her Nouell but Madame Neiphila by the Kings command began to speake in this manner It seemeth to mee Gracious Ladies that there are some such people to be found who imagine themselues to know more then all other else in the world beside and yet indeede doe know nothing at all presuming thorough this arrogant opinion of theirs to imploy and oppose their senselesse vnderstanding against infallible grounded reason yea and to attempt courses not only contrary to the counsell and iudgment of men but also to crosse the nature of diuine ordination Out of which saucy ambitious presumption many mighty harmes haue already had beginning and more are like to ensue vppon such boldnesse because it is the ground of all euils Now in regard that among all other naturall things no one is lesse subiect to take counsell or can bee wrought to contrariety then Loue whose nature is such as rather to run vpon his owne rash consumption then to be ruled by admonitions of the very wisest my memory hath inspired it self with matter incident to this purpose effectually to approue what I haue already said For I am now to speake of a woman who would appeare to haue more wit then either she had indeed or appertained to her by any title The matter also wherein she would needs shew hir studious iudgement and capacity was of much more consequence then she could deserue to meddle withall Yet such was the issue of her fond presuming that in one instant she expelled both loue and the soule of her owne sonne out of his body where doubtlesse it was planted by diuine fauour and appointment In our owne City according to true ancient testimony there dwelt sometime a very worthy and wealthy Merchant named Leonardo Sighiero who by his wife had one onely Sonne called Ieronimo and within a short while after his birth Leonardo being very sicke and hauing setled al his affaires in good order departed out of this wretched life to a better The Tutors and Gouernours of the Childe thought it fittest to let him liue with his Mother where he had his whole education though schooled among many other worthy neighbours children according as in most Cities they vse to do Yong Ieronimo growing on in yeares and frequenting dayly the company of his Schoole-fellowes and others hee would often sport as the rest did with the neighbors and much prety pastime they found together In the harmlesse recreations of youth grauer iudgements haue often obserued that some especiall matter receiued then such original as greater effect hath followed thereon And many times parents and kindred haue bene the occasion although perhaps beyond their expectation of very strange and extraordinary accidents by names of familiarity passing betweene Boyes and Girles as King and Queene sweet heart and sweet heart friend and friend husband and wife and diuers other such like kind tearmes proouing afterwards to be true indeede It fell out so with our yong Ieronimo for among a number of pretty Damosels daughters to men of especiall respect and others of farre inferiour qualitie a Taylors daughter excelling the rest in fauour and feature albeit her Father was but poore Ieronimo most delighted to sport withall and no other titles passed betweene them euen in the hearing of their parents and friendes but wife and husband such was the beginning of their young affection presaging no doubt effectually to follow Nor grew this familiarity as yet any way distasted till by their dayly conuersing together and enterchange of infinite pretty speeches Ieronimo felt a strange alteration in his soule with such enforcing and powerfull afflictions as he was neuer well but in her company nor she enioyed any rest if Ieronimo were absent At the length this being noted by his Mother she beganne to rebuke him yea many times gaue him both threatnings and blowes which prouing to no purpose nor hindering his accesse to her she complained to his Tutors and like one that in regard of her riches thought to plant an Orange vpon a blacke thorne spake as followeth This Sonne of mine Ieronimo being as yet but fourteene years of age is so deeply enamored of a yong Girle named Siluestra daughter vnto a poore Tailor our neere dwelling neighbour that if we do not send him out of her company one day perhaps he may make her his wife and yet without any knowledge of ours which questionlesse would be my death Otherwise he may pine and consume himselfe away if he see vs procure her marriage to some other Wherefore I hold it good that to auoid so great an inconuenience we shold send Ieronimo some far distance hence to remaine where some of our Factors are employed because when he shall be out of her sight and their often meetings vtterly disappointed his affection to her will the sooner ceasse by frustrating his hope for euer enioying her and so we shall haue the better meanes to match him with one of greater quality The Tutors did like well of her aduice not doubting but it would take answerable effect and therefore calling Ieronimo into a priuate Parlor one of them began in this manner Ieronimo you are now growne to an indifferent stature and almost able to take gouernment of your selfe It cannot then seeme any way inconuenient to acquaint you with your deceased Fathers affaires and by what good courses he came to such wealth You are his onely sonne and heire to whom hee hath bequeathed his rich possessions your Mothers moity euermore remembred and trauaile would now seeme fitting for you as well to experience in Traffick and Merchandize as also to let you see the worlds occurrences Your Mother therfore and we haue thought it expedient that you should iourney from hence to Paris there to continue for some such fitting time as may grant you full and free opportunity to suruey what stocke of wealth is there employed for you and to make you vnderstand how your Factors are furtherous to your affayres Beside this is the way to make you a man of more solid apprehension perfect instruction in ciuill courses of life rather then by continuing here to see none but Lords Barons and Gentlemen whereof wee haue too great a number When you are sufficiently qualified there and haue learned what belongeth to a worthy Marchant such as was Leonardo Sighiero your famous Father you may returne home againe at your owne pleasure The youth gaue them attentiue hearing and in few words returned them answer That he would not giue way to any such trauaile because hee knew how to dispose of himselfe in Florence as well as in any other place he should be sent too Which when his Tutors heard they reproued him with many seuere speeches and seeing they could win no other answer from him they made returne thereof to his Mother Shee storming extreamly thereat yet not so much for denying the iourney to Paris as in regard of his violent affection to the Maide gaue him very bitter and
should both shamefully be put to death The Mother to this regardlesse Daughter hauing heard the angry words of her Husband and how hee would be reuenged on the faultie could not endure that he should be so seuere wherefore although shee was likewise much afflicted in minde and reputed her Daughter worthy for so great an offence of all cruell punishment â—yet shee hasted to her displeased husband who began to entreate that he would not runne on in such a furious spleene now in his aged yeares to be the murtherer of his owne childe and soile his hands in the blood of his seruant Rather he might finde out some milde course for the satisfaction of his Anger by committing them to close imprisonment there to remaine mourne for their follie committed The vertuous and religious Lady alledged so many commendable examples and vsed such plenty of moouing perswasions that she quite altred his minde from putting them to death and he commanded onely that they should separately bee imprisoned with little store of foode and lodging of the vneasiest vntill hee should otherwise determine of them and so it was done What their life now was in captiuity and continuall teares with stricter abstinence then was needefull for them all this I must commit to your consideration Iehannot and Spina remaining in this comfortlesse condition and an whole yeere being now out-worne yet Conrado keeping them thus still imprisoned it came to passe that Don Pedro King of Arragon by the meanes of Messer Iohn de Procida caused the Isle of Sicily to reuolt and tooke it away from King Charles whereat Conrado he being of the Ghibbiline faction not a little reioyced Iehannot hauing intelligence therof by some of them that had him in custody breathing foorth a vehement sigh spake in this manner Alas poore miserable wretch as I am that haue already gone begging through the world aboue fourteene yeares in expectation of nothing else but this opportunity and now it is come must I be in prison to the end that I should neuer more hope for any future happinesse And how can I get forth of this prison except it be by death onely How now replied the Officer of the Guard What doth this businesse of great Kings concerne thee What affaires hast thou in Sicily Once more Iehannot sighed extreamly and returned him this answer Me thinkes my heart quoth hee doth cleaue in sunder when I call to minde the charge which my Father had there for although I was but a little boy when I fled thence yet I can well remember that I sawe him Gouernour there at such time as King Manfred liued The Guard pursuing on still his purpose demanded of him what and who his Father was My Father replyed Iehannot I may now securely speake of him being out of the perill which neerely concerned me if I had beene discouered He was the named and so still if he be liuing Henriet Capece and my name is Geoffrey not Iehannot and I make no doubt but if I vvere free from hence and might be returned home to Sicily I should for his sake be placed in some authority The honest man of the Guard without seeking after any further information so soone as he could compasse the leysure reported all to Messer Conrado who hauing heard these newes albeit he made no shew therof to the reuealer went to Madam Beritola graciously demaunding of her if she had any sonne by her husband who was called Geoffrey The Lady replyed in teares that if her eldest sonne were as yet liuing hee was so named and now aged about two and twenty yeares Conrado hearing this imagined this same to be the man considering further withall that if it fell out to proue so he might haue the better meanes of mercie and closely concealing his daughters shame ioyfully ioyne them in marriage together Hereupon he secretly caused Iehannot to be brought before him examining him particularly of all his passed life and finding by most manifest arguments that his name was truly Geoffrey he the eldest son of Henriet Capece he spake to him alone in this manner Iehannot thou knowest how great the iniuries which thou hast done me my deare daughter gently entreating thee as became a good honest seruant that thou shouldest alwayes haue bin respectiue of mine honor and all that do appertain vnto me There are many noble gentlewomen who sustaining the wrog which thou hast offred me they would haue procured thy shameful death which pitty compassion wil not suffer in me Wherfore seeing as thou informest me that thou art honorably deriued both by father mother I will giue end to all thine anguishes euen when thy self art so pleased releasing thee from the misery captiuity wherein I haue so long time kept thee and in one instant reduce thine honor mine into compleat perfection As thou knowest my Daughter Spina whom thou hast embraced in kindnesse as a friend although farre vnfitting for thee or her is a widow and her mariage is both great and good what her manners and conditions are thou indifferently knowest and art not ignorant of her Father and Mother concerning thine owne estate as now I purpose not to speake any thing Therefore when thou wilt I am so determined that whereas thou hast immodestly affected her she shall become thy honest wife and accepting thee as my Son to remain with me so long as you both please Imprisonment had somewhat mishapen Iehannot in his outward forme but not impaired a iot of that noble spirit really deriued from his famous progenitors much lesse the true loue he bare to his faire friend And although most earnestly he desired that which Conrado now so franckly offered him and was in his power onely to bestow on him yet could he not cloude any part of his greatnesse but with a resolued iudgement thus replied My Lord affectation of rule desire of wealthy possessions or any other matter whatsoeuer could neuer make me a traytor to you or yours but that I haue loued do loue for euer shal loue your beautious daughter if that be treason I freely coÌ„fesse it wil die a thousand deaths before you or any else shal enforce me to denie it for I hold her highly worthy of my loue If I haue bin more vnmaÌ„nerly with her then became me according to the opinion of vulgar iudgment I haue committed but that error which euermore is so attendant vpon youth that to denie it is to denie youth also And if reuerend age would but remember that once he was young measure others offences by his own they would not be thought so great or greeuous as you many more account them to be mine being coÌ„mitted as a friend not as an enemy what you make offer of so willingly to do I haue alwayes desired if I had thought it would haue bin granted long since I had most humbly requested it and so much the more acceptable would it
in detecting other I may perhaps as iustly taxe my selfe Such imbroydered bodies tricked and trimmed in such boasting brauery are they any thing else but as Marble Statues dumbe dull and vtterly insensible Or if perchaunce they make an answere when some question is demaunded of them it were much better for them to be silent For defence of honest deuise and conference among men and women they would haue the world to thinke that it proceedeth but from simplicity and precise opinion couering their owne folly with the name of honesty as if there were no other honest woman but shee that conferres onely with her Chamber-maide Laundresse or Kitchin-woman as if nature had allowed them in their owne idle conceite no other kinde of talking Most true it is that as there is a respect to be vsed in the action of other things so time and place are necessarily to be considered and also whom we conuerse withall because sometimes it happeneth that a man or woman intending by a word of iest and merriment to make another body blush or be ashamed not knowing what strength of wit remaineth in the opposite doe conuert the same disgrace vpon themselues Therefore that we may the more aduisedly stand vpon our owne guard and to preuent the common prouerbe That Women in all things make choyse of the woorst I desire that this dayes last tale which is to come from my selfe may make vs all wise To the end that as in gentlenesse of minde we conferre with other so by excellency in good manners we may shew our selues not inferiour to them It is not many yeares since worthy assembly that in Bulloigne there dwelt a learned Physitian a man famous for skill and farre renowned whose name was Master Albert and being growne aged to the estimate of threescore and tenne yeares hee had yet such a sprightly disposition that though naturall heate and vigour had quite shaken hands with him yet amorous flames and desires had not wholly forsaken him Hauing seene at a Banquet a very beautifull woman being then in the estate of widdowhood named as some say Madame Margaret de Chisolieri shee appeared so pleasing in his eye that his sences became no lesse disturbed then as if he had beene of farre younger temper and no night could any quietnesse possesse his soule except the day before he had seene the sweet countenance of this louely widdow In regard whereof his dayly passage was by her doore one while on horsebacke and then againe on foote as best might declare his plaine purpose to see her Both shee and other Gentlewomen perceiuing the occasion of his passing and repassing would priuately iest thereat together to see a man of such yeares and discretion to be amorously addicted or ouer-swayed by effeminate passions For they were partly perswaded that such wanton Ague fits of Loue were fit for none but youthfull apprehensions as best agreeing with their chearefull complexion Master Albert continuing his dayly walkes by the widdowes lodging it chaunced vpon a Feastiuall day that shee accompanied with diuers other women of great account being sitting at her doore espied Master Albert farre off comming thitherward and a resolued determination among themselues was set downe to allow him fauourable entertainement and to iest in some merry manner at his louing folly as afterward they did indeede No sooner was he come neere but they all arose and courteously inuited him to enter with them conducting him into a goodly Garden where readily was prepared choyse of delicate wines and banquetting At length among other pleasant and delightfull discourses they demanded of him how it was possible for him to be amorously affected towards so beautifull a woman both knowing and seeing how earnestly she was sollicited by many gracious gallant and youthfull spirits apâ—ly suting with her yeares and desires Master Albert perceiuing that they had drawne him in among them onely to scoffe and make a mockery of him set a merry countenance on the matter and honestly thus answered Beleeue mee Gentlewoman speaking to the widdowe her selfe it should not appeare strange to any of wisedome and discretion that I am amorously enclined and especially to you because you are well worthy of it And although those powers which naturally appertaine to the exercises of Loue are bereft and gone from aged people yet good will thereto cannot be taken from them neither iudgement to know such as deserue to be affected for by how much they exceede youth in knowledge and experience by so much the more hath nature made them meet for respect and reuerence The hope which incited me being aged to loue you that are affected of so many youthfull Gallants grew thus I haue often chaunced into diuers places where I haue seene Ladies and Gentlewomen being disposed to a Collation or rere-banquet after dinner to feede on Lupines and young Onions or Leekes and although it may be so that there is little or no goodnesse at all in them yet the heads of them are least hurtfull and most pleasing in the mouth And you Gentlewomen generally guided by vnreasonable appetite will hold the heads of them in your hands and feede vpon the blades or stalkes which not onely are not good for any thing but also are of very bad sauour And what know I Lady whether among the choise of friends it may fit your fancy to doe the like For if you did so it were no fault of mine to be chosen of you but thereby were all the rest of your suters the sooner answered The widdowed Gentlewoman and all the rest in her company being bashfully ashamed of her owne and their folly presently said Master Albert you haue both well and worthily chastised our ouer-bold presumption and beleeue mee Sir I repute your loue and kindnesse of no meane merrit comming from a man so wise and vertuous And therefore mine honour reserued commaund my vttermost as alwayes ready to do you any honest seruice Master Albert arising from his seat thanking the faire widdow for her gentle offer tooke leaue of her and all the company and she blushing as all the rest were therein in not much behinde her thinking to checke him became chidden her selfe whereby if wee be wise let vs all take warning The Sunne was now somewhat farre declined and the heates extremity well worne away when the Tales of the seauen Ladies and three Gentlemen were thus finished whereupon their Queene pleasantly said For this day faire company there remaineth nothing more to be done vnder my regiment but onely to bestow a new Queene vpon you who according to her iudgement must take her turne and dispose what next is to be done for continuing our time in honest pleasure And although the day should endure till darke night in regard that when some time is taken before the better preparation may be made for occasions to follow to the end also that whatsoeuer the new Queene shall please to appoint may be the better fitted for the morrow I
breathe on her it were a needlesse demand to know whether he was offended or no. He made complaint at Pisa and in many other places beside what iniury he had sustained by those Pryrates in carying his wife thus away from him but all was in vaine he neither as yet knew the man nor whether he had conueyed her from him Pagamino perceiuing what a beautifull woman she was made the more precious esteeme of his purchase and being himselfe a bachelar intended to keepe her as his owne comforting her with kind and pleasing speeches not vsing any harsh or vnciuill demeanor to her because shee wept and lamented grieuously But when night came her husbands Calendar falling from her girdle and all the fasts feasts quite out of her remembrance she receiued such curteous consolations from Pagamino that before they could arriue at Monaco the Iudge his Law cases were almost out of her memory such was his affable behauiour to her and she began to conuerse with him in more friendly manner and he entreating her as honourably as if shee had beene his espoused wife Within a short while after report had acquainted Ricciardo the Iudge where how his wife was kept from him whereupon he determined not to send any one but rather to go himselfe in person to redeem her from the Pyrate with what sums of mony he should demand By Sea he passed to Monaco where he saw his wife and shee him as soone after shee made known to Pagamino On the morrow following Signior Ricciardo meeting with Pagamino made means to be acquainted with him within lesse thē an houres space they grew into familiar priuate conference Pagamino yet pretending not to know him but expected what issue this talke would sort to When time serued the Iudge discoursed the occasion of his comming thither desiring him to demand what ransome he pleased that he might haue his wife home with him whereto Pagamino thus answered My Lord Iudge you are welcome hither and to answer you breefely very true it is that I haue a yong Gentlewoman in my house whome I neither know to be your wife or any other mans else whatsoeuer for I am ignorant both of you and her albeit she hath remained a while here with me If you bee her husband as you seeme to auouch I will bring her to you for you appeare to be a worthy Gentleman and questionles she cannot chuse but know you perfectly If she do confirme that which you haue said and be willing to depart hence with you I shall rest well satisfied and will haue no other recompence for her ransome in regard of your graue and reuerent yeares but what your selfe shall please to giue me But if it fall out otherwise and proue not to be as you haue affirmed you shall offer me great wrong in seeking to get her from me because I am a young man and can as well maintaine so faire a wife as you or any man else that I know Beleeue it certainly replied the Iudge that she is my wife and if you please to bring me where she is you shall soone perceiue it for she will presently cast her armes about my neck and I durst aduenture the vtter losse of her if shee denie to doe it in your presence Come on then said Pagamino and let vs delay the time no longer When they were entred into Pagaminoes house and sate downe in the Hall he caused her to be called and shee being readily prepared for the purpose came forth of her Chamber before them both where friendly they sate conuersing together neuer vttering any one word to Signior Ricciardo or knowing him from any other stranger that Pagamino might bring in to the house with him Which when my Lord the Iudge beheld who expected to finde a farre more gracious welcome he stoode as a man amazed saying to himselfe Perhaps the extraordinary griefe and mellancholly suffered by me since the time of her losse hath so altred my wonted complexion that shee is not able to take knowledge of me Wherefore going neerer to her hee said Faire Loue dearely haue I bought your going on fishing because neuer man felt the like afflictions as I haue done since the day when I lost you but by this your vnciuill silence you seeme as if you did not know me Why dearest Loue seest thou not that I am thy husband Ricciardo who am come to pay what ransome this Gentleman shall demaund euen in the house where now we are so to conuay thee home againe vpon his kinde promise of thy deliuerance after the payment of thy ransome Bertolomea turning towards him and seeming as if shee smiled to her selfe thus answered Sir speake you to me Aduise your selfe well least you mistake me for some other because concerning my selfe I doe not remember that euer I did see you till now How now quoth Ricciardo consider better what you say looke more circumspectly on me and then you will remember that I am your louing husband and my name is Ricciardo di Cinzica You must pardon me Sir replied Bertolomea I know it not so fitting for a modest woman though you perhaps are so perswaded to stand gazing in the faces of men and let mee looke vpon you neuer so often certaine I am that till this instant I haue not seene you My Lord Iudge cōceiued in his mind that thus she denied all knowledg of him as standing in feare of Pagamino and would not confesse him in his presence Wherefore hee entreated of Pagamino to affoord him so much fauour that he might speake alone with her in her Chamber Pagamino answered that he was well contented therewith prouided that he should not kisse her against her will Then he requested Bartolomea to goe with him alone into her Chamber there to heare what he could say and to answere him as shee found occasion When they were come into the Chamber and none there present but he and shee Signior Ricciardo began in this manner Heart of my heart life of my life the sweetest hope that I haue in this world wilt thou not know thine owne Ricciardo who loueth thee more then he doth himselfe Why art thou so strange Am I so disfigured that thou knowest me not Behold me with a more pleasing eye I pray thee Bertolomea smiled to her selfe and without suffering him to proceed any further in speech returned him this answere I would haue you to vnderstand Sir that my memory is not so obliuious but I know you to be Signior Ricciardo di Cinzica and my husband by name or title but during the time that I was with you it very ill appeared that you had any knowledge of me For if you had been so wise and considerate as in your own iudgement the world reputed you to be you could not be voide of so much apprehension but did apparantly perceiue that I was young fresh and cheerefully disposed and so by consequent meet to know matters
some courses else albeit not publiquely knowne vnto men yet redounding to their great commoditie and profite In which regard he grew exceeding desirous by what meanes he might becom acquainted and grow into familiarity with them both or any of them at the least wherein at the length he preuailed and Bruno proued to be the man Now Bruno plainly perceiuing within a short while of this new begun acquaintance that the Physitian was a Logger-head and meerely no better then a Gregorian Animall he beganne to haue much good pastime with him by telling him strange and incredible Tales such as none but a Coxcombe would giue credit too yet they delighted Doctor Dunce extraordinarily and Brunoes familiarity was so highly pleasing to him that he was a daily guest at dinner and supper with him and hee was not meanly proud of enioying his company One day as they sate in familiar conference together he told Bruno that he wondred not a little at him and Buffalmaco they being both so poore people yet liued far more iouially then Lords and therefore desired to vnderstand by vvhat secret meanes they compassed such mirthful maintenance Bruno hearing the Doctors demaund perceiuing that it sauoured more of the foole then any the very least taste of wisedome smiled vnto himselfe and determined to returne him such an answere as might be fitting for his folly whereupon thus he replied Beleeue me Master Doctor I would not impart to many people what priuate helpes we haue for our maintenance but yet I dare boldly acquaint you therewith in regard you are one of our most intimate friends and of such secrecie as I know you will not reueale it to any True it is that mine honest neighbor and my selfe do leade our liues in such merry manner as you see and better then all the world is aware of for I cannot imagine you to bee so ignorant but are certainly perswaded that if we had no better means then our poore manuall trade and profession we might sit at home with bread and water and be nothing so liuely spirited as wee are Yet Sir I would not haue you to conceiue that wee do eyther rob or steale or vse any other vnlawfull courses onely we trauayle to Corsica from whence we bring without the least preiudice to anie other all things we stand in need of or whatsoeuer wee can desire Thus do we maintaine our selues well and honestly and liue in this mirthfull disposition Master Doctor hearing this Discourse and beleeuing it constantly without any further instruction or intelligence became possessed with verie much admiration and had the most earnest desire in the world to know what this Trauailing to Corsica might meane entreating Bruno with very great instances to tell him what it was and made many protestations neuer to disclose it to anie one How now Master Doctor answered Bruno What a strange motion do you make to mee It is too great a secret which you desire to know yea a matter of mine owne ruine and an vtter expulsion out of this Worlde with condemnation into the mouth of Lucifer da San Gallo if any man whatsoeuer should know it from me wherefore I pray you to vrge it no more O my deer and honest neighbour Bruno quoth the Doctor assure thy selfe vpon my soul that whatsoeuer thou reuealest to me shall be vnder seale from all but onely our selues Fie fie Master Doctor answered Bruno you are too pressing and importunate So sitting smiling to himselfe shaking his head and beating his breast as if hee were in some straunge distraction of minde stamping with his feete and beating his Fiste oftentimes on the Table at last he started vppe and spake in this manner Ah Master Doctor the loue I beare to your capricious and rarely circumcised experience and likewise the confidence I repose in your scrutinous taciturnitie are both of such mighty and preuailing power as I cannot conceale any thing from you which you couet to know And therefore if you wil sweare vnto me by the crosse of Monteson that neuer as you haue already faithfully promised you will disclose a secret so admirable I will relate it vnto you and not otherwise The Doctor sware and sware againe and then Bruuo thus began Know then my learned and iudicious Doctor that it is not long time since when there liued in this Citie of ours a man very excellent in the Art of Nigromancie who named himselfe Michale Scoto because he was a Scottishman borne of many woorthy Gentlemen very few of them being now liuing hee was much honoured and respected When he grew desirous to depart from hence vpon their earnest motion and entreaty he left here two of his Schollers behinde him men of absolute skill and experience giuing them especial charge and command to do all possible seruices they could deuise for those Gentlemen who had so highly honoured him The two famous Schollers were very helpefull to those Gentlemen in diuers of their amorous occasions and verie many other matters besides Not long after they finding the Citie and behauiour of the people sufficiently pleasing to them they resolued on their continuance heere entering into a league of loue and friendshippe with diuers neuer regarding whether they were Gentlemen or no or distinguishing the poore from the rich but only in being conforme to their complexions sociable and fit for friendship They created a kinde Society consisting of about fiue and twenty men who should meete together twice in a moneth in a place reputed conueuient for them where being so assembled euery man vttered his minde to those two Schollers in such cases as they most desired to haue wherwith they were all satisfied the self-same night It came so to passe that Buffalmaco and I grew into acquaintance with those two worthy Schollers and our priuate familiarity together proued so prosperous that we were admitted into the same Society and so haue euer since continued Now Sir I am to tell you matter deseruing admiration which in very good iudgements would seeme to exceed all beleefe For at euery time when we were assembled together you are not able to imagine what sumptuous hangings of Tapistrie did adorne the Hall where we sate at meate the Tables couered in such Royall manner waited on by numberlesse Noble and goodly attendants both Women and Men seruing readily at each mans command of the company The Basins Ewers Pots Flaggons all the vessels else which stood before and for the seruice of our diet being composed onely of Gold and Siluer and out of no worse did we both eate and drinke the viands being very rare and dainty abounding in plenty and variety according to the appetite of euerie person as nothing could be wished for but it was instantly obtained In good sadnesse Sir I am not able to remember and tell you within the compasse of a thousand yeares what and how manie seuerall kindes of Musicall Instruments were continually played on before vs what multiplicity
fauor Ghinotto di Tacco my Physitian because among all the vertuous men deseruing to haue especial account made of them I neuer met wi-h any equall to him both in honour and honesty Whatsoeuer iniury he did to me I impute it as a greater in-fortune then any way he deserueth to be charged withall Which wretched condition of his if you were pleased to alter and bestow on him some better meanes of maintenance to liue like a worthy man as he is no lesse I make no doubt but in very short time hee will appeare as pleasing to your holinesse as in my best iudgement I thinke him to be The Pope who was of a magnanimious spirit and one that highly affected men of vertue hearing the commendable motion made by the Abbot returned answere that he was as willing to grant it as the other desired it sending Letters of safe conduct for his comming thither Ghinotto receiuing such assurance from the Court of Rome came thither immediatly to the great ioy of the Lord Abbot and the Pope finding him to be a man of valor and worth vpon reconciliation remitted all former errors creating him knight and Lord Prior of the very chiefest Hospitall in Rome In which Office he liued long time after as a loyall seruant to the Church and an honest thankefull friend to the Lord Abbot of Clugny Mithridanes enuying the life and liberality of Nathan and trauelling thither with a setled resolution to kill him chaunceth to conferre with Nathan vnknowne And being instructed by him in vvhat manner he might best performe the bloody deede according as hee gaue direction hee meeteth with him in a small Thicket or Woode where knowing him to be the same man that taught him how to take away his life Confounded with shame hee acknowledgeth his horrible intention and becommeth his loyall friend The third Nouell Shewing in an excellent and liuely demonstration that any especiall honourable vertue perseuering and dwelling in a truly noble soule cannot be violenced or confounded by the most politicke attemptes of malice and enuy IT appeared to the whole assembly that they had heard a matter of meruaile for a Lord Abbot to performe any magnificent action but their admiration ceasing in silence the King commanded Philostratus to follow next who forthwith thus began Honourable Ladies the bounty and magnificense of Alphonso King of Spaine was great indeede and that done by the Lord Abbot of Clugny a thing perhaps neuer heard of in any other But it will seeme no lesse meruailous to you when you heare how one man in expression of great liberality to another man that earnestly desired to kill him should bee secretly disposed to giue him his life which had bin lost if the other would haue taken it as I purpose to acquaint you withall in a short Nouell Most certaine it is at least if Faith may bee giuen to the report of certaine Genewayes and other men resorting to those remote parts that in the Country of Cathaya there liued somtime a Gentleman rich beyond comparison and named Nathan He hauing his liuing adioyning to a great common rode-way whereby men trauayled from the East to the West as they did the like from the West vnto the East as hauing no other means of passage and being of a bountifull and chearfull disposition which he was willing to make knowen by experience he summoned together many Master Masons and Carpenters and there erected in a short time one of the greatest goodliest and most beautifull houses in manner of a Princes Pallace that euer was seene in all those quarters With mouables and all kinde of furnishment befitting a house of such outward apparance hee caused it to be plentifully stored onely to receiue entertaine and honor all Gentlemen or other Trauailers whatsoener as had occasion to passe that way being not vnprouided also of such a number of seruants as might continuallie giue attendance on all commers and goers Two and fifty seuerall gates standing alway wide open ouer each of them in great golden carracters was written Welcome welcome and gaue free admission to all commers whatsoeuer In this honourable order obserued as his estated custom he perseuered so long a while as not onely the East parts but also those in the west were euery where acquainted with his fame renown Being already well stept into yeares but yet not wearie therefore of his great charge and liberality it fortuned that the rumor of his noble Hospitality came to the eare of another gallant Gentleman named Mithridanes liuing in a Countrey not farre off from the other This Gentleman knowing himself no lesse wealthy then Nathan and enuiously repining at his vertue and liberality determined in his mind to dim and obscure the others bright splendor by making himselfe farre more famous And hauing built a Palace answerable to that of Nathans with like windings of gates and welcom inscriptions he beganne to extend immeasurable courtesies vnto all such as were dispoted to visite him so that in a short while hee grew very famous in infinite places It chanced on a day as Mithridanes sate all alone within the goodly Court of his Pallace a poore woman entred at one of the gates crauing an almes of him which she had and returned in againe at a second gate comming also to him and had a second almes continuing sostill a dozen times but at the thirteenth returning Mithridanes saide to her Good Woman you goe and come very often and still you are serued vvith almes When the old Woman heard these words she said O the liberality of Nathan How honourable and wonderfull is that I haue past through two and thirty gates of his Palace euen such as are here and at euery one I receyued an almes without any knowledgement taken of me either by him or any of his followers and heere I haue past but through thirteene gates and am there both acknowledged and taken Farewell to this house for I neuer meane to visit it any more with which words shee departed thence and neuer after came thither againe When Mithridanes had a while pondered on her speeches hee waxed much discontented as taking the words of the olde woman to extoll the renowne of Nathan and darken or ecclipse his glorie whereupon he said to himselfe Wretched man as I am when shall I attaine to the height of liberality and performe such wonders as Nathan doth In seeking to surmount him I cannot come neere him in the very meanest Vndoubtedly I spend all my endeauour but in vaine except I rid the world of him which seeing his age will not make an end of him I must needs do with my own hands In which furious and bloody determination without reuealing his intent to any one he mounted on horse-backe with few attendants in his company and after three dayes iourney arriued where Nathan dwelt He gaue order to his men to make no shew of beeing his seruants or any way to acknowledge him but to
it constantly that there is no man liuing whom I loue and honour as I do thee considering the greatnesse of thy minde which consisteth not in the heaping vp of money as wretched and miserable Worldlings make it their onely felicity but contending in bounty to spend what is thine didst hold it for no shame to kil me thereby to make thy selfe so much the more worthily famous Nor is it any matter to be wondred at in regard that Emperors and the greatest Kings hadde neuer made such extendure of their Dominions and consequently of their renowne by any other Art then killing yet not one man onely as thou wouldst haue done but infinite numbers burning whole Countries and making desolate huge Townes and Cities onely to enlarge their dominion and further spreading of their fame Wherfore if for the increasing of thine owne renowne thou wast desirous of my death it is no matter of nouelty and therefore deseruing the lesse meruaile seeing men are slaine daily and all for one purpose or other Mithridanes excusing no further his maleuolent deliberation but rather commending the honest defence which Nathan made on his behalfe proceeded so farre in after discoursing as to tel him plainely that it did wondrously amaze him how he durst come to the fatall appointed place himselfe hauing so exactly plotted and contriued his owne death whereunto Nathan returned this aunswere I would not haue thee Mithridanes to wonder at my counsel or determination because since age hath made mee Maister of mine owne will and I resolued to doe that wherein thou hast begun to follow me neuer came any man to mee whom I did not content if I could in any thing he demanded of me It was thy fortune to come for my life which when I saw thee so desirous to haue it I resolued immediately to bestow it on thee and so much the rather because thou shouldst not be the onely man that euer departed hence without enioying whatsoeuer hee demanded And to the end thou mightst the more assuredly haue it I gaue thee that aduice least by not enioying mine thou shouldest chance to loose thine owne I haue had the vse of it full fourescore yeares with the consummation of all my delights and pleasures and well I know that according to the course of Nature as it fares with other men and generally all things else it cannot bee long before it must leaue mee Wherefore I hold it much better for me to giue it away freely as I haue alwayes done my goods and treasure then bee curious in keeping it and suffer it to be taken from me whether I will or no by Nature A small gift it is if time make me vp the full summe of an hundred yeares how miserable is it then to stand beholding but for foure or fiue and all of them vexation too Take it then I intreate thee if thou wilt haue it for I neuer met with any man before but thy selfe that did desire it nor perhaps shall finde any other to request it for the longer I keepe it the worse it wil be esteemed and before it grow contemptible take it I pray thee Mithridanes being exceedingly confounded with shame bashfully sayde Fortune fore-fend that I should take away a thing so precious as your life is or once to haue so vile a thought of it as lately I had but rather then I would diminish one day thereof I could wish that my time might more amply enlarge it Forthwith aunswered Nathan saying Wouldst thou if thou couldst shorten thine owne dayes onely to lengthen mine Why then thou wouldest haue me to do that to thee which as yet I neuer did vnto any man namely robbe thee to enrich my selfe I will enstruct thee in a much better course if thou wilt be aduised by mee Lusty and young as now thou art thou shalt dwell heere in my house and be called by the name of Nathan Aged and spent with yeares as thou seest I am I will goe liue in thy house and bee called by the name of Mithridanes So both the name and place shall illustrate thy Glorie and I liue contentedly without the very least thought of enuie Deare Father answered Mithridanes if I knew so well howe to direct mine owne actions as you doe and alwayes haue done I would gladly accept your most liberall offer but because I plainlie perceiue that my very best endeauours must remayne darkened by the bright renowne of Nathan I will neuer seeke to impayre that in another which I cannot by any means increase in my selfe but as you haue worthily taught me liue contented with my owne condition After these and many more like louing speeches had passed between them according as Nathan very instantly requested Mithridanes returned back with him to the Pallace where many dayes he highly honored respected him comforting counselling him to perseuer alwayes in his honourable determination But in the end when Mithridanes could abide there no longer because necessary occasions called him home he departed thence with his men hauing found by good experience that hee could neuer goe beyond Nathan in liberality Signior Gentile de Carisendi being come from Modena took a Gentlewoman named Madam Catharina forth of a graue wherin she was buried for dead which act he did in regard of his former honest affection to the said Gentlewoman Madame Catharina remaining afterward and deliuered of a goodly Sonne was by Signior there Gentile deliuered to her owne Husband named Signior Nicoluccio Caccianimico and the yong infant with her The Fourth Nouell Wherein is shewne That true loue hath alwayes bin and so still is the occasion of many great and worthy courtesies BY iudgment of all the honorable assembly it was reputed wonderfull that a man should be so bountifull as to giue away his owne life and to his hatefull enemy In which respect it passed with generall affirmation that Nathan in the vertue of liberallity had exceeded Alphonso King of Spain but especially the Abbot of Clugny So after euery one had deliuered their opinion the King turning himselfe to Madame Lauretta gaue her such a signe as well instructed her vnderstanding that she should be the next in order whereto she gladly yeelding began in this manner Youthfull Ladies the discourses already past haue been so worthy and magnificent yea reaching to such a height of glorious splendour as me thinkes there remaineth no more matter for vs that are yet to speake whereby to enlarge so famous an Argument and in such manner as it ought to be except we lay hold on the actions of loue wherein is neuer any want of subiect it is so faire and spacious a field to walke in Wherefore as well in behalfe of the one as aduancement of the other whereto our instant age is most of all inclined I purpose to acquaint you with a generous and magnificent act of an amourous Gentleman which when it shall be duely considered on perhaps will appeare equall to any of the rest
the whole history from the originall of his vnbeseeming affection to her in regard she was a worthy mans wife and consequently how all had happened to the instant houre to the no meane admiration of all the hearers adding withall Now Gentlemen quoth he if you varry not from your former opinion and especially Signior Nicoluccio Caccianimico this Lady by good right is mine and no man else by any iust title can lay any claime to her All sate silent without answering one word as expecting what he intended further to say but in the meane while Nicoluccio the parents and kindred but chiefely the Lady her selfe appeared as halfe melted into teares with weeping But Signior Gentile starting vp from the Table taking the Infant in his arme and leading the Lady by the hand going to Nicoluccio thus spake Rise Sir I will not giue thee thy wife whom both her kindred and thine threw forth into the street but I will bestow this Lady on thee being my Gossip and this sweet Boy my God-sonne who was as I am verily perswaded begotten by thee I standing witnesse for him at the Font of Baptisme and giue him mine owne name Gentile Let me entreat thee that although she hath liued here in mine house for the space of three monethes she should not be lesse welcome to thee then before for I sweare to thee vpon my soule that my former affection to her how vniust soeuer was the onely meanes of preseruing her life and more honestly she could not liue with Father Mother or thy selfe then she hath done here with mine owne Mother Hauing thus spoken he turned to the Lady saying Madame I now discharge you of all promises made me deliuering you to your Husband franke and free And when he had giuen him the Lady and the child in his armes he returned to his place and sate downe againe Nicoluccio with no meane ioy and hearty contentment receiued both his wife and childe being before farre from expectation of such an admirable comfort returning the Knight infinite thankes as all the rest of the Company did the like who could not refraine from weeping for meere ioy for such a strange and wonderful accident euery one highly commending Gentile such also as chanced to heare thereof The Lady was welcommed home to her owne house with many moneths of Iouiall feasting and as she passed through the streets all beheld her with admiration to be so happily recouered from her graue Signior Gentile liued long after a loyall friend to Nicoluccio and his Lady and all that were well-willers to them What thinke you now Ladies Can you imagine because a King gaue away his Crowne and Scepter and an Abbot without any cost to himselfe reconciled a Malefactor to the Pope and an old idle-headed man yeelding to the mercy of his enemy that all those actions are comparable to this of Signior Gentile Youth and ardent affection gaue him a iust and lawfull title to her who was free by imagined death from Husbands Parents and all friends else she being so happily wonne into his owne possession Yet honesty not onely ouer-swayed the heate of desire which in many men is violent and immoderate but with a bountifull and liberall soule that which he coueted beyond all hopes else and had within his owne command he freely gaue away Beleeue me bright Beauties not any of the other in a true and vnpartiall iudgement are worthy to be equalled with this or stiled by the name of magnificent actions Madame Dianora the Wife of Signior Gilberto being immodestly affected by Signior Ansaldo to free her selfe from his tedious importunity she appointed him to performe in her iudgement an act of impossibility namely to giue her a Garden as plentifully stored with fragrant Flowers in lanuary as in the flourishing moneth of May. Ansaldo by meanes of a bond which he made to a Magitian performed her request Signior Gilberto the Ladyes Husband gaue consent that his Wife should fulfill her promise made to Ansaldo Who hearing the bountifull mind of her Husband released her of her promise And the Magitian likewise discharged Signior Ansaldo without taking any thing of him The Fift Nouell Admonishing all Ladies and Gentlewomen that are desirous to preserue their chastity free from all blemish and taxation to make no promise of yeelding to any vnder a compact or couenant how impossible soeuer it may seeme to be NOt any one in all the Company but extolled the worthy Act of Signior Gentile to the skies till the King gaue command to Madame Aemillia that she should follow next with her Tale who boldly stepping vp began in this order Gracious Ladies I thinke there is none heere present among vs but with good reason may maintaine that Signiour Gentile performed a magnificent deede but whosoeuer saith it is impossible to do more perhaps is ignorant in such actions as can and may be done as I meane to make good vnto you by a Nouell not ouerlong or tedious The Countrey of Fretulium better knowne by the name of Forum Iulij although it be subiect to much cold yet it is pleasant in regard of many goodly Mountaines Riuers and cleare running Springs wherewith it is not meanly stored Within those Territories is a City called Vdina where sometime liued a faire and Noble Lady named Madame Dianora Wife to a rich and woorthie Knight called Signior Gilberto a man of very great fame and merite This beautiful Lady beeing very modest and vertuously inclined was highly affected by a Noble Baron of those parts tearmed by the name of Signior Ansaldo Gradense a man of very great spirit bountifull actiue in Armes and yet very affable and courteous which caused him to be the better respected His loue to this Lady was extraordinary hardly to bee contained within any moderate compasse striuing to bee in like manner affected of her to vvhich end she wanted no daily solicitings Letters Ambassages and Loue-tokens all prouing to no purpose This vertuous Lady being wearied with his often temptations and seeing that by denying whatsoeuer he demanded yet he wold not giue ouer his suite but so much the more importunatly stil pursued her began to bethinke her selfe how she might best be rid of him by imposing some such taske vpon him as should bee impossible in her opinion for him to effect An olde woman whom hee imployed for his continual messenger to her as shee came one day about her ordinary errand with her she communed in this manner Good woman quoth she thou hast so often assured me that Signior Ansaldo loueth me aboue all other Women in the world offering me wonderfull gifts and presents in his name which I haue alwayes refused and so stil wil do in regard I am not to be woon by any such allurements yet if I could be soundly perswaded that his affection is answerable to thy peremptory protestations I shoulde perhaps be the sooner wonne to listen to his suite in milder manner then hitherto I
and by vertue of his command am ready for once onely to fulfill your pleasure but far from any will or consent in my selfe If Signior Ansaldo were abashed at the first hee began now to be more confounded with admiration when he heard the Lady speake in such strange manner being much moued with the liberall command of her husband he began to alter his inflamed heate into most honourable respect and compassion returning her this answer Most noble Lady the Gods forbid if it be so as you haue sayd that I should Villain-like soile the honour of him that takes such vnvsuall compassion of my vnchaste appetite And therefore you may remaine heere so long as you please in no other condition but as mine owne naturall borne Sister and likewise you may depart freely when you will conditionally that on my behalfe you render such thankes to your husband as you thinke conuenient for his great bounty towards me accounting me for euer heereafter as his loyall Brother and faithfull seruant Dianora hauing well obserued his answer her heart being ready to mount out at her mouth vvith ioy said All the world could neuer make mee beleeue considering your honourable minde and honesty that it would happen otherwise to me then now it hath done for which noble courtesie I will continually remaine obliged to you So taking her leaue she returned home honorably attended to her husband and relating to him what had happened it proued the occasion of begetting intire loue and friendship betweene himselfe and the Noble Lord Ansaldo Now concerning the skilfull Magitian to whom Ansaldo meant to giue the bountifull recompence agreed on betweene them hee hauing seene the strange liberality which the husband expressed to Signior Ansaldo and that of Ansaldo to the Lady hee presently saide Great Iupiter strike me dead with thunder hauing my selfe seene a husband so liberall of his honour and you Sir of true noble kindnesse if I should not be the like of my recompence for perceiuing it to be so worthily imployed I am well contented that you shal keepe it The Noble Lord was modestly ashamed and stroue so much as in him lay that he should take all or the greater part thereof but seeing he laboured meerly in vaine after the third day was past and the Magitian had destroyed the Garden againe hee gaue him free liberty to depart quite controlling all fond and vnchaste affection in himselfe either towards Dianora or any Lady else and liuing euer after as best becommeth any Nobleman to do What say you now Ladies Shal wee make any account of the woman wel-neere dead and the kindnesse growne cold in Signiour Gentile by losse of his former hopes comparing them with the liberality of Signior Ansaldo affecting more feruently then euer the other did And being beyond hope possessed of the booty which aboue all things else in the world he most desired to haue to part with it meerly in fond compassion I protest in my iudgement the one is no way comparable to the other that of Gentile with this last of Signior Ansaldo Victorious King Charles sirnamed the Aged and first of that Name fell in loue with a yong Maiden named Geneuera daughter to an ancient Knight called Signior Neri degli Vberti And waxing ashamed of his amorous folly caused both Geneuera and her fayre Sister Isotta to be ioyned in marriage with two Noble Gentlemen the one named Signior Maffeo da Palizzi and the other Signior Gulielmo della Magna The Sixt Nouell Sufficiently declaring that how mighty soeuer the power of Loue is yet a magnanimous and truly generous heart it can by no meanes fully conquer WHo is able to expresse ingeniously the diuersity of opinions which hapned among the Ladies in censuring on the act of Madame Dianora and which of them was most liberall either Signior Gilberto the Husband Lord Ansaldo the importunate suiter or the Magitian expecting to bee bountifully rewarded Surely it is a matter beyond my capacity but after the King had permitted their disputation a long while looking on Madam Fiammetta he commanded that she should report her Nouel to make an end of their controuersie and she without any further delaying thus began I did alwaies Noble Ladies hold it fit and decent that in such an assembly as this of ours is euery one ought to speake so succinctly and plainly that the obscure vnderstanding concerning the matters spoken of should haue no cause of disputation For disputes do much better become the Colledges of Schollers then to be among vs who hardly can manage our Distaues or Samplers And therefore I doe intend to relate something which peraduenture might appeare doubtfull will forbeare seeing you in such a difference for that which hath bin spoken alreadie to vse any difficult discourse but will speake of one a man of no meane ranke or quality being both a valiant and vertuous King and what he did without any impeach or blemish to his honor I make no doubt but you haue often heard report of king Charls the Aged and first of that name by reason of his magnificent enterprises as also his most glorious victory which he obtaind against King Manfred when the Ghibellines were expulsed foorth of Florence and the Guelphes returned thither againe By which occasion an ancient knight named Signior Neri degli Vberti forsaking then the City with all his family and great store of wealth woulde liue vnder any other obedience then the awful power or command of King Charles And coueting to be in some solitary place where he might finish the remainder of his dayes in peace he went to Castello da Mare where about a Bow shoote distance from all other dwelling houses hee bought a parcel of ground plentifully stored with variety of Trees bearing Oliues Chesnuts Orenges Lemons Pomcitrons and other excellent frutages wherewith the Countrey flourisheth abundantly There he built a very faire and commodious house and planted close by it a pleasant Garden in the middst whereof because he had great plenty of water according as other men vse to do being in the like case so wel prouided he made a very goodly Pond which forthwith had all kinde of Fish swimming in it it being his daily care and endeuour to tend his Garden and encrease his Fish-pond It fortuned that King Charles in the Summer time for his pleasure and recreation went to repose himselfe for some certayne dayes at Castello de Mare where hauing heard report of the beautie and singularitie of Signiour Neries Garden hee grew very desirous to see it But when he vnderstoode to whome it belonged then he entred into consideration with himselfe that hee was an ancient Knight maintaining a contrarie faction to his wherefore he thought it fit to goe in some familiar manner and with no trayne attending on him Wherupon he sent him word that he wold come to visit him with foure Gentlemen onely in his companie meaning to sup with him in his Garden the next
offended but rather to take it in very thankfull part hauing married a man of farre greater worth and respect than himselfe was or could be On the other side Titus hearing these vnciuill acclamations became much moued and prouoked at them but knowing it was a custome obserued among the Greekes to be so much the more hurried away with rumours and threatnings as lesse they finde them to be answered and when they finde them shew themselues not onely humble enough but rather as base men and of no courage he resolued with himselfe that their braueries were no longer to be endured without some some bold and manly answere And hauing a Romane heart as also an Athenian vnderstanding by politique perswasions he caused the kinred of Gisippus and Sophronia to be assembled in a Temple and himselfe comming thither accompanied with none but Gisippus onely he began to deliuer his minde before them all in this manner following The Oration vttered by Titus Quintus Fuluius in the hearing of the Athenians being the kinred and friends to Gisippus and Sophronia MAny Philosophers doe hold opinion that the actions performed by mortall men doe proceed from the disposing and ordination of the immortall gods Whereupon some doe maintaine that things which be done or neuer are to be done proceed of necessity howbeit some other doe hold that this necessity is onely referred to things done Both which opinions if they be considered with mature iudgment doe most manifestly approue that they who reprehend any thing which is irreuocable doe nothing else but shew themselues as if they were wiser then the Gods who we are to beleeue that with perpetuall reason and void of any error doe dispose and gouerne both vs and all our actions In which respect how foolish and beast-like a thing it is presumptuously to checke or controule their operations you may very easily consider and likewise how iustly they deserue condigne punishment who suffer themselues to be transported in so temerarious a manner In which notorious transgression I vnderstand you all to be guiltie if common fame speake truely concerning the marriage of my selfe and Sophronia whom you imagined as giuen to Gisippus for you neuer remember that it was so ordained from eternitie shee to be mine and no Wife for Gisippus as at this instant is made manifest by full effect But because the kinde of speaking concerning diuine prouidence and intention of the Gods may seeme a difficult matter to many and somewhat hard to bee vnderstood I am content to presuppose that they meddle not with any thing of ours and will onely stay my selfe on humane reasons and in this nature of speech I shall be enforced to doe two things quite contrary to my naturall disposition The one is to speake somewhat in praise and commendation of my selfe And the other iustly to blame and condemne other mens seeming estimation But because both in the one and the other I doe not intend to swerue a iot from the Truth and the necessitie of the present case in question doth not onely require but also command it you must pardon what I am to say Your complaints doe proceed rather from furie then reason and with continuall murmurings or rather seditious slander backe-bite and condemne Gisippus because of his owne free will and noble disposition hee gaue her to be my Wife whom by your election was made his wherein I account him most highly praise-worthy and the reasons inducing mee thereunto are these The first because he hath performed no more then what a friend ought to doe And the second in regard he hath dealt more wisely then you did I haue no intention to display at this present what the sacred law of amitie requireth to be acted by one friend towards another it shall suffice mee onely to informe you that the league of friendship farre stronger then the bond of bloud and kinred confirmed vs in our election of either at the first to be true loyall and perpetuall friends whereas that of kinred commeth onely by fortune or chance And therefore if Gisippus affected more my life then your beneuolence I being ordained for his friend as I confesse my selfe to be none of you ought to wonder thereat in regard it is no matter of meruaile But let vs come now to our second reason wherein with farre greater instance I will shew you that he hath in this occasion shewen himselfe to be much more wise then you did or haue done because it plainely appeareth that you haue no feeling of the diuine prouidence and much lesse knowledge in the effects of friendship I say that your foresight councell and deliberation gaue Sophronia to Gisippus a yong Gentleman and a Philosopher Gisippus likewise hath giuen her to a yong Gentleman and a Philosopher as himselfe is Your discretion gaue her to an Athenian the gift of Gisippus is to a Romaine Yours to a Noble and honest man that of Gisippus to one more Noble by race and no lesse honest then himselfe Your iudgement hath bestowed her on a rich young man Gisippus hath giuen her to one farre richer Your wisedome gaue her to one who not onely loued her not but also one that had no desire to know her Gisippus gaue her vnto him who aboue all felicitie else yea more than his owne life both entirely loued and desired her Now for proofe of that which I haue said to be most true and infallible and that his deede deserueth to bee much more commended then yours let it bee duely considered on point by point That I am a young man and a Philosopher as Gisippus is my yeares face and studies without seeking after further proofe doth sufficiently testifie One selfe-same age is both his and mine in like quality of course haue wee liued and studied together True it is that hee is an Athenian and I am a Romaine But if the glory of these two Cities should bee disputed on then let mee tell you that I am of a Citie that is Francke and Free and hee is of a Tributarie Citie I say that I am of a Citie which is chiefe Lady and Mistresse of the whole World and hee is of a Citie subiect to mine I say that I am of a Citie that is strong in Arms Empire and studies whereas his can commend it selfe but for Studies onely And although you seeme heere to bee a Scholler in appearance meane enough yet I am not descended of the simplest stocke in Rome My houses and publique places are filled with the ancient Statues of my Predecessors and the Annales recorde the infinite triumphs of the Quintij brought home by them into the Romane Capitole and yeares cannot eate out the glory of our name but it will liue and flourish to all posteritie Modest shame makes me silent in my wealth and possessions my minde truely telling mee that honest contented pouertie is the most ancient and richest inheritance of our best and Noblest Romanes which opinion if it bee condemned by the