and Destinies Which was that making his Mother beleeue that hee would goe into Flaunders and iourneying some dayes in the habite and equipage of a man at Armes and after sent his seruants to Alcala of Henares and there disguising himselfe in other clothes he went to Toledo where not being knowne to any person he found meanes to be entertained as a seruant in my fathers house which was no hard matter to doe because that his excellent feature and countenance accompanied with his vnderstanding were pledges sufficient of his fidelity gaue my Father not onely a desire to bee serued by him but also to respect him My father receiued him ignorant of his quality and of his intent a strange imagination of a man beeing a Knight and so well knowne almost of all in the Countrey wherein he was borne that he could so hide himselfe at the Doore as it were of his owne house that no body could know either where hee was or what hee did yet so it was that his humility his diligent seruice and other commendable partes which hee had gained such credit with my Parents that I doe beleeue he might as easily haue compassed his designes with his fayned pouerty as with his true riches The chiefest thing whereunto he applyed himselfe as his whole study was to appeare agreable to Nisa which was easie to be done for who can guard himselfe from a domesticke enemy The simplicity wherewith this Knight did begin his treason and the good wordes which he vsed gained him entrance into those places whereinto hardly and with great difficulty could the ancient seruants come Behold with how little care a noble Gentleman kept in his house another Greeke horse like vnto miserable Troy For such of necessity must this young mans heart needs bee full of thoughts and armed with malice which the houre of execution approaching brake forth into such flames as haue fired our renowne When Pamphilus thought that Nisa was disposed to hearken to his intention were it that his sicknes were true or fained as most likely it was he made himselfe sicke My parents who accounted of this seruant as of their gouernour and loued him equal with their dearest Children there being no key about the house no accompt in all their expence nor any secret in their affaires wherein hee was not trusted caused him to bee tended with all the care which was possible for loue and respect to bring The Physitians said that this infirmity proceded from a deepe melancholy and the best remedy that was to be giuen was to reioyce him and principally by Musicke In which they were not deceiued for if Loue doe participate of the euill spirit and that Dauid draue away the euill spirit from Saul by the sweetnes of his Harpe by the same meanes Loue might be driuen away Thou sayest true said Pamphilus who gaue great attention vnto the relation of his own story to see to what end the discourse of this youngman would come who was his Mistresses Brother for without doubt it holdeth many conditions of the euill spirit and leauing a part the principall which is to torment with fire behold the simpathy which they haue one with the other The Deuils doe delight themselues in thinges which are naturally melancholy inhabiting in horrible places obscure and solitary as louing darkenes and sadnes All which qualities are common with them which Loue and cannot attaine to that which they pretend they desire solitary places and the dens of Deserts there to entertaine in silence their sad thoughts without any thing to trouble them no not the light of heauen But let me intreat thee to proceed in thy story of this Knight for I desire with passion to know the end My Sister Nisa said Celio then for so was the young man called could play admirable well of the Lute and sung so sweetly that in the like danger the Dolphin wold willinglier haue brought her to the shore then hee did Arion sometimes to Corinth Wherfore by the consent of my Parents and not against her will shee went into Pamphilus his little Chamber Consider with thy selfe the happy glory of a man in his case and sung a Poeme which he himselfe had composed for hee had that way a dexterious facility and very naturall neither did it want the excellency of Art But whilest Nisa sung Pamphilus wept and neuer turned his eyes from of hers So that one resembled the Crocadile and the other Sirene vnles that one sung to giue him health and the other wept to deceiue her of her honour Nisa seing this his extremity of sadnes said vnto him that her intent was not that her musicke should haue the same effect in him as it had in others which is to make them more sad which are any way heauy but contrarily her desire was to reioyce him There is answered he no other voyce nor other harmony vnlesse it may bee the harmony of Heauen can reioyce me but yours Neuerthelesse my euill being past hope of cure bindeth me to bewaile my selfe and not to thinke vpon any thing but vpon the beauty which causeth it What euill is that said Nisa past cure which proceedeth from a cause commended by thee It is an euill answered Pamphilus whereof I doe hinder the cure and whereof the onely comfort is to know that I suffer it for the fairest creature in the world The liberty wherein wee liue said Nisa doth giue me leaue Pamphilus to speake vnto thee heere of a suspitious matter by the tokens which thou hast deliuered vnto me of thy euill thou hast giuen me knowledge of the occasion that makes thee sicke although I am ignorant of the cause who makes thee sicke Thou louest without doubt and I take it in good part that thou wouldst confesse vnto me that which thou wouldest not speake vnto the Physitians assuring thee that thou mayst better trust my Loue then their Art But I coniure thee by that goodwill which thou knowest I haue born thee euer since thou hast serued my Parents that thou wilt tell me whether I know her whome thou louest and whether I can bee helpfull vnto thee in thy curing for thy teares doe make me pitty thee You may well serue to helpe me pittifull Nisa said then the cunning Louer who might well haue instructed Ouid seeing I doe not hope for it from any other hands then yours and that you know the cause of my paine aswell as you knowe your selfe Heere Pamphilus demaunded of Celio wondring that bee should tell so perticularly that which passed so secretly betweene him and Nisa how hee knew the same wordes which they had spoken hee being at that time a farre off following his study in Salamanqua To which Celio answered that the same Pamphilus had left the story in writing with a friend of his from whome hauing had the meanes since that time to get it hee learned all vnto the least particuler and then proceeding on his discourse he began in
this manner The colour which came into Nisa's face when shee heard Pamphilus his wordes cannot bee compared but vnto the red Rose with milken leaues although it be a Poeticall terme and borrowed of the same author yet feyning not to vnderstand what he said shee answered that if it were any of her friends shee would indeauour at the least to bring it about that shee should knowe his euill that thereupon he might lay the foundation of his remedy I am in that estate said Pamphilus that I dare not so much as sigh or breath out her name yet I can shew you her portrature who is the originall cause of my misfortune and for whose sake I am come from my own Country into yours where I remaine an humble seruant of your house and doe thinke my selfe most happy to be so although I am a Knight and equall vnto her whome you call your friend and with whome I should haue bin now marryed if my Father had liued vntill this day for onely his Death barred me of this happines And in saying these wordes Pamphilus gaue her her Picture which had bin drawne by the most excellent Painter of our time called Philip of Lianho whose pensill oftentimes durst compare with Nature herselfe who out of meere enuy vnto him for that as it seemed shortned his dayes Yet Nisa through whose veynes ran a colde shiuering affirmed that shee did not know the face I doe not wonder said Pamphilus that the auntient Philosopher hath deliuered his opinion that it is a very hard matter to know ones selfe Putting this sentence Know thy selfe in the fronts of the most famous Temples Yet see another more naturall the knowledge wherof you caÌ„not deny Saying this he reached her a very faire looking-glasse Nisa seeing her face within the Christall could no longer suffer his discourse nor the Knights presence But rising vp in collor said vnto him in great anger as she went away thy boldnes shall cost thee thy life Can it bee better imployed answered Pamphilus then for your beauty to be ended She answered well said the Pilgrim if shee had accomplished what she said She accomplished it so ill replied Celio that within a fewe dayes shee loued him better then she loued herselfe prouing the Verse of the famous Poet Dant to bee infallibly true that Loue excuseth no one who is beloued from louing But how came it said the Pilgrim that a Mayd should Loue who had harkened with so much disdaine in the beginning Because answered Celio that all Mayds for their first answer consult with shame and for their second consult with weaknes Although for my owne part I thinke that Pamphilus dispairing of his remedy helped himselfe with charmes I cannot beleeue so answered Pamphilus a man hath liberty to Loue and not to loue as it seemeth good vnto himselfe and it seemes to bee a terrible and cruell thing that a chast woman should be violently constrained to Loue whether shee would or no Charmes and witchcrafts may peraduenture moue perswade and tempt without suffering to be in rest and with these exteriour perswasions make one yeeld vnto the prayers and teares of a Louer Yet for all this it cannot be said that shee is constrained but that of her good will shee giueth consent to her desire suffering her selfe rather to bee vanquished by her owne proper nature then by the force of any Art Magicke Wherefore it is an euident folly in those which Loue to complaine that they are violently constrained will they nill they to follow their Loues because God neuer suffeteth that the poâ—er of free-will should bee taken from Man and if any one say hee hath bin forced by Diabolicall perswasions it may be answered hee was not forced in his reason but in his concupiscence Neither is it to be beleeued that a Knight a Christian wise young and braue Gentleman would helpe himselfe with such wicked meanes to attaine his ends It is not likely answered Celio and it may be that hee witnessing his fidelity by other seruices obliged her to condiscend vnto his will for Nisa is not the onely woman in this world subiect to this weaknes Neuertheles behold the strange accident which happened vnto them both as a beginning of their misfortunes for it being spoken at Madreele that Pamphilus was come from Flanders the newes thereof came vnto my Fathers eares who desirous to make him his Son in Law in fauour of the ancient acquaintance and loue he had with his Father and because that it had been formerly agreed betweene them one day tolde her that hee was resolued to Marry her not naming vnto whome and thereupon writing to Madreele to Pamphilus his Mother intreating her to send him to Toledo congratulating also with her her Sonnes happy return and the prosperous successe of his affaires and remembred vnto her the amitie which he had contracted with her husband his Father The sad Nisa who already desperatly loued Pamphilus tolde him that her Father would marry her and the Knight who was designed for her Husband was shortly to come from Madreele vnto their house but shee knew nothing in particuler more of him but that he was a braue Soldier who lately came out of Flanders Pamphilus ignorant that hee was the person who was meant fell into great extremity at the newes and after many teares and other follies hee said he was resolued to be gone for his heart would neuer suffer him to see a new seruant vnto his Mistris in this house A strange and neuer heard of story that a man should bee iealous of himselfe and flye from his owne presence Nisa who now thought it as impossible for her to bee without Pamphilus as the Earth without water Fire without matter to burne or as the Coelestiall harmony without their first mouer said vnto him in weeping that shee would haue him take her away with him and that she would follow him ouer the world yet vpon this condition that hee should sweare solemnly neuer to loose the respect which was due vnto her honour which oath being taken by Pamphilus without any consideration of the danger which might happen he made choyse of a darke night by a Garden which answereth vpon the Riner tooke her from the house and by the same riuer went from the Towne carrying her in his Barke vntill he came vnto those Mountaines which are called Stsla This was it which hee writ afterwards from Valence to a friend of his of Saragossa Now followeth the beginning of my peregrination which hauing bin to long in this History I will briefly relate At the dolourous Letter which was written to me of this successe which was discouered so soone as Pamphilus was gone from Toledo I came from Salamanqua to my fathers house which I found all in mourning for the losse of my Sister My Father in few words obliged me to reuenge it which I swore that I would with many wordes as free as his were graue and to
feare of punishment for their faults could worke no remembrance But the Pilgrim was not waked because hee was not asleepe he came out amongst the rest neuerthelesse to giue thankes to the day for hauing passed ouer so miserable a night There began this miserable body to mooue his parts going many leagues in a little space prayers importuned some care wearyed others necessity called out heere hunger sighed there and Liberty was wished for euery where The Lawes called vpon execution Ministers vpon punishment and fauour importuned for delay those who had wherewith went out by the ayre others not hauing wherewith could not finde the Doore the confusion of voyces the vnquietnes of the Iudge the comming in of some the going out of others and the noyse of Fetters made in this discording instrument a fearefull striuing In this time a Knight who for the noblenes of his blood and the antiquity of his Imprisonment was generally respected as the Master cast his eyes vpon the Pilgrim and considering his deepe melancholy his habite his person incited by his good countenance and aspect for there is no letter of fauour which worketh greater effects in all necessities called him to a little alley which answered to the doore of his Chamber and asked his name his Countrey and the cause of his imprisonment The Pilgrim recited vnto him the successe which you haue heard beginning his life from the time that the Sea gaue it him by casting him vpon the shore not farre from the walles of Barcelon The Knight wondred at it and collecting from his reasons and the manner of his speech his vnderstanding and his gentlenes tooke such affection vnto him that hee placed him in his Chamber where hauing restored his weake forces with Conserues which he had hee made him discouer his Arme and he himselfe healed the wound with medicines and wordes which he had learned being a Soldier for if Herbes and stones haue this vertue wherefore should it be wanting to holy words The contented Pilgrim afterwards turning his eyes round about the Chamber hee sawe written vpon the walles with a Coale according to the ancient manner of Prisoners certaine Herogliffique verses at the sight whereof he knew that hee who had written them was not ignorant Ouer the picture of a Young man who had the chiefe place was written this Verse out of Virgill Antes sus oios Hector triste en Suâ—nnos After that was painted a Heart with winges which flewe after Death with the Letter of Eneas sending the body of his friend to his father Euander Muerto Palante Forcado en esta vida me detengo Neere vnto that was figured Prometheus or Titius who being tyed with strong Chaynes to the rockes of Mount Caucasus nourished an Eagle with his intrayles the word was from Ouid and said thus O quanta pena es viuir vida enoiosa y forcada Y quando la muerta agrada Ser impossible mori In a flood betweene two infernall shoares Forgetfulnes was painted being a Young man who carryed a Charger full of remembrances which hee did endeauour to fling into the water with this word of Lucrece Buelue acaer quando al estremo llega The Head and Harp of Orpheus were portrayed vpon a gate amongst the waues of the Riuer Strimo into which hauing been cast by the Bachantes they came vnto Lesbos the word was this Aqui lloraro seluas fieras et Aspides There was also painted a Lady lying dead with a Sword through her body with this word of Scalliger vpon the Death of Polixena Nobasta Griegos que veucais los Hombres In the distance which might bee betweene the window and the flower was painted the Shepheard Argus with his hundred eyes and Mercury charming him asleepe with this line of Strossas Amor sutil al mas Zeloso angana With such and other curiosities which the Knight writ as aptly fitting his aduentures did hee adorne his Chamber and passed away his tedious imprisonment Whilest that the Pilgrim was busie in beholding these conceipts he was called before the Iudges to answere the accusation against him and hee relating simply the truth by the little Art which hee brought with him in his speech he plainely shewed that there was no guilt in him his cause being recommended vnto the Iudges by the Knight who writ his innocency vnto them hee was acquited brought back againe into the Knights chamber where they did eate together Their discourse which at the end of Dinner serued for their last dish amongst other things fell vpon their misfortunes because that there is nothing which more aptly and readily doth ease the minde then relation of our owne misaduentures The master of the Lodging who could willingly haue spared that name being intreated by the Pilgrim to relate the cause of his imprisonment began to speake in this manner The History of Mireno IN a little Towne not farre from this great Citty there was a Gentleman named Telemaquus marryed with a faire Lady not so chast as the Roman Lucrece although shee caryed her name the report was that this Marriage was made against her minde it is likely to be true as by the effects it was afterwards witnessed her melancholy increased her beauty and clothes neglected did shew a languishment like Roses when the radicall moysture of their boughes doe decrease Telemaquus did inforce himselfe to diuert her from this sad kinde of neglect least it might seeme vnto some which should see her that this sadnes proceeded from his default for oftentimes innocent Husbands are accused for their wiues euill conditions He apparelled her richly carried her to solace and recreate her selfe to Sea and to see the choisest Gardens And this being not sufficient hee opened his house to all good company Amongst the young Knights which did ordinarily frequent and conuerse with them there was one called Mireno so much my friend that if Death had not set a difference between vs I could not haue bin perswaded he being aliue to discerne which of vs two had bin my selfe This man cast his eyes vntill this time busied in the consideration of anothers beauty vpon Telemachusses faire wife who looking vpon him more earnestly then vpon any other had it may bee incited him for although it bee said that Loue can pierce as a Spirit into the most close and secret places Yet I doe thinke it impossible that any man should Loue if he bee not at the first obliged thereunto by some little hope He concealed from me the beginning of his thought for loue is alwayes borne discreet and dumbe as a Childe But the same sweetnes of its conuersatioÌ„ doth so quickly teach it to speake that like a Prisoner at the Barre he oftentimes casteth himselfe away by his owne tongue So after hee saw himselfe admitted in Lucrece her eyes an euident index that he was already in her soule not being able to suffer the glory of that whereof hee easily indured the paine hee made vnto me a
my Death didst not thou suffer new Shipwracke at Marselles And finally wounded by thy iealous Brother lyest now in a strange Countrey either sicke or dead Seeing all this is so how can I apprehend the least motion of leauing thee Where is my courage or am I not Pamphilus of Luxan Is this the vertuous blood of those valiant Gouernors who so nobly defended the walles of Madreele from the Moores of Toledo It is not possible I am not my selfe my misfortunes haue changed me into something else To bee in Loue and to be a Coward is a manifest contrariety yet to deny that I Loue is to say the Sun is darkenes and the night Lightnes especially since I cannot say but that I haue seene Nisa But seeing I doe confesse that I haue seene her how can I say but that I loue her And if I loue her how can I leaue her And if I haue left her wherefore doe I liue So did Pamphilus accuse himselfe for hauing left Nisa for any danger no more nor no lesse then as one who trauailing vpon the way remembreth something of importance which he had forgotten at home breaking off from his discourse and from his company turneth back againe to his lodging where hee thinkes he shall neuer come time enough with the same hast Pamphilus taketh his way back again to Barcelon from which both in hast and feare he had departed A strong chayne of Louers which tyed to their desired beauty shortens it selfe by the force which lengthens it vntill it returne vnto its centure Beauty without doubt which lifting vp the vapors of the Louers eyes seemeth to drawe vnto its selfe the very waighty and earthy part in despite of all resistance made by the naturall waight and as the Sun oftentimes conuerteth into burning beames the humor which is concealed in the Clouds so Beauty conuerteth into fire all the teares and sadnesses of Louers Fewe Leagues had Pamphilus iourneyed from the famous Collony of the Romans when as going downe a Hill it being so late as that the Sunne had left no light in the West but as it were a golden girdle which inuironing the Horizon did seeme as a Crowne vnto the neighbouring night hee heard a voyce grieuously complaining in a Meadow which shadowed with high Rockes was very darke The couragious Pilgrim went into it and sawe a man lying vpon the Grasse amongst the Trees which were watered with a fresh Brooke of whome demaunding the cause of his complaint hee intreated him to come vnto him if he desired to knowe before he yeelded vp his soule caused by three mortall woundes which were made in his body Pamphilus approached vnto him although with some distrust and lifting him vp leaned his head against a Tree I am a Knight said the wounded man treacherously murthered by his hands who hath receiued most good turnes from mee There is a Monastery in these fields which is not farre from hence if thou canst carry me vpon thy shoulders thither thou shalt bee the Encas of my soule and I the Anchises saued peraduenture from the eternall Fire which I haue merited Pamphilus layde downe his Palmers staffe oh how hurtfull it is to leaue ones weapons vpon any occasion whatsoeuer taking him in his armes And remembring that he had so carryed Iacinth hee thought with himselfe that seeing he was come to carry others vnto the Graue hee was not farre from thence himselfe and comforted himselfe with this that if he were not Death himselfe he was yet his Beere So iourneying towards the Monastery with the wounded man who with broken speaches interrupted by his approaching Death recited the cause thereof The Pilgrim being come vnto the Gate and seeing by the cleere light of the Moone in the front thereof the Image of our Blessed Lady the Virgin said vnto the wounded man that hee should recommend his soule whilest he knocked at the gate At whose knocking the Porter being come and informed by the Pilgrim of the accident answered tht with like dissimulation certaine Bandoleers of Iara had one night robbed the Monastery and for that cause hee could not open the gate without the superiours License Pamphilus intreated him to dispatch but there being a long Garden betweene the Monastery and Cell before he could return the Knight dyed in his armes Pamphilus looked pale dismayde with the accident and almost as dead as he and incouraging him to this fearefull and sharpe passage layde a Crosse of two Mirtle bowes vpon his stomacke Instantly hee heard a troope of Horse whose masters being diuided into diuers paths did seeke for the Dead man By their words and their diligence the Pilgrim knewe their designe and calling them shewed them him whom they sought for telling them how hee had found him Amongst them was his Brother who seeing Pamphilus bloody and in a Pilgrims habit which is enough to make an honest man suspected cryed out Oh thou Castillian traytor thouhast murthered him to rob him And at the very instant the same friend who had killed this poore Knight and who the better to couer his treason accompanying the Brother tooke holde of the Pilgrims arme thou robber infamous assassiuator what hath made thee murther the noblest Knight which was in this Countrey Sirs replyed Pamphilus I found him in a Meadow hard by bewayling his death which hee said was wrought by the hand of one whome he did accompt his best friend and out of compassion and at his intreaty I brought him to this Monastery where he departed this life in my armes But Tansiles who was this Traytor which had killed him fearing least the Pilgrim might discouer something which hee might haue heard from the dying man concerning his treason pulling out a Pistoll from the pommell of his saddle gaue fire and aymed it directly at his head Yet Heauen not permitting that it should goe off for Saintes and Angels doe alwayes assist the innocent the Pilgrim liued O let him liue said Tirsus so was the dead mans brother called for it is much better that keeping him in Prison hee may confesse his owne crime and whether he killed him for to rob him or whether some enemy of my Brother Godfreyes did not hyer him to murther him The traytor answered to Tirsus and to the others who did accompany him that blood yet warme of his friend would not suffer him to delay his reuenge so long Yet all their opinions preuailing against his the innocent Pamphilus was bound hand and foot vpon a Horse and dead Godfrey laid vpon another It is a iust Iudgment said Pamphilus by the way for my leauing of Nisa wounded and Iacinth almost dead Doe you not heare said Tirsus without doubt this Nisa is the woman for whose sake he hath committed this murther and Iacinih some friend who led my Brother to the place All of them beleeued what Tirsus said and the traytor Tansiles iuterpreted Pamphilus his dispaires in such sort that euery one beleeued that