Selected quad for the lemma: law_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
law_n	year_n	young_a	youth_n	154	3	7.9851	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16248	The decameron containing an hundred pleasant nouels. Wittily discoursed, betweene seauen honourable ladies, and three noble gentlemen.; Decamerone. English	Boccaccio, Giovanni, 1313-1375.; Florio, John, 1553?-1625, attributed name.	1620 (1620)	STC 3172; ESTC S106639	719,575	777

hung downe the head in his bosome weeping as abundantly as if it had beene a childe seuerely disciplinde On the other side Ghismonda hearing the speeches of her Father and perceiuing withall that not onely her secret loue was discouered but also Guiscardo was in close prison the matter which most of all did torment her shee fell into a very strange kinde of extasie scorning teares and entreating tearmes such as feminine frailety are alwayes aptest vnto but rather with height of courage controling feare or seruile basenesse and declaring inuincible fortitude in her very lookes shee concluded with her selfe rather then to vrge any humble perswasions shee would lay her life downe at the stake For plainely shee perceiued that Guiscardo already was a dead man in Law and death was likewise as welcome to her rather then the depriuation of her Loue and therefore not like a weeping woman or as checkt by the offence committed but carelesse of any harme happening to her stoutly and couragiously not a teare appearing in her eye or her soule any way to be perturbed thus shee spake to her Father Tancrede to denie what I haue done or to entreate any fauour from you is now no part of my disposition for as the one can little auaile me so shall not the other any way aduantage me Moreouer I couet not that you should extend any clemency or kindnesse to me but by my voluntary confession of the truth doe intend first of all to defend mine honour with reasons sound good and substantiall and then vertuously pursue to full effect the greatnesse of my minde and constant resolution True it is that I haue loued and still doe honourable Guiscardo purposing the like so long as I shall liue which will be but a small while but if it bee possible to continue the same affection after death it is for euer vowed to him onely Nor did mine owne womanish weaknesse so much thereto induce me as the matchlesse vertues shining cleerely in Guiscardo and the little respect you had of marrying me againe Why royall Father you cannot be ignorant that you being composed of flesh and blood haue begotten a Daughter of the selfe same composition and not made of stone or yron Moreouer you ought to remember although now you are farre stept in yeeres what the Lawes of youth are and with what difficulty they are to be contradicted Considering withall that albeit during the vigour of your best time you euermore were exercised in Armes yet you should likewise vnderstand that negligence and idle delights haue mighty power not onely in yong people but also in them of greatest yeeres I being then made of flesh and blood and so deriued from your selfe hauing had also so little benefit of life that I am yet in the spring and blooming time of my blood by either of these reasons I must needs be subiect to naturall desires wherein such knowledge as I haue once already had in the estate of my marriage perhaps might moue a further intelligence of the like delights according to the better ability of strength which exceeding all capacity of resistance induced a second motiue to affection answerable to my time and youthful desires and so like a yong woman I became amorous againe yet did I striue euen with all my vtmost might and best vertuous faculties abiding in me no way to disgrace either you or my selfe as in equall censure yet I haue not done But Nature is aboue all humane power and Loue commanded by Nature hath preuailed for Loue ioyning with Fortune in meere pitty and commiseration of my extreme wrong I found them both most benigne and gracious teaching me a way secret enough whereby I might reach the height of my desires howsoeuer you became instructed or perhaps found it out by accident so it was and I denie it not Nor did I make election of Guiscardo by chance or rashly as many women doe but by deliberate counsell in my soule and most mature aduise I chose him aboue all other and hauing his honest harmelesse conuersation mutually we enioyed our hearts contentment Now it appeareth that I hauing not offended but by loue in imitation of vulgar opinion rather then truth you seeke to reproue me bitterly alleaging no other maine argument for your anger but onely my not choosing a gentleman or one more worthy Wherein it is most euident that you doe not so much checke my fault as the ordination of Fortune who many times aduanceth men of meanest esteeme and abaseth them of greater merit But leauing this discourse let vs looke into the orignall of things wherein wee are first to obserue that from one masse or lumpe of flesh both we and all other receiued our flesh and one Creator hath created all things yea all creatures equally in their forces and faculties and equall likewise in their vertue which vertue was the first that made distinction of our birth and equality in regard that such as had the most liberall portion thereof and performed actions thereto answerable were thereby termed noble all the rest remaining vnnoble now although contrary vse did afterward hide and conceale this Law yet was it not therefore banished from Nature or good manners In which respect whosoeuer did execute all his actions by vertue declared himselfe openly to be noble and he that tearmed him otherwise it was an errour in the miscaller and not in the person so wrongfully called as the very same priuiledge is yet in full force among vs at this day Cast an heedfull eye then good Father vpon all your Gentlemen and aduisedly examine their vertues conditions and manner of behauiour On the other side obserue those parts remaining in Guiscardo and then if you will iudge truly and without affection you will confesse him to be most noble and that all your Gentlemen in respect of him are but base Groomes and villaines His vertues and excelling perfections I neuer credited from the report or iudgement of any person but onely by your speeches and mine owne eyes as true wirnesses Who did euer more commend Guiscardo extolling all those singularities in him most requisite to be in an honest vertuous man then you your selfe haue done Nor neede you to be sorry or ashamed of your good opinion concerning him for if mine eyes haue not deceiued my iudgement you neuer gaue him the least part of praise but I haue knowne much more in him then euer your words were able to expresse wherefore if I haue beene any way deceiued truly the deceit proceeded onely from you How will you then maintaine that I haue throwne my liking on a man of base condition In troth Sir you cannot Perhaps you will alleadge that he is meane and poore I confesse it and surely it is to your shame that you haue not bestowne place of more preferment on a man so honest and well deseruing and hauing beene so long a time your seruant Neuerthelesse pouerty impaireth not any part of noble Nature but

the arising of a more powerfull light and euery part of our world began to looke cleare when the Queene being risen caused all the Company to be called walking forth afterward vpon the pearled dewe so farre as was supposed conuenient in faire and familiar conference together according as seuerally they were disposed repetition of diuers the passed Nouels especially those which were most pleasing and seemed so by their present commendations But the Sunne beeing somewhat higher mounted gaue such a sensible warmth to the ayre as caused their returne backe to the Pallace where the Tables were readily couered against their comming strewed with sweet hearbes and odoriferous flowers seating themselues at the Tables before the heat grew more violent according as the Queene commanded After dinner they sung diuers excellent Canzonnets and then some went to sleepe others played at the Chesse and some at the Tables But Dioneus and Madam Lauretta they sung the loue-conflict betweene Troylus and Cressida Now was the houre come of repairing to their former Consistory or meeting place the Queene hauing thereto generally summoned them and seating themselues as they were wont to doe about the faire fountaine As the Queene was commanding to begin the first Nouell an accident suddenly happened which neuer had befalne before to wit they heard a great noyse and tumult among the houshold seruants in the Kitchin Whereupon the Queene caused the Master of the Houshold to be called demaunding of him what noyse it was and what might be the occasion thereof He made answere that Lacisca and Tindar● were at some words of discontentment but what was the occasion thereof he knew not Whereupon the Queene commanded that they should be sent for their anger and violent speeches still continuing and being come into her presence she demaunded the reason of their discord and Tindaro offering to make answere Lacisca being somewhat more ancient then he and of a fiercer fiery spirit euen as if her heart would haue leapt out of her mouth turned her selfe to him and with a scornefull frowning countenance said See how this bold vnmannerly and beastly fellow dare presume to speake in this place before me Stand by saucy impudence and giue your better leaue to answere then turning to the Queene thus shee proceeded Madam this idle fellow would maintaine to me that Signior Sicophanto marrying with Madama dell●● Grazza had the victory of her virginity the very first night and I auouched the contrary because shee had been a mother twise before in very faire aduenturing of her fortune And he dared to affirme beside that yong Maides are so simple as to loose the flourishing Aprill of their time in meere feare of their parents and great preiudice of their amourous friends Onely being abused by infinite promises that this yeare and that yeare they shall haue husbands when both by the lawes of nature and reason they are not tyed to tarry so long but rather ought to lay hold vpon opportunity when it is fairely and friendly offered so that seldome they come maides to marriage Beside I haue heard and know some married wiues that haue played diuers wanton prancks with their husbands yet carried all so demurely and smoothly that they haue gone free from publique detection All which this woodcocke will not credit thinking me to be so yong a Nouice as if I had been borne but yesterday While Larisca was deliuering these speeches the Ladies smiled on one another not knowing what to say in this case And although the Queene fiue or sixe seuerall times commaunded her to silence yet such was the earnestnes of her spleen that she gaue no attention but held on still euen vntill she had vttered all that she pleased But after she had concluded her complaint the Queene with a smiling countenance turned towards Dioneus saying This matter seemeth most properly to belong to you and therefore I dare repose such trust in you that when our Nouels for this day shall be ended you will conclude the case with a definitiue sentence Whereto Dioneus presently thus replyed Madam the verdict is already giuen without any further expectation and I affirme that Lacisca hath spoken very sensibly because shee is a woman of good apprehension and Tindaro is but a puny in practise and experience to her When Licisca heard this she fell into a lowd Laughter and turning her selfe to Tindaro sayde The honour of the day is mine and thine owne quarrell hath ouerthrowne thee in the fielde Thou that as yet hath scarsely learned to sucke wouldest thou presume to know so much as I doe Couldst thou imagine mee to be such a trewant in losse of my time that I came hither as an ignorant creature And had not the Queene looking verie frowningly on her strictly enioyned her to silence shee would haue continued still in this triumphing humour But fearing further chastisement for disobedience both shee and Tindaro were commanded thence where was no other allowance all this day but onely silence and attention to such as should be enioyned speakers And then the Queene somewhat offended at the folly of the former controuersie commanded Madame Philomena that she should giue beginning to the dayes Nouels which in dutifull manner shee vndertooke to doe and seating her selfe in formall fashion with modest and very gracious gesture thus she began A Knight requested Madam Oretta to ride behinde him on horse-backe and promised to tell her an excellent Tale by the way But the Lady perceiuing that his discourse was idle and much worse deliuered entreated him to let her walke on foote againe The First Nouell Reprehending the folly of such men as vndertake to report discourses which are beyond their wit and capacity and gaine nothing but blame for their labour GRacious Ladies like as in our faire cleere and serene seasons the Statres are bright ornaments to the heauens and the flowry fields so long as the spring time lasteth weare their goodliest Liueries the Trees likewise bragging in their best adornings Euen so at friendly meetings short sweet and sententious words are the beauty ornament of any discourse sauouring of wit and sound iudgement worthily deseruing to be commended And so much the rather because in few and witty words aptly suting with the time and occasion more is deliuered then was expected or sooner answered then rashly apprehended which as they become men verie highly yet do they shew more singular in women True it is what the occasion may be I know not either by the badnesse of our wittes or the especiall enmitie betweene our complexions and the celestiall bodies there are scarsely any or very few Women to be found among vs that well knowes how to deliuer a word when it should and ought to be spoken or if a question bee mooued vnderstands to suite it with an apt answere such as conueniently is required which is no meane disgrace to vs women But in regard that Madame Pampinea hath already spoken sufficiently of this matter I

of two worthy friends At such time as Octauius Caesar not as yet named Augustus but only in the office called Triumueri gouerned the Romane Empire there dwelt in Rome a Gentleman named Publius Quintus Fuluius a man of singular vnderstanding who hauing one son called Titus Quintus Fuluius of towardly yeares and apprehension sent him to Athens to learne Philosophy but with letters of familiar commendations to a Noble Athenian Gentleman named Chremes being his ancient friend of long acquaintance This Gentleman lodged Titus in his owne house as companion to his son named Gisippus both of them studying together vnder the tutoring of a Philosopher called Aristippus These two yong Gentlemen liuing thus in one Citty House and Schoole it bred betweene them such a brother-hoode and amity as they could not be seuered from one another but only by the accident of death nor could either of them enioy any content but when they were both together in company Being each of them endued with gentle spirits and hauing begun their studies together they arose by degrees to the glorious height of Philosophy to their much admired fame and commendation In this manner they liued to the no meane comfort of Chremes hardly distinguishing the one from the other for his Son thus the Schollers continued the space of three yeares At the ending wherof as it hapneth in al things else Chremes died whereat both the young Gentlemen conceiued such hearty griefe as if he had bin their common father nor could the kinred of Chremes discerne which of the two had most need of comfort the losse touched them so equally It chanced within some few months after that the kinred of Gisippus came to ●ee him and before Titus auised him to marriage and with a yong Gentlewoman of singular beauty deriued from a most noble house in Athens and she named Sophronia aged about fifteen years This mariage drawing neere Gisippus on a day intreated Titus to walk along with him thither because as yet he had not seene her Comming to the house and she sitting in the midst betweene them Titus making himselfe a considerator of beauty especially on his friends behalfe began to obserue her very iudicially euery part of her seemed so pleasing in his eie that giuing them al a priuat praise yet answerable to their due deseruing he becam so enflamed with affection to her as neuer any louer could bee more violentlie surprized so sodainly doth beauty beguile our best senses After they had sate an indifferent while with her they returned home to their lodging where Titus being alone in his chamber began to bethink himselfe on her whose perfections had so powerfully pleased him and the more he entred into this consideration the fiercer he felt his desires enflamed which being vnable to quench by any reasonable perswasions after hee had vented foorth infinite sighes thus he questioned with himselfe Most vnhappie Titus as thou art whether doost thou transport thine vnderstanding loue and hope Dooest thou not know as well by the honourable fauours which thou hast receiued of Chremes and his house as also the intire amity betweene thee and Gisippus vnto whom faire Sophronia is the affianced friend that thou shouldst holde her in the like reuerent respect as if shee were thy true borne Sister Darest thou presume to fancie her Whether shall beguiling Loue allure thee and vaine immaging hopes carrie thee Open the eyes of thy better vnderstanding and acknowledge thy selfe to bee a most miserable man Giue way to reason bridle thine in temperate appetites reforme all irregulare desires and guide thy fancy to a place of better direction Resist thy wanton and lasciuio●s will in the beginning and be master of thy selfe while thou hast opportunity for that which thou aimest at is neyther reasonable nor honest And if thou wert assured to preuaile vpon this pursuite yet thou oughtst to auoide it if thou hast any regard of true friendship and the duty therein iustly required What wilt thou do then Titus Fly from this inordinate affection if thou wilt be reputed to be a man of sensible iudgement After he had thus discoursed with himselfe remembring Sophronia and conuerting his former allegations into a quite contrarie sense in vtter detestation of them and guided by his idle appetite thus he began againe The lawes of loue are of greater force then any other whatsoeuer they not only breake the bands of friendship but euen those also of more diuine consequence How many times hath it bin noted the father to affect his own daughter the brother his sister and the step mother her son in law matters far more monstrous then to see one friend loue the wife of another a case happening continually Moreouer I am yong and youth is wholly subiected to the passions of Loue is it reasonable then that those should be bard from me which are fitting and pleasing to Loue Honest things belong to men of more years and maturity then I am troubled withall and I can couet none but onely those wherein Loue is directer The beauty of Sophronia is worthy of generall loue and if I that am a yongman do loue her what man liuing can iustly reproue me for it Shold not I loue her because she is affianced to Gisippus That is no matter to me I ought to loue her because she is a womā and women were created for no other occasion but to bee Loued Fortune had sinned in this case and not I in directing my frends affection to her rather then any other and if she ought to be loued as her perfections do challenge Gisippus vnderstanding that I affect her may be the better contented that it is I rather then any other With these and the like crosse entercourses he often mockt himselfe falling into the contrary and then to this againe and from the contrary into another kind of alteration wasting and consuming himselfe not only this day and the night following but many more afterward til he lost both his feeding sleepe so that through debility of body he was constrained to keepe his bed Gisippus who had diuers dayes noted his melancholly disposition and now his falling into extreamitie of sicknesse was very sorry to behold it and with all meanes and inuentions he could deuise to vse hee both questioned the cause of this straunge alteration and essayed euerie way how hee might best comfort him neuer ceassing to demaunde a reason why he should become thus sad and sickely But Titus after infinite importuning which still he answered with idle and friuolous excuses farre from the truth indeede and to the no meane affliction of his friend when he was able to vse no more contradictions at length in sighes and teares thus he replyed Gisippus were the Gods so wel pleased I could more gladly yeild to dye then continue any longer in this wretched life considering that Fortune hath brought mee to such an extremity as proofe is now to be made of