ill companie corrupt hir Earely buddes are soone blasted young sprigs do with the winde bende euery way The flower-rith spring is natures â—…thorne but not heire of Autumnes ripenesse Say you she is faire then prowde for as the herbe Fesula taken in wine causeth the vaines to swell so beautie in women doth enhance the thoughtes I omitte to inferre hir store of fauorits which will not faile to seduce hir if coyne or counsaile may subdue hir Is she wittie then wilie fraught still with new deuices to circumuent you But shee can daunce singe finger a Lute and all excellently doe not these argue hir wanton education or can you for these so highly fancie hir then what other instance neede I saue your selfe to prooue that loue is blinde Loue which hath the power of Lethe to induce obliuion the windinges of a Labyrinth to entrappe the minde the shape transforming iuâ—…e of Circes in chanting cuppes to change thoughtes as shee could alter bodies Loue which for a minute of pleasure yealdes a million of paines for a dramme of Hunny an ounce of gall resembling that tree in America whose Apples are to the sight exceeding faire but to the tast deathes foode Cease then betimes friende Giraldo least you repent to late and sigh in vaine to thinke on my sayings when your supposed ioyes shalbe smothered in surmising Ielousie There is for euery sore prouided a salue yet no simple for hartes sorrow But as the bay tre alone is neuer hurt by lightning so wisdome euer vnstain'd by wantonnesse which is in you the ground of that woe Against poysons we haue preseruatiues Storme-beaten seamen wrestling with the furye of windes aud waters ioy in the sight of Ledas twinnes but thought sicke louers haue onely reason their soueraigne refuge deuine reason the sole phisicke to cure loues follye which straies from it so farre that where the one raignes the other cannot rest For Amare sapere vix deo conceditur Heere he paws'd and Geraldo thus replide your counsaile sauours much of good will little of conceipt yet for your curtesie I thanke you and for your kindnesse I wil think of you as of a well entending friend You deeme it strange that I thus olde though not so olde as you vrge should now resolue on mariage haueing before shaped a contrary course of life True it is that whilome my sole delight was to liue single but who knowes not that ould opinions are ofte concealed by new occasions Must I be etter ill aduised because once not well aduertised Is loue in oulde men so vnseasonable in youth onely yf at all commendable or rather as the herbe Moly tempered with newe wine doth much distemper the braines and infeeble the whole bodye the same mingled with olde wine doth soner effect the contrary and releeue the ouer charged sences So is affection in greene yeares full of perils vrging young-men to extremes which cannot moderate their passions but in riper yeares doth cheer the thoughts glad the hart awake the sences halfe dul and drooping Admit the wants the weakenesse and whatsoeuer disabling defects incident to age Tell mee I pray you who more needes comfort then they which want it or what greater comforte to men then kinde women How can you then with reason deny that to age which doth ease the toylfull burthen of age or terme that needlesse which is so necessarie but you growing to farther dislikes condemne myne haste which resolue with speede to dispatch my purpose know you not that delay is fraught with daungers that occasion is balde behinde that they which deferre are ofte preuented and so circumuented Such as obserue not there times do iustly faile in there deserued cryalles On the lilie-garnisht bankes of Cephisus there springes a flower of rare effectes yet merely forcelesse if not applide at the instant when Phebus doâ—…h in fiery maiesty touch the meridian In like sort young virgines fancies prone to affection by yeares and nature must be assailed while time â—…oth serue for their fauour once rooted a thinge easily performed can neuer bee recalâ—…e by threates of parents or worldes of prâ—…ffers Speaking then betimes I may perhaps speede but deferring the one I must dispaire of the other Good wine needes no Juic bush Faier women want no woers hereto you reply that you condemne not so much my age as Valerias youth to haue wo ed and wedded an auncient woman had bene a match more meet and this equalitie of yeares caried more likelyhood of mutuall loue For answere to which obiection I craâ—…e no greater instance then your owne experience y â— widowes are wily and wilfull that many scarse holsome morsels do often vsurpe the attyre and gestures of honest matrons heer is a Lerna of euils a sea of dangers which to encounter I haue no courage to conquer no fortune But in one yet neuer matched how can deceipt be setled or how is shee acquianted with wiles which throughly knowes not the world That Valeria is young I yealde nor am I very ould but you will say that though a while I may entertaine hir with delight yet I shalbe past begetting when she is in the prime of bearing hereon you vrge that giftes and pleasures are mighty tempters women and they young fraile vesseles and therefore weake resisters Yet doubt not I that with a gentle minde the knowen kindnesse of a louing husband shall more preuaile then the doubtfull counsailes of deluding strangers That shee is fayer I graunt also that therefore prowde I deny It suffiseth not with Ouid to say partially fastus inest pulchris sequitur que superbia formam vnlesse you learne of Aristotle to proue the consequence by a stroug coherence It followes not that all are faultie because some offend but rather as the birde Rintaces bred in Persia liueing by ayre and deawe onely hath no excrements so natures perfections polished by vertuous education brooke no excesse For where shoulde inwarde graces be more resident then where outwarde giftes are most resplendent â—… That shee is wittye in discourse expert in dauncing singing and well fingering of a Lute I confesse that therefore wilye or more apt for wantonnesse I may in no sort graunt The best things may be wrested to bad vses Such recreations not misintended hinder melancholy and hurt not modesty Thus haue I answered what you obiected shewing reason the ground of my affection Say then my friendes what they list censure the world what it will I am resolute to attempt nor doubt I to attaine that for which myâ—… soule doth long and my heart languish Stoicks are stockes sencelesse teachers that publish their owne follies by denying that to wise men which the sences worke in all men Till now I knewe not what it was to liue because I felt not the power of loue Haue not Planets their conâ—…unctions the elements their mixtures both their cooperant motions which argue that nothing can be of it selfe sufficient Say that sicknesse should enfeeble me
in a large plot among wholesome hearbes vnholesome weedes The wounded Hart flyes to the Forrest cropping Dictamnum to cure his hurt knowing it by the smell among infinite other plantes The little Bee Natures great miracle can sucke sweete Hony out of the most vnlikely flowers I coulde wish in thee such distinguishing skill and knowledge in discerning and vsing companie nor doubt I it yet giue mee leaue euen without cause to feare for therein likewise am I a father All young Eagles can not steadfastly beholde the Sunne All that seeme vertuous are not so whome though by their lookes thou caust not knowe yet if for a triall thou temporize a while the issue of their actions shall discouer them Shunne these Valeria least they shame thee Joyne acquaintance and vse familiaritie with them onely whose company may aduance or at least not impeach thy credite And striue thou rather to merite this rare tytle of extraordinarie praise that being young in yeares thou art old in maners then to be noted of this common imperfection that thy manners are as thy years light I meane what more should I say then this only that on the hope of thy behauiour my life and ioyes depend So that in thee it restes by thy well doing to cherish them or by thy ill demeanor to cut them off if thy entent be good then may these words suffize if otherwise farre more should be to fewe This said he ofte kist hir bede wing plentionsly hir faire cheekes with fathers teares then committed hir to hir husbands gouernment and both to the almighties guidance through whose fauour they with their traine after some smale iorney ariued insafetye at Troinouant Aske not whether Giraldos friendes and neighbours mused to see him thus married They were all in an extaste of admiration but the roughest tempest is ouer blowne the greatest wonder lastes but nine daies and when the date of this was cleene expired he not feeling the least scruple of discontent liu'd in the pleasures of loue seeking by all means to content his young wife which hetherto rendered him like kindnes whether hir thoughts were yet pure vntill corrupted through bad company or hir naturall humor of wantonnesse slept only vntill awaked by ill counsaill a thing to common in our age she bare him some prety children a deper pledge of her yet-during loyalty But alasse it had to sleight a permanence for no sooner were three yeares past then this vaine florish became frutles and she contemptuously neglecting or burying in carelesse obliuion hir fathers counsaile was throughly setled in forbiden acquaintance Pitch if touched defiles Bad company corrupts good conditions warme wax is apt for any impression greene thoughts soone led to any opinion but most commonly to imbrace the worst for where vertue hath one affecter vice hath many factors Among sundry of hir owne sex with whom Valeria did aâ—…t conuerse there was one which in wit and wickednesse did farre exceed Shee thought it not enough her selfe to offend vnlesse through her others also became faultie So that as making a conscience of impâ—…etie shee stroue more earnestly to seduce the simple then many to reduce the sinfull and shee had so cunningly demeaned her selfe that Giraldos wife circumuented by her ouer-reaching wiles deemed her a deare friend communicating with her the chiefest of her thoughts They had many meetings especially at gossips feasts where alwaies the banket beeing ended while others held chat in common they somewhat withdrawing themselues conferred in secret and whereon soeuer they discoursed this one point of her discontent through daily feeling of more defect in her husbands declining yeares was by Valeria sleightly touched yet so touched that the other might well conceit her intent Euen to be absolutely wicked it requires time and vse No maruaile then that shee hauing not yet entered into an habit of sinne was not so wholly impudent as to expresse her meaning in plaine tearmes though still expecting when the other would take the occasion by hér presented They oft met oft talkt and Giraldos wife woulde still harpe somewhat on that string and hauing scarse begun with a sleight sigh abruptly ceasde Now was the path well troden and they meeting soone after in like place on a day of great solemnitie vsed like matter of discourse with the same occasion againe offered The other knowing her time would not omit the aduantage but taking firme holde thereof thus whispered to Valeria a Sirens tale Should it then be thus or haue I thus deserued that languishing through want of solace you conceale from mee your hidden secrets I haue often heard that fâ—… euery sore Nature hath planted a simple that against euerie sicknesse Phisicke hath possibilitie of expulsiue force But well I wot that reason containes no remedie for carâ—… and discontent saue onely the companie and counsaile of a friend such am I to you and more I am for your disease is to me knowen though not by you disclosed I know your youth your husbands many yeeres your affection his inclination your desires his defeets your losse of time his abuse of time This onely I feare least your faint courage barre you from accomplishing what you most couet But listen with attention to my discourse setting light by such suggestions What is beautie the sweetnesse thereof not tasted What more is it to those which hauing it can not vse it then to Tantalus the deceiuing fruit and food what more is it to those which admiring it can not enioy it then musicke to the deafe pictures to the blind delicious meat vnto the dead Beautie is no eternall blisse but as the spring hath his date so hath shee her durance limited by time and aye mee too short a time Sweetest flowers if not gathered wast or wither euen on the ground whence they were cherished These glories which now doe grace vs must if we liue receiue the disgracious impression of wrinckled age And therefore twice-rauisht Tindaris the wracke of Troy long after her last recouerie beholding in a glasse her aged face did iustly sigh witnessing in her teares how transitorie a florish her bodies late fairenesse did containe To the Sunne the measurer of time Poets haue assignd a charriot drawn by foure winged horses thereby intimating that our liues daies poste on each minute with irremorable precipitation Time the father of Occasion is as his daughter bald behinde and hath one onely locke before whereon vnlesse yon speedily lay holde you shall for euer misse your holde But why doe I tearme it yours which if not vsed by you can not be yours Hereto you reply that Giraldo is your husband and you bound to him by the lawes of God and men True it is had you bound your selfe but as enforced oathes are by many deemed meerely forcelesse so compelled matches are not by fewe thought nothing so materiall as where both parties yeelde a mutually free consent Oh how preposterous is the care of parents which ayming more at goods
lines with purpose there to deliuer theÌ„ which might fully intimate his forg'd affection The time came the maskers in their disguise appeard when Arthemio hauing first taken his mystris to the measures and then withdrawing hir the daunce being ended briefely whispered in hir eare his name and conueyed in to hir hande these lines which done he left her Shee finding that night an opportunitie for shee could commaunde occasions haueing hir husbande at controlement perused his slight passion which followes thus As when a waue-bruisd barke long tost by the winds in a teÌ„pest Straies on a forraine coast in danger still to be swallow'd After a world of feares with a winter of horrible obiects Heau'n in a weeke of nights obscur'd day turnd to be darknes The shipmans solace faier Ledas twinnes at an instant Signes of a calme are seene and seene are shrilly saluted So to my drooping thoughts when sorrow most doth await me Your subduing lookes in fayrenesse first of a thousand Staine to the brightest star that gildes the roofe of Olimpus Calm'd with a kind of aspect vouch safe large hopes to releue me Such is your bewty which makes your bouÌ„ty so powrful Such to mee your beawty which makes your bounty so blisful Whose each worth to relate my worthlesse pen is vnable Haires of a goldlike hewe not purest gould so refulgent Pearle-like piercing eyes not purest pearles so relucent Cheekes of a maiden dye with a snow white circle adorned That rosy-redde as a rose this Lillie white as a lillye Not such a red such a white to be seene in a Rose or a Lillie Euery part so repleat with more then could be required That to behold hir worke eu'n Natures selfe was amased Muse not then that I loue but muse that I liue if I loue not Muse that I draw my breath mine eyes not drawne by thy bewty Yet shal I loue in vain in vain such bewty beholding Deem'so to loue so to looke that lokâ—s loue be rewardles Better it is to be dead by death from cares to be cleered Cares the records of loue sowre loue when slightly regarded Grant me then o fayrest assurance so to be fancied That nor I droope dismaide nor doubt not fully resolued Valeria hauing red this toy smilde to thinke how hee which had on hir so mighty aâ—… aduantage was held by hir at such a bay because not priuâ—…e â—…o his owne prerogatiue Thus did they both dissemble hee in feining great affection where little was she in making shewe of little where much was Upon occasion of this toye Valeria at thier next meeting thus saluted him Seruant you are welcome from the Sea what newes I pray you among shipmen Arthemio smelling hir drift and liking well the motion but dissembling it replyde thus Mistres it were strange hee shoulde be welcome from the sea which neuer â—…aw the sea But more strange quoth shee that land men should in stormes be driuen to expect ayde from starres sith to them the greatest tempestes are meere trifles if we weigh the seas huge tossing Yet quoth Arthemio such may the storms be such the starres that the one may be as ruthfull and the other as requisite That you meane quoth shee by the sandy sea where men are oft drownde in dust and their bodies remnants become drugges But it seems by your short returne and sound complexion that you were not a passenger in those paâ—…s Hereto Arthemio thus answereâ—… the sea wherein I yet do saile readie still to sinke if not supported by your fauour is no lesse strange then that of â—…and for amidst the flambe I freise such are my feares amidst the floode I flame such is the feruor of my affection my shippe floats yet not on water the waues which beat on it are sobbes It sailes yet on no fea the windes which breath on it are sighes But by your leaue replyed Valeria are you still a sea-man and not yet oâ—… shore then was my welcome ill bestow'd before your selfe were well arriu'd but to vnmaske this misterie me thinks your sea is very meâ—…aphoricall I muse that where the lymiâ—…s are so â—…raight the danger can be so extreame It is quoth hee generally obserued that the floode is roughest where most restrained And no lesse generally noted quoth shee that the Sea is of Elements the most vncertaine whose waues are by each gale of wind raisde in billowes If then your application hold as generall I rather commend your Metaphors conceit their your 〈◊〉 constancie But it were said hee iniustice to charge the Patient with the Agents fault Although my thoughtes my fancies Sea tost twixt vaine hopes and feares plunge my heart in dire perplerities yet that my sillie shippe ranging in this rockey Ocean of despaire though not hauing still one Current striues still to keepe one course and amidst so many changes remaines vnchanged though tirde with troubles which are some say loues surest trialls Accuse not then much lesse condemne that of dissoyaltie whereto life shall sooner faile then it to loue and which sooner may by death be brokeâ—… then breake those 〈◊〉 bondes wherein your beautie making through mine eyes a breach holdes it inthrald But why talke I as if in me it rested to repeale my passions which doe share with the stone Abeston his retentiue vertue For as that being once hote is neuer after colde so my fancie fettered in affections chaines by your souleintangling fairenesse is now not capable of libertie Or rather quoth Valeria your thoughtes masked vnder your deceiuing lookes disguise resemble the Camelion and as that can in a moment be clad with any colour but retaines none so your fancie can at the view of euery pleasing face forge new passions but persist in none Hereat Arthemio guiltie to himselfe did bite the lippe because knowing she spaâ—… the truth yet comforted in that shee meant it not a truth but onely as tearmes of course whereto as he would haue answered other companie brake off their conference and they with the rest fell from loose talke to 〈◊〉 toying dreading nothing lesse then that their leudnesse could be discouered His second humour was this Against Valerias birth-day hee had of purpose pend this following Dittie and on the verie day sent it her by that trull through whose counsell shee was first seduced and into whose familiaritie hee had of late insinuated because knowing how much Valeria did loue and trust her Shee comming as a friend and neighbour and beeing with all a notable hypocrite had both easie accesse and priuat conference without suspition for it seemd a thing not to be doubted of that the subiect of their talke was onely some gossips matter as among women it is ordinarie Beeing thus alone with her after a large preface of Arthemios deepe affection for so had he before concluded shee deliuered her on his behalfe this welcomepresent which Valeria forthwith vnfolding read as followeth Let others vse what Calenders they please And celebrate their
heinousnesse which is rare euen to the barbarous Getes Giraldo haueing till then helde out in changing bitter termes with hir was hereat so amated that he now no longer wished to liue In his howse he had no ioy sith there bayted thus by them which from his bowells had their beeing But when shunning ofte his home he strayed abroade reuoluing in himselfe with many sighes his infinite fore-passed cares present corrosiues and likelihoode of farre greater ensuing griefe Iockey in his absence neuer wanted blowes nor 〈◊〉 a cause though faulse yet seeming iust haueing a witte so rich to coyne occasions power so absolute and a will so much inflamed with wrath to vse them Thus both the mâ—…er and the man the one in minde the other in bodie by this Tyâ—…nesse outragiously afflicted wished the first neuer to haue weded hir the second y t his master had herein likewise been by hir ouer-mastred when to thwart hir fury he would needs retaine him stil in seruice But she not moued by hir crimes discouery proceeded dayly in misdoing with so stoborne vnrelenting wilfulnesse that soner might the sunne melt with his beames the euer ysie bulke of waylesse Caucasus ouer whose snow manteled shoulders they glance without reflection Then hir sinfrozen thoughts melt with true sorrowe or which is lesse hir heâ—…delesse eares admit though sleightly holsome counsailes eares more deafe to friendes reproâ—…uinges then are the wrack rich Libique rocks or the guestlesse ship swalowing Sirtes to the cries of dying marriners such force hath custome euen against nature Then 〈◊〉 â—…cible where backed as here it was by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When Vlisses matesturn'd from men to beastes through the taste of Circes potions had it afterwarde in their owne choyce whether they would so remaine or reasuming their former shapes returne from beastes to men againe they would in no sort be 〈◊〉 aleadging that in this there brutishe state they were farre more exempted from hart-gnawing greefe farre more secure then when their bodies were with humane shape inuested which fiction moralized as Homer ment it doth not onely note our liues troubles fraught with infinite distressing dangers but likwise that when reason is by affection ouerruled and the soule our better parte 〈◊〉 to the bodies tyrâ—…ye our baser parts such as are charmed with the loue of senâ—…uall delights wherein we wholly communicate with beasts degenerating from our states decorum participate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their nature which is altogether led by 〈◊〉 bred appetits are then so deeply be witcht w t wantonnes 〈◊〉 they will sooner dye for loue of it then while they liue in any sort assent to leaue it but as the byting of the Aspicke brings death as in a slumber y â— aâ—…ult thereof not being felt so where defiling lust doth raigne at full they whose thoughtes it hath polluted haue no feeling of their destroying follyes till plungd in the miâ—…st of their desorued paines When the stoode is at his highest source then takes the 〈◊〉 his turne Valerias crime fostered through 〈◊〉 concâ—…ing was nowe subiect to 〈◊〉 desteny 〈◊〉 is to bee as openly discouered as it was before closely couered Hir offence earst priuately reueald to hir wrong'd husbande did soone after become publique with hir the partnours of hir impyetie shard like fortune for what can be more iust then that they which 〈◊〉 together 〈◊〉 participate the shame therof together And thus it was After many meetinges many mischiefes perpetrated by that troope of trulles it chanced that in one of their fleshly synods newes were toulâ—… of a great solemnitie which within fewe dayes was to bee celebrated with much royalty at the courte whereupon at Valerias motion they immediatly resolu'd that suted in mens attyre they would meete there in a maske there fauorits which promisâ—… without farle there to finde them and after one sporte acted by themselues to act on them another with so much the more safetie by how much the farder they should bee from their husbandes whose noses growing now with their hornes somwhat longe coulde smell shrowdly any thing at hande Was then there laying out of curled hear â—…uing oft the wants of their almost hearelesse scalpes so light a crime their buskes and that great humme of Paris that vaile of lechery so slight a sinne beeing so soueraigne a remedy for bigge bellyes which ofte at a pinch helpe forwarde the worldes increase with swelling zeale were there other former faults such veniall offences that to exceede them all and hererein only able to exceede them they must thus disguise there sexe But why maruell I at their desire to seeme men sith they so mightily affected men yet could they not conueigh their ill contriu'd intent with such secrecie but that sundry knewe thereof for amongst so many how coulde all be silent passing thus from one mouth to an other it came in the ende to the heering of certaine courtiers of which one the greatest in account deepely abhorring so odyous an enterprize bouldly reueald it to the prince of those times who desiring to see the issue of their impudence though deeming it almost impossible that anye of that sex should be so shamelesse commanded generall silence and such semblance as if nothing were discouer'd They going forward with their attempt fayld not to assemble at the day assigned each being casâ—… in hir mynions best attyre then vsing the benefite of the darke which is gilty of many mischiefes they came to the court and there suing for farther accesse obtain'd it thinking of nothing lesse then that they were intrapt But to dispatch the matter breefely In the midst of their iolitie they were by the princes commaundemente all forceably 〈◊〉 standing then before hir as stony Images not blushing ought at this bewraying of their lewdnes though enuirond and like monsters gazd on by many eyes nor making any shewe of sorrowe for their soueraigns sharpe rebukes which conceiuing no hope of their amendment seut them home with open shame vnto their husbaÌ„ds The griefe wherof pinched Giraldo so nere the heart that he fell through sorrow into a greeuous sicknesse which wasted so his infeebled body that all remedies fayling his last musique was the sertons vnison 〈◊〉 him with a dolefull sounde to make ready for his longest home When no â—…esse defirous of death then disparing of life he causd all in the chamber to withdrawe Valeria excepted whom calling to him he thus bespake Might these last wordes worke that remorse in thee which my former speeches neuer could effect I should deeme my selfe not wholly vnhappie That I am sicke thou seest that dangerously sick I feele the cause thy folly long haue wee liu'd together in litle ioy lesse agremeÌ„t our iarring grouÌ„ded on thy falshood not my fault vnlesse it were a fault with too much loue to foster thy too much libertie But I cease to relate former iniuries at thought whereof I may iustly wish with Augustus that I had liu'd wiuelesse and died childlesse bee it
a full amendes for all these misdemeanors heedfully to obserue and followe that which I nowe shall speake not as a husband though in that name I should commaund but as a friend no lesse carefull of thy soule then thou carelesse of my safety First if thou caust conteine thy lust liue still a widowe for who heareing of thy loosenesse wil mary thee for loue and to whom is not thy shame knowen if then hee wed thee for wealth finding as needes he must thy sinne grounded on my too much sufferance how slauish shall thy life be vnder him I omit to vrge thy childrens hinderance by an vnaduised match Next I counsell thee in no sort to change thefeat of thy aboade for what else should that argue then a meer dispayre of recouering thy lost good name continue then where now thou art earnestly endeauouring to wipe out the blemish of thy former leawdnesse by imbraceing henceforth and persisting to the ende in an honest course of life so shall the same place and persons that sawe thee vicious see likewise thy returne to vertue the report whereof receiued from others might iustly be doubted but their owne witnesse to themselues must needes bee authenticall Beleeue me Valeria thou canst not otherwise weare out the impression of thy shame nor can it in such sort bee so curde that no scarre will remaine This for thee and thus breefely for thy châ—…ren sith the shortnesse of my time wâ—…nes mee likewise to be short in talke God lent vs three all sonnes one of which he hath taken againe vnto himselfe that the happiest Two he hath left to vs and I leaue to thee Reforme them with thy selfe see them well instructes taught to imbrace vertue and abhorre vice Such hetherto hath 〈◊〉 their education that I greeue to remember it but thou maiest ioy to better it Libertye is the bane of youth not for a time as the honny of Colchos which doth inebriate those that taste it distract with one dayes madness those that greedelye doe eate it But this soule-contami natinge poysson strengthned by custome growes incurable Purge then from this infection their tender thoughts while they yet are each way flexible That thou louest theÌ„ I doubt not but that thy loue will cherish their leawdnesse I iustly dread and therefore do thus warily admonish thee bee thou as wary and willing to performe what I requier tending so greatly to their good In hope whereof I leaue to thee aud after thee to them what so euer I possesse And on condition heereof I forgiue both them and thee all the wronges which you haue doone mee But if you fâ—…ile heerein then when my soule shall at the seauenth Angels sounde take againe this my bodie and you be cited before the impartiall Tribunall of y â— deuine maiesty I wil accuse you as guiltie of them all chiefely of my death whereof you ioyntly are the causers death which I imbrace so willingly that could Nature for my wordes disclame hir due and the inexorable destinies for my laments reuerse their dome limiting to my dayes a longer date yet woulde I inforce death by not suing for longer life And dye I must for now I fainte euen vnto death nowe faile my powers nowe doth each sence denye his seruice And gratious heauen seeming to exhale my soule will resume it whence I receiued it farewell Valeria thinke on my wordes as God shall thinke on thee This saide hee and seald it with a sigh then after many groanes yealded the ghost rendring his spirit to his maker But his body was no sooner â—…thlesse then Iockey was turned to his shiftes whose good seruice had not his kinde maister secretly guerdonized before his death doubtlesse his estate had beene very harde Valeria though hauing cleene forgotten hir husbandes wordes which shee markte no longer then while hee spake them prouided yet for his buriall in the best sorte and so much the rather because in his decease shee ioâ—…ed the fulnesse of hir own desires His corpes was with funerall pome conueyed to the Church And there sollemnly enterred nothing omitted which necessitie or custome coulde claime A sermon â—… banquet and like obseruations Haueing thus laide him where shee wisht him long before â—…hee was nowe a lustie widowe and courted by that crue of gallantes whose braueries in hir husbands lifetime shee had vpheld dreining out the quintessence of his bagges to garnishe with gay robes their backes But Arthemio whose haruest of farre greater hopes then these was nowe come which he so long had loockt for and in regarde thereof woulde not with the rest make profit of hir former prodigalitie seeing nowe time and occasion smyling on him â—…acked not his affayres but to preuent the first in forwardnesse and sooner then in reason he should immediatly on Giraldos buriall sued for accesse which finding as hee expected and for his more incoragement veweing in his mistris countenance no cloudes of discontent he thus began his wooing It is a custome still in vse with christians to attend the funerall of their deceased friendes with whole 〈◊〉 of choyce quire-men singing solemnly before theÌ„ but behinde followes a troope all clad in blacke which argues mourning much haue I marueled at this ceremony deeming it till now some hidden paradox confounding thus in one things so opposite as these signes of ioy and sorrowe But your late good fortune inforst me to cancell this fond opinion for if singing do with most right belong to ioying who may then so iustly as your selfe set on worke a world of fingers to celebrate the day of your recouered liberty from the tirannous controlement of a ielous 〈◊〉 To gratulate which your good happe I haue thus aduentured nor lesse to prosecute my owne hopes doom'd to liue or dye at your disposing herein resembling transformed Clitie which as the angry Sunne doth rise or set opens or shuts silly Nimph hir saffron-coloured brest Sith then the making or marring of my hopes doth wholly rest in you deigne rather to quicken them by a gratious regard then to kill them by a disgratious repulse make me rather the mirror of your clemency then the martyre of your cruelty If you fancye any worthier then my selfe I shall droope for my defects yf any meaner then my selfe you shall 〈◊〉 from my deserts But ay mee what deserts haue I to alleadge if true affection be no deserte This saide he pawsd as feeling some deeper passion but Valeria no longer able to dissemble thus with a smile replide for weeping was alreadie out of season Seruant quoth she that true affection merits fauour reason grants that not euer barren of desert thy fortune shall yealde sufficient proofe whose desires I haue hitherto dieted with dismaying doubts thereby to make tryall of thy constancie which finding each way faultlesse I will not that through me it should be frutlesse But to make amends for tyring so thy 〈◊〉 with long suspence and to remunerate thy fancies loyalty with more