more worthy then the thing holpen then must it néedes fall out that the grome that helpes Dorestus of with his hose when he goes to bed at night is of better rekoning then Dorestus himselfe the slaue that but carries lime and stone to the building is to be preferred before the maister workman but I will graunte Dorestus that wemen he helpers for he that followes them a pace they lightly helpe him to the diuell Your comparison for the fining of mettals I cannot mislike for that it hath some affinitie with the truth for in déede the more mettales be fined the purer they proue and gold before it be brought to his perfection is first clensed from his earthlye substance and being once drawne from his ore and drosâ—e it then remaineth a mettall but yet vnpure because it is mixed with brasse or copper wherfore of necessity ther must be a forced refining then the gold is perfect and remaineth in price the brasse or copper is likewise a mettall though of a far baser condition and therefore is referred for our meane and ordinarie necessitie 〈…〉 when man was first framed from out the slime and dust of the earth he was not yet perfecte gold for why there remained brasse and copper that is humoure and passion wherefore it was conuenient there should be a second clensing which being once performed man was then in full perfection and of the grosser substance there was framd a baser creature women being drawne from the partes where our affections lye hiden and as she was thus indued with infinit passion so it was necessarie to take from her all force for had she had abillitie to haue performed her cruelty and rage all the deuels in hell had not béene able to haue ruled her and therfore according to the olde prouerbe God sendes a curste cow shorte hornes But was it such a benifit for man to be cupled to a woman rather then to a Lion to a Tiger or a Serpent no truely woman is more furious then a lion more cruell then a tiger more venimus then a serpent and more subtill then the diuell and by her figured charmes brought man from that blessednesse in the which hee was first created when the diuell himselfe was not able to do it But to what sorte of men is it that wemen be so acceptable forsoth to louers let vs directly then seeke out whereto loue leades vs The loue of men to wemen being a rage exceding all other passions makes vs forsake the loue of God and to imagin our good to rest in them as if we should do worship to Idoles whose nature is vnder vain resemblances to corrupt the deuotion of men a thing so common in example that to a sencible iudgment a slender rehearsall may suffice and who so euer treadeth that desperat laborinth of loue is in ordinarie destiny of a wise man to take the habit of a foole of a carefull man to become negligent of a valiant man to become so weake as to stand in awe of a foolish womans word of a prouident man to loose all pollicy of a younge man to become withered of a free man to become miserably bound of a milde man to beare the burthen of an asse of a religious man to become an Idolater of a riche man honoured a poore man scorned of a patient man to be a reuenger of the filthy causes of his minioÌ„ to be briefe both to forget god loose y e knowledge of himself I neuer knew any one truly translated into the stat of a perfect louer but after he had possessed his actual felicity in loue did not atend inward perplexities with outward disquietnes confused counsels careles executioÌ„ broken spéech vnsound iudgements yea such a generall negligence in all his actions and conuersation of life that in a due consideration of the affects of loue in his example it might easily bee discerned there is more galle then honie lesse pleasure then paine more care then comfort and more want of courage then due commendation of a noble mind I haue heard of many that were madde for loue yet I neuer hearde of any that were wise in loue I haue knowen the wise haue bene besotted by fancie yet I neuer knew fancie that made a wise man for it is no more possible that loue should be without passion then the Sunne without light fire without heat or water without moisture whose pleasant motions are mixt with wonderfull disquiet his little pleasure with piles of sorrow his small brookes of transitorie ioy with great riuers of extreame anguish In loue what séeeth the eie lasciuiousnes what heareth the eare lasciuiousnes what inureth the body lasciuiousnes the badge of loue idlenes the best rest corrupt delights the finall ende repentaunce Loue is a bitter sweet a poysoned bait a golden hooke a contumelious comfort a diuelish intent In loue wee misspend our time consume our goods wast our lands yea wee doe corrupt both body and soule By loue our hearts are blinded our vnderstanding dulled our memories mangled our bodies distempered and all desire of wisedome is set at a bay Thus the pore louer findes his pleasure translated into a quality of bitternes and his hope so turned into dispaire that hee hath no other refuge then in death and yet in him he hardly finds medicine If he be but a little disgraced of his bodie he becommeth wilde of countenance vnquiet in minde yea his whole state so restlesse as if hee were tormented with some hurtfull spirite and in the absence of his mistresse you shall neuer see him settled in anie company or plaâ—â— of what value or worthines soeuer it be but as vacabonds without a warraunt or people fearing the fall of the firmament they run heere and there as though their safetie consisted onely in the eie of their mistresse Peraduenture there be som that wil mistake my meaning thinking this loue that I would séem to disgrace is but dishonest liking or rather as it may be tearmed lawlesse lust such as is practised with euery mercenarie woman but take loue when it is lawfullie ment wherin it is best to be admitted and vse wemen in their purest kinde whereunto they were first created and you shall finde that there is not so much care in the one but there is as great combre in the other and that the one bredeth not so much wracke but the other bringeth as much woe and where they both doe but promise vs a dramme of delight they will surelie pay vs with a pound of despight For the institution of marriage I confesse it to be good nay further I acknowledge it to be honourable and it was first ordained to a most godly purpose which was to kéepe men from that filthy sinne of fornication but what men suche as were not able to containe their fleshly desires within the limites and bounds of chastity for as it is said chastity is the beauty of mans souls and it
mistris the other of griefe to heare these wordes of Brusanus after he had a while chafed to himselfe he mildly made this answere It is pitie Brusanus that wit should be no better imploied then in the contempt of beautie the dispraise of loue the dispite of women and in the disparagement of their honours but I cannot so lightly bee induced to mislike of that sex of whome I was borne of whome I receiued life by whome I haue bin nursed and charely brought vppe and wemen are framed of nature with as great perfections of the mind for the exercise of vertue as men but what soeuer fall out I am fully resolued in my selfe either to win the spurres or loose the horse to haue the blossome or loose the frute to inioy the beautie of Moderna or to ieoperd my best ioynt and therefore what so euer the learninge willes I will consent to nature what so euer the lawes of philosophy perswades me I will at this time giue the raines of liberty to my amorous passions and what so euer be the chaunce I will cast at all God send you good fortune said Brusanus but I feare me it will neuer be in loue By this time the yoonge Prince Antipholus was come to the chamber dore calling both Brusanus and Dorestus to walke out and to vse some exercise vntill it were supper time to the which Brusanus willingly agreed but Dorestus framing a slight excuse remained still in his chamber being thus alone he recalled to his mind the seuerall spéeches past betweene Brusanus and himselfe and now hauing better leasure to consider of euery circumstaunce resolued not so slightly to let passe the reasons of Brusanus but like a champion in the defence of women takeing pene incke and paper thus he writeth The fifth Chapter Dorestus Prince of Epirus to Brusanus the professed enimy to loue and beauty THe phylosophers Brusanus amongst their preseptes of good counsailes were accustomed very bitterly to reprehend the bouldnes of the tongue this well considered were sufficient to condemne your bitter inuectiues seeking to bereue vs of that comfort without the which the depopulation of the world would followe you dispraise women who at the first were created by the almighty himselfe to be a helper vnto man doth it not then followe that as the creator is more worthy they y e things created thā the helper should in like manner be of greater moment then the matter holpen The better to confirme our argument and to proue women the more perfet creature let vs consider of the substaunce whereof she was created It cannot be denaid but mettal the oftner it is fined the purer it is made then is it not as certaine that man being framed of the dust of the earth was yet made good that woman being drawne from metall thus alreadie purified should be a great deale the better heere is nowe to be considered the goodnes of the creator that hauing framed a paterne of such perfection would cuple her as a companion to vnthankefull man whose proud nature not able to brooke equality hath euen from that time vntill this very instant sought to raigne ouer wemen with an vsurped prerogatiue and to eclips their vertues with slaunderous and false reportes it might haue pleased god euen then to haue cupled man to a lion to a tiger to a serpent or some other such but he linked him to a womā he gaue man a woman to be a comfort vnto him to the intent therefore and the rather that man should bee induced to their imbracementes hath not nature adorned them with perfection of beautie delicacy of bodye excelency of wit and such sweetnes in al their demeanures that men of any iudgement and able to discerne of suche inestimable riches doe they not whet their wittes their willes their tongues and all their whole inuentions howe to comprehend their fauour and to insinuate themselues into their grace yea they doe adde increase of courage to men of little hardines making them to be more valiaunt and venturous in armes to bee briefe they are the very pictures of comelines the vesseles of sobriety the ornaments of beautie and the very images of continency modesty vertue whose natural property in any iniury done them is either to excuse or to pardon and heere making a sparing conclusion of their vnspeakable commendations let me perswade thée Brusanus to leaue thy misdéeming of so pretious a treasure for whom we are borne not for our selues by whome we are againe reuiued in our posterity not of our selues Dorestus hauing finished this discourse sealing it vppe in the manner of a Letter sent it the next day to Brusanus who perusing the contents and hauing with Euripides proclaimed himselfe an open enemy to woman-kinde hee determined to stand fast by his takling and to send Dorestus such an answer as he should not easily be able to auoyd and beeing thus rather fraught with coller then furnished with good matter hee betooke himselfe to his penne where wee will leaue him for a while and speake of other matters The sixt Chapter Dorestus bewraieth his loue to Moderna she vtterly refuseth he vnfoldeth his pretence to the king her father who granteth to giue him Moderna for his wife DOrestus that was now at leasure to cast about to bring his purpose to a desired successe and wading betweene small hopes and huge dispaires yet remembring that nothing could be atchiued that was neuer attempted hee determined to giue the on set and finding Moderna in a place conuenient nesling himselfe so néere her as he might to whome speaking in looks for as yet his tongue was not come to a through boldnes and yet by the many seruices he proffered her she might well perceiue that although he wanted power yet hee wanted no will to please her thus determining to present his sute when hee came to the point feare of offence and dread of deniall disappointed his purpose that hee remained mute but at the last perceiuing delay bred daunger houering betweene hope and feare finding his mistres at so good conuenience hee began in this maner to display to Moderna the store-house of his deadlie desires My extreame affection most worthy Princesse Moderna will either breake out in words or breake my hart with silence but it hath at the last inforced mee to appeale vnto your curtesie as the onely medicine that may cure my intollerable sicknes nay incurable I may well call it for vnlesse the fruitfull shewes of your mercy do mittigate the fire of my fancie the drops of your princely fauor quench y e flame of my affection and the guerdon of your good will giue a soueraigne plaister for my secret sore I am like to continue in endles miserie Sith then my care proceedeth from your beauty let my sore bee cured by your bountie sith the perfection of your person hath wrought my bale let the effect of your curtesie procure my blisse and reiect
is further affirmed that the first degree of chastity is pure virginity the second honest matrimony so that marriage hath heere but a second place now by this wee may conclude that marriage was ordained but as a meane or medicine wherewith to allay our fleshly lusts and like as in all other our naturall infirmities when they oppresse vs we by and by seeke the Phisition who to purge the humour ministreth vnto vs but an Apothecaries drugge the which by artificiall meanes may well bee made pleasant in the receipt but in operation and woorking it so distempereth euery part of our body as we shall neuer finde rest nor quiet so long as there is any parcell of it remaining within vs so hee that is infected with the sicknes of loathsome lust he may wel seeke Phisicke that is he may take a wife to allay the rage of his fleshly desires but he shall find her but an Apothecaries drugge for though she seeme pleasant in the first receit yet in the winding vp she prooueth a continuall torment and his hastye attempt is euer rewarded with a gnawing repentance Marriage is tearmed by the name of a yoake by other-some it is called a bondage and mee thinkes that these very names might perswade vs that there is no great felicity to be sought for in his fruite I can most fitly compare louers to hunters that likes better of the sporte then they doe of the game it selfe when they haue it or like him that would needs goe a fishing though hee caught but a frogge and my louer in the time of his wooing thinkes there is no greater blisse but hauing once attained the height of his desire his affections straight begins to decline Thus you may perceiue that in mariages there is not such swéet but it is sauced with too much sowre in loue such gouernment which sauoureth not of follie nor in affection suche fore-sight which is not repented with great heart-breake O foolish therefore that will suffer themselues to bee conquered by a woman whome God at the first created but as an instrument to mans necessity But it is their beauty that be witcheth vs for with a pearce of their ein there is harboured such power that with the nature of the Basilike they so inuenome euerye part of vs that no art will serue to purge it Truely the folly of affection is woonderfull yet are the errours of beauty more admirable when of herselfe shee is but a painted sepulchre and in her actions the diminisher of all naturall and morall reason we praise beautie what more vading we honour beautie what more corrupt wee sorrowe for beauty what more foolishe In greene grasse you shall finde biting serpents in glorious sepulchers rotten bones in paineted pots deadly poyson in faire wemen false hearts Their immodest boldnes many times makes them aduenture of that which is both expresly forbidden them and also is most loathsome and contrary vnto nature as Myrrha to fall in loue with her father Phedra with her sonne Biblis with her brother Pasiphe with a Bul. The matrons of Rome in the time of Papirus pretēding to haue two husbands did manifestly bewray their mordinate lust and is it not as likely that those dames incroching further liberty might haue sought for a third and so for as many as they had list but Dorestus if wemen were so vertuous as you would make them their vanity would be lesse in attire and themselues not so popin-iae-like in their conuersation their golden Calles would bee set a side which are more curious then comely mor precious then necessary vnlesse with the olde superstition wee should decke an artificiall Idoll to draw the world to a vaine worshipping their curling of haire so deuided and laid into lockes that it seemeth to cary precepts and propositions of Art their maskes and vailes for their faces that leads men in imagination of greater beautie then indeede there is yea to what other purpose are their Courtisans fannes their huge Verdingals with infinite other vanities but onely to please men and in pleasing of them to be desired of them but would you know the very misteries of these alluring curiosities they serue indeede for instrumentes to plead for that by shew which they would bee glad to speake for with thier tongue but for sooth they must doe all thinges with modestie They would be seene to haue many seruants to sue vnto them for that in their owne fancy is the cheefest testimonie of their beautye and they haue cunning to imbrace euerye one with a perticuler affection and that with such slight as the wisest shall be lead in hope of their good wils They haue with the Iugler chaunge of entertainement for euery company to perswade one with speach to court an other with lookes to be familiar with a third by signs to allure a fourth by false trains of cloaked honesty feeding them all with vncertaine hope and him shee makes the Asse to beare the burthen that beares her most affection One shall be her seruant and he must weare her colour a second her partner and weare her garter a third her Louer and possesse vnchast bed-pleasures and though the two first bee as lauashe of their expences as the rest yet they must be content to holde the candle while the third is offering to our Lady They loue aboue all things to bee solicited with great importunity accounting him for a meacocke that wil be repulsed with a first deniall affirming that a woman must say nay and take it and yet the more she seeth you plagued in passion for her the lesse careful is she of your countenaunce but the more you grow cold in your loue the greater increaseth y e heat of her affections like a disease whose cure comes by contrarie medicin such is y e violence of their spite that with y e Salimander they seem to haue a felicity in the torment of the pore fools that serues them whose presence they feede with a flattering hope and in his absence they make a scoffe at his honest affections Thus you may perceiue they haue tongues to traine eies to allure teares to excuse lookes to atract smiles to flatter imbracementes to prouoke frownes to delay beckes to recall lippes to inchaunt kisses to inflame bodies to perfume and al these to poyson By their slightes they haue made Emperours idell as Anthony strong men féeble as Sampson valient men effeminate as Hercules wisemen dissolute as Salomon eloquent men lasciuious as Aurelius Wilt thou yet bee maried when thou must beare with all her inormities her railing her scoulding her curssing her banning her enuy her pride her flattering her frowning her crueltie her spite her wilines her wantonesse her nicity her slight her subtilty her quesines her disquietnes her taunts her scoffes her floutes her periury but thou wilt say for increase females are good very true but for decrease there are none soe ill for who soe euer tasteth of their breathing will
froward ouer-thwart rash sullen boysterous harsh sturdye and giue them their best commendacions you may compare them but to Iron which sheweth by his rust the vneuen temperature of the elements and malitious influence of the Planets in his composition prefiguring the vngodly estate of man wasted by the flame of concupiscence and canker of loose life where women by nature are mild modest sober silent gentle louing humble meeke lowly and in euery perfection as pliant as the purest golde whose propertie is neither yéelding to the moystnes of the water nor consuming by the extreame furie of the fire is the tipe of those who dispising all thinges are afflicted for vertue where the countenaunce of a man threatneth nothing but cruelty the very lookes of a woman promiseth mercy and pittie But I thinke there was neuer Lion so furious neuer Tiger so cruell neuer Viper so infectious neuer Aspicke so mortall neither euer Woolfe so rauenous but the males will rather oppose themselues to defend their Females then any way to greeue them and although these brute beasts are bereaued of reason yet in the conuersation of their kinde they shew themselues more worthie then man and was it not Adams owne wretchednes that wrought his owne fall in Paradice Let Brusanus looke better of his text and he shal find it to bee so and that Adam could neuer after haue risen againe but by the seed of a woman And now I can but pittie Brusanus who hath taken such pains framed such arguments alleadged such examples gathered such conclusions and hath induced so many reasons and all in the disgrace of loue vnder the shadow whereof he hath figured the very substance of lust They are euill acquainted with the nature of honest loue who will dispose him onely vnder a contentment so fraile being in himselfe so deuine and wonderfull The Philosophers who in a deepe in-sight thinking to attaine to the vnderstanding of nature imagined loue to bee a most excellent forme or plot excéeding generallye the consideration of man the accidentes which often doe happen through the elements of fire and water are many times perrillous and yet to hinder or take away their vse were to driue nature from her course euen so it is in loue whose profession you wishe vs to leaue for certaine light inconueniences accompanieng him by circumstance without any consideration of the soueraigne benifites which secretly lie shrowded and hiden in him and therefore as loue is a poyson vnto fooles so it is swéete to them that knowe how to vse him for to loue without reason is a token of lust and to liue without loue an argumente of follye And therefore Brusanus you labour with greate wronge to exempt vs from that diuine amitie whiche the almightie him selfe hath not onelye commended but also streightly commanded vnto vs If our Creator hath said it is not good for man to liue alone how dare we say we know better what is méet for vs then he that made vs if he hath said thou shalt leaue father and mother and cleaue to thy wife dare we say she is but an Apothicaries drugge and marriage to be estéemed as a yooke or a bondage but a swéete yooke to be coupled to vertue and a happie bondage to be linked to beautie but what greater honour then that we do owe to our parentes expresly commaunded Honour thy father and mother and yet this holy institution of wedlocke is more worthely dignified Thou shalt leaue father and mother and cleaue to thy wife when a man therefore betakes himselfe to wife hee giues no occation to be slaundered but iust occation to be honoured But Brusanus me thinke you skip a little beyond your skil thus to quarrell with beautie is the sunne to be misliked because it is bright the diamond to be refused because it is cleare the pearle to be condemned because it is orient or wemen to be dispised because they be beautiful when it is the onely doury it hath pleased God to bestowe amongest them the more to shew the maiestie of his handy worke But you inferre it causeth men to doat and to whom do you impute the fault would you haue wemen to eclipse that perfection which them selues cannot hide without preiudice to their creator but hee that standeth to néere the fire let him blame but himselfe if he bee scorcht with the flame Marcus Aurelius wrighting to the lady Lidia proueth by his Philosophy that it is a token of greate simplicity not to descry the perfection of beautie and an argument of greater folly not to desire it Now you begin to quarrell with wemens apparrell but you are in this matter either not well informed or else to forward in iudgment séeing this curiositie as you terme it is alowed to wemen with more authoritie then you thinke for wemen being onely created for the plesure of man why might it not be thought that God him selfe sturres that opinion in her to giue contentment to the eies of him for whose sake she was created Licurgus in his common wealth precislye ordained that maidens should goe bare faced to the end they might be séene and desired and by the same meanes the married wiues laboureth to please not the populer sort as Brusanus imagineth but her husband to whom she is married as it is written of the daughter of Augustus who on a day being attired aboue her wonted custome of modestie where at her father taking no greate delight yet for the present gouerning his iudgmente by silence but another time finding her in habit more conuenient to his liking Oh saith he howe farre more séemelye is this attire for the daughter of Augustus then that which she wore this other day to the disguising of nature to whome she aunswered and that with reuerence then sir I vsed my time to please the desire of my husband and now I stand to satisfie my duty towards my father The like example was vsed by the good lady Hester when she protested before God that the sumptious attires which sometimes she vsed carried no other purpose then to féed the liking of that great king Assuerus who had chosen her for his owne and as the frocke makes the frier neuer the more deuout and so in the attire of a woman lieth no true argument of incontenency and much lesse ought her garments to breed anye opinion of her leude life and although the suspitious be apt to speake ill yet wemens consciences being cleare what other rekoning haue they to make of wicked speches but that they ar rather of custome then of credite Besides this such is the malice to wemens behauiour that if any one shoulde attire her selfe contrary to the vse of others she should be noted either disdainfull of the fashion or at least an hipocrite in conuersation Wemen are further charged that they loue to haue many seruantes and how cunning they be in their chaung of entertainment vnto such as be sutors vnto themselues In high
by the generall award of the Iudges and heraulds apointed for the purpose I am now accordingly to chalenge that prise of greater estimation in mine owne conceipt then if the signory of the whole world had happened vnto me This Princesse Valeria vnderstanding him now to be so greate a Prince and although loue had already made entrie in the most secret part of her hart by the view of his knight-hoode soe nowe the same breach being made wider by the second assault of his beautiful lookes loue entred with banner openly displaied finding no resistance tooke possession wholy of her hart swearing al her affections to be his true prisoners she being nowe wholy surprised with an incounter of loue and bashfullnes mildly made him answere in these few wordes Worthy Prince Antipholus as I am not to resist the ordinaunce of my frendes that he most carefull for me so I must not gaine say those conditious wherevnto I haue voluntarily tied my selfe by publique proclamation neither do I thinke it fit for mine honour to make shew of squemishnes to a Prince of such excelent vertue when the whole multitude are as it were eie witnesses of so great magnanimity and prowesse you may therefore noble Prince accounte of Valeria as your proper right and Valeria heere voweth to Antipholus faith loue and loyallty The Queene Eriphila accompanied with the nobility of Calypha came with cheerefull countenaunce to entertaine Antipholus thanking the heauenlye powers altogether that hade vouchsafed soe greate good fortune to their yoong Princesse Thus were they all filled with exceding ioy Bryanto onely excepted who seeing his deuises would no longer serue to shift Valeria from mariage was nowe debating with him selfe what course he might take to bring her to her end the which he thought to be the ready way for the accomplishment of the rest of his purpose and loe oportunity seemed ready to further his intent for Antipholus as you haue hard before had vndertaken this trauell to finde out Brusanus and his sister Moderna and hauing yet got no intelligence of them hee would needes prosecute his iourney to Constantynople where if he could heare no other newes he would then make his returne when with a more quiet conscience and a better settled mind he might performe their mariage rightes to both their contentacions in the meane time he committed his dearest Lady to the custody of her mother protesting that in what coast or cuntry so euer he should happen into that his hart should remaine dedicated to her deuine beautie and vertue and so commending her health to the Gods he thus tooke his leaue The fourth Chaprer Bryanto falleth in loue with Calynda shee bewrayeth it to Eriphila how he is deluded by them both and of other his vngratious and villianous intents Bryanto had nowe leasure to cast about and debating with himselfe of many holsome attemptes in the end he honestly resolued with all speede to practise the death both of the Queene his wife and of the Princesse her daughter by the death of the Princesse he hoped to compasse the crowne and by the death of the Queene he should set himselfe at liberty to take an newe wife For Calynda remaining in the court as you haue hard attendant on the Queene although shee had so cunningly counterfieted her state that shee was not known what she was yet she could not hide the perfection of her beautie but she had so intangled Bryanto the Duke that he had many times assayed to practise her to his beastly appetite to the which bicause shee refused to consent led by the rage of his inordinate lust he determined to rid away his wife to that end to marry her For the performance of these premisses he tooke this course he appointed a day to ride into the forrest a hunting pretending great sport and done only to shewe the yoong Princesse some pleasure finding her so dumpish for the departure of Antipholus for this purpose he had well fed a cupple of ruffians of his owne training vp the one he appointed to ride before the yoong Princesse Valeria the other should likewise be attendant till oportunity serued it was agreed that these two in the midest of their sportes and when they were most busied in following the chace should sudainely slip into some by way with the Princesse and helping them selues by the benifite of the couertes when they had her alone from the rest of the company without anye remorse they should despatch her of her life then bestowing the body in some secret place that it might neuer more be found they should both of them fly into some other country where besides y e reward which the duke for this purpose had already bestowed vpon thē he promised stil from time to time secretly to relieue them with greater sums This determination thus set downe in this meantime Calynda had made the Queene Eriphila priuie to the whole demeanure of the amarous Duke her husband fearing that hee should haue attempted her by some extraordinary meane of force The Queene nothing doubting of the tale would needes intreat Calynda the next night to appoint the Duke to her lodging where she her selfe would both supplie her place and abite all other aduentures what so euer should befall and with much adoe she won her to graunt to it Calynda the next day accordingly finding opportunity she told the Duke that yet in the end she was moued with compassion of his long sute and that if it pleased him the same night to repayre to her chamber at a conuenient time he should 〈…〉 it no great matter to open the dore desiring his grace yet to vse great circumspection although not for her cause yet for his honour Bryanto hearing this heauenly harmony thought himselfe already to be a sure possessor of his desires and kissing her handes vowing many protested seruices he left her for the present to whome the rest of the day séemed tedious but night being once approched according to his instructions accompanied onely with a Gentleman of his chamber called by the name of Lucius whome the Duke made still acquainted with all his vngratious actions and many tymes vsed his help as a broker in the like enterprises and groping thus together through many darke roomes they happened in the end to the chamber of Calynda where pushing easely at the dore and finding it open according to promise the Duke entered leauing Lucius to attend his comming out assoone as he was gotten into the chamber hee went to the bed where leaping in on that side which indeed was left of purpose for him and hauing his spirites altogether blinded with this sweet immaginatiō of imbracing his desired Calynda in whos place as before it was couenanted he found Eriphila the quéen his wife who with a determinate patience had taken vppon her for that night to abide all accidentes intended to Calynda But the Duke passing forth the night more happy in contemplating this action
good helpe thus miraculouslye to preserue her no doubte to a better purpose Vago hauing thus ended his tale Brusanus not yet knowing whome he had rescued curtiously demaunded of her what she was the Princesse dryeng her dropping eies and prostrating her selfe humbly at his féete she saide Touching your demaunde knowe sir I am by byrthe a Princesse though as you see vnfortunate and more vnfortunate by the speeches of this traytor then before I was a ware off in that he séeketh to practise my death in whome I reposed the greatest safety of my life But woe yea endlesse woe befal that vngratefull trattor Brusanus by whose villany I am brought to this misery and whose only trechery is the cause of my mishap but alas sir what thankes may I nowe render to recompence your curtesie or how shall I be able to reward this your his desert Brusanus hearing himselfe thus euill spoken off maruailed at the matter but in the end he saide Is it possible madame that this Brusanus you speake off would so preiudice the quiet of a Princesse to giue you cause thus to exclaime against him Valeria here discoursing at large with Brusanus made himselfe vnderstand that she was the daughter and heire to Belizarius the late king of Calipha howe he had left her the inheritrixe to the kingdome Howe manye Princes sought to win her loue how at a generall Iuste appointed to the same purpose Antipholus Prince of Illeria by his owne valor and worthines wanne her from all the rest Here she began to relate the whole circumstances of the amorous incounters that happened betwéene Antipholus and her selfe and from hence shée drewe the cause of her quarrell to Brusanus for quoth she this mutuall loue being thus confirmed betwéene vs when I desired it shoulde longest haue continued and hoped to haue settelled my selfe in a state of greater blessednesse euen then Antipholus to performe a certaine vowe before solemnized to his father would néeds vndertake to trauail in the pursuite of this wretched Brusanus who not longe before had traytorously conuaied his sister away from out his and her fathers courte by this meanes am I spoyled of my greatest solace bereaued of that rest wherein consisteth my onely delight and by this meanes yea by this onely meanes I am left as you sée subiecte to the inconstancy of cruell fortune Here she began againe very bitterly to rage against Brusanus who euen then ouer-taken with the guiltines of his owne conscience which is euer-more a seuere accuser and to the impenitent person a most terrible Iudge the very name of Antipholus was a scourg to his conscience adding newe griefe to olde sorrowe and wishing with himselfe not longer to liue a despised run-agate knowing that Antipholus sought him but for reuenge and the worst of his malice he knewe coulde be but deathe and that was the best thing that might betide him after he had a while debated of these thinges to himselfe he saide Madame soe farre as I can gather by your wordes the onely thing wherein you accompt your selfe to be vnfortunate is in the wante of your beloued friend Antipholus whose greatest cause of trauel as you say is to seeke out that wretched Brusanus a creature no doubt accursed from his crable and if this be the onelye fruite to your felicities sende after Antipholus at whose returne to worke your comforte and his quiet I will deliuer Brusanus into his handes and in such a manner as Antipholus shall haue aduantage inough to be reuenged of any Iniuries what-soeuer in the meane time what course it shall please you to directe me for your owne selfe you shall find me ready to imploy my whole indeuours to do you seruice After the Princesse had geuen him infinit thankes they fell to consulting how she might remaine in some secret place for a season in the end her selfe called to mind a gentleman dwelling not farre of by the side of the forrest that had béen a faithfull seruant to her father to his house she desired to be conuaid but the day being farre spent they were driuen for that night to lodge in the forrest with such entertainment as Brusanus had prouided in a caue not very farre off the next day verye earlie in the morning Vago was their guide to their desired place who me Brusanus reserued of purpose to testifie against the Duke Being thus come to this gentlemans house whose name was called Fuluius they were both secretly and curiouslye entertained where we will leaue them for that night hauing other matters in the meane time where-with to aquaint you The sixth Chapter Eriphila pretending flight into Boetia was intercepted brought backe to the Duke he committeth her to prison her death is practised by a counterfeit deuise she is brought to the place of execution YOu haue hard before how the Queene Eriphila to preuent all perills intended by her husband resolued to flye into Boetia and minding to let slip no opportunity the Duke was no sooner gon towardes the forrest but she a great deale more priuily then prouidently fled from the court It was long before the Duke returned from the forrest the reason was the yoong Princesse Valeria being sudainely lost they spent much time in seeking her and yet returned without any newes but the Duke being come home and hauing got intelligence of his wiues sudaine departure wondred greatly what might be the cause of her flight and although he could not coniecture the certainty thought it not good to suffer her so to passe but assuring himself which way to send after her caused such hasty pursuite to be made that shee could by no meanes possibly escape but being brought backe againe to the Duke he commaunded her presently to close prison and hauing framed the platforme of her confusion already in his head in this manner he meant to performe it There was a knight resident about the court called by the name of Arcadyus a man famed through all Grece for his prowesse and strength and one that by his force and chiuallry had performed so many notable exploites that by the generall opinion of all hee was thought to be so singullar as there might not bee found an other to second him and truely had his vertue bin aunswereable to his valour he might well haue bin thought peerelesse of al the knights that liued in those partes but the want of honesty was a great staine to his honour this Arcadyus had a daughter of most exquisit beauty and about sixteene or seauenteene yeares of adge called by the name of Lucina whose looks had so alured our licentious duke who was quickly scorched with the blase of euery beauty and hauing now forgotten his promised vowe to his supposed Calynda he burnt with such inward desire to this Gentlewoman Lucina that being assuredly confirmed in the large conscience of her father he immediatly sent for him and beeing men of like disposition it was quickly concluded betweene them that Arcadyus
messenger vnto him to pray his assistaunce with twentie thousand souldiers against his enimie the king of Illeria nowe in armes against him and the warres being once ended then to bestowe his daughter vppon him in mariage and her dowry to assure him after his owne dissease the kingdome of Hungaria which offer hee knewe would well content the prince the whole assembly marueilously well allowed of the kinges determination knowing the prince to be a most magnificent gentleman indued with wonderfull courage and vertue to the end therefore that no delay might be vsed they gaue their spéedy consentes beseeching the king in all possible hast to send awaye a messenger to that purpose which was accordingly performed Miletto minding so much as he might to dally with the king of Illeria to the end to win time hoping shortely to be assisted by Caristo the nexte day calling the Herald sent from Astulpho he willed him to tell his maister for aunswere that although he feared not his forces being able euery way to with-stand it yet the care hee had of his subiectes safetie the loue y e he had to preserue the liues of his commons had such remorse in him thaÌ„ he rather desired to continue them still in peace if it might be had with any resonable conditions then to put his hope in the 〈…〉 of fortune when he desired nothing lesse then to maintaine the quarrell of his 〈…〉 vnlesse it had falne out in an honestes cause the Herald hearing this aunswere crâ—â—ed a safe 〈…〉 for an Ambasadore that should be sent from the king his maister which was immediately deliuered vnto him vnder the kings signet The thirtenth Chapter Dorestus is sent to parle with Milletto he falleth in loue with Leonida Caristo is ariued with twenty thousand Piemountes Dorestus is sent backe with a cold comfort THis messenger returning to Astulpho with this answere Dorestus was the man that was appointed for this imbassage the conditions that were deliuered him from Astulpho to agree vppon were short and sweete the first was that Miletto the king of Hungaria should acknowledge himselfe a vassaill to Astulpho and to hold his kingdome during his owne life from him paying a yearely tribute of sixe hundred thousand duccates the second was that after his owne discease it should be established by the whole estate that the kingdome of Hungaria should remaine to the kings of Illeria and to their successours for euer the third and last was that he should deliner into the handes of Astulpho sixe of his principall noblemen which should remaine as pledges for the performance of the premisses prouided alwaies that if Miletto could within one yeare deliuer his sonne Brusanus either aliue or dead to Astulpho that then the yearely tribute of six hundred thousand duccates should cease but the rest to be performed as in manner afore said these were the demaundes of Astulpho giuen in commission to Dorestus and vppon these conditions either to conclude peace or present warre Dorestus beeing thus dispatched from Astulpho and being accompanied with a traine of braue gentlemen departed on his iourney towards the citie of Larissa where Miletto held his court and beeing there 〈…〉 the king was certified of his comming who beeing in his 〈…〉 of presence caused the Ambassador presently to be sent for and so much the rather knowing him to bee Dorestus the yoong prince of Epirus so much famed for his many perfections who courtiously doing obeisance to y e king bréefely deliuered his ambassage Miletto hearing these proud demaundes deuised so much as hee coulde to delaye the time hoping very spéedily to be assisted by Caristo aunswered that he could not on a sudaine dispatch so weighty a matter but he must first take the aduise both of his counsaile and the rest of his nobility which done within fewe daies he would returne him aunswere in the meane time he appointed that Dorestus with his traine should be sumptuously feasted while they were thus enter tained in the court accompanied with the gallantes and lusty courtiers that peerelesse parragon Leonida daughter to the king attended on by a troupe of braue ladies and gentlewemen passed through the chamber of presence and was espied by Dorestus who sudainely fixing his eies on this sweete aspect was so rapt into a trance with the contemplation of her beauty that his hart was so snared in the beames of her pleasaunt glaunces that there was no remedy he must yéelde to this first assault of fancy but heere it were straung to bee told howe many contrary incounters tossed in his minde sometimes thinking to preferre his sute yet that he thought was follye beeing the daughter of his professed foe neither would time suffer him to prosecute his purpose nor present 〈…〉 him to make triall of his loue and yet to linger still in that estate hee thought was to much miserye then he called to his 〈…〉 how Moderna had dispised him and heere he began with disdainefull immaginations to condemne 〈…〉 of instability of inconstanty of lightnes of intertainly and to accuse them as creatures that were vowed to all manner of vanity our gentleman thus tossed with the tempestes of these contrary cogitations as the vessel that is borne with the tide against the wind féeleth double force and is compelled to yéelde to wind and waue so Dorestus the more hee sought to quench his loue by disdaine the greater increased the same of his desire that faineting vnder the force of his inward tormentes he withdrewe himselfe into his chamber where shutting fast the dore he began in this wise to discourse with him selfe Ah Dorestus thou camest hether a captaine and wilt thou nowe returne a captiue thy intent was to conquer not to be vanquished to fight with a launce not to bee foild with loue but how dost thou thinke to subdue Hungaria that canst not vanquish thine owne affections art thou able to quaill a kingdome that canst not quaill thy foolish apetites no it will be hard for thée to triumph ouer others that art not able to maister thy selfe yeelde not then to this fresh alarume of loue be not dasled with the beames of vading beauty nor inamored with desire of euery dilicate damsell for in time such blisse will turne to bale and such delightfull ioy to more dispitfull annoy loue Dorestus will proue an enimie to thine honour a foe to thy person a canker to thy minde a corosiue to thy conscience a weakner to thye wit a mollester of thye mind a besotter of thy sences and finally a deadly poison to all thy body why hast thou not had some triall hath not Moderna taught thee what frutes are to be found in loue I hope thou hast not yet forgot what thou foundest by experience but peace Dorestus dost thou speak of loue or art thou in a dreame why whome dost thou loue is it Leonida what the daughter of thy possessed foe one that wisheth thy mishap partly prayeth to the gods for
leauing likewise the place came into his chamber where a little to ease his stomacke he brake into these spéeches Of all euill which either god or nature hath laid vppon man there is none so great but either reason may redresse pleasure asswage mirth mittigate hearbes heale or by some meanes or other may bee cured loue onely excepted whose force is so full of rancour that phisicke can in no respect preuaile to helpe the patient diseruing not the name of a disease but rather the title of an vncureable mischiefe yet importing such a shew of contentation that it so inflameth our desires to purchase it that we care not at what vnreasonable rate we buy it if it be then so stronge why is it not more stedfast if it be so forceible why is it not fixed perhaps so it is in al sauing in me I am y e odd persō on whome Cupide wil showe his cunninge I am he that must chope and chaunge and liue by the losse first forsaken by Moderna now dispised by Leonida howe art thou then perplexed Dorestus thou louest without hope and therefore liuest in ill hap thou hournest in desire but thou art couled with disdaine and her father is thy foe but if hee were thy friend dothe not Leonida dispise thee hath not she denyed thy sute disdayned thy person lightly respecting thy loue as smally regarding thy seruice onelye promissing this while she liues to be thy protested foe And what then fond foole wilt thou shrinke for an april shower knowest thou not that a deniall at the first is a graunt and a gentle aunswere a flattering flowt the more they seeme at the first to loath the more we find at the last they loue hope then the best Dorestus for loue and fortune careth not for cowardes By this time tidinges were brought to the courte that Caristo Prince of Pyemounte was within three daies iourny with a stronge armye of 20000. Pyemounts and that the Prince himselfe would not faile the very next day to be at the courte as well to salute the King and the Quéene as to sée his dearely beloued mistres Leonida for whose sake hee had vndertaken that seruice Great ioy was made through the courte at these happye tidinges and no lesse preperation was made for the receiuing of the Prince This was a colde comfort for Dorestus who no soner vnderstood of the newes but he could easely pronosticate of his owne successe but when hee had certainly learned that Leonida was disposed by her father to Caristo and how vppon that occasion the Prince had vndertaken armes O how were his cares then increased his spirites were troubled with millions of immaginations sorrowe had sealed on all his partes and setteled himselfe in the very bottome of his hart dollor griefe care anguish dispaire languor with all their accomplices had dispersed themselues through all his powers and taken the full possession of him as their owne proper right But Myletto who had lingered this time but of purpose to heare from Caristo and his drift being now dated out to his own desire the next day he sent for Dorestus to whome he deliuered these words Prince Dorestus I haue throughly considered of the proude demaunds sente vnto me from Astulpho and wondering at his presumption what should moue him to sende me any such gréeting as though I were not able to maintaine mine own right that am an absolute King as himselfe and euery waie his equall and as for my crowne and kingdome of Hungaria as I haue hitherto kepte them in dispight of any enimie so I doubt not but to continue them during mine own life and after my decease to leaue the succession to such heires as shalbe as likely to in counter him and his successors in Illeria as for him or any of them by any meanes to oppresse Hungaria for answere therefore take this that by the assistaunce of God within tenne daies I wil meete him in the plaine fielde and will giue him battaill where I doubt not but to chase him from out my borders to his great shame and infamy This is the aunswere Derestus that I haue determined on and now at your pleasure you may departe in safetie hauing according to the lawes of armes a safe condite for your protection The king without anye further wordes lefte Dorestus who finding himselfe to be thus continually crossed was at his wits end what course he might take but calling to his minde howe that was no place for him to abide longer in accompanied therefore with his traine he departed but soe ouer-growne with griefe that he passed no houre minit nor moment without wofull warlinges sorrowfull sobs and sighes bitterly breathed out in soe much that the Gentlemen his companions surmised his perplexitie to proceede of feare hearing of the puisaunte armye conducted by Caristo they began therefore both to comforte and to incourage him and although their perswasions serued to litle purpose for the curing of his care yet seeinge that his sorrowe would not salue his sore but rather increase his sicknes and that mourning would rather augment his miserie then mitigate his maladie he bare out the matter with as good countinance as his passion woulde permit and comming to the campe he declared his message to Astulpho accordingly as Myletto had before deliuered The fourteenth Chapter Myletto ioyning his armye with Caristo doth march towardes Astulpho they incounter in fight howe Dorestus behaueth himselfe Caristo is slaine by Dorestus Myletto is put to a retreat and driuen to saue himselfe by flight AStulpho waxing madde with ire marched presentlye into the borders of Hungaria burning spoyling killing and ransaking all that euer came in his way These lamentable occurrentes comming hourely to the eares of Myletto of the spoyling of his subiectes it caused him to make the more hast and concluded with Caristo promising by the sacred oath of a King both to giue him his daughter in marriage and the kingdome of Hungaria for his inheritaunce and thus ioyning their forces togither they marched towardes Astulpho who was still wasting of the countrie both by fire and sworde and beeing come within a small distaunce where Astulpho lay incamped they likewise intrenched themselues for that night Worde was immediatly brought to Astulpho of their ariuall and how the next day they determined to giue him bettaill these newes were ioyfull to the Captaines and lusty gallantes for euery man hoping to win fame were generally merry through the whole campe Dorestus onely excepted who being tormented with vnspeakeable griefe began to droupe making no showe but of sorrowe in soe much that he was generallye suspected to be a fearefull cowarde and that dread of daunger was it that draue him into those dumpes but as they rashly coniectured cause of his sorrowe so they mist the nature of his sicknes The next day very early in the morning euery man fell to his armes through bothe the armies and Astulpho who knewe very well howe
in his conquest marched along with him perplexed againe with a newe tormente not knowing howe to salue the sore y e which he had already chafed for he thought with him selfe that if he should make peace with Myletto letting him vnderstand the loue he bare to his daughter that he woulde not except of it either for the greate domage that he had already done him or for the band where with he was bound to Caristo the Prince of Piemount thinking it woulde be a thing neither resonable nor yet agréeing to his honour in liew of the Princes paines which he had taken to com from his countrie accompanied with so puissaunt an army in his defence and in regarde of the death which he ther receiued in his seruice to become a friend to his foe and to giue his daughter before espoused to the Prince vnto the most deadly foe that the Prince had These things I say did so trouble Dorestus that though he euery daye coyned a newe deuise yet knew not at night where on to resolue By this time they were come before the Cittie where y e Citizens issuing forth with small cōpanies exployted many seruices to their greate commendations but their forces were to féeble they were stil ouer-matched with numbers and were therefore driuen to retire into the Cittie Astulpho setteled himselfe before the walles and in short time so gyrdeled in the Cittie with a trench that they could neither sally forth of the towne nor receiue any newe supplies that should come in their reliefe It were here tedious to let you vnderstand the seuerall strategems practised by Astulpho and still preuented and the Cittie defended in dispight of all his enterprises But Astulpho finding his deuises to sorte out to soe little purpose brought a stronge batterie against the walles which deliuered such continuall and terrible vollies that a maine breach was made assaultable and a great parte of the wale besides so shaken that it was readie to fall Astulpho caused the breach immediatly to be fearcely assaulted it was by the Cittiezens as brauelye defended the assaylantes after great losse were put to a retreat and the defendantes with no lesse sorrow lamented their misfortune for a great number of their brauest men had lost their liues in the defence of the breach Astulpho séeing his forces daylie to deminishe and all his enterprises to be continually preuented fretted within him selfe with griefe and waxed almost woode for anger Myletto againe séeing the Cittie so shaken and their walles so weakened that they wer not able to defend a secōd assault was as much surprised with fear taking the aduise of his counsail they cocluded to send to Astulpho to se if he might be brought to any resonable condicions of peace which was accordingly performed Astulpho who cared not by what meanes he obtained so he might win and minding to kéepe promise in nothing if he could take aduantage in any thing thought that if vnder collor of Parle he could draw the King from out the Cittie he would surelye intrap him and holde him prisoner and the better therefore to accomplish this his deuise he returned aunswere to Myletto that he was contented to take a truce for tenne daies within which time if such cōdicions as he should prescribe might be agreed vnto the peace then to hold for euer betwéene them or otherwise at his perrill to abide the hasarde of warre Myletto verye ioyfull to heare of this tenne daies truce hoping in the meane time by some meanes to relieue himselfe or at the least to reedifie his shaken walles that were euery houre readie to fall he confirmed the peace during the foresaid time as well vnder his hand writing as vnder his oath solemnely giuen requiring the like of Astulpho who accordingly protested both vnder his hand oath to kéepe true peace for tenne daies The truce thus agreed vppon Astulpho premeditating what course he might followe for the accomplishment of his intended purpose Myletto on the other side minding to take oportunitie the verye next dayt brought labourers to that parte of the wall that had béene before so shaken with shot and threwe it flat to the ground minding with as greate expedicion againe to build it vp and with curtins and trenches drawne before it to make the place more stronger then before times it had beene Astulpho séeing so great aduauntage offered the verye same night assaulted the city in the breach that by them selues was made and they resting as it were in security of their truce before taken were easiely surprised a great slaughter made of the citizens some part of the towne they fired the rest vtterly spoiled and the king himselfe with the queene his wife and his daughter Leonida taken prisoners and brought to the pauilion of Astulpho where they were detained with a stronge guard The sixteenth Chapter Dorestus visiteth Leonida she chargeth him of periurie he intreateth Astulpho to vse lenity but he protesteth greater cruelty DOrestus who before was priuie to the peace yet vtterly ignorant of the practise hearing of these newes was vtterly dismaid to thinke that a king should vse such periured diceit for the accomplishment of his enterprises desiring yet to contemplate himselfe in beholding his ladie the next morning very early he went to the kinges pauilion where he found the prisoners that hee looked for both to his ioy and griefe yet dissembling his owne motions he said to Leonida madame I knowe it is hard where mistrust is harboured to inforce beliefe or to procure credit where troth is cald in question but lady if I had won such a conquest and that you were my captiue yet would I honour you as my soueraigne and obey you as a louing subiect Leonida not willing to abide any further spéeches cut him of in this manner Art thou not ashamed Dorestus to vse anye such talke what speakest thou of a conquest captiues I confesse we be but not to a worthy conquerour but to a wretched captiue not vanquished by prowesse but by periury not by fight but by falshoode holde thy peace therefore if not at my request yet for thine owne credit thy triumph in this victory can be but endlesse shame and perpetuall infamie Dorestus although hee knewe himselfe to bee cleare of that crime yet considering the ladies cause thought it not good to trouble her with anye replie but leauing them for that season as he passed forth he might behold such extraordinary cruelties vsed to the citizens and poore subiectes of Hungaria that it wrought in him a greate remorse This spectacle with the remembraunce of his Ladies captiuity heaped newe griefe to old sorrowe wherefore to perswade Astulpho to the more clemency he cam vnto him to whome hee said in this manner though it bee glorious most mightie king to ouer-come by battaile yet it is more glorious to ouercome by pitty he deserueth greater praise which winneth the harts of his enimies in his tentes by good