then we haue wonne the feilde and you lost the combate and if wemen loue more for beautie and vertue then for wealthe and riches wee haue taken the foile and you wonne the conquest But it was harde for Achelous with his shiftes to preuaile againste Hercules because of his strength and it will be as harde for you to resist my reasons because thei be true Who so readeth the Romishe Recordes and Grecian Histories and turneth ouer the volumes filled with the reporte of passionate louers shall finde soundrie Sonnets sawsed with sorrowfull passions diuers Ditties declaryng their dumps carefull complaintes wofull wailinges and a thousande sundrie haplesse motions wherin the poore perplexed louers doe painte out how the beautie of their mistres hath amazed their mindes how their fancie is fettered with their exquisite perfection how they are snared with the fourme of her Feature how the giftes of Nature so bountifully bestowed vppon her hath intangled their mindes and bewitched their sences that her excellent vertue and singular bountie hath so charmed their affections and her rare qualities hath so drowned them in desire as thei esteeme her courtesie more then Cesars Kingdomes her loue more then Lordshippes and her good will more then all worldly wealth Tushe all Treasure is but trash in respect of her person Yea they prefer the inioying of her perfection before all the riches of fortunate Craesus Thus the poore passionate louers whose life hangeth on their Mistres loue craue onely to feede their fancies with her beautie and to please their mindes with her vertue But let the most iniurious Dame who hath best skill to breath out slaundrous speeches against men say if she can that she hath euer heard or red of any louer that hath desiphered in his ditties the earnest desire he had to entoye his Mistres or painted out his passions that he suffered to gaine his Ladies possessions now it is a fault committed of most and omitted of fewe that men in their loue looke before they leepe and therefore oftimes fall in the ditche neuer gaping after the desire of greedie gaine nor building their fancie vppon the fading goodes of Fortune so that oft they win such a wife as he maie put her Dowrie in his eye for hurting his sight and her wealth maie be cast without any great count whereby it is euident that if a man once fixe his fancie vpon any Dame no want of wealth no lacke of liuing can impaire his loue but he remaineth faithfull in despight of Fortune wearing this Posie in his Shield Non aurum sed amor In treth quoth Siluestro if I had a case in the law thou shouldest be my Counsellor for I doubt thou bast put in such a Plea as it will be hard for Lacena to a◅swere Tushe sir quoth she though the Castle be sharply assaulted it is not straight wonne and the fielde is not lost at the first Alarum Aiax valor was no whit the lesse for Vlisses v◅ine babling and though by his wordes he wonne the prize yet all men knew it was more by prating then by Prowesse so if you foile me by your subtill fallations euery one shall perceiue that it is not because I defende the wrong but because I cannot wrangle Boetius in his Bookes De consolatione noting the sondrie affections which force the minde either to mislike greatly or to loue feruently saith that in making a choyce of their loue women do most erre in that they suffer their mindes sonest to be subdued by the giftes of Nature wherein although I confesse they offend by fixing their fancies on suche a fickle subiect yet it is euident that they more respect the person then his purse and rather like his perfection then his landes and liuinges For if wemen in their choyce were more wedded vnto wealth then to wit and respected more their Louers Possessions then his person no doubt an infinite number of Damosells ◅hculd lead their liues in more plentie and lesse penurie But as the softest waxe sonest receiueth impression as the tender twigge is most easie to bend and the finest glasse most brittle so the pure complexion of wemen is most subiect vnto Loue being quickly inflamed by the force of affection but neuer quenched like to the Abeston stone which once set on fire can neuer be put out For when as Cupid a◅th to allure the minde of a se◅e maide to offer Incense at his Altar so become his subiect he seeketh not to drawe her with worldly trashe or treasure nor to perswade her with the gift of Jemmes or Jewelles but couereth his hooke with y ◠sugred baite of beautie wherwith she being once blinded he carieth her awaie into perpetuall captiuitie The affection of wemen is alwaies f◅ttered either with outward beautie or inwarde bountie either builded on the perfect complexion of the bodie or pure constitution of the minde they alwaies waie his worthinesse and not his wealth his comelinesse and not his coyne and rather seeke to settle their mindes vppon his vertue then on suche fading pelfe as is not permament For after that they haue imprinted in their mindes the fourme of their Louers feature and that beautie hath so bewitched their sences as they are wholy at her becke then they carefully poore soules conslder the condition of their Louers and as they haue vewed their outward substaunce so thei deuine of their inward qualities If he bee valiaunt they loue to heare of his Martiall exploites his Prowesse pleaseth thē his manly deedes drouneth them in delight yea they are so besotted in this fonde imagination that they thinke no man so able to attchiue any enterprise as he vaunting of his victories as if she her self bad wonne the conquest If he bee wise his wit setteth them more on fire If Eloquent his sugred speeche inchaunteth them If learned his secrete skill draweth them into an endlesse Laberinth so that they wholie feede their fancies with his beautie or delight their mindes with his qualities neu◅r resepecting his riches nor weighing his wealth wher◅by oftimes when pouertie pincheth them they crie Peccaui But Signior Peratio to come more nerer to the purpose tell me but what you would thinke of her that would carefully couett that whiche she cannot at her owne will enioye or seeke greedily to gaine that thing whiche an other properly shall possesse were it not to seeme either fonde or franticke In the same case should wemen consist if they liked more for liuing then for loue For after they bee once maried is not her housbandes wealth his owne to dispose Maie he not either wisely keepe it or wilfully consume it either spare or spend at his owne pleasure Yes no doubt her Dowrie is then growne to be his due her Patrimonie wholy his proper possessiōs so that it maie consequently bee concluded that wemen are not so wi◅lesse as to wishe for that which if they get yet their gaine shall be nothing but they obserue this rule as
fallen out the Nimphes had neuer gotten their Cornucopia Had not Circes and Vlisses iarred his men had neuer returned to their shâ—…pes Tis an ill flaw that bringeth vp no wracke and a bad winde that breedeth no mans profite Had not Syluestro and Peratio fallen out about loue wee had neuer brought it in question whether it be good to loue or no. But now wee will haue it tried out in the plaine fielde to see the euent of the battaile For truely I am of Siluestros opinion that to liue without loue is not to liue at all Sostrata who from her birth was vowed vnto Vesta and offred her Sacrifice at the Shrine of Diana hearing Morando take Siluestros paâ—…te with blushing face made this maidenly aunswere Sir quoth she although I maie seeme impudent in my mothers presence to enterparle and maie bee thought halfe inmodest without commaund to come to counsell yet I hope the equitie of the cause and the necessitie of the defence will excuse me to the one and cleare me from the other To haue fonde loue honoured as a God were grosse Idolatrie to consent to suche Scisinaticall opinions were palpable Heresie therfore if it please my mother to giue me leaue I wil proue that the worst course of life is to loue Daughter quoth Panthia if you thinke your self strong enough to withstand so stouâ—…e an Heresie my good will shall be quickly graunted but take heede least in ventring in an vnknowne Foorde you slippe ouer the shooes Tâ—…she quoth Peratio it was easie for Achilles to conquer Hector when he himself by the meanes of Thetis was inuulnerable and as easilie may Sostrata withstand Siluestro 〈◊〉 she is armed with the truth which maie well be assalted but neuer vtterly sacked Your good worde quoth Siluestro is neuer wanting but if Sostrata would be ruled by mine aduise she should not yeld her verdict against Venus but for my parte let her doe as she please for I am sure prattle she may but preuaile she cannot Sostrata hearing the shorte censure of Siluestro began to defende the walles with this Rampire Ouid quoth she the Maister of this Arte who busily bet his braine about setting downe of amorous principles being demaunded what Loue was aunswered that it was suche a vaine and inconstant thing suche a fickle and fonde affectionate passion that he knewe not what it was from whence it came nor to what ende it tended Onely this he was assured of by experience that to the vnhappie it was a hell and to the most fortunate at the least the losse of freedome Anacreon said that it was the forgetting of a mans self whereby his sences are so besotted and his wittes inueagled he is so suared with vanitie and so fettered with follie as he greedelie seeketh to gaine that thing whiche at last turneth to his extreme losse For who so yeeldeth himself as a flaue to loue bindeth himself in fetters of golde and if his sute haue good successe yet he leadeth his life in glistring miserie For loue according to the definition of the Philosophers is nothing els but the desire of Beautie so that the beginning middest and ende of loue is to croppe the bitter sweete bud of Beautie which how pleasaunt so euer it be in the mouth yet so perilous in the maw that he neuer or seldome digesteth it without daunger both of his purse and person Beautie the onely â—…ewell whiche Louers desire to enioye although you maie obiect against me that it is a foule birde defiles their owne neast yet conscience coÌ„straines me to auer the trâ—…th is like to the Baaran flower which is most pleasaunt to the eye but who so toucheth it feeleth present sinarte None euer rid on Seianus horse but he came to ruine Who so possessed but one dramme of the golde of Tholossa perished He that with vnwasht handes touched the Aultar of Ianus fell downe presently dead and fewe or none whiche onely fixe their fancie vpon Beautie escape without mishappe or miserie so that I conclude the Louer in liew of his toyle getteth suche gaine as he that reapeth the beautifull Apples of Tantalus which are no soner toucht but they turne to Ashes If this trash theÌ„ be the treasure whiche Louers desire so greedily to gaine no doubt their winninges shall be muche like to his which supposing to embrace Iuno caught nothyng but a vaine vanishyng Cloude This considered he hath either his sences besotted or els is blinded with selfwill whiche seeth not the abuses in Loue and follie of Louers whose life is so pestered with continuall passions and combred with suche haplesse cares as it is to be counted nothyng but a very masse of miserie They spende the daie in dumpes and the night in dollor seeking much and finding little gaping after that which they seldome gaine and which if they get proueth at length but losse Tis true in trothe quoth Peratio for of all follies loue is the greatest fondnesse and especially in those whiche are coumpted truest Louers who if they want of their will and misse of their wishe pine awaie in hellishe pennurie and though their mistres rewarde them with hate yet they neuer make an ende of their loue but by death Such loue in my opinion no wise man either will or can commende for if to loue were good as is now in question yet tis a proued principle Omne nimium vertitur in vitium therefore if euer I loue I will keepe a meane neither to hie least I suspecte with Cephalus nor to lowe least I mislike with Minos and especially I would not exceede for I thinke of Louers as Diogenes did of Dauncers who beyng asked how he liked them answered the better the woorse This pleasant conceipt of Peratio made Morando and all the companie to laugh seeyng how bitterly he began to bob Siluestro on the thumbes who throughly chafed burst foorth into these tearmes Peratio ê™ he you come to counsell before you bee calde and set downe your sentence before any manne craues your censure your verdit is of lesse valure Your slender opinion is not to be taken for a principle and therefore learne thus much of me that so apishly to carpe at euery cause is a signe of greate immodestie and small manners but leauyng you to your follie thus much to the purpose The Philosophers who haue sought precisely to set out the perfect Anotomie of pure loue who set downe by pen that whiche before they tried by experience weighyng wisely the straunge affectes and force of loue and feeling in them selues the puissance of his power iustly cannonised that sacred essence for a God attributing vnto it the â—…itle of dietie as a thyng woorthie of such supernaturall dygnitie For it doeth infuse into the mindes of men suche vertuous and valerous motions kindlyng in mens hartes such gowing coales of naturall affection whiche before the force of loue had touched them lay buried in the deade cindres of hate that it doeth knitt the mindes
must sigh the one shewing thereby his affection to Musicke the other bewraying his passions in Loue. In deede sir quoth Peratio I remember Sylenus would alwaies leade his Asse in a string that when he waxt wearie he might ride and Amphion plaied euer best on his Harpe when he heard poore Stheneus blowe on his Oten pipe So sir you keepe me for a plaine song wherevpon to descant shewing your fine wit alwaies to be most sharp when you finde my dull head to be most grosse But Calchas neuer prophesied Darth to the Grecians but when his owne Lands were barraine Nor Tiresias had neuer giuen a verdite against Iuno but that he himself had been once a woman Thrasos age could not bereaue him of his parasiticall affections neither was Battus a lesse vlabb being olde then in his youth The whiter the Leekes head is the greener is the blade The Angelica beareth seede alwaies when it begins to wither Drie stickes are sonest consumed with fire and doating age sonest caught with fancie deuining that of others whereof they themselues doe most dreame but they followe the olde Prouerbe Similes habent labra lactucas By my faith Signior Morando quoth Madame Panthia if you haue pusht Peratio with the pike hath hit you with the Iaunce but it semes he hath bene burnt in the hand that cannot abide to here of fire Apollo would neuer willyngly avide the noise of the Crowe because he had beleued her to lightlie Sylenus was euer most angrie when any tould him of good wine because he would oft bee drunke Peratio likes not to be toucht where he is gald nor to be accused so stricktlie when his conscience feeles the crime and yet I goe too farre for it is no off◅nce to loue Yes Madame quoth Aretyno as Jupiter loued Europa crauyng onely to cropp the bud of her beautie and to spoile the frute of her honstie seekyng for the gaine of his fadynge pleasure to procure her lastyng paine Is not suche fancie a faulte when it springeth vp without honest affection Truth sir quoth Panthia but I coumpt likyng without Lawe ◅o loue but lust Was Scipio thought a frende to Numantia when he sought to spoile the Citie◅ or Chronis to Caeres who robed her Temple of her treasure The Turky hauing lost his culler is of no value The fairest flower with out his smell is coumpted but a weede and the maid that by mischaunce loos◅th her virginitie though neuer so faier is most infortunate her chefest treasure is thē but trash like the Ore in the Ile Choos which is puer in the mynge but drosse in the furnace for beautie without honestie is like deadlie poyson preserued in a box of gould Consideryng this Arctyno doe you coumpt him to loue that wisheth his Ladie suche losse Madame quoth Morando you misconsture of his minde for Aretyno coumptes that what soeuer is fancie that is loue Tis good then quoth she to bringe him from his heresie for fancie is Vox aequiuoca which either may be taken for honest loue or fonde affection for fancie oftimes commeth of wealth or beautie but perfect loue euer springeth from vertue and honestie Marie quoth Peratio that is the cause that wemen loue so muche and men so little wherein by your owne iudgement thei are altogither blamlesse for wemen finde in vs honestie without wealth and we in thē beautie without vertue Sir quoth she your censure is no sentence neither can this broken coine stande for sterlyng for to excuse your selfe before you be accused is to finde a fowle crack in a false conscieuce Tis hard to couer a greate rent with a small peece or to hide Uulcans poult foote with pulling on a straight shoe Honesty is alwaies painted like a woman as signif◅yng that it is most predamynaunt in that sexe And sir to giue you a venie with your owne weapō as you saied bef◅e like lippes like lettice as the man is so is his manners cat alwaies goeth after kynde and tis harde to finde men without small houestie and great deceite Doe you speake by experience quoth Morando was your husband in the number of those that are cumbred with this consumption He was quoth she by nature but that he did amend it by nourture and yet quoth she my husbandes honestie cannot conclude generally but that there must be large exceptions I am glad Madame Panthia that you are so pleasaunt and al the rest of my good guestes so merilie disposed I hope you will not denie me of a request that generally I shall craue of you all If it bee reasonable quoth Panthia I dare promise for the gentlewemen And I quoth Syluestro for the men Why then I will haue you tell me your opinions whether this our countrey prouerbe be true or no whiche is commonly spoken Amor fa molto ma argento fa tutto Loue doth much but money doth all In men quoth Panthia and that we will proue In wemen quoth Peratio and that I will defend Two fitte champions quoth Morando to trie suche a doubtfull combate Nay sir quoth Panthia I my self refuse his proffer but my daughter Lacena shall perfourme my challenge for it is not a mourners parte to discourse of such pleasant pointes A fitte matche quoth Peratio for so honest a man and to put you out of doubt I had rather sip with your daughter then sup with you for an inche of a kidd is woorth an ell of of a cat but to leaue these cuttyng blowes how say you Lacena are you content to defende so false an heresie Sir quoth she where dutie driues there denyall is a fault and where nature infereth obedience there to resist is to war against the Gods the youg Lambe commeth at the bleating of y ◠old sheepe the Signett at y ◠call of the Swan the Faune followeth fast after y ◠Do creatures without reason and brute beastes by mere instinckt of Nature followe their dams and should not I then obey my parentes yes no doubt or els I might be counted more brute then a beast or lesse naturall then a reasonable creature This considered if I aduentere rashely to discusse so harde a case beyng vnfit by nature and arte the duetie I hope that I owe vnto her who hath power to commānd me shall be sufficient to excuse my small skill and great interprise and the common saiyng so ◅uerally vs◅d here in our countrey doeth somwhat incorage me A ◅ure truth quoth thei neede no subtill gloze nor a cleare case a shifting Counseller Well quoth Peratio I doubt your fained simplisitie will proue a non to bee sinewishe Sophestrie and therefore thus to the purpose The case quoth he which we haue to discusse is a maxime houlden as true as a holie Oracle but the doubt is whether it is to be auerred in men or verefied in wemen If the perfection of the bodie and the constitution of the mynde forceth men to loue more then the greedie desire to gaine
Haâ—…e sooner burneth then the moyst Grasse and the fierie harte of Mars soner scorched then the cold minde of Diana Nay Mistris Fioretta quoth he seeing you vrge me so strictly I will proue my premisses with most approued instaunces Wâ—…s not Dido almost consumed in the flame before Eneas toucht the fire Was not she fettered at the first sight whereas Venus could hardly induce her sonne to Loue. Demophon was not so sone drowned in desire as Phillis for be no soner set foote on lâ—…nd but she was ouer shooes in loue whereas God knowes all her flattring allurementes could hardly traine him to the Court of Cupid The Nimph Echo no sooner sawâ—… Narcissus but she was inflamed whereas he neither by teares praiers promises nor protestations could be allured to yeeld himself a suâ—…iect vnto Venus Tuâ—…he what should I recount the passionate loue of Salmacis Circe Biblis Hylonome and of infinite other whose liues are sufficient proofes and presidents to confirme my former reasons Cupid intending to reuenge himself vpon Apollo for discouering the adultrie betweene his mother and Mars was faine to spend many of his chiefest dartes ere he could strike him in loue with Daphne but as the blinde boy pleasauntly sported with his mother by chaunce he raced her breast with the tippe of his arrowe whiche no sooner toucht her but she was deepely in loue with her darling Adonis In fine all ages and estates haue yéelded sufficient proofes to confirme my premisses so that I neede not alledge any more reasons but conclude with the saying of Martiall whiche affirmeth three thinges neuer to bee parted Mulier Amor inconstantia Tush quoth Fioretta all this wind shakes no corne your Antecedent infers no necessary Consequent for if I graunt that diuers Dames haue bene sodainly suprised with fancie may you therefore conclude that wemen are more subiecte vnto affection then men this were Aretino to absurde an argument But to confirme my reasons with a plaine proofe whiche we bothe see and knowe by daily experience Are not men faine beyng them selues once fiered with fancie to seeke and sue to watch and warde to prate to parle to pray to protest to sweare to forsweare yea to vse a thousand sondrie shiftes to alure a simple maide vnto loue Doe they not seeke to hale her vnto their hooke with diuers new deuises Some practise musicke to inueagle their mindes playng in the nyght vnder their windowes with Lutes Citrons and Bandoras Some Tornay and Iust that by their manhoode they maie alure them to loue Some painte out their passions in Songes and Sonets to moue them vnto mercie none saying they are to pittifull but all exclaimyng of their crueltie The poore woman notwithstandyng is so vnwillyng to yeeld vnto loue that she is hardly induced to fancie by all these flattryng alurementes whereas the man is fiered with euery new face fettered with euery newe fancie in loue at euery looke yea they cannot Accedere ad ignem but they doe straight Galescere plus quam satis so that it is harde to finde a man but he is either fraught with loue or flatterie Not so Fioretta quoth Siluestro conclude not so stricktly for to loue I graunt is proper to men but to flatter belongeth to wemen Why quoth Peratio dare you blaspheme so broadely against that noble sexe take head if your mistres heare of this fond sensure she hang not the lip This is small to the purpose quoth Morando whether men faine or wemen flatter it is not the marke we shoote at Sith Madame Panthia these two champions haue so manfully behaued themselues within the listes that as yet the combate hangeth in suspence to whiche of them shall wee Iudges of this quarrell assigne the conquest Truely sir â—… Panthia to speake my mynd freely without affectioÌ„ in this case this is my opinion That loue being no mortall passion but a supernaturall influence alloted vnto euery man by destiny charmeth and inchaunteth the mindes of mortall creatures not accordyng to their wills but as the decree of the fatâ—…s shall determine for some are in loue at the first looké As was Pâ—…rseus with Andromeda Some â—…euer to be reclaimed as was Narcissus Others scortched at the first sight as Uenus her self was of Adonis Some alwaies proclaimeth open Warres to Cupid as did Daphne Thus I conclude that men or wemen are not more or lesse subiect vnto Loue respectyng their naturall constitution but by the secrete influence of a certaine supernaturall constellation Morando and the rest of their companie greatly praised and allowed the wise verdict of Panthia commendyng the mother for her perfect modestie and the daughters for their passing chastitie The discourse thus ended and the sentence set downe Morando and his guestes went to dinner which being ended as well with pithie deuises as pleasaunt dainties Panthia constrained by certaine vrgent affaires yeelding Morando great thankes for his courteous entertainment went home to Bononia accoÌ„panied with the three Gentlemen who likewise leauing Morando in his dumpes for the losse of suche good companions departed and for a time staied with Panthia at Bononia where what successe Siluestro had in his loue I knowe not but if I learne looke for newes Finis Robert Greeneâ—… ¶ Imprinted at London by I. Kingston for Edward VVhite dwelling at the little North doore of S. Paules Church at the signe of the Gun
in his Sacrafices because the one was vnskilfull in Phisicke and the other as ingnorant in Mariage and meare fondnesse it is for the â—…o aske my oppinion of fancie when I connot by experience yelde a vâ—…rdit of affection it is harde for him to giue a censure of Paintyng that hath but lookt into Appelles shoppe and as difficult for me to sett downe my sentence of Loue whiche aâ—… but newlie entred into Cupids Schoole For I confesse I am not of Tianeus opinion to despise Beautie nor so dogged as Diogenes to condemne wemen sith the one shewes a crabbed nature and the other as ill nourture But it maie be you gesse another mans bow by your owne bent and plaie like Ewritius that accused Andremon of loue wheÌ„ he himself was before fettered with lust What quoth Aretino shall Pigmalion bee angrie with him that saied he was a Caruer seeing it was his profession by arte or shall a yong gentleman take offence for being named a louer sith it is proper to hym by age But I leaue with your melancholie humour Syluestro sith I see that tis hard to finde a suspicious man without ielowsie and a lingring louer without Dumpes Gentlemen quoth Peratio mee thinks it is folly to talke about so fond a trifle as loue which I can rightly compare to Perseus wings which being giuen him by Iupiter caried him alwayes into perrilous daungers or to Mydas goulde which he counting his blisse prooued at last to bee his bâ—…le Let not then such a friuolons question cause friends to giue such byting quippes Tush quoth Aretino these cuttes can not cause Syluestro and mee toiarre euery blowe drawes not bloud nor euery worde inferreth not wrath that friendshippe is of a brickle mould that a little Table talke will cracke In troth quoth Syluestro I take not such offence at Aretinos folly as I doe Peratio at thy extreme fondnes that makest so light acount of loue But Proteus neuer remayned long in one shape neither was Iola seene to weare one garment twise The 〈◊〉 Cassiopea remayneth in one signe but ten dayes and thou in one mynde but ten howers being now hotte now could first as courteous as Traian and then as currish as Tymon one while a defender of lust and an other time a contemner of loue But as it is harde to catche the Polipe fish because she â—…ourneth into the likenesse of euery obiect so it is folly to credit thee which framest thy talke after euery new fantasie Stay then Syluestrâ—… quoth Signior Morando lest you proue your selfe more fond in taking such small occasion of anger then they in ministring the cause we met as friends and loth I were we should part as foes Therefore for this night I commend you all as my guestes to keepe silence and to morrowe if you please in close field to trie the combat Madame Panthia and I will sit as Iudges to assigne the conquest the question shalbe whether it be good to loue or noe and in the meane time sith it is farre in the night I commit you to God Madame Panthia aud the rest geuing their good host the Adiew parted quietly without any more quippes to their lodging The seconde daies discourse THE night being passed y â— glâ—…string beames of Phebus calling these Courtiers froÌ„ their drowsie beddes Signior-Siluestro who all this night had slept with a flea in his eare being pinched with the quippes of Aretino but more passionate with y â— exquisite qualities of Lacena rose before all the rest and walking alone into the Garden began there to muse on these painefull passions which so diuersly perpiexed him feeling the force of Loue so furiously to assaile him as either the mercie of his new Mistres must mittigate his maladie or els his care must be ended by vntimely death the one he doubted of as being in feare the other he dreaded not as one in most haplesse distresse wauering thus betweene twoo waues as he sat in his dumpes Morando Madame Panthia and all the rest of the coÌ„panic missing Siluestro went to seeke him whom they founde as a solitary Sainct sitting in a sorrowfull plight whiche they espying began to laugh at his follie that vpon so small a cause as they surmised had entered into suche choller But as their aime was ill so they mist the marke For Siluestro was offring his sighes to an other Saint then they could coniecture yet whatsoeuer the cause of his care was Panthia thought to driue him out of his dumpes in this maner Signior Siluestro quoth she you accused yesternight Peratio of fickelnesse and I allowe it the better because I see by this chaunce you your self wilbe no chaungeling you went to bed in choller and rise full of melancholie resembling the birde Osyphaga who if she perketh at night chatting checketh all the morning till the Sunne bee vp but I cannot blame you sith Aretino and his fellowe came ouer your fallowes with suche cutting blowes I see Madame quoth Peratio you are no cunning Astrologer that can by calculation coniecture no better of Siluestros disease Would you haue Zetus merrie as long as he heareth Amphion harpe Can poore Polipheme plaie on his pipe as long as Galatea frownes Or Apollo laugh when Driope lowers No Appelles must be sad as long as Campaspe is coye It is good reason that Louers should be solitarie to be wraie their sorrowe and full of dumpes to signifie their dollor Accuse not Siluestro then if he be not pleasaunt being troubled with suche amorous passâ—…ons for the poore Gentleman is in loue I see by his looke Siluestro hearing with what bitter tauntes Peratio began to bob the foole and how he sought like a Sycophant to plaie with his nose entring somewhat into choller shakt him vp with this sharpe replie I remember Peratio quoth he that Cadmus for his contâ—…nnelious minde was turned into a Serpent and Arachne for her prowde presumption was transformed into a Spider I maruell if the Gods to wreck their wrath would vse their â—…ide Metamorphosis whether they would turne thee into an Asse or an Ape for by y â— one they might tipically figure forth thy blockishe reasons and by the other paint out thy apishe qualities Did Apollo neuer lower but when he was in loue Nor was Appelles neuer sad but when he was a sutor No doubt then the God was very gamesome before he knewe Daphne and the Painter passing pleasaunt before he sawe Campaspe Surely your Astrologicall reasons bee of small force in that they haue force I meane not to proue me a Louer but thy self a fondling Well if I loue it is the signe of good nature if I loue not of a Cinicall nurture but whether I loue or no it cannot profite thee nor displeasure me and yet not to loue is the signe of a discourteous Pesaunt Mâ—…rando hearing what bitter blowes were giuen betweene these two Gentlemen parted them with this parle If quoth he Hercules and Achelous had not
of frendes together with suche perfect and perpetuall amitie as we may iustlie say with Socrates they be two bodies and one soule yea the common people although their myndes bee sotted and almost sencelesse yet they haue had loue in suche sacred estimation that they carefully rewarded them with the title of Honour and Dignitie whiche haue excelled in that holie affection estemyng this onely vertue if so basly it may be termed sufficient of a man to make one a God But to ayme more neare the marke if we rightly coÌ„sider the force of loue wee shall finde that there is nothing whiche so pleasureth a man and proffitethe the Common wealth as loue Tullie beyng demaunded why the Common wealth of Rome did oft fall into many calamnities at that tyme especially when Sâ—…illa and Marius Tyranously shed so muche innocente bloud answered because the temple of loue was defaced and beeyng demanded what caused the Commonwealth so to florish in prosperous estate answered loue Aledgyng to the olde Italian prouerbe Amor è la madre del buâ—…n citta What causeth vertue to rayne and vice to come to ruine but loue What delighteth in good and despighteth ill but loue Yea what causeth a man to bee honored for a GOD but loue It maketh the valient to venture amidest moste perrilous daungers neither to bee feared with the losse of life nor to respect the dint of Death tâ—…inkyng no aduenture harde to bee atchiued nor encounter combersome no daunger perrilous so he be fullie armed with the shield of loue to defend hym from the furious force of his enemies So manie Grecians had neuer bene slaine of Hâ—…ctor had not Andromache looked ouer the walles Troielus had neuer made suche a Massacre among his foâ—…s had not Crâ—…ssed buckled on his Helmet Nay Achilles had neuer slaine them bothe had not Briseida beene the Mistres of his thoughtes To conclude in all ages Cheualrie had neuer so brauely flowrished if Loue had not been the guerdon for their desertes Loue maketh a man which is naturally adicted vnto vice to be indewed with vertue to applie himself vnto all lawdable exercises that thereby he maie obtaine his Louers fauour He coueteth to bee skilfull in good letters that by his learnyug he maie allure her to excell in Musick that by his melodie he maie entise her to frame his speech in a perfect phrase that his Eloquence maie perswade her yea what Nature wanteth he seeketh to amende by nurture and the onely cause of this verteous disposition is Loue. And to proue this premisses with a particular instaunce I remember that our countriman Boccaee in his Decameron bringeth in one Chymon â—… Lacedemonian who was more wealthie theÌ„ wittie and of greater possessions then good qualities giuen from his birth to be a seruile drudge by nature and could not by his friendes be haled from his clownish state by nurture his delight was to toyle at y e Plough although a Nobleman borne and ciuill curtesie was the onely thing he contemned This Chimon who by no art could be brought to haue any witte by chaunce as he passed through the streetes cast his eye on the glittring beauty of a Ladyin Lacedemonia whose singuler perfection so deeply imprinted into the harte of this witlesse Chimon as he felt the flame of fancie to fric within his entrales yea the force of affection had so furiously assalted hym as perplexed with these vnaquainted passions Loue driue him so to his shiftes that he seckyng to obtaine his mistres fauour he began to applie himself to al bertuous exercises that within shorte tyme loue beeyng his loodestone of a witlesse foole he became to bee a wise Philosopher of of Clowne to become a Courtiour yea loue made suche a straunge Metamorphoses of her new Nouice that in prowesse and curtesie he exceded al the Courtiers of Lacedemonia Tushe who rightly can denie that Loue is not the cause of glorie honour profite and pleasure whiche happeneth to man and that without it he cannot conueniently liue but shall runne into a thousande enormities Whereof I conclude that not to loue is not to liue or els to leade a life repugnaunt to all vertuous qualities Well said Siluestro quoth Morando thy reason is good for in truthe he that is an enemie to loue is a foâ—… to nature there is nothyng which is either so requested of men or desired of brute beastes more then mutuall societie whiche neither the one can gaine nor the other attaine without loue Is not he then more sencelesse then a beast or lesse naturall then a reasonable creature whiche would deâ—…pise it Yes no doubt I would count him like to a Aparmantus that had no other reason to hate men but for that they were men he himself being like a man but in nature a very Monster Sir quoth Sostrata if you weighed well what loue were you would yeeld an other verdict Is there any thyng which man esteemeth more then libertie Nay doth he not account it dearer then life and is not Loue the losse thereof and the meanes to leade him into an endlesse Laberinth Doth it not fetter him that is free and thrall the quiet minde in perpetuall bondage Is there any thyng to be found in Loue but lowring care calamitie sorrowe sighes woe waylinges complaintes and miserie What breedeth frenzie and bringeth furie but Loue What maketh the wise foolishe and fooles more fond but Loue What besotteth the senses What bruseth the braine What weakeneth the witte What dusseth the memorie What fadeth the strength Nay what leadeth a man to ruth and ruine but Loue And yet forsooth no lesse then a GOD Dido had ended her golden daies with ioye in gallaunt Carthage Phillis had neuer desperatly procured her owne death Ariadne had not miserablie died in the solitarie Desertes Medea had raigned royally as Queene of Colchos Yea innumerable others had enioyed more felicitie or tasted lesse miserie if this cruell monster Loue had not wrought their mishappe For as soone as it once inueagleth the wit and bewitcheth the sences it maketh straight a Metamorphosis of the poore Louers minde he then rageth as though he were haunted with some hellishe Hagge or possessed with some franticke Furie like one inchaunted with some Magicall charme or charmed with some bewitchyng Sorcerie yea he is perplexed with a thousande sundrie passoons first free and then fettered alatc swimming in rest and now sincking in care erewhile in securitie and then in captiuitie yea turned from mirth to mournyng from pleasure to paine from delight to despight hatyng themselues and louyng others who is the chief cause of this their calamitic Fulfillyng the saying of Propertius that to loue howsoeuer it be is to loose and to fancie how charie soeuer the choice be is to haue an ill chaunce For Loue though neuer so faithful is but a Chaos of care and fancie though neuer so fortunate is but a Mâ—…sse of miserie Whereof I conclude that who so is intangled with the
snares of Loue or besotted with the beames of balefull Beautie enioyeth more care then commoditie more paine then profite more cost thâ—…n comforte more greef then good yea reapeth a tunne of drosse for euery dramme of perfect golde Nay staie quoth Siluestro conclude not so redelie before the premisses bee graunted for though you haue Sostrata shâ—…dowed the table yet till the colours be laied on with a perfect Pensell it is no certaine picture Zewexes deceiued birdes with painted grapes and yet they were no perfect frute and though ye fill their eares with your fond reasons yet after I haue pulde backe the vale euery one shall see they are but mere shadowes You reason first of the definition of loue saying that it is no other thyng but the desire of Beautie whiche if I graunt what then forsooth by an odd induction you conclude that Beautie is the breeder of mishappe and therefore Loue the bringer of miserie but I neither affirme the one nor graunt vnto the other For Plato being demaunded in what thinges we most resemble the Gods aunswered in Wisedome and Beautie esteeming Wisedome the onely Iemme whiche inricheth the minde and Beautie the onely Iewel that adorneth the bodie Yea Seuere Socrates said that the Gods in framing of Beautie skipt beyond their skill in that the maker was subiect to the thing made for the Gods themselues haue been so subiect to y â— glittering hue of Beautie as they haue been forcst to forsake their celestiall Spheares for to enioye so precious a treasure yea to make a Metamorphosis of their dietie into humane shape as Iupiter did by turning into a Bull to croppe the beautie of Europa And thinke you then Sostrata you haue not bothe committed an hainous offence in blaspheming so deuine a thing and also been greatly deceiued in thinking light of Loue whiche tendeth to no other ende but to the obtaining of so deuine a treasure Further you count euery vertue in Loue to be vanitie euery strawe to be a stumbling stocke euery little Molehill to be a greate Mâ—…untaine concluding because it is fraught with care therefore it is to bee contemned because it is subiect to trouble and mishapp therefore to be vtterly misliked but your opinion is vaine and therfore your reasons is of no value they carie small sence in that you are so subiect to self-will For did not 〈◊〉 compare vertue to the letter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is small at the foote but broade at the toppe meaning that to obtaine vertue is very painefull but the possession thereof passing pleasant Yea doe not the wise Philosophers indeuour much trauell to attaine vertue Doe not Martiall mindes who gape after glorie sleepe little and labor much hasard their liâ—…mes and venture their liues to attaine honor Doe not Mâ—…rchaunts yeeld themselues to the mercie of the furious Seas and trie the rage of stormie Tempests suffer perilles by Sea and post by Land to possesse riches Shall therefore the Philosophers life bee contemned because it is fraught with trouble Shall the Marchauntes staie or the Martiall state be despised because the one is subiect to daunger and the other to death No if this maie bee concluded it will breede a confusion in all estates Shall then Loue bee thought leaud because poore passionate Louers be readie to beare the burthen of all misfortune to the ende to attchiue so royall a rewarde as Beautie No for he is to bee thought a fearfull dastard whom any worldly muck doth deceiue whoÌ„ any hard attempt doth withdraw or any humble praier doth withholde from attaining the toppe of his desire Cease then Sostrata to blaspheme against Beautie sith it is deuine Leaue of to inueigh against Loue since it is a labour fit for the Gods otherwise thou shalt be thought to be more wilfull then wise and to spitt out these bitter speeches more of cancred spight then of any iust cause Well quoth Aretino if that testie Tyanens were aliue who was the contemner of Beautie the despraiser of Loue despiser of fancie and the detester of all suche amorous societie and heard Siluestro tell this tale no doubt he would not onely turne his tippet recant his hereticall opinion and perswade others to honor beautie but he himself would become a Louer Truely quoth Panthia for my parte I confesse that Siluestro hath so cunningly confuted my Daughters reasons as I must needes saie he is worthie to haue the verdict go on his side For though Diana hath reapt renowne by her chastitie yet Iuno hath gained more honour by her Mariage Why Madame Panthia quoth Peratio will you bring Siluestro into a Fooles paradise by allowyng his opinion I can but smile to see how cunningly you can claw him where he itcheth but he knowes you do but flatter and thinks that womens thoughtes and their tongues runnes not alwaies together Truely quoth Aretino that is the cause that Siluestro beares so much with Lacenas follie for he thinkes she plaies like the Consull Attilius that was wont to couer the picture of his Concubine with a courtaine wherein was imbrodered the storie of Diana and Acteon What Lacena doth â—… Sylnestro I knowe not but I am sure Peratio speakes more of crabbednes then of conscience resembling herein Apollo I meane not in pure complexion but in peuish coÌ„dition who inueighing greatly against Venus and Cupid did himselfe the next night rauish poore Clymene Well quoth Morando Madame Panthia sith you haue heard this doubtfull question so throughly discoursed giue your Censure and your verdict shall stand for a sentence Sir quoth she if I should passe against Syluestro then al might think I either neuer loued my husband or els that I spoke of affection therfore that I be not accused of the one nor condemned of the other this is my opinion that Syluestro speaking of those loyall louers which fixe their fancie and place their affection first vpon the vertue of the mynde and then vpon the beautie of the body defendeth the right in saying that to loue is a vertue and that my daughter Lacena in touching the excessiue loue nay rather lust of those fond and fantasticall louers who onely respect the complexion of the body and not the perfection of the mind hauing their fancie so fickle as they are fiered with euery new face respecting pleasure more then profit and yet refusing no paynes to satisfie their fleshly desires saith well that such loue is a vice Panthia hauing yelded her iudgement was greatly praysed of al the company for geuing so wise a verdict In deede quoth Aretino it made mee to maruell when I heard Lacena so farre out of square sith that by naturall constitution women are more subiect vnto loue then men Not so quoth Panthia you speake by contraries for women are hard to bee snared in loue like the stone Ceraunon whiche will hardly receiue any stampe but being once printed neuer looseth the fourme Marie if I might be so bolde I could aptly
compare men to Spanielles that will faune of euery one that carieth bread in his fist Stay there quoth Morando it is now dinner time and this question asketh along discourse we will now dine and the rest of the daie to exercise our selues wee will spende in Hunting but to morowe we will haue this doubt debated of Aretino and Fioretta I will be the plaintif quoth Aretino And my Daughter shall bee the defendant quoth Panthia Why then quoth Morando let vs plie our teeth as we haue done our tungs and with that they all sat doune to dinner The third daies discourse PAnthia and the rest of the companie hauing pleasauntly past awaie the day in sporte and quietly spent the night in sleepe no sooner sawe that Aurora had forsaken the watrie bed of her Louer Tytan but thei remembring that Aretino and Fioretta were to perfourme their chalenge hasted vp to bee hearâ—…rs of this doubtfull discourse But seeing Morando was not yet stirring they walked into the Garden to take the freshe and flagrant ayre where Flora presented vnto them a Paradise of odoriferous flowers greatly pleasing the eye sweetly delighting the sinell intised with the verdue of these flowrishing Plantes they all rested them in an Arbor made of Roses whereby Peratio taking occasion to be pleasaunt entered into this parlie I now quoth he see by experience Mantuans principle to be true that weale is neuer without woae no blisse without bale eche sweete hath his sower euery commoditie hath his discommoditie annexed For you see by proofe the sweetest Rose hath his prickles And what of this quoth Panthia what inferre ye of these principles Mary quoth he I can aptly compare a woman to a Rose for as we cannot enioye the flagrant smel of the one without sharpe prickles so we cannot possesse the vertues of the other without shrewish conditions and yet neither the one nor the other can well be forborne for they are necessarie 〈◊〉 O sir quoth Panthia you are very pleasaunt poore wemen must be content to suffer the reproofe though 〈◊〉 the reproach but if they were as little vertuous as men are greatly vicious no doubt then you would write volumes of their vanitie but quoth she as bad as they be when you sue to obtaine their fauour then you accoumpt them as heauenly creatures and cannonize them for Sainctes commending their chastitie and extolling their vertues whereof I conclude that either they are faultlesse or you flatterers Tushe quoth Peratio what others thinke I knowe not but I was neuer of that minde for truely this is my verdict be she vertâ—…ous be she chast be she courteous be she constant be she riche be she renowmed be she honest be she honorable yet if she bee a woman she hath sufficicent vanities to counteruaile her vertues Truely quoth Siluestro as the Inhabitaunts of Lemnos were turned into Frogges for railing against Latona so Peratio thou deseruest to be chaunged into a Curre for barking out suche currishe blasphemous speeches against wemen Niobe inueighed against Uenus for her lightnesse and yet she her self more leaude and thou railest against wemen for their vanitie thou thy self being thrise more vicious but as it was impossible to tell a tale to a Cretian and not to talke to a lyar so it is impossible Peratio to speake of thee and not to name a slaunderer With that Morando being newly risen and missing his guestes went into the Garden and hearing these bitter blawes thought quickly to part the fraie he seuered them therefore with this salue Gentlemen and Gentlewomen quoth he in that I will not be tedious in one worde I bid you all good daie The atchiuing of yesterdaies chalenge betwene Aretino and Fioretta hath made me rise thus early Cease of therefore from your supposes for I inioyne you all to Silence and let vs heare what a plea our plaintife will put in to auer his doubtfull Probleme The companie first requiting Morando with the like courtesie and then returning his salue with the like salutation held their peace to heare Aretino parle who seing they listened attentiuely to heare his talke began his tale in this maner It is a principle quoth he amongst the naturall Philosophers that men by their constitution are indewed with a more perfect and stronger complexion then wemen beeing more apt to endewer labour and trauaile and lesse subiect to effeminate pleasure and pastime hauing their hartes more hardened to withstande any kinde of passion and lesse mollified to receiue any patheticall impression Whereof I infer that men hauing their hartes indurate by naturall constitution are more able to withstande the force of Loue then wemen whose effeminate mindes are inclosed within a more tender and delicate complexion For as the perfect Golde whiche is of a pure substaunce receiueth any fourme sooner then the sturdiâ—… Steele which is of a grosse massie moulde so wemens effeminate mindes are more subiect to sodaine affection and are soner fettered with the snare of fancie then the hard hartes of men whiche beeinâ—… rubbed with the Adamant stone are apt to withstand any violeÌ„t passions Tiresias who had by his harde happe the proofe of both Natures and Scython who at his pleasure was either a man or a woman the one being demanded by Jupiter and the other by Bachus whether men or wemen were most subiect vnto loue framed this answere that the Armes which Venus gaue in her shield were sufficient to discusse the doubt meaning that as Doues who are Uenus darlinges are more prone vnto lust then any other foules so wemen are more subiect vnto Loue then any other mortall creatures Truely sir quoth Fioretta you seeme by your sentences to be a subtill and secret Philosopher for I thinke you bring in suche darke problemes as you scarce vnderstande your owne reasons Is this your skill in naturall Philosophie to bring in vnnaturall principles Or think you by Sophistrie to shadowe the truth No wordes are but winde and a fewe drie blowes shall not carie awaie the conquest Aristotle and Albertus both set downe this infallible Axiome that the naturall constitution of men is choller hot and drie hauing of all the fower Elements fire most predominant in their complexions So that as Galen affirmeth in his Booke De partibus corporis humani this fierie constitution doth make them full of passions soone hot soone colde easilie inflamed and quickly quenched Whereas wemen be Phlegmatick coole and moyst hauing water most predominant in their constitution aâ—…d therefore lesse subiect vnto any fierie affections Whereof I inferre that the mindes of men whiche are hot and drie are sooner scorched with the heate of Venus and fiered with the flame of fancie yea Loue hath more power to set on fire their affections being alreadie of a hot constitution then to scorch or scalde the hartes of wemen which naturally are of so moyst and cold a complexion The drie Bauin is soner set on fire then the watrie Beech the withered