be full of examples of that purpose The memories of our auncestors be yet in fresh remembraunce whereof if they were ignorant vnto you that be of great experience I could adnouche assured testimony Yet thus much I say vnto you that it séeme no new thing for a man to be ouercome by his owne affection It is not the Nobilitie of hir state or for that she is a Quéene it is not the consideration of one parte or other that moued me first hereunto But loue it is that is of greater force than we our selues be of which many tymes maketh that to séeme lawfull which altogether is tymes and by subduing reason maketh the great potentate and lorde tributarie to his wil pleasure whose force is farre greater than the lawes of Nature And albeit that I neuer hope to attayne to prosperous ende of this ãâã and stately loue which more more doth seme infortunate yet I can not for my life else where applie that same or alter it to other place And consuming still through faithfull feruent loue borne to the Quéene I haue forced coÌstrained my self by al possible meanes to gyue ouer that fond foolish enterprise and to place my minde else where but mine endeuour and all my labour and resistance is employed in vaine Yea and if it were not for feare of eternall damnation and the losse of my poore afflicted soule which God forbid mine owne handes before this time had ended my desires I am therfore determined sith that I can attaine to no successe of loue and that god doth suffer me to be inspired with that most honourable and curteous Ladie beyond al order and estimation to content my selfe with the sight of those hir faire glistring eyes farre excelling that sparcling glimpse of the Diamonde or Saphire and to serue loue and honour hir so long as life doth last within this féeble corps Upon whose radiant and excelling beautie my hope shal continually féede and yet I am not so farre voyde of vnderstanding but that I do most euidently know none other to be the guide of this vnmeasurable loue but follie most extreme Upon the ende of those wordes he let fall many teares and stayed with sobbes and sighes was able to speake no more And in very déede he that had séene him wold haue thought that his heart had bene tormented with most bitter and painefull passions Nowe they being very attentiue to his pitiful oration were attached with incredible sorow thinking thei had ben in a ãâã by hering of this discourse stode stil a while one loking vpon an other without speaking word Afterwards comming to themselues distraught almost for the greatadmiration and wonder to heare him speake those words master Girolamo and Baldo with suasible arguments went about to persuade him to withdraw his ãâã and foolishe mind praying him to place the same elsewhere shewing him the impossibilitie of his enterprise the great perill that might succéede therof But they spake to a man that séemed to be deafe who replied that he neither coulde or would giue ouer his loue that had alreadie made too depe impression what so euer came of it Notwithstandyng they ceased not stil with sharp ãâã to beate into his head the fond beginning of his foolish loue not only at that time but continually when they were together they did their best by oft repetition of his vaine conceipt to let him vnderstand his manifest error but their labor and friendly lessons were to no purpose Wherfore master Borgo master Baldo determined to giue him ouer and to attende what wold succede therof Master Philippo continuing his pursute neuer failing to be at church when he knew the Quéenes to be there at length it chanced that they begaÌ to espie his loue for that both of them did mark his order gesture and demeanure and did note his oft frequeÌtation of the places where they continually haunted and his maner in placing himselfe at the church directly ouer against them and his common vse in beholding and loking vpon their faces iudgyng thereby that without doubte he was in loue with one of them or at least with some Gentlewoman in their companie wherof the two Quéenes began to vse some talk although not certaine vpon whome his loue was ãâã Neuer thelesse they were desirous to know the truth expected ãâã somtime to dissolue that doubt In the meane while master Philippo thought by gazing on their beauty to remoue the fire that miserably did consume the sucke marow of his bones séeking comfort and reliefe for his afflicted heart the more I say he sought for ease the greater he felt his pain And truly al they that feruently do loue aspire to that which otherwise they wold eschue by sight of them whom they do loue not remembring that the more they doe contemplate the beloued beautie the more increaseth desire and with desire ãâã and bitter smart Master Philippo then lost no occasioÌ or time stil to behold Madame the Quéene were it in the church or court or wer she disposed for disport recreation to walke abrode It chauÌced now while things wer at this point the ladies very desirous to know vpon whoÌ master Philippo did expeÌd his loue the fortune opened vnto theÌ a meane to vnderstaÌd the same It was then about that time of the yere wherin all floures roses were by Titans force constrained to ãâã deck eche gardens place of pleasure with their fragrant smells odors to scent the same In the moneth of May it was when the Twinnes were disposed to shroud themselues amoÌgs the hawthorn boughes honysuckles that yeld to euery wight gretest store of delights at what time roses other floures at their first budding be verie rare and scant sauing in Kings Courts and princes palaces where such rarieties by art and industrie be most abundant and all men haue delight to present such nouelties to the best and principall ladies Upon a day Quéene Anne had in hir hands certaine floures in due order couched in a Nosegay and for hir disport walked vp down a very faire gorgeous garden in the company of quene Mary other Ladies gentlewomen about that time of the day that the Sun werie of trauaile went to hide him self in the back side of the western mouÌtains where amoÌgs other of the Court was maister Philippo Quéene Anne when she had espied hym determined to make proufe with what ladie amongs them all maister Philippo was in loue and sporting hir selfe with softe walkes vp and downe the garden pleasantly iesting with diuerse there attendante as the maner is of like ladies with trimme and pleasant talke at length happed vpon master Philippo who although he was in coÌmunication with certain Italian Gentlemen neuerthelesse his mynde and eyes were fired vpon the Quéene that when ãâã she appered before him his eyes and sace were so firmely bent vpon hir as
Campania issued of certein Romans knights very famous in facts of armes and of great industrie and gouernement in the common wealth When the father and mother of this Flora deceased she was of the age of xb. yeares indued with great riches and singular beautie and the very orphane of all hir kynne For she had neyther brother left with whom she might soiourne ne yet vncle to gyue hir good councell In such wise that like as this yong maistres Flora had youth riches liberty and beautie euen so ther wanted neither bauds nor Pandores to ãâã hir to fal and allure hir to follie Flora seing hir selfe beset in this wise she determined to goe into the Affrick warres where she hazarded both hir person and hir honor This dame florished and tryumphed in the tyme of the first Punique warres when the Consul Mamillus was sent to Carthage who dispended more money vpon the loue of Flora than hée did vpon the chase and pursute of his ãâã This amorous ladie Flora had a writing and tytle fixed vpon hir gate the effect wher of was thys King Prince Dictator Consul Censor high Bishop and Questor may knocke and come in In that writing Flora named neither Emperor nor Caesar bycause those two most noble names were long tyme after created by the Romanes This amorous Flora wold neuer abandon hir person but wyth gentlemen of great house or of great dignitie and riches For she was wont to say that a woman of passing beauty should bée so much estemed as she doth esteme and sette by hir selfe Lais and Flora were of contrary maners conditions For Lais would first bée paide before she yelded the vse of hir bodie but Flora without any semblance of desire eyther of golde or siluer was contented to bée ruled by those with whom she committed the facte Wherof vpon a day being demaunded the question she answered I gyue my body to Princes and noble Barons that they may deale with me like gentlemen For I sweare vnto you by the Goddesse Venus that neuer man gaue me so little but that I had more than I loked for and the double of that which I could demaund This amorous lady Flora was wont many tymes to saye that a wise woman or more aptlie to terme hir a subtill wench ought not to demaund reward of hir louer for the acceptable pleasure which she doth hym but rather for the loue which she beareth him bicause that all things in the world haue a certain price except loue which cannot bée paide or recompenced but with loue All the Ambassadors of the worlde which had accesse into Italie made so great report of the beauty and generositie of Flora as they dyd of the Romane common wealth bycause it semed to bée a monstrous thinge to sée the riches of hir house hir trayue hir beautie the princes great lordes by whom she was required and the presents and giftes that were gyuen vnto hir This amorous Flora had a continuall regard to the noble house wherof she came touching the magnificence and state of hir seruice For albeit that she was but a common woman yet she was serued honored like a great ladie That day wherin she rode about the citie of Rome she gaue occasion to bée spoken of a whole month after one inquiring of an other what gret Roman lords they were that kept hir company Whose men they were that waighted vpon hir And whose liuery they ware What ladies they were that rode in hir traine the brauery of hir apparell hir great beautie port and the wordes spoken by the amorous gentlemen in that troupe were not vnremembred When this maistres Flora wared olde a yong and beautifull gentleman of Corinth demaunded hir to ãâã to whome she aunswered I know well that thou wilt not marie the thrée score yeares which Flora hath but rather thou ãâã to haue the twelue hundred thousand Sestercias which she hath in hir house Content thy selfe therfore my frende and get thée home againe to Corinth from whence thou ãâã For to such as bée of myne age great honor is borne reuerence done for the riches and wealth they haue rather than for mariage There was neuer in the Romane Empire the like amorous woman that Flora was indued with so many graces and quéenelike qualities for she was of noble house of singuler beautie of comly personage discrete in hir affaires and besides all other comly qualities very liberall This maistres Flora spent the most part of hir youth in Africa Almaine and Gallia ãâã And albeit that she would not suffre any other but great lords to haue possession of hir body yet she applied hir selfe to the spoile of those that were in place and to the praie of those that came from the warrs This amorous Flora died when she was of the age of ãâã yeares She left for the principall heire of all hir goods and ãâã the ãâã people which was estemed sufficieÌt able to make newe the walles of Rome and to ãâã and redeme the common welth of the same And bicause that she was a Romaine had made the state thereof hir heire the Romanes buylded in hir honor a sumptuous Temple which in memorie of Flora was called ãâã and euery yeare in the memorie of hir they celebrated hir feast vpon the daye of hir death Suctonuis Tranquillus saieth that the first feaste which the Emperour Galba the second celebrated within Rome was the feast of the amorous Flora vpon which day it was lawfull for men women to doe what kinde of dishonestie they could deuise And she was estemed to be the greater saint which that day shewed hir selfe most dissolute and wanton And bicause that the temple Florianum was dedicated to amorous Flora the RomaÌs had an opinion that all women which vpon the same day repaired to the Temple in whorish apparell should haue the graces and gifts that Flora had These were the sond opinions and maners of the auncient which after their owne making deuises framed Gods and Goddesses and bycause the proued vnshamefast and rich a Temple must bée erected and Sacrifices ordeined for hir whorish triumphes But that noble men and Kings haue bene rapt and transported with the lurements of such notorious strumpets is and hath bene common in all ages And commonly such infamous women bée indewed with greatest giftes and graces the rather to noosell dandle their fauorers in the lappes of their fading pleasures But euery of them a most speciall grace aboue the rest As of a king not long agoe we reade that kept thrée one the holiest another the crastiest the third the ãâã Two of which properties méete for honest women although the third so incident to that kinde as heat to a liuing bodie Cease we then of this kinde and let vs steppe forth to be acquainted with a ladie a Quéene the Godliest stoutest that is remembred in any aun cient monument or historie Zenobia Queene of Palmyres
was authour of the enterprise or partaker of a treason so wicked Then the king incontinently caused the foure Gentlemen of his chamber ãâã be rewarded according to the worthinesse of their offense and wer put to death and Acharisto to be repriued in sharpe and cruell prison vntill with tormentes he should be forced to confesse that which he knew to be most certain and true by the euideÌce of those that were done to death Euphimia for the imprisonment of Acharisto conceiued incredible sorrow and vneths coulde bée persuaded that he woulde imagine much lesse conspire that ãâã fact as well for the loue which Acharisto séemed to beare vnto hir as for the greate good will wherewith he was assured that shée bare vnto him and therfore the death of the ãâã to be no lesse griefe vnto him than the same would be to ãâã self the king being hir naturall and louyng father Acharisto thoughte on the other side that if he might speake with Euphimia a way woulde be founde eyther for his escape or else for his deliuerie Wherupon Acharisto being in this deliberation founde meanes to talke with the Iailors wife intreated hir to shewe him so much fauor as to procure Euphimia to come vnto him She accordingly broughte to passe that the yong gentlewoman in secret wise came to speake with this traiterous varlet who so sone as he sawe hir sheding from his eyes store of teares pitifully complaining sayde vnto hir I knowe Euphimia that the King your father doth not inclose me in this cruell prisoÌ ne yet afflicteth me with these miserable tormeÌts for any suspicion hée conceiueth of me for any intended facte but onely for the loue which I beare you and for the like for which I rendre humble thankes that you do beare to me bicause that I am werie of this wretched state knowe that nothing else can ãâã me from this painful life but onely death I am determined wyth mine owne propre hands to cut the thréede of lyfe wherwith the destinies hitherto haue prolonged the same that this my brething ghost which breatheth forth ãâã dolefull plaintes maie flée into the Skies to rest it selfe amonges the restfull spirites aboue or wandre into ãâã pleasant hellish fieldes amongs the shadowes of Creusa Aeneas wife or else with the ghost of complaining Dido But ere I did the same I made myne humble prayer to the maiestie diuine that hée would vouchsafe to shewe me somuch grace as before I dye I might fulfyl my ãâã eyes with sight of you whose ymage still appereth before those gréedie Gates and ãâã representeth vnto my myndefull heart Which great desired thing sith God aboue hath grauÌted I yelde him infinit ãâã and sith my desteny is such that such must bée the end of loue I doe reioyce that I must dye for your sake which only is the cause that the King your father so laboureth for my death I néede not to molest you with the false euidence giuen against me vp those malicious vilaines that bée alreadie dead which onely hath thus incensed the Kyngs wrath and heauie rage against me whereof I am so frée as woorthily they bée executed for thesame For if it were so then true it is and as lightly you might beleue the I neuer knewe the loue you beare me and you likewise did neuer know what loue I bare to you and therfore you maye thinke that so impossible is the one as I did euer meane thinke or ymagine any harme or perill to your fathers person To bée short I humbly doe besech you to beleue that so faithfully as man is able to loue a womaÌ so haue I loued you that it may please you to bée so myndfull of me in this fading life as I shal be of you in that life to com And in saying so with face all bathed in teares he clyped hir about the myddle and fast imbracing hir said Thus taking my last farewell of you myne onely life and ioye I commende you to the gouernment of the supernall God my selfe to death to be disposed as pleaseth him Euphimia which before was not persuaded the Acharisto was guiltie of that deuised treason now gaue ful beliefe and credite to his wordes and weping with him for company comforted him so wel as she coulde and bidding him to bée of good chere she sayde that she would seke such meanes as for hir sake and loue he should not dye And that before long time did passe she would help him out of prison Acharisto although hée vttered by ruful voice that ãâã talke for remedie to ridde him selfe from prison yet he didde but ãâã all that he spake addyng further Alas Euphimia doe not incurre your fathers wrath to please my minde suffer me quietly to take that death which sinister Fortune and cruell fate hath prouided to abridge my daies Euphimia vanquished with inspeakable griefe and burning passion of loue saide Ah Acharisto the onely ioye and comfort of my lyfe doe not perce my heart with such displeasant wordes For what should I doe in this wretched worlde yf you for my sake shold suffre death wherfore put awaie the cruel thought and be content to saue your life that hereafter in ioye myrth you may spend that same Trusting that yf meanes maye be founde for your dispatche from hence we shall liue the rest of our prolonged life together in swete and happie daies For my father is not made of stone of flint nor yet was nourced of Hircan Tigre he is not so malicious but that in tyme to come hée may ãâã made to know the true discourse of thyne innocent life and hope thou shalt atteyne his fauour more than euer thou ãâã before the care wherof onely leaue to me and take no thought thy self for I make promise vpon mine assured faith to bring the same to passe Wherefore giue ouer thy conceiued griefe and bende thy selfe to liue so merie a life as euer gentleman did trained vp in court as thou hast bene I am content sayd Acharisto thus to doe the Gods forbid that I should declyne my heart and mynde from thy behest who of thy wonted grace dost seke continuance of my life but rather swete Euphimia than thou shouldest suffre any daunger to performe thy promise I make request for the common loue betwene vs both to leaue me in this present dangerous state Rather wold I lose my life than ãâã shouldest hazard the least heare of thy heade for my reliefe We shal be both safe ynough answered Euphimia for my deuise proceding from a womans heade hath alreadie drawen the plotte of thy deliuerance and wyth those wordes they both did ende their talke whose trickling teares did rather finishe the same than willing myndes and eyther of them gyuing a kysse vnto the Tower walle wherein Acharisto was faste shutte Euphimia departed turmoiled with a thousand amorous prickes and ceased not but first of all to corrupte and wynne the Iaylers wife whose husband
wente streight to them and very gently ãâã of dyuerse of the Gentlemen their names and of what partes of Italie they were then she came to the place where they iii. were standing together curteously asked first master Girolamo what his name was of what countrey whether he were a Gentleman To whom reucrentely he sayde that his name was Girolamo Borgo a Gentleman of Verona Master Baldo likewise béeing demaunded the same answered so well as he coulde that he was a Gentleman borne of an auncient house in Milane and that his name was Philippo Baldo When she had receiued their answere with chéerefull and smiling countenance she turned to Master Philippo inquiring of him also his name and countrey and whether he were a Gentleman or not Whom master Philippo after his duetie done reuerently answered Madame my soueraine Ladie and onely maistresse I am a Gentleman and am called by the name of Philippo de i Nicuoli of Cremona The Queene making no further demaundes of any of the other Gentlemen sayd to Master Philippo You say true sir I dare warrant that you be a Gentleman in dede and he that said ãâã contrary shold declare him selfe to be voide of iudgement what a Gentleman is She sayde no more but from thence with Quéene Mary and the whole traine she went to Church All they that heard the Quéene speake those wordes did wonder and could not ãâã what shée meant by them notwithstanding ãâã man thought that the Quéene bare to master Philippo singuler good will and ãâã He as it was his custome full of diuerse cogitations whose ãâã was building of great cities went to Church ãâã him selfe in his ãâã place tossyng in his minde the Quéenes words spoken vnto him And although he ãâã not perceiue to what ende that honorable ãâã had spoken them yet he thought that hir maiestie had done him great honour And verily the humanitie and curtesse of a Lady so excellent and ãâã is ãâã to be ãâã with infinite praise and coÌmendation who being of high ãâã and ligneage and the wyfe of so greate a Prince that procéeded of the ãâã Imperiall not onely dyd not ãâã to be beloued of a man of so base degrée and banished from his owne house but also with great care and diligence did deuise and in effecte declare that shée was the same whom the Italian yong Gentleman did loue as partly it was euidently to be perceiued not for other purpose doubtlesse but to do some noble déede couenable for the greatnesse of hir estate incident to the seruent loue of the amorous yong Gentleman which afterwardes in very dede she accomplished But howe many be there in these dayes I doe not speake of Quéenes and Princesses but of ãâã and priuate Gentlewomen that beyng of meane worship indued with some shew of beautie be without good conditions vertue who séeyng themselues beloued of some Gentlemen not enriched with the goods of Fortune as they be do scorne and mocke them thynking them selues to good to be loked vpon or ãâã moued of vertuous loue scornfully casting their face at one side as though the suters were vnworthy their coÌpanie Now many likewise be possessed and ouerwhelmed with pride by reason nature more propicious vnto them than other be descended of some great parentage that will accompt a great iniurie done vnto them if any other gentlemen beside those that be rich do ãâã to ãâã them Again a great numbre of ãâã I speake of them whose mindes do not aspire to same or honor so that their delights and brauerie be mainteined be of this trampe that they ãâã not whether their louers bée ãâã well condicioned ãâã and gentle but onely do regarde whether their pursses be full of money or their shapes somewhat shoutefaire not waying the ãâã and good condicions of the minde with a thousand other qualities that ãâã to garnishe a Gentleman whereby all Gentlemen ãâã do growe beautifull and bée enriched wyth greater perfections Some other there be that fire their mindes vpon yong men that bée of goodly persouage although ãâã of vertue or ãâã behauiour louyng rather a piece of flesh with two eyes in his head than an honest man well furnyshed wyth vertue Thynke not yet for all thys that herein men ordinarily bée wyser than women althoughe they oughte to bée endued with greater ãâã than the womankynde but to say the truth they be all spotted with one kinde of pitch that warfare here in the large campe of this present worlde wherof it commeth to passe that we sée little loue to continue long bicause as the beginnyng wanted loue euen so is the ende altogether ãâã the knowledge whereof consumeth lyke the beautie of the ãâã And therevpon many times it chaunceth that when loue is not grounded but vpon transitorie beautie which dothe dissolue lyke a windie cloude the little heate ãâã doth not war more ãâã but rather congoale to frost and many times ãâã into hatred and ãâã A worsse thyng yet than this is in ãâã practise There be many that wil néedes bée ãâã and called Gentlemen bycause they come of Auncient and Noble race but growyng vp to ãâã state they appeare in shapes of men but altogether without vertuo or approued manners vtterly ignorant what the nature of Gentle is and doe accompte them selues ãâã ãâã ãâã fellowes when in companie of other as bigge beasts as them selues they contriue the day in ãâã and bragges and ãâã say ãâã a woman is at my comniaundement and such a mans wyse I do keepe suche a one is my companyons friende whereby they bryng many women yea and of the moste honest sort into slaunder and ãâã Diuerse ãâã also bée suchè fooles and of so simple discretion that although they know clerely perceyue thys to be true yat allured with the persenages and beautie of such ãâã passe not to gyue the rayne to these vnbrideled ãâã and doe not foresée lyhe ãâã Woodcockes that in sewe dayes through their owne ãâã they ãâã common shame of the vulgar people being pointed at in the streates as they ãâã where one that is wise and discrete daily doth feare the least suspition that utay be conceiued There is no woman that is wise ãâã so ãâã ãâã she can wil shunne and auoide all occasion wherby ãâã may arise and will choose ãâã hir amongs a number such one as ãâã best please hir fansie and suche ãâã as for his vertue and honestie she purposeth to match ãâã self with in mariage which is the end of all honest loue Nowe be it Nature hath not framed euery creature of one mettall ne yet Minerua ãâã lyke brayne into euery head And truely this our age doeth bréede many ãâã and worthie women whose condicions be good ãâã adorned with ãâã qualities the generositie ãâã valour of whose myndes ãâã deferue singular praise and estimation And what is he chauncing vpon a curteous and vertuous woman that will not giue ouer the loue of all
Who knoweth not that furie of a woman specially of the Noble dame by séeing hir self despised No no she loueth me and I will be hir seruaunt and vse the fortune proffred Shal I be the first simple Gentleman that hath married or loued a Princesse Is it not more honourable for me to settle my minde vpon a place so highe than vpon some simple wenche by whome I shall neither attaine profit or aduauncement Baldouine of Flaunders did not hée a Noble enterprise when he caried away Iudith the daughter of the French King as she was passing vpon that seas into England to be married to the king of that Countrey I am neither Pirat nor aduenturer for that the Ladie loueth me What wrong doe I then to any person by yelding loue againe Is not she at libertie To whome ought she to make accompt of hir dedes doings but to God alone and to hir owne conscience I will loue hir and cary like affection for the loue which I know sée that she beareth vnto me being assured that the same is directed to good end and that a woman so wise as she is will not commit a fault so filthy as to blemish and spot hir honor Thus Bologna framed the plot to intertaine the Duchesse albeit hir loue alredy was fully beÌt vpon him and fortified him self against all mishap and perillous chaunce that might ãâã as ordinarily you sée that louers coÌceiue all things for their aduauntage fantasie dreames agreable to that which they most desire resembling the mad and ãâã persons which haue before their eies the figured fansies which cause the conceit of their furie and stay themselues vpon the vision of that which most troubleth their offeÌded brain On the other side the Duchesse was in no lesse care of hir louer the wil of whom was hid secrete which more did vexe tormeÌt hir than that fire of loue that burned hir so ferueÌtly She could not tell what way to hold to do him vnderstand hir heart affection She feared to discouer the same vnto him doubting either of some fond rigorous answer or of reueling of hir mind to him whose preseÌce pleased hir more than all that men of the world Alas said she am I happed into so straÌge misery that with mine own mouth I must make request to him which with al humilitie ought to offer me his seruice Shall a Ladie of such bloud as I am be coÌstrained to sue wher all other be required by importunat instaÌce of their suters Ah loue loue what so euer he was that clothed thée with such puissaÌce I dare say he was the cruel enimie of mans fredom It is impossible that thou hadst thy being in heauen sith that clemencie courteous influence of the same ãâã maÌ with better benefits than to suffer hir nourse children to be intreated with such rigor He lieth which sayth that Venus is thy mother for the swéetenesse good grace that resteth in that pitifull Goddesse who taketh no pleasure to sée louers perced with so egre trauails as that which afflicteth my heart It was some fierce cogitatioÌ of Saturne that brought thée forth sent thée into the world to breake the ãâã of them which liue at rest without any passion or grief Pardon me Loue if I blaspheme thy maiestie for the stresse and endlesse grief wherein I am plunged maketh me thus to roue at large the doubts which I conceiue do take away the health and souÌdnesse of my mind the ãâã experieÌce in thy schole causeth this amaze in me to be solicited with desire that countersayeth the duetie honor and reputation of my state the partie whome I loue is a Gentleman vertuous valiant sage of good grace In this there is no cause to blame Loue of blindnesse for all that inequalitie of our houses apparaÌt vpon the first sight and shew of the same But froÌ whence issue the Monarches Princes greater Lords but froÌ the naturall and common mosse of earth wherof other men doe come what maketh these differeÌces betwene those that loue eche other if not the sottish opinion which we conceiue of greatnesse and preheminence as though naturall affections be like to that ordained by the fantasie of men in their lawes extreme And what greater right haue ãâã to ioyn with a simple gentlewoman than the Princesse to mary a Gentleman and such as Anthonio Bologna is in whome heauen nature haue forgotten nothing to make him equall with them which marche amongs the greatest I thinke we be the daily slaues of the foÌd and cruell fantasie of those Tyraunts which say they haue puissance ouer vs and that straining our will to their tirannie we be still bound to the chaine like the galley slaue No no Bologna shall be my husband for of a friend I purpose to make him my loyall and lawfull husband meaning therby not to offend God men togither pretend to liue without offeÌse of conscience wherby my soule shall not be hindred for any thing I do by marying him whoÌ I so strauÌgely loue I am sure not to be deceiued in Loue. He loueth me so much or more as I do him but he dareth not disclose the same fearing to be refused cast off with shame Thus two vnited wils two hearts tied togithers w e equal knot cannot choose but bring forth fruites worthie of such societie Let men say what they list I will do none otherwise than my head and mind haue alredy ãâã Semblably I néede not make accompt to any ãâã for my fact my body and reputation being in ful libertie and fréedome The bond of mariage made shall couer the fault which men would déeme leauing mine estate I shall do no wrong but to the greatnesse of my house which maketh me amoÌgs men right honorable But these honors be nothing worth where the minde is voide of contentation and where the heart prickt forward by desire leaueth the body and mind restlesse without quiet Thus the Duchesse founded hir enterprise determining to mary hir housholde Maister séeking for occasion and time méete for disclosing of the same albeit that a certaine naturall shame ãâã which of ãâã accompanieth Ladies did close hir mouth and made hir to deferre for a certaine time the effect of hir resolued minde Yet in the end vanquished with loue and impacience she was forced to breake of silence and to assure hir self in him ãâã feare coÌceiued of shame to make hir waie to pleasure which she lusted more thaÌ mariage the same seruing hir but for a Maske and couerture to hide hir follies shamelesse lusts for which she did the penance that hir follie deserued For no colorable dede or deceitful trompery can serue the excuse of any notable wickednesse She then throughly persuaded in hir intent dreamyng and thinking of nought else but vpon the unbracement of hir Bologna ended and determined hir conceits pretended follies and vpon a time
the same with ill digesture that muche a do shall I haue to be agréed with them and to remoue the grief which they shall conceiue against me for this mine enterprise wherefore I would the same should secretely be kept vntil without perill and daunger either of my self or of him whome I pretende to mary I may publish and manifest not my loue but the mariage which I hope in God shall soon be consummate and accomplished with one whome I doe loue better than my self and who as I full well do know doeth loue me better than his owne proper life Maister Bologna which till then harkned to the Dration of the Duchesse without mouing féeling himself touched so néere and hearing that his Ladie had made hir approche for mariage stode stil astonned his tongue not able to frame one word only fantasied a thousand ãâã in the aire and formed like numbre of imaginations in his minde not able to coniecture what hée was to whome the Duchesse had vowed hir loue the possession of hir beauty He could not thinke that this ioy was prepared for himself for that his Ladie spake no woord of him and he lesse durst opeÌ his mouth and yet was wel assured that she loued him beyoÌd measure Not withstaÌding knowing the ficklenesse and vnstable heart of women he sayd vnto himself that she would chaunge hir minde for seing him to be so great a Cowarde as not to offer hys seruice to a Ladie by whome he saw himself so manie times bothe want only looked vpon intertained with some secresie more thaÌ familiar The Duchesse which was a fine and subtile dame séeing hir friend rapt with the passion and standing stil vnmoueable through feare pale amazed as if hée had bene accused and condempned to die knew by that countenaunce astonishment of Bologna that she was perfectly beloued of him and so meaning not to suffer hym any longer to continue in that amaze ne yet to further fear him wyth hir dissembled and fained mariage of any other but with him she toke him by the hand and beholding him with a waÌton and luring eye in such sort as the curious Philosophers themselues would awake if such a LaÌpe and torch did shine within their studies she sayde thus vnto hym Seignor Anthonio I pray you be of good chéere torment not your self for any thing that I haue said I know well and of long time haue perceyued what good and faithfull loue you beare me with what affection you haue serued me sithens first you vsed my companie Thinke me not to be so ignorant but that I know ful wel by outward signes what secretes be hid in the inner heart and that coniectures many times doe giue me true and certaine knowledge of concealed things And am not so foolish to thinke you to be so vndiscrete but that you haue marked my countenaunce maner and therby haue knowen that I haue bene more affectioned to you than to any other For that cause sayd she straining him by the haÌd very louingly with cherefull coloure in hir face I sweare vnto you doe promise that if you so thinke méete it shall be none other but your self whom I wil haue desire to take to husband and lawfull spouse assuring my self so much of you as the loue which so long time hath ben hidden couered in our hearts shal appeare by so euident proofe as only death shal end vndoe the same The gentleman hearing such sodain talk the assuraÌce of that which he most wished for albeit he saw that daunger extréeme wherunto he lauÌched himself by espousing this great Ladie the enimies he shold get by entring such aliance notwithstanding building vpon vaine hope and thinking at length that the choler of the Aragon brother would passe away if they vnderstoode that mariage determined to pursue that purpose not to refuse that great preferment being so prodigally offred for which cause he answered his Lady in this maner If it were in my power madame to bring to passe that which I desire for your seruice by acknowledging of the benefits fauors which you depart vnto me as my mind presenteth thaÌks for the same I wold think my self the happiest GentlemaÌ that lyueth you the best serued Princesse of the world For one better beloued I dare presume to say and so long as I liue wil affirm is not to be found If til this time I delayed to opeÌ that which now I discouer vnto you I beséeche you Madame to impute it to the greatnesse of your estate and to the duetie of my calling office in your house being not séemely for a seruant to talk of such secretes with his Ladie and mistresse And truely that pain which I haue indured to holde my peace and to hide my griefe hath bene more noysome to me than one hundred thousand like sorowes together although it had ben lawfull to haue reuealed theÌ to some trusty friend I do not deny madame but of long time you did perceiue my follie and presumption by addressing my minde so high as to the Aragon bloud and to such a Princesse as you be And who caÌ beguile the eye of a Louer specially of hir whose Paragon for good minde wisedom gentlenesse is not And I coÌfesse to you bisides that I haue most euidently perceiued how certain loue hath lodged in your gracious heart wherwith you bare me greater affection thaÌ you did to any other within the compasse of your familie But what Great Ladies hearts be fraught with secretes conceits of other effects than the minds of simple womeÌ which caused me to hope for none other guerdon of my loyal faithfull affection than death the same very short Sith that litle hope accompanied with great nay rather extreme passion is not able to giue sufficieÌt force both to suffer to stablish my heart with constancie Now for so much as of your motion grace curtesie liberalitie the same is offred that it pleaseth you to accept me for yours I huÌbly beseche you to dispose of me not as husband but of one which is shal be your seruaunt for euer such as is more ready to obey thaÌ you to coÌmaund It resteth now Madame to consider how in what wise our affairs are to be directed that things being in assuraÌce you may so liue without peril and brute of slaunderous tongues as your good fame honest port may continue without spot or blemish Beholde the first Acte of the Tragedie and the prouision of the fare which afterwardes sent them bothe to their graue who immediately gaue their mutuall faith and the houre was assigned the next day that the fair Princesse shold be in hir chamber alone attended vpon with one only Gentlewoman which had ben brought vp with the Duchesse froÌ hir cradle was made priuie to the heauy mariage of those two louers which was consummate in hir presence And
be ne more faithful more affectionate or otherwise moued than the rest yet I am conteÌt for respect of your honor somewhat to beleue you and to accept you for mine owne sith your discretion is such I trust as so Noble a Gentleman as you be will himself declare in those affairs and wheÌ I sée the effect of my hope I can not be so vnkinde but with all honesty shall assay to satisfie that your loue The Counte seing hir alone and receiuing the Ladies language for his aduauntage and that hir countenance by alteration of hir minde did adde a certaine beautie to hir face and perceiuing a desire in hir that hée shold not vse delay or be too squeimish she demauÌding naught else but execution tooke the present offred time forgetting all ceremonies and reuerence he embraced hir and kissed hir a hundred thousand times And albeit she made a certain simple and prouoking resistance yet the louer séeing theÌ to be but preparatiues for the sport of loue he strayed from the bounds of honestie and threw hir vpon a fielde bed within the Chambre where he solaced himselfe with his long desired sute And finding hir worthy to be beloued and she him a curteous gentleman consulted together for continuance of their amitie in such wise as the Lord Ardizzino spake no more but by the mouth of Bianca Maria and did nothing but what she commaunded being so bewrapped with the heauie mantell of beastly Loue as hée still above night and day in the house of his beloued whereby the brute was noised throughout the Citie and the songs of their Loue more common in eche Citizens mouthe than the Stanze or Sonnets of Petrarch played and sained vpon the Gittorne Lute or Harpe of these of Noble house more fine wittie than those vnsauery ãâã that be tuned and chaunted in the mouthes of the foolish common sort Behold an Earle well serued and dressed by enioying so false a woman which had already falsified the faith betrouthed to hir husbaÌd who was more honest milde and vertuous than she deserued Beholde ye Noble Gentlemen the simplicitie of this good Earle how it was deceiued by a false and filthy strumpet whose stincking life and common vse of body woulde haue withdrawen each simple creature from mixture of their owne with such a Carrion A lesson to learne all youth to refraine the whoorishe lookes and light conditioned Dames a number the more to be pitied shewing forthe them selues to the portsale of euery cheapener that list demaunde the price the grosenesse whereof before considered were worthy to be defied and loathed This Ladie séeing hir Louer noussed in hir lust dandled him with a thousande trumperies and made hym holde the Mule while other enioyed the secrete sporte which earst hée vsed himself This acquaintance was so daungerous to the Counte as she hir self was shamelesse to the Counte of Celant For the one bare the armes of Cornwall and became a second Acteon and the other wickedly led his life lost the chiefest of that he loked for in the seruice of great princes by the treason of an arrant common ãâã Whiles this Loue continued in all pleasure and like contentation of either parts Fortune that was ready to mounte the stage and shew in sight that hir mobilitie was no more stable than a womans will For vnder such habite and sere Painters and Poets describe hir made Ardizzino suspecte what desire she had of chaunge and within a while after sawe himself so farre misliked of his Ladie as though he had neuer bene acquainted The cause of that recoile was for that the Countesse was not contented with one kinde of fare and whose eyes were more gredie than hir stomake able to digest and aboue all desired chaunge not séeking meanes to finde him that was worthy to be beloued and intertained of so great a Ladie as she estéemed hir selfe to be and as such women of their owne opinion thinke themselues who counterfaicte more grauitie and reputation than they doe whome nature and vertue for their maiestie and holinesse of life make Noble and praise worthie That desire deceiued hir nothing at all for a certaine time after that Ardizzino possessed the forte of this faire Countesse there came to Pauia one Roberto Sanseuerino Earle of Gaiazzo a yong faire and valiant Gentleman whose Countrey lieth on this side the Mountaines and very familiar with the Earle of Massino This vnfaithful Alcina and cruell Medea had no sonet cast hir eye vpon Signor di Gaiazzo but was pierced with his loue in such wise as if forthwith shée had not attained hir desires she would haue run mad bicause that Gentleman bare a certaine stately representation in his face promised such dexteritie in his déedes as sodainly she thought him to be that man that was able to staunch hir filthy thirst And therfore so gentlely as she could gaue ouer hir Ardizzino with whome she vtterly refused to speake and shunned his coÌpanie when she saw him and by shutting the gates against him the Noble man was not able to forbeare from throwing forth some words of choler wherby she tooke occasion both to expell him and also to beare him such displeasure as then she coÌspired his death as afterwards you shall perceiue This great hatred was the cause that she being fallen in Loue as you haue heard with the Counte of Gaiazzo shewed vnto him all signe of amitie and séeing that hée made no great sute vnto hir she wrote vnto him in this manner The Letter of Bianca Maria to the Counte of Gaiazzo SIr I doubt not by knowing the state of my degrée but that ye be abashed to sée the violeÌce of my mind when passing the limites of modestie which ought to guard such a Ladie as I am I am forced uncertain of the cause to doe you vnderstand the griefe that doeth torment me which is of such constraint as if of curtesie ye doe not vouchsafe to visite me you shall commit two faultes the one leauing the thing worthy for you to loue and regard and which deserueth not to be cast off the other in causing the death of hir that for Loue of you is bereft of rest And so loue hath very little in me to sease vpon either of heart or libertie but that ease of grief procéedeth from your only grace which is able to vanquishe hir whose victorious hap hath conquered all other and who atteÌding your resolut answer shall rest vnder the mercifull refuge of hope which deceiuing hir shall sée by that very meanes the wretched end of hir that is all your owne Bianca Maria Countesse of Celant The yong Lorde much maruelled at this message were it for that already hée was in loue with hir and that for loue of his friend Ardizzino wold not be known thereof or for that he feared she would be straught of wits if she were despised he determined to goe vnto hir yet stayed thought it not to be the
be dead in respect of the liuely sparks and violent fire which sorteth from your faire eyes which fire hath so fiercely inflamed all the most sensible parts of my body as if I be not succored by the fauoure of your diuine graces I doe attend the time to be consumed to dust Scarse had he made an end of those last words but the daunce of the Torche was at an end Whereby Iulietta which wholly burnt with loue straightly clasping hir hand with his had no leisure to make other answere but softly thus to say My deare friend I know not what other assured witnesse you desire of Loue but that I let you vnderstand that you be no more your owne than I am yours being ready and disposed to obey you so farre as honoure shall permit beséeching you for the present time to content your selfe with this answere vntill some other season méeter to Communicate more secretely of our affaires Rhomeo séeing himself pressed to part with the companie and for that hée knewe not by what meanes hée might sée hir againe that was his life and death demaunded of one of his friends what she was who made answer that she was the daughter of Capellet the Lord of the house and maister of that dayes feast who wroth beyond measure that fortune had sent him to so daungerous a place thought it impossible to bring to end his enterprise begon Iulietta couetous on the other ãâã to know what yong Gentleman hée was which had so courteously intertaigned hir that night and of whome she felt the new wounde in hir heart called an olde Gentlewoman of honor which had nurssed hir and brought hir vp vnto whome she sayd leaning vpon hir shoulder Mother what two yong Gentlemen be they which first goe forth with the two torches before them Unto whome the olde Gentlewoman tolde the name of the houses whereof they came Then she asked hir againe what yong Gentleman is that which holdeth the visarde in his hande with the Damaske cloke about him It is quod she Rhomeo Montesche the sonne of your Fathers capitall enimy and deadly ãâã to all your kinne But the maiden at the only name of Montesche was altogither amazed dispairing for euer to attaine to husband hir great affectioned friend Rhomeo for the auncient hatreds betwene those two families Neuerthelesse she knew so wel ãâã to dissemble hir grief and discontented minde as the olde Gentlewoman perceiued nothing who then began to persuade hir to retire into hir chamber whome she obeyed and being in hir bed thinking to take hir wonted rest a great ãâã of diuers thoughts began to enuiron trouble hir minde in such wise as she was not able to close hir eyes but turning here there faÌtasied diuerse things in hir thought sometimes purposed to cut of the whole attempt of that amorous practise sometimes to continue the same Thus was the poore pucell ãâã with two contraries the one comforted hir to pursue hir intent the other proposed the imminent perill whervnto vndiscretely she headlong threw hir self And after she had wandred of long time in this amorous Laberinth she knew not wherupon to resolue but wept incessantly and accused hir self saying Ah Caitife and miserable creature from whence doe rise these vnaccustomed trauailes which I ãâã in minde prouoking me to loose my rest but infortunate wretch what doe I know if that yong Gentleman doe loue me as hée sayeth It may be vnder the vaile of sugred woords hée goeth about to steale away mine honoure to be reuenged of my Parents which haue offended his and by that meanes to my euerlasting reproche to make me the fable of the Verona people Afterwards sodainly as she condempned that which she suspected in the beginning sayd Is it possible that vnder such beautie and rare comelinesse disloyaltie and Treason may haue their siedge and lodging If it be true that the face is the faithfull messanger of the mindes conceit I may be assured that hee doeth loue me for I marked so many chaunged coloures in his face in time of his talke with me and sawe him so transported and bisides himself as I cannot wishe any other more certaine lucke of loue wherin I will persist immutable to the ãâã gaspe of life to the intent I may haue him to be my husband For it may so come to passe as this newe alliance shall ãâã a perpetuall peace and amitie betwene his house and mine Aresting then vpon this determination still as she saw Rhomeo passing before hir Fathers gate she shewed hir self with mery countenance and ãâã him so with looke of eye vntill she had lost his sight And continuing this manner of life for certain dayes Rhomeo not able to content himself with lookes daily did beholde and marke the situation of the house and one day amongs others hée espied Iulietta at hir chamber window bounding vpon a narow lane right ouer against which Chamber he had a gardeine which was the cause that Rhomeo fearing discouery of their loue began then in the day time to passe no more before the gate but so soone as the night with his browne mantell had couered the earth he walked alone vp and downe that little streat And after he had bene there many times missing the chiefest cause of his comming Iulietta impacient of hir euill one night repaired to hir ãâã and perceiued through the brightnesse of the Moone hir friend Rhomeo hard vnder hir window no lesse attended for than he himself was waighting Then she secretely with teares in hir eyes and with voyce interrupted by sighes sayd Signior Rhomeo me thinke that you hazarde your persone too much and commit the same into great danger at this time of the night to protrude your self to the mercy of theÌ which meane you little good Who if they had taken you would haue cut you in pieces and mine honor which I estéeme dearer than my life hindred suspected for euer Madame answered Rhomeo my life is in the haÌd of God who only caÌ dispose the same ãâã if any man had sought meanes to berieue me of life I should in the presence of you haue made him known what mine abilitie had ãâã to defend that ãâã Notwithstanding life is not so deare and of ãâã ãâã Ì vnto me but that I could ãâã to ãâã the same for your sake and although my ãâã ãâã ben so great as to be dispatched in that place yet ãâã I no cause to be sory therefore excepte it had bene by loosing of meanes the same to forgoe the way how to make you vnderstand the good will and duety which I beare you desiring not to conserue the same for any commoditie that I hope to haue therby nor for any other respect but only to loue serue and honor you so ãâã as breath shal remaine in ãâã So soone as he had made an end of his talke loue and pitie began to sease vpon the heart of Iulictta and leaning hir head vpon hir ãâã
It chaunced in this time that a knight of ãâã the vassall of King Mathie for that he was likewise king of that countrey borne of a noble house very valiant and well exercised in armes fel in loue with a passing faire Gentlewoman of like nobilitie and reputed to be the ãâã of all the countrey and had a brother that was but a poore Gentleman not luckie to the goods of fortune This Boemian knight was also not very rich hauing onely a castle with certaine reuenues ãâã which wer ãâã able to yeld vnto him any gret maintenance of liuing Fallyng in loue then with this faire Gentlewoman he demauÌded hir in mariage of hir brother with hir had but a very litle dowrie And thys knight not wel forseeing his poore estate broughte his wife home to his house there at more leisure coÌsidering that same begaÌ to fele his lack penurie how hardly scant his reuenues wer able to maintein his port He was a very honest gentle person one that delited not by any meanes to burden fine his tenants coÌtenting himself with the reuenue whiche his auncesters left him the same amounting to no great yerely rent WheÌ this gentlemaÌ perceiued that he stode in nede of extraordinarie reliefe after many diuers coÌsiderations with himself he purposed to folow the court to serue king Mathie his souerain lord master there by his diligence experience to seke meanes for abilitie to sustain his wife him self But so great feruent was that loue that he bare vnto his lady as he thought it impossible for him to liue one houre ãâã hir yet iudged it not best to haue hir with him to the court for auoiding of further charges ãâã to courting ladies whose delite ãâã plesure resteth in the toys tricks of the same that caÌnot he wel auoided in poore geÌtlemeÌ without their names in the Mercers or Drapers Iornals a heauy thing for them to consider if for their disport they like to walk that stretes The daily thinking thervpon brought that poore GentlemaÌ to great sorow heauinesse The lady that was yong wise discrete marking the maner of hir husband feared that he had some ãâã of hir Wherfore vpon a day she thus said vnto him Dere husband willingly wold I wish desire a good turne at your hand if I wist I should not displease you Demaund what you will said the knight if I can I wil gladly performe it bicause I doe estéeme your satisfaction as I doe mine owne lyfe Then the Ladie very sobrely prayde hym that he wold open vnto hir the cause of that discontenment whiche he shewed outwardly to haue for that hys mynde and behauiour séemed to be contrary to ordinarie custome contriued day and night in fighes auoidyng the companie of them that were wont specially to delight him The Knight hearing his ladies request paused a while and then sayd vnto hir My welbeloued wyfe for so much as you desire to vnderstand my thoughte and mynde and whereof it commeth that I am so sad and pensife I will tell you All the heauynesse wherwith you sée me to be affected dothe tend to this ende Fayne would I deuise that you and I may in honour lyue together according to our calling For in respect of our parentage our liuelode is very poore the occasion whereof were our parentes who morgaged their lands consumed a great part of their goods that our auncesters left them I daily thinkyng herevpon and conceiuing in my head diuers imaginations can deuise no meanes but one that in my ãâã séemeth best which is that I go to the Court of our souerain lord Mathie who at this present is inferring warrs vpon the Turk at whose haÌds I do not mistrust to receiue good ãâã being a most liberal prince and one that estemeth al such as be valiant and actiue And I for my parte will so gouerne my selfe by Gods grace that by deserte I will procure suche lyuyng and ãâã as hereafter we may liue in our olde dayes a quiet life to our great stay and comfort For although Fortune hitherto hath not fauored that state of pareÌtage wherof we be I doubt not with noble courage to win that in despite of Fortunes teeth whiche obstinately hytherto shée hath denied And the more assured am I of thys determination bycause at other tymes I haue serued vnder the Lorde Vaiuoda in Transsyluania against the Turk where many times I haue bene required to serue also in the Courte by that honorable Gentleman the Counte of Cilia But when I dyd consider the beloued companie of you dere wife the swéetest companion that euer wyght didde ãâã I thought it vnpossible for mée to forbeare your presence whych if I should do I were worthy to sustayne that dishonour which a great number of carelesse Gentlemen doe who followyng their priuate gayne and will abandon their yong and faire wyues neglecting the fyre whyche Nature hath instilled to the delicate bodyes of suche tender creatures Fearing therwithall that so soone as I shoulde depart the lustie yong Barons and Gentlemen of the countrey woulde pursue the gayne of that loue the price wherof I doe esteme aboue the crowne of the greatest emperour in all the worlde and woulde not forgoe for all the riches and precious Iewels in the fertile soilt of Arabie who no doubte woulde ãâã together in greater heapes than euer dydde the wowers of Penelope wythin the famouse graunge of Ithaca the house of wanderynge Vlisses Whyche pursuite yf they dydde attayne I shoulde for euer hereafter bée ashamed to shew my face before those that be of valour and regarde And this is the whole effect of the scruple ãâã wife that hindreth me to séeke for our better estate and fortune When he had spoken those woords ãâã held his peace The Gentlewoman which was wise and stout perceiuing the great loue that hir husbande bare hir when he had stayed himselfe from talke with good and mery countenaunce answered hym in thys wise Sir Vlrico which was the name of the Gentleman I in like manner as you haue done haue deuised and thought vpon the Nobilitie and birth of our auncestors from whose state and port and that without our fault and crime we be farre wide and deuided Notwithstanding I determined to set a good face vpon the matter and to make so much of our painted sheath as I could In déede I confesse my self to be a woman and you men do say that womens hearts be faint I féeble but to be plaine with you the contrary is in me my heart is so stoute and ambitious as paraduenture not méete and consonaÌt to power and abilitie although we women will finde no lacke if our hearts haue pith and strength inough to beare it out And faine wold I support the state wherin my mother maintained me Now be it for mine owne part to God I yeld the thanks I can so moderate and stay
starre most bright Now sith my willing vow is made I humbly pray hir grace To end th'accord betwene vs pight no longer time to tracte Which if it be by sured band so haply brought to passe I must my self thrice happy couÌt for that most heauenly fact This song made the company to muse who commided the trim inuention of the Knight and aboue al Gineura praised him more than before could not so well refraine hir lokes from him he with countre change rendring like againe but that the two widowes their mothers conceiued great héede therof reioysing greatly to sée the same desirous in time to couple them together For at that present they deferred the same in coÌsideration they were both very yong NotwithstaÌding it had bene better that the same coniunction had bene made before fortune had turned the whéele of hir vnstablenesse And truely delay and prolongation of time sometimes bringeth such and so great missehaps that one hundred times men cursse their fortune and little aduise in foresight of their infortunate chaunces that commonly do come to passe As it chauÌced to these widowes one of them thinking to loose hir sonne by the vaine behauior of the others daughter who without that helpe of God or care vnto his will disparaged hir honor and prepared a poyson so daungerous for hir mothers age that the foode therof prepared the way to the good Ladies graue Nowe whiles this loue in this maner increased and that desire of these two Louers flamed forth ordinarily in fire and flames more violent Dom Diego all chaunged and transformed into a newe man receiued no delite but in the sight of his Gineura And she thought that there could be no greater felicitie or more to be wished for than to haue a friend so perfect and so wel accomplished with all things requisite for the ornament and full furniture of a Gentleman This was the occasion that the yong Knight let no wéeke to passe without visiting his mistresse twice or thrice at the least and she did vnto him the greatest curtesie and best entertainment that vertue could suffer a maiden to doe who is the diligent treasurer and carefull tutor of hir honor And this she did by conseÌt of hir mother In like manne rhonestie doth not permit that chaste maidens should vse long talke or immoderate spéeche with the first that be suters vnto them much lesse séemely it is for them to be ouer squeimishe nice with that man which séeketh by way of marriage to winne power and title of the body which in very dede is or ought to be the moitie of their soule Such was that desires of these two Louers which notwithstanding was impéeched by meanes as hereafter you shal heare For during the rebounding ioy of these faire couple of loyall louers it chaunced that the daughter of a noble man of the Countrey named Ferrando de la Serre which was faire comely wise and of very good behauior by kéeping daily company with Gineura fel extréemely in loue with Dom Diego and assayed by all meanes to do him to vnderstand what the puissance was of hir loue which willingly she meant to bestowe vpon him if it wold please him to honor hir so much as to loue hir with like ãâã But the Knight which was no more his own man ãâã rather possessed of another had lost with his libertie his wits and minde to marke the affection of this Gentlewoman of whome he made no accompt The Maiden neuerthelesse ceased not to loue him and to ãâã al possible wayes to make him hir owne And knowing how much Dom Diego loued Hawking she bought a ãâã the best in all the Countrey and sent the same to Dom Diego who with all his heart receiued the same and effectuously gaue hir thanks for that desired gift praying the messanger to recommend him to the good grace of his Mistresse and to assure hir selfe of his faithfull seruice and that for hir sake he would kepe the hauk so tenderly as the balles of his eyes This Hauk was the cause of the ill fortune that afterwards chaunced to this pore louer For going many times to sée Gineura with the Hauke on his fist bearing with him the tokens of the goodnesse of his Hauke it escaped his mouthe to say that the same was one of the things that in all the world he loued best Truely this worde was taken at the first bound contrary to his meaning wherwith the matter so fell out as afterwards by despaire he was like to lose his life Certaine dayes after as in the absence of the Knight talke rose of his vertue and honest conditions one prainsing his prowesse valiaunce another his great beautie and curtesy another passing further extolling the sincere ãâã and constaÌcy which appeared in him touching matters of loue one enuious person named Gracian spake his minde theÌ in this wise I wil not deny but that Dom Diego is one of the most excellent honest and brauest Knightes of Catheloigne but in matters of Loue he séemeth to me so waltering and inconstant as in euery place where he commeth by and by he falleth in loue and maketh as though he were sick and wold die for the same Gineura maruelliing at those woords sayd vnto him I pray you my friende to vse better talke of the Lorde Dom Diego For I do thinke the loue which the Knight doth beare to a Gentlewoman of this Countrey is so firme and assured that none other can remoue the same out of the siege of his minde Lo how you be deceiued gentlewoman quod Gracian for vnder coloure of ãâã seruice he and such as he is doe abuse the simplicitie of yong Gentlewomen And to proue my saying true I am assured that he is extremely enamored with the daughter of Dom Ferrando de la Serre of whome he receiued an Hauke that he loueth aboue all other things Gineura remembring the words which certaine dayes before Dom Diego spake touching his Hauke began to suspect and beleue that which master Gracian alleaged and not able to support the choler which colde iealosie bred in hir stomake went into hir Chamber full of so great grief and heauinesse as she was many times like to kill hir self In the end hoping to be reuenged of the wrong which she beleued to receiue of Dom Diego determined to endure hir fortune paciently In the meane time she conceiued in hir minde a despite and hatred so great and extreame against the pore Gentleman that thought little héereof as the former loue was nothing in respect of the reuenge by death which she then desired vpon him Who the next day after his wonted maner came to sée hir hauing to his great damage the Hauke on his fiste which was the cause of all that iealosse Nowe as the Knight was in talke with the mother séeing that his beloued came not at all according to hir custome to salute him and bid him welcome inquired how she
shift besturred him in Erra Pater for matching of two contrary elements For colde in Christmasse holy dayes and frost at Twelftide shewed no more force in this poore lerned scholer thaÌ the Suns heat in the Feries of Iuly gnats flies waspes at noone dayes in SoÌmer vpon the naked tender corpse of this fair Widow The Scholer stode belowe in a Court benoommed for cold the widowe preached a lofte in the top of a Tower and ãâã woulde haue had water to coole hir extreme heat The scholler in his shirt bedecked with his demissaries The widow so naked as hir graundmother Eue without vesture to shroud hir The widow by magike Arte what so euer it cost wold faine haue recouered hir lost louer The Scholler well espying his aduauÌtage when he was asked councel so incharmed hir with his Sillogismes as he made hir to mount a tower to cursse the time that euer she knew him or hir louer So that widow not well beateÌ in causes of schole was whipt with the rod wherwith she scourged other Alas good woman had she knowne that olde malice had not bene forgotten she would not haue trusted lesse committed hir self to the circle of his enchauntments If women wist what dealings are with men of great reading they wold amongs one hundred other not deale with one of the meanest of those that be bookish One Girolamo Ruscelli alearned Italian making pretie notes for that better elucidation of the Italian Decamerone of Boccaccio iudgeth Boccaccio himself to be this scholler whom by another name he termeth to be Rinieri But whatsoeuer that Scholler was he was truly too extréeme in reuenge therein could vse no meane For he neuer left the pore féeble soule for all hir curteous woords and gentle supplication vntil the skin of hir flesh was parched with the scalding sunne beames And not contented with that delt his almose also to hir maide by sending hir to help hir mistresse where also she brake hir legge Yet Philenio was more pitifull ouer the thrée Nimphes faire Goddesses of Bologna whose History you may read in the xlix Nouell of my former Tome He fared not so roughly with those as Rinieri did with this that sought but to gain what she had lost Wel how so euer it was and what differencie betwene either of them this Hystorie ensuing more amply shall giue to vnderstand Not long sithens there was in Florence a yong gentlewoman of worshipfull parentage faire and comely of personage of courage stout and abounding in goods of fortune called Helena who being a Widow determined not to mary again bicause she was in loue with a yong man that was not voide of natures goodly gifts whom for hir owne toothe aboue other she had specially chosen In whome setting aside all other care many times by meanes of one of hir maids which she trusted best she had great pleasure and delite It chauÌced about the same time that a yong Gentleman of that Citie called Rinieri hauing a great time studied at Paris retourned to Florence not to sell his Science by retaile as many doe but to know the reasons of things and the causes of the same which is a maruellous good exercise for a Gentleman And being there honoured greatly estemed of all men aswell for his curteous behauioure as also for his knowledge he liued like a good Citizen But as it is commonly séene they which haue best vnderstanding and knowledge in things are soonest tangled in Loue euen so it happened to this Rinieri who repairing one day for his passetime to a feast this Madame Helena clothed all in blacke after the manner of widowes was there also and séemed in his eyes so beautiful and wel fauored as any woman that euer he sawe and thought that he might be accompted happy to whome God did she we so much fauoure as to suffer him to be cleped betwene hir armes beholding hir diuers times and knowing that the greatest and dearest things can not be gotten without laboure he determined to vse all his endeuoure and care in pleasing of hir that thereby he might obtaine hir loue and so enioy hir The yong Gentlewoman not very bashfull conceiuing greater opinion of hir selfe than was néedefull not casting hir eyes towards the ground but rolling them artificially on euery side and by and by perceiuing much gazing to be vpon hir espied Rinieri earnestly beholding hir and sayd smiling to hir selfe I thinke that I haue not this day lost my time in comming hither for if I be not deceiued I shall catch a Pigeon by the nose And beginning certaine times stedfastly to loke vpon him she forced hir selfe so much as she could to séeme effectuously to beholde him and on the other parte thinking that the more pleasant and amorous she shewed hir self to be the more hir beautie should be estéemed chiefly of him whome specially she was disposed to loue The wise Scholler giuing ouer his Philosophie bent all his endeuor hereunto thinking to be hir seruaunt learned where she dwelt and began to passe before hir house vnder pretense of some other occasion wherat the Gentlewoman reioysed for the causes beforesaide faining an earnest desire to beholde him Wherfore the Scholler hauing found a certaine meane to be acquainted with hir maide discouered his loue praying hir to deale so with hir mistresse as he might haue hir fauor The maide promised him very willingly and incontinently reported the same to hir mistresse who with the greatest scoffes in the world gaue eare therunto sayd Séest thou not froÌ whence this goodfellow is come to lose al his knowledge doctrine that he hath brought vs from Paris Now let vs deuise therefore how he may be handled for going about to séeke that which he is not like to obtain Thou shalt say vnto him when he speaketh to thée againe that I loue him better than he loueth me but that it behoueth me to saue mine honoure and to kéepe my good name and estimation amongs other women Which thing if he be so wise as he séemeth he ought to esteme regarde Ah poore Wench she knoweth not well what it is to mingle huswiuery with learning or to intermeddle distaues with bokes Now the maid when she had found the Scholler told him as hir mistresse had commauÌded wherof the Scholler was so glad as he with greater endeuor procéeded in his enterprise and began to write letters to the Gentlewoman which were not refused although he could receiue no answeres that pleased him but such as were done opeÌly And in this sort the Gentle woman long time fed him with delayes In the end she discouered all this newe loue vnto hir friend who was attached with such an aking disease in his head as the same was fraught with the reume of ialosie wherfore she to she we hir selfe to be suspected without cause very careful for the Scholler seÌt hir maid to tel him that she had no conuenient time to doe
tattling talke of our secrete follies Moreouer I would ãâã very glad to doe what pleaseth you so the same may be without slaunder For I hadde rather die than any should take vs in our priuities and familier pastimes let vs be contented with the pleasure that the ãâã of our ioy may graunt and not with suche contentation as shall offend vs by blotting the clerenesse of our ãâã names Concluding then that time of their new acquaintaunce which was the next day at noone when that Lieutenant did walke into the Citie they ceased their talk for feare of his enteruiew Who vpon his returne doing reuerence vnto his Lord tolde him that he knewe where a wilde Boare did haunt if it pleased him to sée the passetime Whereunto the Lord Nicholas fayned louingly to giue eare although against his will for so much as he thought the same hunting should be a delay for certaine dayes to the enioying pretended and assured of his beloued But she that was so muche or more esprised with the raging and intollerable fire of loue spedily found meanes to satisfie hir louers sute but not in such manner as was desired of either parts wherefore they were constrained to defer the rest vntill an other time This pleasaunt beginning so allured the Lord of Nocera as vnder the pretence of hunting there was no wéeke that passed but he came to ãâã the warrener of his Lieuetenaunt And this order continuing without ãâã one little suspition of their loue they gouerned themselues wisely in the pursute thereof And the Lord Nicholas vsed the game and sport of Hunting and an infinite number of other exercises as the running of the King and Tennis not so muche thereby to finde meanes to enioy his Ladie as to auoide occasion of iealosie in hir husband being a very familiar vice in all Italians the cloke wherof is very heauie to beare and the disease troublesome to sustaine But what Like as it is hard to beguile an ãâã in the accoumpt of his money for his continual watch ouer the same and slumbering slepes vpon the bokes of his reckenings and accompts so difficult it is to deceiue the heart of a iealous man and specially when he is assured of the griefe which his heade hath conceiued Argus was neuer so cléere eyed for all his hundred eyes ouer Iupiters lemman as those louers be whose opinions be yll affected ouer the chastitie of their wiues Moreouer what foole or Asse is he who séeing suche vndiscrete familiaritie of two louers the priuie gestures and demeanors without witnesse their stolne walkes at vntimely houres sometimes their embracemeÌts to straight and common before seruaunts that wold not doubt of that which most secretely did passe True it is that in England where libertie is so honestly obserued as being alone or secrete conuersation giueth no cause of suspition that same might haue ãâã borne withall But in Italie where the parents themselues be for the most part suspected if there had ben no fact in déede coÌmitted that familiaritie of the Lord Nicholas with his Lieutenantes wife was not suffrable but exceded the bounds of reason for so much as the coÌmoditie which they had chosen for pos sessing of their loue albeit the same not suspitious animated them afterwards to frequent their familiarity disport to fraÌkly without discretioÌ which was that cause that fortune who neuer leaueth that ioyes of meÌ without giuing therunto some great alarm being enuious of the mutual delights of those ãâã louers made that husbaÌd to doubt of that which he wold haue disseÌbled if honor could so easily be lost wtout reproch as bloud is shed with out peril of life But that mater being so cleare as the fault was euideÌt specially in the party which touched him so neare as himself that LieuetenauÌt before he wold enterprise any thing and declare what he thought ãâã throughly to be resolued of that which he sawe as it were ãâã in a cloude and by reason of his conceiued opinion he dealt so warely and wisely in those affaires was so subtill an espiall as one day when the louers were at their game and in their most straite and secrete embracements he viewed them coupled with other leash than he would haue wished and colled with straighter bands than reason or honesty did permit He saw without being séene wherin he felt a certaine ease and contentment for being assured of that he doubted purposed to ordeine a sowre refection after their delightsome banket the simple louers ignoraunt by signe or ãâã that their enterprises were discouered And truely it had bene more tollerable and lesse hurtful for the Lieuetenaunt if euen then he had perpetrated his vengeaunce and punished them for their wickednesse than to vse the crueltie wherwith afterwards he blotted his renoume and foiled his hands by Bedlem rage in the innocent bloud of those that were not priuie to the folie and lesse guiltie of the wrong done vnto him Now the captaine of the Castell for all his dissimulation in couering of his griefe and his fellony and treason intended against his soueraigne Lord which he desired not yet manifestly to appeare was not able any more from that time forthe to speake so louingly vnto him nor with suche respecte and reuerence as he did before which caused his wife thus to say vnto hir louer My Lord I doubt very much least my husbaÌd doth perceiue these our coÌmon practizes secrete familiar dealings that he hath some haÌmer working in his head by reason of the countenaunce vnchéereful entertainment which he sheweth to your Lordship wherfore mine aduise is that you retire for a certain time to Foligno In the meane space I wil marke ãâã if that his alteration be conceiued for any matter against vs and wherfore his woÌted lokes haue put on this new alteration chauÌge All which when I haue by my espial and secrete practise sounded I will spéedily aduertise you to the ende that you may prouide for the safegarde of youre faithfull and louyng seruaunt The yong Lorde who loued the Gentlewoman with all hys hearte was attached with so greate griefe and dryuen into such rage by hearing those wicked newes as euen presentely he woulde haue knowen of his Lieuetenaunt the cause of his diswonted chéere But weyghing the good aduise which his woman had gyuen hym paused vpon the same ãâã hir to doe what she thought best By reason wherof giuing warning to his seruantes for his departure he caused the Lieutenaunt to be called before him vnto whom he sayd Captain I had thought for certaine dayes to sport and passe my time but hearing tel that the Duke of Camerino commeth to Foligno to debate with vs of matters of importance I am constrained to departe and do pray you in that meane time to haue good regarde vnto our affaires and if any newes ãâã chaunce to aduertise the same with all expedition Sir sayd the Captain I am sorie
smoke forced that capten to com forth by like means made him his brother childreÌ to tread that daÌce that his wife before had done CoÌrade by by caused those bodies to be thrown forth for fode to the wolues other rauening beasts birds liuing vpon that pray of carrioÌ causing also his brethreÌ that geÌtlewomaÌ honorably to be bu ried which gentlewomaÌ had born that penaÌce worthy for hir fault Such was that end of that most miserable yll gouerned loue that I thinke maÌ hath euer red in writing which doth clerely witnesse that ther is no plesure so gret but Fortune by changing turning hir whéele maketh a huÌdred times more bitter thaÌ desire of such ioy dothe yeld delite And far better it wer besides the offeÌse done to god neuer to cast eye on womaÌ thaÌ to bord or proue them to raise such sclanders facts which cannot be recouÌted but with the horror of the herers nor written but to the great grief of those the muse studie vpoÌ that same not withstaÌding for instructioÌ of our life both good bad examples be introduced offred to the view of ech degrée and state To the end that whoordom may be auoided bodily pleasure eschewed as moste mortall and pernicious plagues that doe infect as wel the body and reputation of man as the integritie of the minde Besides that eche man ought to possesse his owne vessel and not to couete that is none of his vnséemely also it is to solicite the neighbors wife to procure therby the disiunction and defaite of the whole bonde of mariage which is a treasure so deare and precious and carieth so great griefe to him that séeth it defaced as our Lorde to declare the grauitie of the fact maketh a comparison of his wrathe against them which runne after straunge Gods and applieth the honour due vnto hym to others that do not deserue the same with the iust disdain and rightfull choler of a iealous husband fraught wyth despite to sée himselfe dispoiled of the seasure and possession onely giuen to him and not subiecte to any other what soeuer he be Lerne here also O ye husbands not to flie with so nimble wing as by your own authoritie to séeke reuenge without fearing the folies sclanders that may insue Your sorow is iust but it behoueth that reason doe guide your fantasies and bridle your ouer sodaine passions to the intent that ye come not after to sing the dolefull song of repentance like vnto this foolish man who hauing done more than he ought and not able to retire without his ouerthrowe threw him self into the bottomlesse gulfe of perdition And let vs all fixe fast in memorie that neuer vnruled rage and wilful choler brought other benefite than the ruine of him that suffered him selfe to runne hedlong into the same and who thinketh that all that which is natural in vs is also reasonable as though Nature were so perfect a worke woman as in mans corruption she could make vs Angels or halfe gods Nature folowing the instincte of that which is naturall in vs doth not greatly straye from perfection but that is gyuen to few and those whome God dothe loue and choose And Uertue is so seldome founde as it is almoste impossible to imitate that perfection And briefly to say I wil conclude with the Author of this present Historie Angre is a ãâã short To him that can the same excell But it is no laughing sport In whome ãâã senselesse rage doth dwell That pang confoundeth eche mans wittes And shameth him with open shame His honour fades in frantike fittes And blemisheth his good name The King of Marocco ¶ The great Curtesie of the Kyng of MAROCCO a Citie in BARBARIE ãâã a poore Fisherman one of hys subiects that had lodged the Kyng beyng strayed from his companie in hunting The. xxxiiij Nouel FOr so much as the more than beastly crueltie recounted in the former Historie doth yeld some sowre tast to the minds of those that bée curteous gentle and wel conditioned by nature and as the stomacke of hym that dayly vseth one kinde of meate be it neuer so delicate daintie dothe at length lothe and disdaine the same and vtterly refuseth it I now chaunge the diet leauing for a certain time the murders slaughters despaires and tragicall accidents chaunced either in the loue or in the ielosie of a louer or of a husband turn my stile to a more plesant thing that may so wel serue for instruction of the noble to folowe vertue as that which I haue alreadie written maye rise to their profite warely to take héede they fall not into such deformed and ãâã faults as the name and praise of maÌ be defaced and his reputation decayed if then the contraries be knowne by that which is of diuers natures the villanie of great crueltie shall be couuerted into the gentlenesse of great curtesie and rigor shal be condemned when with swetenesse and generositie the noble shall assay to wynne the heart seruice and affected deuotion of the basest sort so the greatnesse and nobilitie of man placed in dignitie and who hath puissance ouer other consisteth not to shew himselfe hard and terrible for that is the maner of tyrants bicause he that is feared is consequently hated euill beloued and in the ende forsaken of the whole world which hath bene the cause that in times past Princes aspiryng to great ãâã haue made their way more easie by gentlenesse and Curtesie than by furie of armes stablishing the foundations of their dominions more firme durable by those means than they which by rigor and crueltie haue sacked townes ouerthrowne Cities depopulated prouinces and ãâã landes with the bodies of those whose liues they haue depriued by dent of sword ãâã the gouernement and authoritie ouer other carieth greater subiection than puissance Wherefore Antigonus one of the successoures of greate Alexander that made all the earth to tremble vpon the recitall of his name seing that his sonne behaued himself to arrogaÌtly and without modestie to one of his subiectes reproued and checked him and amongs many wordes of ãâã and admonition sayde vnto him Knowest thou not my sonne that the estate of a Kyng is a noble and honorable seruitude Royall words in dede and méete for a Kyng For albeit that eche man dothe him reuerence and that he be honoured and obeyed of all yet is hée for all that the seruaunt and publike minister who ought no lesse to defende hys subiecte than hée that is the subiecte to doe hym honoure and homage And the more the Prince doth humble himself the greater increase hath his glorie and the more wonderful he is to euery wight What aduanced the glory of that Iulius Caesar who firste depressed the Senatorie state of gouernement at Rome Were his victories atchieued ouer the Galles and Britons and afterwardes ouer Rome it selfe when he had vanquished Pompee Al those serued his
the same the matter most specially therin comprised treting of courtly fashions and maners and of the customes of loues galantise and the good or yll successe thereof bicause you be an auncient Courtier and one of the eldest Traine and suche as hath ben imployed by sundrie our Princes in their affaires of greatest weight and importance and for that your self in your lustiest time euer bred and brought vp in Court haue not bene vnacquainted with those occurrents If I should stande particularly to touch the originall of your noble Ancestrie the succession of that renoumed line their fidelitie for graue aduise and counsell your honourable education the mariage of a mighty King with one of your sisters the valiant exploites of your parentes against the French and Scots the worthie seruice of your self in field whereby you deseruedly wanne the order of Knighthode the trust which hir Maiestie reposeth in you by disposing vnder your charge the Store of hir Armure and your worthie preferment to be Maister of hir Armarie generall If I shoulde make recitall of your carefull industrie and painfull trauell sustained for answering hir Maiesties expectation your noble cherishing of the skilfull in that Science your good aduauncement of the best to supplie the vacant romes your refusall of the vnworthie and finally of your modest and curteous dealings in that office I feare lacke of abilitie and not of matter would want grace and order by further circumstaunce to adde sufficient praise Yea although my self do say nothing but reserue the same in silence to auoide suspect of adulation the very Armure and their furnitures do speake vniuersall testimonie doth wonder and the Readinesse of the same for tyme of seruice doth aduouche Which care of things continually resting in your breast hath atchieued suche a timely diligence and successe as when hir Maiesties aduersarie shall be ready to molest she shal be prest by Gods assistance to defend and marche But not to hold your worship long by length of preamble or to discourse what I might further say eyther in fauour of this Boke or commendation of your selfe I meane for this instant to leaue the one to general iudgement and the other to the particular sentence of eche of your acquaintaunce Humbly making this only sute that my good will may supplie the imperfection of mine abilitie And so with my heartie prayer for your preseruation to him that is the Author of life and health I take my leaue From my poore house besides the Toure of London the fourthe of Nouember 1567. Your moste bounden William Painter ¶ A Summarie of the Nouels ensuing ¶ The Hardinesse and conquestes of diuers stoute and aduenturous Women called Amazones the beginning continuance and end of their raigne and of the great iourney of one of their Quéenes called Thalestris to visit Alexander the great and the cause of hir trauaile Nouel j. Fol. 1. ¶ The great pietie and continencie of Alexander the great and his louing interteinement of Sisigambis the Wife of the great Monarch Darius after he was vanquished Nouel ij Fol. 5. ¶ Thimoclia a Gentlewoman of Thebes vnderstanding the couefous desire of a Thracian Knight that had abused hir and promysed hir mariage rather for hir goodes than Loue well acquited hirselfe from his falsehode Nouel iij. Fol. 9. ¶ Ariobarzanes great Stewarde to Artaxerxes King of Persia goeth about to excéede his soueraigne Lord maister in Curtesie wherein are conteyned many notable and pleasant chaunces besides the great pacience and loyaltie naturally planted in the sayd Ariobarzanes Nouel iiij Fol. 11. ¶ Lucius one of the Garde to Aristotimus the Tyranne of the Citie of Elis fell in loue with a faire Maiden called Micca the daughter of one Philodemus and his crueltie done vpon hir The stoutenesse also of a noble Matrone named Megistona in defense of hir husband and the Common wealth from the tyrannie of the sayd Aristotimus and of other acts done by the subiects vpon that tyrant Nouel v. Fol. 32. ¶ The maruelous courage ambition of a gentlewoman called Tanaquil that Quéene wife of Tarquinus Priscus the fift Romane King with hir persuasions and pollicie to hir husband for his aduauncement to the kingdome hir like encouragement of Seruius Tullius wherin also is described the ambitioÌ of one of the two daughters of Seruius Tullius the sixt Romane King and hir crueltie towardes hir owne naturall father with other accidents chaunced in the new erected Common wealth of Rome specially of the laste Romane King Tarquinus Superbus who with murder attained the kingdome with murder mainteined it and by the murder and insolent life of his sonne was with all his progenie banished Nouel vj. Fol. 40. ¶ The vnhappy ende and successe of the loue of King Massinissa and of Queene Sophonis ba his Wife Nouel vij Fol. 49. ¶ The crueltie of a King of Macedon who forced a GentlewomaÌ called Theoxena to persuade hir children to kil poison themselues after which fact she and hir husband Poris ended their life by drowning Nouel viij Fol. 59. ¶ A strange maruellous vse which in olde time was obserued in Hidrusa where it was lawfull with the licence of a Magistrate ordeyned for that purpose for euery man and woman that lyst to kyll them selues Nouel ix Fol. 62. ¶ The dishonest loue of Faustina the Empresse and with what remedie the same was remoued and taken away Nouel x. Fol. 65. ¶ Chera hidde a treasure Elisa going about to hang hir selfe and sying the halter about a ãâã found that treasure and in place therof lefte the halter Philene the daughter of Chera going for that treasure and busily searching for the same sounde the halter where with all for dispaire shae woulde haue hanged hir selfe but forbidden by Elisa who by chaunce espied hir she was restored to part of hir losse leading afterwards a happie and prosperous life Nouel xj Fol. 67. ¶ Letters of the Philosopher Plutarch to the noble and ãâã Emperour Traiane and from the sayde Emperour so Plutarch the like also from the sayde Emperour to the Senate of Rome In all whiche bée conteyned Godly rules for gouernement of Princes obedience of Subiects and their dueties to CoÌmon wealth Nouel xij Fol. 76. ¶ A notable historie of thrée amorous Gentlewomen called Lamia Flora Lais coÌteining the sutes of noble Princes and other greate personages made vnto them with their answeres to diuers demaunds and the maner of their death and funeralls Nouel xiij Fol. 123. ¶ The life and gestes of the most famous Quéene Zenobia with the Letters of the Emperoure Aurchanus to the sayde Quéene and hir stoute aunswere therevnto Nouel xiiij Fol. 89. ¶ Euphimia the King of Corinths daughter fell in loue with Acharisto the seruaunt of hir father and besides others which required hir to mariage she ãâã Philon the King of Pelponesus that loued hir very feruently Acharisto conspiring against the King was discouered tormented and put in prison and by meanes of
Euphimia deliuered The Kyng promysed his daughter and kingdome to hym that presented the head of Acharisto Euphimia so wrought as he was presented to the King The King gaue hym his daughter to Wife and when he died made him his heire Acharisto began to hate his wife and condemned hir to death as an adulteresse Philon deliuered hir and vpon the sute of hir Subiectes shée is contented to marie hym and thereby he is made Kyng of Corinth Nouel xv Fol. 101. ¶ The Marchionesse of Monferrato with a bankette of Hennes and certaine pleasant words repressed the fonde loue of Philip the Frenche King Nouel xvj Fol. 112. ¶ Mistresse Dianora demaunded of Master Ansaldo a Garden so faire in Januarie as in the Moneth of May. Maister Ansaldo by meanes of an obligation whiche he made to a Necromancer caused the same to bée done The husbande agréed wyth the Gentlewoman that she should do the plesure which master Ansaldo required who hearing the liberalitie of the husbande acquited hir of hir promise the Necromancer likewise discharged master Ansaldo Nouel xvij Fol. 114. ¶ Mithridanes enuious of the liberalitie of Nathan and going about to kill him spake vnto him vnknowne and being informed by himselfe by what meanes he might doe the same he founde him in a little woodde accordingly as he had tolde him who knowing hym was ashamed and became his friende Nouel xviij Fol. 118. ¶ Master Gentil of Carisendi being come from Modena tooke a woman oute of hir graue that was buryed for deade who after shée was come againe brought forth a sonne whiche Maister Gentil rendred afterwards with the mother to master Nicholas Chasenemie hir husbande Nouel xix Fol. 123. ¶ Saladine in the habite of a marchant was honorably receiued into the house of Master Thorello who went ouer the sea in companie of the Christians and assigned a terme to his wife when she shold marie againe He was taken and caried to the Souldan to be his falconer who knowing hym and suffering him selfe to be knowne did him great honor Master Thorello fell sicke and by Magike arte was caried in a night to Pauie where he founde his wife about to marie againe who knowing him returned home with him to his owne house Nouel xx Fol. 128. ¶ A Gentleman of meane calling and reputation both fall in loue with Anne the Quéene of Hungarie whoÌ ãâã very royally and liberally requited Nouel xxj Fol. 140. ¶ The gentle and iust act of Alexander de Medices the first Duke of Florence vpon a Gentleman whome he fauored who hauyng rauished the daughter of a poore Miller caused him to marie hir for the greater honor and celebration wherof he apointed hir a rich and honourable dowrie Nouel xxij Fol. 155. ¶ The Infortunate mariage of a Gentleman called Antonie Bologna with the Duchesse of Malfi and the pitifull death of them both Nouel xxiij Fol. 169. ¶ The disordred life of the Countesse of Celant how she causing the Counte of Massino to be murdered was beheaded at Milan Nouel xxiiij Fol. 195. ¶ The goodly historie of the true and constant loue betwéene Rhomeo and Iulietta the one of whome died of poyson and the other of sorrowe and heauinesse wherein be comprised many aduentures of loue and other deuises touching the same Nouel xxv Fol. 218. ¶ Two Gentlemen of Venice were honorably decetued of their wiues whose notable practises and secrete conference for atchieuing their desire occasioned diuers accidents and ingendred double benefit wherin also is recited an eloquent oration made by one of them pronounced before the Duke and state of that Citie with other chaunces and actes concerning the same Nouel xxvj Fol. 247. ¶ The Lorde of Virle by the commaundement of a faire yong Widow called Zilia and for hir promyse made the better to attaine hir loue was contented to remaine dumbe the space of thrée yeares and by what meanes hée was reuenged and obteyned his sute Nouel xxvij Fol. 268. ¶ Two Barons of Hungarie assuring them selues to obtaine their sute made to a faire Ladie of Boeme receiued of hir a straunge and maruellous repulse to their shame and infamie curssing the time that euer they aduentured an enterprise so foolishe Nouel xxviij Fol. 292. ¶ Dom Diego a Gentleman of Spayne fel in loue with faire Gineura and she with ãâã their loue by meanes of one that enuied Dom Diego his happy choise was by the default of light credite on hir parte interrupted He constant of minde fell into dispaire and abandonyng all hys friendes and lyuing repayred to the Pyrene Mountaines where he ledde a sauage life for certaine Monethes ãâã afterwardes knowne by one of his friends was by maruellous circumstance reconciled to hys frowarde mistresse and maried Nouel xxx Fol. 309. ¶ A Gentleman of Siena called Anselmo Salimbene curteously and gently deliuereth his enimie from deathe The condempned partie seyng the kynde parte of Salimbene rendreth into his handes his syster Angelica with whome hée was in loue which gratitude and Eurtesie Salimbene well markyng moued in conscience woulde not abuse hir but for recompense toke hir to wife Nouel xxx Fol. 350. ¶ A Widow called Mistresse Helena wyth whome a Scholer was in Loue shée louyng an other made the same Scholer to stande a whole Wynters night in the Snowe to wayte for hir who afterwardes by a sleyghte and policie made hir in July to stand vpon a Toure stark naked amongs Flies and Gnattes and in the Sunne Nouel xxxj Fol. 376. ¶ A Gentlewoman and Wydowe called Camiola of hir owne mynde raunsomed Rolande the Kynges sonne of Sicilia of purpose to haue hym to hir husbande who when hée was redéemed vnkyndely denied hir againste whome verie eloquentely shée inueyed and although the lawe proued him to bée hir husbande yet for hys vnkindnesse shée vtterly refused hym Nouel xxxij Fol. 391. ¶ Great cruelties chaunced to the lordes of Nocera for adulterie by one of them committed with the Captains wife of the Fort of that Citie with an enterprise moued by the Captaine to the Citizens of the same for rebellion and the good and and duetiful answere of them with other pitifull euents rising of that notable and outragious vice of whooredome Nouel xxxiij Fol. 297. ¶ The greate Curtesie of the King of Marocco a Citie in Barbarie towarde a poore Fisherman one of hys subiects that had lodged the King being stolne from his companie in hunting Nouel xxxiiij Fol. 410. ¶ To the Reader AS shevved curtesie deserueth gratefull acquitall frendly fauor forceth mutual merit So for gentle acceptation of my other boke I render to thy delight and profit a Second Tome For which I craue but like report albeit neither worthy of any or other than the rude ãâã gayneth by trial of his arte Who hauing committed to his skill and workemanship some substance of golde or other precious mater fashioneth the same with such ãâã shape and order as besides dispraise it carieth the vnablenesse of
the workman Howsoeuer then the ablenesse or perfection hereof ãâã shall content or particularly displease the Boke craueth milde construction for imployed paines And yet the same liking or lothing the licorous diet and curious expectation of some shall beare regarde with those that more delight in holsome viandes voide of varietie than in the confused mixture of foren drugges fetched farre of Who no dout will supply with fauorable brute default of ablenesse and riper skill in the mysteries of sorren speche Which is the guerdon besides publique benefit after which I gaze and the best stipende that eche well willing mynde as I suppose aspireth for their trauell And briefly to touche what comoditie thou shalt reape of these succeding Histories I deme it not vnapt for thine instruction to vnfolde what pithe and substance resteth vnder the context of their discourse ¶ In the Nouell of the AMAZONES is displaied a strange and miraculous porte to our present skill of womens gouernment what states they subdued what increase of kingdome what combats and conflicts they durst attempt contrairie to the nature of that sexe ¶ In ALEXANDRE the great what ought to be the gratitude and curtesie in a ãâã Prince toward his slaue and captiue and to what perilous plundge he slippeth by exchange of vice for vertue ¶ In TIMOCLIA and THEOXENA the stoutnesse of two noble Dames to auoide the beastly lust and raging furie of Tyrants ¶ ARIOBARZANES telleth the duetie of a Subiect to his Prince and how he ought not to contend with his soueraine in maters of curtesie at length also the condition of Courting flaterers and the poyson of the Monster Enuie ¶ ARISTOTIMVS disgarboileth the iutrails of Tyrannie describing the end whereunto Tyrants do atteine and how that vice plageth their posteritie ¶ The two Romane Queenes do point as it were with their fingers the natures of Ambition and Crueltie and the gredy lust hidden in that feble sexe of soueraintie ¶ SOPHONISBA reporteth the force of beautie and what poison distilleth from that licorous sappe to inuenim the harts of valiant ãâã ¶ The Gentlewoman of HYDRVSA the sicklenesse of Fortune ¶ The Empresse FAVSTINA and the Countesse of Celant what ãâã blome of whorish life and what fruites thereof be culled ¶ The Letters of the Emperor TRAIANE do paint a right shape of vertue a good state of gouernment and the comely forme of obedience ¶ Three Amorous Dames ãâã the sleightes of loue the redinesse of Nobles to be baited with that amorous hooke and what desire such infamous Strumpets haue to be honored ¶ Queene ZENOBIA what the noble Gentlewomen whom the fates ordaino to rule ought to do how farre their magnanimitie ought to stretch and in what boundes to conteine their soueraintie ¶ EVPHIMIA a Kings daughter of Corinthe and the vnfortunate Duchesse of Malfi what matche of mariage Ladies of renowme and Dames of Princcly houses ought to choose ¶ Mistresse DIANORA MITHRIDANES and NATHAN KATHERINE of Bologna and SALADINE the mutual ãâã of noble and gentle personages and for what respectes ¶ Queene ANNE of Hungarie the good nature and liberalitie of a Queene and with what industrie Gentlewomen of priuie chaumbre ought to preferre the sutes of the valiant and of such as haue well serued the Common welth ¶ ALEXANDRE de Medices a Duke of Florence the iustice of a Prince and Gouernour to the wronged partie what ãâã ought to shine in Courtiers and with what temperance their insolence is to be repressed ¶ IVLIETTA and RHOMEO disclose the hartie affections of two incomparable louers what secret sleightes of loue what danger either sort incurre which mary without the aduise of Parentes ¶ Two Gentlewomen of Venice the wisdom and policie of wiues to ãâã and restraine the follies of Husbands and the stoutnesse they ought to vse in their defense ¶ The Lord of Virle and the widow ZILIA giue lessons to Louers to auoide the immoderate pangs of loue they pronosticate the indiscretion of promised penance they warne to beware all vnsemely hestes lest the penalties of couetise and ãâã glory be incurred ¶ The Lady of Boeme schooleth two noble Barons that with great boast assured themselues to impaire hir honor ¶ DOM DIEGO and GINEVRA recorde the crueltie of women bent to hate and the voluntarie vow performed by a passionate knight with the perfect frendship of a true ãâã in redresse of a frendes missehap ¶ SALIMBENE ANGELICA the kindnesse of a gentleman in deliuerie of his enimie and the constant mynde of a chaste and vertuous mayden ¶ Mistresse HELENA of Florence discouereth what lothsom lustes do lurke vnder the barke of fading beautie what stench of filthie affection fumeth from the smoldring gulf of dishonest Loue what prankes such Dames do plaie for deceite of other and shame of themselues ¶ CAMIOLA reproueth the mobilitie of youth such chiefly as for noble anncestrie regarded riches more than vertue She like a Mistresse of constancie lessoneth hir equalles from wauering myndes and not to aduenture vpon vnstedie contracts with those that care not vnder what pretence they come by riches ¶ The Lords of Nocera foretell the hazards of whordom the rage of ãâã the difference of ãâã betwene Prince and subiect the fructes of a Rebell the endes of Traiteric and Tiranny and what monstrous successe such vices do attaine ¶ The King of Marocco describeth the good nature of the homely and loiall subiect the matuelous loue of a true and simple Cuntry man toward his liege soueraigne Lord the bountie of a curetous prince vpoÌ those that vnder rude attire be ãâã with the floures of vertue To be short the conteÌts of these Nouels from degree of highest Emperor from the state of greatest Queene and Ladie to the homely ãâã peasant and rudest vilage girle may conduce profit for instruction pleasure for delight They offer rules for auoiding of vice and imitation of vertue to all estates This boke is a very Court Palace for all sorts to fixe their cies therein to view the deuoires of the Noblest the vertues of the gentlest and the dueties of the meanest Yt is a Stage and Theatre for shew of true Nobilitie for proofe of passing loialtie and for triall of their contraries Wherefore as in this I haue continued what erst I partly promised in the first So vpon intelligence of the second signe of thy good will a Third by Gods assistance shall come forth Farewell ¶ Authorities from whence these Nouels be collected and in the same auouched Strabo Plinie Quintus Curtius Plutarche Titus Liuius Dionysius Halcarnasoeus Appianus Alexandrinus Ouide Horace Propertius Cicero Valerius Max. Tribelius Pollio Xenephon Homere Virgilius Baptista Campofulgosus Bandello Bocaccio Gyraldi Cynthio Belleforrest Boustuau Pietro di Seuiglia Antonio di Gueuarra THE SECOND TOME of the Palace of Pleasure The Amazones ¶ The hardinesse and conquests of diuers stout and ãâã women called AMAZONES the beginning and continuance of their reigne and of the greate
fight as the LacedemoniaÌs were wont to do In this wise increased more more the same of those women and so continued vntill the tyme that Hercules Theseus and many other valiaÌt men liued in Graecia The said Hercules king Euristeus of Athenes coÌmanded to procede with great force of people against the Amazons and that he shold bring vnto him the armures of the two Quéenes which then wer two sisters that is to say Antiopa and Oritia At this coÌmandemeÌt Hercules incoraged with desire of honor and glorie accoÌpanied with Theseus other his frends sailed ãâã Pontus and arriued in most conuenient place vpon the shoare of Thermodon wher he laÌded in such secret maner with such oportunity of time as Oritia one of the two Quenes was gone out of the couÌtrey with the greatest part of hir women to make warre conquere newe Countreyes in so much that he founde Antiopa which doubted nothing ne yet knewe of his comming Upon which occasioÌ Hercules and his people surprising the Amazones vnwares and although they entred into field and did put them selues in defense with suche diligence as the tyme serued yet they were ouercome and put to flight and many of them slain the rest taken amongst whom were the two sisters of the Quéene the one named Menalipe which was Hercules prisoner and the other Hipolita the prisoner of Theseus Certain HistoriaÌs do say that they wer vanquished in a pitched field and appointed battaile And that afterwards the two ãâã sters wer vanquished in singular Combat The Quéene Antiopa then séeing this ouerthrow and the taking of hir sisters cam to composition with Hercules to whom ãâã gaue hir armure to carie to Euristeus Upon charge that he should rendre vnto hir hir sister Menalipe But Theseus for no offer that she could make would deliuer Hipolita with whom he was so farre in loue that he caried hir home with him and afterward toke hir to wife of whom he had a sonne called Hipolitus Hercules satisfied of his purpose returned very ioyfull of his victorie Oritia certified of these news being then out of hir ãâã conceiued no lesse shame than sorrow who fearing greater damage returned spedily with hir women the greter part wherof being of hir opinioÌ persuaded ãâã opa to be reueÌged vpon the Grekes For which purpose they made great preparation of warre And afterwards leuying so great a numbre of that Amazons as they could they sent to Sigillus kyng of Scythia for succour who sent them his sonne Pisagoras with a great numbre of horsmen by whose helpe the Amazones passing into Europa and countrey about Athenes they greatly ãâã their ãâã But Pisagoras entred in quarell against the Quene and hir women by meanes wherof the Scythians could not fight but withdrew them selues aside whereby the Amazones not able to supporte the force of the Greekes were ouercome and vanquished the gretest part of theÌ cut in pieces Those which did escape ranne to the Scythians campe of whome they were defeÌded Afterward being returned into their couÌtrey they liued in lesse force and suretie than before In processe of time the Greekes passed into Asia and made a famous conqueste of the Citie of Troy when Penthesilea was Quéene of the Amazones who remembring the iniuries receiued by the Grekes went with a great armie to help the Troians Where that Quene did things worthie of remembraunce but the Troianes vanquished in many skirmishes al the Amazones wer almost slain And Penthesilea amongs other was killed by the hand of Achilles Wherefore those that remained returned into their countrey with so litle power in respect of that they had before as with great difficultie they susteined and defeÌded their olde possessions and so continued till the time that Alexander the great weÌt into Asia to make warre againste the Hircanians In ãâã tyme one of their Quéenes named Thalestris accompanied with a great numbre of the Amazones went out of hir couÌtrey with great desire to sée knowe Alexander And approching the place where hée was she sent hir Ambassadour vnto hym to the ende that shée might obtaine safeconducte to sée him makyng him to vnderstande howe much the ãâã of his personage had inflamed hir hart to sée him Whereof Alexander béeing ãâã graunted hir his ãâã By means wherof after she had chosen out some of hir principal womeÌ leauing the rest in a certain place in verie good order she wente towardes Alexander of whom she was curteously entertained then with very good countenance she offred vnto him the effect of al hir abilitie Who prayed hir to tel him if he were able to do hir pleasure promised that hir request shold be accoÌplished She answered that hir coÌming was not to demand either lands or dominions wherof she had sufficieÌt but rather to knowe and be acquainted with such a famous Prince as he was of whome shée had heard maruellous and strange report But the chiefest cause of hir coÌming was to pray him of carnal copulation that she might be conceiued with childe and haue an heire begotten of so excellent a prince telling him that she was come of noble kinde and of high parentage that he ought not to disdain hir vse Promisyng him that if it pleased the Gods that she should haue a daughter she wold nourish it hir selfe and make it hir vniuersall heire and if it were a ãâã she woulde sende it vnto him Alexander asked hir if she woulde go with hym to the warres and if she woulde he promised hir his companie But she excusing hir selfe answered that she coulde not go with him without great shame and daunger of losse of hir kingdome Wherfore she prayed him againe to satisfie hir request Finally she kept company with Alexander by the space of xiij dayes in publike and secrete sorte which béeing expired she toke hir leaue and returned home to hir prouince But as it is the propertie of time to consume all things euen so the kingdom power of the Amazones grew to vtter decay no one such nation at this day to be fouÌd For what monstrous Sexe was this that durst not onely by many armies encountre with puissant nations but also by such single Combate to fight with that terrible personage Hercules whose vnspekable and incredible labours and victories are by antiquitie reported to be such as none but he duxst euer aduenture the like Whose nation was comparable to the Greekes or the nian citie and yet these mankynde women for reuenge shronke not to pierce their prouince What like besieged towne as that of Troy was and yet Penthesilea one of their Nuéenes with hir maynie woulde goe aboute to raise the Greekes that so many yeares had lien before the same What Quéene nay what Stalant durste sue for companie of meanest man and yet one of these presumed to begge the match of the mightiest Monarch that euer ruled the world The maners qualities of which nation bicause they were women of no common
liuely example to thée which could neuer finde any ãâã stay vnder the Moones globe He was the mightiest and the richest ãâã that raigned in Affrica and now is the most miserable vnluckie wight that liueth ãâã lande The Gods graunt that I be no prophete or ãâã of future euill whose omnipotencie I deuoutlye beséech to suffer thée and thy posteritie in Numide and most happily to raigne Uonchsafe then to ãâã me from the Romanes thraldome which if thou be not able safely to bring to passe death vnto me shall bée most hartily welcome In speaking those words she toke the Kings right hand and many times swéetly kissed the same And then hir teares turned into pleasant cheare in such wise as not onely the minde of the armed and ãâã ãâã Prince was moued to mercie but ãâã wrapped in the amorous nets of the Ladie whereby the victour was subdued by the vanquished and the Lorde surprised of his captiue vnto whom with treÌbling voice thus he answered Make an end O Sophonisba of thy large complaint abandon thy conceyued feare for I will not onely ridde thée from the Romanès handes but also take thée to my ãâã wife if thou therwith shalt be content whereby thou shalte not leade a prisoners life but passe thy youthfull dayes and ãâã age if Gods doe graunt thée life so long as Quéene vnto a King wife vnto a Romane frende When he had sayd so with wéeping teares he kissed and embraced hir She by the ãâã signes gestes and interrupted ãâã comprehending that the mind of the Numide King was kindled with feruent loue the more to inflame the same she behaued hir selfe in such pitiful plight as the beastly hearts of the Hircane Tigres woulde haue bene made gentle and dispoiled of all fierceness For againe she fel downe at his féete and kissed the armed sabbatons vpon that same bedewing them with hir warme teares And after many sobbes and infinite sighes comforted by him she sayd O the glorie and honor of all the Kings that euer were bée or shall be hereafter O the safest aide of Carthage mine unhappie countrey without desert and nowe the present and most terrible astonishment If my hard fortune and great distresse after so greate ruine might haue bene relieued what greater fauore what thing in all my life coulde chaunce more and fortunate vnto me than to bée called wife of thée O I blessed aboue all other women to haue a man so noble and famous to husband O mine aduenturous and most happie ruine O my moste fortunate miserie that such a glorious and incomparable mariage was prepared for me But bicause the Gods be coÌtrary vnto me and the due ende of my life approcheth âeasse from henceforth my deare soueraigne Lorde to kindle againe in me my hope half dead or rather consumed and spent bicause I sée my selfe wrapped in a state that in vaine against the pleasures of the Gods I go about to molest thée A great gift and to say the truthe a right great good turne I make accompte to haue receiued of thée if myne owne death I should procure that dying by thy meanes or with thy handes which were more acceptable I should escape the feare of the Romanes thrall all and subiection and this soule deliuered of the same should streight way passe into the Elysian fieldes The final scope of this my humble playnt is to rydone from the handes handes the Romanes whose thraldome to suffer I had rather die The other benefit which thou dost frankly offer to me poore wretche I dare not desire much lesse require the same bicause the preseÌt state of my mishappe dareth not presume so high But this thy pitie and compassion ioyned with louing regard and mind toward me mightie Ioua with all the other Gods rewarde and blesse thy gotten kingdome with long raigne enlarging the same with more ample boundes to thine eternall renoum and praise And I do not only render humble thankes for this thy kinde and louing enterteinmeÌt but also yelde my selfe thine owne so long as life gouerneth this caitife corps of myne These wordes were pronounced with such effecte as Massinissa was not able for pitie to hold his teares which watred so his comely forme as the dewe therof soaked into his tender heart and not able a long time to speake at last thus he sayd Gyue ouer O my Quéene these cares and thoughts drie vp thy cries ãâã plaints make an ende of all these dolorous sutes and reioyce that frowarde Fortune hath changed hir mind the Gods no doubt with better successe will perfourme the rest of thy liuing dayes Thou shalt heÌceforth remain ãâã Quéene wife for pledge whereof the sacred Godheadâ I call to witnesse But if perchauÌce which the thuÌdring mightie God aboue forbid that I shall bée forced to render thée the Romanes prisoner be well assured that on liue they shal not possesse thée For credit and accomplishment of this promisse and in signe of his assured faith he reached his right haÌd to Sophonisba and led hir into the inner lodgyng of the Kyngs Palace where afterwarde Massinissa with him self considering how he might perform his promised faith â ered and troubled with a thousande cogitations séeing in a manner his manifest ouerthrow and ruine at hande prouoked with mad and temerarious loue the very same day in open presence he toke hir to wife solemnizing that mariage which afterwards ãâã vnto him great veration trouble meaning by the same to haue discharged Sophonisba froÌ the Romanes rule order But when Laelius was come and heard tell therof ãâã ãâã and chased with ãâã wordes coÌmaunded Massinissa to send his new maried wife as the bootie and praie of the Romanes together with Syphax to their Captaine Scipio Notwithstanding vanquished with the supplications and teares of Massinissa referring the matter wholly to the iudgement of Scipio he dispatched Syphax with the other prisoners and bootie to the Romane campe and he himself remained with Massinissa for the recouerie of other places of the Kingdome minding not to returne before the whole prouince were brought vnder the Romane subiection In that meane time Laelius gaue ãâã vnto Scipio of the successe of Massinissa his mariage Who knowing the same to be so hastily celebrated was maruellously offended troubled in minde much maruellyng that Massinissa would make such post hast before the comming of Laelius Yea vpon the very first day of his entrie into Cirta that hée would ãâã that vnaduised wedding the greater was Scipio his displeasure towards Massinissa for ãâã the loue which he had conceiued of that woman was vnsemely and dishonest wondering not a little that he could not finde out some Ladie within the region of Spaine of ãâã beautie and ãâã to please and content his honest and commendable intent wherfore he iudged Massinissa his ãâã to be done out of time to the preiudice and great decay of his honor estimation ãâã like a wise and
the best Empresse and Quéene of the worlde or be she full of any other vertue if the want the name of chast she is not worthie so much as to beare the title of honour nor to be entertained in honest company Ye shall peruse hereafter an historie of a Countesse of Celant that was a passyng faire dame singularly adorned with Natures gifts She was faire pleasant ãâã comely and ãâã not altogether barraine of good erudition and learning shée could play vpon the instruments ãâã daunce make and compose wittie and amorous Sonets and the more hir companie was frequented the more amiable and gracious the same was ãâã But bicause she was ãâã fast and lesse ãâã she was of no regard and estimation Such as be dishonest do not onely hurt them selues but gyue cause to the ãâã people to mutter and grudge at their parentes education at their husbandes gouernement and institution of their children causing them most coÌmonly to leade a ãâã and heauy life Think you that Augustus Caefar albeit he was a victorious Emperour and led a triumphant raigne liued a contented life when he saw the two Iuliae one of them his daughter the other his Niece to vse them selues like coÌmon ãâã constrained through their shameful ãâã to pin and close vp himselfe and to shunne the conuersation of men and once in minde to cut his daughters vaynes to let cut hir lustie bloud Was not he woÌt the teeres trickling down his Princely face to say that better it was neuer to haue children to be dead without them than to haue a fruteful wife children so disordred He ãâã his daughter to be a carrion lumpe of fleshe full of ãâã filthinesse But if I list to speake of womsÌ of this age from noble to vnnoble from an Emperors daughter to a plough mans modder whose liues do frame after Iulia ãâã lore my pen to the stumpes would weare and my hande bée wearied with writing And so likewise it would of numbres now no doubt that folowe the trace of Lucrece ãâã that ãâã and chastly contriue the day and nightes in pure and godly exercise But of the naughtie sorte to speake leauing to voide offence such as do flourish in our time I wil not concele the Empresse Messalina that was wife to the Emperour Claudius not onely vnworthie of Empresse degrée but of the title of woman who being abused by many at length arriued to suche abhominable lust that not contented with daily adulterous life wold resort to the coÌmon stewes where the ruffians and publike harlots haunted for litle hire and there for vilest price with eche slaue would humble hir selfe and at night not satisfied but wearied would returne home to hir Palace not ashamed to disclose hir selfe to any that list to looke vpon hir And for victorie of that beastly game coÌtended with hir like But not to say so much of hir as I finde in ãâã his naturall historie in Suetonius and Cornelius Tacitus I leaue hir to hir selfe bycause I haue made promise to remember the dishonest loue for example sake which I reade of Faustina whose beautie of all Writers is ãâã to bée moste excellent if excellencie of good life had thervnto bene coupled She was the daughter and wyfe of two holie and vertuous Emperours the one called Antonius Pius the other Marcus Antonius This M. Antonius in all vertuous workes was perfecte and godly and singulerly loued his wife ãâã and although she was ãâã to the worlde and a ãâã to the people yet cared not for the same suche was the passyng loue hée bare vnto hir Leaue we to speake of hir beastly behauiour with the noble sort without regard vnto hir most noble husbande and come wée to treate of a certain sauage kind of lust she had ãâã one of the Gladratores which were a certain sort of Gamsters in Rome which we terme to be masters of Defense She was so far in ãâã with this Gladiator that she could not eat drink or slepe ne take any kind of rest And albeit Faustina was thus vnshamfast she thought that the ãâã disordinate loue deserued ãâã and ingendred shame vnto the noble house wherof she came that she ãâã the daughter and wife of two famous Emperours woulde subdue hir state to a man so base and many times woulde goe to Caieta a Citie and hauen of Campania to ioyne hir selfe with the Galie slaues there Hir husbande which loued hir dearely comforting his wife so well as he coulde caused the best Physicians he could finde to repaire vnto hir for recouerie of hir health But all the deuised Physike of the world was not able to cure hir she was so louesick In the end knowing by long experience the fauour and loue hir husbande bare vnto hir and knowing that nothyng coulde withdraw his continued minde she tolde him that al the torment and paine ãâã sustained was for the loue of a Gladiator towards whom hir loue was so miserable that except she had his company death was she next ãâã for hir disease The good husband which beyond measure loued his wife comforted hir with so louing words as he coulde deuise and bad hir to be of good cheare promising he would prouide remedie Afterwards consulting with a wise maÌ a Chaldee born opened vnto him the effect of his wiues disease how she was louesick with such a person one of ãâã Gamsters of the Citie promising great rewards if he coulde by his secretes serche out redresse to saue hir life The Chaldee could tell him none other remedie but that he must cause the Gladiator to be slaine and with the bloud of him to anoint the body of the Empresse not beknowing vnto hir what it was which done that he must goe to naked bed to hir and doe the acte of matrimonie Some Historiographers do write that the Chaldee gaue him counsel that Faustina should drinke the bloud of the Gladiator but the most part that hir body was bathed in the same But how so euer it was it wold haue cooled the hottest ãâã stomack in the world to be anointed with like ãâã To conclude the Gladiator was ãâã and the medicine made and applied to the pacient and the Emperour lay with the Empresse and begatte hir with childe And immediatly she forgot the Gladiator and neuer after that tune remeÌbred him If this medicine ãâã applied to our carnall louing dames which God defend they would not onely folowe Faustine in forgetfulnesse but also would mislike such Physike and not greatly regarde the counsell of such ãâã By meanes of this medicine and copulation was the emperour Commodus borne who rather resembled the Gladiator than his father In whose breast rested a storehouse of mischief and ãâã as Herodian and other writers plentifully do write Two Maydens of Carthage ¶ CHERA hid a tresure ELISA going about to hang hir selfe and tyeng the halter about a beame founde that treasure and in place thereof left the halter PHILENE the
daughter of CHERA goyng for that treasure and busily serching for the same found the halter wherwithal for despaire she woulde haue hanged hir selfe but forbidden by ELISA who by ãâã espied hir she was restored to parte of hir losse leading afterwards a happie and prosperous life The. xj Nouell FOrtune the ladie Regent gouernesse of maÌs life so altreth and chaungeth the state thereof as many times we se the noble born from that great mightie port wherin they be debased so farre as either infamously their life is spent in the hungrie lappe of dame penurie or else contriued in the vgly lothsom house of Wantonnesse the stepdame of all honestie and vertue Sometimes we make the vnnoble ladde that was nooseled in the homely countrey ãâã or rude ciuile shoppe attaine to that whiche the onely honorable and gentle do aspire and he againe that is ambicious in climbing vp the turning whéele throwen downe beneth the brinke of ãâã lucke whelmed in the ditche pit of blacke despaire We note also somtimes that the carelesse wyght of Fortunes giftes hath vnlooked for his mouthe and throte crammed full of promotion and worldes delights Such is the maner of hir fickle stay When of this Historie ensuing giueth some intelligence by remembring the destenied lucks of thou poore sorie girles that were left destitute of desired things both like to fall into despaire and yet both holyen with that thei most desired which in this sort beginneth In the time that Scipio Affricanus had besleged the Citie of Carthage Chera that was a widow dwelling there seing the daunger at hand wherin the Citie stode and doubtyng the losse and ouerthrowe of the same and that the honor of the dames and womankinde coulde vneths be safe and harmelesse determined not to abide the vttermoste and hauing a good quantitie of golde and precious stones she bestowed the same in a casquet and hid it vpon one of the beames of hir house purposing when the stirre and daunger was past to retourne to hir house againe for those hir hidden things Which done in the habite of a poore womaÌ with hir onely daughter in hir hand that was aboute b. or bf yeares of age she went out of Caithage and passed ouer the seas into Scicilia where falling sick after she had ben there thre or foure yeares at length died But before she departed she called hir daughter before hir then about x. yeares of age and tolde hir the place where she had ãâã ãâã casket And by reason of the ãâã gotten by Scipio the citie was maruellously chaunged and amongs other things the house of Chera was giuen to a Roman ãâã that was so enriched with nobilitie of mynde as he was poore of Fortunes goods Which Chera vnderstanding was sorowfull and doubted of hir things secretly bestowed vpon the beame Whervpon she sayd vnto hir daughter that for so much as their house was in the posfession of an other she ought to be wise and circumspect in the recouerie of hir hidden goods and that hir death was the more sorowfull vnto hir bicause she must leaue hir so yong a maiden vnprouided of frendes for hir good gouernement But yet she incouraged hir and sayd that sith necessitie approched she must in childishe age put on a graue and auncient mind and beware how she bewrayed that casket to any person for that of purpose she reserued the knowledge thereof to hir self that it might serue for hir preferment and procure hir a husbande worthie of hir selfe And the maiden demaunding the value of the same she told hir that it was worth CC. ãâã and gaue hir in writyng the particulers inclosed within the Caskette and sayde that the lyke bill shée shoulde finde within the same written with hir owne hande And so the good woman wythin a while after dyed leauing behynde hir the yong mayden hir Daughter that maruellously lantented the death of hir mother accordingly as Nature taught hir and eche other reasonable wyght depriued from their dearest friends The maiden for hir yeres was very wise and would disclose to none what hir mother had sayd kéeping the writing very carefully and ãâã Not long after Philene which was the maidens name fell in loue with a Gentleman of Scicilia of greate reputation and authoritie who all bée it he sawe hir to be very faire and comely yet cared not for hir loue in respecte of mariage for that he knewe hir to be poore and without dowrie mete for a Gentleman iesting and mocking to sée hir fire hir mind on him for desire to haue him to hir husbande that was a personage so noble and rich which refusall pierced the heart of that tender maiden bicause she saw hir self forsaken for nothing else but for want of goods which made hir to think and consider howe shée myght recouer the riches that hir mother had layed vp in Carthage It chaunced as shée was in this thought that the daughter of him to whome the house of Chera was giuen called Elisa was likewise enamoured of a noble yong gentleman in Carthage who bicause Elisa was the daughter of a souldiour and not very rich in like manner laughed iested at hir loue no lesse than the other did at Philene Notwithstanding Elisa attempted all meanes possible to induce the yong man to loue hir but hir practise and attemptes tended to none effect And last of all desirous to haue a resolute answere and thereby vnderstode that he woulde rather die than take hir to wife she fell into despaire and curssed fortune and hir fate that she was not borne riche enough to match with hir chosen Gentleman and that she being poore must fal in loue with such a personage whervpon she miserably formented hir selfe styll bewayling hir vnhappie lucke that she could not win him to be hir husbande for which only intent and purpose she loued him And this amorous passion incredibly growing in hir the rootes whereof bée planted in the restlesse humor of melancholie and wanting all hope and comforte to stay that ranke and raÌmishe wéede it so increased in hir as shée franticke in raging loue gaue hir self ouer to the spoile of hirself And to rid hir from that griefe she determined to kill hir selfe imagining which waye she might doe the same At length she was resolueb with hir fathers sword to pierce hir body But hir heart not seruing hir therevnto deuised by the halter to ende hir life saying thus to hir self that at lest wise my death shall doe me good bicause that cruel man shall know that for his sake I haue done this facte and shall performe my funerals with some teares or sighes And if his heart be not of yron or stéele he can not chose but sorowe and lament that one which loued him better than hir owne life hath made such wretched ende onely for his crueltie Elisa concluding vpon this intent prepared a halter And being alone in hir house in the chamber where the Casket lay vpon
the beame placed a stoole vnder the same and beganne to tie the halter aboute the beame ãâã doing wherof she espied the casket and reached the same vnto hir who féelyng it to be heauie and weightie immediatly did open it and found the bil within which Chera had written with hir owne hand agreable to that which she had deliuered to hir daughter wherin were particularly remembred the Jewels and other riches inclosed within the casket And disclosing the bagges wherein the golde and Jewels were bounde vp and seeing the great value of the same wondred therat and ioyfull for that fortune hid the rope which she had prepared for hir death in the place where shée found the casket and with great gladnesse and mirth weÌt vnto hir father and shewed him what she had found wherat the father reioyced no lesse than his daughter Elisa did bicause he sawe himselfe thereby to be discharged of his former poore life and like to proue a man of inestimable wealthe and substance and saw like wise that the poore wench his daughter by the addicion of those riches was like to attaine the partie whome she loued When hée had taken forth those bagges and well ãâã the value to the intent no man might suspect the sodeine mutation of his state toke his daughter with hym and went to Rome where after he had remained certaine monethes he returned to Carthage and began very galantly to apparell himselfe and to kéepe a bountifull and liberall house His table and port was very delicate and sumptuous and his stable stored with many faire horsse in all points shewing him selfe very noble and rich By which sodein chaunge and mutation of state the whole Citie beléened that he had brought those riches from Rome And bicause it is the coÌmon opinion of the vulgar people that where there is no riches there is no nobilitie and that they alone make the noble and Gentleman a foolishe opinion in déede proceeding from heades that be rash and light the people séeing such a port and charge kepte by the Souldier conceiued and thought that he was of some noble house And thoroughout the whole Citie greate and solemne honour was done vnto him wherevpon the yong Gentleman with whome Elisa was in loue began to bée ashamed of himselfe that he had disdained such a maiden And then the yong maiden séeing hir fathers house to be in such reputation made sute to hir father that he would procure the Gentleman to be hir husband But hir father willed hir in any wise to ãâã secrete hir desire and not to seme hir selfe to be in loue and wisely told hir that more méete it was that she shoulde be solicited by hym than she to make sute or request for mariage alleaging that the lesse desirous the Gentleman had bene of hir the more deare and better beloued she was to him And many times wheÌ his daughter was demaunded to wife he made answere that Matrimonie was a state of no little importance as enduring the whole course of life and ãâã ought wel to be considered and wayed before any ãâã were made But for all these demaundes and answers and all these stops and stayes the maiden was indowed with ãâã ãâã ãâã and in the ende hir louer and she were maried with so great pleasure and satisfaction of them both as they ãâã them selues happie In the meane time while these things were done at Carthage Philene in Scicilia toke thought how she might recouer hir goodes giuen to hir by hir mother destrous by their meanes also to sorte hir earnest and ardcnt loue to happie successe And debating with hir self as we haue sayd before how she might obteine them bicause the house was in possession of an other thought it to bée against reason and order that although she had lost hir house yet that hir goodes ought to be ãâã vnto hir whiche were hir onely maintenance and reputation and the fittest instruments that should conduct hir loue to happie ende And hearing tell that the father of Elisa the possessour of hir mothers house liued at Carthage with greate royaltie and ãâã thought that if by some sleight policie she found not meanes to enter the house without suspicion hir attempt would be in vaine determined therfore to goe to Carthage and to séeke seruice in that house counterfaiting the kinde and habite of a Page For she considered that if she went thither in order and apparell of a maiden she should incurre the perill of hir virginitie and fall into the lapse of diuers other daungers purposed then to goe thither in maner of a page and lackie And when she had in that sort furnished hir self she passed the seas and arriued at Carthage And séeking seruice about the citie at length chauÌced to be retained in a house that was next neighbour to the Souldier and bicause this wench was gentle and of good disposition was well beloued of hir maister who being the friend of Elisa hir father many times sent vnto him diuers preseÌts and gifts by Philene wherevpon shée began to be acquainted familiar with the seruants of the house and by hir oft repaire thither viewed marked euery corner and vpon a time entred the chamber wherin hir mother Chera tolde hir that she had bestowed hir goods and looking vpon the beames espied by certaine signes and tokens one of them to be the same where the casket lay And therwithal well satisfied and contented verily beleued that the casket still remained there and without further businesse for that time expected some other season for recouerie of the same In the ende the good behauiour and diligence of Philene was so liked of Elisa as hir father and she made sute to hir master to giue hir leaue to scrue them who bycause they were his friends preferred Philene vnto them and became the page of that house And one day secretly repairyng into the chamber where she thoughte the treasure lay mounted vpon a stoole and sought the beame for the casket where she founde no casket but in place ãâã that lay the halter wherwithal Elisa woulde haue strangled hir self And searching all the parts of the chamber and the beames and finding nothing else but the halter she was surprised with such incredible sorrow as she ãâã like a stocke without spirite voice or life After Wardes being come againe to hir selfs she began pitifully to lament and complaine in this maner Ah wretched Philene vnder what vnluckie signe and planet was thou begotten and borne with what offense were the heauens wroth when they forced thée to pierce thy mothers woÌbe Coulde I poore creature when I was framed within the moulde of nature and fed of my mothers substance within hir wombe and afterwards in due time brought forth to light commit such crime as to prouoke the celestiall inpressions to conspire agaynst my Natiuitie to bryng mine increased age into such wretched state and plighte wherein it is nowe wrapped and intangled No
black coale or rather their memorie raked vp in the dust and cindres of the corpses vnpure But as all histories be full of lessons of vertue and vice as bokes sacred prophane describe the liues of good and bad for example sake ãâã yelde meanes to the posteritie to ensue the one ãâã the other so haue I thought to intermingle amongest these Nouels the seuerall sortes of either that eche sexe and kinde may pike out like the Bée of eche floure honie to store furnishe with delightes their well disposed minde I purpose then to vnlace the dissolute liues of thrée amorouse dames that with their graces ãâã the greatest princes that euer were enticed the noble men and sometimes procured the wisest and best learned to craue their acquaintance as by the sequele hereof shall well appere These thrée famous women as writers doe witnesse were furnished with many goodly graces and giftes of nature that is to say great beautie offace goodly proporcion of bodie large and high forheads their brestes placed in comly order small wasted fayre hands of passing cunning to play vpon Instruments a heauenlie voice to faine and sing ãâã their qualities and beautie were more famous than euer any the were borne within the couÌtries of Asia and Europa They were neuer beloued of Prince which did forsake them nor yet they made request of any thing which was denied them They neuer mocked or flouted man a thing rare in women of their coÌdition ne yet were mocked of any But their speciall propreties were to allure men to loue theÌ Lamia with hir pleasant looke and eye Flora with hir eloquent tongue and Lais with the grace swetenesse of hir singing voyce A straunge thing that he wich once was ãâã with the loue of any of those thrée eyther too late or neuer was deliuered of the same They were the richest Courtizans that euer liued in the worlde so long as their life did last after their decease great monumentes were erected for their remembraunce in place where they dyed The most auncient of these thrée amorous dames was Lamia who was in the tyme of king Antigonus that warfared in the seruice of Alexander the great a valiant gentleman although not fauored by Fortune This king Antigonus lefte behinde hym a sonne and heire called Deinetrius who was lesse valiant but more fortunate than his father and had bene a ãâã of greate estimation if in his youth ãâã had acquired frendes and kept the same and in his age had not bene giuen to so many vices This king Demetrius was in loue with Lamia and presented hir with riche giftes and rewardes and loued hir to affectionatly and in such sort as in the loue of his Lamia he semed rather a ãâã than a true louer for forgetting the grauitie and authoritie of his person he did not onelie gyue hir all such things as she demaunded but bysides that he vsed no more the companie of his wife Euxonia On a time king Demetrius asking Lamia what was the thing wherewith a woman was sonest wonne Ther is nothing answered she which sooner ouer commeth a woman than wheÌ she séeth a man to loue hir with all his hart to susteine for hir sake great paines and passions with long continuance and entier affection for to loue men by collusion causeth afterwards that they be mocked againe Demetrius asked hir further tell me Lamia why doe diuerse women rather hate than loue men whervnto shée answered The greatest cause why a woman doth hate a man is when the man dothe vaunte boaste himselfe of that which he doth not and performeth not the thing which he promiseth Demetrius demaunded of hir Tell me Lamia what is the thing wherwith men doe content you best when we see him sayde she to be discrete in wordes secrete in his dedes Demetrius asked hir further Tell me Lamia how chanceth it the men be ill matched bicause answered Lamia It is impossible that they be well maried when the wife is in néede the husband vndiscrete Demetrius asked hir what was the cause that amity betwene two louers was ãâã Ther is nothing answered she that soner maketh colde the loue betwene two louers than when one of them doth straye in loue and the woman louer to importunate to craue He demaunded further Tell me Lamia what is the thing that most ãâã the louing man Not to attaine the thing which he desireth answered she and thinketh to lose the thing which he hopeth to enioy Demetrius yet once againe asked hir this question What is that Lamia which most troubleth a womans hart Ther is nothing answered Lamia wherwith a woman is more grieued and maketh hir more sad than to be called yll fauored or that she hath no good grace or to vnderstand that she is dissolute of life This ladie Lamia was of iudgement delicate and subtill although yll ymployed in hir therby made all the world in loue with hir and drew all men to hir through hir faire spéech Now before she lost the heart of king Demetrius she haunted of long time the Uniuersities of Athenes where she gained great store of money and brought to destruction many yong men Plutarch in the life of Demetrius saith that the Athenians hauing presented vnto him ãâã C. talents of money for a subsidie to pay his men of warre he gaue all that ãâã to his woman Lamia By meanes wherof the Athenians grudged were offended with the king not for the losse of their gift but for that it was so euill employed When the king Demetrius would assure any thing by oth he swore not by his Gods ne yet by his predecessors but in this sort As I may be still in the grace of my lady Lamia and as hir life mine may ende together so true is this which I say doe in this this sort One yere two monethes before the death of king Demetrius his frend Lamia died who sorowed so much hir death as for the absence death of hir he caused the Philosophers of Athenes to entre disputation Whether the teares and sorow which he shed and and toke were more to be estemed than the riches which he spent in hir obsequies funerall pompes This amorous gentlewoman Lamia was borne in Argos a citie of Peloponnesus by ãâã nes of base parentage who in hir first yeres haunted the countrie of Asia maior of very wild dissolute life in the end came into Phaenicia And when that king Demetrius had caused hir to be buried before a wyndow ioyning to his house his chiefest frendes asked him wherfore he had entombed hir in that place His answere was this I loued hir so well she likewise me so hartily as I knowe not which way to satisfie that loue which she bare me the duetie I haue to loue hir againe if not to put hir in such place as myne eyes may wepe euery daye mine hart still lament Truely
this loue was straunge which so mightie a Monarch as Demetrius was did beare vnto such a notable Curtizan a woman vtterly voyde of grace barren of good workes without any zeale or sparke of vertue as it should appere But sith we reade know that none are more giuen or bent to vnreasonable loue than mightie princes what shuld it be demed straunge and maruellous if Demetrius amongs the ãâã doe come in place for the loue of that most famous woman yf fame may stretch to eyther sorts both good and euill But let vs come to that second sort of this infamous gentle woman called Lais. She was of the Isle of Bithritos which is in the confines of Graecia was the ãâã of the great Sacrificer of Appollo his teÌple at Delphos a man greatly experienced in the magike art wherby he prophecied the perdition of his daughter Now this ãâã Lais was in triumph in the time of the renowmed king Pirrhus a prince very ambicious to acquire honor but not very happie to kepe the same who being yong of sixtene or ãâã yeres came into Italie to make warres against the Romains He was the first as some say that aranged a campe in ordre and made the Phalanx the maine square and battell For before hys time when they came to entre battell they assailed confusedly and out of array gaue the onset This amorous Lais continued long time in the campe of King Pyrrhus and went wyth hym into Italie and wyth hym retorned from warre againe Notwythstanding hir nature was such as she would neuer bée mainteined with one man alone The same Lais was so amorous in hir conuersation so excellent faire and of so comely grace that if she would haue kept hir selfe to one and bene ãâã to one lord or gentleman ãâã was no prince in the world but would haue yelded himselfe and all that he had at hir commaundement Lais from hir retourne out of Italia into Grece repaired to the citie of Corinth to make hir abode there where she was pursued by many kings lordes and princes Aulus Gellius saith which I haue recited in my former part of the Palace of pleasure the fiftenth Nouell that the good Philosopher Demosthenes went from Athenes to Corinth in disguised apparell to sée Lais and to haue hir company But before the dore was opened she sent one to demaunde ãâã C. Sestercos of siluer ãâã Demosthenes answered I bye not repentance so dere And I beleue that Demosthenes spake those wordes by folowing the sentence of Diogenes who sayth that euerie beast after such acte is heauie and sad Some writers affirme of this amorous Lais that thing which I neuer reade or heard of woman which is that she neuer shewed signe or token of loue to that man which was desirous to doe hir seruice nor was neuer hated of man that knew hir Wherby we may comprehend the happe and fortune of that amorous woman She neuer shewed semblance of great loue to any person and yet she was beloued of all If the amorous Lamia had a good spirite and mynde Lais truely had no lesse For in the art of loue she excéeded all other women of hir ãâã art and science as well in knowledge of loue as to profite in the same Upon a day a yong man of Corinth demaunding of hir what hée should say to a woman whome hée long tyme had loued and made so great sute that therby he was like to fall into dispaire Thou shalt say sayd Lais vnto hir that sith she will not graunt thy request yet at least wise it might please hir to suffer thée to bée hir seruant and that she would take in good parte the seruice that thou shalt doe vnto hir Which request if she doe graunt then hope to atteine the ende of thy attempt bycause that we women bée of such nature as opening the mouth to gyue some myld and pleasant answere to the amorous person it is to bée thought that we haue gyuen our heart vnto the firste suter An other daye in the presence of Lais one praised the Philosophers of Athenes saying that they were very honest personages and of greate skyll and knowledge Whereunto Lais aunswered I cannot tell what greate knowledge they haue nor what science they studie ne yet what bookes your Philosophers doe reade bycause that I being a woman and neuer was at Athenes I sée them repaire hither and of Philosophers béecome amorous persons A Theban knight demaunded of Lais what he might doe to enioy a ladie wyth whose loue hée should bée surprised She aunswered thus A man that is desirous of a woman muste followe hys sute serue hir and suffer hir and sometimes to séeme as though hée had forgotten hir For after that a womans heart is moued to loue she regardeth more the forgetfulnesse and negligence vsed towardes hir than she doth the seruice béefore time ãâã vnto hir An other Gentleman of Achaia asked hir what hée shoulde doe to a woman whome hée suspected that she hadde ãâã hir fayth Lais aunswered make hir beleue that thou thinkest she is very faythfull and take from hir the occasions wherby she hath good cause to doe the same For if she doe perceiue that thou knowest it and dissemblest the matter she will soner dye than ameÌd A geÌtleman of Palestine at another time inquired of hir what he should doe to a woman which he serued and did not esteme the seruice done vnto hir ne yet gaue him thankes for the loue which he bare hir Lais sayed vnto him If thou be disposed to serue hir no longer let hir not perceiue that thou hast gyuen hir ouer For naturallie we women be tendre to loue and hard to hate Being demaunded by one of hir neighbours what she should doe to make hir daughter very wyse She saide Lais that will haue hir daughter to be good and honest she must from hir youth lerne hir to feare and in going abrode to haunte litle companie and that she be shamefast and moderate in hir talke An other of hir neighbors inquiring of hir what she might doe to hir daughter which began to haue delight to rome in the fielde wander abrode The remedy saide Lais that I finde for your daughter disposed to that condition is not to suffer hir to be ydle ne yet to be braue and sumptnous in apparell This amorous gentlewoman Lais dyed in the citie of Corinth of the age of lxxij yeares whose death was of many Matrones desired and of a great numbre of amorous persons lamented The third amorous gentlewoman was ãâã Flora which was not so aucient ne yet of so great renoume as Lamia Lais wer whose couÌtrie also was not so famous For she was of Italie and the other two of Grecia and although that Lamia Lais exceded Flora in antiquitie ãâã Flora surmounted them in lineage generositie For Flora was of noble house although in life lesse than chast She was of the countrie of Nola in
wyth immortall same fame glorie hath in it self these only marks and propertyes to bée knowne by Chastitie toleration of aduersitie For as the mynd is constant in loue not variable or giuen to chaunge so is the bodie continent comely honest and ãâã of Fortunes plagues A true coÌstant mynd is moued with no sugred persuasions of friendes is diuerted with no eloquence terrified with no threates is quiet in all motions The blustering blastes of parents wrath can not remoue the constant mayde from that which she hath peculiarly chosen to hir selfe The rigorous rage of friendes doth not dismay the louing man from the embracement of hir whom he hath amongs the rest selected for his vnchanged féere A goodly exaÌple of constant noble loue this history ensuing describeth although not like in both yet in both a semblable coÌstancie For Euphimia a Kings daughter abandoneth the great loue borne vnto hir by Philon a yong Prince to loue a seruant of hir fathers with whome she perseuered in greate constancie for all his ãâã and ingrateful dealings towards hir Philon séeyng his loue despised neuer maried vntill hée maried hir whome afterwardes hée deliuered from the false surmised treason of hir cancred and malicious husbande Euphimia fondly maried against hir fathers wil and there fore deseruedly after wards bare the penaunce of hir fault And albeit she declared hir selfe to bée constant yet dutie to louing father ought to haue withdrawen hir rashe and headie loue What daungers doe ensue such like cases examples be ãâã and experience teacheth A great dishonour it is for the ãâã and GentlewomaÌ to disparage hir no ãâã house with mariage of hir inferior Yea and great grief to the parents to sée their children obstinate wilfull in carelesse loue And albeit the ãâã Propertius describeth the vehemente loue of those that be noble and haue wherwith in loue to be ãâã ãâã in these verses Great is the ãâã of Loue the constant mynde doth ãâã ãâã And he that is well fraught with wealth in Loue doth much preuaile Yet the tender damosell or louing childe be they neuer so noble or riche ought to attende the fathers time and choise and naturally encline to their ãâã liking otherwise great harme and detriment ensue For when the parents sée that disobedieÌce or rather rebellious minde of their childe their conceiued sorowe for the same so gnaweth the rooted plante of naturall loue as either it hastneth their vntimely death or else ingeÌdreth a heape of melancholie humors which force them to proclaime ãâã and bitter cursse against their ãâã fruite vpon whome if by due regarde they had ãâã ruled they woulde haue pronounced the swéete blessyng that Isaac gaue to Iacob the mothers best beloued boye yea and that displeasure may chaunce to dispossesse them of that which should haue bene the only comfort and stay of the future age So that negligence of parents ãâã and carelesse héede of youthful head bréedeth double woe but specially in the not aduised childe who tumbleth him selfe first into the breach of diuine lawes to the cursses of the same to parents wrath to orphans state to beggers life and into a sea of manifold miseries In whome had obedience ruled and reason taken place the hearte mighte haue bene ãâã the parent well pleased the life ioyfully spent and the posteritie successiuely tast the fruits that elders haue prepared What care and sorrow ãâã what extremitis the foresayde noble Gentlewoman ãâã for not yelding to hir fathers minde the sequele shal at large declare There was sometimes in Corinth a Citie of ãâã a King which had a daughter called Euphimia very tenderly beloued of hir father and being arriued to the age of mariage many noble men of Grecia made sute to haue hir to wife But amongs all Philon the yong king of Peloponessus so fiercely fell in loue wyth hir as hée thought he coulde no longer liue if hée were maried to any other For which cause hir father knowing him to be a King and of singular beautie and that he was far in loue with his daughter woulde gladly haue chosen him to be his sonne in law persuading hir that she shold liue with him a life so happie as was possible for any noble lady matched with Gentleman were he neuer so honorable But the daughter by no meanes woulde consent vnto hir fathers will alleaging vnto him diuers sundry considerations wherby hir nature by no means woulde agrée nor heart consent to ioyne with Philon. The king aboue al worldly things loued his fair daughter and albeit he woulde faine haue broughte to passe that she should haue taken him to husband yet he wold not vse the fathers authoritie but desired that Loue rather than force should match his daughter and therfore for that tyme was contented to agrée vnto hir will There was in the Court a yong maÌ borne of hir fathers bondman which hight Acharisto and was manumised by the King who made him one of the Esquiers for his bodie and vsed his seruice in sundry enterprises of the warres and bicause he was in those affaires very skilfull of bolde personage in conflictes and ãâã verie hardie the King did very much fauor him aswell for that hée had defended him from manifold daungers as also bycause he had deliuered hym from the ãâã pretended against him by the king of the Lacedemonians Whose helpe and valiance the king vsed for the murder and destruction of the sayde Lacedemonian King For which valiant enterprise hée bountifully recompenced him with honorable prefermentes and stately reuenues Upon this yong man Euphimia fired hir amorous eyes and fell so farre in loue as vpon him alone she bent hir thoughtes and all hir louing cogitations Wherof Acharisto béeing certified and well espying and marking hir amorous lookes nourished with like flames the fire wherewith she burned Notwithstandyng his loue was not so ãâã bent vpon hir personage as his desire was ambicious for that she shoulde be hir fathers onely heire and therfore thought that he shold be a most happie man aboue all other of mortall kynde if hée might possesse that inheritance The king perceuing that loue told his daughter that she had placed hir mynde in place so straunge as hée had thought hir wisdome wold haue more warely forséen and better wayed hir estate birth as come of a princely race and would haue demed such loue farre vnworthie hir degrée requiring hir with fatherly words to withdraw hir settled mynde to ioyne with him in choise of husbande for that he had none other worldly heire but hir and tolde hir howe he meant highly to bestowe hir vpon such a personage as a moste happie life she should leade so long as the destenies were disposed to weaue the webbe of hir predestined life And therefore was resolued to espouse hir vnto that noble Gentleman Philon. Euphimia hearkned to this vnliked tale with vnliked words refused hir fathers hest protesting vnto him such reasons
was sent forth on businesse of the kings The conclusion of which practise was that when she caried meate to Acharisto according to the ordre appointed she should faine hir selfe to bée violentlie dispoyled of the prison-key by Acharisto who taking the same from hir should shut hir in the prison and escape and wheÌ hir husband did returne she should make compl ãâ¦ã of the violence done vnto hir according to which deuise the practise was accomplished And when hir husbande returned home hearing his wife crie out within the Tower was meruellously amazed and vnderstanding that Acharisto was deade ignorant of the pollicie betwene his wyfe and Euphimia hée fell into great rage speâdelie repaired to the king and tolde him what had chauÌced The King thinking that the breache of prison was rather through the womans simplicitie than purposed malice did mitigate his displeasure ãâã forthwith he sent out Scoutes to spie and watche in to what place Acharisto was gone whose secrete flight made all their trauell to be in vaine Then the King when he saw that hée coulde not be found made proclamation throughout his realme that who so would bring vnto him the hed of Acharisto should haue to wife his onely daughter and after his decease should possesse his Kingdome for dowrie of that mariage Many knightes did put themselues in redinesse to themselues that enterprise aboue al Philon was the chiefe not for gredinesse of the kingdome but for loue which hée bare vnto the Gentlewoman Wherof Acharisto hauing intelligence and perceuing that in no place of Europa he coulde be safe and sure froÌ daunger for the multitude of them which pursued hym vnto deth caused Euphimia to vnderstand the miserable estate wherin he was Euphimia which bent hir mind employed hir studie for his safegarde imparted hir loue which she bare to Acharisto to an aged Gentlewoman which was hir nurse gouernesse besought hir that she wold intreat hir sonne called Sinapus one very wel beloued of the King so reach his help vnto hir desire that Acharisto might return to the court again The Nurse like a wise woman lefte no persuasion vnspoken nor counsell vnremembred which she thought was able to dissuade the yong gentlewoman froÌ hir conceiued loue but the wounde was so déepely made and hir heart so greuously wounded with the thrée forked arrows of the litle blinde archer Cupide that despising all the reasons of hir beloued nurse she sayde howe shée was firmely bente eyther to runne from hir father and to séeke out Acharisto to sustaine with hym one equall fortune or else with hir owne handes to procure death if some remedie were not founde to recouer the Kynges good grace for the returne of Acharisto The Nurse vanquished with pitie of the yong mayden fearyng bothe the one and the sorte daunger that myght ensue sent for Sinapus and vpon their talke together Euphimia and hée concluded that Acharisto shoulde bée brought agayne vnto the Courte and that shée hir selfe should present him to the Kyng wherin should want no kinde of diligence vntill the Kyng did enterteyne him againe for his faithfull seruaunt as hée was woont to doe Upon which resolution Acharisto was sente for and being come Sinapus and Euphimia together wyth the Nurse tolde hym in what ãâã they thrée had concluded touching his health and safegarde Which of him being well lyked did giue ãâã humble thankes And then Sinapus went vnto the Kyng and tolde him that there was one newely arriued at Corinth to make a present vnto his grace of the hed of Acharisto At which newes the King shewed him selfe so ioyful as if he had gotten an other Kingdome and being placed vnder his cloath of state with his Counsell and Princely trayne about him telling them the ãâã of that assemblie coÌmaunded hym that brought those newes to bring the partie forth newely come vnto the Citie to presente the head of Acharisto Then Sinapus broughte Acharisto before the presence of the King who no sooner looked vpon hym but fell into such a rage as the fire séemed to flame out of his angrie eyes and commaunded hym presentlye to bée taken and put to death But Acharisto fallyng ãâã vpon his knées humbly besoughte his Maiestie to gyue hym leaue ãâã speake But the ãâã ãâã sufferyng hym to vtter one woorde ãâã him away Then the Counsellours and other Lordes of the Courte intreated his grace to heare him At whose requestes and supplications hée ãâã to ãâã contente Then Acharisto began to say Most sacred Prince and redoubted Soueraigne Lord the cause of thys my presumptuous repaire before your Maiestie is not to shew my selfe guiltie of the late beuised conspiracie ne yet to craue pardon for the same but to satisfie your Maiestie with that contented desire whiche by proclamation ye haue prondunced through your highnesse ãâã and ãâã whiche is to offer this heade for reuenge of the fault vniustly laid vnto my charge by those foure which woorthily haue tasted the deserued pame of their ãâã Whersore I am come hither of mine owne accorde to shewe the loue and greate desire whiche euer I had to serue and please your Maiestie And for that I would not coÌsume my lyfe in your displeasure I make offer of the same to your mercifull will and disposition chosing rather to die and leaue your maiestie satisfied contented than to lyue in happie state your princely minde displeased But desirous that hour maiestie shuld know myne innocencie I humbly besech your grace to heare what I can say that my fidelitie may bée throughly vnderstanded the wickednesse of the ãâã myne accusers wel wayed and considered Then hée began to rehearse all the things done by him for the seruice of his crowne and maiestie and finally into what daunger he did put himself when he killed the Lacedemonian king that went about by treason to murder him which enterprise might appere vnto him to be ãâã sure and euident testimonie that he ment nothing hurtfull or preindicial to his highnesse And that hée cstemed not his life when he aduentured for his seruice sauegarde to employ the same after these alleaged causes he added briefly that the loue which his maiestie knew to bée betwene him Euphimia his daughter ought to ãâã persuaded him that ãâã had rather haue suffered death himselfe than commit a thing displeasant to Euphimia And knowing that a more ãâã thing could not chauÌce to hir than the ãâã death of hir father he might wel thinke that he wold haue deuised the death of a thousand other rather than that horrible ãâã déede such as his greatest enimie would neuer haue done much lesse ãâã which was bounde vnto him by so many receiued benefits for whose service preseruacion he had dedicated vowed his life and soule But if so be his maiesties rancor and displeasure could not bée mitigated but by doing hym to death hée desired that none of his alleaged reasons should bée accepted and
custodie and sodainly assailed the Palace of Acharisto And finding the Gates open he entred the citie crying out vpon the wickednesse and treason of Acharisto At which words the whole Citie began to rise to helpe Philon in his enterprise For there was no state or degrée but abhorred the vnkind order of that variet towards the noble woman their Quéene Philon aided with the people assaulted the Palace and in short space inuaded the same and the Uarlet béeing apprehended was put to death The Corinthians séeing the noble minde of Philon and the loue which he bare to Euphimia and knowing that their late Kyng was disposed to haue matched hir with Philon were very willing to haue him to be their king and that Euphimia shold be his wife supposing that vnder the gouernement of a Prince so gentle and valiant they might liue very happily and ioyefully Execution done vpon that moste ãâã varlet Philon caused the Ladie to be conueyed home into hir royall Pallace And the people with humble submission began to persuade hir to marie with that yong Prince Philon. But shée which had lodged hir thoughts and fixed hir minde vpon that caytife who vnnaturally had abused hir would by no meanes consent to take a new husband saying that the seconde mariage was not to bée allowed in any woman And albeit that she knew howe greately she was bounde to Philon as during life not able to recompence his louing kindnesse and baliant exployte performed for hir safegarde yet for all hir vnhappie fortune shée was minded still to remayne a widowe and well contented that Philon shoulde possesse hir whole domynion and kingdome and she pleased to liue his subiecte Whiche state she sayd did like hir best Philon that not for desire of the Kingdome but for loue of the ladie had attempted that worthie and honourable enterprise sayd vnto hir Euphimia it was onely for youre sake that I aduentured this dangerous indeuor to ridde you from the slander that might haue ensued youre innocent death and out of the cruell hands of him whome unworthily you did so dearely loue No desire of kingdome or worldely glorie induced me herevnto No care that I had to enlarge the boundes of my countrey soile pricked the courage of my minde that is altogether emptie of ambition but the passion of carelesse loue whiche this long time I haue borne you in your happie fathers dayes to whome I made incessant sute and to your selfe I was so long a suter vntil I receiued extreme repulse For which I vowed a perpetuall single life vntill this occasion was offred the brute wherof when I heard first so stirred the minde of your most louing knight that drousie sléepe or gréedie hunger could not force this restlesse bodie to tarrie at home vntill I reuenged my self vpon that vilaine borne which went about with roasting flames to consume the innocent flesh of hir whom I loued best And therfore mustred together my men of armes and in secret sort imbarked our selues and arriued here Where wée haue accomplished the thyng we came for and haue settled you in quiet raigne frée from perill of traiterous mindes crauing for this my fact nought else of you but willing minde to be my wife which ãâã you do refuse I passe not for rule of your kyngdome ne yet for abode in Corinth but meane to leaue you to youre choise For satisfied am I that I haue manifested to the world the greatnesse of my loue which was so ample as euer King could beare to vertuous Quéene And so fare well At which wordes he made a signe to his people that they should shippe them selues for returne to Poloponessus But the Senatours and al the people of Corinth seing the curtesie of Philon how greatly their Quéene was bound vnto him fel downe vpon their knées and with ioyned hands befought hir to take him to husband neuer ceasing from teares and supplication vntill shée had consented to their request Then the mariage was solemnised with great ioy and triumphe and the whole Citie after that time lyued in great felicitie quiet so long as nature lengthened the dayes of those two noble Princes The Marchionisse of Monferrato ¶ The Marchionisse of MONFERRATO with a banket of hennes and certaine pleasant wordes repressed the fonde loue of PHILIP the French King The. xvj Nouel GOod Euphimia as you haue heard did fondly applie hir loue vpon a seruile maÌ who though bred vp in Court wher trayuyng and vse doth coÌmonly alter the rude condicions of suche as bée interteyned there yet voyde of all gentlenesse and frustrate of natures swéetenesse in that curteous kinde as not exchaungyng natiue ãâã for noble aduauncement returned to his hoggish soile and walowed in the durtie filthe of Inhumanitie whose nature myght well with Forke or Staffe bee expelled but home againe it would haue come as Horace pleadeth in his Epistles O noble Gentlewoman that mildly suffred the displeasure of the good King hir father who woulde faine haue dissuaded hir from that vnséemely matche to ioyne with a yong Prince a King a Gentleman of great perfection And O pestilent Carle being beloued of so honourable a pucell that for treason discharged thy head froÌ the block of a donghill slaue preferred thée to be a King wouldest for those deserts in the ende frame ãâã matter to consume hir With iust hatred then did the noble Emperor Claudius Caesar prosecute those of bonde seruile kinde that were matched with the frée and noble Right well knew he that some tast of egrenesse wold rest in such sauage frute therfore made a law that the issue of them shold not haue like libertie and preheminence as other had which agréeably did couple What harme such mariage hath inferred to dyuers states and persons to auoide other exaÌples the former Nouel teacheth Wherfore to ende the same with bewailing of Euphimia for hir vnluckie lot begin we now to glad our selues with the wise and stoute aunswere of a chaste Marquesse a Gentlewoman of singular beautie and discretion made to the fond demaunde of a mightie Monarch that fondly fell in loue with hir and made a reckenyng of that which was doubtfull to recouer This King by louing hir whome he neuer saw fared like the man that in his sléepe dreamed that hée had in holde the thing furthest from him For the King neuer saw hir before he heard hir praised and when he hearde hir praised for purpose to winne hir he trauailed out of his way so sure to enioy hir as if he had neuer séene hir This historie although briefe yet sheweth light to noble dames that be pursued by Princes teacheth them with what regard they ought to interteine such suters The Marquesse then of Monferrato a citie in Italie beyng a GentlemaÌ of great prowesse and valiance was appointed to transfrete the Seas in a generall passage made by the christians with an huge Armie and great furniture And as it chaunced vpon
discharge of thy promise which peraduenture some other would not do moued thervnto for the feare I haue of the Necromancer who if he sée Maister Ansaldo to be offended bicause thou haste deluded him may doe vs some displeasure wherfore I will that thou go to maister Ansaldo and if thou canst by any meanes so vse thy selfe as thyne honour saued thou mayst discharge thy promise I shall commende thy witte but if there be no remedie otherwise for that onely time then lende forth thy body and not thy wil. The Gentlewoman hearing hir husband so wisely speake coulde doe nought else but wéepe and sayd that she would not agrée to his request Notwithstanding it pleased the husband for al the deniall which his wife did make that it shoulde be so by meanes wherof the next morning vpon the point of day the Gentlewoman in the homeliest attire she had with two of hir seruants before and hir maide behinde went to the lodging of maister Ansaldo who when he hearde tel that his louer was come to sée him maruelled much and rising vp called the Necromancer and sayde vnto him My wil is that thou sée how much thine arte hath preuailed and going vnto hir without any disordinate lust he saluted hir with reuerence and honestly receiued hir Then they entred into a faire chamber and sitting downe before a great fire he sayd vnto hir these words Madame I humbly beséeche you if the loue whiche I haue borne you of longtime and yet do beare deserue some recompence that it please you to tel me vnfainedly the cause whiche hath made you to come hither thus early and with such a companie The shamefast Gentle woman hir eyes full of teares made answere Sir the loue whiche I beare you nor any promised faith haue brought me hither but rather the onely coÌmaundement of my husbande who hath greater respecte to the paine and trauaile of your disordinate loue than to his owne honour or my reputation who hath caused me to come hither and by his commaundement am readye for this once to satisfie youre pleasure If Mayster Ansaldo were abashed at the beginning he much more did maruell when he hearde the Gentlewoman thus to speake and moued with the liberalitie of hir husbande hée began to chaunge his heate into compassion and sayd Mistresse God defend if it be true that you doe say that I should soyle the honour of him whiche hath pitie vpon my loue and therfore you may tarrie here so long as it shall please you with such assurance of your honestie as if you were my naturall sister and frankly may depart when you be disposed vpon such condition that you render in my behalf those thanks vnto your husband which you shal think coÌuenient for the great liberalitie which he hath imployed vpon me déeming my selfe henceforth somuch bound vnto him as if I were his brother or seruant The Gentlewoman hearing those words the best contented that euer was sayd vnto him Al the worlde coulde neuer make me beleue your great honestie considered that other thing coulde happen vnto me by my comming hither than that which presently I sée For which I recken my selfe perpetually bounde vnto you And taking hir leaue honorably returned in the aforsaid companie home to hir husband and tolde him what had chaunced which engendred perfect loue and amitie betwene him and maister Ansaldo The Necromancer to whome maister Ansaldo determined to gyue the price ãâã betwene them seyng the liberalitie which the husbande had vsed towardes maister Ansaldo and the like of master Ansaldo towards the Gentlewoman s ayd God defende that sith I haue séene the husbande liberall of his honour and you bountifull of your loue and curtesie but that I be likewise fraÌke in my reward For knowyng that it is well employed of you I purpose that you shall kéepe it still The Knighte was ashamed and woulde haue forced hym to take the whole or parte but in offering the same he lost his laboure And the Necromancer the thirde day after hauing vndone hys Garden and desirous to departe tooke his leaue Thus Ansaldo extinguishing the dishonest loue kindled in his hearte for inioying of his ladie vpon consideration of honest charitie and regarde of Curtesie repressed his wanton minde and absteined froÌ that which God graunte that others by like example may refraine Mithridanes and Nathan ¶ MITHRIDANES enuious of the liberalitie of NATHAN and going aboute to kill him spake vnto hym vnknowne and beyng infourmed by him selfe by what meanes he myght doe the same he founde hym in a little woodde accordingly as he had tolde him who knowyng him was ashamed and became his friende The. xviij Nouel STrange may séeme this folowing Historie and rare amonges those in whome the vertue of liberalitie euer florished Many we reade of that haue kepte Noble and bountiful houses entertainyng guestes bothe forreine and frée borne pleÌtifully feasting them with varietie of chéere but to entertain a guest that aspireth the death of his host and to cherish him after he knew of it or liberally to offer his life seldome or neuer we reade or by experience knowe But what moued the ãâã to frowne at the state and life of Nathan Euen that ãâã pestilent passion Enuie the consumer and deadly monster of all humanitie who ãâã the like ãâã and port of his deuout hoste Nathan and séeking after equall glorie and same was thorough enuies force for not atteinyng to the like driuen to imagine how to kil a good innocent man For enuie commonly waiteth vpon the vertuous euen as the shadow doeth the bodie And as the Cantharides which similitude Plutarche vseth delight in ripe and prosperous wheate crawle in spreding roses so enuie chiefly them which in vertue richesse doe abound For had not Nathan bene famous for his goodnesse glorious for liberalitie Mithridanes would neuer haue prosecuted him by enuie nor gone about to berieue his life He that enuieth the vertuous and industrious person may bée compared to Dedalus whom the Poets faine to murder Telon his apprentice for deuisyng of the Potters whéele And Mithridanes disdainefull of Nathans hospitalitie would haue slayne him But howe liberall the good olde man was of his life and how ashamed Mithridanes was of his practise this example at large discourseth Uery true it is at lest wise it credite may be gyuen to the words of certaine Genoua merchantes and of others which haue trauailed that couÌtrey that in Cataia there was sometimes a riche Gentleman without comparison named Nathan who hauyng a place or pallace ioyning vpon the high way by whiche the trauailers to and from the West and East were constrained to passe and hauing a noble and liberall heart desirous by experience to haue the same to be knowne and with what nature and qualitie it was affected be assembled diuers maister Masons Carpenters and in a short time erected there one of the stateliest palaces for greatnesse and riches that euer
ãâã loued and a newe borne childe bothe supposed to be dead by hir friendes and therefore intombed in graue The other chaunce a singular desire of a gentlewoman by huÌble sute for conseruation of hir honour although long time pursued by a gentleman that reuiued hir almost froÌ ãâã and thought vtterly to ãâã voide of life To praise the one and to leaue the other not magnified it were a part of discurtesie but to extoll bothe with shoutes and acclamations of infinite praise no dout but very commeÌdable If comparisons may be made with Princes of elder yeres and not to note those of later truely Maister Gentil by that his fact ãâã not much inferior to Scipio Affricanus for sparing the wife of Indibilis ne yet to king Cyrus for Panthea the ãâã of Abradatas although both of them not in equal state of loue as wholy ãâã from that passion like to master Gentil who in dede for subduing that griefe and motion deserueth greater praise For sooner is that torment auoided at the first assault and pinche than when it is suffred long to flame raigne in that yelding portion of man the heart which once fed with the ãâã of loue is seldome or neuer loosed To do at large to vnderstand the proofe of those most ãâã persones thus beginneth the historie At Bologna a very notable Citie of Lombardie there was a Knight of very great respect for his vertue named maister Gentil Carissendi who in his youthe fell in loue with a gentlewoman called mistresse Katherine the wife of one maister Nicholas Chasennemie And bicause during that loue he receiued a very yll couÌterchange for his affection that he bare vnto that gentlewoman he went away like one desperate to be the iudge potestate of Modena wherunto he was called About that time the husband being out of Bologna and the gentlewomaÌ at ãâã Manor in the country about a mile a halfe from the Citie whither she went to remaine bicause she was with childe it chaunced ãâã she was ãâã surprised with a sicknesse which was such and of so great force as there was no token of life in hir but rather iudged by all Phisitians to be a dead woman And bicause that hir ãâã ãâã sayd that they heard hir say that she could not be so long time with childe ãâã that the infant must be perfect and ready to be ãâã and therefore ãâã wyth some other disease and ãâã that would bring hir to hir end as a ãâã or other swelling rising of grosse humors they thought hir a dead woman and past recouerie wherfore vpoÌ a time she falling into a ãâã was verily supposed and left for dead Who after they had mourned hir death bewailed the ãâã expiration of ãâã soul caused hir to be buried wtout ãâã of recouery euen as she was in that extasie in a graue of a church adioyning harde by the house where she dwelt Which thing ãâã was aduertised master Gentil by one of his freÌds who although he was not likely as he thought to attaine hir fauor in vtter dispaire therof yet it grieued him very muche that no better héede was taken vnto hir thinking by diligence and time she would haue come to hir self againe saying thus in the end vnto him self How now ãâã Katherin that death hath wrought his will with you and I could neuer obtein during your life one simple looke froÌ those your glistering eies which lately I beheld to my great ouerthrow and decay wherfore now when you caÌnot defend your self I may be bold you being dead to steale from you some desired kisse When he had said so being already night and hauyng taken order that none should know of his departure he ãâã vpon his horse accompanied with one only seruauÌt without tarying any where arriued at the place wher his Lady was buried and opening the graue forthwith he entred in and laying him self down bisides hir he approched ãâã hir face and many times kissed hir pouring forthe great abundance of teares But as we sée the appetite of man not to be content except it procéede further specially of such as be in loue being determined to tarye no longer there and to departe he sayd Ah God why should I goe no further why should I not touche hir why shold I not proue whither she be aliue or dead ãâã then with that motion he felt hir ãâã and holding his hand there for a certeine time perceiued hir heart as it were to pant thereby some life remaining in hir Wherefore so softly as he could with the helpe of his man he raised hir out of the graue and setting hir vpon his horsse before him secretely caried hir home to his house at Bologna The mother of maister Gentil dwelled there which was a graue and vertuous gentlewoman who vnderstanding by hir sonne the whole effect of that chaunce moued with compassion vnknowne to any man placing hir before a great fire and coÌforting hir with bathe prepared for the purpose she recouered life in the gentlewoman that was supposed to be deade who so soone as she was come to hir selfe threwe forth a great sigh and said Alas where am I now To whom the good olde woman ãâã Be of good chéere swete hart ye be in a good place The gentlewoman hauing wholly recouered hir senses and looking rouÌd about hir not yet well knowing where she was and séeing ãâã Gentil before hir prayed his mother to tell hir howe she came ãâã To whome maister Gentil declared in order what he had done for hir and what meanes he vsed to bring hir thither Whereof making hir complaint and lamenting the little regard and negligence of hir frends she rendred vnto hym innumerable thankes Then she prayed him for the loue which at other times he bare hir and for his ãâã that she might not receiue in hys house any thing that should be dishonorable to hir person ne yet to hir husband but so soone as it was daye ãâã suffer hir to goe home to hir owne house wherunto ãâã Gentil answered Madame what so euer I haue desired in time ãâã nowe I purpose neuer to demaunde of you any thing or to do here in this place or in any other ãâã but that I would to mine ãâã sister sith it hath pleased God to doe me suche pleasure ãâã from death to life to render you to me in consideration ãâã the loue that I haue borne you heretofore But this good woorke which this nyght I haue done for you well deferueth some recompence Wherfore my desire is that you deny me not the pleasure which I shall demaund whome the gentlewoman curteously answered that she was very redy so the same were honest in bi r power to doe Then said maister Gentil Mystresse all ãâã ãâã and all they of Bologna doe beleue for a trouthe that you be deade wherfore there is none that loketh for you at home and the pleasure then which I demaund is
to be so pure and perfecte as of a lumpe of dead lothsome flesh he hath reuiued so fair and fresh as you sée but to the intent you may more plainly vnderstand how it is come to passe I wil open the same in few words And beginning at the day when he fell in loue with hir he particularly told them what had ãâã til that time to the great maruell and admiration of them that heard him and then he added these words By meanes whereof if your minde be not chaunged within this little time specially maister Nicholas of good right she is my wife and none by iust title can claime hir Wherunto none at al made answer loking that he shold haue procéeded further In the meane while Nicholas and the rest that were there fell into earnest weping But maister Gentil rising from the borde and taking in his armes the little childe and the gentlewoman by the hand went towards Nicholas and sayd vnto him Rise vp sir gossip I doe not restore vnto thée thy wife whom thy frends and housholde did cast into the strécte but I wil giue thée this gentlewoman my gossip with the litle childe that is as I am assured begotten of thée for whome at the christening I made answer and promise and called him Gentil and do pray thée that she be no lesse estéemed of thée for being in my house almost thrée moneths than she was before For I swere by the almighty God who made me in loue with hir peraduenture that my loue might be the cause of hir preseruation that she neuer liued more honestly with hir father mother or with thée than she hath done in company of my mother WheÌ he had sayd so he returned towards the gentlewoman and sayd vnto hir Mistresse from this time forth I discharge you of the promise which you haue made me and leaue you to your husband franke and frée And when he had bestowed the gentlewoman and the childe in the fathers armes he returned to his place againe Nicholas ioyfully receiued his wife childe for the which so much the more he reioysed as he was furthest of from hope of hir recouerie rendering innumerable thankes to the Knight and the rest who moued with compassion wept for company greatly praising master Gentil for that act who was commended of eche man that heard the reporte thereof The Gentlewoman was receiued into hir house with maruellous ioy And long time after she was gazed vpon by the Citizens of Bologna as a thing to their great wonder reuiued againe Afterwards maister Gentil continued still a friend vnto Nicholas and vnto his wife and children Of M. Thorello and Saladine ¶ SALADINI in the habite of a Marchaunt was honourably receiued into the house of master THORELLO who went ouer the sea in companie of the Christians and assigned a terme to his wife when she should marry againe He was taken and caried to the SOVLDAN to be his Falconer who knowing him and suffering him selfe to be knowne did him great honour Maister THORELLO fell sicke and by Magique Arte was caried in a night to PAVII where he found his wife about to mary againe who knowing him retourned home with him to his owne house The. xx Nouel VEry comely it is sayeth Cicero in the secoÌd boke of his Offices that Noble mens houses should ãâã bée open to Noble guests and straungers A saying by the honourable and other estates to bée fixed in sure remembraunce and accordingly practised For hospitalitie housholde intertainment heapeth vp double gain coÌmoditie The guest it linketh and knitteth in fast band of perfect friendship common familiaritie disport of minde pleasant recreation the poore néedy it féedeth it cherisheth it prouoketh in them deuout prayers godly blessings seruice in time of nede Hospitalitie is a thing so diuine as in the law of Nature and Christ it was wel and brotherly obserued Lothe disdained not to receiue the Angels which were straungers vnto him and by reason of his common vse thereof and their friendly interteinement he and his houshold was deliuered from the daunger of the Citie escaped temporal fire and obteined heauenly rewarde Abraham was a friendly host to straungers and therefore in his olde dayes and in the barrein age of his wife Sara he begat Isaac Ietro albeit he was an Ethnicke and vnbeleuing man yet liberally intertained Moyses maried him to Sephora one of his daughters The poore widow of Sarepta interteined Helias and Symon the Currior disdained not Peter nor Lydia the purple silke woman Paule and his felowes Forget not Hospitalitie saythe the sayde Apostle Paule for with the same diuers haue pleased Angels by receiuing them into their houses If Paule the true preacher of eternall health hath so commended keping of good houses which by the former terme we cal hospitalitie then it is a thing to be vsed amongs those that be able to mainteine the same who ought with liberall hande frankly to reache bread and victuals to their acquaintance but specially to straungers which wandering in forein places be useâ vnable to helpe them selues and peraduenture in such néede as without such curtesie doe perishe For the further amplification of which vertue what shall I néede to remember straunge and prophane Histories as of Cimon of Athens who was so famous in the same as the tyrant Crytias when he wished for the riches of the Scopades the victories of Agesilaus forgatte not also to craue the liberalitie of Cimon Pacuuius also the Prince of Campania so friendly entertained Annibal as when his sonne to do the Romanes a good turne woulde haue killed him as he sate at supper was stayde by his fathers request whom he made priuie of his intent before they sate downe Pacuuius had he not more regarded the office of hospitalitie than the safetie of his countrey might full well by that murder haue defended the same from the destruction wherunto afterwards it fell Homere reporteth that Menelaus fighting a combat with Paris of Troy made inuocation and prayer vnto the Gods that he might be reuenged vpon him for the rape of his wife Helena to thintent the posteritie hearing of his punishment might feare to polute friendly houshold interteinment Wherfore sith hospitalitie hath bene thus put in vse in elder time practised in all ages and the poluters of the same detested and accurssed and hath notorious commodities incident vnto it I déeme it so worthie to be frequented in noble men and all degrées as their palaces and great houses should swarme with guests and their gates clustring with whole multitudes of the poore to be satisfied with relief Such hath bene the sacred vse and reuerent care of auncient time Such hath bene the zealous loue of those whose fieldes and barnes closets and chestes haue bene stored and stuffed with worldely wealth that comparing that golden age glistering with pietie and vertue to these our worsse than copper days cancred with all corruption we shall
what he was disposed Afterwards placing all his rich Iewels in suretie and sauegard he discoursed vnto his vncle what had chaunced vnto him till that time The Abbot ioyful for his fortune gaue thankes to God Then master Thorello demauÌded of his vncle what he was that was betrouthed to hys wife The Abbot tolde him To whome master Thorello sayd Before my returne be knowne I am desirous to sée what countenance my wife wil make at the mariage And therefore albeit that the religious doe not vse to repaire to such feasses yet I pray you for my sake take paine to goe thither The Abbot answered that he wold willingly doe so And so soone as it was day he sent woord to the bridegrome that he and a frend of his wold be at the mariage wherunto the gentleman answered that he was very glad thereof When dinner time was come master Thorello in the habite and apparel wherin he was went with the Lord Abbot to the wedding dinner where euery of them that saw him did maruellously beholde him but no man knew him bicause the Abbot answered them that inquired that he was a Sarazene sent Ambassador from the Souldan to the French king Master Thorello was then placed at a table which was right ouer against his wife whome he beheld with great pleasure and delight and perceiued very wel by hir face that she was not well content with that mariage She likewise beheld him sometimes not for any knowledge she had of him for his great beard and straunge attire the firme credite and generall opinion also that he was dead chiefly hindred that But when master Thorello thought time to proue whether she had any remembrance of him be secretely conueyed into his hand the ring which she gaue him at his departure and called a litle boy that wayted vpon hir and sayd vnto him Goe tell the bride in my behalfe that the custome of my countrey is that when any Straunger as I am here is hydden by any newe maried woman as she is now for a token of his welcome she sendeth vnto him the cup wherein she drinketh full of wine wherof after the stranger hath dronke what pleaseth him he couereth the cup againe and sendeth the same to the bryde who drinketh the rest that remaineth The page did his message vnto the bride who like a wise Gentlewoman well brought vp thinking he had ben some great personage to declare that he was welcome commaunded a standing cup all gilt standing before hir to be washed cleane to be filled full of wine caried to the Gentleman which accordingly was done Master Thorello hauing put into his mouthe the aforesaid ring secretely let fal the same into the cup as he was drinking not perceiued of any maÌ to the intent that she drinking the latter draught might espy the ring When he had dronke he returned the cup vnto the bride who thankfully receiued the same And for that the manner of his countrey might bée accomplished when the cup was deliuered vnto hir she vncouered the same pledging the rest of the wine beheld the ring without speaking any woord well viewed the same and knowing that it was the very ring which she had giuen to master Thorello when he departed tooke it out And ãâã ãâã marke and looke vpon him whome she supposed to be a straunger already knowing him tried out as though she had bene straught of hir wittes throwing downe the Table before hir this is my Lord and husband this is of trouth Master Thorello and running to the Table where he sate without respect to his apparell of cloth of golde or to any thing that was vpon the table preassing so néere him as she could imbraced him very harde not able to remoue hir hands from about his necke for any thing-that could be sayd or done by the companie that was there vntill Master Thorello required hir to forbeare for that present for so much as shée should haue leysur inough to vse hir further imbracements Then she left him and contented hir selfe for the time but the ãâã and mariage was wholly troubled and appalled for that sodain chaunce the most part of the guests excéedingly reioysed for the returne of that Noble knight Then the company being intreated to sit still and not to remoue Master Thorello rehearsed in open audience what had chaunced vnto him from the day of his departure vntill that time concluding with a petition to the Bridegrome that had newly espoused his wife that he would not be displeased if he tooke hir againe The newe maried Gentleman albeit it grieued him very sore and thought him selfe to be mocked answered liberally and like a friend that it was in his power to doe with his owne what he thought best The Gentlewoman drawing of the rings and garland which she had receyued of hir new husband did put vpon hir finger the ring which she found within the cup and likewise the Crowne that was sent vnto hir by Saladine And the whole troupe and assemblie leauing the house where they were went home with master Thorello and his wife and there the kin and friends and all the Citizens which haunted the same and regarded it for a myracle were with long feasting and great cheare in great ioy and triumph Master Thorello departing some of his precious Iewels to him that had bene at the cost of the marriage likewise to the Lord Abbot and diuerse others and hauing done Saladine to vnderstaÌd his happy repaire home to his ãâã recommending him selfe for euer to his commaundement liued with his wife afterwardes many prosperous yeres vsing the vertue of curtesie more than euer he did before Such was the end of the troubles of master Thorello and his welbeloued wife and the recompence of their franke and honest curtesies Anne the Queene of Hungarie ¶ A Gentleman of meane calling and reputation dothe fall in loue with ANNs the Queene of HVNGARIS whom she ãâã royally and liberally requited The. xxj Nouel FOlowing the preceding argumentes treated in certain of that former Nouels I wil now discourse the princely kindnesse curtesie done to a poore Gentleman by a Ladie of later dayes Anne the Quene of Hungarie whiche Gentleman though beyoÌd his reach to catch what he aspired fell in loue with that bountiful and vertuous Gentlewoman thinking bylike that she in end would haue abased hir Maiestie to recline to his vain and doting trauaile But she like a Quéene not despising the poore mans loue vouchsafed by familiar spéeche to poure some drops of comfort into his louing minde and once to proue on whome hée fixed his fansie reached him a nosegay and prayed him to bestowe it vpon whome he liked best All which familiar dealings she vsed to kepe the poore pacient from dispaire that so highly had placed him selfe But in end perceiuing his continuance wold not reiect and giue him ouer or with scornes and floutes contemne the amorous gentleman and that
long loue might gaine some deserued guerdon she neuer left him vntill she had preferred him to a Noble office in Spayne The noble disposition of this chast and gentle Quéene I thought good to adioyne next to that of master Thorello and Saladine who for curtesie and passing mutual kindnesse are worthy of remembrance And for you noble Dames for a Christall to sharpen your sights and viewe the recompence of loue done by a Quéene of passing beautie and yet most chast vertuous that it might somewhat touch your squeymish stomakes and haultie hearts lenifie that corrosiue humor which with frowning face forceth you to ouerperke your humble suppliants A helping preseruatiue I hope this Historie shal be to imbolden you to yeld your noble endeuors to Gentlemen that loue you in sutes and petitions to their prince and soueraigne An incoragement I hope to be mediators for such as by seruice and warfare haue confirmed their faithfull deuoirs for defense of their Countrey Remember the care the Romane matrones had for those that deserued well of their Common wealth as howe they mourned for Lucius Brutus one whole yeres space for his good reuenge ouer the rauishers of Lucrece for Martius Coriolanus for his pietie and mothers sake discharging his Countrey from the enimies siege Let mistresse Paolina of the priuie chaÌbre to this Quene Anne render example for prefermeÌt of such as be worthy to be cherished and estéemed O how Liberalitie be séemeth a Quéene no lesse as one maketh comparison than the bright beames the Sunne or the twinkling starres in the firmament Oh how diligence in Gentlewomen aduaunced to Princes chambres no lesse than the gréene leaues to braunched trées or diuers coloured floures in Nosegayes So flourishing be the fruites that bud from liberalitie and freshe the benifites that ãâã of the painfull trauailes sustained in the suites of seruiceable Gentlemen This Philippo whome the Quéene preferred and liberally rewarded was a meane Gentleman but yet learned well furnished with commendable qualities His deserued aduauÌcement may stirre vp eche Gitle heart to merite and serue in Common wealth His learning other vertues may awake the sluggish courtier from loytering on Carpets and doing things vnséemely His diligence also reuiue the blockish sprites of some that route their time in sluggish sléepe or wash the day in hariotrie and other ãâã exercise Whose exam ple if they practise or imitate such commentable life as becommeth their estates then glory will followe their déedes as the shadow doeth the body Then welfare and liuelihoode aboundantly shal be ministred to supply want of patrimonie or defect of parents portion And thus the Historie doth begin Not long sithens Quéene Anne the sister of Levves that was king of Hungarie wife to Ferdinando Archeduke of Austriche which at this day is parcell of the kingdome of Hungarie and Boeme togither wyth the Lady Mary daughter of Philip king of Spaine and wife of the sayd Levves went to kéepe hir abode and so orne in Hispurge a Countrey among the Dutche very famous where many times the Court of the Hungarian Princes long space remayned These two Noble Quéenes remained wythin the Palace of king Maximilian Emperoure at that time elected which Palace is so néere adioyning to the Cathedrall Church as without sight of the people at their pleasure they might by a secrete Gallerie passe to the Church to heare diuine seruice accustomably celebrated there Which vse they daily obserued with their Ladies and Gentlewomen and other Lordes and Gentlemen of the Court. In which Church was made and erected a high place in manner of a Closet gorgeously wrought and in royall manner apparelled of such amplitude as it was hable to receyue the whole traine and companie attendant vpon the Persons of the two Quéenes Nowe it came to passe that a Gentleman of Cromona in Italie called Philippo di Nicuoli which in those dayes by reason of the recouerie of the Duchie of Milane by the Frenche departed Lombardie and went to Hispurge and was Secretarie to Signor Andrea Borgo bicause hée was well learned and coulde wryte very faire and therewithall a proper and very handsome man This yong Gentleman very much frequenting the Church and séeing the beautie of Quéene Anne to excell all the reast of the Ladies adorned and garnished with Princely behauioure and Quéene like qualities not foreséeing when he beheld hir the nature of loue which once being possessed neuer leaueth the pacient till it hath infebled his state like the qualitie of poyson distilling through the vaines euen to the heart Which louing venim this Gentleman did drinke with the lookes of his eyes to satisfy and content his desired minde by viewing and intentife considering hir wonderfull beautie that rapt beyonde measure he was miserably intangled wyth the snares of blinde and deceitfull loue wherewith he was so cruelly inflamed that hée was like to sorte out of the boundes of reason and wytte And the more hée did beholde the highnesse of hir Maiestie and the excellency of so great a Lady and ther withal did weigh and coÌsider his base degrée and lignage and the poore state whereunto srowarde ãâã that time had brought him that more he thought him selfe ãâã and voide of hope and the more the yerillous flames of loue did assaile fire his amorous heart kindling his inward partes with loue so déepely ingraffed as it was impossible to be rooted out Master Philippo then in this maner as you haue heard knotted and intrapped within the fillets and laces of loue supposing all labour which he should imploy to be lost consumed throughly bent him selfe with all care and diligence to atchieue this high honorable enterprise what so euer should come of it which effectually he pursued For alwayes when that ãâã were at church to heare diuine seruice he failed not to be there And hauing done his ãâã reuerence which very comely he could doe he ãâã to bestow him selfe ãâã ouer against hir where deliting in the beautie of the Quéene which daily more more inflamed his heart ãâã not depart from thence till the Quéenes were disposed to goe And if perchaunce for some occasion the Quéenes went not to Church master Philippo for all that were his businesse neuer so great and néedeful would vouchsafe at least wise to visit the place where he was wont to sée his Ladie Suche is the ordinarie force of loue that although libertie of sight and talke be depriued from the pacient yet it doeth him good to treade in the steps of that ground where his mistresse doth vsually haunt or to sée the place vpon which she eased hir tender corps or leaned hir delicate elbowes This yong man baited and fed in amorous toyes deuises now armed with hope and by and by disarmed by despair reuoluèd in his minde a thousand thoughts and cogitations And although he knew that his ladder had not steps ãâã to clime so high yèt from his determined
purpose he was not able to remoue but rather the more difficult and daungerous his enterprise séemed to be the more grew desire to prosecute and obiect him selfe to all dangers If peraduenture the Quéenes for their disport and pastime were disposed to walke into the fieldes or gardens of the Citie of Hispurge he failed not in company of other Courtiers to make one of the troupe being no houre at rest and ãâã if he were not in the sight of Quéene Anne or néere that place where she was At that time there were many Gentlemen departed from Lombardie to Hispurge which for the most parte followed the Lord Francesco Sforza the second by whom they hoped when the Duchie of Milane was recouered to be restored to their Countrey There was also Chamberlain to the said Lord Francesco one master Girolamo Borgo of Verona betwene whome and master Philippo was very néere friendship familiaritie And bicause it chauncethvery seldome that seruent loue can be kept so secrete and couert but in some part it will discouer it selfe master Borgo easily did perceiue the passion wherwith master Philippo was inflamed And one master Philippo Baldo many times being in the company of master Borgo and Philippo did marke and perceiue his loue yet was ignorant of the truthe or voide of coniecture with what Gentlewoman he was inamored But séeing him contrary to wonted custome altered from vsual mirth transported fetching many sighes strainings from his stomake and marking how many times he wold steale from the coÌpany he was in withdraw him self alone to muse vpon hys thoughts brought thereby into a melancholy and meane estate hauing lost his sléepe and ãâã of eating meat iudged that the amorous wormes of ãâã ãâã bitterly gnawe and teare his heart wyth the nebs of their forked heads They three then being vpon a time togither debating of diuers things amoÌgs them selues chaunced to fall in argument of loue and ãâã Baldo Borgo the other gentlemen said to master Philippo how they were well assured that he was strauÌgely attached with that passion by marking and considering the new life which lately he led contrary to former vse intreating him very earnestly that he would manifest his loue to them that were his déere and faithful frends telling him that as in weightie matters otherwise hée was alredy sure what they were eueÌ so in this he might hardily repose his hope and confidence promising him all their helpe and fauoure if therein their indeuor and trauaile might minister ayde and comfort He then like one raised from a traunce or lately reuiued from an ãâã after he hadde composed his countenaunce and gesture with teares and multitude of sobbes began to say these woordes My welbeloued friendes and trusty companiens being right well assured that ye whose sidelitie I haue already proued whose secrete mouthes be recómmended amongs the wise and vertuous will kéepe close and couert the thing which you shall heare me vtter as of such importaunce that if the yong ãâã Gentleman Papyrius had bene héere for all hys silence of graue matters required by hys mother I would vnnethes haue disclosed the same vnto hym In déede I cannot deny but must néedes consesse that I am in loue and that very ardently which I cannot in suche wise conceale but that the blinde must néedes clearely and euidently perceiue And although my mouth would ãâã kéepe close in what plight my passions doe constraine my inwarde affections yet my face and straunge manner of life which for a certayne time and space I haue led doe witnesse that I am not the man I was ãâã to be So that if shortly I doe not amend I trust to arriue to that ende whereunto euery Creature is borne and that my bitter and paynefull life shall take ende if I may call it a life and not rather a liuyng death I was resolued and throughly determined neuer to discouer to any man the cause of my cruell torment being not able to manifest the same to hir whome I doe only loue thinking better by conceling it through loue to make humble sute to Lady Atropos that shée would cutte of the thréede of my dolorous lyfe Neuerthelesse to you from whome I ought to kéepe nothyng secrete I will disgarboile and ãâã the very secretes of my minde not for that I hope to finde comfort and reliefe or that my passions by declaration of them wil lessen and diminishe but that ye knowing the occasion of my death may make reporte thereof to hir that is the only mistresse of my life that she vnderstanding the extréeme panges of the truest louer that euer liued may mourne and waile his losse which thing if my séely ghost may know no doubt where so euer it doe wander shall receiue great ioy and comforte Be it knowne vnto you therefore the first daye that mine eyes beheld the diuine beautie and incomparable sauer of that superexcellent Lady Quéene Anne of Hungarie that I more than wisdom required did meditate and consider the singular behauior and notable ãâã and other innumerable gifts wherwith she is indued the same beyònde measure did so inflame my heart that impossible it was for me to quenche the feruent loue or extinguish the least parte of my conceiued torment I haue done what I can to macerate and mortifie my vnbridled desire but all in vayne My force and puissaunce is to weake to matche wyth so mightye an ãâã ãâã ãâã I knowe what ye wyll obiecte against me ye will say that mine ignobilitie my birth and stocke be no méete matches for such a personage and that my loue is to highly placed to sucke relief And the same I do ãâã so well as you I doe acknowledge my condition state too base I confesse that my loue nay rather I may terme it folly doth presume beyond the bounds of order For the first time that I felt my selfe wrapped in those snares I knew hir to beare the port amoÌgs the chiefest Quéenes to be the ãâã princesse of Christendom Againe I knew my selfe the poorest Gentleman of the world and the most miserable exile I thought moreouer it to be very vnséemely for me to direct my minde vpon a wight so honorable and of so great estate But who can raine the bridle or prescribe lawes to loue What is he that in loue hath frée will and choyse Truely I beleue no man bicause loue the more it doth séeme to accord in pleasure and delight the further from the marke he shooteth his bolte hauing no respect to degrée or state Haue not many excellent and worthy personages yea Dukes Emperours and Kings bene inflamed wyth the loue of Ladies and women of base and vile degrée Haue not most honorable dames and women of greatest renoume despised the honor of their states abandoned the companie of their husbaÌds and neglected the loue of their children for the ardent loue that they haue borne to men of inferiour sort All Histories
other to honour and loue ãâã for euer But we haue digressed too long from oure Historie and therfore retourning to the same againe I say that ãâã the guide of master Philippo was fully determined to bestow hir fauor vpon hym For besides that the Quéene ãâã estéemed his loue it séemed that all thyngs were vnited and agréed to sort his enterprise to happy successe The Quéene ãâã to ãâã Gouernesse ãâã Paola ãâã Caualli a ãâã of Verona verie ãâã graue aduaÌced to that calling by Madonna Bianca Maria Sforza the wife of the Emperour Maximilian whome ãâã Anne required ãâã to procure for hir such ãâã in the Thoscane language and other Italian workes as were to be founde bicause hir disposition was to be ãâã and familiar in that tongue and employed great diligence to learne and exercise the same wherein she attained such ãâã as all Italians coulde very well vnderstande hir Now as the good lucke of master Philippo would haue it he that day went to the Courte alone continually ãâã if it were possible at all times to be in presence of the ãâã Whome so soone as Madonna Paola espied bicause she familiarly knew hym she went vnto him and sayd My welbeloued friend master Philippo bicause the ãâã hath great delight to lerne our tongue and therein alreadie hath ãâã good towardnesse as by hir common speakyng of the same you may perceyue this mornyng at ãâã vprising shée gaue mé a great charge to procure for hir certaine Italian Rithmes who besides those bookes in that tongue alreadie printed gladly desireth to sée some trymme deuises of dyuerse learned ãâã ãâã that make in oure time specially ãâã minde is earnestly disposed vpon rithmes cunningly ãâã wherof I thinke you haue some store by reason of your delight in that exercise Wherefore I thought to repaire vnto you and doe heartily pray you to make ãâã Maiestie partaker ofsuch as you haue wherein you shall do hir great and gratefull seruice and I shal remain ãâã bound vnto you besides that I do purpose when I present them vnto hir to make hir priuie that I receiued them at your handes which bicause of the loue shée ãâã to our nation she wil fauourably accept and the same no doubte when oportunitie serueth liberally rewarde Master Philippo in ãâã wise thanked the gentlewomaÌ and sayd that he was sorie he was not able better to satisfie hir request bicause in that ãâã he had small store of such desired things neuerthelesse he would make diligent search to get so many as were possible to be founde either amongs the Gentlemen that folowed the Court or else where they were to be gotten In the meane time he sayd that he woulde deliuer those few he had and wold bring them vnto hir that night And praying hir to commende him to the good grace and fauour of hir maiestie he toke his leaue and wente straight to his lodging where diligently he began to searche among his writings the gladdest man in the worlde for that occasion offered and founde amongs the same diuers rithmes which he thought vnworthie to passe into the handes of so great a Lady sauing the thirde Rithme or Chapter as we commonly call it made by a notable Doctor of the lawes and excellente Poet called M. Niccolo Amanio of Crema who no doubt for making of vulgar rithmes therby expressing the amorous affections of Louers was in our time without comparison And bicause the same was so apt for that purpose of master Philippo his loue as could be desired he wrote the same faire being in dede a very faire writer in a shéete of paper which soundeth to this ãâã Quanto piu cresce Amor l'aspro tormento c. The more O Loue thy bitter pangs augment Melting by times my sad accensed spreete The more to burne I feele my selfe content And though eche day a thousande times I fleete Tvvixt hope and dreade all dolour yet and smart My glorious proofe of enterprise makes svveete The fire so high vvhich kindled hath myne hart As by loues flames none euer had I knovv So loftie source of heate in any part Svveete then my torments are svvete is my vvoe Svvete eke of loue the light svvete the conceyte From so high beames fallen in my breast groe Such povver of porte such maiestie most gret I tremble to beholde and do confesse My lotte to base so vvorthy a blisse to get But Will herein my Reason doth suppresse And those faire eyes vvhere loue hym selfe nie lies Armed vvith lookes of ioy and gentlenesse Lokes that vpliftes my soule aboue the Skies And in each coast all cloudes expelling cleane Do teache ten thousande pathes to Paradise My Goddesse braue Angclicall Sirene Fairenesse it selfe Dame Beauties sacred heire What mountes of ioy may match my happy peyne Whose scaling hope hovv so ensue dispeire Leues vauÌt of thoughts vvhich once so highly flevv As honour all that earth besides doth beare Comparde to this but baggage vvere to vevv When Master Philippo had written out these verses immediatly he returned to the court and caused Madonna Paola to be called vnto him by one of the Gromes of the Chamber to whome he sayde Mistresse Paola I haue brought you a ditie that is very trim prety which I pray you deliuer to the ãâã and I will do what I can to get other Mistresse Paola tooke them and wente into the chamber and finding the ãâã alone sayd vnto hir Madame this mornyng ye commaunded me to get you some Italian Rithmes and vpon inquirie I haue receiued these ãâã verses of maister Philippo secretarie to the Lord Andrea Borgo who hath promised to bring me other The ãâã hearing hir speake those wordes smiling receiued the paper and read the same the sense wherof she liked very wel thinking that master Philippo had bene the compositor of the same and that of purpose he had made them for hir whereby shée was oute of doubt that it was she that master Philippo so feruently loued and the better hir opinion was confirmed bicause some of the wordes tended to the state of hir personage And considering the valor of his minde she blamed Nature for that in a maÌ so basely borne she had sowen séede that brought forth such a GeÌtlemanlike and noble hart greatly to hir selfe praising the yong man Then she conferred the whole matter with hir cousin ãâã Marie which was a wise and comely Ladie and vpon that loue they vsed many discourses more and more esteming the yong gentleman ãâã Anne determined when conueniently shée might to rendre to maister Philippo for his great loue condigne rewarde and studying still howe to requite his curtesie euer when she saw master Philippo she vsed him with hir wonted chere grateful salutation which thing only euery honest geÌtlemaÌ ought to ãâã that is indued with reason at that hands of a princesse so noble worthy as a rewarde sufficient that inequalitie of the parties considered Wherof master Philippo
auncient libertie and displeasant to the Senatours and ãâã to sée them selues depriued of the soueraintie of Iustice and of the authoritie they had to ãâã all the Citizens yet for al that was he indued with so good qualities and gouerned so well his principalitie as that which at the beginnyng was termed Tyrannie was receiued as iust domination and that whiche was supposed to be abused by force semed to be done as it wer by lawful succession And they counted them selues happy when they saw their luck to be such as their common wealth must néedes obey the aduise and pleasure of one Prince alone to haue a soueraine lorde so wise so vertuous and so ful of curtesie Who albeit in other things he shewed him selfe praise worthie noble and of gentle kynde yet vanquished he him selfe in him selfe and in the rest of his perfection by that indifferent iustice which made him wonderfull by reason hée denied the same to none and in no one iote shewed him selfe parcial to any which thought by him to be supported in their follies And that which was more to be wondred in hym augmented the praise of his integritie in iudgement was that he punished in an other the thyng which by reason he oughte to haue pardoned and remitted he beyng attainted well beateÌ with that disease But the good Lord applied to reason to time to the grauitie of the fact and qualitie of the offended persones For where the greatnesse of the déede surpasseth all occasion of pardon and mercy the Prince Iudge or Magistrate ought to dispoile and put of his swetest affections to apparel himself with rigor which reacheth the knyfe into the hande of him that ruleth of purpose that so priuate familiaritie do not in the ende raise in the subiects heart a contempt of their superiours and an ãâã licence lawlesse to liue at their pleasure Now the thing which I meane to tel consisteth in the proofe of a rare and exquisite prudence which seldome or neuer harboureth in yong age the heates wherof can not but with great difficultie féele the coldnesse and correction of reason And likewyse the causes from whence wisdomes force procéedeth doe rest in long experience of things wherby men waxe old in ripenesse of witte and their déedes become worthy of praise Then Duke Alexander ordred so wel his estates and kept such a goodly and plentifull Court as the same gaue place to no Prince of Italic how great or rich so euer it was and that he did aswell for his owne garde honor as to shew the natural stoutnesse of his corage not vsing for all that any insolencie or vnséemely dealing against the haynous and auncient enimies of his house Amongs this goodly troupe of courtiers which ordinarily folowed the Duke there was a Florentine gentleman very néere the Duke and the best beloued of them all This yong Gentleman had a Manor hard by Florence where he was very well stately lodged which caused him many times to forsake the Citie with two of his companions to recreate him self in that pleasant place It chaunced vpon a day he being in his fieldish house bisides the which there was a Mill the master whereof had a passing faire daughter whome the sayd Gentleman did well marke and behold and with hir became straungely in loue in whome also appeared some Noble port that excéeded the bloud and race whereof she came But what The heauens be not so spare distributers of their gifts but sometimes diuide them with the least measure and at other times in equall weight or greatest heape to them that be of basest sort and popular degrée so well as to the greatest men and of most noble race Rome sometimes hath séen a bondman and slaue sometimes a runnagates sonne for his wit and corage to beare the scepter in his hand and to decide the causes of a lofty people who already by reason of his sleights and practises began to aspire the Empire of the whole world And hée that wythin our Fathers remembrance desireth to know what that great Tambarlane of Tartarie was the astonishment and ruine of all the ãâã partes shall well perceiue that his originall sorted from the vulgar sort from the basest place that was amongs all estates wherby must be confessed that the goodnesse of nature is such and so great that she wil helpe hir nourice children whatsoeuer they be the best she can Not that I meane to inferre hereby but that the bloud of predecessors with the institution of their posterity much augmeÌteth the force of the sprite and accomplisheth that more sincerely whereunto nature hath giuen a beginning Now to come to our purpose this yong Courtier taken and chained in the bandes of loue ãâã clogged with the beauty and good grace of that Countrey wench ãâã the meanes how he might inioy the thing after which he hoped To loue hir he demed it vnworthy of his degrée And yet he knew hir to be such by report of many as had a very good wit tongue at wyll and which is more estemed a Paragon and mirror of chast life modesty Which tormented this amorous Mounsier beyoÌd mesure and yet chaunged not his affection assuring himself that at length he shold attaine the end of his desires and glut his vnsatiable hunger which pressed him froÌ day to day to gather that soote and sauorous frute which louers so egerly sue for at maydens handes of semblable age to this who then was betwene xbj and. xvtj. yeres This louer did to vnderstand to his companions his griefe and ãâã who sory for the same assayed by all meanes to make him forget it telling him that it was vnséemely for a Gentleman of his accompt to make himself a ãâã to that people which would come to passe if they knew how vndiscretely he had placed his loue that there wer a number of fair honest gentlewomen to whom conuenably with great contentation he might addresse the same But he which much lesse saw than blind loue him selfe that was his ãâã he that was more ãâã of reason aduise than the Poets faine Cupido to be naked of apparel wold not heare the good counsel which his companions gaue him but rather sayd that it was lost time for them to vse suche words for he had rather die and to indure all the mocks scoffs of the world than lose the most delicate pray in his minde that could chaunce into the handes of man adding moreouer that the homelinesse rudenesse of the Countrey had not so much anoyed his new beloued but she deserued for hir beauty to be compared with the greatest Minion and finest attired gentlewoman of the City For this maiden had but the ornament and mynionnesse which nature had enlarged where other artificially force and by trumperies vsurpe that which the heauens denie them Touching hir vertue let that passe in silence sitheÌs that she quod hée sighing is too chast
vertuous for one whome I wold choose to daly with all My desire is not to make hir a Lucrece or some of those auncient Matrones which in elder yeres builded the temple of womans Fortune at Rome The companions of this louer séeing how he was bent promised him what they were able to doe for accomplishment of his will for the which hée thanked theÌ very heartily offring himself to like duety wher fortune should prepare the proofe of their affection néede of his ãâã seruice In the meane time conceiuing in his minde some new deuise which so sone as hée desired was not able to be brought to passe knowing that the duke seldoÌe wold haue him out of his sight begaÌ to muse vpoÌ lies doing him to vnderstand that he had necessary occasion for a certein time to remain be at his couÌtry house The duke which loued him who thought that either he had some secrete sicknesse or else some wench which he was lothe to discouer before his coÌpanioÌs gaue him leaue for a month which so pleased the amorous Gentleman as he ãâã for ioy was not able to rest one houre before he had ãâã out his friends and companions to mount on horsbacke to visite hir that had vnder hir power and obeysance the best portion of him which was his heart and his most secrete thought When hée was come to his Countrey house hée began to stalke abrode and daunce a round about the Mill where his beloued did dwell who was not so foolish but by and by suspected wherunto those goings and commings of the Pilgrim tended and for what pray he led his Dogs in lease and caused so many nets cords to be displayed by hunters of all ages and eche sexe who to discouer the Countrey assayde to beate the bushes to take the beast at forme For which cause shée also for ãâã parte began to flie the snares of such Birders and raunging of the Dogs that vented after hir strayed not ãâã the house of the good man hir father whereof ãâã poore louer conceiued greate dispaire not knowing by what meanes he might rouse the praie after which hée hunted ne finde the meanes to do hir to vnderstand his plaints vnmeasured griefe of heart the firme loue and sincere minde wherwith he was so earnestly bent bothe to ãâã and loue hir aboue all other And that which most of all increased his pain was that of so great a troupe of messages which he had sent with gifts and promisses the better to atchieue his purpose no one was able to take placeor force neuer so little the chastite of that sober modest maide It chaunced one day as the Gentleman walking along a woode side newly felled hard adioyning to his house by which there was a cleare and goodly fountaine shadowed betwéene two thicke lofty Maple trées the Millers daughter went thither for water and as she had set downe hir pailes vpon the fountaines ãâã hir louer came vnto hir little thinking of such a ioyfull méeting which he well declared by these woords Praysed be God that when I hoped least of this good happe hée hath sent me hither to sée the only substance of my ioy Then tourning his face towards the maiden sayd vnto hir Is it true that thou art héere or do I dreame and so neare to him that most desireth to gratifie thée in any thing wherin it may please thée to commaunde him Wilt thou not haue pitie vpon the paines and griéfs which continually I indure for the extreme loue I beare thée And saying so he would haue imbraced hir But the mayd which cared no more for his flatteries than before she did for his presents and messages seing the same to tend to nothing else but to hir ruine and great dishonor with stout countenance and by hir liuely colour declaring the chast and vertuous motion of hir bloud sayd to this valiant Gentleman How now ãâã doe you thinke that the vilenesse of mine apparell holdeth hidden lesse vertue than the rich and sumptuous ornaments of the greatest Ladies Doe you suppose that my bringing vp hathe bred in me such grosse bloud as for your only pleasure I should corrupt the perfection of my minde blot the honor which hither to so carefully I haue kept and religiously preserued Be sure that soner death shall separate the soule from my body than willingly I would suffer the ouerthrowe violation of my virginitie It is not the part of a Gentleman as you be thus to espy and subtely pursue vs poore countrey maids to charme vs with your sleights and ãâã talke It is not the duety of a Gentleman to ãâã such vaunte currors to discouer and put in peril the honoure of maidens and honest wiues as heretofore you haue done to me It ought to suffice that you receyued shame by repulse of your messaÌgers and not to come your selfe to be partakers of their shame and confusion And that is it that ought to ãâã you swéete heart answered he to take pitie vpon my griefe so plainly séeing that vnfainedly I doe loue you and the my loue is so well planted as rather had I suffer death than occasion the ãâã offense that may displease you Only I beséeche you not to ãâã your self so cruel vnto him who ãâã all other hath made you so frank an offer both of him self of all that he hath to commaund The maid not greatly trusting his words feared that he proloÌged the time to make ãâã stay til his seruaÌts came to steale hir away And therfore without further answer she taking vp hir pailes half running til she came néere the Mil escaped his ãâã telling hir father no part of that talk betwene them who began already to doubt the treason deuised by the geÌtle man against the pudicitie of his daughter vnto whom he neuer disclosed his suspition were it that he knew hir to be vertuous inough and constant to resist the luring assaults of loue or considered the imbecillitie of our flesh the malice of the same which daily aspireth to things thervnto defended by lawes limited and prescribed which lawes it ought not to excéede and yet thereof wisheth the abolishment And the goodman also did feare that she did not care for the words that he had sayd vnto hir as alredy resolued in opinion that she wished desired the loue and acquaintance of him whome she hated to death and that vanquished by despite for the litle regard had of hir chastitie she wold not giue ouer hir louer which neyed after none other prouender Who séeing that the maideÌ ãâã forsaken him and little estemed his amorous onset outraged for loue and ãâã with choler bothtogether ãâã with him self sayd Ah foolish dastard louer what ãâã thou meane when thou hadst hir so nere thée in a place so commodious and was not able ne durst gainesay thée And what knowest thou if she came to ease thy
riueld for age and Sunneburned with heate and continuall Countrey trauaile and that which moued most the standers by was the ruefull looke of the good olde man who casting his lookes héere there beheld eche one with his holow dolorous eyes in such wise as if hée had not spoken any woord hys countenaunce wold haue moued the Lords to haue compassion vpon his misery his teares wer of such force as the Duke which was a wise man and who measured things by reasons guide prouided with wisedome and foreséeing not without timely iudgement wold know the cause which made that man so to make his playnt and notwithstaÌding assailed with what suspition I know not would not haue him openly to tel his tale but leading the olde man aside he sayd vnto him My friend ãâã that gréeuous faultes and of great importance ought grieuously and openly to be punished yet it chaunceth oftentimes that hée which in a heate and choler dothe execution for the guilt although that iustly after hée hath disgested his rage at leasure hée repenteth his rigor and ouer sodaine seueritie offense being natural in man may sometime where slander is not euident by milde and mercifull meanes forget the same without infringing or violating the holy and ciuil constitutions of Lawmakers I speake thus much bicause my heart doeth throbbe that some of my house haue done some filthy fault against thée or some of thine Now I would not that they openly should be slaundered and yet lesse pretend I to leaue their faultes vnpunished specially such as by offensiue crime the common peace is molested wherein my desire is that my people doe liue For which purpose God hath constituted Princes Potestates as shepheards and guids of his ãâã to the end that the ãâã fury of the vitious might not destroy deuoure and scatter the impotent ãâã of no valoure if it be forsaken and left forlorne by the mighty armes of Principalities and Monarchies A singuler modesty doubtlesse and an incredible example of clemency in him whome his Citizens thought to be a Tyrant and vniust vsurper of a frée Seigniorie who so priuely and with such familiaritie as the friend could wishe of his companion hearkened to the cause of a poore Countrey man and moreouer his modesty so great as hée would it not to be knowen what fault it was or else that the offenders should publikely be accused offering for all that to be the reuenger of the wrong done vnto the poore and the punisher of the iniurie exercised against the desolate a woork certainly worthy of a true christian Prince which establisheth kingdomes decayed conserueth those that be rendring the Prince to be beloued of God and feared of his Subiects The pore olde man seing the Duke in so good minde and that accordingly hée demaunded to knowe the wrong done vnto him the name of the factor and that also hée had promysed hym his helpe ryghtfull correction due vnto the deserued fault the good olde man I say conceiuing courage recited from point to point the whole discourse of the rape and the violence done vpon his poore vertuous daughter ãâã claring besides the name and surname of those which accompanied the Gentleman the author of that conspiracy who as we haue already sayd was one that was in greatest fauor with the Duke who not withstanding the loue that he bare to the accused hearing the vnworthinesse of a déede so execrable said As God liueth this is a detestable facte and well deserueth a sharp and cruell punishment Not withstanding ãâã take good héede that you doe not mistake the same by accusing one for an other for the Gentleman whome thou haste named to be the rauisher of thy daughter is of all men déemed to be very honest and doe well assure thée that if I finde thée a lyer thy heade shall answer for example to eche false accuser and slaunderer in time to come But if the matter be so true as thou hast sayd I promise thée by the faith I beare to God so well to redresse thy wrong as thou shalt haue cause to be throughly satisfied with my iustice To whome the good old man thus answered My Lord the matter is so true as at this day he kéepeth my daughter like a coÌmon strumpet in his house And if it please your highnesse to send thither you shall know that I doe vse no false accusation or lying wordes before you my Lord and Prince in presence of whome as before the minister and lieuetenant of God man ought not to speake but truely and religiously Sith it is so sayd the Duke get thée home to thy house where God willing I will be this day at dinner but take hede vpon thy life thou say nothing to any man what so euer it be for the rest let me alone I will prouide according to reason The good man almost so glad for his good exploit as the day before hée was sorowfull for his losse ioyfully went home to his homely house Countrey cabaue which he ãâã to be made ready so well as hée could attending the comming of his deliuerer succor support and iudge who when he had heard seruice commauÌded his horsse to be sadled for sayd he I heare say there is a wilde Boare haunting hereby so wel lodged as is possible to sée we will goe thither to wake him from his sléepe ease and vse that passe time til dinner be redy So departing froÌ Florence he rode straight vnto that Mil where his dinner was made ready by his seruauntes There he dined very soberly and vsing fewe wordes vnto his companie sate still all pensiue musing vpon that he had to doe For on the one side the grauitie of that ãâã moued him rigorously to chastise him which had committed the sante with all crueltie and insolencie On the other side the loue which he bare him mollifying his heart made him change his minde and to moderate his sentence The Princes minde thus wandering betwéene loue and rigor one brought him worde that the Dogs had rousde the great est Hart that euer he sawe which newes pleased him very much for by that meanes he sent away the multitude of his Gentlemen to follow that chase retaining with him his most familiar friends and those that were of his priuy and secrete councell whome he would to be witnesses of that which he intended to doe and causing his hoast to come before him he sayd My friend thou must bring vs to the place wherof this morning thou toldest me that I may discharge my promise The Courtiers woÌdred at those words ignorant wherunto that same were spoken but the good man whose heart lept for ioy as already féeling some great benefit at hand and honour prepared for the beautifying of his house séeing the Duke on horsse backe ran bisides him in steade of his Lackey with whome the Prince helde much pleasant talke all along the way as they went togither ãâã they had
wife oweth vnto hir husband that I should desire to suffer the heat which burneth altereth the martired minds of those that subdue them selues ãâã loue Can such attempt pierce the heart of me to become amorous by forgetting straying from the limittes of honest life But what desire is this I haue a certaine vnacquainted lust yet very well know not what it is that moueth me and to whome I shall vow the spoile thereof I am truely more fonde and foolish than euer Narcislus was for there is neither shadow nor ãâã vpoÌ which I can well stay my sight nor yet simple Imagination of any worldly man whereupon I can arrest the conceipt of my vnstayed heart and the desires which prouoke my mind Pygmalion loued once a Marble piller and I haue but one desire the coloure wherof is more pale than death There is nothyng which can giue the same so much as one spot of vermilion rud If I do discouer these appetites to any wight perhaps they will mock me for my labor and for all the beautie Noble birth that is in me they wil make no conscience to déeme me for their iesting stock to solace themselues with rehersall of my fond conceits But sith there is no enimie in the field that but simple suspition doth assaile vs we must breake of the same and deface the entier remembrance of the lightnesse of my braine It appertaineth vnto me to shew my self as issued forth of the Noble house of Aragon To me it doeth belong to take héede how I erre or degenerate from the royall bloud wherof I came In this sort that fair widow and yong Princesse fantasied in the nyght vpon the discourse of hir appetites But when the day was come séeing the great multitude of the Neapolitan Lords gentlemen which marched vp downe the Citie eying and beholding their best beloued or vsing talk of mirth with theÌ whose seruaunts they were al that which she thought vpoÌ in the night vanished so sone as that flame of burned straw or the pouder of the Canon shot purposed for any respect to liue no loÌger in that sort but promised the conquest of some friend that was lustie and discréete But the difficultie rested in that she knew not vpon whom to fixe hir loue fearing to be slaundered and also that the light disposition and maner of most part of youth wer to be suspected in such wise as giuing ouer all them whych vauted vpon their Gennets Turkey Palfreis other Coursers along the Citie of Naples she purposed to take repast of other Uenison than of that fond wanton troupe So hir mishap began already to spin the thréede which choked the aire and breath of hir ãâã life Ye haue heard before that M. Bologna was one of the wisest most perfect gentlemen that the land of Naples that tyme brought forth for his beautie proportion galantnesse valiance good grace without coÌparison His fauor was so swéete and pleasant as they which kept him coÌpanie had somwhat to do to abstain their affection Who then could blame this faire Princesse if pressed with desire of matche to ãâã the ticklish instigations of hir waÌton flesh and hauing in hir presence a maÌ so wise she did set hir minde on him or fantasie to mary him wold not that partie for calming of his thirst hunger being set at the table before sundry sorts of delicate viands ease his hunger Me think the person doth greatly forget himself which hauing haÌdfast vpoÌ occasion suffreth the same to vanish flie away sith it is wel knowne the she being bald behinde hath no place to sease vpon when desire moueth vs to lay hold vpon hir Which was the cause that the Duchesse becam extremely in loue with the master of hir house In such wise as before al men she spared not to praise the great perfectioÌs wherwith he was enriched whoÌ she desired to be altogether hirs And so she was ãâã that it was as possible to sée that night to be void of darknesse as that Duchesse without the presence of hir Bologna or else by talk of words to set forth his praise the continual remeÌbrance of whome for that she loued him as hir self was hir only minds repast The gentleman that was ful wise had at other times felt the great force of the passion which procedeth froÌ extreme loue immediatly did mark that couÌtenaÌce of the Duchesse perceiued the same so nere as vnfainedly he knew that very ardeÌtly that Ladie was in loue w e him albeit he saw the inequality differeÌce betwene theÌ both she being sorted out of the royal bloud yet knowing loue to haue no ãâã ãâã state or dignity determined to folow his fortune ãâã serue ãâã which so louingly shewed hir self to him Then sodainly reprouing his fonde conceit hée sayd vnto himself What follie is that I enterprise to that great preiudice and perill of mine honor and life Dught the wisdom of a Gentleman to straie and wandre through the assaults of an appetite rising of sensuality and that reason giue place to that which doeth participate with brute beastes depriued of all reason by subduing the mynde to the affections of the body No no a vertuous man ought to let shine in him self the force of the generositie of his mynde This is not to liue according to the spirite when pleasure shall make vs forget our duetie and sauegard of our Conscience The reputation of a wise Gentleman resteth not onely to be valiant and skilfull in feates of armes or in seruice of the Noble But nedefull it is for him by discretion to make himselfe prayse worthy and by vanquishing of him self to open the gate to fame whereby he may euerlastingly make himselfe glorious to all posteritie Loue pricketh and prouoketh the spirit to do wel I do confesse but that affection ought to be addressed to some vertuous end tending to mariage for otherwise that vertuous image shall be soyled with the villanie of beastly pleasure Alas said he how easie it is to dispute wheÌ the thing is absent which can bothe force and violently assaile the bulwarks of most constant hearts I full well doe sée the trothe and doe féele the thing that is good and know what behoueth me to follow but when I view that diuine beautie of my Ladie hir graces wisdome behauior and curtesie when I sée hir to cast so louing an eie vpon me that she vseth so great familiaritie that she forgetteth the greatnesse of hir house to abase hir self for my respect how is it possible that I should be so foolish to dispise a duetie so rare and precious and to set light by that which the Noblest would pursue with all reuerence and indeuor Shall I be so much voide of wisedome to suffer the yong Princesse to sée hir self contempned of me to conuert hir loue to teares by setting hir mynde vpon an other to séeke mine ouerthrow
my being with child I were vndone my life at an end and peraduenture poore wench thou shouldest beare the penauÌce for my sinne But what way can I take that stil these caÌdles may not giue light and I may be voided of the traine which ought to wayt vpon my brethren I thinke if I should descend into Hel they would know whither any shadowe there were in loue with me Now gesse if I should trauaile the Realme or retire to any other place whither they wold leaue me at peace Nothing lesse sith they would sodainly suspect that the cause of my departure procéeded of desire to liue at libertie to dallie wyth him whome they suspect to be other than my lawfull husbande And it may be as they be wicked and suspicious and will doubt of my greatnesse so shall I be farre more infortunate by trauailyng than here in miserie amidde myne anguishe and you the rest that be kéepers of my Councell shall fal into greater daunger vpon whome no doubt they wil be reuenged and flesh themselues for your vnhappy waiting and attendance vpon vs. Madame said the bolde maiden be not afraide and follow mine aduise For I hope that it shall be the meanes both to sée your spouse to rid those troublesome verlets out of your house in like manner safely to deliuer you into good assuraunce Say your minde sayd the Ladie for it may be that I will gouerne my self according to the same Mine aduise is then sayd that Gentlewoman to let your houshold vnderstand that you haue made a vow to visite the holy Temple of our Lady of Loretto a famous place of Pilgrimage in Italie and that you commaund your traine to make themselues ready to waite vpon you for accoÌplishment of your deuotion from thence you shall take your iourney to soiorne at Ancona whither before you depart you shall send your moueables and plate with such money as you shall think necessarie And afterwardes God will performe the rest and through his holy mercy will guide direct all your affaires The Duchesse hearing the maydeÌ speake those woords and amazed of hir sodaine inuention could not forbeare to embrace and kisse hir blessing the houre wherin she was borne and that euer she chaunced into hir companie to whome afterwardes she sayd My weÌch I had well determined to giue ouer mine estate and noble porte ioyfully to liue like a simple Gentlewoman with my deare and welbeloued husband but I could not deuise how I should conueniently departe this Countrey wythout suspition of some follie and sith that thou hast so well instructed me for bringing that same to passe I promise thée that so diligently thy couÌcel shal be performed as I sée the same to be right good and necessarie For rather had I sée my husband being alone without title of Duchesse or great Lady than to liue without him beautified with the graces and foolish names of honor and preheminence This deuised ãâã was no soner grouÌded but she gaue such order for execution of the same brought it to passe wyth such ãâã as that Ladie in lesse than viij dayes had conueyed and sent the most part of hir moueables and specially the chiefest and best to Ancona taking in that meane time hir way towards Loretto after she had bruted hir solempne vow made for that Pilgrimage It was not sufficieÌt for this foolish woman to take a husband more to glut hir libidinous appetite than for other occasion except she added to hir sinne an other execrable impietie making holy places and dueties of deuotion to be as it were the ministers of hir follie But let vs consider the force of Louers rage which so soone as it hath seased vpon the minds of men we sée how maruelious be the effects thereof and with what straint and puissaunce that madnesse subdueth the wise and strongest worldlings Who wold think that a great Ladie wold haue abandoned hir estate hir goods and childe would haue misprised hir honor and reputation to folow like a vagabond a pore and simple Gentleman and him bisides that was the houshold seruaunt of hir Court And yet you sée this great and mightie Duchesse trot run after the male like a female Wolfe or Lionesse wheÌ they goe to sault and forget the Noble bloud of Aragon wherof she was desceÌded to couple hir self almost with the simplest person of all the trimmest Gentlemen of Naples But turne we not the example of follies to be a matter of coÌsequence for if one or two become bankrupt of their honor it foloweth not good Ladies that their facte should serue for a matche to your deserts much lesse a patron for you to folow These Histories be not written to train and trap you to pursue the thousand thousand slippery sleightes of Loues gallantise but rather carefully to warn you to behold the semblable faultes and to serue for a drugge to discharge the poyson which gnaweth and fretteth the integritie and souÌdnesse of the soule The wise skilfull Apothecary or compositor of drugges dresseth Uipers flesh to purge the patient from hote corrupted bloude which conceiueth and engendreth Leprosie within his body In like manner the fonde loue wicked ribauldrie of Semiramis Pasiphae ãâã Faustina and Romida is shewed in wryt that euery of you should feare to be numbred and recorded amoÌgs such common and dishonorable women You Princes and great Lordes read the follies of Paris the adulteries of Hercules the daintie and effeminate life of Sardanapalus the tirannie of Phalaris Busiris or Dionysius of Scicile and sée the History of Tiberius Nero Caligula Domitian and Heliogabalus spare not to numbre them amongs our ãâã youthes which soile theÌselues with such villanies more filthily than the swine do in the durt Al this intendeth it an instruction for your youth to follow the infection and whoredome of those ãâã Better it were all those bokes were dreÌched in bottoÌlesse depth of seas than christiaÌ life by their meanes shold be corrupted but the exaÌple of that wicked is induced for to eschue auoid them as that life of the good honest is remeÌbred to frame addresse our behauior in this world to be praise worthy coÌmeÌded Otherwise the holinesse of sacred ãâã shold ãâã for an argument to the vnthrifty luxurious to confirm approue their heastly licencious wickednesse Come we again theÌ to our purpose the good Pilgrime of Loretto went forth hir voyage to atchieue hir deuotions to visite the Saint for whose Reliques she was departed that Countrey of that Duke hir sonne When she had done hir suffrages at ãâã hir people thought that the voyage was at an end that she wold haue returned again into hir Countrey But she said vnto them that sith she was so néere ãâã being but. xv miles off she would not returne before she had séen that auncient goodly city which diuers Histories do greatly recoÌmend as wel for the
miserable Duchesse But hearken now the most sorowfull scene of all that tragedie The litle children which had séene all the furious game done vpon their mother and hir maide as nature prouoked theÌ or as some presage of their mishap led them therunto kneled vpon their knées before those tyrants and embracing their legs wailed in such wise as I think that any other except a pitilesse heart spoiled of all humanitie wold haue had coÌpassion And impossible it was for them to vnfold the embracemeÌts of those innocent creatures which séemed to forethink their death by the wilde lokes and countenaÌce of those roisters Wherby I think that néedes it must be coÌfessed that nature hath in hir self and vpon vs imprinted some signe of diuination and specially at the hour and time of death in such wise as that very beasts féele some coÌceits although they sée neither sword nor staffe and indeuor to auoyde the cruell passage of a thing so fearful as the separation of two things so néerely vnited euen the body and soule which for the motion that chauÌceth at the very instant she weth how nature is constrained in that monstruous separation more than horrible ouerthrow But who can appease a heart determined to do euil hath sworn the death of another forced the runto by some special coÌmaundement The Aragon brethreÌ ment hereby nothing else but to roote out that whole name race of Bologna And therfore the two ministers of iniquitie did like murder slaughter vpon those two tender babes as they committed vpon their mother not without some motion of horror for doing of an act so detestable Behold here how far the crueltie of man exteÌdeth wheÌ it coueteth nothing else but vengeance and marke what excessiue choler the minde of theÌ produceth which suffer themselues to be forced ouerwhelmed with furie Leaue we apart the crueltie of Euchrates the sonne of the king of Bactria of Phraates the soÌne of the Persian Prince of Timon of Athens of an infinite nuÌbre of those which were rulers and gouerners of the Empire of Rome and let vs match with these Aragon brethreÌ one Vitoldus Duke of Litudnia the crueltie of whom constrained his own subiects to hang theÌselues for fear least they shold fall into his furious bloudy hands We may confesse also these brutal brethreÌ to be more butcherly thaÌ euer Otho erle of Monferrato prince of Vrbin was who caused a yeoman of his chamber to be wrapped in a shéete poudred with sulpher brimstoÌ afterwards kindled with a candle was scalded coÌsumed to death bicause only he waked not at an hour by him apointed Let vs not excuse them also froÌ some affinity with Maufredus the sonne of Henry that second Emperor who smoldered his own father being an old maÌ betwene y. couerleds These former furies might haue some excuse to couer their crueltie but these had no other cause but a certain beastly madnesse which moued theÌ to kil those litle childreÌ their neuews who by no meanes could preiudice or anoy the duke of Malfi or his title in the successioÌ of his Duchie the mother hauing wtdrawn hir goods was assigned hir dowry but a wicked hart must néedes bring forth semblable works according to his malice In the time of these murders the infortunate ãâã kept himself at Millan wyth his sonne Federick and vowed himself to that Lord Siluio Sauello who that time belieged the Castell of Millan in the behalf of Maximilian Sforcia which in the end he conquered and recouered by composition with the French within But that charge being archieued the generall Sauello marched from thence to Cremona with his campe whither Bologna durst not folow but repaired to the Marquize of Bitonte in which time that Aragon brethren so wrought as his goods were confiscate at Naples and he driueÌ to his shifts to vse the golden Duckates which the Duchesse gaue him to relieue him self at Millan whose Death althoughe it was aduertised by many yet hée coulde not be persuaded to beleue the same for that diuers which went about to betray him and feared he should flie from Millan kept his beake in the water as the Prouerbe is and assured him both of the life welfare of his spouse and that shortly his brethren in law wold be reconciled bicause that many Noble meÌ fauored him well and desired his returne home to his Countrey Fed and filled with that vaine hope he remained more than a yeare at Millan frequenting the companie and well entertained of the richest Marchants and Gentlemen of the Citie and aboue all other he had familiar accesse to the house of the Ladie Hippolita Bentiuoglia where vpon a day after dinner taking his Lute in hand wheron he could exceedingly wel play he began to sing a certain Sonnet which he had composed vpon the discourse of his misfortune the tenor whereof is this The song of Antonio Bologna the husband of the Duchesse of Malfi If loue the death or tract of time haue measured my distresse Or if my beating sorrowes may my languor well expresse Then loue come sone to visit me which most my heart desires And so my dolor findes some ease through flames of fansies fires The time runnes out his rolling course for to prolong mine ease To th end I shall enioy my loue and heart himself appease A cruell Darte brings happy death my soule then rest shall finde And sleping body vnder tombe shall dreame time out of minde And yet the Loue the time nor Death lokes not how I decrease Nor giueth eare to any thing of this my wofull peace Full farre I am from my good happe or halfe the ioy I craue wherby I ãâã my state with teares draw full nere my graue The courteous Gods that giues me life nowe moues the Planets all For to arrest my groning ghost and hence my sprite to call Yet from them still I am separd by things vnequall here Not meÌt the Gods may be vniust that bredes my chaÌging chere For they prouide by their foresight that none shall doe me harme But she whose blasing beuty bright hath brought me in a charm My mistresse hath the powre alone to rid me from this woe whose thrall I am for whome I die to whome my sprite shall goe Away my soule go from the griefs that thee oppresseth still And let thy dolor witnesse beare how much I want my will For since that loue and death himself delights in guiltlesse bloud Let time traÌsport my troubled sprite where destny semeth good His song ended the poore Gentleman could not forbeare froÌ pouring forth his luke warme teares which aboundantly ran downe his heauie face and his panting sighes truely discouered that alteration of his mind which moued eche wight of that assembly to pitie his mournefull state and one specially of small acquaintaunce and yet knew the deuises which the Aragon brethren had trained and conspired against him that vnacquainted Gentleman
be constrained And not to stay in framing of orations or stand vpon discourse of words I ãâã beseche you to behold the csÌtaÌt loue I beare you being a gentlemaÌ so wealthy as I am none other cause induceth me to make this sute but your good grace and bringing vp which force me to loue you aboue any other GeÌtlewoman that liueth And although I might alleage other reasons to proue my saying yet refer I my self to the experience bouÌty of your mind to the equitic of your iudgement If my passion wer not vehemeÌt my tormeÌt without coÌparison I wold wish my fained griefs to be laughed to scorne my vissibled paine rewarded ãâã flouts But my loue being sincere pure my trauail coÌtuiuall my griefs endlesse for pitie sake I beseche you madame to coÌsider my faithfull deserts with your duetiful curtesie then shal you sée how much I ought to be preferred before them which vnder the shadow of an other mans puissance doe seke to purchase power to coÌmaund you wher I do faithfully binde tie my word déede coÌtinually to loue serue you with promise al the daies of my life to accoÌplish your coÌmaundement Behold if it please you what I am with what affectioÌ I make mine huÌble plaint regard the messanger loue it is himself the holdeth me within your snares maketh me captiue to your beauty diuine graces which haue no piere But if you refuse my sute cause me breath my words into the aire you shal be accused of cruelty ye shal sée the entier defaict of a gentlemaÌ which loueth you better thaÌ loue himself is able to yeld flame and fire to force any wight to loue mortal creature But I think the heauens haue departed in me such aboundaÌce to the ãâã in louing you with ãâã so great you might also think the it is I which ought to be the frend spouse of that gentle courteous Lady Bianca Maria which alone may cal hir self the mistresse of my hart The Lady which before was mocked ãâã with the Counte his demaunds hearing that laste discourse remembring hir first mariage the naturall iealosie of ãâã half wonne without making other couÌtenance answered the Counte in this maner Syr Counte albeit that I am obedient to the wil and commaundement of Madame the Marchionesse am loth to displease hir yet I will not so farre gage my libertie but still doe reserue one poynt to say what reasteth in my thought And what shold let me to choose such one to whome I shal be both his life death And of whom being once possessed it is impossible to be rid acquited I assure you if I feared not the speche suspition of malicious minds and the venime of slaunderous tongues neuer husbande shold bring me more to bondage And if I thought that he whom I pretend to choose would be so cruel to me as others whome I know I would presently refuse mariage for euer I thanke you neuerthelesse both of your aduertisements giuen me of the honor you doe me you desiring to accomplish that honor by mariage to be celebrated betwéene vs. For the ãâã of which your talke the little dissimulatioÌ I see to be in you I promise you that there is no Gentleman in this countrey to whome I giue more puissance ouer me than to you if I chaunce to mary and therof make you so good assurance as if it were already done The Counte séeing so good an entry wold not suffer the time so to ãâã but beating the bushes vntill the praie was ready to spring sayd vnto hir And sith you know what thing is profitable and what is hurtfull and that the benefite of libertie is so much recommended why doe you not performe that which may redound to your honor Assure me of your word and promise me the Faith loyaltie of mariage then let me alone to deale with the rest for I hope to attain the effect without offense and displeasure of any And séeing hir to remaine in a muse without speaking word he toke hir by the hand kissing the same a million of times added these words How now Madame be you appalled for so pleasant an assault wherin your aduersarie confesseth himself to be vanquished Courage madame I say corage beholde him héere which humbly prayeth you to receiue him for your lawfull husband and who sweareth vnto you all such amitie and reuerence that husbande oweth to his loyall spouse Ah syr Counte said she and what wil the Marquize say vnto whom I haue wholly referred my self for mariage Shall not she haue iust occasion to frowne vpon me and frowardly to vse me for the litle respect I beare vnto hir God be my witnesse if I would not that Gonzaga had neuer come into this couÌtrey for although I loued him not yet I haue almost made him a promise which I can not kéepe And sith there is nothing done sayd the Sauoy Lord what nede you to torment your self Wil the Marquesse wreke hir tyrannie ouer the will of hir subiects and force ladies of hir lande to marrie against their lust I thinke that so wise a princesse so well nurtured will not so farre forget hir self as to straine that which God hath left at libertie to euery wight Promise me onely mariage and leaue me to dcale with the rest other thinges shall be well prouided for Bianca Maria vanquished with that importunitie and fearyng againe to fal into seruitude hoping that the Counte woulde mainteine such libertie as he had ãâã agréed vnto hym and plighted vnto him hir faith and for the time vsed mutuall promises by wordes respectiuely one to another And the better to confirme the fact and to let the knotte from breking they bedded themselues togethers The Counte very ioyfull for that encountre yelded such good beginning by his countenance and by familiar and continuall haunte with Bianca Maria as shortly after the matter was known and came to the Marquesse cares that the daughter of Scappardone had maried the Counte of Celant The good lady albeit that she was wroth beyonde mesure and willingly would haue bene reuenged vpon the bride yet hauing respect to the Counte which was a noble man of great authoritie swallowed downe that pille without chewing and prayed the Lord Gonzaga not to be offended who ãâã the light behauiour of the Ladie laughed at the matter and praised God for that the thing was so wel broken off for he did for sée almost already what ãâã that Comedie wold haue being very familiar for certen days in the house of BiaÌca Maria. This mariage then was published the solemnitie of the nuptials done very princely according to the nobilitie of him which had maried hir but the augurie presage was heauy the melancolike face of the season which was ãâã darkned about the time they shold go to church declared that the mirth and
vpon the Lute desired him to giue awake vnto his Ladie that then for iealousie was harkening at hir window both the sound of the instrument and the words of hir amorous Knight wher the geÌtleman soong this song THe death with trenchaÌt dart doth brede in brest such il As I cannot forget the smart that therby riseth stil. Yet ne erthelesse I am the ill it self in dede That death with daily dolours depe within my breast doth brede I am my mistresse thrall and yet I doe not kno If she beare me good will at all or if she loue or no. My wound is made so large with bitter wo in brest That still my heart prepares a place to lodge a careful guest O Dame that bath my life and death at thy desire Come ãâã my mind wher facies flames doth burn like Ethna fire For wanting thee my life is death and ãâã ãâã And finding fauor in thy sight my dayes are happy heere Then he began to sighe so terribly as if already she had gyuen sentence and definitiue Judgement of his farewel disputed with his felow in such sort with opinion so assured of his contempt as if hée had bene in loue with some one of the infants of Sp ãâã ãâã which cause he begaÌ again very pitifully to sing these verses THat God that made my soule knowes what I haue felt Who causeth sighes and sorowes oft the sely soule to swelt Doth see my torments now and what I suffer still And vnderstands I tast mo griefs than I can shew by skill He doth consent I wot to my ill hap and woe And hath accorded with the dame that is my pleasant foe To make my boyling brest abound in bitter blisse And so bereue me of my rest when heart his hope shall misse O what are not the songs and sighs that louers haue When night and day with swete desires they draw vnto their graue ãâã grief by friendship growes where ruth nor ãâã raines And so like snow against the sunne thei melt away with pains My dayes must finish so my destnie hath it set And as the candle out I goe before hir grace I get Before my sute be heard my seruice throughly knowne I shal be laid in tombe full lowe so colde as Marble stone To thee faire Dame I cry that makes my senses arre And plaÌtest peace ãâã my brest then makes sodain war Yet at thy pleasure still thou must my sowre make sweete In graunting me the fauor due for faithfull louers meete Which fauor giue me now and to thy Noble minde I doe ãâã Galley slaue as thou by proofe shall finde And so thou shalt release my heart from cruell bandes And haue his fredome at thy wil that yelds into thy handes So rendring all to thee the Gods may ioyne vs both Within one lawe and league of loue through force of constant troth Then shalt thou mistresse be of life of limme and all My goodes my golde and honour loe shall so be at thy call This gentle order of loue greately pleased the Lady and therefore opened hir gate to let in the ãâã Lorde who séeyng himself fauoured beyond all hope of his Ladie and cherefully intertained and welcommed wyth greate curtesie stoode so stil astonnied as if he had bene fallen from the cloudes But shée whyche coulde teache hym good maner to make him the minister of hir mischiefe takyng him by the hande made him sitte downe vpon a gréene bedde besydes hir and séeing that he was not yet imboldened for all he was a souldier she she wed hir selfe more hardie than he and first assayled him wyth talke saying Syr I praye you thinke it not strange if at this houre of the night I am bolde to cause you enter my house béeyng of no greate acquaintaunce with you but by hearyng your curteous salutations And we of this countrey be somwhat more at libertie than they in those partes from whence you come Besides it liketh me well as I am able to honor strange gentlemen and to retaine them with right good willing heart sith it pleaseth them to honor me with repaire vnto my house so shall you be welcome stil when you please to knocke at my gate which at all times I will to be opened for you wyth no lesse good will than if ye were my natural brother the same with all the thinges therein it maye please you to dispose as if they were your owne Dom Pictro of Cardonne well satisfied and contented with this vnlooked for kyndnesse thanked hir very curteously humbly praying hir besides to dayne it in good parte if he were so bolde to make request of loue and that it was the onely thyng which hée aboue all other desyred moste so that if shée woulde receyue hym for hir friende and seruaunt shée shoulde vnderstand him to be a Gentleman whiche lyghtly woulde promise nothing excepte the accomplishment did followe she that sawe a greater onset than shée looked for answered hym smilyng with a very good grace Syr I haue knowne very many that haue vouched slipperie promyses and proffered lordly seruices vnto Ladies the effecte wherof if I myght once sée I would not thinke that they coulde vanishe so soone and consume lyke smoake Madame sayde the Scicilian yf I fayle in any thyng whichs you commaunde mée I praye to God neuer to receyue any fauour or grace of those Curtesies whyche I craue If then quod shée you wyll promyse to employe youre selfe aboute a businesse that I haue to doe when I make requeste I wyll also to accepte you for a friende and graunt such secrecie as a faythfull louer can desyre of hys Ladye Dom Pietro whyche woulde haue offered hym selfe in Sacrifice for hir not knowyng hir demaunde toke an othe and promysed hir so lightly as madly afterwardes he did put the same in proofe Beholde the preparatiues of the obsequies of their first loue the guages of a bloodie bedde the one was prodigal of hir honoure the other the tormenter of his reputation and neglected the duetie and honor of his state which the ãâã wherof he came commaunded hym to kepe Thus all the night he remained with Bianca Maria who made him so wel to like ãâã good entertainement and imbracementes as he neuer was out of hir companie And the warie Circes fained hir selfe so farre in loue with him and vsed so many toyes gametricks of hir filthie science as he not onely esteemed him selfe the happiest Gentleman of Scicilia but the most fortunate wight of al the world and by biubing of hir wine was so straungely charmed with the pleasures of his faire mistresse as for hir sake he wold haue taken vpon him the whole ouerthrow of Milan so well as ãâã of Cumes to set the Citie of Rome on fire if Tyberius Gracchus the sedicious woulde haue gyuen hir leaue Such is the maner of wilde and foolish youth as which suffreth it self to be caried beyond the boundes of
not greatly at his ease and quiet who neded no torments to force him confesse the fact for of his owne accorde ãâã he disclosed the same but he sayde he was prouoked thervnto by the persuasion of Bianca Maria telling the whole discourse as you haue heard before She had already intelligence of this chaunce might ãâã fled and saued hir selfe before the fact by the confession of Dom Pietro had bene discouered and attended in some secrete place til that stromie time had ben calmed appeased But God which is a rightful iudge would not suffer hir wickednesse extend any further fith she hauing founde out such a nimble wilfull executioner the CouÌte of ãâã could not long haue ãâã aliue who then in good time and happie houre was absent out of the Citie So soone as Dom ãâã had accused the Countesse the Lorde of ãâã sente hir to prison and being examined confessed the whole matter trusting that hir infinite numbre of crownes would haue corrupted the Duke or those that represented his person But hir crownes and hir life passed all one way For the day after hir imprisonment she was condemned to lose hir heade And in the meane time Dom Pictro was saued by the diligence and sute of the captaines was employed in other warres to whome the Duke gaue him for that hée was ãâã to lose so notable a souldier and the aide of his brother the Counte of Colisano The CouÌtesse hauing sentence pronouÌced vpon hir but trusting for pardon she wold not prepare hir self to die ne yet by any means craue forgiuenesse of hir faults at the handes of God vntill she was conueyed out of the Castell and ledde to the common place of execution where a scaffold was prepared for hir to play the last acte of hir tragedie Then the miserable Ladie began to know hir self and to coÌfesse hir faultes before the people deuoutely praying God not to haue regarde to hir demerites ne yet to determine his wrath against hir or enter with hir in iudgement for so much as if the same were decréed according to hir iniquitie no saluation was to bée looked for She besought the people to praye for hir and the Counte of Gaiazzo that was absent to pardon hir malice and treason which she had deuised against him Thus miserably and repentantly dyed the Countesse which in hir life refused not to imbrace and folow any wickednesse no mischiefe she accompted euill done so the same were imployed for hir pleasure and pastime A goodly example truely for the youth of oure present time sith the most part indiffereÌtly do launch into the gulfe of disordred life suffring them selues to be plunged in the puddles of their owne vain conceipts without consideration of the mischieues that may ensue If the Lord of Cardonne had not ben beloued of his generall into what calamitie had he fallen for yelding him selfe a praie to that bloodie woman who had more regarde to the light and wilfull fansie of hir whome he serued like a slaue than to his duetie and estimation And truely those be voide of their right wittess which thinke them selues beloued of a whoore For their amitie endureth no longer than they sucke from their pursses and bodies any profit or pleasure And bicause almost euery day semblable examples be séene I will leaue of this discourse to take mée to a matter not farre more pleasant than this although founded vpon better grounde and stablished vpon loue the first onset of lawfull mariage the successe wherof chaunced to murderous end and yet the same intended by neyther of the beloued As you shall be iudge by the continuance of reding of the historie ensuing Beare with me good Ladies for of you alone I craue this pardon for introducing the whoorish life of this Countesse and hir bloodie enterprise bicause I know right well that recitall of murders and bloodie facts werieth the mindes of those that loue to liue at rest and wish for faire weather after the troublesome stormes of ragyng seas no lesse than the pilote and wise Mariner hauing long time endured and cut the perillous straicts of the Ocean sea And albeit the corruption of our nature be so great as folies delite vs more than ernest matters full of reason and wisedome yet I thinke not that our mindes be so peruerted and diuided from frouthe but sometimes we care and séeke to speake more grauely than the countrey Hynde or more sobrely than they whose liues do beare the marke of infamie and be to euery wight notorious for the only name of their vocation Suffiseth vs that an historie bée it neuer so full of sporte and pleasure do bring with it instruction of our lyfe and amendement of our maners And wée ought not to be so curious or scrupulous to reiect merrie and pleasaunt deuises that be voide of harmefull talke or without such glée as may hinder the education of youth procliue and redie to choose that is naught and corrupte The very bookes of holy Scriptures do describe vnto vs persons that be vicious so detestable as nothyng more whose factes vnto the symple may séeme vnséemely vpon the leaste recitall of the same And shal we therfore reiect the reading and eschue those holy bookes God forbid but with diligence to beware that we do not resemble those that be remembred there for example for somuch as spéedily after sinne ensueth grieuous and as sodaine punishement For which cause I haue selected these histories of purpose to aduertise youth howe those that folowe the way of damnable iniquitie faile not shortely after their greate offenses and execution of their outragious vices to féele the iuste and mightie hande of God who guerdoneth the good for their good workes and déedes and rewardeth the euill for their wickednesse and mischese Nowe turne we then to the Historie of two the rarest louers that euer were the performaunce and ãâã whereof had it ben so prosperous as the begynnyng had ioyed ãâã the fruictes of their intente and two noble houses of one Citie reconciled to perpetuall friendship Rhomeo and Julietta ¶ The goodly Historie of the true and constant Loue betwene RHOMEO and IVLIETTA the one of whom died of poison and the other of sorow and ãâã wherin be comprised many aduentures of loue and other deuises touching the same The. xxv Nouel I Am sure that they whiche measure the greatenesse of Gods works according to the capacitie of their rude simple vnderstanding wyll not lightly adhibite credite vnto this historie so wel for the va rietie of strange accideÌts which be therin described as for that noueltie straungenesse of so rare and perfect amitie But they that haue redde Plinie Valerius Maximus Plutarche and diuers other writers doe finde that in olde tyme a greate numbre of men and women haue died some of excessiue ioye some of ouermuch sorrowe and some of other passions and amongs the same Loue is not the least which when it seaseth vpon
any kynde gentle subiect findeth no resistance to serue for a raÌpart to ãâã the ãâã of his course by litle litle vndermineth melteth ãâã that vertues of natural powers in such wise as the sprite yelding to the burden abandoneth that place of life which is verified by the pitifull and infortunate death of two louers that surrendred their last breath in one ãâã at ãâã a Citie of Italy wherin repose yet to this day with great maruel the bones and remnantes of their late louing bodies An history no lesse ãâã than true If then perticular affection which of good right euery man ought to beare to the place where he was borne doe not deceiue those that trauaile I thinke they will confesse with me that few Cities in Italie can surpasse the said Citie of Verona aswell for the Nauigable riuer called ãâã which passeth almost through the midst of the same and therby a great trafique into Almaine as also for the prospect towards the fertile Mountains and plesant valeis which do enuiron that same with a great numbre of very clere and liuely fountains that serue for the ease and commodity of the place Omitting bisides many other singularities foure bridges and an infinite numbre of other honorable antiquities daily apparant vnto those that be to curious to view loke vpon them Which places I haue somewhat touched bicause this most true Historie which I purpose hereafter to recite depeÌdeth therupon the memory wherof to this day is so well knowne at Verona as vnneths their blubbred eyes be yet dry that sawe and behelde that lamentable sight When the Senior Escala was Lord of Verona there were two families in the Citie of farre greater fame than the rest aswell for riches as ãâã the one called the Montesches and the other the Capellets but like as most commonly there is discord amongs them which be of semblable degrée in honor euen so ãâã hapned a certaine ãâã betwene them and for so much as the beginning therof was vnlawful and of ãâã foundation so likewise in processe of time it kindled to such flame as by diuers and sundry deuises practised on both sides many lost their liues The Lord Bartholomeu of Escala of whome we haue already spoken being Lord of Verona and seing such disorder in his coÌmon weale assayed diuers and sundry wayes to recoÌcile those two houses but all in vaine for their hatred had taken such roote as that same could not be ãâã by any wise councell or good aduise betwene whome no other thing could be accorded but giuing ouer ãâã and weapon for the time attending some other season more coÌuenient and with better leisure to appease the rest In the time that these things wer adoing one of the familie of Montesches called RhoÌmeo of the age of xx or xxi yeres the fairest and best conditioned Gentleman that was amongs the Veronian youth ãâã in loue with a yong Gentlewoman of Verona in few dayes was so attached with hir comely good behauiour as he abandoned all other affaires and businesse ãâã serue honor hir And after many letters ãâã and presents he determined in the end to speake vnto hir to disclose his passions which he did without any other practise But she which was vertuously brought vp knew how to make him so good answer to cutte of his ãâã affectioÌs as he had no lust after that time to return any more and shewed hir self so austere ãâã sharpe of speach as she vouchsafed not with one loke to beholde him But the more that yong Gentleman ãâã hir whist and silent the more he was inflamed and ãâã hée had ãâã certaine months in that seruice without remedy of his griefe he determined in the end to depart Verona for proofe if by change of that place he might alter his affection and sayd to himself What doe I meane to loue one that is so vnkinde and thus doeth disdaine me I am all hir owne and yet she flieth from me I can no longer liue except hir presence I doe enioy And she hath no contented minde but when she is furthest from me I wil then from henceforth ãâã my selfe from hir for it may so come to passe by not beholding hir that thys fire in me which taketh increase and nourishment by hir faire eyes by little and little may die and quench But minding to put in proofe what hée thought at one instant hée was reduced to the contrarie who not knowing whereuppon to resolue passed dayes and nights in maruellous plaintes and Lamentacions For Loue ãâã him so neare and had so well fixed the Gentlewomans beautie within the Bowels of his heart and minde as not able to resist he fainted with ãâã charge and consumed by little and little as the Snow against the Sunne Whereof his parents and kinred did maruell greatly bewayling his misfortune but aboue all other one of his companions of riper age and counsell than he began sharply to rebuke him For the loue that he bare him was so great as hée felt his Martirdome and was partaker of his passion which caused him by ofte viewing hys friends disquietnesse in amorous pangs to say thus vnto him Rhomeo I maruel much that thou spendest the best time of thine age in ãâã of a thing from which thou ãâã thy self despised and ãâã without respect either to thy prodigall dispense to thine honor to thy teares or to thy miserable life which be able to moue the most constant to pitie Wherefore I pray thée for the Loue of our ancient amitie and for thine health sake that thou wilt learn to be thine owne ãâã and not to ãâã thy liberty to any so ingrate as she is for so farre as I can coniecture by things that are passed betwene you either she is in loue with some other or else determined neuer to loue any Thou arte yong rich in goods and fortune and more excellent in beautie than any Gentleman in this Citie thou art well learned and the only sonne of the house ãâã thou coÌmest What grief wold it ãâã to thy pore old father other thy parents to sée thée so drowned in this dongeon of vice specially at that age wherein thou oughtest rather to put them in some hope of thy vertue Begin then froÌ henceforth to acknowledge thine error wherein thou hast hitherto liued doe away that amorous vaile or couerture which blindeth thine eyes and letteth thée to folow the right path wherein thine ancestors haue walked or else if thou do ãâã thy ãâã so subiect to thine owne will yelde thy heart to ãâã other place and choose ãâã Mistresse according to thy worthinesse and henceforth doe not sow thy paines in a soile so ãâã whereof thou receiuest no frute the time approcheth when all the dames of the Citie shall assemble where thou maist beholde such one as shall make thée ãâã thy former griefs This yong Gentleman attentiuely hearing all the persuading ãâã of his frend
began somewhat to moderate that heat ãâã acknowledge all the exhortations which he had made to be ãâã to ãâã purpose And then determined to put them in proofe and to be present ãâã at all the feasts and assemblies of the citie without bearing affection more to one woman than to another And continued in this manner of life ãâã or ãâã months ãâã by that meanes to quench the sparks of auncient ãâã It chanced then within ãâã dayes after about the feast of Christmasse when feasts bankets most commonly be vsed and maskes according to the custome frequented And bicause that Anthome Capellet was the chief of that familie and one of the most principal Lords of the Citie he made a banket and for the better solempnization of the same inuited all the noble meÌ and dames at what time ther was the most partof that youth of Verona The family of the Capellets as we haue declared in that beginning of this History was at variance with the ãâã which was the cause that none of that family repaired to that banket but onely the yong Gentleman Rhomeo who came in a ãâã after supper with certain other yong Gentlemen And after they had remained a certaine space with their visards on at length they did put of the same and Rhomeo very shamefast withdrew himself into a corner of the Hall but by reason of the light of the torches which burned very bright he was by by known and loked vpon of the whole company but specially of the Ladies for bisides his natiue beautie wherewith nature had adorned him they maruelled at his audacitie how he durst presume to enter so secretly into that house of those which had litle cause to do him any good Notwithstanding the Capellets ãâã their malice either for the honor of the company or else for respect of his age did not misuse him either in word or déede By meanes whereof with frée liberty he behelde and viewed the ladies at his pleasure which he did so wel and with grace so good as there was ãâã but did very well like the presence of his person And after hée had particularly giuen iudgement vpon the excellency of each one according to his affection he saw one gentlewoman amongs the rest of surpassing beautie who although he had neuer séene hir tofore pleased him aboue the rest attributed vnto hir in heart the ãâã place for all perfection in beautie And feastyng hir incessantly with piteous lookes the loue which he bare to his first Gentlewoman was ouercomen with this new fire which tooke such norishement and vigor in his heart as he was able neuer to quench the same but by death onely as you may vnderstande by one of the strangest discourses that euer any mortal man deuised The yong Rhomeo then féelyng himselfe thus tossed with this new tempest could not tel what couÌtenaunce to vse but was so surprised and chaunged with these last flames as he had almost forgotten him selfe in suche wise as he had not audacitie to enquire what shée was ãâã ãâã bent hym selfe to féede his eyes wyth hir ãâã wherewyth he moystened the swéete amorous venom which dyd so empoyson him as hée ended his dayes with a kynde of moste cruell death The Gentlewoman that dydde put Rhomeo ãâã suche payne was called Iulietta and was the daughter of Capellet the maister of the house where that assemblie was who as hir eyes dydde roll and wander too and fro by chaunce espied Rhomeo whiche vnto hir séemed to be the goodliest Gentleman that euer shée sawe And Loue which lay in wayte neuer vntyl that tyme assailing the tender heart of that yong Gentlewoman touched hir so at the quicke as for any resistance she coulde make was not able to defende hys forces and then began to set at naught the royalties of the feast and felt no pleasure in hir hart but when she had a glimpse by throwing or receiuing some sight or looke of Rhomeo And after they had coÌtented eche others troubled hart with millions of amorous lokes whiche oftentymes interchangeably encountred and met together the burning beames gaue sufficient testimonie of loues priuie onsettes Loue hauing made the heartes breach of those two louers as they two sought meanes to speake together Fortune offered them a very ãâã and apt occasion A certaine lorde of that troupe and company tooke Iulietta by the hande to daunce wherein shée behaued hir selfe so well and with so excellent grace as shée wanne that daye the price of honour from all the maidens of Verona Rhomeo hauyng foreséene the place wherevnto she minded to retire approched the same and so discretely vsed the matter as he found the meanes at hir returne to sit beside hir Iulietta when the daunce was finished returned to the very place where she was set before and was placed betwene Rhomeo ãâã other GentlemaÌ called Mercutio which was a ãâã ãâã gentlemaÌ very wel beloued of all men and by ãâã of his plesaÌt curteous behauior was in al ãâã wel intertained Mercutio that was of audacitie amoÌg maideÌs as a lion is among laÌbes seased inçoÌtinently vpon the hande of Iulietta whose hands wontedly wer so cold bothe in winter sommer as the mountain yee although the fires heat did warme the same Rhomeo which sat vpon the left side of Iulietta seing that Mercutio held hir by the right hand toke hir by the other that he might not be deceiued of his purpose straining the same a litle he felt himself so prest with that newe fauor as he remained mute not able to answer But she perceiuing by his change of color that the fault proceded of very vehemeÌt loue desiring to speake vnto him turned hir selfe towards him with ãâã voice ioyned with virginal shamfastnesse intermedled with a certaine bashfulnesse sayd to him Blessid ãâã the hour of your nere aproche but minding to procéede in further talke loue had so closed vp hir mouth as she was not able to end hir tale Wherunto the yong gentleman all rauished with ioy and contentation sighing asked hir what was the cause of that right fortunate blessing Iulietta somwhat more emboldned with pitiful loke and smiling countenance said vnto him Syr do not maruell if I do blesse your comming hither bicause sir Mercutio a good time with frosty hand hath wholly frosen mine and you of your curtesie haue warmed the same again Wherunto immediatly Rhomeo replied Madame if the heaueÌs haue bene so fauorable to employ ãâã to do you some agreable seruice being repaired ãâã by chaunce amongs other Gentlemen I estéeme the same well bestowed crauing no greater benefite for satisfaction of all my contentations receiued in this worlde than to serue obey and honor you so long as my life doth last as experience shall yeld more ample proofe when it shall please you to giue further assay Moreouer if you haue receiued any heat by touche of my hand you may be well assured that those flames
hauing hir face all besprent with teares she said ãâã Rhomeo Syr Rhomeo I pray you not to renue those things againe for the only memory of such ãâã maketh me to couÌterpoise betwene death life my heart being so vnited with ãâã as you caÌnot receiue the least iniury in this world wherin I shal not be so great a partaker as your self beséeching you for conclusion that if you desire your owne health ãâã to declare vnto me in fewe wordes what your determination is to attaine for if you couet any other secrete thing at my handes more than myne honour can well allow you are maruelously deceiued but if your desire be godly and that the friendship which you ãâã ãâã to beare me be founded vppon vertue and to be concluded by mariage receiuyng me for your wyfe lawful spouse you shall haue such part in me as ãâã any regarde to the obedience reuerence that I owe to my parentes or to the auncient enimitie of our familie ãâã will make you the onely Lord maister ouer me and of all things that I possesse beyng prest and readie in all points to folowe your commaundement But if your intent be otherwise and thinke to reape the frute of my virginitie vnder pretense of wanton ãâã you be greatly deceiued and doe praye you to auoide and suffer me from henceforth to liue in rest amongs mine equals Rhomeo which loked for none other thing holding vp his handes to the heauens with incredible ioy and contentation answered Madame for somuch as it hath pleased you to do me that honour to accept me for such a one I accorde and consente to your request and do offer vnto you the best part of my heart which shall remaine with you for guage sure testimonie of my saying vntill such time as God shall giue me leaue to make you the entier owner and possessor of the same And to that intent I may begyn mine enterprise to morow I wil to Frier Laurence for ãâã the same who bisides that he is my ghostly Father is accustomed to giue me instruction in all my other secrete affaires and fayle not if you please to méete me againe in this place at this very hour to the intent I may giue you to vnderstande the deuise betwene him and me which she liked very wel ended their talk for that time Rhomeo receiuing none other fauor at hir hands for that night but only words This frier Laurence of whom hereafter we shal make more ample mention was an auÌcient Doctor of Diuinitie of the order of the friers Minors who bisides the happy profession which hée had made in studie of holie writ was very skilful in Philosophy and a great searcher of nature secrets excéeding famous in Magike knowledge and other hiddeÌ and secret sciences which nothing diminished his reputation bicause he did not abuse the same And this Frier through his vertue and pietic had so wel won the citizens hearts of ãâã ãâã he was almost the confessor to them all and of al men generally reuerenced and beloued and many tymes for his great prudence was called by the lordes of the Citie to the weightie affaires of the same And amonges other he was greatly fauored by the lord of ãâã that time the principal gouernor of Verona and of al that familie of ãâã and of the Capellets and of many other The yong Rhomeo as we haue alredy declared froÌ his teÌder age bare a certein particle amitie to frier LaureÌce departed to him his secrets by means wherof so soone as he was gone from ãâã ãâã straight to the Friers FraÌciscans wher froÌ point to point he discoursed the successe of his loue to that good father the coÌclusion of the mariage betwene him ãâã adding vpon the end of talk that he wold rather choose shameful death ãâã to faile hir of his promise To whoÌ the good ãâã after he had debated diuers matters proposed ãâã the inconueniences of that secrete mariage exhorted hym to more mature deliberation of the same notwithstanding all the alleged persuasioÌs wer not able to reuoke his promise Wherfore the Frier vanquished with his stubbornesse and also forecasting in his minde that the mariage might be some ãâã of recoÌciliatioÌ of those two houses in the ende agréed to his request ãâã him that he might haue one delayed day for ãâã to ãâã what was beste to be done But if Rhomeo for his part was carefull to prouide for his affaires Iulietta like wise did hir ãâã For seing that ãâã had none about hir to discouer hir passions she deuised to impart the whole to hir nurse which laye in hir ãâã apointed to ãâã vpon hir to whome she committed the intier secrets of the loue betwene Rhomeo hir And although that old womaÌ in the beginning resisted Iu hetta hir intent yet in that ende she knewe so wel how to persuade and win hir that she promised in all that she was able to do to be at hir coÌmandement And then she sent hir with al diligence to speake to Rhomeo and to know of him by what meanes they might be maried that he would ãâã hir to vnderstand the determination betwene frier Laurence him WhoÌ ãâã answered how the ãâã day wherin he had informed frier Laurence of the matter the said frier deferred answer vntil the next which was the very same and that it was not past one houre ãâã he returned with final resolution that Frier Laurence he had deuised that she the Saterday folowing should desire leaue of hir mother to go to coÌfession to repaire to the church of saint Francis where in a certain chapel secretly they shold be maried praying hir in any wise not to fail to be there Which thing she brought to passe with such discretion as hir mother agréed to hir ãâã and accompanied onely with hir gouernesse and a yong mayden she repaired thither at the determined day time And so soone as she was entred that church called for the good ãâã frier Laurence vnto whoÌ answere was made that he was in the shriuing chapel ãâã aduertisement was giueÌ him of hir coÌming So soon as frier Laurence was certified of Iulietta he went into the body of the Church willed the old woman and yong ãâã to go heare seruice and that when he had hearde the confession of Iulietta he would sende for them again to waite vpon hir Iulietta being entred a litle Cell with Frier Laurence he ãâã ãâã the doore as he was wont to do where Rhomeo and he had bene together fast shut in the space of one whole houre before Then Frier Laurence after that hée had ãâã them sayde to Iulietta Daughter as Rhomeo here present hath certified me you be agréed and contented to take him to husband and he like wise you ãâã his espouse and wife Do you now still persist and continue in that minde The Louers answered that they desired
parents doe not care for hir Wherefore deare husband I heartely beséeche you for our rest and hir quiet that hereafter ye be carefull to prouide for hir some mariage worthy of our state whereunto the Lord Antonio willingly agréed saying vnto hir Wife I haue many times thought vpon that whereof you speake notwithstaÌding sith as yet she is not attained to the age of ãâã yeares I thought to prouide a husbaÌd at leisure Neuerthelesse things being come to these termes knowing that virgins chastitie is a daÌgerous treasure I wil be mindful of that same to your contentation and she matched in such wise as she shall thinke the time hitherto well delayed In the meane while mark diligently whither she be in loue with any to the end that we haue not so gret regard to goodes or to that nobilitie of that house wherin we meane to ãâã hir as to that life helth of our daughter who is to me so dere as I ãâã rather ãâã a begger wtout lands or goods than to bestow hir vpon one which shal vse intreat hir yll Certain dayes after that the Lord Antonio had bruted the mariage of his Daughter many Gentlemen were suters so wel for that excellencie of hir beautie as for hir great richesse reuenue But aboue all others the aliance of a yong Earle named Paris the Counte of Lodronne liked the Lord Antonio vnto whome liberally he gaue his coÌsent told his wife the party vpoÌ whom he did mean to bestow his daughter The mother very ioyful that they had found so honest a GentlemaÌ for their daughter caused hir secretly to be called before hir doing hir to vnderstand what things had passed betwene hir father the Counte Paris discoursing vnto hir the beauty good grace of that yong Counte that vertues for which he was commended of al men ioyning therunto for conclusion that great richesse fauor which he had in the goods of fortune by means wherof she hir frieÌds shold liue in eternall honor But Iulietta which had rather to haue bene torne in pieces than to agrée to that mariage answered hir mother with a more thaÌ accustomed stoutnesse Madame I much maruel therwithal am astoÌned that you being a Lady discréete honorable wil be so liberal ouer your daughter as to coÌmit hir to that plesure wil of an other before you do know how hir minde is bent you may do as it pleaseth you but of one thing I do wel assure you that if you bring it to passe it shal be against my will And touching the regarde and estimation of Counte Paris I shall first loose my life before he shall haue power to touch any part of my body which being done it is you that shall be couÌted the murderer by deliuering me into the hands of him whome I neither can wil or know which way to loue Wherfore I pray you to suffer me henceforth thus to liue wythout taking any further care of me for so muche as my cruell fortune hath otherwise disposed of me The dolorous mother whiche knewe not what iudgement to fire vpon hir daughters aunswere like a woman confused bisides hir self went to seke the Lorde Antonio vnto whome without conceyling any part of hir daughters talke she did him vnderstand the whole The good olde man offended beyonde measure coÌmanded hir incontineÌtly by force to be brought before him if of hir own good wil she wold not come So soon as she came before hir father hir eyes ful of teares fel downe at his féet which she bathed with the luke warm drops that distilled from hir eyes in great abundance thinking to open hir mouth to crie him mercie the sobbes and sighes many times stopt hir speach that she remained dumbe not able to frame a worde But the old maÌ nothing moued with his daughters teares sayde vnto hir in great rage Come hither thou vnkynde and disobedient daughter hast thou already forgotten howe many times thou hast heard spoken at the table of the puissance and authoritie our auncient Romane fathers had ouer their children vnto whome it was not onely lawfull to sell guage and otherwise dispose them in ãâã necessitie at their pleasure but also whiche is more they had absolute power ouer their death lyfe With what yrons with what tormeÌts with what racks wold those good fathers chasten and correct thée if they were aliue againe to sée that ingratitude misbehauor and disobedience which thou vsest towards thy father who with many prayers and requestes hath prouided one of the greatest lords of this prouince to be thy husbande a gentleman of best renoume and indued with all kinde of vertues of whome thou and I be vnworthie bothe for the notable masse of goodes and substance wherwith he is enriched as also for the honour and generositie of the house whereof hée is discended and yet thou playest the parte of an obstinate and rebellious childe against thy fathers wil I take the omnipotencie of that almightie God to witnesse whiche hath ãâã to bryng thée forth into this worlde that if vpon Tuesday nexte thou failest to prepare thy selfe to be at my castel of ãâã where the CouÌte Paris purposeth to mete vs and there giue thy consent to that which thy mother I haue agréed vpon I will not onely depriue thée of my worldly goodes but also will make thée espouse and marie a prison so strayght and sharpe as a thousande times thou shalt curse the day and tyme wherin thou wast borne Wherfore froÌ hence forth take aduisement what thou dost for except the promise be kept which I haue made to the Counte Paris I will make thée féele how great the iust choler of an offended father is against a childe vnkinde And without staying for other answer of his daughter the olde man departed the chamber and ãâã hir vpon hir knées Iulietta knowing the furie of hir father fearing to incurre his indignation or to ãâã his further wrath retired for that day into hir chamber and contriued the whole night more in wéeping than sléeping And the next morning faining to goe heare seruice she went forth with the woman of hir chamber to the friers where she caused father Laurence to be called vnto hir and prayed him to heare hir confession And when she was vpon hir knées before him shée began hir confession with teares tellyng him the great mischief that was prepared for hir by the mariage accorded betwéene hir father and the Counte Paris And for conclusion said vnto him Sir for so much as you know that I can not by Gods law be maried twice and that I haue but one God one husbande and one faith I am determined when I am from ãâã with these two hands which you sée ioyned before you this day to end my sorowful life that my soule may beare witnesse in the heauens and my bloode vpon the earth of my faith and loyaltie preserued Then hauyng ended
the rare excellencies wherewith the Citie is furnished there is none more famous than the monument of Rhomeo Iulietta Two Gentlewomen of Venice ¶ Two Gentlemen of VENICE were honourably deceiued of their wiues whose notable practises and secrete coÌference for archieuing their desire occasioned diuers accidentes and ingendred double benefite wherin also is recited an eloquent oration made by one of them pronounced before the Duke and state of that Citie with other chaunces and actes concerning the same The. xxvj Nouel HEre haue I thoughte good to summon y. gentlewomen of Venice to apeare in place and to mount on stage amonges other Italian dames to shewe cause of their bold incountrie against the follie of their two husbandes that vncharitably against order of neighbourhode wente about to assayle the honestie of eythers wife and wéening they had enioyed others felicitie by the womens prudence foresyghte and ware gouernement were bothe deceiued and yet attayned the chiefest benefite that mariage state doth looke for so that yf searche bée made amonges antiquities it is to be doubted whether greater chastitie and better policie coulde bée founde for ãâã of an intended purpose Many dedes haue bene done by women for sauegarde of their husbands liues as that of Minyae a sorte of women whose husbands wer imprisoned at Lacedaemon for treason coÌdemned who to saue their husbaÌds entred into prison the night before they shold die by exchange of apparell deliuered them and remained there to suffre for them Hipsicratea also the Quene wife of ãâã king of Pontus spared not hir noble beautie and golden lockes to manure hir self in the vse of armes to kéepe hir husbaÌd company in perils and daungers and being ouercome by Pompeius and flying away neuer left him vnaccoÌpanied ne forsoke such trauel as he him self sustained The like also of Aemilia Turia ãâã Portia other Romane dames But that such haue preueÌted their husbands follie seldome we reade sauing of Quéene Marie the wife of Don Pietro king of Arragon who marking the folie of hir husband and sorie for his disordred life honest iealousie opening hir coÌtineÌt eyes forced hir to seke meanes to remoue his wanton acts or at lestwise by policie wise foresight to make him husband culture his own soile that for want of seasonable tillage was barren voide of fruite Wherefore consulting with the lorde Chamberlain who of custome brought whom the King liked best was in place of his woman bestowed in his bed and of hir that night begate the yong Prince Giacomo that afterwardes proued a valiaunt and wise King These passyng good policies of women many times abolish the frantik lecherous fits of husbands giuen to superfluous lustes when first by their chast behauior womaÌly pacience they ãâã that whiche they bée lothe to sée or heare of and then demaunding counsell of sobrietie and wisedome excogitate sleightes to shunne follie and expell discurtesie by husbandes carelesse vse Suche practyses and deuises these two Gentlewomen whome I now bring forth disclose in this discourse ensuing In the Citie of Venice whiche for riches and faire women excelleth al other within the region of Italie in the time that Francesco Foscari a very wise Prince did gouerne the state there were two yong gentlemeÌ the one called Girolamo Bembo and the other Anselmo Barbadico betwene whome as many times chaunceth amongs other grew such great hatred and cruel hostilitie as eche of them by secrete and al possible means deuised to do other shame and displeasure which kindled to such out rage as it was thought impossible to be pacified It chaunced that at one time both of them did marie two noble yong Gentlewomen excelleÌt faire both brought vp vnder one nurse and loued eche other like two sisters and as though they had ben both born of one bodie The wyse of Anselmo called Isotta was the daughter of Messer ãâã Gradenigo a maÌ of great estimation in that citie one of the procuratours of San Marco whereof there were not so greate numbre in those dayes as there be now bicause the wisest men best approued of life were chosen to that great and noble dignitie none allotted therevnto by bribe or ambition The wife of Girolamo Bembo was called Lucia that daughter of Messer Gian Francesco Valerio Caualiere a Gentleman very well learned and many times sent by the State ambassador into diuers countreyes and after he had bene Drator with the Pope for his wisedome in the execution of the same was in great estima tion with the whole citie The two Gentlewomen after they were maried heard of the hatred betwene their husbandes were very sorowfull and pensiue bicause they thought the friendshyppe and loue betwene them twaine continued from their tender yeres could not be but with great difficulty kept or else altogither dissolued broken Not withstaÌding being discrete and wise for auoiding occasion of their husbands offeÌce determined to cease their accustomed conuersation louing familiaritie not to frequent eche others coÌpany but at places times conuenient To whome Fortune was so fauorable as not only their houses were néere together but also ioyning in the backsides wherof their gardens also coÌfined seperated only with a litle hedge that euery day they might sée one another many times talke togither Moreouer the seruaÌts people of either houses were friendly familiar which did greatly coÌtent the two louing GeÌtlewomen bicause they also in the absence of their husbaÌds might at pleasure in their gardens disport theÌselues And continuing this order that space of iij. yeres neither of theÌ both were with childe In which space Anselmo many times vicwing and casting his eyes vpoÌ Madonna Lucia fel earnestly in loue with hir was not that day wel at ease wherin he had not beholden hir excelleÌt beautie ãâã that was of sprite and wit subtil marked the lokes maner of Anselmo who neither for ãâã ne other cause did render like lokes on him but to sée to what end his louing chéere countenaÌce wold ãâã Not ãâã she séemed rather ãâã to behold him thaÌ elswher to imploy hir lokes On the other side the good ãâã the wise order and pleasant beautie of Madonna Isotta was so excellent plausible in the sight of master Girolamo as no louer in the world was better pleased with his Ladie than ãâã with hir who not able to liue without the swete sight of Isotta that was a crafty wily weÌch was ãâã hir quickly perceiued She being right honest wise and louing hir husband very dearly did beare that ãâã to Girolamo that she generally did to any of the ãâã or to other stranger that she neuer saw before But hir ãâã more more inflamed hauing lost that liberty of him self wounded pierced with the amorous arowes of Loue could not conuert his minde to any other ãâã to mistresse Lucia These two womeÌ wonted to heare seruice euery day ordinarily at the church
of ãâã bicause they lay loÌg a bed in the mornings commonly seruice in that church was said somwhat late their pewes also somwhat distant one froÌ an other Whether their y. amorous husbaÌds coÌtinually vsed to folow theÌ ãâã off to place themselues wher either of theÌ might ãâã view his beloued by which custome they seemed to the coÌmon people to be iealous ouer their wiues But they prosecuted that matter in such wise as either of theÌ weout shipping sought to send other into Cornouale It came to passe then that these ãâã beloued geÌtlewomeÌ one knowing nothing of another determined to coÌsider better of this loue bicause the great good wil loÌg time borne shold not be interrupted UpoÌ a certain day when their ãâã were abrode resorting together to talk at their garden hedge according to their woÌted maner they ãâã to be ãâã mery and after louing salutations mistresse Lucia spake these words vnto hir companion Isotta my dear beloued sister I haue a tale to tel you of your husband that perchanuce wil seme stranger thaÌ any newes that euer you heard And I answered mistresse Isotta haue a story to tel you that will make you no lesse to woÌder thaÌ I at that which you haue to say and it may be wil put you into some choler chafe What is that quod that one and other In the end either of theÌ told what ãâã loue their husbands weÌt about Wherat although they were in great rage with their husbands yet for that time they laughed out the matter and thought that they were sufficient as in very déede they were a thing not to be doubted and able to satisfie their husbands huÌger and therwithal began to blame them and to say that they deserued to learn to play of the Cornets if they had no greater feare of God and care of honesty thaÌ their husbands had Then after much talke of this matter concluded that they shold do well to expect what their husbands would demaunde Hauing taken order as they thought méete they agréed daily to espie what shoulde chaunce and purposed first with swéete and pleasant lookes to baite and lure eche other féere to put them in hope there ãâã that they should satisfie their desires which done for that time they departed And when at the Church of Sanfantino or other place in Venice they ãâã to méete their louers they shewed vnto them chearefull and mery countenaunce which the louers well noting were the gladdest men of the worlde and séeing that it was impossible in speache to vtter their mindes they purposed by letters to signify the same And hauing founde Purciuaunts to goe betwene parties whereof this Citie was wont to be full either of them wrote an amorous letter to his beloued the content whereof was that they were very desirous secretely to talke with them thereby to expresse the burning affectioÌs that inwardly they bare them which without declaration and vtterance by mouthe in their owne presence woulde bréede them torments more bitter than deathe And within fewe dayes after ãâã great difference of time betwéene they wrote their letters But Girolamo Bembo hauing a pregnant wit who coulde wel endite both in prose and ãâã wrote an excellent song in the praise of his darling in Italian Meter and with his letter sent the same vnto hir the effect wherof both folow ALiuely face and pearcing beautie bright Hath linkt in loue my sely sences all A comely porte a goodly shaped wight Hath made me slide that neuer thought to fall Hir eyes hir grace hir dedes and maners milde So straines my heart that loue hath wit begilde But not one darte of Cupide did me wounde A hundred shafts lights all on me at ones As though dame kinde some new deuise had founde To teare my flesh and crash a two my bones And yet I feele such ioy in these my woes That as I die my sprite to pleasure goes These new found fits such change in me doe breede I hate the day and draw to darknesse lo Yet by the lampe of beautie doe I feede In dimmest dayes and darkest nights also Thus altring state and changing diet still I feele and know the force of Venus will The best I finde is that I doe confesse I loue you dame whose beautie doth excell But yet a toy doth brede me some distresse For that I dread you will not loue me well That loue ye wot shall rest in me alone And fleshly brest shall beare a heart of slone O Goddesse mine yet heare my voyce of ruthe And pitie him that heart presents to thee And if thou want a witnesse for my truthe Let sighs and teares my iudge and record be Vnto the end a day may come in hast To make me thinke I spend no time in wast For nonght preuailes in loue to serue and sue If full effect ioyne not with words at nede What is desyre or any fansies newe More than the winde that spreades abrode in ãâã My words and works shall bothe in one agree To pleasure hir whose seruant would I bee The subtill dames receiuing those amorous letters and song disdainfully at the first ãâã to take them at the bringers hands as they had determined yet afterwardes they shewed better countenaunce These letters were tossed one from an other whereat they made great pastime and thought that the same would come to very good successe either of them keping styll their husbandes letter and agréeing withoute iniurie done one to an other trunly to deceiue their husbands The maner how you shal perceiue anone They deuised to sende worde to their louers that they were readie at all times to satisfie their sutes if the same might be secretely done and safely might make repaire vnto their houses when their husbands were absent which in any wise they sayde muste be done in the night for feare least in the day time they were discried Againe these prouident and subtill women had taken order with their maydes whome they made priuie to theyr practise that through their gardens they should enter into others house and be shut in their chambers without light there to tarie for their husbands and by any meanes not to be séene or knowne This order prescribed and giuen Mistresse Lucia first did hir louer to vnderstand that the night insuing at iiij of the clock at the posterne dore which should be left open he shoulde come vnto hir house where hir maide should be redy to bring him vp into the chaumbre bicause hir husbande maister Girolamo woulde that night imbarke himselfe to goe to Padoua The like mistresse Isotta did to maister Girolamo appointing him at v. of the clock which she sayd was a very conuenient time bicause maister Anselmo that night would sup and lie with certaine of his friendes at Murano a place besides Venice Upon these ne wes the two louers thought them selues the most valiant and fortunate of the world no enterprise now there was but séemed
easie for them to bryng to passe yea if it wer to expel the SaraceÌs out of ãâã or to depriue the great Turke of his kingdome of Constantinople Their ioy was such as they coulde not tell where they were thinking euery houre a whole day before night came At length the tyme was come so long desired and the husbandes accordingly gaue diligent attendance and let their wiues to vnderstand or at lest wise beleued they had that they coulde not come home that night for matters of great importaÌce The women that were very wise séeing their shippe saile with so prosperous winde fained them selues to credite all that they offered These yong men toke either of them his Gondola or as we term it their barge to disport themselues hauing supped abrode rowed in the Canali which is that water that passeth through diuers stretes of the citie expecting their apointed hour The womeÌ redy at iij. of the clocke repaired into their gardens after they had talked laughed together a pretie while weÌt one into an others house wer by that maids brought vp to that chaÌbres There either of them that candle being light began diligently to view that order situation of the place by litle litle marked the chiefest things they loked for coÌmitting that same to memorie Afterwards they put out that candle both in trembling maner expected the coÌming of their husbands And ãâã at iiij of that clock the maiden of MadoÌna Lucia stode at the dore to wait for that coÌming of master Anselmo who win a while after came gladly was let in by that maid by hir coÌducted vp to the chaÌber eueÌ to the bed side The place there was so dark as hell impossible for hym to know his wife The. ij wiues wer so like of bignesse spech as by dark without great difficultie they coulde be knowne When Anselmo had put of his clothes he was of his wife amorously intertained thynking the wife of ãâã had receiued him betwene hir armes who aboue ãâã M. times kissed hir very swetely and she for hir parte swéetely rendred againe to hym so many What folowed it wer folie to describe Girolamo lykewise at v. of the clock appered and was by the mayde conueyd vp to the chambre where he lay with his own wife to their great contentations Now these ãâã husbands thinking they had beÌ imbraced by their beloued ladies to séeme braue and valiant men of warre made greater proofe of their manhod than they wer wont to do At what time their wiues as it pleased God to manifest by their deliuerie wer begoten with child of ãâã faire ãâã they the best contented women of that worlde This practise coÌtinued betwene theÌ many times fewe wekes passing but in this sort they lay together Neyther of them for al this perceiued themselues to be deluded or coÌceiued any suspitioÌ of collusion by reason that chaÌber was stil without light in the day the womeÌ coÌmonly failed not to be togither The time was not loÌg but their bellies began to swel wherat their husbands were exceding ioiful beleuing verily that one of them had fixed hornes vpon an others head Nowbeit the pore meÌ for al their false belief had bestowed their labor vp on their own soil watred only with the course of their propre fouÌtain These ãâã ioly weÌches seing theÌselfs by this amorous practise to be with childe beganne to deuise how they might breake of the same doubting lest some slaunder and ill talke shoulde rise and thereby the hatrede and malice betwene their husbandes increase to greater furie And as they wer about this deuise an occasion chaunced vtterly to dissolue their ãâã méetings but not in that sort as they wold haue had it For the women determined as merily they had begon so iocundly to ende but Fortune the guide of humane life disposeth all enterprises after hir owne pleasure who like a puissant Ladie carieth with hir the successe of eche attempt The beginnyng she offereth fréely to him that list the end she calleth for as a ransom or tribute payable vnto hir In the same streate or as they cal it Rio Canale not farre from their houses there dwelled a yong woman very faire and comely not fully xx yeares of age which then was a widow and a little before the wife of M. Niccolo Delphino and the daughter of M. Giouanni Moro called Gismonda She besides hir fathers dowrie which was more thaÌ a thousand ãâã had left hir by hir husband a greate porcion of money iewels plate and houshold furnitures With hir fell in loue Aloisio Foscari the nephew of the Duke who making great sute to haue hir to wyfe consumed the time in beholding his Ladie and at length had brought the matter to so good passe as one nighte she was contented at one of the windowes of hir house directly ouer againste a little lane to heare him speake Aloisio maruellous glad of those desired newes ãâã appointed night about v. or vj. of the clock with a ladder made of roapes bicause the window was very high wente thither alone Beyng at the place making a signe concluded vpon betwene them attended when the gentle woman should throwe downe a litle corde to draw vp the ladder accordingly as was appointed which not long after was done Gismonda when she had receiued the ende of the ladder tied it fast to the iawme of the window and gaue a token to hir louer to mount he by force of loue being very venturous liuely and lustely scaled the window And when he was vpon the top of the same desirous to cast himself in to embrace his Ladie and she not ready to receiue him or else vpon other occasion he fel downe backward thinking as he fell to haue saued himself twice or thrice by catching hold vpoÌ the ladder but it wold not be NotwithstaÌding as God wold haue it the poise of his body fel not vpoÌ the pauement of the streate fully but was stayed by some lets in the fal which had it not bene so no doubt he had ben slaine out of hand but yet his bones were sore brused and his head déepely wounded The infortunate Louer séeing himself sore hurt with that pitifull fall albeit he thought that he had receiued his deaths wouÌde and impossible to liue any longer yet the loue that he bare to the widow did so far surmouÌt the paine by him sustained and the grief of his body sore crushed and broken that so well as he could he raised himself vp and with his hands stayed the bloud that ranne from his head to the intent it might not raise some slaunder vpon the widow that he loued so wel and ãâã alongs the streat towarde the houses of Girolamo and Anselmo aforsaid Being come thither with great difficultie not able to goe any further for very paine and griefe he fainted and fell downe as deade where the bloud issued in such aboundance
your rancor into the lap of your Countrey that she may put him in exile for euer who like a pitifull and louing mother would gladly sée all hir children of one accorde and minde Which if ye doe ye shall do singulare pleasure to your friendes ye shal do great discoÌfort to your foes ye shal do singular good to the coÌmon wealth ye shal do greatest benefit to your selues ye shal make vs humble wiues ye shal encrease your posterity ye shall be praised of all men ãâã finally shall depart the best contented men that euer the world brought forth And now bicause ye shall not thinke that we haue piked out this tale at our fingers ends thereby to séeke your sauegard and our fame and praise beholde the letters which you sent vs beholde your owne hands subscribed to the same beholde your seales assigned therunto which shall rendre true testimonie of that which vnfainedly we haue affirmed Then both deliuered their letters which viewed and séene were wel known to be their own husbaÌds haÌds and the same so wel approued hir tale as their husbaÌds were the gladdest men of the world and the Duke and seignorie maruelously satisfied conteÌted In so much as the whole asseÌbly with one voice cried out for their husbands deliueraunce And so with the consent of the Duke the whole seignorie they were clerely discharged The parents cosins and friends of the husbands wiues were wonderfully amazed to here this long historie and greatly praised the maner of their deliuery accompting the women to be very wise and mistresse Isotta to be an eloquent gentlewoman for that she had so well defended the cause of their husbands of themselues Anselmo and Girolamo openly in the presence of all the people embraced and kissed their wiues with great ãâã And then the husbandes shaked one an other by the hands betwene whome began a brotherly accorde and from that time forth liued in perfect amitie and friendship exchaunging the wanton loue that either of theÌ bare to others wife into brotherly friendship to the great coÌtentation of the whole Citie WheÌ the multitude assembled to heare this matter throughly was satisfied the Duke with chéereful countenance loking towarde Gismonda sayd thus vnto hir And you faire Gentlewoman what haue you to say Be bolde to vtter your minde and we will gladly heare you Mistresse Gismonda bashful to speake began wonderfully to blush into whose chekes entred an orient rud intermixed with an Alablaster white which made hir countenaunce more ãâã thaÌ it was wont to be After she had stode still a while ãâã hir eyes declined towards the ground in comly wise lifting theÌ vp again with shamfast audacitie she begaÌ to say If I most noble prince in opeÌ audieÌce shold atteÌpt to speake of loue wherof I neuer had experience or knew what thing it was I should be doubtful what to say therof and peradueÌture durst not open mouth But hering my father of worthy memorie many times to tel that your maiestie in the time of your youth disdained not to opeÌ your hert to receiue the amorous flames of loue being assured that ther is none but that doth loue litle or much I do not doubt but for the words which I shal speake to obtain both pitie and pardon To come then to the matter God I thank him of his goodnesse hath not permitted me to be one of that sort of women that like hipocrites do mumble their Pater nosters to saincts appering outwardly to be deuout holy and in fruite do bring forth deuils and all kindes of vices specially ingratitude whiche is a vice that dothe suck drie vp the fouÌtain of godly pietie Life is deare to me as naturally it is to all next which I estéeme mine honor that peradueÌture is to be preferred before life bicause without honor life is of no reputatioÌ And where maÌ woman do liue in shame notorious to the world the same may be termed a liuing death rather thaÌ a life But the loue that I beare to mine onely beloued master Aloisio here present I do esteme aboue al that iewels treasures of the world whose personage I do regard more thaÌ mine owne life The reson that moueth me ther to is very great for before that I loued him or euer meÌt to fire my minde that way he derely regarded me continually deuising which way he might win obtain my loue sparing no trauell by night day to seeke the same For which tender affectioÌ shold I shew my self vnkind and froward God forbid And to be plaine with your honors he is more deare acceptable vnto me than that balles of mine owne eyes being the derest things that appertaine to that furniture of the body of man without which no earthly thing can be gladsom and ioyfull to the sense and féeling Last of all his amorous and affectionate demonstration of his loue towards me by declaring him self to be careful of mine honor rather more willing to bestow his owne than to suffer the same to be touched with the left suspicion of dishonestie I can not choose but so faithfully imbrace as I am readie to guage my life for his sake rather than his finger shold ake for that offense And where hath there ben euer fouÌd such liberalitie in any louer What is he that hath ben euer so prodigall to employ his life the moste speciall pledge in this worlde rather than he would suffer his beloued to incurre dishonoure Many histories haue I red and Chronicles of our time and yet I haue founde fewe or none comparable vnto thys Gentleman the like of whom be so rare and seldome as white crowes or swannes of color blacke O singular liberalitie neuer heard of before O fact that can neuer be sufficiently praised O true loue most vnfained Maister Aloisio rather thaÌ he wold haue my fame any one iote to be impaired or suffer any shadow of suspition to blemish the same frankly hath confessed himself to be a théefe regarding me mine honor more than himselfe life And albeit that he might a thousand wayes haue saued himself without the imprisonment aduersitie which he hath sustained neuerthelesse after he had said being then past remeÌbraÌce through the fal that he fel downe froÌ my window perceiued how much that confession would preiudice and hurt my good name and spotte the known honestie of the same of his good wil chose to die rather than to speake any words that might bréede yll opinion of me or the least thing of the worlde that might ingendre infamie slaunder And therefore not able to cal back the words he had spoken of the fal nor by any meanes could coloure the same he thought to saue that good name of another by his own hurt If he then thus redily liberally hath protruded his life to manifest daÌger for my benefit sauegard preferring min honor aboue the care of himself shall not I
who thinke my self of ãâã born and sustained in my first yong age to be the ãâã man and ãâã seruaunt of you my ãâã deare ãâã whome alone I yelde my heart ãâã as it is and the ioy of ãâã thoughts ãâã in my ãâã by the contemplation and remembraunce of your excellent and perfect grace wherof if I be not fauored I ãâã for death from which euen presently I ãâã ãâã ãâã feare of that which she can doe or of the vgly ãâã which I conceiue to be in hir but rather to confirme my life this body for instrument to exercise the ãâã ãâã for doing of your commaundements where I shall proue that vnworthy cruelty both of your gentle ãâã and of the body fraught ful of that which dame Nature can departe of hir aboundant graces ãâã sure madame that you shall shortly sée the end of him which attendeth yet to beare so much as in him ãâã lie the vehement loue into an other world which maketh me to pray you to haue pitie on him who attending the rest and final sentence of his death or life doth humbly kisse your white and delicate hands ãâã god to giue to you like ãâã as his is who ãâã to be Wholy yours or not to be at all Philiberto of Virle The letter written closed and sealed ãâã ãâã to ãâã neighbour who promised him againe to ãâã him ãâã at night Thus thys ãâã went hir way leauing this poore languishing Gentleman hoping against his hope and faining by and by some ioy and pleasure wherin he ãâã himself with great contented minde Then sodainly he called againe vnto remembrance the crueltie ãâã of Zilia which shewed before his eyes so many kindes of deathe as times he thought vpon the same thinking that he saw the choler wherewith his little courteous mistresse furiously did intertaine the messanger who found Zilia comming forth of a gardein adioyning to hir house and hauing saluted hir and receiued like courteous salutation she would haue framed hir talke for honest excuse in that ãâã charge message for hir also vnto whome she was sent and for some ease to the pore getleman which aproched nearer death than life But Zilia brake of hir talke saying I maruell much gentle neighbor to sée you héere at this time of the day knowing your honest custome is to let passe no minute of the time except it be employed in some vertuous exercise Mistresse answered the messanger I thank you for the good opinion you haue of me and doe pray you to ãâã the same For I do assure you that nothing vaine of little effect hath made me slacke my businesse at this time which me think I do not ãâã when I inforce my self to take pitie and mercy vpon the afflicted sort and the cause therof I would disclose if I feared not to offend you and breake the loue which of long time betwene vs two hath bene frequented I know not sayd Zilia wherunto your words do teÌd although my heart doth throbbe and minde doth moue to make me thinke your purposed talke to be of none other effecte than to say a ãâã which may redouÌd to the preiudice of mine ãâã Wherfore I pray you doe not open any thing that ãâã be contrary be it neuer so little to the duetie of Dames of our degrée Mistresse sayd the neighboure I suppose that the little likelihoode which is in you with the thing for the helpe whereof I come to speake hath made you féele the passion contrary to the griefe of him that indures so much for your sake Unto whome not thinking therof I gaue my faith in pledge to beare this Letter In saying so she drew the same out of hir bosome and presenting them to cruell ãâã she sayde I beseeche you to thinke that I am not ignoraunt of the ãâã wherewith the Lorde of ãâã is affected who wrote these letters I promised him the duetie of a messanger towardes you and so constrained by promise I could doe no lesse than to deliuer you that which he doeth send with seruice such as shall ãâã for euer or if it shall please you to accept him for such a one as he desireth For my parte I pray you to reade the contents and accordingly to giue me answere for my faith is no further bound but faithfully to reporte to him the thing whereupon you shall be resolued Zilia which was not wont to receiue very ofte such embassades at the first was in minde to breake the letters and to returne the messanger to hir shame But in the end taking heart and chaunging hir affection she red the letters not without shewing some very great alteration outwardely which declared the meaning of hir thought that diuersly did striue within hir minde for sodainely the chaunged hir coloure twice or thrice now waring pale like the increasing ãâã Eclipsed by the Sunne when the féeleth a certaine darkening of hir borowed light then the Uermilion and coloured tainte came into hir face againe with no lesse hewe than the blomed Rose newly budded forth which encreased halfe so much againe the excellencie of that wherewith Nature ãâã indued hir And ãâã ãâã paused a while Notwithstanding after that shée had redde and redde againe hir louers letter not able to dissemble hir foolishe anger which vered hir hearte she sayd vnto the mistresse messanger I wold not haue thought that you being suche as eche man knoweth would by abusing your duetie haue bene the ambassador of a thing so vncomely for your estate and the house whereof you come and towardes me which neuer was such one ne yet pretend to be to whome sute should be made for doing of such follies And trust to it that it is the loue I beare you which shall make me dissemble that I thinke and holde my peace reseruing in silence that which had it come from an other than you I would haue published to the great dishonoure of hir which had made so little accompte of my chastitie Let it suffise therfore in time to come for you to thinke and beleue that I am chaste and honest and to aduertise the Lord of ãâã to procéede no further in his sute for rather will I die than agrée to the least point of that which he desires of me And that he may knowe the same be well assured that he shall take his leaue of that priuate talke which sometimes I vsed with him to my great dishonor as farre as I can sée Get you home therefore and if you loue your honoure so much as you sée me curious of my chastitie I beséeche you vse no further talke of him whome I hate so much as his ãâã is excessiue by louing hir which careth not for those amorous toyes and sained passions whereunto such louing fooles do suffer them selues to be caried headlong The messanger ashamed to heare hir selfe thus pinched to the quicke answered hir very quietly without mouing of hir pacience I pray to God mistresse that he
may remedy the different disease almost incurable in either of you twaine the same béeing so vehement as altered into a ãâã maketh you in this wise incapable of reasoÌ Finishing these words she toke hir leaue of Zilia and arriued to the louers house she founde him lying vpon his bedde rather dead than aliue who séeing his neighbor returned backe againe with face so sadde not tarying for the answer which she was about to make he began to say Ah infortunate Gentleman thou payest well the vsurie of thy pleasures past when thou diddest liue at libertie frée from those trauails which now do put thée to death with out suffring thée to die Oh happie and more than right happie had I bene if inconstant Fortune had not deuised this treason wherein I am surprised and caught and yet no raunsom can redeme me from prison but the most miserable deth that euer poore louer suffred Ah mistresse I know well that Zilia estemeth not my letters ne yet regardeth my loue I confesse that I haue done you wrong by thus abusing your honest amitie for the solace of my pain Ah fickle loue what foole is he which doth commit himself to the rage and furie of the waues of thy foming and tempestuous seas Alas I am entred in with great gladsom chéere through the glistering shew before mine eyes of the faint sunne beames wherunto so soone as I made saile the same denied me light to thrust me forth into a thousande windes tempests and raging stormes of raine By meanes wherof I sée no meane at all to hope for end of my mishaps and much lesse the shipwracke which sodainely may rid me from this daunger more intollerable than if I were ouerwhelmed wythin the bottomlesse depth of the maine Ocean Ah deceiuer wily souldier why hast thou made me enterprise the voyage farre of from thy solitudes and wildernesse to giue me ouer in the middest of my necessitie Is this thy maner towardes them which franckly follow thée by trace and pleasantly subdue themselues to thy traiterous folies At lest wise if I saw some hope of helth I would indure without complaint therof yea and it were a more daungerous tempest But O good God what is he of whom I speake Of whom do I attende for solace and reliefe of him truely which is borne for the ouerthrow of men Of whom hope I for healthe Of the moste noysom poyson that euer was myngled with the most subtile druggs that euer were Whome shall I take to be my defender He which is in ambush traitrously to catch me that he may martir me worsse than ãâã hath done before Ah cruell wenche that thou shouldest measure so euill the good will of him that neuer purposed to trespasse the least of thy commaundementes Ah that thy beautie should finde a subiecte so stubborn in thée to torment them that loue and praise thée O maigre and vnkinde recompense to expel good seruantes that be affectionate to a seruice so iust and good Ah Basiliske coloured ouer with pleasure and swéetenesse howe hath thy sighte dispersed his poyson throughout mine heart At least wise if I hadde some drugge to repell thy force I should liue at ease that without this sute and trouble But I féele and proue that this sentence is more than true No physike herbes the griefe of loue can cure Ne yet no drugge that paine can well assure Alas the seare clothe will not serue to tense the wounde the time shall be but loste to cut the same is but increase of paine to salue the same bredeth matter to cause mine ouerthrow To be short any dressing can not auaile except the hand of hir alone which gaue the wounde I would to God the sawe the bottome of my heart and viewed the closet of any minde that she might iudge my firme saith and know the wrong she doth me by hir rigor and froward wil. But O vnhappie man I féele that she is so resolued in obstinate mynde as hir rest semeth only to depend vpon my paine hir ease vpon my grief and hir ioy vpon my sadnesse And saying so began strangely to wepe and sighing betwene lamented in so much as that mistresse messanger not able to abide the grief and painful trauaile wherin she saw the pore gentleman wrapped went home to hir house not withstanding she told afterward the whole successe of his loue to a Gentleman the friende of Philiberto Nowe this Gentleman was a companion in armes to the lorde of Virle and a very familiar friend of his for which cause he went about by all meanes to put away those foolish and frantike conceits out of his fansie but he profited as much by his endeuour as the passionate gained by his heuinesse who determining to die yelded so much to care and grief as he fel into a greuous sicknesse which both hindred him from slepe and also of his appetite to eate and drinke giuing himself to muse vpon his folies and fansied dreames without hearing or admitting any man to speake vnto him And if he dyd heare them his words tended to the complainte of the crueltie of one whom he named not and sounded of desire he had to end his life vpon that coÌplaynt The physitians round about wer sought for who could giue no iudgement of that disease neither for al the signes thei saw or any inspection of the vrine or touching of the pulse but saide that it was a melancholie humor distilling from the braine which caused the alteration of his sense howbeit their arte and knowledge were void of skil to euacuate the grosse blood that was congeled of ãâã melancholie And therfore dispairing of his helth with handes full of money they gaue him ouer Whiche his friend and companion perceiuing maruellous sory for the affliction of his friend ceased not to practise al that ãâã could by letters gifts promises and complaintes to procure Zilia to visite the pacient For he was assured that the only presence of hir was able to recouer hys friend But the cruell woman excused hir self through hir widdowhed that it should be vnséemely for one of hir degrée of intent to visite a Gentleman whose parentage and aliance she knew not The soliciter of the Lord of Virle his health séeing how litle his prayers auailed with his implacable furie knewe no longer to what ãâã he might vow himself for counsell in the ende resolued to sollicite hir which hadde done the first message that she might deuise some meanes to bring them to speake together And fyndyng hir for his purpose thus he sayd vnto hir Mistresse I maruel much that you make so litle accompt of the pore lord of Virle who lieth in his bedde attending for death Alas if euer pitie hadde place in womans hearte I beséech you to gyue your ayde to helpe hym the meane whereof in whome it lyeth is not ignorant vnto you God is my witnesse quod she what trauaile I could take to help him but in thyngs
no more although I sée my ãâã happe otherwise to ende than my desert required and that good lucke hath cause to worke againste me But yet against Fortune to contend is to war against my self wherof the victorie can be but ãâã Thus he passed al the day which séemed to last a thousand yeres to him that thought to receiue some good intertainmeÌt of his lady in whose bonds he was catched before he thought that womaÌs malice could so farre excede or display hir venomous sting And truly that maÌ is void of sense whych suffreth him selfe so fondly to be charmed ãâã the peril of the abused ought to serue him for example They be to the masculine kinde a great confusion and vnwares for want of due forsight the same ãâã suffer it self to be bound taken captiue by the very thing which hath no being to worke effecte but by his own fréewil But this inchantmeÌt which riseth of womens beautie being to men a pleasant displeasure I thinke to be decked with that drawing vertue and allurement to punish and torment the faults of men for they once fed and baited with a fading fauor poisoned swetenesse forget their owne perfection and nousled in their foolishe fansies séeking felicitie and soueraigne gyfte in the matter wherein dothe lie the summe of their vnhappes In like maner the vertuous and shamfast dames haue not their eyes of mynd so blindfolde but that they sée whervnto those franke seruices ãâã ãâã faithes and vices coloured and stuffed with exterior vertue do tende and doubt not but those louers do imitate the Scorpion whose venome lyeth in hys taile the ende of such loue beyng the ruine of good renoume and the decay of former vertues For whych cause the heauens the friende of their sexe haue gyuen them a prouidence which those gentle vnfauoured louers terme to be rigor that by those meanes they may proue the desert of a suter both for their great contentation and praise and for the rest of them that do them seruice This iuste right and modeste prouidence that cruell Gentlewoman vsed not to the good and faithfull louer the Lord of Virle who was so humble a seruant of his vnkinde mistresse as his goodnesse redounded to his great ãâã and folie as manifestly may appere by that which foloweth Sir Philiberto then thinkyng to haue gained muche by hauing made promise liberally to speake to ãâã Ladie went vnto hir at the appointed time so wel a contented man truely of that grace as al the vnkindnesse past was quite forgot Nowe being come to the lodging of mistresse Zilia he found hir in the deuised place with one of hir maides wayting vpon hir When shée saw him after a litle colde entertainement she began to say vnto hym with fained ioy that neuer moued hir within these wordes Nowe syr I sée that youre late ãâã was not so straunge as I was giuen to vnder stande for the good state wherin I sée you presently to be which from henceforth shall make me beleue that the passions of men endure so long as the cause of their affections continue within their fansies much like vnto looking glasses which albeit they make the equalitie or ãâã of things represented to apere yet when the thing séene doth passe vanish away the formes also do voide out of remembraunce like the wind which lightly whorleth too fro through the plain of some depe valey Ah madame answered he how easie a matter it is for the ãâã person to counterfait both ioy dissimulatioÌ in one very thing which not only may forget that conceit that moueth his affections but the obiect must ãâã remaine in him as painted and ãâã in his mind Which truly as you say is a loking glasse not such one for all that as the counterfaited apparance of represented formes hath like vigor in it that the first and true ãâã shapes can so soone vanish without leauing the trace of most perfect impression of such formes wtin the mind of him which liueth vpon their only remembrance In this mirror then which by reason of the hiddeÌ force I may wel say to be ardent burning haue I loked so wel as I can thereby to forme the sustentation of my good ãâã But the imagined shape not able to support suche perfection hath made the rest of the body to faile weakned through the minds passions in such wise as if that hope to recouer this better part half lost had not cured both the whole decay of the one had folowed by thinking to giue some accoÌplishmeÌt in the other And if you sée me Madame attain to some good state impute not the same I beséeche you but to the good will fauor which I receiue by seing you in a priuate place wherin I coÌceiue greater ioy than euer I did to say vnto you the thing which you would not beleue by woords at other times procéeding from my mouth ne yet by aduertisemeÌt signified in my ãâã letters NotwithstaÌding I think that my Martyrdome is known to be such as euery man may perceiue that the summe of my desire is only to serue and obey you for so muche as I can receiue no greater comfort thaÌ to be coÌmaunded to make repaire to you to let you know that I am hole although ãâã ouer by ãâã wheÌ you vouchsafed to employ ãâã in your seruice and thinke my self raised vp againe ãâã one ãâã thousande deathes at once when it shall please you to haue pitie vpon the grief passion which I ãâã Alas what causeth my ãâã to sée that ãâã beautie of yours to make the proofe of a crueltie so great ãâã you determined Madame thus to ãâã the ãâã gentleman that is ready to sacrifice himself in your ãâã wheÌ you shal depart to him some fauor of your ãâã Do you thinke that my passions be ãâã or ãâã Alacke alacke the teares which I haue shed the losse of ãâã to eate and drinke the weary passed nights the long contriued sléepelesse time the restlesse turmoile of my self may well assure that my ãâã heart is of better merite than you estéeme Then séeing hir to fire hir eyes vpon the grouÌd and thinking that he had already wonne hir he reinforced his faire talke sighing at ãâã betwéene not sparing the ãâã which trickled ãâã alongs his face he prosecuted his talke saying Ah faire amongs the fairest would you blot that diuine beautie with a cruelty so furious as to cause the death of him which loueth you better thaÌ him selfe Ah mine eyes which hitherto haue bene ãâã with two liuely springs to expresse the hidden griefes within my heart if your vnhappe be such that the only dame of your contemplatioÌs and cause of your teares doe cause the humor to encrease which hitherto in such wise hath emptied my braine that there is no more in me to moisten your drouthe I am content to endure the same vntill my hearte shall féele the laste pangue ãâã theÌe of
giue To louing man that here on earth doth liue This great good turne which I on hir pretende Of my conceites the full desired ende Proceedes from thee O cruell mystres mine Whose froward heart hath made me to resigne The full effect of all my libertie To please and ease thy fonde fickle fansie My vse of speach in silence to remaine To euery wight a double hellish paine Whose faith hadst thou not wickedly abusde No stresse of paine for thee had bene refusde Who was to thee a trustie seruaunt sure And for thy sake all daungers would endure For which thou hast defaced thy good name And there vnto procurde eternall shame I That roaring tempest huge which thou hast made me felt The raging stormes whereof well nere my heart hath swelt By painefull pangs whose waltering waues by troubled skies And thousand blastes of winde that in those seas do rise Do promise shipwracke sure of that thy sayling Barke When after weather cleare doth rise some tempest darke For eyther I or thou which art of Tygres kinde In that great raging gulfe some daunger sure shalt finde Of that thy nature rude the dest'nies en'mies be And thy great ouerthrow full well they do foresee The heauens vnto my estate no doubt great friendship shoe And do seeke wayes to ende and finish all my woe This penance which I beare by yelding to thy hest Great store of ioyes shall heape and bring my minde to rest And when I am at ease amids my pleasaunt happes Then shall I see thee fall and suarlde in Fortunes trapes Then shall I see thee banne and cursse the wicked time Wherin thou madest me gulpe such draught of poysoned wine By which thy mortall cuppe I am the offred wight A vowed sacrifice to that thy cruell spight Wherefore my hoping heart doth hope to see the daie That thou for silence nowe to me shalt be the praie I O blessed God most iust whose worthy laude and praise With vttered speach in Skies aloft I dare not once to raise And may not wel pronouÌce speak what suffrance I sustain Ne yet what death I do indure whiles I in life remaine Take vengeance on that traitresse rude afflict hir corps with woe Thy holy arme redresse hir fault that she no more do soe My reason hath not so farre strayed but I may hope and trust To see hir for hir wickednesse be whipt with plague most iust In the meane while great hauinesse my sense and soule doth bite And shaking feuer vexe my corps for grief of hir despite My mynde now set at libertie from thee O cruell dame Doth giue defiance to thy wrath and to thy cursed name Proclamyng mortall warre on thee vntill my tongue vntide Shall ioy to speake to Zilia fast wepyng by my side The heueÌs forbid that causelesse wroÌg abrode shold make his vauÌt Or that an vndeserued death forget full tombe shoulde haunt But that in written boke and verse their names should euer liue And eke their wicked dedes should die and vertues still reuine So shall the pride and glorie both of hir be punisht right By length of yeares and tract of time And I by vertues might Full recompense therby shall haue and stande still in good fame And she like caitife wretche shall liue to hir long lasting shame Whose fond regarde of beauties grace contemned hath the force Of my true loue full fixt in hir hir heart voide of remorse Esteemed it selfe right foolishely and me abused still Vsurping my good honest faith and credite at hir will Whose loyall faith doth rest in soule and therin still shall bide Vntill in filthie stincking graue the earth my corps shall hide Then shal that soule fraught with that faith to heueÌs make his ãâã And rest amoÌg the heuenly rout bedeckt with sacred aire paire And thou for thy great crueltie as God aboue doth know With rufull voice shalt weepe and waile for thy great ouerthrow And when thou wouldest fain purge thy self for that thy wretched No kindnesse shal to thee be done extreme shal be thy mede dede And where my tongue doth want his will thy mischief to display My hande and penne supplies the place and shall do so alway For so thou hast constrainde the same by force of thy behest In silence still my tong to kepe t' accomplishe thy request Adieu farewell my tormenter thy friend that is full mute Doth bid thee farewell once againe and so he ends his sute He that liueth only to be reuenged of thy cruelty Philiberto of Virle Zilia like a disdainfull woman made but a iest at the letters and complaints of the infortunat louer saying that she was very well content with his seruice And that when he should performe the time of his probatiou she should sée if he were worthy to be admitted into the felowship of them which had made sufficient proofe of the order and rule of loue In the meane time Philiberto rode by great iourneys as we haue sayd before towards the goodly and pleasant Countrey of Fraunce wherein Charles the seuenth that time did raigne who miraculously but giue the French man leaue to flatter speake vvel of his ovvne Countrey according to the flattering and vaunting nature of that Nation chased the English men out of his lands and auncient Patrimonie in the yeare of our Lord. 1451. This king had his campe then warfaring in Gascoine whose lucke was so fortunate as he expeld his enimies and left no place for theÌ to fortifie in the sayd Countrey which incouraged the king to folow that good occasion and by prosecuting his victorious fortune to profligat out of Normandie to dispatch himself of that enimy into whose handes and seruitude the CouÌtrey of Guiene was rightly deliuered and victoriously wonne and gotteÌ by the Englishmen The king then being in his Campe in Normandie the Piedmont Gentleman the Lord of Virle aforesayd repaired thereunto to serue him in his person where hée was well knowne of some Captaines which had séene him at other times and in place where worthy Gentlemen are wont to frequent and in the Duke of Sauoyes court which the Frenchmen did very much ãâã bicause the Earle of Piedmont that then was Duke of Sauoy had maried Iolanta the second daughter of Charles the seuenth These Gentlemen of Fraunce were very much sory for the misfortune of the Lord of Virle and knowing him to be one of the brauest and lustiest men of armes that was in his time within the Country of Piedmont presented him before the King commending vnto his grace the vertue gentlenesse and valianee of the man of warre Who after he had done his ãâã according to his duetie which he knew ful well to doe declared vnto him by signs that he was come for none other intent but in those warres to serue his maiesty whom the king heard and thaÌkfully receiued assuring himself and promising very much of the ãâã GitlemaÌ for respect of his personage which was comely
coÌpassion and desire to giue some ease vnto hir most earnest louer yelded hir selfe to couetous gain and gredinesse for to encrease hir richesse O curssed hunger of Money how long wilt thou thus blinde the reason and sprites of men Ah perillous gulfe how many hast thou ouerwhelmed within thy bottoÌlesse throte whose glory had it not bene for thee had surpassed the clouds and bene equal with the brightnesse of the Sunne where now they be obscured with the thicknesse of thy fogges and palpable darknesse Alas the fruites which thou bringest forth for all thine outwarde apparance conduce no felicitie to them that be thy possessors for the dropsey that is hidden in their mind which maketh them so much the more thirsty as they drinke oft in that thirsty Fountaine is cause of their alteration and most miserable is that insaciable desire the Couetous haue to glut their appetite which can receiue no contentation This only ãâã somtimes procured the death of the great and rich Romane Crassus who through Gods punishment fell into the hands ãâã the Persians for violating and sacking the Temple of God that was in Hierusalem Sextimuleus burning with Couetousnesse and gredinesse of money did once cut of the head of his patron and defender Caius ãâã the Tribune of the people incited by the Tyrant which tormenteth the hearts of the couctous I will not speake of a good number of other examples in people of all kindes and diuers nations to come againe to Zilia Who forgetting hir vertue the first ornament and shining quality of hir honest behauior feared not the wearinesse and trauaile of way to commit hir self to the danger of losse of ãâã and to yeld to the mercy of one vnto whom she had done so great iniury as hir conscience if she hadde not lost hir right sense ought to haue made hir thinke that hee was not without desire to reuenge that wroÌg ãâã done vnto him specially being in place where she was not knowne and he greatly honoured and esteemed for whose loue that Proclamation and searche of Physicke was made and ordained Ziha then hauing put in order hir affairs at home departed from Montcall and passing the Mountes arriued at Paris at such time as greatest dispaire was had of the dumbe Knights recouery When she was arriued there within fewe dayes after she inquired for them that had the charge to entertaine such as came and would take vpon them the cure of the sayd pacient For sayd she if there be any man in the world through whome the Knight may get his health I hope in God that I am she which shal haue the praise Héereof the Commissaries deputed hereunto were aduertised who caused the faire Physician to come before them and asked hir if it were she that wold take vpon hir to cure this dumbe Gentleman To whome she answeared my masters it hath pleased God to reueale vnto me a certain secrete very proper and meete for the cure of his malady wherewithall if the pacient will I hope to make him speake so well as he did these two yeres past more I suppose sayd one of the Commissaries that you be not ignorant of the ãâã of the Kings Proclamation I know ful quod she the effect therof therfore do say vnto you that I wil loose my life if I doe not accomplish that which I doe promise vpon condition that I may haue licence to tary with him alone bicause it is of no lesse importance than his health It is no maruell sayde the Commissary considering your beauty which is sufficieÌt to frame a new tong in the most ãâã person that is vnder the heauens And therefore do your indeuor assuring you that you shall doe a great pleasure vnto the King and besides the prayse which you shall acquire gette the good wil of the dumbe gentleman which is the most excellent man of the world and therefore shall be so wel recompensed as you shal haue good cause to be routented with the Kings liberalitie But to the intent you be not deceiued the meaning of the Proclamation is that within xv dayes after you begin the cure you must make him hole or else to satisfie the paines ordained in the same Wherunto she submitted hir self blinded by Auarice and presumptioÌ thinking that she had like power ouer the Lord of Virle as when she gaue him that sharpe and cruel penance These conditions promised the Commissaries went to aduertise the Knight how a Gentlewoman of Piedmont was of purpose come into Fraunce to helpe him whereof he was maruellously astonned Now he would neuer haue thought that Zilia had borne him so great good wil as by abasing the pride of hir corage would haue come so farre to ease the grief of him whome by such great torments she had so wonderfully persecuted He thought againe that it was the Gentlewoman his neighboure which sometimes had done hir endeuor to helpe him and had prouoked Zilia to absolue him of his faithe and acquite him of his promise Musing vpon the diuersitie of these things not knowing wherupon to settle his iudgement the deputies commaunded that the woman Physitian shold be brought to speake with the patient Which was done and brought in place the Commissaries presently with drew themselues The Lord of Virle seeing his enimie come before him whom sometimes he loued very ãâã iudged by and by the cause wherefore she came that onely auarice and gredy desire of gaine ãâã rather procured hir to passe the mountains trauail than due and honest amitie wherwith she was double bouÌd through his perseuerance and humble seruice wherby hée was estraunged of himselfe as he fared like a shadowe and image of a dead man Wherfore callyng to mynd the rigour of his Ladie hir inciuilitie and fonde commandement so long time to forbidde his speache the loue which once he bare hir with a vehement desire to obey hir sodainly was so cooled and qualified that loue was turned into hatred and will to serue hir into an appetite of reuenge whervpon he determined to vse that present fortune and to playe his parte with hir vpon whom he had so foolishly doted and to pay hir with that moÌney wherwith she made hint féele the fruites of vnspeakable crueltie to giue example to fonde and presumptuous dames how they did abuse Gentlemen of such degrée whereof the Knyght was and that by hauing regarde to the merite of such personages they be not so prodigall of themselues as to set their honoure in sale for vile rewarde and filthy mucke which was so constantly conserued and defended by this Gentlewoman against the assaultes of the good grace beautie calour and gentlenesse of that vertuous and honest suter And notwithstanding in these dayes we sée some to resist the amitie of those that loue for an opinion of a certaine vertue which they thinke to be hidden within the corps of excellent beautie who afterwards do set them selues to sale to him that giueth
and Physitian dwelling at Cutiano a Citie of Boeme where plenty of siluer Mines and other mettals is The knight whose Castle was not farre from Cutiano had occasion to repaire vnto that Citie and according to his desire found out Pollacco which was a very olde maÌ and talking with him of diuers things perceiued him to be of great skill In end he entreated him that for so much as he had done pleasure to many for ãâã of their loue he wold also instruct him how he might be assured that his wife did kéepe hir self honest all the time of his absence and that by certaine signes he might haue sure knowledge whether she brake hir faith by sending his honesly into Cornwall Such vain trust this Knight reposed in the lying Science of Sorcery which although to many other is found deceitfull yet to him serued for sure euidence of his wiues sidelitie This Pollacco which was a very cunning enchaunter as you haue hard sayd vnto him Sir you demaund a very strauÌge matter such as where with neuer hitherto I haue bene acquainted ne yet searched the depthe of those hidden secretes a thing not commonly sued for ne yet practised by me For who is able to make assurance of a womans chastitie or tel by signes except he were at the déede doing that she hath done amisse Or who can gaine by proctors wryt to summon or sue a sprituall Court peremptorily to affirme by neuer so good euidence or testimony that a woman hath hazarded hir honesty except he sweare Rem to be in Re which the greatest ãâã that euer Padua bred neuer sawe by processe duely tried Shall I then warrant you the honesty of such ãâã cattell prone and ready to lust easy to be vanquished by the suites of earnest pursuers But blame worthy surely I am thus generally to speake for some I know although not many for whose pore honesties I dare aduenture mine owne And yet that number howe small so euer it be is worthy all due reuerence and honoure Notwithstanding bicause you séeme to be an honest Gentleman of that knowledge which I haue I will not be greatly ãâã A certaine secrete experiment in déede I haue wherwith perchauÌce I may satisfie your demaunde And this is it I can by mine Arte in small time by certaine compositions frame a womans Image which you continually in a little boxe may carry about you and so ofte as you list beholde the same If the wife doe not breake hir mariage faith you shall still sée the same so faire and wel coloured as it was at the first making séeme as though it newly came from the painters shop but if perchauÌce she meane to abuse hir honesty the same wil waxe pale and in déede committing that filthy facte sodainely the colour wil be black as arayed with cole or other ãâã the smel wherof wil not be very plesaÌt but at al times when she is attempted or pursued the colour wil be so yealow as gold This maruellous secrete deuise greatly pleased the Knight verely beleuing the same to be true specially much moued assured by the fame bruted abrode of his science wherof the Citizens of ãâã told very strange incredible things When the price was paid of this precious iewel he receiued the Image ioyfully returned home to his castle wher tarying certain dayes he determined to repair to that Court of the glorious king Mathie making his wife priuy to his intent Afterwards wheÌ he had disposed his houshold matters in order he coÌmitted that gouernment therof to his wife hauing prepared all necessaries for his voyage to the great sorow griefe of his beloued he departed arriued at Alba Regale where that time the King lay with Quéene Beatrix his wife of whom he was ioyfully receiued entertained He had not long continued in the Court but he had obtained won the fauor good will of all men The King which knew him full well very honorably placed him in his court by him accoÌplished diuers and many waighty affaires which very wisely and trustely he brought to passe according to the kings mind pleasure Afterwards he was made Colonel of a certaine nuÌber of footemen sent by the king against the Turks to defend a holde which the enimies of God begaÌ to assaile vnder the conduct of Mustapha Basca which coÌduct he so wel directed therin stoutly behaued himself as he chased al the Infidels out of those coastes winning therby that name of a most valiant soldier prudent captain Whereby he meruellously gained the fauor grace of the king who ouer and besides his daily intertainement gaue vnto him a Castle and the Reuenue in fée farme for euer Such rewards deserue all valiaÌt men which for the honor of their Prince countrey do willingly imploy their seruice worthy no dout of great regard cherishing vpoÌ their home returne bicause they hate idlenesse to win glory deuising rather to speÌd hole dayes in field than houres in Courte which this worthy Knight deserued who not able to sustaine his pore estate by politik wisdoÌ prowesse of armes endeuored to serue his Lord and countrey wherin surely he made a very good choise Then he deuoutly serued and praised God for that he put into his minde such a Noble enterprise trusting daily to atchieue greater fame and glory but the greater was his ioy and contentation bicause the image of his wife inclosed within a boxe which still he caried about him in his pursie continued freshe of coloure without any alteration It was noysed in the Court that this valiant Knight Vlrico had in Boeme the fairest and goodliest Lady to his wife that liued either in Boeme or Hungarie It chauÌced as a certaine company of yong Gentlemen in the Court were together amongs whome was this Knighte that a ãâã Earon sayd vnto him How is it possible syr ãâã being a yeare and a half since you departed out of Boeme that you haue no minde to returne to sée your wife who as the common fame reporteth is one of the goodliest women of all the Countrey truely it séemeth to me that you care not for hir which were great pitie if hir beautic be correspondent to hir fame Syr quod Vlrico what hir beautie is I referre vnto the worlde but how so euer you estéeme me to care of hir you shall vnderstande that I doe loue hir and will doe so during my life And the cause why I haue not visited hir of loÌg time is no little proofe of the great assurance I haue of hir vertue and honest life The argument of hir vertue I proue for that she is contented that I shold serue my Lord and king and sufficient it is for me to giue hir intelligence of my state and welfare which many times by letters at opportunitie I faile not to doe the proofe of my Faith is euident by reason of my bounden duety to our soueraigne Lord of whome
an other Lady a widow also that was very rich and so wel allied as any in all the land This Lady had a sonne whom she caused to be trained vp so wel in Armes and good letters as in other honest exercises proper and méete for a Gentleman and great Lord for which respect she had sent him to Barcelona the chiefe Citie of all the Countrey of ãâã Senior Dom Diego for so was the sonne of that widow called ãâã so well in all things that when he was ãâã yeares of age there was no Gentleman of his degrée that did excell him ne yet was able to approche vnto his perfections and commeÌdable behauior A thing that did so wel content that good Lady his mother as she could not tell what countenaunce to kéepe to couer hir ioy A vice very commen to fonde and folish mothers who flater them selues with a shadowed hope of the future goodnesse of their childreÌ which many times doth more hurt to that wanton and wilfull age than profit or aduauncement The persuasion also of such towardnesse full oft doth blinde that sprites of youth as that faults which folow the same be far more vile thaÌ before they were wherby the first Table made in his first coloures of that imagined vertue caÌ take no force or perfection and so by incurring sundry mishaps the parent childe commonly eskape not without equall blame To come againe therefore to our discourse it chaunced in that time that the Catholike king deceased Philippe of Austrich which succéeded him as heire passing through Fraunce came into Spaine to be inuested and take possession of al his seigniories and kingdomes which knowen to the Citizens of Barcelona they determined to receiue him with such pompe magnificence and honor as duely appertaineth to the greatnesse and maiestie of so great a Prince as is the sonne of the Romane Emperour And amongs other things they prepared a triumphe at the Tilt where none was suffred to enter the listes but yong GeÌtlemen such as neuer yet had folowed armes Amongs whome Dom Diego as that Noblest person was chosen chiefe of one part The Archduke then come to Barcelona after the receiued honors and Ceremonies accustomed for such entertainment to gratifie his subiects and to sée the brauery of the yong Spanish Nobilitie in armes would place himself vpon the skaffolde to iudge the courses and valiance of the runners In that magnifique and Princely conflict all mens eyes were bent vpon Dom Diego who course by course made his aduersaries to féele the force of his armes his manhode and dexteritie on horsebacke and caused them to muse vpon his towarde ãâã in time to come whose noble gests then acquired the victory of the campe on his side Which moued King Philip to say that in al his life he neuer saw triuÌph better handled and that the same séemed rather a battell of strong hardy men than an excercise of yong Gentlemen neuer woÌted to support the dedes of armes trauaile of warfare For which cause calling Dom Diego before him he sayd God grauÌt yoÌg Gentleman that your ende agrée with your goodly beginnings hardy shock of ãâã done this day In memory wherof I wil this night that ye do your watch for I mean to morow by Gods assistance to dub you knight The yong gentlemaÌ blushing for shame vpoÌ his knees kissed the Princes haÌds thanking him most huÌbly of the honor and fauor which it pleased his maiestie to do him vowing promising to do so wel in time to come as no maÌ shold be deceiued of their conceiued opinion nor the king frustrate of his seruice which was one of his most obedient vassals subiectes So the next day he was made Knight receiued the coller of the order at the handes of King Phillip who after the departure of his prince which toke his iourney into Castille retired to his owne ãâã house more to sée his mother whoÌe long time before he had not séene than for desire of pleasure that be in fieldes which notwithstaÌding he exercised so well as in end ãâã perceiued ãâã in townes cities to be an imprisoÌment ãâã respect of that he felt in Countrey As the Poets whilom fained loue to shote his arrows amid that ãâã forrests fertile fields sea coasts shores of great riuers and fountaine brinkes and also vpon the tops of huge and high Mountaines at the pursute of the sundry sorted Nymphes and ãâã dimigods déeming the same to be a meane of libertie to folow loues tract without suspition voide of company and lothsome cries of Cities where ãâã enuy false report and ill opinion of all things haue pitched their camp and raised their tents ãâã contrariwise fraÌkly and without dissimulation in the fieldes the friend discouering his passion to his Mistresse they enioy the pleasure of hunting the naturall musike of birds and somtimes in pleasant herbers ãâã with the murmur of some running brookes they communicate their thoughts beautifie the accorde and vnitie of louers and make the place famous for that first witnesse of their amorous acquaintance In like manner thrice foure times blest ãâã they there who leaning the vnquiet toile that ordinarily doeth chaunce to them that abide in Cities do rendre ãâã y of their studies to the Muses whereunto they be most minded ãâã Dom Diego at his owne house loued cherished of his mother reuerenced and obeyed of his subiects after he had imployed some time at his study had none other ordinary pleasure but in rousing the Déere hunting the wilde Bore run the Hare somtimes to flie at the Heron or fearfull Partrich alongs the fields Forrestes pondes and stepe Mountaines It came to passe one day as hée Hunted the wilde Mountaine Goate which he had dislodged vpon the Hill toppe he espied an olde Harte that his dogges had found who so ioyfull as was possible of that good lucke followed the course of that swift and fearefull beast But suche was his Fortune the dogges lost the foote of that pray and he his men for being horssed of purpose vpon a fair Iennet could not be followed and in ende loosing the sight of the Déere was so farre seuered from companie as hée was vtterly ignoraunt which way to take And that which grieued him most was his horse out of breth skarse able to ride a false galloppe For which cause he putte his horne to his mouthe and blewe so loude as he could But his men were so farre off as they could not heare him The yonge Gentleman being in this distresse could not tel what to doe but to returne backe wherin he was more deceiued than before for thinking to take the way home to his Castle wandred still further off from the same And trotting thus a long time he spied a Castle situated vpon a little Hill wherby he knew himself far from his owne house Neuerthelesse hearing a certaine noyse of hunters thinking they had bene his people resorted
secrete conceipts which tormented beyond measure and burning with affection causeth somtimes the humor to gushe out in that parte that discouered the first assault and bredde the cause of that feuer which frighted the hearts of those two yong persons not knowing well what the same mighte be When they were come to the Castle and dismounted from their horsse many welcomes and gratulations were made to the knight which yelded more wood to the fire and liuely touched the yong Gentleman who was so outraged with loue as almost he had no minde of himself and rapt by litle and litle was so intoxicated with amorous passion as all other thoughts were lothsome and ioy displeasant in respect of the fauourable martirdome which he suffered by thinking of his faire and gentle Gineura Thus the knight which in the morning disposed him selfe to pursue the harte was in heart so attached as at euening he was become a seruant yea and such a slaue as that voluntarie seruitude wholy dispossessed him from hys former fréedome These be the frutes also of follie inuegling the eyes of men that launch themselues with eyes shut into the gulfe of despaire which in end doth cause the ruin and ouerthrow of him that yeldeth thervnto Loue procedeth neuer but of opinion so likewise the yll order of those that be afflicted with that passion riseth not elsewhere but by the fond persuasion which they conceiue to be blamed despised and deceiued of the thing beloued where if they measured that passion according to his valor they wold make no more accompt of that which doth torment them than they do of their health honor and life who for their seruice and labour delude them and recompense an other with that which the foolish louer shall employ that doth haste despair to hym and ende more than desperate by séeing an other come to enioy that for which he hath beate the bushes During the time that supper was preparing the Lady sent hir men to séeke the huntesmen of Dom Diego to giue them knowledge where he was become and therof to certifie his mother who when she hearde tell that he lay there was very glad beyng a righte good friende and very familiar neighbor with the Lady the hostesse of hir ãâã The Gentleman supping after he had tasted the feruent heate that broiled in his minde coulde eate litle meate rather satisfied with the féeding diete of his amorous eyes which without any maner of iealousie distributed their nourishment to the heart and ãâã very soberly priuily throwing his secrete prickes with louely and wanton looke to the heart of the faire Ladie which for hir part spared not to render vsurie of rollyng lookes wherof he was so sparing as almost he durst not lift vp his eyes for dazelyng of the same After supper the Knight bidding the mother and daughter good night went to bedde where in steede of sléepe he fell to sighing and imagening a thousande diuers ãâã ãâã like numbre of follies such as they doe whose braines be fraught with loue Alas sayd he what meaneth it that always I haue liued in so great libertie and now doe féele my selfe attached with such bondage as I can not expresse whose effects neuerthelesse be fastned in me Haue I hunted to be takeÌ Came I from my house in libertie to be shut vp in prison and do not know whether I shall be receiued or beyng receiued haue interteinement according to my desert Ah Gineura I would to God that thy beautie did prick mée no worsse than the trée whereof thou takest thy name is sharp in touching and bitter to them that ãâã the same Truely I estéeme my comming hither happy for all the passion that I indure sith the purchase of a griefe so luckie dothe qualifie the ioy that made me to wander thus ouer ãâã ãâã fair amongs the fairest truly the fearful beast which with the bloody hareboundes was torne in pieces is not more martired than my hart deuided in opinions vpon thine affection And what do I know if thou louest an other more worthy to be fa uored of thée thaÌ thy poore Dom Diego But it is impossible that any can approch the sinceritie the I féele in my hart determining rather to indure death thaÌ to serue other but fair goldeÌ Gineura therfore my loyaltie receiuing no coÌparison caÌnot be matched in man sufficieÌt for respect of the same to be called seruaÌt of thine ãâã Now come what shal by means of this I am assured that so long as Dom Diego liueth his hart shal receiue none other impression or desire but that whiche inciteth him to loue serue honor the fairest creature at this day within the coÌpasse of Spaine ãâã herevpoÌ sweating laboring trauelling vpon the framing of his loue he founde nothing more expedieÌt thaÌ to tel hir his passion let hir vnderstaÌd the good wil that he had to do hir seruice to pray hir to accept him for such as from that time forth wold perpetrate nothing but vnder that title of hir good name On the other side Gineura could not close hir eies knew not that cause almost that so ãâã hir of sléepe wherfore now tossing on the one side theÌ turning to the other inhir rich goodly bed faÌtasied no fewer deuises thaÌ passionated Dom Diego did In the end she coÌcluded that if that knight shewed hir any euideÌt sign or opened by word of mouth of loue and seruice she wold not refuse to do the like to him Thus passed the night in thoughts sighs wishes betwene these ãâã apprentises of the thing whereof they that be lerners shal sone attain the experience they that folow the occupation throughly in short time be their ãâã masters The next day that knight would depart so soone as he was vp but the good widow imbracing that personage good order of the knight in hir heart more thaÌ any other that she had séen of long time intreated ãâã so earnestly to tarie as he which loued better to obey hir request thaÌ to depart although fained the contrary in that end appered to be vanquished vpoÌ the great importunitie of the lady Al that morning that mother the daughter passed the time with Dom Diego in great talk of coÌmon matters But he was then more astoonned inamored than the night before in such wise as many times he ãâã so vnaptly to their demauÌds as it was easily perceiued that his minde was much disquieted with some thing that only did possesse the force vehemeÌce of that same not withstaÌding the lady imputed that to the ãâã of that gentlemaÌ to his simplicity which had not greatly frequeÌted that coÌpanie of Ladies When diner time was come they were serued with such great fare sundry delicates accordingly as with hir hart she wished to intertain the yong lord to the intent froÌ that time forth he might more willingly make repaire to hir house After diner he reÌdred
handes and for acknowledgyng the fauour that presently I doe receiue whereby I maye make my vaunt to ãâã the seruaunte of hir that is the fairest moste curteous and honest Gentlewoman on thys syde the Mountaynes As hée hadde ended those woordes they came to couer for supper where they were serued so honourably as if they hadde bene in the Court of the Monarch of Spayne After supper they wente to walke abroade alongs the ãâã syde besette with wyllowe trées where bothe the beautie of the tyme the runnyng ãâã the charme of the naturall musicke of byrdes and the pleasaunt murmure of the tremblyng leaues at the whistelyng of the swéete Westerne wynde moued them agayne to renew theyr passetyme after dynner For some dydde gyue them selues to talke and to deuise of ãâã matter some framed nosegayes garlandes and other pretie poesyes for theyr friendes Other some dyd leape runne and throwe the barre In the end a great lord neighbor to Dom Diego whose name was Dom Roderico knowing by his frends couÌtenance to what saint he was vowed perceiuing for whose loue ãâã feast was celebrate toke by ãâã hand a gentlewoman that sate nexte to faire Gineura and ãâã hir to daunce after a song whervnto she béeing pleasaunt and wyse made no great refusall Dom Diego failed not to ioyne with hys mystresse after whom folowed the reste of that noble traine euery of them as they thought best Now the Gentlewoman that beganne to daunce song thys song so apte for the purpose as if shée hadde entred the hearte of the enimie and mystresse of Dom Diego or of purpose hadde made the same in the name of hir whome the matter touched aboue the rest Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall The yong and tender feblenesse Of mine vnskilfull age Wherof also the tendernesse Doth feeble heart assuage Whome beauties force hath made to frame Vnto a louers hest So soone as first the kindled flame Of louing toyes increst Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall I haue assayed out to put The fier thus begoonne And haue attempted of to cut The threede which loue hath spoonne And new alliance faine would flee Of him whome I loue best But that the Gods haue willed mee To yelde to his request Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage ãâã So amiable is his grace Not like among vs all So passing faire is his face Whose hue doth staine vs all And as the shining sunny day Doth eu'ry man delight So he alone doth beare the sway Amongs eche louing wight Who may ãâã sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall Why should not then the fairest dame Apply hir gentle minde And honor giue vnto his name With humble heart and kinde Sith he is full of curtesie Indewd with noble grace And brest replete with honestie Well knowne in eu'ry place Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall If I should loue and serue him than May it be counted vice If I retaine that worthy man Shall I be demde vnwise I will be gentle to him sure And render him mine aide And loue that wight with heart full pure That neuer loue assaide Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall Thus the most sacred vnitie That doth our hearts combine Is voide of wicked flattery The same for to ãâã No hardned rigor is our guide Nor follie doth vs leade No Fortune can vs twaine deuide Vntill we both be deade Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage ãâã And thus assured certainly That this our loue shall dure And with good lucke hope verely The same to put in vre The sowen sedes of amitie Begon betwixt vs twaine Shall in most perfite vnitie For euermore remaine Who may better sing and daunce amongs vs Ladies all Than she that doth hir louers heart possesse in bondage thrall This song delited the minds of many in that company and principally Dom Diego Gineura who felt themselues tickled without laughing notwithstanding the maiden reioysed to hear hir self so greatly praised in so noble a company specially in that presence of hir friend who had no lesse pleasure by hearing the praises of his beloued than if he had bene made Lord of all Aragon She for all hir dissembled countenaunce vsed openly could not hide the alteration of hir minde without sending forth a sodain chaunge of colour that increased that fair goodly taint of hir face Dom Diego seing that mutation was so ioyful as was possible for thereby he knew and iudged himself assured of the good grace of his mistresse therfore wringing hir finely by the hands sayd vnto hir very soberly ãâã What greater pleasure my louing wench can there happen vnto your seruaunt than to sée the accomplishmeÌt of this Prophetical ãâã I assure you that in al my life I neuer heard musike that delited me so much as this therby do vnderstand that good wil of the Gentlewoman which so curteously hath discouered yours towards me the faithful seruice wher of you shall sée me from hence forth so liberall as neither goods nor life shal be spared for your sake GineuÌra who loued him with al hir heart thanked him very huÌbly and prayed him to beleue that the song was not vn truly soong and that without any fail she had therby manifested al the secrets of hir minde The daunce ended they sate them downe round about a cleare fountaine which by silent discourse issued from an high and moisty rock enuiroÌned with an infinite numbre of Mapletrées Poplers Ashes To which place a page brought a lute to Dom Diego wherupoÌ he could play very wel made it more pleasaÌtly to sound for that he accorded his fayning voice to the instrument singing this song that foloweth That I should loue and serue also good reason doth require What though I suffre lothsome grief my life in woe to wrappe The same be thonely instruments of my good lucke and happe The foode and pray for hungry corps of rest th' assured hire By thought wherof O heauy man gush forth of teares great store And by by reioyst againe my driery teares do cease Which guerdon shal mine honor sure in that triumphaÌt peace The summe whereof I offer now were it of price much more Which I doe make withall my heart vnto that blessed wight My proper Goddesse here on earth and only mistresse dere My goods and life my brething gost within this carcase here I vow vnto that maiestie that heauenly
how the pore Gentleman was resolued to finish there in the desert vnknowen to his friends all the remnaÌt of his life And who aswell for the euill order and not ãâã nouriture as for assiduall plaints and wé ãâã was become so pale leane as he better resembled a dry chippe than a man hauing féeling or life His eyes were soonke into his head his beard ãâã his hair staring his skin ful of filth altogither more like a wilde and sauage creature such one as is depainted in brutall forme than faire Dom Diego so much commeÌded and estéemed through out the kingdome of Spaine Nowe leaue we this amorous Hermite to passionate plaine his misfortune to sée to what ende the Letters came that he wrote to his cruell Mistresse The day ãâã for deliuerie of his Letters his seruaunt did his charge and being come to the house of Gineura found hir in the Hall with hir mother where kissing his maisters letters he preseÌted them with very great reuerence to the Gentlewoman Who so soone as she knewe that they came from Dom Diego all chaunged into raging coloure and foolishe choler threw them incontinently vpon the ground saying Sufficeth it not thy maister that already twice I haue done him to vnderstand that I haue nothing to do with his letters nor Ambassades and yet goeth he about by such assaultes to encrease my displeasure and agonie by the only remembraunce of his follie The mother séeing that vnciuile order although she vnderstoode the cause and knew that there was some discorde betwéene the two Louers yet thought it to be but light sith the Comike Poet doeth say The louers often falling out And prety wrangling rage Of pleasant loue it is no dout The sure renewing gage She went vnto hir Daughter saying What great rage is this Let me sée that letter that I may read it For I haue no feare that Dom Diego can deceiue me with the swéetenesse of his hony words And truly daughter you néede not feare to touch them for if there were any poison in them it proceaded from your beautie that hath bitten and stong the Knight whereof if he assay to make you a partaker I sée no cause why he ought to be thus rigorously reiected deseruing by his honestie a better entertainement at your handes In the meane time one of the Seruing men tooke vp the letters and gaue them to the Lady who reading them found written as foloweth The letters of Dom Diego to Mistresse Gineura MY dearest and most wellbeloued Ladie sith that mine innocency can finde no resting place within your tendre corpse what honest excuse or true reasoÌ so euer I do alleage and sith your heart declareth it selfe to be implacable and not pleased with him that neuer offeÌded you except it were for ouermuch loue which for guerdon of that rare and incomparable amitie I perceiue my self to be hated deadly of you and in such wise contemned as the only record of my name causeth in you an insupportable griefe and displeasure vnspeakeable To auoid I say your indignation and by my mishap to render vnto you some ãâã and contentment I haue meant to dislodge my selfe so far from this Countrey as neither you nor any other shal euer hear by fame or true report the place of my abode nor the graue wherin my bones shall rest And although it be an ãâã hearts sorow and torment which by way of pen can not be declared to be thus misprised of you whom alone I do loue and shal so long as mine afflicted soule shall hang vpon the féeble and brittle thréede of life yet for all that this griefe falling vpon me is not so ãâã as the punishment is grieuous by imagining the passion of youre minde when it is ãâã with ãâã and wrathe againste me who liueth not but to wander vpon the thoughtes of youre perfections And forsomuch as I doe féele for the debilitie that is in me that I am not able any longer to beare the sowre shockes of my bitter torments and martyrdome that I presently doe suffer yet before my life do faile and death doe sease vpon my senses I haue writen vnto you this present letter for a testimoniall of your rigour which is the marke that iustifieth my vngyltinesse And although I doe complain of mine vnhappie fortune yet I meane not to accuse you only contented that eche man doe know that firme affection and eternall thraldome do deserue other recompense than a farewell so cruell And I am well assured that when I am dead you will pitie our torment knowing then although to late that my loyaltie was so sincere as the report of those was false that made you beléeue that I was very farre in loue with the daughter of Dom Ferrande de la Serre Alas shall a noble Gentleman that hath bene wel trained vp be fordidden to receiue the gifts that come from a vertuous Gentlewoman Ought you to be so incapable and voide of humanitie that the sacrifice whiche I haue made of the poore birde the cause of your disdaine my repentance my lawfull excuses are not able to let you sée the contrary of you persuation Ah ah I sée that the darke and obscure vaile of vniust disdaine ãâã anger hath so blindfold your eyes and ãâã your minde as you can not iudge the truth of my cause and the vnrighteousnesse of your quarel I will render vnto you none other certificat of mine innocencie but my languishing heart whiche you clepe betwene your hands feling such rude intertainment there of whome he loked for reioyse of his trauels But for somuch then as you do hate me what resteth for me to do but to pro cure destruction to my selfe And sith your pleasure coÌsisteth in mine ouerthrowe reason willeth that I obey you and by death to sacrifice my life in like maner as by life you wer the only mistresse of my heart ãâã only thing chereth vp my heart maketh my death more miserable which is that in dying so innocent as I am you shal remaine faultie the onely cause of my ruine My life will depart like a puffe soule shal vanish like a swéete soÌmers blast wherby you shal be euer déemed for a cruell womaÌ and bloodie murderer of your deuout and faithful seruants I pray to God mine owne swete Ladie to giue you such contentation ioy pleasure and gladnesse as you do cause through your rigor discoÌtentation grief displeasure to the poore lan guishing creature and who for euermore shall be Your most obedient and affected seruant Dom Diego The good Ladie hauyng redde the Letter was so astoonned as hir woordes for a long space stayed within hir mouth hir heart panted and spirite was full of confusion hir minde was filled with sorow to consider the anguishes of the poore vagabund and foster hermit In the ende before the houshold dissembling hir passion which moued hir sense she toke hir daughter aside whoÌ very sharply she rebuked
for that she was the cause of the losse of so notable and perfecte a Knyght as Dom Diego was Then she redde the Letter vnto hir and as all hir cloquence was not able to moue that cruel damsell more venomous than a serpent against the knight who as she thought had not indured the one halfe of that which his inconstancie and lightnesse well deserued whose obstinate mind the mother perceiuing said vnto hir I pray to God deare daughter that for youre ãâã you be not blinded in your beautie for the refusal of so great a benefit as is the alliaÌce of Dom Diego you be not abused with such a one as shal dimme the light of your renoume glory whiche hitherto you haue gained amongs the sobrest and modest maidens Hauing said so the wise and sage widow went toward the seruant of Dom Diego of whoÌ she demauÌded what ãâã his master departed which she knowing not igno rant of the occasion was more wroth than before notwithstaÌnding she dissembled what she thought sending back his seruant she required him to do hir hartie commendations to the lady his mistresse which he did The good lady was ioyful therof for not knowing that coÌtents of hir sonnes letters she loked that he had sent word vnto his lady of the iust houre of his returne But when she saw that in xx dayes nor yet within a moneth he came not she could not tell what to thinke so dolorous was she for the absence of hir son The time passing without hering any newes froÌ him she began to tormeÌt hir self and be so pensiue as if she had heard certaine newes of his death Alas quod she and wherfore haue the heueÌs giueÌ me the possession of such an exquisite fruite to depriue me thereof before I doe partake the goodnesse and swéetenesse therof and enioy the grifts proceding from so goodly a stocke Ah God I feare that my immoderate loue is the occasion of the losse of my ãâã and the whole ruine of the mother with the demolition and wast of all our goodes And I woulde that it had pleased God my sonne that hunters game had neuer ben so dere for thinkyng to catche the praie thou thy selfe was taken and thou wandring for thy better disport missing the right way so strangely didst ãâã that hard it is to reduce thée into the right track again At least wise if I knew the place whervnto thou arte repaired to fynde againe thy losse I woulde trauaile thither to beare ãâã companie rather than to lyne here voide of a husbande betrayed by them whome I best trusted and ãâã from the presence of thée my sonne the staffe and onely comforte of myne olde age and the certaine hope of al our house and familie Now if the mother vered hir selfe the sonne was eased with no great reioyse being now a frée citizen with the beastes foules of the forestes dennes and caues leauing not the profunditie of the wooddes the craggednesse of the rocks or beautie of the valey without some signe or token of his grief Sometime with a puncheon well sharpned seruing him in stéede of a penknife he graued the successe of his loue vpon on hard stone Other times the soft barke of some tender and new growen spraye serued him in place of paper or parchement For there he carued in ãâã proprely combined with a knotte not easily to be knowne the name of his Ladie interlaced so proprely with his owne that the finest ãâã might be deceiued to disciphre the right interpretatioÌ Upon a day then as he passed his time according to his custome to muse vpon his myssehaps and to frame his successe of loue in the ayre he ingraued these verses on a stone by a fountaine side adioyning to his sauage and rusticall house If any forrest Pan doth haunt here in this place Or Wandring Nymphe hath heard my wofull plaint The one may well behold and view what drop of grace I haue deseru'de and eke what griefes my heart doth taint The other lend to me some broke or shoure of raine To moist mine heart and eyes the gutters of my braine Somewhat further of many times at the rising of the Sunne he mounted the toppe of an highe and gréene Mountaine to solace himselfe vpon the freshe and gréene grasse where four pillers were erected either naturally done by dame Nature hir self or wrought by the industry of maÌ which bore a stone in forme foure square wel hewed made and trimmed in maner of an Altare vpon which Altare he dedicated these verses to the posteritie Vpon this holy squared stone which Altare men doe call To some one of the Gods aboue that consecrated is This dolefull verse I consecrate in token of my thrall And deadly griefes that do my silly hearte oppresse And vexe with endlesse paines which neuer quiet is This wofull verse I say as surest gage of my distresse I graue on Altare stone for euer to remaine To shew the heart of truest wight that euer liued in paine And vpon the brims of that table he carued these words This Mason worke erected here shall not so long abide As shall the common name of two that now vncoupled be Who after froward fortune past knit eche in one degre Shall render for right earnest loue reward on either side And before his lodging in that wilde and stony ãâã vpon the barke of a goodly lofty Béeche trée féeling in himself an vnaccustomed lustinesse thus he wrote Th' increasing beautie of thy shape extending far thy name By like increase I hope to see so stretched forth my fame His man séeing him to begin to be merily disposed one day said vnto him And wherfore sir serueth that lute which I brought amongs our males if you do not assay therby to recreate your self sing thereupon that praises of hir whome you loue so well yea and if I may so say by worshipping hir you doe commit Idolatry in your mind Is it not your pleasure that I fetch the same vnto you that by imitation of Orpheus you may moue the trées rockes and wilde beasts to bewaile your misfortune and witnesse the penauÌce that you do for hir sake without cause of so heinous punishmeÌt I sée wel ãâã the Knight that thou woldest I should be mery but mirth is so far from me as I am estraunged froÌ hir that holdeth me in this misery NotwithstaÌding I wil perform thy request and will awake that instrument in this desert place wherwith sometime I witnessed that greatest part of my passions Then the Knight receiuing the Lute sounded therupon this song ensuing The waues and troubled ãâã that moues the seas aloft Which runs roares against the rocks threatneth daÌgers oft Resembleth loe the fits of loue That daily doe my fansie moue My heart it is the ship that driues on salt sea ãâã And reason sailes with senselesse wit and neuer loketh home For loue is guide and leades the daunce That
brings good hap or bredes mischaunce The furious flames of loue that neuer ceaseth sure Are loc the busie sailes and oares that would my rest procure And as in Skies great windes do blo My swift desires runnes fleting so As swete Zephyrus breth in spring time fedes the floures My mistresse voice wold ioy my wits by hir most heauenly powers And wold exchauÌge my state I say As Sommer chaungeth Winters day She is the Artique starre the gracious Goddesse to She hath the might to make and marre to helpe or else vnde Both death and life she hath at call My warre my peace my ruine and all She makes me liue in woe and guids my sighs and lokes She holdes my fredome by a lace as fish is held with hokes Thus by despaire in this concaite I swallow vp both hoke and baite And in the deserts loe I liue among the sauage kinde And spend my time in woful sighs raisde vp by care of minde All hopelesse to in paines I pine And ioyes for euer doe resine I dread but Charons boat if she no mercy giue In darknesse then my soule shal dwell in Plutos raigne to liue But I beleue she hath no care On him that caught is in hir snare If she release my woe a thousand thankes therefore I shall hir giue and make the world to honor hir the more The Gods in Skies will praise the same And ãâã beare of hir good name O happy is that life that after torment ãâã And earthly sorowes on this mould for better life shal ãâã And liue amongs the Gods on high Where loue and louers neuer die O life that here I leade I freely giue thee now Vnto the faire where ere she rests and loke thou shew hir ãâã I linger forth my yeares and dayes To winne of hir a crowne of praise And thou my pleasant lute cease not my songs to sound And shew the tormeÌts of my mind that I through loue ãâã found And alwayes tell my Mistresse still Hir worthy vertues rules my will The Foster Louer The Foster louer singing this song sighing ãâã times betwene the trickling teares ranne downe his face who therby was so disfigured as searse could they haue knowen him which had all the dayes of their life frequented his companie Such was the state of this miserable yong gentleman who dronk with his owne wine balanced himself down to despair rather than ãâã the hope of that which he durst not loke for Howbeit like as the mischiefs of men be not alwayes durable that all things haue their proper season eueÌ so fortune repenting hir euil intreatie which wrongfully she had caused this pore penetenciarie of Gineura to endure prepared a meanes to readuaunce him aloft vpon hir wheele euen when he thought least of it And certes herein appeared the mercy of God who causeth things difficult almost impossible to be so easie as those that ordinarily be brought to passe How may it héereby be perceiued that they which were pluÌged in the bottom ãâã defiance déeming their life vtterly forlorne be sone exalted euen to the top of all glory and felicitie Hath not our age séene that man which was by authoritie of his enimie iudged to die ready to be caried forth to the scaffold miraculously deliuered from that daunger and wherin the works of God are to be maruelled that same man to be called to the dignitie of a prince and preferred aboue all the rest of the people Nowe Dom Diego attending his fieldish Philosophy in the solitary valeis of the rich Mountaine Pyrene was holpen with helpe vnloked for as you shall heare You haue hard how he had a neighbor singuler freÌd ãâã Noble gentleman named Dom Roderico This geÌtleman amongs al his faithful coÌpanions did most lameÌt the hard fortune of Dom Diego It came to passe ãâã months after that the pore wilde peniteÌt person was gon on his pilgrimage that Dom ãâã toke his iorney into Gascoine for diuerse his vrgeÌt affairs which after he had dispatched were it that he was gon out of his way or that God as it is most likely did driue him thither he approched toward that coast of the Pyrene mountains wher that time his good frend Dom Diego did inhabite who daily grew so weake féeble as if God had not seÌt him sodain succor he had gained that he most desired which was death that shold haue ben the end of his trauails afflictions The traine of Dom Roderico being theÌ a bow shot off froÌ the sauage caben of Dom Diego they espied the tracts of mens féete newly ãâã and begaÌ to maruel what he shold be that dwelled there coÌsidering the solitude ãâã of the place also that the same was far of ãâã or house And as they deuised hereupon they saw a man going into a Caue which was Dom Diego comming froÌ making his coÌplaints vpoÌ the rock ãâã ãâã before From which hauing ãâã his face towarde that part of the world where he thought the lodging was of that saint wherunto he addressed his deuotioÌs Dom Diego hearing the noise of the horsse was retired bicause he wold not be sene The knight which rode that way seing that knowing how far he was out of the way coÌmaunded one of his men to gallop towards the Rocke to learne what people they were that dwelled ãâã to demaund how they might coast to the high way that led to Barcelone The seruaunt approching neare the caue perceiued the same so well empaled fortified ãâã beastres skins before fearing also that they were theues robbers that dwelled there durst not approche lesse enquire the way therfore returned towards his master to whom he told what he saw The Knight of another maner of metal hardinesse than that rascall and coward seruaunt like a stout couragious valiant maÌ ãâã to the caue demaunding who was within he sawe a man come forth so disfigured horrible to loke vpoÌ pale with staring hair vpright that pitifull it was to behold him which was the seruaunt of the foster hermite Of him Roderico demaunded what he was which was that way to Barcelone ãâã answered that disguised person I know not how to answer your demaund much lesse I know the countrey wher we now presently be But sir said he sighing true it is that we be two pore coÌpanioÌs whome fortune hath sent hither by what il adueÌture I know not to do penance for our trespasses offenses Roderico hearing him say so begaÌ to cal to his remembraÌce his friend Dom Diego although he neuer besore that time suspected the place of his above He lighted then froÌ his horsse desirous to see the singularities of that ãâã and the magnificence of that cauish lodging where be entred and saw him whome he sought for and yet for all that did not know him he coÌmoned with him a long time of the pleasure of that solitary life in respect of
the fault to conceiue no sinister suspicion of thy running away crauing thyne acquaintaunce and is contented to sacrifice him self vnto thyne anger to appease and mitigate thy rage Nowe to speake no more hereof but to procede in that which I began to say I offer vnto thée then bothe death and loue choose whether thou liste For I sweare againe by hym that séeth and heareth al things that if thou play the foole thou shalt féele and proue me to be the cruellest enimie that euer thou hadst and such a one as shall not feare to imbrue ãâã handes with the bloode of hir that is the deathe of the chiefest of all my friendes Gineura hearing that resolute answere ãâã hir selfe to be nothing afraide nor declared any token of feare but rather ãâã to haue encouraged Roderico in braue and mannish sort farre diuers from the simplicitie of a yong and tender maideÌ as a man wold say such a one as had neuer felt the assault es and troubles of aduerse fortune Wherfore frouncing hir browes and grinning hir téeth with closed ãâã and ãâã very bolde she made hym aunswere Ah thou knight which once gauest assault to coÌmit a villanie treason thinkest thou now without remorse of conseience to coÌtinue thy mischief I speake it to thée villain which ãâã shed the blood of an honester maÌ thaÌ thou art fearest not nowe to make mée a companion of his death Which thing spare not hardily to ãâã to the intent that I liuing may not be such a one as thou falsly iudgest me to be for neuer man hitherto ãâã and neuer shall that he hathe hadde the spoyle of my virginitie from the frute whereof lyke an arrant thiefe thou hast depriued my loyall spouse Nowe doe what thou list for I am farre better content to suffer death be it as cruel as thou art mischeuous borne for the ãâã vexation of honest maideÌs not withstanding I humbly beséech almightie God to gyue ãâã so muche pleasure contentation and ioy in thy loue ãâã thou hast done to me by hastening the death of my dere husbande O God if thou be a iust God suche a one as from whome wée thy poore creatures do beleue all ãâã to procéede thou I say which art the rampire and refuge of all iustice poure downe thy vengeance and plague vpon these pestiferous thieues and murderers which haue prepared a worldely plague vpon me thine innocent damsell Ah wicked Roderico thinke not that death can be so fearefull vnto mée but that wyth good heart I am able to accept the same trusting verily that one daye it shall be the cause of thy ruine and ouerthrowe of hym for whom thou takest all these pains Dom Roderico maruellously rapte in sense imagined the woman to be fully bent against hym who then had puissaunce as he thought ouer hir owne hearte and thynkyng that he sawe hir moued with like rage against hym as she was against Dom Diego stode still so perplered and voyde of righte minde that hée was constrained to sitte downe so feeble he felt him self for the onely remembrance of hir euill demeanor And whilest this was a doing the handemayde of Gineura and hir Page inforced to persuade their mystresse to haue compassion vpon the knight that hadde suffered so muche for hir sake and that she would consente to the honest requestes and good counsell of Roderico But she which was stubbornly bente in hir foolishe persuasions sayd vnto them What fooles are you so much be witched either with that fained teares of this disloyal knight which colorably thus doth torment himself or els ar ye inchaÌted with the venomous honie tiraÌnical brauerie of the thief which murdered my husband and your master Ah vnhappie caytife maiden is it my chaunce to endure the ãâã of suche Fortune when I thoughte to liue at my beste case and thus cruelly to tomble into the handes of hym whome I hate so much as he fayneth loue vnto me And morcouer my vnluckie fate is not herewith content but redoubleth my sorrowe euen by those that be of my frayn who ought rather to incourage me to die than consente to so vureasonable requests Ah loue loue how euil be they recompenced which faithfully do homage vnto thée why should not I forget al ãâã neuer hereafter to haue mind on maÌ to proue beginning of a pleasure which tasted and ãâã bringeth more displeasure than euer ioy engendred ãâã Alas I neuer knewe what was the frute of that which so straungely did attache me and thou O ãâã and thieuishe Loue haste ordeined a banket ãâã with such bitter dishes as forced I am perforce to taste of their egre swéetes Auaunt swéete foly auant I doe henceforth for euer let thée ãâã to imbrace the death wherein I hope to finde my greatest reste for in thée I fynde noughte else but heapes of straynyng ãâã Auoyde from me all my myssehap ãâã from me ye furious ghostes and ãâã most vnkynde whose gaudes and toyes dame loue hath wrought to kéepe occupied my louing minde and suffer me to take ende in thée that I may lyue in an other life without thée being now charged with cup of grief which I shal ãâã in venomous drink soaked in the soppes of ãâã Sharpen thou thy selfe O death vnkinde prepare thy darte to strike the corpse of hir that she may voyd the quarels shot against hir by hir aduersarie Ah pore hart strip thy self from hope and qualifie thy desires Cease henceforth to wishe thy lyfe séeing and féeling the appointed fight of loue and life combattyng within my minde elsewhere to séeke my peace in an other world with him to ioy which for my sake was sacrificed to the treason of varlets hands who for the persite ãâã of his desires nought else didde séeke but to soile his ãâã ãâã with the purest bloode of my loyall friend And I this abundance of teares do sheade to saciate his felonous moode which shall be the iuste shortenyng of my doleful dayes When she had thus complained she began horribly to torment hir selfe and in furious guise that the cruellest of the companie were moued wyth compassion séeing hir thus strangely straught of wits ãâã they did not discontinue by duetie to sollicite hir to haue regarde to that whiche poore fayntyng Dom Diego dyd endure Who so sone as with fresh ãâã water hée was reuiued ãâã stil the heauinesse of his Ladie and hir incresed disdain and choler against him vanished in diuers soundings which moued Roderico froÌ studie ãâã wherin he was to ryse wherevnto that rage of Gineura had cast him down bicause forgetting all imaginarie affection of his Ladie and proposing his dutie before his eyes which eche Gentleman oweth to gentle damsels and women kind stil beholdyng with honourable respect the griefe of the martyred wyldernesse Knight sighyng yet by reason of former thought he sayde vnto Gincura Alas is it possible that in the heart of so yong and delicate a maiden there
pangs of death by remeÌbring the glory of my thought sith the recitall bringeth with it a tast of the trauails which you haue suffred for my ioy contentation It is therfore quod she that I think my self happy for by that meanes I haue knowne the perfect qualities that be in you haue proued two extremities of vertue One consisteth in your coÌstancie and loyaltie wherby you may vaunt your self aboue him that sacrificed his life vpoÌ the bloudy body of his Lady who for dying so finished his trauails Where you haue chosen a life worse than death no lesse painfull a hundred times a day than very death it self The other coÌsisteth in the clemency wherwith you calme and appease the rage of your greatest aduersaries As my self which before hated you to death vanquished by your curtesie do confesse that I am double bound vnto you both for my life and honor and hearty thankes doe I render to the Lord Roderico for that violence he did vnto me by which meanes I was induced to acknowledge my wrong the right which you had to complaine of my folish resistance All is wel sayd Roderico sith without perill of honor we may returne home to our houses I intend therefore sayd he to send woord before to my Ladies your mothers of your returne for I know how so wel to couer and excuse this our enterprise and secrete iorneis as by Gods assistaÌce no blame or displeasure shal ensue therof And like as sayd he smiling I haue builded the fortresse which shot into your campe and made you flie euen so I hope Gentlewoman that I shall be the occasion of your victory when you combat in close caÌpe with your swéete cruel enimy Thus they passed the iorney in pleasant talke recompeÌsing the. ãâã louers with al honest vertuous intertainmeÌt for their ãâã and troubles past In the meane while they sent one ãâã their seruants to the two widow ladies which were ãâã great care for their childreÌ to aduertise them that Gineura was gone to visite Dom Diego then being in one of the castles of Roderico where they were determined if it were their good pleasure to consuÌmate their mariage hauing giuen faith affiance one to the other The mother of Gineura could not here tel of more pleasant newes for she had vnderstaÌded of the folish flight escape of hir daughter with that steward of hir house wherof she was very sorowful for grief was like to die but assured recoÌforted with those news she ãâã not to mete the mother of Dom Diego at the apointed place whither the y. louers were arriued two days before There the mariage of that fair couple so long desired was ãâã with such magnificence as was requisite for the state of those two noble houses Thus the torment ãâã made the ioy to sauour of some other taste than they do feele which without pain in that exercise of loues pursute attain the top of their desires And truly their pleasure was altogether like to him that nourished in superfluous delicacie of meates can not aptely so well iudge of pleasure as he which sometimes lacketh that abundance And verily Loue without bitternesse is almost a cause without effectes for he that shall take away griefs and troubled fansies from louers depriueth them of the praise of their stedfastnesse and maketh baine the glorie of their perseuerance for he is vnworthie to beare away the price and garlande of triumph in the conflict that behaueth himself like a coward and doth not obserue the lawes of armes and manlike dueties in the combat This historie then is a mirrour for loyall louers and chaste suters and maketh them detest the vnshamefastnesse of those which vpon the first view do folowe with might and maine the Gentlewoman or Ladie that giueth them good face or countenaÌce wherof any gentle heart or mind noursed in the scholehouse of vertuous education will not bée squeymish to those that shal by chast salutation or other incountrie doe their curteous reuerence This historie also yeldeth contempt of them which in their affection forget them selues abasting the generositie of their courages to be reputed of fooles the true champions of Loue whose like they be that desire such regarde For the perfection of true Loue consisteth not in passions in sorowes griefes martirdomes or cares and much lesse arriueth he to his desire by sighes exclamations wepings and childish playnts for so much as vertue ought to be the bande of that indissoluble amitie which maketh the vnion of the two seuered bodies of that woman man which Plato describeth causeth man to trauell for his whole accomplishment in that true pursute of chast loueIn which labor truly fondly walked Dom Diego thinkyng to finde the same by his dispaire amidde the sharp solitarie deserts of those Pyrene mountains And truly the duetie of his perfect friende did more liuely disclose the same what fault so euer he dyd than all his countenances eloquent letters or amorous messages In like maner a man dothe not know what a treasure a true friend is vntil he hath proued his excellencie specially where necessitie maketh him to tast the swetnesse of such delicate meate For a friend being a second himself agréeth by a certaine natural ãâã attonement to the affections of him whoÌ he loueth both to participate his ioyes and pleasures and to sorrowe his aduersitie where Fortune shall vse by some misaduentures to shewe hir accustomed moblitie Salimbene and Angelica ¶ A Gentleman of SISNA called ANSELMO SALIMBENE curteously and gently deliuereth his ãâã from death The condemned partie seing the kinde parte of SALIMBENE rendreth into his hands his sister ANGELICA with whome he was in loue which gratitude and curtesie SALIMBENE well marking moued in conscience woulde not abuse hir but for recompense toke hir to his wife The. xxx Nouel WE do not mean here to discouer the sumptuositie magnificence of Palaces stately won derfull to the viewe of meÌ ne yet to reduce to memorie that maruellous effects of maÌs industry to build and lay foúdations in the déepest chanel of the maine sea ne to describe their ingenious industrie in breking the craggy mountaines and hardest rocks to ease the crooked passages of wearie wayes for armies to marche through inaccessible places Onely now do we pretende to shewe the effects of loue whiche surmount all opinion of coÌmon things and appere so miraculous as the founding and erecting of the Collisaei Colossaei Theatres Amphitheatres Pyramides and other workes wonderful to the world for that the hard indured path of hatred and displeasure long time begoon and obstinately pursued with straunge crueltie was conuerted into loue by theffect of loue and concorde suche as I know none but is so much astoonned as he may haue good cause to wonder consideryng the stately foundations vpon which kings and great monarches haue employed the chiefest reuenues of their prouinces Nowe like as Ingratitude is a vice of
where he had remained for a certaine time and passing before the house of his Ladie according to his custome heard the voice of women maidens which mourned for Montanine therwithal stayd the chiefest cause of his stay was for that he saw go forth out of the palace of his Angelica diuers women making mone lamentation wherfore he demauÌded of that neighbors what noise that was whether any in those quarters were dead or no. To whom they declared at length all that which ye haue heard before Salimbene hearing this story went home to his house being secretly entred into his chaÌber begaÌ to discourse with himself vpon that accident and ãâã a thousand things in his head in the ende thought that Charles shold not so be cast away wer he iustly or innocently condemned and for the only respect of his sister that she might not be left destitute of all the goodes and inheritance Thus discoursing diuers things at length he sayd I were a very simple person now to rest in dout sith Fortune is more curious of my felicitie than I could wish and séeketh the effecte of my desires when lest of all I thought vpon them For behold Montanine alone is left of al the mortal enimies of our house which to morow openly shall lose his head like a rebell seditious person vpon whose auncesters in him shall I bée reuenged and the quarell betwene our two families shall take ende hauing no more cause to feare renuing of discorde by any that can descend from him And who shall let me then from inioying hir whom I do loue hir ãâã being dead and his goodes confiscate to the segniorie and she without all maintenance and relief except the aide of hir onely beautie and curtesie What maintenance shall she haue if not by the loue of some honest Gentleman that for his pleasure may support hir and haue pitie vpon the losse of so excellent beautie Ah Salimbene what hast thou sayd Hast thou alreadie forgotten that a Gentleman for that only cause is estemed aboue all other whose glorious factes oughte to shine before the brightnesse of those that force themselues to folow vertue Art not thou a Gentleman borne and bredde in noble house ssued from the loines of gentle and noble parents Is it ignorant vnto thée that it pertaineth vnto a noble and gentle hearte to reuenge receiued iniuries himself without séeking aide of other or else to pardon them by vsing clemencie and princely curtesie burying all desire of vengeaunce vnder the tombe of eternall obliuion And what greater glorie can man acquire than by vanquishing himself and chastising his affections and rage to bynde him whiche neuer thought to receiue pleasure or benefite at his hand It is a thing which excedeth the coÌmon order of nature and so it is mete and requisite that the most excellent do make the effects of their excellencie appeare and séeke means for the immortalitie of their remembraÌce The great Dictator Caesar was more praised for pardoning his ãâã and for shewing him selfe curteous and easie to be spoken to than for subduing the braue and valiant Galles and Britons or vanquishing the mightie Pompee Dom Roderico Viuario the Spaniard although he might haue ben reuenged vpon Dom Pietro king of Aragon for his infidelitie bicause he went about to hinder his voyange against the Saracens at Grenado yet wold not punishe or raunsom him but taking him prisoner in the warres suffered him to go without any tribute or any exaction of him and his ãâã The more I folowe the example of mightie personages in things that be good the more notorious and wonderful shal I make my self in their rare and noble déedes And not willing to forget a wrong done vnto me whereof may I coÌplain of Montanine what thing hath hée euer done against me or mine And albeit his predecessors were enimies to our familie they haue therfore borne the penance more hard than the sin deserued And truly I shold be afrayd that God wold suffer me to ãâã into some mishap if séeing one afflicted I shold reioyse in his affliction take by his decay an argument of ioy plesure No no Salimbene is not of minde that such fond imagination should bereue good will to make himselfe a friend to gaine by liberalitie curtesie hir which for hir only vertue deserueth a greater lord than I. Being asiured that there is no man except he were ãâã of al good nature humanitie specially bering the loue to Angelica that I do but he woulde be sory to see hir in such heauinesse and dispaire wold attempt to deliuer hir from such dolorous grief For if I loue hir as I do in dede must not I likewise loue al that which she earnest ly loueth as him that is now in daunger of death for a simple fine of a thousand Florens That my heart doe make appere what the loue is which maketh me tributarie and subiect to faire Angelica that eche man may know that furious loue hath vanquisht kings greate monarches it behoueth not me to be abashed if I which am a man subiect tapassioÌs so wel as other do submit my self to the seruice of hir who I am assured is so vertuous as eueÌ very necessitie cannot force hir to forget the house wherof she toke hir original Uaunt thy self then ãâã Angclica to haue forced a heart of it selfe impregnable giuen him a wound which the stoutest lads might sooner haue depriued of life than put him out of the way of his gentle kind And ãâã Montanine thinke that if thou wilte thy selfe thou wynnest to day so heartie a friende as onely death shall separate the vnion of vs twaine and of all our posteritie It is I nay it is I my selfe that shall excell thée in duetie poynting the way for the wysest to get honor and violently compell the moued myndes of those that be oure aduersaries desiring rather vainly to forgo mine own life than to giue ouer the vertuous conceipts whiche be alreadie grifted in my minde After this long discourse séeing that the tyme required diligence he tooke a thousande Ducates and went to the Treasurer of the fines deputed by the state whom he fonnd in his office and said vnto him I haue brought you sir the Thousand Ducates which Charles Montanine is bounde to pay for his deliuerance Tell them and giue hym an acquittance that presently he may come forth The Treasorer woulde haue giuen him the rest that excéeded the summe of a Thousand Florens but Salimbene refused the same and receiuing a letter for his discharge he sent one of his seruants therwithall to the chiefe Gailer who séeing that the summe of his condemnation was payd immediatly deliuered Montanine out of the prison where he was fast shutte and fettred with great and weighty giues Charles thinkyng that some Frier had ben come to confesse hym and that they had shewed hym ãâã mercy to do him to
death in prison that abrode in open shame of the world he might not deface the noble house wherof he came was at the first sight astoonned but hauing prepared himself to die praysed God and besought him to vouchsafe not to forget hym in that sorowfull passage wherin the stoutest and coragious many times be faint inconstant He recoÌmended his soule he prayed forgiuenesse of his sinnes and aboue all he humbly besought the goodnesse of God that it woulde please him to haue pitie vpon his sister and to deliuer hir from all infamie and dishonor When he was caried out of the Gayle and brought before the chiefe Gailer sodainely his giues were discharged from his legs euery of the standers by looked merily vpon hym without speaking any worde that might asfray him That Curtesie ãâã for made hym attende some better thing and ãâã him of that which before by any means he durst not thinke And his expectation was not deceiued For the Gailer sayd vnto him Be of good chéere sir for beholde the letters of your discharge wherfore you may go at libertie whether you list In saying so he opened the pri son and licensed Montanine to depart praying him not to take in yl part his intreatie and hard imprisonment for that he durst doe none other the State of the Citie hauing so enioyned him May not eche wight now beholde how that the euents of loue be diuers from other passions of minde How coulde Salimbene haue so charitably deliuered Montanine the hatred beyng so long time rooted betwéene the two houses if some greate occasioÌ which hath no name in Loue had not altred his nature and extinguished his affection It is meritorious to succour them whome we neuer saw before sith nature moueth vs to doe well to them that be like our selues But faith surmounteth there where the very naturall inclination féeleth it selfe constrained and seeth that to be broken which obstinately was purposed to be kept in minde The graces gentlenesse beautie mild behauior and allurement of Angelica had greater force ouer Salimbene than the humilitie of hir brother although hée had knéeled a hundred times before hym But what heart is so brute but may be made tractable and mylde by the contemplation of a thing so rare as the excellent beautie of that Siena maiden and woulde not humble it selse to acquire the good graces of so perfect a damsel I wil neuer accuse man for being in loue with a faire and vertuous woman nor estéeme hym a slaue which painefully serueth a sobre maiden whose heart is fraught with honest affections and mind with desire tending to good ende Well worthie of blame is he to be demed which is in loue with the outward hew and praiseth the trée onely laden with floures without regard to the fruict which maketh it worthy of coÌmenbation The yong maiden muste néedes resemble the floure of the Spring time vntill by hir constancie modestie and chastitie she hath vanquished the concupiscence of the slesh and brought forth the hoped fruite of a vertue and chastitie not common Otherwyse ãâã shall be like the inrolled souldier whose valiance his only minde doth witnesse the offer which he maketh to him that dothe register his name in that muster bokes But wheÌ the efsect of ãâã is ioyned with his ãâã and proofe belieth not his promise then the ãâã imbraceth him and aduanceth him as a glasse for his affaires froÌ that time forth The like of dames hauing passed the assaults and resisted the attempts of their assaylants which be honest not by force being not required but inclined by their owne nature and the diligence of their chast and inuincible heart But returne we again vnto our purpose Montanine when he was deliuered forthwith went home to his house to comfort hir whoÌ he was more than sure to be in great distresse and heauinesse for his sake and which had so much néede of coÌfort as he had to take his rest He came to that gate of his pallace where béeing knowne that it was Montanine his sister by any meanes coulde not be made to beleue the same so impossible séeme things vnto vs which we most desire They were all in doubte like as we reade that they were when S. Peter escaped Herods prison by the Angels meanes When Angelica was assured that it was hir brother sobbes were layde aside sighes were cast away and heuie wéepings conuerted into teares of ioy she went to imbrace and kisse hir brother praising God for his deliuerance and making accompt that he had ben raised froÌ death to life considering his stoutnesse of mind rather bent to die than to forgo his lande for so small a price The dames that wer kin vnto him and taried there in companie of the maiden half in dispaire lest by dispaire and furie she might fall into outrage therby to put hir life in peril with al expedition aduertised their husbaÌds of Montanines libertie not looked for who repaired thither as wel to reioyce with him in his ioy and good fortune as to make their excuse for that they had not trauailed to ryd him from that miserie Charles which cared nothing at all for those mouth blessings dissembled what he thought thanking them neuerthelesse for their visitation and good remeÌbrance they had of him for visiting coÌforting his sister which honor he estemed no lesse than if they had imployed the same vpon his owne person Their friends kinsfolk being departed assured that none of them had payde his ransom he was wonderfully astoonned the greater was his grief for that he coulde not tel what he was which without request had made so gentle a proofe of his liberalitie if he knew nothing farre more ignorant was his sister forsomuch as she did thinke that he had chaunged his minde that the horrour of death had made him sell his countrey inheritance to him which made the first offer to buie the same but either of them deceiued of their thought went to bed Montanine rested not all the night hauing still before his eyes the vnknowne image of him that had deliuered him His bed serued his turne to none other purpose but as a large fielde or some long alley within a woodde for walkes to make discourse of his myndes conceipts sometymes remembring one somtimes another without hitting the blanke and namyng of hym that was his deliuerer vnto whome he confessed him selfe to owe hys seruice and duetie so long as hée lyued And bycause hée saw the day beginne to appeare and that the mornyng the Uauntcurrour of the day summoned Appollo to harnesse hys horsse to begynne his course in our Hemisphere he rose and wente to the Chamberlain or treasurer such as was deputed for receit of the Fines sessed by the State whom he saluted and receiuing lyke salutation he prayed him to shewe him so much pleasure as to tell him the parties name that was so liberall to satisfie his fine due in
vnited together in band of amitie amaze the world by that effects not vulgar in things whiche they do one for an other But this surmounteth all a mortall enimy not reconciled or required without demauÌd of assuraÌce for that plesure which he doth payeth the debts of his aduersarie which facte excedeth al consideration to them that discouer the factes of men I can not tell what name to attribute to the déede of Salimbene and what I ought to call that his curtesie but this must I néedes protest that the example of his honestie and gentlenesse is of suche force and so much hath vanquished me as whether I shal die in paine or liue at case neuer am I able to exceede his liberalitie Now my life beyng ingaged for that which he hath done to me and hée hauyng deliuered the same from infamous death it is in your handes deare sister to do the deuise imagined in my minde to the intente that I may be onely bounde to you for satisfiyng the liberalitie of Salimbene by meanes whereof you whiche wept the death and wailed the lost libertie of your brother doe sée me frée and in safetie hauyng none other care but to be acquited of hym to whom both you and I be derely bound Angelica hearing hir brother speake those words and knowing that Salimbene was he that had surpassed all their kinne in amitie and comforte of their familie answered hir brother saying I wold neuer haue thought good brother that your deliuerannce had come to passe by hym whose name euen nowe you folde and that our enimies breaking all remembrance of auncient quarels had care of the health and conseruation of the Montanines Wherefore if it were in my power I would satisfie the curtesie and gentlenesse of Ansehno but I know not whiche way to begin the same I being a mayde that knoweth not how to recompense a good turne but by acknowledging the same in heart and to go to render thanks it is neither lawful or comly for me and much lesse to offer him any thing for the little accesse I haue to his house and the small familiaritie I haue with the Gentlewomen of his kinne Notwithstanding brother consider you wherin my power resteth to aide and help you and be assured mine honor saued I will spare nothing for your contentation Sister sayd Montanine I haue of long time debated with my self what is to be ãâã and deuised what might be the occasion that moued this yong Gentleman to vse so great kindnesse towarde me and hauing diligently pondred and wayed what I haue seene and knowne at length I found that it was the onely force of loue which constrained his affection and altered the auncient hatred that he bare vs into new loue that by no meanes can be quenched It is the couert fier which loue hath kindled in his intrailes it is loue which hath raised the true effects of gentlenesse and hath consumed the conceites of displeased minde O the great force of that amorous alteration which vpon the sodaine exchaunge séemeth impossible to receiue any more chauÌge or mutacion The onely beautie and good grace of you sister hath induced our gracious enimy the seruaunt of your perfections to deliuer the pore Gentleman forlorne of all good fortune It is the honest life and commendable behauioure of Angelica Montanine which haue incited Anselmo to doe an acte so praise worthy and a déede so kinde to procure the deliueraunce of one which loked not for a chaunce of so great consequence Ah Gentle yong Gentleman Ah Princely minde and heart noble and magnanunous Alas how shall it be possible that euer I can approche the honest liberalitie wherewith thou haste bound me for euer My life is thine mine honoure dependeth of thée my goodes be tied to thée What resteth then if not that you sister voide of crueltie do vse no vnkindnesse to him that loueth you and who for loue of you hath prodigally offred his owne goods to rid me from pain and dishonor If so be my life and ãâã haue bene acceptable vnto thee and the sight of me discharged from prisoÌ was ioyful vnto thée if thou gauest thy willing consent that I should sel my ãâã graunt presently that I may with a great rare precious present requite the goodnesse pleasure curtesie that Salimbene hath done for your sake And sith I am not able with goodes of fortune to satisfie his bountie it is your person which may supply that default to the intent that you and I may be quitted of the ãâã wherin we stand bouÌd vnto him It behoueth that for the offer and rewarde of money which he hath imployed we make present of your beauty not selling the price of your chastitie but deliuering the same in exchaunge of curtesie being assured for his gentlenesse good nouriture sake he will vse you none otherwise or vsurpe any greater authoritie ouer you than vertus permitteth in eche geÌtle and noble heart I haue none other meane of fatisfaction ne larger raunsom to render frée my head froÌ the tribute which Salimbene hath giuen for my life and libertie Thinke deare sister what determinate answer you wil make me and consider if my request be méete to be denyed It is in your choise and pleasure to deny or consent to my demaund If so be that I be refused and lose the meanes by your refuse to be acquited of my defender I had rather forsake my Citie and Countrey than to liue héere with the name of ingratitude for not acknowledging so great a pleasure But alas with what eye shall I dare behold the Nobilitie of Siena if by great vnkindenesse I passe vnder silence the rarest friendship that euer was deuised What heartes sorow shall I conceiue to be pointed at with the finger like one that hath forgotten in acknowledging by effecte the receiued pleasure of my deliueraunce No sister either you must be the quiet of my minde and the acquittaunce of vs ãâã or else must I die or wander like a vagabonde into straunge Countreys and neuer put foote againe into Italy At those woords Angelica stoode so astonned and confused and so besides hir selfe like as we sée one distraught of sense that féeleth himself attached with some amaze of the Palsey In the end recouering hir sprites and beblubbered all with teares hir stomake panting like the Bellowes of a forge she answeared hir brother in this manner I know not louing brother by reason of my troubled minde howe to answere your demaunde which séemeth to be both right and wrong right ãâã respect of the ãâã not so in consideration of the request But how I proue the same and what reason I can alleage and discouer for that proofe hearken me so paciently as I haue reason to complaine and dispute vpon this chaunce more hard and difficult to auoide than by replie able to be defended sith that life and the hazarding thereof is nothing in regarde of that which you will
the thing that shold please him sitheÌs he was first assured of hir loue but hoped the next Christmasse hollydayes to be at his commaundement wherefore if he would vouchsafe to rome the night following the first holyday into the court of hir house she wold wait there for his comming The Scholler the best conteÌted maÌ in the world failed not at the time appointed to goe to the Gentlewomans house where being placed by the maid in a base court and shut fast within the ãâã he attended for hir comming who supping with hir friend that night very pleasantly recited vnto him al that she had determined then to do saying Thou maist see what loue I do bear vnto him of whome thou hast foolishely conceiued this iealousie To which wordes hir friend gaue ãâã with great delectation desiring to see the effect of that wherof she gaue him to vnderstand by woordes New as it chaunced the day before the snowe fel downe so thicke from aboue as it couered all that earth by which meanes ãâã Scholler within a very litle space after his arriual began to be very colde howbeit hoping to receiue recompense he suffred it paciently The Gentlewoman a little while after sayd vnto hir friend I pray thee let vs goe into my chamber where at a little window we may loke out and see what he doth that maketh thee so iealous and hearken what answer he will make to my maide whome of purpose I wil send to speake vnto him When she had so sayd they went to that window where they séeing the Scholler they not seene of him ãâã the maide speake these woordes Rinieri my mistresse is the angriest woman in the world for that as yet she can not come vnto thée But the cause is that one of hir brethren is come to visite hir this Euening and hath made a long discourse of talke vnto hir and afterwardes bad himself to supper and as yet is not departed but I thinke he wil not tary long and then immediately she will come In the meane time she prayeth thée to take a litle paine The scholler beléeuing this to be true sayd vnto hir Require your Mistresse to take no care for me till hir leasure may serue howbeit entreat hir to make so much hast as she can The maid retourned and weÌt to bed and the dame of the house sayd then vnto hir frend Now sir what say you to this Do you thinke that if I loued him as you mistrust that I would suffer him to tarry beneath in the colde to coole himselfe And hauing sayd so she went to bed with hir friend who then was partly satisfied and all the night they continued in great pleasure and solace laughing mocking the miserable Scholler that walked vp and downe the court to chafe himself not knowing where to sit or which way to auoide the colde and curssed the long tarying of his mistresse brother hoping at euery noise he heard that she had come to open the dore to let him in but his hope was in vain Now she hauing sported hir selfe almost till midnight sayd vnto hir friend How think you sir by our Scholer whether iudge you is greater his wisdome or the loue that I beare ãâã him The cold that I make him to suffer wil extinguish the heat of suspition which ye conceiued of my woordes the other day Ye say true sayd hir friend and I ãâã assure you that like as you are my delite my rest my comfort and all my hope euen so I am youres during life For the coÌfirmation of which renewed amity they spared no delites which the louing Goddesse doeth vse to serue and imploy vpon hir seruauÌts and suters And after they had talked a certain time she said vnto him For Gods sake sir let vs rise a litle to sée if the glowing fier which this my new louer bath daily written vnto me to burn in him be queÌched or not And rising out of their beds they weÌt to a little window loking down into the courte they sawe the Scholer daunsing vpon the snow whereunto his ãâã téeth were so good instrumentes as he séemed the ãâã dauncer that euer trode a Cinquepace after such Musike being forced therunto through the great colde which be suffred And then she sayde vnto him what say you to this my friend doe you not sée how cunning I am to make men daunce without Laber or Pipe Yes in déede said hir louer ye be an excellent musitian Then quod she let vs go downe to the dore and I will speake vnto him but in any wise speake you nothing and we shal heare what reasons and ãâã he wil frame to moue me to compassion and perchaunce shall haue no little pastime to behold him wherupon they went downe softly to the dore and there without open ing the same she with a soft voice out at a little bole called the Scholer vnto hir Which he hearing began to praise God and thanke him a thousande times beleuing verily that he shold then be let in and approching the dore said I am héere mine owne swéete heart open the dore for Gods sake for I am like to dic for colde Whome in mocking wise she answered can you make me beleue M. Scholer that you are so tender or that the colde is so great as you affirme for a little Snow that lieth without There be at Paris farre greater snowes than these be but to tel you the trothe you caÌ not come in yet for my brother the diuell take him came yesternight to supper and is not yet departed but by by he wil be gon and then you shal obtaine the effect of your desire assuring you that with much adoe I haue stoln away from him to come hither for your comfort praying you not to thinke it long Madame said the Scholer I beséeche you for Gods sake to open the dore that I may stand in couert from the snow which within this hour hath fallen in great aboundaunce and doth yet continue there I will attend your pleasure Alas swéete friend said she the dore maketh such a noise when it is opened that it wil easily be heard of my brother but I will pray him to depart that I may quickely returne againe to open the same Go your way then said the Scholer I pray you cause a great fire to be made that I may warme me when I come in for I can scarse féele my selfe for colde Why it is not possible sayd the woman if it be true that you wholly burne in loue for me as by your sundry letters written it appeareth but nowe I perceiue that you mocke me and therefore tary there still on Gods name Hir friend which heard all this tooke pleasure in those words weÌt againe to bed with hir into whose eyes no slepe that night could enter for the pleasure sport they had with the pore Scholer The vnhappy wretched Scholer whose téeth clacked for colde saring like
while vnder a bush awaked one espied the other to whom the Scoler sayd Good morow Lady be the damsels yet come The woman séeing and hearing him begaÌ again bitterly to wéepe and prayed him to come vp to the Toure that she might speake with hym The Scholer was therunto very agreable and she lying on hir belly vpoÌ the terrasse of the Toure discouering nothing but hir head ouer that side of the same said vnto him wéeping Rinieri truly if euer I caused thée to endure an il night thou art now well reuenged on me for although it be the moneth of ãâã I thought because I was naked that I shold haue frosen to death this night for cold besides my great and continual teares for the offense which I haue done thée and of my folly for beleuing thée that maruel it is mine eyes do remaine ãâã my head therfore I pray thee not for the loue of me whom thou oughtest not to loue but for thine own ãâã which art a gentleman that the shame paine which I haue sustained may satisfy the offense wrong I haue coÌmitted against ãâã cause mine aparel to ãâã brought vnto me that I may go towne froÌ heÌce take not that froÌ me which ãâã thou art not able to restore which is mine honor for if I haue depriued thée of being with me that night I caÌ at all times when it shall please thée render many for that ãâã Let ãâã suffise thée then with this and like an honest maÌ content thy self by being a little reueÌged on me in making me to know what it is to hurt another Do not I pray thée practise thy power against a woman for the Egle hath no fame for conquering of the Doue Then for the loue of God and for thine honor sake haue pitie and remorse vpon me The Scholer with a cruel heart remembring the iniury that he had receiued and seing hir so to weepe and pray conceiued at one instant both pleasure griefe in his minde pleasure of the reuenge which he aboue all things desired and grief moued his manhode to haue compassion vpon the miserable woman Notwithstanding pitie not able to ouercome the fury of his desire he answered Mistresse Helena if my prayers which in ãâã I could not moisten ãâã teares ne yet swéeten them with sugred woordes as you doe yours now might haue obtained that night wherein I thought I should haue died for colde in the Court ful of snowe to haue bene conueyed by you into some couert place an easie matter it had bene for me at this instant to heare your sute But if now more than in times past your honor doe ware warme and be so greuous for you to stande starke naked make your prayers to him betwene whose armes it grieued you not at all to be naked that night wherein you heard me trot vp downe the court my téeth chattering for colde and marching vpon the snow and at his hands séeke reliefe and pray him to bring your clothes and fetche a ladder that you may come downe force your self to set your honoures care on him for whome bothe then and nowe besides many other times you haue not feared to put the same in perill why doe you not cal for him to come and help you and to whome doth your helpe better appertaine than vnto him You are his owne what things will he not prouide in this distresse of yours or else what person will hée séeke to succour if not to helpe and succour you Cal him foolish woman and proue if the loue which thou ãâã him and thy wit together with his be able to deliuer thée from my folie wherat wheÌ both you were togethers you toke your pleasure And now thou hast experieÌce whether my folly or the loue which thou diddest beare vnto him is the greatest And be not now so liberall and curteous of that which I go not about to séeke ãâã thy good nightes to thy ãâã friend if thou chaunce to escape from hence aliue for from my selfe I cléerely discharge you both And truely I haue had to much of one and sufficient it is for me to be mocked once Moreouer by thy craftie talke vttered by subtill speache and by ãâã ãâã praise thou thinkest to force the getting of my good will and thou callest me Gentleman valiant man thinking thereby to withdrawe my valiant minde from punishing of thy wretched body but thy flateries shal not yet blear mine vnderstanding eyes as once with thy vnfaithfull promises thou diddest beguile my ouerwening wit I now too well do know and thereof ãâã thée well assure that all the time I was a scholer in Paris I neuer learned so much as thou in one night diddest me to vnderstande But put the case that I wer a valiaÌt man yet thou art none of them vpon whom valiance ought to shewe his effectes for the ende of repentance in such cruel beasts as thou art and the like reuenge oughte to be death alone where amongs men thy pitifull plaintes whiche so lameÌtably thou speakest ought to suffise But yet as I am no Eagle ãâã no Doue but a most venomous serpent I intende so well as I am able so persecute thée mine auncient enimie with the greatest malice I can deuise which I can not so proprely call reuenge as I may terme it correction for that the reueÌge of a matter ought to surmount the offense yet I wil bestow no reuenge on thée for if I wer disposed to applie my mynde thervnto for respect of thy displeasure done to me thy life shoulde not suffise nor one hundred more like vnto thine which if I tooke away I shold but rid a vile mischeuous wicked woman out of the world And to say the ãâã what other deuill art thou to ãâã passe a litle beautie ãâã thy face which within few yeares will be so riueled as the oldest cribbe of the world but the most vnhappie and wicked woman the dame of the diuell himselfe for thou tookest no care to kill and destroy an honest man as thou euen now diddst terme me whose life may in time to come bée more profitable to the worlde than an hundred thousande suche as thyne so long as the worlde indureth I wil teach thée then by the pain thou suffrest what it is to mock such men as be of skil and what maner of thyng it is to delude and scorne poore Scholers giuyng thée warning hereby that thou neuer fall into such like follie if thou escapest thys But if thou haue so great a wil to come downe as thou sayest thou haste why doest thou not leape and throwe downe thy selfe that by breaking of thy necke if it so please God at one instant thou ridde thy selfe of the payne wherin thou sayest thou art and make me the beste contented man of the worlde For this time I will saye no more to thée but that I haue done inough for thée by making thée
bene graunted to the ãâã théefe and manqueller when they be haled forth to hanging yea wine most commoÌly if they ãâã that same Now for that I sée thée stil remaine in ãâã mind ãâã that my passion can nothing moue thée I will prepare paciently to ãâã my death that God may haue mercy on my soule whome I humbly do beséeche with his righteous eyes to beholde that cruell facte of thine And with those woords she approched with pain to the middle of the terrasse despairing to escape that burning heat and not only once but a thousand times besides hir other sorowes she thought to sowne for thirst and bitterly wept without ceasing complaining hir missehappe But being almost night the Scholer thought he had done inough wherfore he toke hir clothes wrapping the same within his seruants cloke he went home to the Gentlewomans house where he founde before the gate hir maide sitting all sad and heauie of whome he asked where hir mistresse was Syr sayd she I cannot tell I thought this morning to finde hir a bed where I left hir yester night but I cannot finde hir there nor in any other place ne yet can tel whether to goe seke hir which maketh my heart to throbbe some misfortune chaunced vnto hir But sir quod she can not you tell where she is The Scholler answered I would thou haddest bene with hir in the place where I lefte hir that I might haue bene reuenged on thée so well as I am of hir But beleue assuredly that thou shalt not escape my handes vntill I pay thée thy deserte to the intent hereafter in mocking other thou maist haue cause to remember me When he had sayd so he willed his man to giue the maide hir mistresse clothes and then did bidde hir to séeke hir out if she would The seruaunt did his maisters commaundement and the maide hauing receiued them knewe them by and by and marking well the Scholers woordes she doubted least he had slaine hir mistresse and much ãâã she had to refraine from crying out And the Scholer being gone ãâã tooke hir mistresse garmentes and ranne vnto the Toure That day by happe one of the Gentlewomans labouring men hadde two of his Hogges runne a stray and as he went to séeke them a little while after the Scholers departure he approched neare the Toure looking round about if he might sée them In the busie searche of whome he heard the miserable plaint that the vnhappie woman made wherefore so loude as he coulde he cried out Who weepeth there aboue the woman knewe the voice of hir man and calling him by his name she sayd vnto him Goe home I pray thée to call my maide and cause hir to come vp hither vnto me The fellowe knowing his mistresse voice sayd vnto hir what Dame who hathe borne you vp so ãâã your maide hath sought you all this day and who would haue thought to finde you there He then taking the staues of the ladder did set it vp against the Toure as it ought to be and bounde the steppes that were wanting with fastenings of Willowe twigges and suche like pliant stuffe as hée coulde finde And at that instant the maide came thither who so soone as she was entred the Toure not able to forbeare hir voice beating hir handes she began to cry Alas swéete mistresse where be you she hearing the voice of hir maide answered so well as she coulde Ah swéete wenche I am héere aboue crie no more but bring me hither my clothes When the maide heard hir speake by and by for ioy in haste she mounted vp the Ladder which the labourer had made ready and with his helpe gate vp to the ferrasse of the Toure and séeing hir Mistresse resembling not a humane body but rather a wedden faggot halfe consumed with fire all weary and withered lying a long starke naked vpon the ground she began with hir nailes to wreke the ãâã vpon hir face and wept ouer hir with such ãâã as ãâã she had bene dead But hir Dame prayed hir for Gods sake to holde hir peace and to help hir to make hir ready and vnderstanding by hir that no man knewe where she was become except they which caried home hir clothes the laborer that was present there she was some what recomforted and prayed them for Gods sake to say nothing of that chaunce to any person The laborer after much talk request to his mistres to be of good chéere when she was risen vp caried hir down vpon his neck for that she was not able to goe so farre as out of the Toure The poore maide which came behinde in going downe the ladder without taking héede hir foote failed hir falling downe to the ground she brake hir thigh for griefe whereof she began to rore and cry out like a Lion Wherefore the labourer hauing placed his dame vpon a gréene bank went to see what the maid did aile and perceiuing that she had broken hir thigh he caried hir likewise vnto that banke and placed hir be sides hir mistresse who séeing one mischiefe vpon another to chaunce and that she of whome she hoped for greater helpe than of any other had broken hir thigh sorowful beyonde measure renewed hir cry so miserably as not only the labourer was not able to comforte hir but he himselfe began to wéepe for company The Sunne hauing trauailed into his Westerne course and taking his farewell by settling himself to rest was at that point of going downe And the pore desolate woman vnwilling to be benighted went home to the laborers house where taking two of his brothers and his wife returned to fetch the maide and caried hir home in a chaire Then chéering vp his dame with a little fresh water many faire ãâã ãâã caried hir vp vpon his necke into a chaÌber afterwards his wife made hir warme drinks and meates putting of hir clothes laid hir in hir bed and toke order that the mistresse and maide that night were caried to Florence where the mistresse full of lies deuised a tale all out of order of that which chaunced to hir and hir maide making hir brethren hir sisters and other hir neighboures beleue that by flush of lightning and euill sprites hir face and body were blistered and the maiden stroken vnder the arse bone with a Thunderbolt Then Physitians were ãâã for who not without great griefe and paine to the woman which many times left hir skin sticking to the shéetes cured hir cruell feuer and other hir diseases and likewise the maid of hir thigh which caused the Gentlewoman to forget hir louer and from that time forth wisely did beware and take héede whom she did mocke and where she did bestow hir loue And the Scholer knowing that the maid had broken hir thigh thought himself sufficiently ãâã ioyfully passing by them bothe many times in silence Beholde the reward of a foolish wanton widowe for hir morkes and flouts thinking that no great
whereof dissolueth the duetie of eche seruaunt towardes his soueraigne Lord and maister To be short this blinded louer yelding no resistance to loue and the foolish conceit which altereth the iudgementes of the wisest suffred his fansie to roue so farre vnto his appetites as on a day when the Lieuetenaunt was walked abrode into the Castell to viewe the Souldioures and deade payes to pleasure him that sought the meanes of his displeasure he spake to the Gentlewoman his wife in this manner Gentlewoman you being wise and curtuous as eche man knoweth needefull it is not to vse long or Rethorical Orations for so much as you without further supply of talke doe clearely perceiue by my lookes sighes and earnest viewes the loue that I bear you which without comparison nippeth my heart so neare as none can féele the parching paines that the same poore portion of me doeth suffer Wherefore hauing no great leisure to let you further vnderstand my minde it may please you to shewe me so much fauoure as I may be receiued for him who hauing the better right of your good grace may there withall enioy that secrete acquaintaunce which suche a one as I am deserueth of whome ye shall haue better experience if you please to accept him for your owne This mistresse Lieuetenaunt which compted hir selfe happie to be beloued of hir Lord and who tooke great pleasure in that aduenture albeit that she desired to lette him know the good will that she bare vnto him yet dissembled the matter a little by answearing him in this wise Your disease sir is sodaine if in fo little time you haue felt suche excesse of maladie but perchaunce it is your heart that being ouer tender hath lightly receiued the pricke which no doubt will so soone vanishe as it hath made so ready entrie I am very glad Sir that your heart is so merily disposed to daliaunce and can finde some matter to contriue the superfluitie of time the same altering the diuersitie of mannes complexion accordingly as the condition of the hourely planet guideth the nature of euery wight It is altogither otherwise answered hée for being ãâã hither as a ãâã and Lord I am become a seruaunt and slaue And briefly to speake my minde if you haue not pitie vpon me the disease which you call sodaine not onely will take increase but procure the death and finall ruine of my heart Ah sir sayde the Gentlewoman your griefe is not so déepely rooted and death so present to succéede as you affirme ne yet so ready to giue ouer the place as you protest but I sée what is the matter you desire to laugh me to scorn and your heart craueth something to solace it selfe which cannot be idle but must imploy the vacant time vpon some pleasant toyes You haue touched the prick answeared the Louer for it is you in déede whereupon my heart doeth ioy and you are the cause of my laughter and passetime for otherwise all my delights were displeasures and you also by denying me to be your seruaunt shall abbreuiate and shorten my liuing dayes who only reioyseth for choise of such a mistresse And how replied she can I be assured of that you say the disloyaltie and infidelitie of man being in these dayes so faste vnited and following one another as the shadowe doeth the bodie wheresoeuer it goeth Only experience sayd he shall make you know what I am and shal teach you whether my heart is any thing different from my woordes and I dare be bolde to say that if you vouchsafe to doe me the pleasure to ãâã me for your owne you may make your vaunt to haue a Gentleman so faithfull for your friend as I estéeme you to be discrete and as I desire to ãâã you ãâã the effect of mine affection by such some honest order as may be deuised Sir sayd she it is wel and ãâã spoken of you but yet I thinke it straunge for such a Gentleman as you be to debase your honor to so pore a Gentlewoman and to goe about bothe to dishonor me and to put my life in perill God forbid answered the Lord Nicholas that I be cause of any slauÌder and rather had I die my selfe than minister one simple occasion wherby your fame should be brought in question Only I do pray you to haue pitie vpon me and by vsing your curtesie to satisfie that which my seruice faithful friendship dothe constraine and binde you for the comfort of him that loueth you better than himself We will talk more thereof hereafter answered the Lieuetenaunts wife and then will I tell you mine aduise and what resolution shall follow the summe of your demaunde How now Gentlewoman sayd he haue you the heart to leaue me voide of hope to make me languish for the prorogation of a thing so doubtfull as the delayes ãâã which loue deferreth I humbly pray you to tell me wherunto I shall trust to the intent that by punishing my heart for proofe of this enterprise I may ãâã also mine eyes by reuing froÌ them the meanes for euer more to sée that which contenteth me best and wherin ãâã my solace leauing my minde ful of desires and my heart without finall stay vpon that greatest pleasure that euer man ãâã choose The Gentlewoman would not loose a Noble man so good ãâã whose presence already pleased hir aboue all other things and who voluntarily had agréed to his request by the only signe of hir gests and lokes sayd vnto him smiling with a very good grace Doe not accuse my heart of lightnesse nor my minde of ãâã and treason if to please obey you I forget my duetie abuse the promise made vnto my husband for I swear vnto you sir by God that I haue more forced my thought of long time haue constrained mine appetites in dissembling the loue that I bear you thaÌ I haue receiued pleasure by knowing my self to be beloued by one agreable to mine affection For which cause you shall finde me being but a pore Gentlewoman more ready to do your plesure and to be at your commaundemeÌt than any other that liueth be she of greater port and regard than I am And who to satisfie your request shall one day sacrifice that fidelitie to the iealous fury of hir husband God defend sayd the yong Lord for we shall be so discrete in our doings so ãâã shal communicate talke togither as impossible it is for any maÌ to ãâã the same But if missehap wil haue it so and that some ill lucke doe discouer our dealings I haue shift of wayes to colour the same power to stoppe the mouthes of them that dare presume to clatter and haue to doe with our priuate conference All that I know well inough sir sayd she but it is great simplicitie in such things for a man to trust to his authoritie the forced inhibition whereof shall prouoke more babble than rumor is able to spred for al his
that his wife also priuily had sente hir page vnto whom he purposed to giue so good a recoÌpense as neuer more she shold plant his hornes so high vnder a colour of geÌtle entertainment of hir ribauld friend They wer scarse resolued vpon this intent but newes were brought him that the next day mornyng the thrée lords accompanied with other nobilitie would come to Nocera to hunt that huge wilde Bore wherof the Lieutenant had made so great auant These news did not gretly please the Captain forsomuch as he feared that his purpose could not coÌueniently be brought to passe if the companie were so great But when he considered that the Lords alone should lodge withinthe Fort he was of good chéere againe and stayed vpon his first intent The Triniciens the next day after came very late bicause the Lorde Berardo of Varano Duke of Camerino desired to be one and also the two brethren taried for Conrade who was at a mariage coulde not assist the tragedie that was playd at Nocera to his gret hap and profit To this troupe came to Nocera late and hauing supped in the Citie the Lord Nicholas and the Duke of Camerino wente to bed in the Fort Caesar the brother of Trinicio tarying behind with the traine to lodge in the citie Stay here a while ye gentlemen ye I say that pursue the secrete stelths of loue neuer put any great trust in Fortune whiche seldome kepeth hir promise with you Ye had néede therefore to take good hede lest ye be surprised in the place where priuily you giue the assault and in the act wherin ye desire the assistance of none Sée the barbarous crueltie of a Lieutenant which loued rather to kil his corriuall in his cold blood than otherwise to be reuenged when he saw him a bedde with his wife purposely that the eraÌple of his furie might be the better knowne and the secret selander more euident from the roote whereof did ãâã an infinite numbre of murders and mischiefs About midnight then when al things were at rest vnder the dark silence of the night the Lieutenant came to the chamber of the Lorde Nicholas accompanied with the most parte of the watche and hauyng stopte vp the yeoman of his chamber hée so dressed the companion of hys bedde as for the first proofe of hys curtesie he caused hys membres and priuie partes to be cut of saying vnto hym wyth cruell disdayne Thou shalte not henceforth wycked wretche welde thys launce into the rest thereby to batter the honoure of an honester man than thy self Then lauÌching his stomake with a piercing blade he tare the hart out of his belie saying Is this the traiterous hearte that hath framed the plot and deuised the enterprise of my shame to make thys infamous villaine without life his renoume without praise And not ãâã with this crueltie he wreakt that like vpon the remnant of his body that somtimes the runagate Medea did vpon hir innoceÌt brother to saue that lyfe of hir selfe and of hir friend Iason For she cut him into an hundred thousand pieces gyuyng to euery membre of the poore murdred soule hir word of mockerie contempt Was it not sufficient for a tirannous husbande to be reueÌged of his shame and to kill the partie which had defamed him withoute vsing so furious Anatomie vpon a dead body and wherin there was no longer féeling But what Ire being without measure anger without bridle or reson it is not to be wondred if in al his actes the Captaine ouerpassed the iuste measure of bengeance Many would thinke the coÌmitted murder vpon Nicholas to bée good and iust but the Iustice of an offense ought not so long time be conceyled but rather to make him féele the smart at the verie time the déede is done to the ende that the nipping griefe of pestilent treason wrought against the betrayed partie be not obscured aud hidden by sodaine rage and lacke of reason rising in the mindes first motions and therby also the fauite of the guiltie by his indiscretion couered otherwise there is nothing that can colour such vice For the lawe indifferently doth punish euery ãâã that without the Magistrates order taketh authoritie to ãâã hys owne wrong But come wée againe vnto our purpose The Captaine all imbrued ãâã ãâã entred the chamber of the Duke of ãâã whome with all she rest of the straungers that ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã hée lodged without speakyng any woorde in a déepe and obscure pryson ãâã what reste they tooke that nyght whyche were come to hunt ãâã Wylde ãâã For without trauayling ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã in the ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã of the ãâã ãâã who when ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã hir vermilion cléere beganne to thewe hir selfe when all the Hunters didde putte them selues in a readynesse and coupled vppe theyr Dogges to marche into the Fielde beholde one of the Captaines cruell ministers wente into the Citie to cause the Lorde ãâã to come and speake with his brother Nicholas and intreated him not to tarie for that he and the Duke were disposed to shewe him some disport Caesar which neuer suspected the least of these chanced murders desired not to be prayed agayne but made haste to the butcherie lyke a Lambe in the companie of the Wolues them selues that were in readinesse to kill hym He was no sooner in the court of the Castle but seuen or eight varlets apprehended him and his men and caried hym into the chamber bound like a théefe wherin the membres of his miserable brother were cut of dispersed whose corps was pitifully gored and arayed in blood If Caesar were abashed to sée himselfe bound and taken prisoner he was more astoonned when he perceiued a body so dismembred and which as yet he knewe not Alas sayde he what sight is this Is this the Bore which thou hast caused vs to come hither to huÌt within our very Fort The Captaine rising vp al imbrued with blood whose face voice promised nothing but murder to the miserable yong geÌtleman said Sée Caesar the bodie of thine adulterous brother Nicholas that infamous whoore moÌger and marke if this be not his head I would to God that Conrade were here also that ye might all thrée be placed at this sumptuous banket which I haue prepared for you I sweare vnto thée then that this shold be the last day of all the Trinicien race and the end of your tirannies and wicked life But sith I caÌ not get the effect of that which my heart desireth my minde shal take repast in the triumph which Fortune ãâã ordeined Curssed be the mariage wedding at Treuio that hath hindred me of an occasion so apte and of the meanes to dispatche a matter of such importance as is the ouerthrow of so many tirants Caesar at this sentence stode so still as whilom did the wife of Loth by seing the Citie on fire and consume into ashes by the sight wherof she was coÌuerted into
euen now began to presage his fall and ruine But yet meaning to ãâã his best aduantage went vnto the prison where the ãâã of the banished were fast inclosed and bicause he was of a troublesome and tyrannicall nature he concluded with him self rather to vse intreate those wiues with hun and threates than with humanitie and fayre wordes Being entred the prison he sharpely and with great fiercenesse commaunded them to write vnto their husbandes that besieged him without earnestly to persuade them to giue ouer their attempted warres otherwise said he if ye do not folow the effect of my commauÌdement in your owne presence I will first cause cruelly to be slaine al your little children tearing them by piece meale in pieces and afterwardes I will cause you to bée whipped and scoutged and so to die a most cruel shamfull death At which fierce and tyrannicall newes there was no one womaÌ amoÌgs them that opened their mouthes to answer him The most wicked vile tyrant seing theÌ to be in such silence charged them vpon their liues to answere what they were disposed to doe But although they ãâã not speake a word yet with silence one beholding eche other in that face fared as though they cared not for his threates more readie rather to die thaÌ to obey his commaundement Megistona then which was the wife of Timolion a matrone as well for hir husbands ãâã as hir owne vertue in great regard and estimatioÌ and the chiefe amongs all the women who at his comming in would not rise but kept hir place nor vouchsasing to do any reuerence or honor vnto him and the like she bad the rest In this wise sitting vpon the ground w e vnlosed tongue and libertie of spéeche stoutly she answered the tyrants demaunde in this maner If there were in thée Aristotimus any manly prudence wisedome or good discretion truly ãâã woldest not coÌmande vs poore imprisoned women to write vnto our husbands but rather suffer vs to goe vnto them and vse more ãâã wordes and mylde behauiour than wherewith of late thou diddest entertaine vs by scoffing mocking cruelly dealing with vs and oure poore children and if nowe thou béeing voide of all hope dcest séeke to persuade by oure meanes likewise to deceyue oure husbandes that bée come hither to put their liues in perill for our deliueraÌce I assure thée thou vainely ãâã thy self for wée henceforth do purpose neuer to be ãâã of thée we require thée also to thinke and stedfastly beléeue that our husbands heads be not so much bewitched with follie as despising their wiues and children neglecting their dueties towards them will béeing in this forwardnesse abandon their preseruation and gyue ouer the libertie of their cositrey Think also that they litle esteme or wey that regard of vs their childreÌ in respect of the great coÌtentation they shal attaine by vnyoking the libertie of their countrey from thy pride intollerable bondage which is worst of all from that tyrannie whiche neuer people felt the like For if thou were a King as thou ãâã a tyrant if thou were a Gentleman borne of noble kinde asthou art a slaue proceding from the deuil thou ãâã neuer execute thy curssed crueltie against a féeble kinde such as women be werest thou alone ioyned in singular coÌbat with my baliant dere beloued husbande thou durst not hande to hande to shew thy face for coÌmonly it is séene that the Courtely ãâã backed on wyth such mates as he is him selfe careth not what attempt he taketh in hande and stareth with haire vpright looking as though he would kill the deuill but when he is preast to seruice of the sielde and in order to encountre with his Princes foe vpon the small sway by shocke or push that thaunceth in the fight he is the first that taketh flight last that standeth to the face of his ennimie Such kinde off man art thou for so long as our husbands were farre of absent from their Countrie not able to ridde vs from thy thrall thou wroughtest thy malice then against their wiues at home doing the greatest crueltie towardes theÌ and their sucking babes that euer deuill could doe vpon the ãâã sorte and now thou séest them arriued here vnder our countrie walles thou fliest and séekest helpe at womens hands whose power if it serued them according to their willes would make thée tast the fruit of thy committed smart And as she would haue proceded further in hir liberall talke the Caitife tyrant not able to abide anie further speache troubled beyond measure presently commaunded the little childe of hir to be brought before him as though immediatly he woulde haue killed him as his seruaunts sought him out the mother espied him playing amoÌgs other children not knowing for his small stature and lesse yeres where he was become and calling him by his name said vnto him My boy come hither that first of all thou maist loose thy life to féele the proufe and haue experience of the cruell tyrannie wherin we be for more grieuous it is to me to sée thée serue against the nobilitie of thy bloud than dismembred and torne in pieces before my face As Megistona stoutly and vnfearfully had spoken those woordes the furious and angrie tyrant drew forth his glistering blade out of his sheathe purposing to haue slaine the gentlewoman had not one Cilon the familiar friend of Aristotimus staid his hand forbidding him to commit an acte so cruell This Cilon was a fained and counterfeit frend of the Tyrant very conuersant with other his familiar friendes but hated him with deadly hatred was one of them that with Hellanicus had conspired against the tirant This Gentleman then seing Aristotimus with so greate furie to ware wood against Megistona imbraced him and said that it was not the parte of a gentleman procéeding from a race right honoble by any meanes to ãâã his handes in womans bloud but rather the signe token of a cowardly knight wherefore he besought him to stay his hands Aristotimus persuaded by Cilon appeased his rage and forsoke the companie of the women Not long after a great prodige and wonder appeared in this sort before supper the tyrant and his wife withdrue themselues into their chaÌber and being there an Egle was séene to soare ouer the tyrants palace and being aloft by little and little to descend and letting fall from hir tallands a huge and great stone vppon the toppe of that chamber wyth clapping wings and flying noyse soared vp againe so farre as she was cleane out of sight from them that did behold hir With the rumor and shouts of those that saw this sight Aristotimus was appalled and vnderstanding the circumstance of the chauÌce he sent for his diuine to declare the signification of this Augurie which greatly troubled his minde The Southsayer bad him to be of good chere for that it did portend the great fauor and loue which Iupiter bare vnto him
But the prophet of the Citie whom the Citizens had wel tried and proued to be faithfull and trustie manifested vnto them the great dauÌger that hong ouer the tyrants head such as the like neuer before The confederats which had conspired with Hellanicus made great spéede to prosecute their enterprise and the nexte night to kill the tyrant The very same night Hellanicus dreamed that he sawe his dead sonne to speake vnto him these woords What meane you father this long time to slepe I am one of your sonnes whom Aristotimus hath slaine know you not that the same day you attempt your enterprise you shal be captaine prince of your couÌtrie By this vision Hellanicus confirmed he rose bytimes in the morning and exhorted the conspirators that day to execute the benefit of their Countrie That time Aristotimus was certified how Craterus the tyran of another Citie with a great armie was comming to his aide against the banished people of Elis and that he was arriued at Olympia a Citie betwéene the Mounte Ossa and the mountaine Olympus With which newes Aristotimus being incouraged thought alreadie that he had put to flight and takeÌ the banished persons which made him to aduenture himself abrode without guard or garrison accompanied only with Cilon and one or two of his familiar frends the very same time that the conspiratours were assembled to doe the facte Hellanicus seing the time so coÌuenient to deliuer his beloued Countrie by the death of the traiterous Tyrant not attending any signe to be giuen to his companions although the same was concluded vpon the lusty old man lifting vp his handes and eies vnto the heauens with cleare and open voice cried out to his companions and said Whie stay ye O my Citizens and louing country men in the face of your Citie to finishe this good and commendable acte At which woords Cilon was the first which with his brandishing blade killed one of those that waited vpon the Tyrant Thrasibulus theÌ and Lampidus assayled Aristotimus vpon whose sodaine approch he fled into the Temple of Iupiter where he was murdred with a thousand woundes vpon his body accordingly as he deserued He being thus deseruedly slain his body was drawen vp downe the stréetes and proclamation of libertie sounded vnto the people Where vnto eche wight assembled amongs whome the imprisoned women also brake forth and reioysed with their countrey deliuerers of that egregious enterprise by fires and bankettes outwardly disclosing their excéeding great ioye within and in midde of their mirth the people in great throngs and companies ranne to the Tyrants palace whose wife hearyng the peoples noyse and certified of hir husbands death inclosed hir selfe in a chamber with hir two daughters and knowing how hatefull she was vnto the Citizens with a ãâã corde vpon a beame she hong hir selfe The chamber dores being broke opeÌ the people viewed the horrible sight of the strangled ladie wherwithall not moued they toke the two trembling daughters of the tyrant and caried them away purposing to rauish violate the same firste to saciate their lust with the spoile of their virginitie and afterwards to kill them those Gentlewomen were very beautifull and mariageable and as they were about to do that shamefull déede Magistona was tolde therof who accompanied with other Matrons sharply rebuked their furie saying that vncomely it were for them which sought to establish a ciuile state to doe such a shamelesse act as tirants rage wold scarce permit Upon that noble matrons authoritie and interception they ceassed from their filthie fact and then the woman tooke the ãâã oute of the peoples handes and brought them into the chambre where their strangled mother was And vnderstandyng that it was decréed that none of the Tyrants bloud shoulde rest on liue she turned hir face to the two yong Gentlewomen and sayde The chiefest pleasure which I can doe to you resteth in this choise that it shall be lawfull for either of you to choose what kinde of death you list by knife or halter if you will to dispatche your liues from the hedlesse peoples greater furie vpon whose two white and tender bodies if they doe seaze the Gods doe know and we doe feare the crueltie and great abuse which they doe meane to vse I thinke not for despite of you but for the iust reuenge of your most cruell fathers actes for the tyrannous life of whom the Gods do thunder downe the boltes of their displeasure afflicting his nearest bloud and beste beloued wife and children wyth vengeance poured from heauens Upon the sentence of this their fatall ende the elder maiden of the twaine vnlosed a girdle from hir middle and began to tie the same to hang hir selfe exhortyng hir yonger sister to doe the like and in any wise to beware by sparing of hir life to incurre the beastly rage of the monstrous people which cared not to do eche vile and filthie acte vnworthie theyr estate The yonger sister at those wordes layed handes vpon the fastened corde and besought hir right earnestly first of all to suffer hir to die Wherevnto the elder aunswered So long as it was lawfull for me to liue and whiles we led our princely time in our fathers courte both were frée from enimies danger all things betwene vs two were common and indifferente wherefore the Gods forbidth at now the gates of death be opened for vs to enter when with the Ghostes of our dere parents our soules amids the infernall fieldes be predestined to raunge and wander that I shoulde make deniall of thy request Therfore go to good sister mine and shrink not when thou séest the vgly face of hir that must consume vs all But yet déere sister the deadly sight of thée before my selfe will bréede to me the woe and smart of double death When she had so sayd she yelded the coller to hir sister counselled hir to place the same so néere the neck bone as she could that the sooner the halters force might stop hir breath When the vnfearefull yonger sister was dead the treÌbling hands of that dredlesse elder maid vntied the girdle from hir neck couering in comly wise hir senslesse corps Then turning hir self to Megistona she huÌbly prayed hir not to suffer their two bodies to bée séene naked but so sone as she could to bury them both in one earthly graue referring the frutes of their virginitie to the mould wherof they came When she had spokeÌ those wordes without any staye or feare at all with the selfe same corde the strangled hir self and so finished hir fatall dayes The guiltlesse death of which two tender maids there was none of the citizens of Elis as I suppose so stonie hearted voide of Natures force ne yet so wroth against the tyrant father but did lament as well for the constant stoutnesse and maner of their death as for their maydenlyke behauioure and right honest petitions made to that sobre matrone Megisthona who afterwardes
most and offreth greatest reward Such do not deserue to be placed in ranke of chast Gentlewomen of whom they haue no smack at all but amongs the throng of strumpets kynde that haue some sparke and outward shew of loue for she which loueth money ãâã hunteth after gaine will make no bones by treasons trap to betray that vnhappie man which shall yelde himselfe to hir hir loue tending to vnsensible things and such in dede as make the wysest sorte to falsifie their faithe and sell the righte and equitie of their Judgemente The Lorde of Virle séeing Zilia then in his companie and almost at his commaundement fayned as though hée knew hir not by reason of his small regarde and lesse intertainment shewed vnto hir at hir first comming Which gretly made the poore Gentlewoman to muse Neuerthelesse she making a vertue of necessitie and séeing hir selfe to bée in that place from whence ãâã coulde not departe without the losse of hir honor and lyfe purposed to proue Fortune and to committe hir selfe vnto his mercie for all the mobiltie whiche the auncient attribute vnto Fortune Wherfore shutting fast the doore shée went vnto the Knight to whom she spake these words And what is the matter sir knight that now you make so litle accompte of your owne Zilia who in tymes past you sayde had greater power and authoritie ouer you What is the cause that moueth you herevnto Haue you so soone forgotten hir Behold me better and you shal sée hir before you that is able to acquite you of youre promise and therefore prayeth you to pardon hir committed faultes done in tymes past by abusing so cruelly the honest and ãâã loue which you bare hir I am she which through follie and temeritie did stoppe your mouth and tied vp your tong Gyue me leaue I beséeche you to open the same agayne and to breake the lyne which letteth the libertie of your speache She séeyng that the dumbe Gentleman woulde make no aunswere at all but Mumme and shewed by signes that hée was not able to vndoe his tong wéepyng began to kysse hym imbrace hym make much of him in such wyse as he whiche once studied to make eloquent orations before his Ladie to induce hir to pitie forgat then those ceremonies and spared his talke to shewe hymselfe to bée suche one as shée had made at hir commaundement mused and deuysed altogether vpon the execution of that whiche sometyme hée hadde so paynefully pursued both by words and continuall seruice and coulde profite nothyng Thus waked agayne by hir whiche once had mortified hys mynde assayed to renue in hir that whyche long tyme before séemed to bée a sléepe She more for feare of losse of lyfe or the price of the rewarde than for any true or earnest loue suffered hym to receyue that of hir which the long suter desireth to obtaine of his mistresse They lyued in this ioy and pleasure the space of xv dayes ordayned for the assigned terme of hir cure wherein the poore Gentlewoman was not able to conuert hir offended frend to speake although she humbly prayed hym to shewe so muche fauour as at least she might go frée from eyther losse tellyng hym howe litle regarde shée hadde to hir honour to come so farre to doe hym pleasure and to discharge hym of his promise Muche other gay and lowlye talke shée hadde to moue the Knyghte to take no regarde of that she sayde for he determined to bryng hir in suche feare as he had bene heaped full of heauinesse whiche came to passe at the expired time For the coÌmissaries seing that their pacient spake not at all summoned the gentlewomaÌ to pay the penaltie pronounced in the edict or else to lose hir lyfe Alas howe bytter séemed this drinke to thys poore Gentlewoman who not able to dissemble the grief that prest hir on euery side beganne to say Ah I wretched and Caitife woman by thinkyng to deceiue an other haue sharpened the sworde to finishe mine owne life ãâã it not enough for me to vse such crueltie towardes this myne enimie which moste cruelly in double wise taketh reuenge but must I come to be thus tangled in his snares and in the hands of him who inioying the spoiles of mine honour will with my life depriue me of my fame by making me a common fable to all posteritie in time to come O what hap had I that I was not rather deuoured by some furious and cruell beast when I passed the mountains or else that I brake not my neck down some stéepe headlong hil of those high and hideous mountaines rather than to be set here in stage a pageant to the whole citie to gaze vpon for enterprising a thing so fondely done of purpose by hym whome I haue offended Ah Signior Philiberto what ãâã rewardest thou for pleasures receiued and fauors felt in hir whom thou didst loue somuch as to make hir die such shamefull and dreadfull death But O God I know that it is for worthie guerdon of my foolishe and wicked life Ah disloyaltie and fickle trust is it possible that thou be harbored in the hearte of hym whiche hadde the brute to bée the moste loyall and curteous Gentleman of his countrey Alas I sée well nowe that I must die through mine only simplicitie and that I muste sacrifice myne honoure to the rigour of hym which with two aduantages taketh ouer cruel reueÌge of the litle wrong wherwith my chastitie touched him before As she thus had finished hir complaint one came for hir to cary hir to prison whether willingly she weÌt for that she was already resolued in desire to liue no longer in that miserie The gentlemaÌ contented with that payne and not able for to dissemble the griefe whyche hée conceyued for the passion which he sawe his welbeloued to endure the enioying of whome renued the heate of the flames forepast repaired to the kyng vnto whom to the great plesure of the standers by and exceding reioyse of his maiestie to heare him speake he tolde the whole historie of the loue betwene him and cruell Zilia the cause of the losse of his spech and the summe of his reuenge By the faith of a Gentleman sayd the King but here is so straunge an historie as euer I heard and verily your faith and loyaltie is no lesse to be praised and coÌmended than the crueltic and couetousnesse of the woman woorthye of reproch and blame which truly deserueth some greuous and notable iustice if so be she were not able to render some apparant cause for the couerture and hidyng of hir follie Alas sir sayde the Gentleman pleaseth your maiestie to deliuer hir although she be worthy of punishment and discharge the reste that be in prison for not recouerie of my speache sith my onely helpe did rest either at hir comandement which had bounde me to that wrong or else in the expired time for which I had pledged my faith To whiche request the Kyng very