consider with him selfe that he would be a verie fitte messenger for that purpose and therefore he tooke him the letter closely sealed and wished him with conuenient speede to deliuer the same vnto his sister Verosa wishing her in his name to deliuer it ouer to Florida according to the direction thereof Further desiring the page not to make it knowen to any that he had seene him and the rather to haue him to accomplish his request he clapt him in the fist with a brace of angels and tolde him that he was to goe vpon some serious businesse which he would not haue any to vnderstand thereof And thus hauing schooled the Page what he had to doe he bade him heartily farewell and returned to his owne chamber againe where hee found Baleto readie with all thinges that he lacked for his iourney wherewith he presently furnished himselfe and hauing left order with him to excuse his absence to his Parents and for the doing of his businesse which he left vnperfect he rewarded him well for his labour and so departed with Auroraes first blush that he might not be descryed of any passing through gardens and vineyardes a way verie secret till he came to the forrest where we will leaue him as yet not fully determined which way from thence to bende the course of his trauell And nowe returne to Priscus who all the night before had taken very little rest for that no disquietnesse may be compared to the griefe of minde wherewith he was continually vexed and nowe much more then euer before supposing that Floridas sudden departure was a Kalender of his ensuing calamities for hauing his barge tossed amids the weltring waues of Fortunes euer-changing surges Floridas lookes onely guided the sterne so that for euery wrinckle in her browe and frowne in her face he was in daunger of present shipwracke The absence of his friend Moderatus also greatly troubled him both for that he longed to vnderstand his successe with Florida and also much maruelled why he came not to bed vnto him the night before as his manner was and as thus he studyed vpon these and such other contingents his Page came in whereupon he addressed him selfe to be stirring and the Page busie helping to make ready his Master the letter sent by him to be deliuered to Florida fel from his bosome the which Priscus presently espying demaunded what it was the Page lothe by reason of the charge giuen him by Moderatus to confesse the trueth fayned some excuse what vpon a sudden came to his head but neuerthelesse Priscus by the indorsement thereof perceiued it to be his friend Moderatus hand-writing and that the direction was to Florida which sight made him very blancke but better remembring him selfe he straightly examined his Page howe he came by the same letter and what he had in charge to doe therewith who seeing his Master in some choller thought it nowe no time to dallie with him and thereupon presently confessed the trueth Priscus nowe maruelling what was become of his friend being great with childe till he might viewe the contentes of his letter in the ende after long studie he bethought him of the print of Moderatus signet which he had in yuorie and therefore might well open the same without knowledge whereupon presently vnripping the seale he perused his friendes lines to Florida wherein perceiuing the fidelitie of Moderatus and the great crueltie of Florida he grew very melancholy and passionate for his friend in so much that he beganne to quake like the Aspine leafe falling therewith vpon a sudden to a very daungerous feuer which forced him not onely to keepe his chamber but also to embrace his pillowe but neuerthelesse sealed the letter a-new and commaunded his Page to doe therewith as his friend Moderatus had giuen him in charge which the Page accordingly perfourmed but the letter being come to Floridas hand and vnderstanding the same to come from Moderatus she was the gladdest woman in the worlde thinking it had bene a recâ—ntation of his former follie and therefore presently opened the same and read ouer his lynes viewing and reuiewing euery worde in particular the agonie of this sudden sight tormenting her so much that she was skant able to keep her countenance whylest shee fayned some businesse to send away Verosa which deliuered the same letter vnto her who being gone she secretly conueyed her selfe to her closet and began thus to meditate vpon the matter Ah Florida what meaneth this alteration and whereof proceedeth these vnwonted passions hast thou bene courted of so many braue and gallant Gentlemen sued vnto and sought by so manie worthie Personages and seruice offered vnto thee by so many noble Lordes all which thou heldest in disdaine skorning Cupides Alarums and condemning for superstition Aphrodites Orisons and nowe like the Beetle hauing nesteled in the Sunne all day is contented with a Cowsharde for shelter at night art not onely forced to be the formost souldiour to march when Cupid soundeth his trumpet and both to decke Venus shrine at Paphos with flowers and to offer incense at her Altar for sacrifice but also ouercome with base and seruile thoughtes art contrarie to the qualitie of thy sexe driuen to offer the fauour of thy affection to thy vassall yea an vpstart not knowen whence he came onely by thy Fathers bountie preserued from famishing and from a beggar aduaunced to dignitie and he thus vnkindely to rewarde thy curtesie with so slender a regard of thy friendly offers O vniust Fortune that workest these strange stratagemes and procurest thus my preiudice but trueth it is thou hast as many frownes as smiles who fawning like the Tigre when hee meaneth most harme and shewing foorth a sowre and frowning countenance doeth prognosticate fayre weather at hande for after a great storme followeth a pleasant caulme But what Florida is it possible that Moderatus is gone or writeth thus vnto thee to trye thy patience no Moderatus is too wise to iest in these matters gone hee is too sure O vnkinde churle that thus repayest my loue with hate and requitest my ardent desire with peremptorie and colde disdaine resembling the Cedar which is most fayre in sight but yet bringeth no fruite or the Nightingale that hath a most sweete voyce but ranke flesh so thou seeming as simple as a Doue in outwarde semblance yet in minde as cruell as a furie or a rauening lyon What nowe Florida wade not too farre in these inuectiues before thou considerest the cause aright for a rash iudgement doeth but seldome sauour of Iustice Moderatus sued vnto thee for his friend and thou wouldest haue him conuert the same for him selfe glad hee woulde haue bene so to doe but that his amitie with Priscus did forbid him to falsifie his faith vnto his friend so that hee had rather though to his great griefe refuse thy offer and forsake his most louing and carefull Parents and all his deere friendes then he would be founde disloyall
no lesse then still ayme at affection and he knew very wel there was no fayrer marke for her in all her fathers Court then Priscus and thus he concluded with him selfe the next morning to depart from Albigena On this determination he went home to his fathers lodging thinking it not the wisest course to goe to his friend Priscus chamber in the Court least if he were prest to reueale vnto him the veritie of the matter it might breed in him such a despaire that his pretended pollicie would serue for small purpose who being come to his fathers gate it was so farre past of the night that al were in bed neuerthelesse he repayred to the chamber window of a seruant of his Fathers whome he loued verie faithfully and called him to open the gate for him who incontinently so did and shewed him a chamber to take his rest whereupon he spake to Baleto for so his Fathers man was called being assured of his fidelitie which very often had yeelded vnto him many sure pledges of trueth howe that he was to depart from the Dukes Court vpon some serious businesse which required a present dispatch to the executing whereof he must be furnished with a pilgrimes weede therefore gaue him in charge by morning to prouide such furniture as belonged thereunto and therewithall deliuered him Crownes sufficient to buy the same promising also to reward him well for his labour and so Baleto hyed him about his businesse and Moderatus betooke him to his ease who all this night tooke but small rest beating his braines sometimes about the course of his trauell other-whiles calling to memorie howe grieuously his parents would take his absence with diuers other occurrents which happened to come to his minde and lastly resolued vpon this point that if he truely discharged the part of a friend he did not care how his trauell prospered howe his parents should be grieued nor howe he should be thought of by his friend And so peremptorily determining to depart suddenly he tooke pen ynke and paper and deuised these ensuing lines to be sent to Florida TO FAIRE FLORIDA PERFECT health and prosperous happinesse THat which verie often I haue read in antiquities I finde nowe plainely verified in you which is that Loue swimmeth in a womans eye but neuer diueth into her heart fancie is the load-starre that ruleth her affection and desart is either neuer respected or slenderly considered it is presently in obliuion Well nowe I perceiue that the finest veluet hath his bracke the fayrest Rose his prickle and the rarest beauty a disdainfull and coye resolution which doeth more blemish an honourable minde then the most excellent hew of beauty doeth garnish and adorne the body for as it is sayd If thou be fayre thou oughtest diligently to endeuour thy selfe that thy vertuous lyfe bee aequiualent to those good partes which thy Creatour bestowed vpon thee but if fowle thou oughtest so much the more to endeuour thy selfe to excell in vertue as thou art others inferiour in beautie Wherefore Madame vnnaturall were it for you beyng furnished with such heauenly and diuine beauty to haue your heart to hardened in the forge of crueltie as not to releeue the ceaselesse torments of your faythfull Louer and my distressed friend who counting all daunger a ioye all griefe a grace all payne a pastyme and wayghing all torments as a treasure so the same were sustayned in your seruice or vndertaken at your commaundement and to be briefe had you any way regarded a loyall and louing heart founded vpon an vnfayned and vertuous resolution so long coulde you not haue with-helde your eye of pitty from him that so often yea euen within your viewe languished with such pure tormenting payne and griefe that his onely hope of release was to haue his dismall dayes ended by the pearcing and deadly darte of death Happily you will say that I pronounce a sharpe sentence against mine owne selfe and iudge me as arrogant in denying your most curteous offer as you were vnkynd in not graunting my request True it is if eyther the force of lawlesse loue or the ouer-liberal curtesie farre aboue my desart of a royall and beautifull Lady had bene of a vertuous and honest mynde more to be respected and regarded then the sacred league and inuiolable bond of true and faythfull friendshippe which vnited Priscus minde and mine together much more had I ouer-shot my selfe to deny your request and to refuse the thing I most of all desired but seeing the Imperiall lawes of sacred societie did will and commaund the contrary I thinke therein that I haue done but my duety wherefore knowe fayre Florida that sith your doome was so dyre as absolutely to forbid me your presence without I vndertooke so much for my selfe as I did then prosecute for my friend rather then I would falsifie my fayth I meane though to my no small griefe to fulfill the tenor of your sentence by absenting my selfe not only from your presence but also from your fathers Court faithfully bequeath my selfe to a pilgrimes life to assay if by my penance I may release my friend from his martyrdom Wherfore receiue this my last adewe and credite me the refusing of your gentle offer proceeded of a firme zeale towards my friend not of a coy disdaine towardes you assuring you but to preiudice Priscus I am euery way at your commaund so intending not to returne againe till either Florida hateth Moderatus or loueth priscus I beseech you if euer you affected me you attribute the same vnto him as his due who as Cicero said est quasi alter idem and therfore may iustly challenge all that were due vnto me I am so quaint in my pilgrims habite that I forget the reuerence due to so royal a lady Wherfore I pray for pardon wish you if the prayer of a pilgrime may take effect to commend me to Priscus And thus with tears in mine eyes grief in my heart I cōmend you to your pleasure and bequeath my selfe to my trauell Yours euery way but to preiudice Priscus DON MODERATVS Moderatus departure from Albigena Priscus intercepting of MODERATVS letters to FLORIDA perusal of the same His griefe for the losse of his friend which driue him to a dangerous feuer MODERATVS letter sealed againe and deliuered to FLORIDA Her meditation vpon the same the altering of her resolucion and affecting of PRISCVS The Ladies and Gentlemens visiting of PRISCVS being sicke CORNELIVS censure vpon Beautie and Bountie Chap. 7. MOderatus hauing finished this letter repaired to the chamber of Baleto to see howe things were in a readinesse thinking it long till he were departed from Albigena and to deale with him for the conueying of the letter to Florida where by chaunce he found Priscus page who had bene foorth so late the night before that for feare to disquiet his Master he had taken vp his lodging there as often he vsed to doe whereupon Moderatus did
fire-burning loue and boyling in feruencie of desire with such conceites as his newe thoughtes presented vnto him continually meditating with him selfe how to compasse the summe of his desire which was wholly to bestow his time in the seruice of this Semi-goddesse to obtaine the which by reason of the enmitie betweene the King his Father and Deuasco seemed vnto him a labour so endlesse as with Dedalus to search out the bottome of the Laberinth or to rowle the stone with Sisiphus wherefore he was so quatted in his former determination that Venus had lost one champion had not the fierie God so boyled his sences in the furnace of fancie that hee was perforce constrained to yeelde vnto affection And breathing thus hee fedde him selfe with hope that opprtunitie woulde be a good plea in this suite soothing his owne vaine and foolishe humour with such friuolous circumstances and fonde deuices of his newe troubled braine that hee weighed the daunger though neuer so desperate but small and the enterprise though neuer so great but meane to haue once a sight of this rare Saint counting it a life to dye in the demaunde of such a Iewell and an honour to bestowe the flowre of his youth in the seruice of such a peerelesse Parragon Wherefore resting vpon this conclusiue Periode first he breathed foorth manie sealding sighes for sacrifice vnto Venus and manie bitter teares for offeringes vnto Cupid to bee Mediatours to further his newe entertained fancies and therewithall taking his leaue of all the boun companions and gentle swaynes leauing them to their pastimes hee bequeathed him selfe to his passions for in his returne from the plaines to his Fathers Pallace making no great haste to come where he might be knowen before it should be late in the euening least he should be descried in those homelie attires he beganne to tosse in his braine manie odde shiftes to effect his purpose the feâ—uencie of his affection ministring vnto him a thousand deuises to put this matter in practise no one thought which fancie presented seemied hard vnto him though all in a manner vnpossible In the end after that he had long deliberated vpon this matter he purposed in disguised manner to giue his attendance vpon the Duke her Father and so by that meanes to espie opportunitie to reueale his minde vnto her which verie shortly he brought to passe by the helpe of a Florentine a verie neere kinsman to Perduratus who willing to pleasure his young Lord and Master requesting his furtherance and opening him selfe vnto him as assured of secrecie at his handes whose faith had affoorded him a thousand pledges of faithfull and true dealing did write his letters with Priscus to his cousin Perduratus desiring him to place that noble Gentleman in the Dukes seruice to whome and his friendes he in curtesie helde him selfe much bound Byndon for so the Florentine was called hauing finished his letters deliuered them to his young Master and wished him bone fortune in his affayres Whereupon Priscus faining some other occasion of absence to the King his father departed him selfe with one alone Page cowardes Albigena for there the Court of Deuasco Prince of Liguria was to put his purpose in practise thinking euery minute a Moneth and euery howre a yeere till he came to his iourneyes end verifying this onely Adage Cupienti caeleritas mora est In this sort his thoughtes building Castels in the ayre at last he arriued at Albigena where deliuering his letters of commendations to the Prince his high Steward he had verie good entertainment of him made him the best welcome his late reuiued Fortune could affoord And verie shortly placed him in the Dukes seruice for Priscus was such a one whose owne person might warrant him so much fauour being a man as rare in his qualities as excellent in his personage whose countenance was adorned with the beautie of youth and his behauiour furnished with the grauitie of age so that verie thankefull was this proffer to the Duke who alwayes had in estimation and regarde all such toward youthes This being finished Perduratus minding to shewe him selfe euery way bountifull to young Priscus to remunerate some part of his kinsman his receiued good turnes called vnto him his sonne Moderatus who was in good credite in the Court and generally welbeloued for his affabilitie and gentlenesse commaunding him to be acquainted with Priscus and withall not to omit any occasion that might procure his good declaring the kindnes he had shewed vnto his Unckle Byndon to induce him faithfully to doe the same Moderatus of duetie obedient to his Fathers commaund and of Nature passing gentle Nurture hauing also instructed him to be Patron vnto Strangers especially to such as had in the highest degree merited the same endeuoured not onely to entertaine Priscus with common curteste but also to vnite him selfe in friendship with him if the sequell of his life prooued so vertuous as it seemed in outward apparance and great reason he had so to do for that they were both Straungers much of the same age the constitution of their bodies were alike and the disposition of their mindes without difference So as nothing is to be respected in amitie and friendship more then equalitie euen so could none more fitly be ioyned in amitie and friendshippe by reason of the sympathie of their natures then this couple who so much resembled each other in proportion and condition that scant could the one be knowen from the other Thus both these faire buddes flourishing in the beautifull prime of their yeeres hauing in some reasonable quantitie of time sufficiently experienced each others vertuous disposition grew so familiar in speech and conuersation that the consent of the one was a constraint to the other if Priscus smiled Moderatus reioyced if Moderatus lowred Priscus laughed not in so much that they were neuer found different in opinion or action for one chamber was common vnto them both one bed serued them both they both euer vsed one boord they had but one purse indifferent betweene them and last of all their seuerall and distinct bodyes had but one minde either of them with their affable and curteous demeanour endeuouring to gaine the good will of the people and both of them in a verie short space did in the highest degree of good liking obtaine the same Priscus all this while applying him selfe very diligently in the seruice of his mistresse no where seeming pleasant but in her presence her lookes hauing fettered him in the prison oâ— fancie fortune brought him to such a Laberinth that his thoughts were like Ianus pictures that presented both peace and warre his minde not vnlike to Venus Anuill whereon is forged both feare and hope the sight of his beloued something easing the intollerable wearinesse of his minde who with her rowling lookes sometimes lending him an amorous glance more of an vse which she had taken then of any fauour vnto him brought the poore Gentleman to such a fooles
and treacherous in his friendshippe oh rare and wonderfull great faith and worthie to bee had in great estimation amongest all men whome the force of loue could not mooue the displeasure of a Princesse coulde not feare tâ—e losse of kinde and naturall Parents coulde not cracke nor the hardnesse and daunger of a Pilgrimes life which euery moment is subiect to the storme of waywarde destinie could bend then Florida seeing that Moderatus preferred his friendes welfare before his owne and that he chose rather to preiudice his owne person then any way to hinder Priscus and desired in his last farewell that thou wouldest suppose him to be present in the habite of his friend for that they had but one minde to their two distinct bodies Thinke thâ—n of the worthines of Priscus who loueth thee as his owne life and hath sustained such hard penance for thy sake that more thou couldest not wish thine enemy lesse had bene too much for one that loued so faithfully now entertaine him with some comfort at his intreaty whom thou so tenderly didst loue but what Florida wilt thou so soone yeeld to fonde affection as to loue thy Fathers mortall foe hast thou none to fancie but the sonne of Lothus King of Aemulia that so often hath vexed thy father and his subiectes and haply vnder colour of professing loue vnto thee pretendeth some treason vnto thy father seeking rather to drawe some of his subiectes from their allegiance then to match with his daughter in marriage Ah but where rouest thou fond Florida thou doest measure his inwarde intencion by thy suspicious cogitation and is it not a Maxime in the Ciuill lawe that suspition is no proofe where it is said Factum consistit in externo corporali actu animus in tacito incorporali intellectu vnde in animi effectus non potest cadere facti euidentia thou deemest Priscus to circumuent treason who not onely assureth trueth in his wordes but also manifesteth the same in action for if he had thought to surprise thy father with treacherie he would not haue suffered him selfe to bee discouered vnto thee And what though his father and mine were and are still foes might we not neuerthelesse be friendes yea and our friendshippe be an occasion of amitie betweene our Parents seeing their hate is not deadly but growen of vnkindnesse and some ostentation and desire of superioritie And by this match both Prouinces might be vnited together that it might not onely preserue the liues of a number of their subiectes but also arme them selues with such strength that no stormie blast of sinister Fortune might shake the foundation of any of them both Loue then Florida for the worthines of the man willeth thee so to doe his birth and Parentage are sufficient pledges of honourable patrimonie and his personage and behauiour are liuelie portratures and perfect Mappes of true Nobilitie his merite is farre aboue thy desart and his faithful heart tryed with the touchstone of trueth excellethall so that I thinke nothing wanting in him that might be wished for in an honourable Gentleman or a loyall louer Heere fetching a deepe sigh Florida made a verie long Period Cupid nowe hauing founde her as a wanton playing the trewand had whipped her with nettles to requite all her former coynesse and therefore she began to forget her deerest Moderatus and to imprint in her thoughtes the liuely Idea of Priscus perfect shape verifying the olde Addage Qui procul ab oculis procul est a lumine cordis Thus making a vertue of necessitie hauing none other at this time worthie entertaining she resolued to frame her countenance so mildly towardes Priscus that if heretofore shee had giuen him a cooling carde for his hote desire which might driue him to despaire now hope might giue him comfort that opportunitie would be a good plea to further his action deuising with her selfe by what meanes she might best giue Priscus to vnderstand of her newe conceiued affection who being in this solemne meditation came in some of her gentlewomen with whome she passed the time away remaining in a kinde of longing desire till good fortune should bring them once together Priscus all this while kept his bed his ague being so extreeme that the report thereof was publikely knowen and the absence of Moderatus vnderstoode which caused great heauinesse throughout al the Dukes Court in general for that he was verie curteous and bountifull vnto all and therefore greatly beloued of all his Parents and friendes greatly grieued therewith especially because they knewe not the cause of his departure nor where to send in quest of him The Duke and the Duchesse tooke it also very heauily for that they entirely loued Moderatus for his Gentlemanly qualities vertuous conditions sober life and diligent seruice Thus a good space was his departure greatly bewayled throughout the whole Citie of Albigena all comforting Priscus supposing the losse of his friend to be the cause of his disease the which Moderatus Parents noted in him presently for being verie often with him sometimes hee would raue and be as it were franticke and then he neuer ceased to call vpon his friend Moderatus the which being vnderstood they tooke verie great care of him and gaue in charge to Verosa tenderly to looke vnto him and to cherish him in his sickenesse which the Phisicians helde daungerous though not mortall Verosa for her brothers sake that was his friend his owne curteous and gentle behauiour deseruing no lesse willingly assented so to doe in perfourmance of her Parents commaunde and of good will vnto him and amongest other times Florida and Pandarina once did beare her companie for that both of them indeed could haue bene contented to haue comforted him in the best sort they could although in outward shewe they dissembled who being come to the Patients chamber they found him very sicke yet at the latter ende of his fitte which made them offer them selues a while to keepe him chat to beguile the tediousnesse of the time Priscus faynt as he was very heartily gaue them thankes who espying Florida being very neere his bed and taking him by the wrist to feele his pulse and asking him whether the day of his Crisis was past was almost in a sounde to beholde her that had thus wrought all his preiudice the which Florida perceiuing gaue him verie comfortable wordes and cherished him verie tenderly and bade him take heart for that a valiant minde is neuer knowen but in extremitie as the pure golde in the furnace Priscus well noted her wordes which somewhat did lighten his heart albeit hee much maruelled from whence this sudden kindnesse had proceeded after so cruell a sentence pronounced against him holding it for authenticall that naturally fire and water coulde not agree in one substance nor yet loue and hate so to concurre in one person that so suddenly the one should expulse the ether experience hauing taught him that the lowest shrubbe
the only surgeon that could cure his maladie reason being so blinded with fancie that he had wholly forgotten that his affection to Florida had procured the lâ—sse of his friend and finding her looks as attractiue as Iet he perceiued him selfe too weake to withstand the force thereof so that yeelding to the necessitie of his passion he continued certaine dayes not thoroughly recouered though wel amended in which time the Gentlewomen and the Lords of great account came daily to comfort him which was a good meane to weare away that wearisome disease which in the end being cleane shakt away fortune offered him very conuenient opportunitie to appoint a meeting to haue secret conference with Florida which was appointed to be the next morning in that artificiall paradice I meane that Priuie garden wherein first he had discouered his affection vnto her and Priscus hauing obtained a graunt of that which was his chiefest desire tooke small rest this night meditating vpon the successe of his fortunes the next day and by that Phoebus appeared in the East he quickely hyed him to the place of meeting and there missing of Florida because it was so timely he sate downe in a fine harbour where with the musicall harmonie of the birdes the pleasant murmure of a Christalline spring that there was together with the wearinesse of his bodie being so long exempt from any rest lulled him a-sleepe in which time Florida mindfull of her promes repayred thither also who sitting by that sweete Helicon to driue away thoughtes melodiously warbled out this insuing Dittie THe vaine delightes that please the curious eye By proofe I finde to turne vnto their paine Such obiectes rare do darke the sence for why The beames thereof reflecting pierce againe With double force the faithfull Louers brest Vntill by stealth it robbes his quiet rest The pinching paine that doeth torment the minde Is more increas'd by glauncing of the eye Which can no where a quiet habour finde But in the heart such is his vrgent might The vertue then of a light rowling looke Vnder a baite doeth hide a hydeous hooke Like Iett attractiue and like pearcing steele The heauiest things vnto it selfe it drawes Nothing so hard but yeeldes wherefore I feele My heart is drawen vnto his proscript Lawes And pearced eke by force of subtill sight Wherefore I yeeld vnto his lawlesse might His might hath captiue tane my pensiue heart His might hath made my hauty brest to bend His might hath turned my iesting vnto smart His might enforst me scalding sighes to send From skorched brest where carefull thoughtes enioy Hope of nought els but liuing in annoy When brutish beastes doe chew their cuddes in shade Nought doe they care for barren winters foode Who knew but shallow foords feares not to wade Euen so each louer in his merrie moode When fortune smiles and holdes him in her lappe Thinkes not this calme doeth breede an after-clappe FLorida hauing thus finished her Dittie Priscus awaked with the sound thereof would do no lesse then pay her her debt in the same coyne whereupon he descanted this ensuing fancie IF wearie sleepelesse rest In nightes doe argue care And dayes with dole opprest To them that louers are Then watchfull cares that with my colour grew To heate extreme shall prooue me louer true Mee louer true then trueth Deserueth trust I trow Which motiue is too ruthe In such as grace doeth grow No pittie then without desert I craue For what I bought I merited to haue To haue what faith may reape And loyall loue obtaine I ought to haue like cheape As I doe sell againe With loyaltie I purchase all my loue God graunt againe that others faithfull prooue If faithfull others prooue I prize my paine for nought If tryed trueth may mooue I haue the thing I sought If neither may take place I pine with woe Dye had I leuer then liue and liuing so PRiiscus with this note finished his song and presently hyed him to the place where Florida was where saluting her after the best manner he could shee gaue him very friendly entertainment Priscus of a long time could not frame him selfe to speake to Florida till she did as it were glaciem secare taking occasion first to shewe him his friend Moderatus letter vnto her the which albeit he had seene it before yet perusing the contents he tooke very heauily the losse of so deare a friend which Florida perceiuing began to shake him out of his dumpe thus Why how now Priscus what meaneth these sighing sobbes which may rather breede your harme then any hope of reliefe take heede least in complaining before you haue cause fortune offended with your vniust accusation a iust occasion of repentance may follow And if these straying passions proceed of my gentlenesse vnto you I am sorie to haue bene so ouer-liberall of mine honour in entertaining you with such kindnesse if your griefe be for your friend then reason doubtlesse may well satisfie a reasonable man to be reformed in such an error for ought you more to regard a little trauell which your friend endureth in forren and strange countryes where he gayneth more honour by the title and name of a traueller besides knowledge and experience which be two so rare and speciall iewels then would many thousand times counteruaile the labour or daunger of his pilgrimage then the loue of Florida which once you seemed to prize of greater value then your owne life Sure I must thinke if you doe so that either you did then counterfet or nowe dissemble either of which are two too base qualities for an honourable minde And Moderatus no doubt will returne hither againe when he may vnderstand that all goeth well with you which daily he may heare wheresoeuer he is commorant being inquisitiue as you may assure your selfe he is of the state of my fathers Court and then your ioy will be double his wished presence repaying with vsurie your late penance for his absence With these comfortable speaches Priscus was very much eased and hauing well considered the whole circumstance of Floridaâ— speach which to his iudgement proceeded of a hearty zeale from the melodious harmonie of her sugred voyce the influence whereof had so rauished his minde that for a long space he could not vtter one word till in the end being halfe awaked out of his newe traunce he embraced Florida so louingly as though he had bene readie to depart out of this worlde and efâ—soones watered his cheekes with a new tyde of flowing teares proceeding from the vnspeakable ioy of his ouer-ardent desire hauing now obtained a graunt to satisfie his expectation and also yeelded vnto her aboundance of thankes for this her kind compassion in relieuing his infortunate and miserable estate wherefore he vowed euer to remaine her true seruant at all times ready to recompence the same with this and such like amorous prattle they protracted the time till dinner about what time for feare to be discouered
Florence and their embassage sent to PERDVRATAS Gouernour thereof Their abode in a village called Albauilla The great Gyant Albanus outrages there CORNELIVS and others of Duke DEVASCOS Court repairing to Florence to this triumph Chap. 14. O Most noble Princesse the flower of all beautie and whilome the pride of Nature triumphing in her owne excellencie hauing framed so noble a Creature in whose life and conuersation both rare constancie and the fruite of vertuous chastitie haue shined more bright then the Carbuncle in the darkest dungeon or Phoebus ascending to his highest spheare displaying his glorious and golden beames after a darke and mistie morning I say Modesta well deseruing thy name and not improper to thy heroicall qualities the very Mappe of vnfayned modestie the carde of singular and care curtesie the flower of euer-flourishing fancie the mirrour of mayden-like humilitie the glasse of neuer-ending glorie and the liuely lantherne of true and perfect nobilitie All haile noble Uirgine the wonder of the worlde and the matchlesse Parragon amongest all humane creatures thy twice captiuate champion Moderatus sonne to the renowmed and sometimes infortunate but now happie Florentine Perduratus Lord and Prince of that reedified and late recouered Florence humbly submitteth him selfe to thy person and craueth pardon if euer he hath wronged thy sight with any rude fantasie of ouer-willing desire to excuse my selfe whereof I can say nothing but that in so doing I fulfilled the commaundement of the peremptorie vncontrolled Deitie of that blind Ciprian boy whose shafts pierced deadly fire burned vehemently so that not able to resist the alarums of his fresh batteries I cōmitted my passions to that tell-tale paper which trusly Perio deliuered to mine onely harts-hope Modesta. My liues preseruer Modesta vouchsafed to compound a medicine with her own hands to salue my griefe although by distance of place it lately came to my hands wherfore I want not the marks of a long languishing patient with his pale and leane cheeks hanging heauie countenance The medicine I receiued by the handes of true-hearted Perio hath something reuiued me againe and both the messenger the potion I do here present vnto Modesta as the infallible tokens of your true-hearted knight that vanquished both Delamure mighty Bergamo to aduance thy honour and dignitie And if you suppose that I receiued no damage in perfourming these dangerous conflictes behold the skarres and therewith vnlacing his Armour of late healed woundes and the fresh bleeding hurtes with bloody teares crauing for pittie at your handes besides a most daungerous wound which palpably tormenteth my soule without that you with tender regard of his life that willingly will offer the same in defence of your honour and fame will vouchsafe to salue his sore alreadie like to fester if without delay it be not looked vnto Here Moderatus with volleyes of sighes and the teares trickling downe his two Christall chekes made a full period resting in a Dilemma betweene feare and hope and driuen to such an extasie with feruencie of newe encreasing desire that he could not speake one word till his Saint his Sunne his Ioy his Iewell I meane his Modesta accompanied him with teares that trilled like droppes of siluer dewe ouer the Carnation tincture of her milke-white face began thus to replie vnto him Noble Heroyes and the flower of all Cheualrie I hold it not necessarie to mourne when the daunger is past but rather to reioyce in that it is so happily past but yet to recount of our expired labours can be no lesse then pleasing vnto vs for that valiant Troian Aeneas vsed to comfort his distressed mates in their greatest extremities saying vnto them Olim haec meminisse iuuabit so haue you repeated vnto me the daunger you sustained in working my deliuerie and surely thus much I must needes say that as your valour hath purchased my freedome so hath it also eternized your fame with perpetuall renowne and highest title of honour I confesse my libertie consisted in your bountie and sith the same relyes vpon my beautie euen the very same which you haue freed from perpetual infamie shal in like sort gratifie you with vnfayned loyaltie which is the onely reward it can affoord for all your sustained trauailes It is an ill Gardener that toyleth in his garden all day and can not haue a few roots for sallets at night and a sorie husband that laboureth in his vineyard all the yeere and hath not a cluster of grapes instore to cole his thirst and so that Louer is vnhappie that in twise hazarding his life for his Mistresse can not obtaine one reasonable wish Nay rather that garden were vnfertill that vineyard vnfruitfull and that Mistresse too too cruell that would not yeeld better fruite to such diligent seruants Wherefore sweete friend I protest vnto thee that as my libertie recouered by the force of thy strong arme hath vnchayned me from the bondes of shame and dishonor so thy skrowle sent by Perio which thou doest pretend to wrong my sight hath very much cherished my late-recouered perishing bodie because it was from the blacke Knight presented vnto me but Moderatus presence nowe the second time purchasing my libertie with the price of his dearest blood hath not onely reuiued me from death to life againe but also thereby purchased the Fee-simple thereof vnto him selfe if Modesta hath any interest in her selfe Here both burst foorth againe into floods of teares and teares choaking vp their ripe and mellowed speaches left skant any vent to the breathing ayre to haue accesse vnto their panting hearts to ease the ponderous burthen thereof with volleyes of farre-fetched and skalding sighes Thus as it were transported into anewe worlde so closely embracing that as it may be philosophically disputed that louers and friends haue distinct bodys but one minde so it might be nowe palpably prooued that these two louers were but one entire body with such exceeding vehemencie they clipped that which either of them so long expected and earnestly desired thus rauished with an extraordinarie ioy of this happie meeting they continued a long time in this sort not much vnlike to the picture of Mars and Venus set foorth in that manner they were taken by Vulcan they had commaunded all to stand apart vpon their first salutation and happie it was that all discouered not so great a secresie In the ende something awaking out of this sweete slumber Modesta led him in by the hand and called for Perio to vnarme him assuring the Page he should be well rewarded for the paines and trauell he had sustained And Moderatus being vnarmed Modesta very tenderly searched his woundes cherished and bound them vp with great care and then causing the charriot to proceed forwardes leauing Bergamo neither aliue nor yet altogether dead Moderatus albeit he confessed to Modesta his birth and Parentage would not haue any other priuie thereunto till such time as vnexpected in his Fathers presence he might discouer