pitie And to immortalizate the memorie of so intier and perfect amitie the lorde of Veronna ordeined that the two bodies of those miraculous louers shold be 〈◊〉 intombed in the graue where they ended their 〈◊〉 where was erected a high marble 〈◊〉 honoured with an infinite numbre of excellent 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 this day be apparant with such noble memorie as amongs all
by the cōsent of the whole state as euery of thē were about to rise vp sayd vnto them My Lordes there resteth one thing yet to be moued which peraduenture hitherto hath not bene thought vpon There are before vs two complaints the effect whereof in my iudgement is not throughly cōceiued in the opinions of diuers Anselmo Barbadico and Girolamo Bembo betwene whome there hath bene euer continuall hatred left vnto them as a man may say euen by fathers enheritance both of thē in either of their chambers were apprehēded in a maner naked by our Sergeants and without torments or for feare to be racked vpon the onely interrogatories of our ministers they haue voluntarily confessed that before their houses they killed Aloisio our Nephew And albeit that our sayd Nephew yet liueth was not striken by them or any other as shold apeare yet they 〈◊〉 themselues guiltie of the murder What shall be sayd thē to the matter doth it not séeme doubtfull Our Nephew againe hath declared that in going about to robbe the house of Mistresse Gismonda Mora whome he ment to haue slaine he fell downe to the ground from the toppe of a window wherefore by reason so many robberies haue bene discouered within the Citie it may be presumed that he was the 〈◊〉 and malefactor who ought to be put to the torments that the truthe may be knowne and being found guiltie to féele the seuere punishment that he hath deserued Moreouer when he was founde lying vpon the ground he had neither ladder nor weapon whereupon may be thought that the fact was otherwise done than hitherto is confessed And bicause amongs morall vertues temperāce is the chiefest and worthy of greatest commendation and that iustice not righteously exercised is iniustice wrong it is méete and conuenient for vs in these strange accidents rather to vse temperāce than the rigor of iustice And that it may appere that I do not speake these words without good ground mark what I shal say vnto you These two most mortal enimies do cōfesse that which is impossible to be true for that our Nephew as is before declared is a liue and his wounde was not made by sworde as hée himself hath confessed Nowe who can tell or say the contrary but that shame for being taken in their seuerall Chambers and the dishonesty of bothe their wiues hathe caused them to despise life and to desire death We shall finde if the matter be diligently inquired and searched that it will fall out otherwise than is already supposed by common opinion For the contrariety of examinations vnlikelihoode of circumstances and the impossibility of the cause rendreth the matter doubtful Wherfore it is very néedful diligētly to examine these attempts and thereof to vse more aduised consideration On the other side our Nephew accuseth himself to be a 〈◊〉 and which is more that he ment to kill mistresse Mora when he brake into hir house Under this grasse my Lords as I suppose some other Serpent lieth hidden that is not yet thought of The Gentleman ye know before this time was neuer defamed of such outrage ne suspected of the least offēse that may be obiected Besides that all ye doe knowe thanks therefore be giuen to almightie God that he is a man of great richesse and possessions and hath no néede to robbe For what necessitie should driue him to robbe a widowe that hath of his owne liberally to bestow vpon the succour of widowes Were there none else of substance in the Citie for him to giue attempt but to a widowe a comfortlesse creature contented with quiet life to liue amongs hir family within the boundes of hir owne house What if hir richesse Iewels and plate be great hath not Aloisio of his owne to redouble the same But truely this Robberie was done after some other manner than he hath confesfessed To vs then my Lords it appertaineth if it so stande with your pleasures to make further inquirie of the same promising vnto you vppon oure Faith that we shal imploy our whole diligence in the true examination of this matter and hope to bring the same to such good ende as none shall haue cause to blame vs the finall sentence whereof shall be reserued to your iudgement This graue request and wise talke of the Duke pleased greatly the Lords of the Councel who referred not only the examination but also the finall sentence vnto him Wherupon the wise Prince being fully enformed of that chaunce happened to his Nephewe attended only to make search if he could vnderstand the occasion why Bembo and Barbadico so folishly had accused thēselues of that which they neuer did And so after much counsaile sundry deuises examined and made his nephew then was wel recouered and able to goe abrode being set at libertie After sundry examinations I say he also had learned the trothe of the case touching the other two prisoners which he cōmunicated to the Lords of the aforesaid councel called Dieci Then he caused with great discretion proclamation to be made throughout Venice that Anselmo and Girolamo should be beheaded betwene the two Pillers and Aloisio hanged wherby he thought to know what sute the women wold make either with or against their husbands what euidence mistresse Gisinonda would giue against Aloisio The brute hereof dispersed throughe Venice diuers talke therupon was raised no communication of any thing else in open streats and priuate houses but of the putting to death of those men And bicause all thrée were of honorable houses their kinsmē friends made sute by all possible meanes for their pardon But their confessions published that rumor was made worse as it daily chaūceth in like cases than the mater was in déede the same was noised how Foscari had confessed so many theftes done by him at diuers times as none of his friends or kin durst speake for him Mistresse Gismonda which bitterly lamented the mischaunce of hir louer after she vnderstode the confession hée had made and euidently knew that bicause he would not blemish hir honor he had rather willingly forgo his own and therwithall his life felt hir self so inflamed with feruent loue toward him as she was ready presently to surrēder hir ghost Wherfore 〈◊〉 sent him word that he shold comfort himselfe bicause she was determined to manifest the very trouth of the matter and hoped vpon hir declaration of true euidence sentence shoulde be reuoked for testimonie wherof she had his louing letters yet to 〈◊〉 written to hir with his owne hands and would bring forth in the iudgement place the corded ladder which she had kept still in hir chamber Aloisio hearing these louing newes and of the euidēce which his Ladie would giue for his defense was the gladdest man of the world and caused infinite thanks to be rendred vnto hir with promise that if he mighte be rid and discharged out of prison he woulde take hir for his louing spouse and wife Wherof
presence of that honourable assemblie cōceiued courage and crauing licence of the Duke to speake with mery countenance and good vttrance began thus to say hir minde Most excellent Prince and ye right honorable lordes perceiuing how my deare husband vncomely and very dishonestly doth vse himselfe against mée in this noble companie I do thinke maister Girolamo Bembo to be affected with like rage minde against this gentlewoman mistresse Lucie his wife although more tēperate in wordes he do not expresse the same Against whom if no replie be made it may séeme that he hath spoken the trouthe and that we by silence should séeme to condemne our selues to be those moste wicked women whom he alleageth vs to be Wherfore by youre gracious pardon and licence moste honourable in the behalfe of mistresse Lucie and my selfe for our defense I purpose to declare the effect of my mind although my purpose be cleane altered from that I had thought to say beyng now iustly prouoked by the vnkinde behauiour of him whome I doe loue better than my selfe which had he bene silent and not so rashly runne to the ouerthrow of me and my good name I wold haue conceiled and onely touched that which shoulde haue concerned the purgation and sauegard of them both which was the onely intent meaning of vs by making our hūble supplication to your maiesties Neuerthelesse so so farre as my féeble force shall stretch I will assay to do both the one and the other although it be not appropriate to our kinde in publike place to declame or yet to open such bold attempts but that necessitie of matter and oportunitie of time and place dothe bolden vs to enter into these termes wherof we craue a thousād pardons for our vnkindely dealings and rēder double thanks to your honors for admitting vs to speake Be it knowne therfore vnto you that our husbandes against duetie of loue lawes of mariage and against all reason do make their heauie complaints which by by I wil make plaine and euident I am right well assured that their extreme rage bitter heartes sorow do procéede of y. occasions The one of the murder wherof they haue falsly accused thē selues the other of iealosy which grieuously doth gnawe their hearts thinking vs to be vile abhominable womē bicause they were surprised in eche others chāber Concerning the murder if they haue soiled their hāds therin it appertaineth vnto you my lords to rēder their desert But how can the same be layd to our charge for somuch as they if it wer done by thē cōmited the same without our knowlege our help coūsel And truly I sée no cause why any of vs ought to be burdened with that outrage and much lesse cause haue they to lay the same to our charge For méete it is that he that doth any vnlawful act or is accessarie to the same shold suffer that due penaltie seuere chastisement accordingly as the sacred lawes do prescribe as an example for other to abstein from wicked facts But herof what néede I to dispute wherin the blind may sée to be none offense bicause thanks be to God Maister Aloisio liueth which declareth the fond cōfession of our vngitle husbands to be cōtrary to trouth And if so be our husbāds in dede had done such an abhominable enterprise reason and duetie had moued vs to sorowe and lament them bicause they be borne of noble blood and be gentlemen of this noble citie which like a pure virgin inuiolably doth cōserue hir laws customs Great cause I say had we to lamēt them if like homicides murderers they had spotted their noble blood with such fowle 〈◊〉 therby deseruing death to leaue vs yong womē widowes in woful plight Now it behoueth mée to speake of the iealoufis they haue conceiued of vs for that they were in ech others chāber which truly is the doubtful knot scruple that forceth al their disdaine griefe This I knowe well is the naile that pierceth their heart other cause of offense they haue not who like men not well aduised without examination of vs and oure demeanour bée fallen into despaire and like men desperate 〈◊〉 wrongfully accused themselues But bicause I may not consume words in vain to stay you by my long discourse from matters of greater importāce I humbly beséech you right excellent prince to cōmaunde them to tel what thing it is which so bitterly doth tormēt them Then the Duke caused one of the noble men assistant there to demaund of them the question who answered that the chiefest occasion was bicause they knew their wiues to be harlots whō they supposed to be very honest for somuch as they knew them to be such they conceiued sorow and grief which with suche extremitie did gripe thē at that heart as not able to sustain that great infamy ashamed to be sene of mē wer induced through desire of deth to cōfesse that they neuer did Mistresse Isotta hering thē say so begā to speke againe turning hir self vnto them Were you offended then at a thing which ye thought incōueniēt not mete to be done We then haue greatest cause to cōplaine Why then 〈◊〉 husbande went you to the chamber of mistresse Lucie at that time of the night What had you to do there what thyng thought you to finde there more than was in your own house And you master Girolamo what cōstrained you to forsake your wiues bed to come to my husbands wher no man euer had or at this present hath to do but him self were not that shetes of the one so white so fine neat swéet as the other I am moste noble Prince sorie to declare my husbands folie and ashamed that he should forsake my bed to go to an other that did accompt my selfe so wel worthy to entertaine hym in myne owne as the best wife in Venice and now through his abuse I abstaine to shewe my selfe amongs the beautiful and noble dames of this Citie The like misliking of hir selfe is in mistresse Lucie who as you sée may bée numbred amongs the fairest Either of you ought to haue ben cōtented with your wiues not as wickedly you haue done to forsake them to séeke for better bread than is made of wheate or for purer golde than whereof the Angel is made O worthy dede of yours that haue the face to leaue your owne wiués that be comely faire honest to séeke after strange carrion O beastly order of men that can not content their lust within the boūdes of their owne house but must go hunt after other women as beasts do after the next of their kinde that they chaunce vpon What vile affection possessed your harts to lust after others wife You make complainte of vs but wée with you haue right good cause to bée offended you ought to be grieued with youre owne disorder and not with others offense and this youre affliction paciently to beare bycause you wente about
thāks to his hostesse for his good cheere intertainment that he had receiued assuring hir that all the dayes of his life he wold imploy himself to recompense hir curtesie and withal dutie indeuor to acknowledge that fauor And hauing taken his leaue of the mother he went to the damosell to hir I say that had so sore wounded his heart who alredy was so depely grauē in his mind as the mark remained there for euer taking leaue of hir kissed hir hāds thinking verily to expresse that whervpō he imagined al the night his tong wits wer so tied rapt as the gētlewoman perfectly perceiued this alteratiō wherat she was no whit discōtented and therfore all blushyng saide vnto him I praye to God sir to ease and comfort your griefe as you leaue vs desirous and glad long to enioy your companie Truly Gentlewoman aunswered the Knight I thinke my selfe more than happie to heare that wysh procéede from such a one as you bée and specially for the desire whiche you say you haue of my presence which shall be euer redie to do that which it shall please you to 〈◊〉 The Gentlewoman bashful for that offer thāked him very hartily praying him with swete and smiling countenance not to forget the waye to come to visite them béeyng well assured that hir mother wold be very glad therof And for mine owne parte quod she I shall thinke my selfe happy to be partaker of the pleasure and great amitie that is betwene our two houses After greate reuerence leaue taken betwéene them Dom Diego retourned home where he tolde his mother of the good interteynement made him and of the great honestie of the Lady his hostesse wherfore Madame quod he to his mother I am desirous if it be your pleasure to let them know how much their bountiful hospitalitie hath tied me to them and what desire I haue to recompense the same I am therfore willing to bidde them hyther and to make thē so good chéere as with al their heart they made me whē I was with them The Ladie whiche was the assured friende of the mother of Gineura liked well the aduise of hir sonne and told him that they should be welcome for the aunciente amitie of long time betwéene them who was wont many times to visit one an other Dom Diego vpon his mothers words sent to intreat the Ladie and faire Gineura that it woulde please them to doe him the honour to come vnto his house To whiche request she so willingly yelded as he was desirous to bid them At the appointed day Dom Diego sought al meanes possible honourably to intertaine them In meates wherof there was no want in instrumentes of all sortes Mummeries Morescoes and a thousand other passetimes wherby he declared his good bryngyng vp the gentlenesse of his spirite and the desire that he had appeare such one as he was before hir which hadde alreadie the full possession of his libertie And bicause hée would not faile to accomplishe the perfection of his intent he inuited all the Gentlemen and Gentlewomen that were his neighbours I will not here describe the least part of the prouision for that feast nor the diuersitie of meates or the delicate kyndes of wines It shall suffise mée to tell that after dinner they daunced where the knight toke his mistresse by the hand so glad to sée hir selfe so aduaunced as he was content to be so néere hir that was the swéete torment and vnspeakable passion of his minde which he began to discouer vnto hir in this wyse Mistresse Gineura I haue bene always of this minde that Musike hath a certain secrete hidden vertue which well can not be expressed to reuiue the thoughts and cogitations of man bée they neuer so mornful and pensiue forcing them to vtter some outward reioyse I speake it by my self for that I liue in extreme anguish paine that al the ioy of the world séemeth vnto me displeasaunt care and disquietnesse and neuerthelesse my passion agréeing with the plaintife voyce of the instrument doth reioyse and conceiue comforte as well to perceyue insensible thinges 〈◊〉 to my desires as also to sée my selfe so néere vnto hir that hath the salue to ease my payne to discharge my disease and to depriue my minde from all griefs In like maner-reason it is that she hir selfe doe remedy my disease of whom I receiued the pricke and which is the first foundation of all mine euil I can not tell sayde the Gentlewoman what disease it is you speake of for I should be very vnkinde to giue him occasion of griefe that dothe make vs this greate chéere Ah Ladie mine sayd the Knight fetching a sighe from the bottome of his hearte the intertainement that I receyue by the continuall contemplation of 〈◊〉 beauties and the vnspeakeable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 those two beames whyche twynckle in youre 〈◊〉 bée they that happily doe vere me and make me drinke thys cuppe of bitternesse wherein not wythstanding I fynde suche swéetenesse as all the heauenly drinke called Ambrosia fayned by the Poetes is but gall in respecte of that which I taste in mynde féelyng my deuotion so bente to doe you seruice as onely Death shall vntye the knotte wherewith voluntarilye I knytte my selfe to bée youre seruaunt for euer and yf it so please you youre faythfull and loyall friend and husbande The yonge Damoselle not woonted for to heare suche Songs did chaunge hir coloure at least thrée or foure tymes and neuerthelesse 〈◊〉 a little angre of that whych dydde contente hir moste and yet not so sharpe but that the Gentleman perceyued well enough that shée was touched at the quycke and also that hée was accepted into hir good grace and fauoure And therefore hée continued styll hys talke all that tyme after dynner and the mayden sayde vnto hym Syr I will nowe confesse that griefe may couer alteration of affections procéedyng from Loue. For although I hadde determined to dissemble that whiche I thynke yet there is a thyng in my mynde whyche I maye not name that gouerneth me so strongly and draweth me farre from my propre deuises and conceiptes in such wise as I am constrained to doe that which this second inspiration doeth leade mée vnto and dothe force my mynde to receyue an Impression that what will bée the ende thereof as yet I knowe not Not withstandyng reposyng me in youre vertue and honestie and acknowledgyng your merite I thinke my selfe happie to haue suche 〈◊〉 for friende that is so faire and comely a Knight and for suche I doe accepte you vntill you haue obtained of my Ladie my mother the seconde poynte whych accomplisheth that whyche is moste desired of them that for vertues sake do loue For but onely for that you shall be none otherwyse fauoured of me than hytherto you haue bene Till nowe haue I attended for this right happie daye of ioye and blisse sayde the 〈◊〉 in token whereof I doe kisse your white and delicate
foolyshe mothers are to be accused which suffer their daughters of tender and chyldishe age to bée 〈◊〉 red of theyr seruantes not remembryng 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fleshe is howe prone and redy men be to doe euill and how the seducing spirite waiting still vpon vs is procliue and prone to surprise and catche vs within his snares to thintent he may reioyse in the ruin of soules washed and redéemed with the blood of the son of God This troupe drawyng nere to the caue of Dom Diego Roderico sent one of his men to 〈◊〉 hym of their commyng who in the absence of hys friende 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 wyth hope shortely to sée the onely Ladie of hys hearte accompanyed wyth a merie 〈◊〉 ioyfull traine so soone as he had somewhat 〈◊〉 hys wylde maner of lyfe he also by litle and litle 〈◊〉 a good parte of his lustie and freshe colour and almoste hadde recouered that beautie whiche he hadde when he first became a Citizen of those desertes Now hauing vnderstanded the message sent vnto him by Roderico God knoweth yf wyth that 〈◊〉 tydyngs he felte a motion of bloode such as made all hys membres to leape and daunce whyche rendred hys mynde astoonned for the onely memorie of the thyng that poysed hys mynde vp and downe not able to stande wyth equall balaunce whyche rather hée ought to haue made reioyse than complaine being assured to sée hir of whome hée demaunded onely grace and pardon but for recouerie thereof he durst not repose any certaine Iudgement In the ende hoystyng vp his head like one rysen from a long and sonnd sléepe hée sayde Praise be to God who yet before I dye hath done me that pleasure to suffer me to haue a sight of hir that by causing my martirdome continueth thys disordered lyfe which shall procure in like sort mine vtter ruine and decay Upō the approch wher of I shall goe more ioyful charged with incomparable loue to visite the ghostes beneath dead in the presence of that cruel swete and who tormenting me with ticklish tentation hath made me taste honie sugred with 〈◊〉 gall more dangerouse than the sucke of poison and vnder the vermilion rudde of a new sprouted rose 〈◊〉 blowen forthe hath hidden secrete thornes the prickes whereof hath me so liuely touched as my wounde can not well be cured with any baulme that maye be therevnto applied without enioying of that mine owne happie missehap or without that remedie which almost I féele the same only resting in death that so long and oftenymes I haue desired as the true remedie of my paines and griefe In the meane whyle Dom Roderico whiche tyll that tyme was not known vnto Gineura drewe néere vnto hir by the way as he rode and talked with hir in thys sorte I doubte not Gentlewoman but that you thynke youre selfe not well contented to sée me in this place in such company and for occasion so vnséemely for my degrée and state and moreouer knowing what iniurie I séeme to do vnto you that euer was and am so affectionate and frendly to that whole stock of your race linage am not ignorant that vpon that first brūt you may iudge my cause vniust to cary you away from the handes of your friende to bring you into these 〈◊〉 wylde and solitarie places But yf ye considered the force of that true amitie whiche by vertue sheweth the common bondes of hearts and mindes of men shall measure to what ende this acte is done without to muche staying 〈◊〉 the light apprehension of choler for a beginnyng somwhat troublesom I am assured then that yf you be not wholly depriued of reason I shall not bee altogether blamed nor you quite of faulte And bycanse 〈◊〉 drawe néere vnto the place whether by the helpe of God I meane to conduct you I beseeche you to consyder that the true seruaunt whiche by all seruice and duetie studieth to execute the comaundementes of him that hath 〈◊〉 ouer hym dothe not deserue to bée beaten or driuen away from the house of his master but to be fauoured and cherished and ought to receyue equall recompense for his seruice I speake not this for my selfe my deuotion being 〈◊〉 elsewhere and not to you sauing for that honest affection which I ought to beare to all vertuous and chaste persons The 〈◊〉 whereof I will not denie vnto you in tyme and place where I shal vse such 〈◊〉 towards you as is mete for a maiden of your age and state For the gretnesse of noble men puisant doth most appeare shew forthit self when they vse mildenesse gentlenesse vnto those to whō by reson of their authoritie they might do 〈◊〉 tie malice Now to that end that I do not make you doutful long Al that which I haue done yet do mean to do is for none other purpose but to ease the greuous paines of that most faithful louer that liueth at this day vnder that circle of the Moone It is for the good Knight Dom Diego that loueth you so derely stil worshippeth your noble fame who bicause he wil not shew him self disobedic̄t liueth miserably amōg brute beasts amid the craggy rocks and mountaines and in the déepe solitudes of comfortlesse dales valleis It is to him I say that I doe bring you protesting vnto you by othe Gentlewoman that that misery wherin I saw him little more than vj. wekes past toucheth me so neare the heart as if the Sacrifice of my life sufficed alone without letting you to féele this painefull voyage for the solace of his 〈◊〉 I wold spare it no more than I do mine owne endeuor and honor besides the hazarding of that losse of your good grace and fauoure And albeit I wel perceiue that I do grieue you by causing you to enter this painfull iourney yet I beseche you that that whole displeasure of this 〈◊〉 may be imputed vnto my charge and that it wold please you louingly to deale with him who for your sake vseth such cruell misdemeanor against himselfe Gineura as a woman halfe in despaire for the death of hir friend behaued hir self like a mad woman voide of wit and sense and the simple remembraunce of Dom Diego his name so astonned hir which name she hated far more than the pāgs of death that she staide a long time hir mouth not able to shape one word to speake In the end vanquished with impacience burning with choler and trembling for sorow loked vpon Dom Roderico with an eye no lesse furious than a Tigresse caught within the net and séeth before hir face hir yong Fawnes murdered wringing hir handes and beating hir delicate brest she vsed these or such like words Ah bloudy traitor and no more Knight is it of thée that I ought to looke for so detestable a villanie and treason 〈◊〉 darest thou be so hardie to entreate me for an o ther that hast in mine own presence killed him whose death I wil pursue vpon
the fault to conceiue no sinister suspicion of thy running away crauing thyne acquaintaunce and is contented to sacrifice him self vnto thyne anger to appease and mitigate thy rage Nowe to speake no more hereof but to procede in that which I began to say I offer vnto thée then bothe death and loue choose whether thou liste For I sweare againe by hym that séeth and heareth al things that if thou play the foole thou shalt féele and proue me to be the cruellest enimie that euer thou hadst and such a one as shall not feare to imbrue 〈◊〉 handes with the bloode of hir that is the deathe of the chiefest of all my friendes Gineura hearing that resolute answere 〈◊〉 hir selfe to be nothing afraide nor declared any token of feare but rather 〈◊〉 to haue encouraged Roderico in braue and mannish sort farre diuers from the simplicitie of a yong and tender maidē as a man wold say such a one as had neuer felt the assault es and troubles of aduerse fortune Wherfore frouncing hir browes and grinning hir téeth with closed 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 very bolde she made hym aunswere Ah thou knight which once gauest assault to cōmit a villanie treason thinkest thou now without remorse of conseience to cōtinue thy mischief I speake it to thée villain which 〈◊〉 shed the blood of an honester mā thā thou art fearest not nowe to make mée a companion of his death Which thing spare not hardily to 〈◊〉 to the intent that I liuing may not be such a one as thou falsly iudgest me to be for neuer man hitherto 〈◊〉 and neuer shall that he hathe hadde the spoyle of my virginitie from the frute whereof lyke an arrant thiefe thou hast depriued my loyall spouse Nowe doe what thou list for I am farre better content to suffer death be it as cruel as thou art mischeuous borne for the 〈◊〉 vexation of honest maidēs not withstanding I humbly beséech almightie God to gyue 〈◊〉 so muche pleasure contentation and ioy in thy loue 〈◊〉 thou hast done to me by hastening the death of my dere husbande O God if thou be a iust God suche a one as from whome wée thy poore creatures do beleue all 〈◊〉 to procéede thou I say which art the rampire and refuge of all iustice poure downe thy vengeance and plague vpon these pestiferous thieues and murderers which haue prepared a worldely plague vpon me thine innocent damsell Ah wicked Roderico thinke not that death can be so fearefull vnto mée but that wyth good heart I am able to accept the same trusting verily that one daye it shall be the cause of thy ruine and ouerthrowe of hym for whom thou takest all these pains Dom Roderico maruellously rapte in sense imagined the woman to be fully bent against hym who then had puissaunce as he thought ouer hir owne hearte and thynkyng that he sawe hir moued with like rage against hym as she was against Dom Diego stode still so perplered and voyde of righte minde that hée was constrained to sitte downe so feeble he felt him self for the onely remembrance of hir euill demeanor And whilest this was a doing the handemayde of Gineura and hir Page inforced to persuade their mystresse to haue compassion vpon the knight that hadde suffered so muche for hir sake and that she would consente to the honest requestes and good counsell of Roderico But she which was stubbornly bente in hir foolishe persuasions sayd vnto them What fooles are you so much be witched either with that fained teares of this disloyal knight which colorably thus doth torment himself or els ar ye inchāted with the venomous honie tirānical brauerie of the thief which murdered my husband and your master Ah vnhappie caytife maiden is it my chaunce to endure the 〈◊〉 of suche Fortune when I thoughte to liue at my beste case and thus cruelly to tomble into the handes of hym whome I hate so much as he fayneth loue vnto me And morcouer my vnluckie fate is not herewith content but redoubleth my sorrowe euen by those that be of my frayn who ought rather to incourage me to die than consente to so vureasonable requests Ah loue loue how euil be they recompenced which faithfully do homage vnto thée why should not I forget al 〈◊〉 neuer hereafter to haue mind on mā to proue beginning of a pleasure which tasted and 〈◊〉 bringeth more displeasure than euer ioy engendred 〈◊〉 Alas I neuer knewe what was the frute of that which so straungely did attache me and thou O 〈◊〉 and thieuishe Loue haste ordeined a banket 〈◊〉 with such bitter dishes as forced I am perforce to taste of their egre swéetes Auaunt swéete foly auant I doe henceforth for euer let thée 〈◊〉 to imbrace the death wherein I hope to finde my greatest reste for in thée I fynde noughte else but heapes of straynyng 〈◊〉 Auoyde from me all my myssehap 〈◊〉 from me ye furious ghostes and 〈◊〉 most vnkynde whose gaudes and toyes dame loue hath wrought to kéepe occupied my louing minde and suffer me to take ende in thée that I may lyue in an other life without thée being now charged with cup of grief which I shal 〈◊〉 in venomous drink soaked in the soppes of 〈◊〉 Sharpen thou thy selfe O death vnkinde prepare thy darte to strike the corpse of hir that she may voyd the quarels shot against hir by hir aduersarie Ah pore hart strip thy self from hope and qualifie thy desires Cease henceforth to wishe thy lyfe séeing and féeling the appointed fight of loue and life combattyng within my minde elsewhere to séeke my peace in an other world with him to ioy which for my sake was sacrificed to the treason of varlets hands who for the persite 〈◊〉 of his desires nought else didde séeke but to soile his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the purest bloode of my loyall friend And I this abundance of teares do sheade to saciate his felonous moode which shall be the iuste shortenyng of my doleful dayes When she had thus complained she began horribly to torment hir selfe and in furious guise that the cruellest of the companie were moued wyth compassion séeing hir thus strangely straught of wits 〈◊〉 they did not discontinue by duetie to sollicite hir to haue regarde to that whiche poore fayntyng Dom Diego dyd endure Who so sone as with fresh 〈◊〉 water hée was reuiued 〈◊〉 stil the heauinesse of his Ladie and hir incresed disdain and choler against him vanished in diuers soundings which moued Roderico frō studie 〈◊〉 wherin he was to ryse wherevnto that rage of Gineura had cast him down bicause forgetting all imaginarie affection of his Ladie and proposing his dutie before his eyes which eche Gentleman oweth to gentle damsels and women kind stil beholdyng with honourable respect the griefe of the martyred wyldernesse Knight sighyng yet by reason of former thought he sayde vnto Gincura Alas is it possible that in the heart of so yong and delicate a maiden there
maye bée harbored so straunge furie and vnreasonable rage O God the effecte of the crueltie resting in this woman paintyng it selfe in the imaginatiue force of my minde hath made me feare the like missehappe to come to the cruell state of this disauenturous gentlemā Notwithstanding O thou cruell beast thinke not that thys thy furie shall stay me from doyng thée to death to ryd thée from follie and disdaine this vnfortunate louer from dispaire and trouble verily beleuing that in time it shall be knowne what profite the worlde shal gaine by purging the same of such an infected plague as is an vnkinde and arrogant heart and it shall féele what vtilitie ryseth by thyne ouerthrow And I do hope besydes that in time to come men shal praise this dede of mins who for preseruing the honour of one house haue chosen rather to doe to death two offenders than to leaue one of them aliue to obscure the glorie and brightnesse of the other And therefore sayd he tourning his face to those of his traine Cut the throte of this 〈◊〉 and froward beast doe the like to them that be come with hir shewe no more fauor vnto them all than that curssed strumpet doeth mercy to the life of that miserable Gentleman who dieth there for loue of hir The maiden hearing the cruel sentence of hir death cried out so loude as she could thinking reskue would haue come but the pore wenche was deceiued for the desert knewe none other but those that were abiding in that troupe The Page and the woman seruaunt exclamed vpon Roderico for mercie but he made as though he heard them not and rather made signe to his men to do what he commaunded When Gineura sawe that their deathe was purposed in déede confirmed in opinion rather to die thā to obey she said vnto the executioners My friends I beséeche you let not these innocentes abide the penaunce of that which they neuer committed And you Dom Roderico be 〈◊〉 on me by whome the fault if a womans faith to hir husband may be termed a faulte is done And let these 〈◊〉 depart that be God knoweth innocent of any crime And thou my frend which liuest amongs the shadowes of faithfull louers if thou haue any féeling as in déede thou prouest being in another world beholde that purenesse of mine heart sidelitie of my loue who to kepe the same inuiolable doe offer my self voluntarily to the death which this cruell tyrant prepareth for me And thou hangman the executioner of my ioyes and murderer of the immortall pleasures of my loue sayd she to Roderico glut thy gluttonous desire of bloud make dronke thy minde with murder 〈◊〉 of thy little triūphe which for all thy threats or persuasible words thou 〈◊〉 not get frō the heart of a simple maiden ne cary away the victory for all the battred breach made into the rāpare of hir honoure When she had so sayd a man would haue thought that the memory of death had cooled hir heate but that same serued hir as an assured solace of hir paines Dom Diego come to himself seeing the discourse of that tragedie being now addressed to the last 〈◊〉 end of that life and stage of faire golden locked Gincura making a vertue of necessitie recouered a little corage to saue if it were possible the life of hir that had put his owne in hazard miserably to end Hauing stayed them that held the maidē he repaired to Dom Roderico to whom he spake in this wise I sée wel my good Lord and great friend that the good will you beare me causeth you to vse this honest order for my behalf wherof I doubt if I should liue a whole hundred yeares I shall not be able to satisfie the least of the bondes wherein I am bound the same surpassing all mine abilitie and power Yet for all that deare friend sith you 〈◊〉 the fault of this missehap to arise of my predestinate ill lucke and that man cannot auoide things once ordained I beseech you do me yet this good pleasure for all the benefits that euer I haue receiued to send back again this gentlewoman with hir traine to the place frō whence you toke hir with like assuraūce 〈◊〉 as if she were your sister For I am pleased with your endeuor cōtented with my misfortune assuring you sir besides that the trouble which she endureth doth far more grieue my hart than al that paine which for hir sake I suffer That hir sorowe then may decrease and mine may renue again that she may line in peace and I in warre for hir cruel beautie sake I will wait vpon Clotho the spinner of the threden life of mā vntill shée breake the twisted lace that holdeth the fatal course of my doleful yeares And you Gentlewomā liue in rest as your pore suppliāt wretched Dom Diego shal be citizen of these wild places vaunt you 〈◊〉 that you were that best beloued maiden that euer liued Maruellous truely bée the forces of Loue when they discouer their perfection for by their meanes things otherwise impossible be reduced to such facilitie as a mā woulde iudge that they had neuer bene so harde to obtaine and so painefull to pursue As appeared by thys damsell in whome the wrathe of fortune the pinche of iealosie the intollerable rage of hir friendes losse 〈◊〉 ingendred a contempt of Dom Diego an extreme desire to be reuenged on Dom Roderico and a 〈◊〉 of longer life And now putting of the 〈◊〉 of blinde appetite for the esclarishyng of hir vnderstanding eyes and breaking the Adamant rock planted in the middes of hir breast she beheld in open 〈◊〉 the stedfastnesse pacience and perseueration of hir greate friende For that supplication of the Knight had greater force in Gineura than all his former seruices And full well 〈◊〉 shewed the same when throwing hir selfe vpon that neck of the desperate Gentleman and imbracing hym very louingly she sayd vnto him Ah syr that youre felicitie is the beginning of my great ioy of minde which 〈◊〉 now of swéetenesse in the very same in whome I imagined to be the welspring of bitternesse The diminution of one griefe is and shall bée the increase of 〈◊〉 bonde such as for euer I wil cal my self the most humble slaue of your worshyp lowly beséeching you neuerthelesse to pardon my follies wherewith full fondely I haue abused your pacience Consider a while sir I beseech you the nature and secrecie of loue For those that be blinded in that passion thinke them selues to be perfecte séers and yet be the first that commit most 〈◊〉 faultes I doe not denie any committed wrong trespasse and doe not refuse therfore the honest and gentle correction that you shall appointe mée for expiation of mine offense Ah my noble Ladie aunswered the knight all rapt with pleasure and half way out of his wits for ioy I humbly beséeche you inflicte vpon my pore wretched body no further
haue 〈◊〉 to present with too excéeding prodigall liberalitie and I would to God that life might satisfie the same then be sure it should so soone be imployed as the promise made thereof Alas good God I thought that when I 〈◊〉 my brother out of prison the neare distresse of death wherunto vniustly he was throwne I thought I say and firmely did beleue that fortune the enimy of our ioy had vomited al hir poison and being despoiled of hir fury and crabbed nature had brokē the bloudy and venemous arowes wherewith so long time she hath plaged our family and that by resting of hir self she had giuen some rest to the Montanine house of al their troubles misaduētures But I O miserable wight do see féele how far I am deuided from my hope and deceiued of mine opinion sith that furious stepdame appereth before me with a face more fierce thretning then euer she did sharpening hir selfe against my youth in other sorte than euer against any of our race If euer she persecuted our auncesters if she brought them to ruine and decay she now doth purpose wholly to subuert the same and throw vs headlong into that bottomlesse pit of all miserie exterminating for all togither the remnaunt of our consumed house Be it either by losse of thée good brother or the violent death of me which cannot hazard my chastitie for the price of mine vnhappie life Ah good God into what anguishe is my minde exponed how doe I féele the force and violence of frowarde fortune But what speake I of fortune How doth hard lucke insue that is predestinated by the heauens vpon our race Must I at so tender yeres and of so féeble kinde make choise of a thing which woulde put the wisest vpon earth vnto their shifts My heart doth faile me reason wanteth and iudgement hangeth in ballaunce by continuall agitations to sée how I am driuen to the extremitie of two daungerous straits enuironned with fearefull ieoperdies forcibly compelled either to be deuided and separated frō thee my brother whome I loue aboue mine owne life in whom next after God I haue sixed and put my hope and trust hauing none other solace comfort and helpe but thée or else by keping thée am forced to giue vnto another know not howe that precious treasure which being once lost cānot be recouered by any meanes for the garde and conseruation wherof euery woman of good iudgement that loueth vertue ought a thousand times to offer hir self to death if so many wayes she could rather than to blot or soile that inestimable iewell of chastitie wherewith our life is a true life contrariwise she which fondly suffreth hir self to be disseazed and spoiled of the same looseth it without honest title albeit she be a liue yet is she buried in the most obscure caue of death hauing lost the honoure which maketh Maidens marche with head vpright But what goodnesse hath a Ladie gentlewoman maiden or wife wherein she can glory hir honor being in doubt and reputation darkened with infamie Wherto serued the imperiall house of Augustus in those Ladies that were intituled with the Emperours daughters when for their vilany their were vnworthy of the title of chaste and vertuous What profited Faustina the Emperiall crowne vpon hir head hir chastitie through hir abhominable life being rapt and despoiled What wrong hath bene done to many simple women for being buried in the tombe of darke obliuion which for their vertue and pudique life merited eternall praise Ah Charles my brother deare where hast thou bestowed the eye of thy fore séeing minde that without foresight and care of the fame due to the honest dames and chast damosels of our family hauing lost the goods fathers inheritaunce wilt haue me in like sort sorgoe my chastitie which hitherto I haue kept with héedeful diligence Wilt thou dear brother by the price of my virginity that Anselmo shal haue greater victorie ouer vs than he hathe gotten by fight of sword vpon the allied remnaunt of our house Art thou ignorant that the wounds and diseases of the minde be more vehement than those which afflicte the body Ah I vnhappy maiden and what yll lucke is reserued for me what destiny hath kept me till this day to be presented for Venus Sacrifice to satissie a yong mannes lust which coueteth peraduenture but the spoile of my virginitie O happy the Romane maid slain by the proper hands of hir wofull father Virginius that she might not be soiled with infamie by the lecherous embracements of rauenous Appius which desired hir acquaintaunce Alas that my brother doe not so rather I would to God of his owne accord he be the 〈◊〉 minister of my life ready to be violated if God by 〈◊〉 grace take not my cause in hand Alas death why 〈◊〉 thou not throwe against my heart thy most pearcing darte that I may goe waite vpon the shadowes of my thrice happy parents who knowing this my grief wil not be void of passion to help me waile my woful state O God why was not I choaked and strangled so sone as I was taken forth the secrete imbracements of my mothers wombe rather thā to arriue into this mishap that either must I lose the thing I déeme most deare or die with the violence of my proper hands Come death come and cut the vnhappy thréede of my wofull life stoppe the pace of teares with thy trenchant darte that streame outragiously downe my face and close the brething wind of sighs which hinder thée from doing thine office vpon my heart by suffocation of my life and it When she had ended those words hir spéeche did faile and waxing pale and faint sitting vpon bi r stoole she fared as though that very death had sitten in hir place Charles thinking that his sister had bene deade 〈◊〉 with sorow and desirous to liue no longer after hir seing he was the cause of that sowning fell downe dead vpon the ground mouing neither hand nor foote as though the soule had bene departed from the bodie At the noise which Montanine made by reason of his fall Angelica reuiued out of hir sown and seing hir brother in so pitifull plight and supposing he had bene dead for care of his request for being berieued of hir brother was so moued as a little thing wold haue made hir do as 〈◊〉 did when she viewed Pyramus to be slaine But conceiuing hope she threw hir selfe vpon hir brother cursing hir fortune banning the starres of cruelty and hir lauash spéeche and hir self for hir litle loue to hir brother who made no refusal to die to saue his land for relief of hir wher she denyed to yeld hir self to him that loued hir with so goodaffection In the end she applied so many remedies vnto hir brother sometimes casting cold water vpon his face sometimes pinching and rubbing the temples and pulses of his armes his mouth with vineger that she made him to