The second Tome of the Palace of Pleasure conteyning store of goodly Histories Tragicall matters and other Morall argument very requisite for delighte and profit Chosen and selected out of diuers good and commendable Authors By William Painter Clerke of the Ordinance and Armarie ANNO. 1567. Imprinted at London in Pater Noster Rowe by Henry Bynneman for Nicholas England ¶ To the right worshipfull Sir George Howarde Knighte Master of the Quenes Maiesties Armarie EVerie Science hauing hys peculiar cōmoditie and conducing to the trauailer and diligent searcher a due deserued benefite bysides the exercise and shunning the pestilent monster Idlenesse discloseth the miraculous effect of the Diuinitie and the excellencie of his Creature Who breathing life into that sencelesse work framed within the mould of humane Conception forceth in him by Nature and timely institution such capacitie of Science as not only by that knowledge he glorifieth his Creator but also besides himselfe helpeth and dothe good to other For profe wherof the Science of that surpassing and delightsome pasture of Theologie is profitable to teach argue reproue and instruct that by paciēce and consolatiō we may conceue hope of Eternitie The knowlege of Philosophie cureth the minde auoideth childish care expelleth feare and shunneth fonde desires O Philosophie the guide of life exclameth Tullie the inquisitor of Vertue and expeller of vice Rhetorike affirmeth he causeth vs to learne that we knowe not and that we know to teach to other By the same we exhort with that we persuade with that we cōfort the afflicted by it we incourage the astonned and appease the outragious Musike easeth the troubled mind lenifieth sorowe comforteth the heauie hearted and erecteth a contemplation of heauenly things Astronomie reuealeth the nature of the Starres and Planets presageth dayes and times for the helpe and maintenance of life Poesie teacheth amendement of maners directeth what things be mete for imitation and with what detriment wantonnesse anoyeth the bodie of man By meanes of it Saint Augustine saith he learned many good lessons to 〈◊〉 fite himselfe and doe good to other To be short euery 〈◊〉 so necessarie as the same taken away Reason is depriued 〈◊〉 the Life of man of due order and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thinke sayth a Greke Orator the knowledge of many 〈◊〉 to be more precious and excellent than a chest heaped vp 〈◊〉 abundance of money for the one quickly faileth and the 〈◊〉 for euer lasteth For Scientia affirmeth he is the onely 〈◊〉 mortall storehouse of all possessions Amongs which troupe 〈◊〉 Sciences the knowledge and 〈◊〉 of Historie deserueth 〈◊〉 place in the chiefest ranke and is for example of humane 〈◊〉 faires a Christall light to shew the pathes of our 〈◊〉 The same displayeth the counsels aduises policies acts 〈◊〉 and ends of Kings Princes and great men with the order and description of time and place And like a liuely image representeth before our eyes the beginning ende and circumstaunce of eche attempt The same like a Mistresse of our life by probable examples stirreth vp our sluggishe mindes to aspire the eternall glorie of praise and fame and terrifieth the 〈◊〉 and aduēturous from enterprise of things vnsemely The same is a passing picture of Veritie and an absolute Patern framing the matter greater nor lesse than it is And bicause I am not ignorant what Encomia innumerable Authors in time paste and writers of oure time doe attribute vnto that Science and with what titles the Prince of them all decketh the praise of Historicall knowledge I onely referre the worthinesse to the practisers and the singularitie of Histories trauell and delight to eche willing mind that imploy their leysure and time therin And I for my part 〈◊〉 confesse that by reading of Histories I find the saying which Tullie aduoucheth of Publius Scipio to be true That he was neuer lesse idle than when he was idle and neuer lesse alone than when he was alone Meaning thereby that when he was at beste leisure he was 〈◊〉 idle nor when he was alone vnoccupied For when Labour resteth him selfe in me and Leisure refresheth other affaires nothing delights more that vacant time than reading of Histories in such vulgar speche wherin my small knowledge taketh repast And for that my priuate reding might not delight and pleasure me alone to auoide the nature of that cancred chorle and foe of humane companie Timon of Athenes that liued but for him self I haue after my skill culled some floures and fruites from that pleasant store of those my readings to impart for vniuersall gaine and 〈◊〉 choosing rather hereby to follow the liberalitie of Cimon a Gentleman of that Citie who knowing himselfe to be borne to profite other and for the enriching of his countrey not only atchieued marueious matters for furtherāce of Cōmon wealth but left his Gardens and Orchardes open for all men to participate the fruits of his plesure and trauell Wherby so well as I can I follow the tracte and practise of other by whose meanes so manifold sciences in our knowne tongue and translation of Histories bee frequent and rife amongs vs. All which be done for our commoditie pleasure solace preseruation and comfort and without the which we can not be long sustained in this miserable life but shall become not muche vnlike the barbarous 〈◊〉 discrepant from the sauage sort The inuestigatours and bringers to light wherof direct their eyes and mening to none other end but for the benefite of vs and our posteritie and that our faces be not tainted with the blushing color to see the passing diligence of other Coūtreys by curious imbelishing of their states with the troublous trauaile of their brain and laborsome course of penne Who altogether imploye those paines that no Science lurke in corner that no Knowledge be shut vp in cloisters that no Historie remain vnder the maske and vnknowne attire of other tongues Amōgs which crew I say I craue an inferior place and haue vndertaken the vnfolding of sundry Histories from the couerture of foren language for none other purpose and intent but to vniuersall benefite Parte wherof two yeares past almost wer made commune in a former boke now succedeth a seconde furnished with like ornaments that the other was The first by dueties chalenge was addressed to the right honorable the Erle of Warwike for respect of his honor and my calling This the second by like band your worship may iustly claime as a iust tribute nowe this moneth of Nouembre payable Or if your Curtesie woulde not deale so roughly with your bounden creditour yet for dutie sake I must acquite and content that which hath so long ben due Thesame I offre now not with such vsurie and gaine as your beneuolence and singular bountie by long for bearing hath deserued but with suche affected will and desire of recompence as any man aliue can owe to so rare a friend Your worship I haue chosen for the first person of this boke and the protectour of
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 ambitiō 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 Gentlewomā 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 Cōmon wealth Nouel xij Fol. 76. ¶ A notable historie of thrée amorous Gentlewomen called Lamia Flora Lais cōteining 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 〈◊〉 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
〈◊〉 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 hūble sute for conseruation of hir honour although long time pursued by a gentleman that reuiued hir almost frō 〈◊〉 and thought vtterly to 〈◊〉 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 commēdable If comparisons may be made with Princes of elder yeres and not to note those of later truely Maister Gentil by that his fact 〈◊〉 not much inferior to Scipio Affricanus for sparing the wife of Indibilis ne yet to king Cyrus for Panthea the 〈◊〉 of Abradatas although both of them not in equal state of loue as wholy 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 of loue is seldome or neuer loosed To do at large to vnderstand the proofe of those most 〈◊〉 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 coūterchange 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 gentlewomā at 〈◊〉 Manor in the country about a mile a halfe from the Citie whither she went to remaine bicause she was with childe it chaunced 〈◊〉 she was 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sayd that they heard hir say that she could not be so long time with childe 〈◊〉 that the infant must be perfect and ready to be 〈◊〉 and therefore 〈◊〉 wyth some other disease and 〈◊〉 that would bring hir to hir end as a 〈◊〉 or other swelling rising of grosse humors they thought hir a dead woman and past recouerie wherfore vpō a time she falling into a 〈◊〉 was verily supposed and left for dead Who after they had mourned hir death bewailed the 〈◊〉 expiration of 〈◊〉 soul caused hir to be buried wtout 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 was aduertised master Gentil by one of his frēds 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 〈◊〉 Katherin that death hath wrought his will with you and I could neuer obtein during your life one simple looke frō those your glistering eies which lately I beheld to my great ouerthrow and decay wherfore now when you cānot 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 〈◊〉 vpon his horse accompanied with one only seruaūt 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 then with that motion he felt hir 〈◊〉 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 cōforting 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 〈◊〉 Be of good chéere swete hart ye be in a good place The gentlewoman hauing wholly recouered hir senses and looking roūd about hir not yet well knowing where she was and séeing 〈◊〉 Gentil before hir prayed his mother to tell hir howe she came 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 suffer hir to goe home to hir owne house wherunto 〈◊〉 Gentil answered Madame what so euer I haue desired in time 〈◊〉 nowe I purpose neuer to demaunde of you any thing or to do here in this place or in any other 〈◊〉 but that I would to mine 〈◊〉 sister sith it hath pleased God to doe me suche pleasure 〈◊〉 from death to life to render you to me in consideration 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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
that you will 〈◊〉 secretely to tary here with my mother vntill I returne from Modena which shall be with so great expedition as I can and the cause why I desire the same is for that I intend to make a faire and acceptable present of you vnto your husband in the presence of that principal of this Citie The gentlewoman knowing hirself to be greatly bound to the Knight and that hys request was honest disposed hir self to doe what he demaunded Albeit she desired earnestly to reioyce hir frendes 〈◊〉 hir recouered life and so promised vpon hir faith And vnnethes had she ended hir talke but she felt the payne of childbirth wherfore with the aide of the mother of master Gentil she taried not long before she was deliuered of a faire sonne which greatly augmēted the 〈◊〉 of master Gentil and hir Maister Gentil commaunded that she should haue all things that were necessary ministred vnto hir and that she should be vsed as though she wer his owne wife Then he 〈◊〉 returned to Modena where when he had a while supplied his office he returned to Bologna and prepared a great feast at his house the same morning that he arriued for diuers gentlemen of the citie amongs 〈◊〉 Nicholas Chasennemie was one When the cōpany of the 〈◊〉 guests 〈◊〉 the gentlewoman in so good helth liking as 〈◊〉 she was and hir childe wel and lusty he sate downe amongs thē doing vnto them incomparable mirthe and pastime and serued them bountifully wyth diuerse fortes of meates When dinner was almost done hauing before tolde the Gentlewoman what be ment to doe and in what manner she shoulde behaue hir selfe he began thus to saye My maisters I do remember that whilom I haue heard tell that in the Countrie of Persia there was a goodly custome as me séemeth that when some one was disposed to doe great honoure vnto his friend he bad hym home to his house and there shewed him the thyng which he loued best were it wyfe woman daughter or what so euer it were affirming that like as he disdained not to shewe the same which outwardly he loued best euen so he wold if it were possible willingly discouer his owne heart which custome I purpose to obserue in this citie Ye of your 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 to doe me so greate honor as to repair vnto this my simple 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 I wil recompēce after the Persian maner by shewing vnto you the thing which I loue most déerely aboue any in this world or hereafter shal be able to loue so long as my life endureth but before I do the same I pray you to tell me your opinion in a doubt which I shall propose There was a certaine person which in hys house had a good faithful seruaunt who became extremely sick that person without attending the end of his diseased seruāt caused him to be caried into the midst of the 〈◊〉 without any further care for him In the meane time there 〈◊〉 a straunger by who moued by compassion of the sicke seruaunt bare him home to his owne house where with great care and diligence sparing no cost or charge made him 〈◊〉 recouer his former helth I wold now fain know of you whither for 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the seruice of that seruaunt his first maister by good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cōplaine vpon the second 〈◊〉 he should demannd him again or by demaunding of him againe the second not disposed to restore him might 〈◊〉 any damage The gentlemen after many opinions and arguments debated too 〈◊〉 amongs them and at lengthe all concluding in one mind gaue charge 〈◊〉 Nicholas Chasennemie bicause he was an eloquent talker to make the answer who first 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 custome sayde that he was with the rest of this opinion that the first maister had no further title in hys seruaunt hauing in such necessitie not only forsaken him but throwen him into the 〈◊〉 and that for the good turnes which the secōd master had done him he oughte by good right to be his wherefore by keping him he did no wrong 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 to the first All the rest at the Table whith were right honest persones sayde all togither that they were of his opinion The Knight content with that answer and specially bicause Nicholas Chasonnemie had pronoūted it affirmed that he was likewise of that minde and afterwardes he sayd Time it is then that I render vnto you the honor which you haue done me in manner accordinglye as I haue promised Then he called vnto him two of his seruauntes and sent them to the Gentlewoman whome he had caused to be apparelled and 〈◊〉 very gorgeously praying hir by hir presence to content and satisfie all the companie And she takyng in hir armes hir little faire sonne came into the hall accompanied wyth the two seruauntes and was placed as it pleased the Knight bisides a very honest Gentleman and then he sayde 〈◊〉 beholde the thing whyth I loue best and purpose to loue aboud all worldly things whither I haue occasion so to doe your eyes may be iudges The 〈◊〉 doing 〈◊〉 reuerence vnto hir greatly praised hir said to the Knight that there was good reason why she ought to be beloued Upon which commendations they began more attentiuely to beholde hir and many of them would haue sayd and sworne that it had bene she in déede if it had not bene thought that she had bene dead But Nicholas behelde hir more than the rest who very desirous to know what she was could not forbeare when he saw that the Knight was a little departed from the place to aske hir whyther she was of Bologna or a straunger When the gentlewoman sawe hir husband to aske hir that question she coulde scarce forbeare frō making answere notwithstanding to atchieue that which was purposed she helde hir peace Another asked hir if that little Boy was hirs and another if she were the wife of master Gentil or any kin vnto him vnto whome she gaue no answer at all But when master Gentil came in one of the straungers sayd vnto him Syr this gentle womā is a very goodly creature but she séemeth to be 〈◊〉 Is it true or not Sirs sayd maister Gentil that is but a litle argument of hir vertue for this time to hold hir peace Tel vs then sayd he what is she That will I doe very gladly sayd the Knight vnder condition that none of you shall remoue out of his place for any thing I speake vntill I haue ended my tale which request being graunted and the table taken vp maister Gentil which was set downe by the gentlewoman said My maisters this gentlewoman is the loyall and faithfull seruant of whome 〈◊〉 I propounded the question whome I haue relieued from amids the strete whither hir kin litle caring for hir threw hir as a vile and vnprofitable thing haue by my greate care brought to passe that I haue discharged hir from death vpon an affection which God knoweth
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 〈◊〉 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 Whē 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 secōd boke of his Offices that Noble mens houses should 〈◊〉 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 cōmoditie 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 use◠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
caused many of hir husbandes friendes and seruaunts to be sent for Afterwardes she made ready a great feast and inuited the noblest chéefest Citizens of the Citie apparelling hir house with clothe of gold and silke tapistrie other furnitures putting in order all that which hir husband had cōmaunded The next day in the morning the Gentlemen rose with whome maister Thorello mounted on horsebacke and carying with him his Hawkes he broughte them to the riuer and shewed them diuers flightes But Saladine demaunding where the best lodging was in Pauie master Thorello sayd I will shew you my selfe for that I haue occasion to goe thither They beléeuing him were contented and rode on their way and being about nine of the clock arriued at the Citie thinking they shold haue bene brought to the best Inne of the towne but master Thorello conueyed them to his owne house where fiftie of the chiefest Citizens ready to receiue them sodenly appeared before them Which Saladine they that were with him perceiuing cōiectured by and by what that did meane and said Master Thorello this is not the request which we demaunded your entertainment yesternight was to sumptuous and more than we desired wherefore giue vs leaue we pray you to departe Whome master Thorello answered My masters for that which ye receiued yesternight I wil giue thanks to Fortune and not to you for I ouertaking you by the way forced you in a maner to make your repaire vnto my homely house but for this morning voyage I haue my selfe prepared and likewise the Gentlemen about you with whome to refuse to dine if you thinke it curtesie doe as ye please 〈◊〉 and his companions vanquished wyth suche perswasion lighted and being receiued by the gentlemen in louing and curteous order were conueyed to their chambers which were richly furnished for them and hauing put of their riding apparell and somwhat refreshed them selues they came into the hall where all things were in redinesse in triumphant sort Then water was brought them to washe and they placed at the Table were serued with many delicate meates in magnificent and royall order in such wise as if the Emperour himselfe had bene there he could not haue bene better entertained And albeit that Saladine and his companiōs were great Lordes accustomed to sée maruellous things yet they wondred very much at this considering the degrée of the Knight whome they knewe to be but a Citizen and no Prince or great Lord. When dinner was done and that they had talked a little togither the weather waring very hot the gentlemen of Pauie as it pleased master Thorello went to take their rest he remained with his thrée guests with whome he went into a chāber where to the entent the nothing which he had loued might be vnsene caused his honest wife to be called forth who being very beautiful wel fauored clothed in rich costly aray accōpanied with hir two yong sonnes which were like to Angels came before them and gratiously saluted them When they saw hir they rose vp reuerently receiued hir then they caused hir to syt downe in the mids of thē sporting dalying with hir two faire sonnes But after she had pleasantly entred in talk she asked thē of whence they were and whither they were going To whom the Gentlemen made the same answere that they had done before to master Thorello Then the gentlewoman sayd vnto them with smiling chéere I perceiue then that mine aduise being a woman is come well to passe And therfore I pray you that of your special grace you wil do me this pleasure as not to refuse or disdain the litle present that I shal bring before you but that you take it in consideration that women according to their little abilitie giue little things and that ye regard more the good affection of the person which offreth the gift then the balue of the giuen thing And causing to be brought before euery of them two faire roabes the one lined with silk the other with Meneuair not in fashion of a citizin or of a marchant but Noblemanlike 〈◊〉 Turkey gownes with sleues of taffata lined with linnē cloth she said vnto thē Take I pray you these roabes with the like wherof this day I apparelled my husband and the other things may also serue your turnes although they be little worth cōsidering the ye be far from your 〈◊〉 the greatnesse of your iorney which you haue taken haue yet to make and also for that marchant men loue to be neat and 〈◊〉 in things appertinent to their bodies The Gentlemen much maruelled and plainly knew that master Thorello was disposed not to sorget any one part of curtesie towards them and doubted by reason of the beautie and richesse of the robes not marchantlike that they should not be knowne of master Thorello notwithstāding one of them answered the Gentlewoman These be Gentlewoman very great gifts and ought not lightly to be accepted if your intreatie did not constrayne vs against which no deniall ought to be made That done whē master Thorello returned into the chamber the Gentlewoman 〈◊〉 them a Dieu and went hir way and then she furnished the seruaunts with diuers other things necessary for them and master Thorello obtained by earnest request that they should 〈◊〉 all that day Wherefore after they had reasted them selues a while they did put on their robes and walked forth on horsebacke into the Citie and when supper tyme was come they were bountifully feasted in honorable companie and whē bed time approched went to rest And so soone as it was day they rose found in stead of their weary hackneyes thrée fat and faire 〈◊〉 and also the like number of fresh and mightie horsses for their seruaunts Which Saladine séeing turned towards his companions and said vnto thē I sweare by God that there was neuer a more liberall Gentleman more courteous or better conditioned than this is And if Christian kings for their part be suche I meane indued with such kingly qualities as this gentleman is the Souldan of Babilon shall haue inough to doe to deale with one and not to attend for all those which we sée to be in preparation for inuasion of his Countrie But séeing that to refuse them or render them again serued to no purpose they thanked him very humbly and got vpō their horsse Master Thorello with many of his friends accompanied them out of the Citie a great péece of the way And albeit that it much grieued Saladine to depart from master Thorello so farre he was already in loue with him yet being constrained to forgo his company he prayed him to returne who although very loth to depart sayd vnto them Syrs I will be gone sith it is your pleasure I shall so doe and yet I say vnto you that I know not what you be ne yet demaūd to know but so farre as pleaseth you But what soeuer ye be you
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 demaūded 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 mā 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 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 vnderstād his happy repaire home to his 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 beyōd 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
〈◊〉 or messanger suffreth no paine or blame The greatest Kyng or Emperour of the worlde receiuing 〈◊〉 from a meaner Prince neuer vseth his ambassador with scolding wordes ne yet by villanie or rebuke abuseth his person Is it wisdom then 〈◊〉 you being a present prisoner at the mercy of your kepers in this 〈◊〉 sorte to reuile me with 〈◊〉 talke But 〈◊〉 leaue of your rages and quiet your selfe for this present time for my mistresse maruelleth much why you durst come for all your noble state to giue 〈◊〉 to violate hir good name whiche message shée required me to tell you ouēr and bisides a desire shée hathe to know whether by the science of Spinning you haue gained your foode for you séeme to kicke against the wind beat water in a morter if you think from hēce to go before you haue earned a recompense of the meat which shal be giuen you Wherfore it is your lot paciently to suffer the 〈◊〉 of your fondattempt which I pray you gently to sustaine and think no scorn therof hardely for desperate men hard aduenturers must néedes suffer the daungers thervnto belonging This is the determinate sentence of my mistresse mynde who fourdeth you no better fare than breade and water if you can not shewe some pretie spindle full of yarne for signe of your good will at this present pinche of your distresse The mayden séeing that hée was not disposed to shewe some part of willyng minde to gaine his liuing by that 〈◊〉 science shut the portal dore and went hir way The vnhappie Baron ariued thether in very yll time that nyght had neither bread nor broth and therfore he fared according to theprouerbe He that goth to bed supperlesse lieth in his bed restlesse For during the whole night no sléepe couldfasten his eyes Now as this baron was closed in prison fast so the La die tooke order that secretely with great cher ehis seruants should be interteined and his horsse with swete haye and good prouender well mainteined all his furnitures sumpture horsse and cariages conueyed within the Castle where wanted nothyng for the state of such a personage but onely libertie making the hoste of the Inne beleue where the Lorde harbored before that he was returned into Hungarie But now turne we to the Boeme Knight who knowing that one of the two Hungarian Competitors were departed the Court and ridden into Boeme dyd stil beholde the qualitie of the inchaunted image wherein by the space of thrée or foure dayes in which time the baron made his greatest sute to his Ladie he marked a certaine alteration of coloure in the same but afterwards returned to his natiue forme and seing no greter transformation he was wel assured that the Hungarian Baron was repulsed and imployed his labor in vain Wherof the Boeme Knight was excedingly pleased and contented bicause he was well assured that his wife had kept hir selfe right pure and honest Notwithstandyng his mynde was not well settled ne yet his hearte at rest doubtyng that the Lorde Vladislao which as yet was not departed the Courte would obtaine the thing and acquite the faulte which his companion had committed The imprisoned Baron which all this time had neither 〈◊〉 nor dronken nor in the night coulde sléepe in the mornyng after he had considered hys mysaduenture and well perceyued no remedie for him to go forth except he obeyed the Ladies hest made of necessitie a vertue and applied himselfe to learne to Spynne by force whiche fréedome and honour coulde neuer haue made hym to doe Whervpon hée tooke the distaffe and beganne to spynne And albeit that he neuer spoonne in all hys lyfe before yet 〈◊〉 by Necessitie so well as he could he drewe out his thréede nowe small and then greate and manye times of the meanest sort but very often broade yll fauoured yll closed and worsse twisted all cut of fourme and fashion that sundrie times very heartyly he laughed to him selfe to see his cunning but woulde haue made a cunnyng woman spinner brust into ten thousande laughters if shée hadde 〈◊〉 there Thus all the mornyng he spent in spynnyng and when dinner came his accustomed messanger the mayden repaired vnto hym agayne and openyng the wyndowe demaunded of the Baron how his woorke went forewarde and whether he were disposed to manifest the 〈◊〉 of hys comming into Boeme Hée well beaten in the Schoole of shame vttered vnto the mayde the whole compacte and bargayne made betwéene hym and hys companion and the Boeme Knight hir master afterwards shewed vnto hir hys spindle ful of threde The yong Wench smylyng at his worke sayde By Sainct Marie thys is well done you are worthy of victuall for your hire for nowe I right well perceyue that Hunger forceth the Woulfe oute of hir denne I conne you thancke that lyke a Lorde you can so puissantly gayne youre liuyng Wherefore procéedyng in that whiche you haue begonne I doubt not but shortely you wyll proue suche a woorkeman as my mistresse shall not néede to put out hir 〈◊〉 to spinne to hir great charge and coste for makyng of hir smockes but that the same maye well bée done wythin hir owne house yea although the same doe serue but for Kitchen cloathes for dresser boordes or cleanyng of hir vessell before they 〈◊〉 serued forth And as youre good desertes doe merite thanckes for this your arte nowe well begoonne euen so youre newe tolde tale of commyng hyther requireth no lesse for that you haue disclosed the trouthe When she had sayde these wordes she reached hym some store of meates for hys dynner and badde hym well to fare When she was returned vnto hir Lady shée shewed vnto hir the Spindle full of thréede and told hir therwithall the whole storie of the compact betwene the Knight Vlrico and the two Hungarian Barons Whereof the Ladie sore astoonned for the snares layd to 〈◊〉 hir was notwithstanding well 〈◊〉 for that shée had so well for séene the same but moste of all reioysed that hir husband had so good opinion of hir honest lyfe And before she wold aduertise hym of these euentes she purposed to attend the comming of the Lord Vladislao to whom she meant to do like penance for his carelesse bargaine and dishonest opinion accordingly as he deserued maruelling very much that both the Barons wer so rash presumptuous daungerously not knowing what kinde of woman she was to put their landes and goodes in hazard But consideryng the nature of diuers brainsicke mē which passe not how carelesly they aduenture their gained goodes and inherited landes so they maye 〈◊〉 the praie after which they vainely hunt for the preiudice hurt of other she made no accompt of these attempt s sith honest matrones force not vpon the sutes or vaine consumed time of lighte brained cockscombs that care not what fonde coste or yll imployed houres they waste to anoy the good renoume and honest brutes of women But not to discourse frō point
and frowardnesse that shall procéede from hir When he had finished his talke he began to sigh and lament so straungely as his man was about to goe to call the ladie the mother of the Knighte his master In whome dydde appeare suche signes as yf Death hadde 〈◊〉 at hande or else that he hadde ben attached with the Spirite of phrenesie But when he sawe hym aboute to come agayne to hymselfe he sayd thus vnto hym How now syr wil you cast your selfe away for the foolishe toy of an vndiscrete girle yl manered and taught and who perchaunce doth all this to proue how constāt you would be No no sir you must turne ouer an other leafe and sith you be determined to loue hir you must perseuere in your pursute For at lengthe it is impossible but that this diamont hardnesse must néedes bée mollified if she be not a diuel incarnate more furious than the wildest beastes whych haunte the desertes of Lybia Dom Diego was comforted with that admonition and purposed to persist in hys affection and therefore sent many messages giftes letters and excuses to his angred mistresse Gineura But she made yet 〈◊〉 accompt of them than of the firste chargyng the messangers not to trouble them selues about those 〈◊〉 for she had rather die than to sée hym or to receyue any thing from him whom she hated aboue all things of the worlde When newes hereof came to the knight he was altogether impacient and séeyng the smal profite whiche he dyd gaine by pursuing his foolish opinion and not able to bestowe his loue elsewhere he determined to die and yet vnwilling to imbrue his handes with his owne blood he purposed to wander as a varabunde into some deserte to perfourme the course of his vnhappie and sorowfull dayes hoping by that meanes to quenche the heate of 〈◊〉 amorous rage either by length of time or by 〈◊〉 the last refuge of the miserable For whiche purpose then he caused to bée made two pilgrims wéedes the one for himself the other for his man and prepared all their necessaries for his voyage Then wryting a Letter to his Gineura hée called one of his men to whome he sayde I am going about certaine of mine affaires wherof I will haue no man to know and therfore when I am gone thou shalt tell my Lady mother what I saye to thée and that within twentie dayes God wyllyng I meane to retourne Moreouer I require thée that foure dayes after my departure not before to beare these letters to mistresse Gineura and if so be she refuse to receiue them faile not to deliuer them vnto hir mother take héede therefore if thou loue me to doe all that which I haue giuen thée in charge Afterwards he called his seruaunt vnto hym which had done the first message vnto Gineura whiche was a wise and gentle fellow in whome the Knyghte reposed great affiance to hym he declared al his enterprise and the ende whervnto his fierce determination did extende The good seruant which loued his master hearyng his intent so vnreasonable sayde vnto hym Is it not enough for you sir to yeld your selfe a praie to the most fierce and cruell woman that liueth but thus to augment hir glorie by séeing hir selfe so victorious ouer you Are you ignorant what the malice of womē is and howe muche they triumphe in tormentyng the poore blynded soules that become their seruantes and what prayse they attribute vnto 〈◊〉 if by some misfortune they driue them to dispaire Was it without cause that the Sage in tymes paste did so greately hate that sexe and kinde as the common ruine ouerthrow of men What moued the Greke Poete to syng these verses against all sortes of women A common woe though silly woman be to man Yet double ioy againe she doth vnto him bring The wedding night is one as wedded folke tell can The other when the knell for hir poore soule doth ring If not for that he knew the happinesse of man consisted more in auoiding the acquaintaunce of that furie than by imbracing and cherishyng of the same sith hir nature is altogether like vnto Aesops serpēt which being deliuered from perill and daunger of death by the shephierd for recompense thereof 〈◊〉 his whole house with his venomous 〈◊〉 and rammish breath O how happie is he that can master his owne affections 〈◊〉 a frée man from that passion can reioice in libertie 〈◊〉 from the swéete euyll whiche as I well 〈◊〉 is the cause of your despaire But sir your wisedome ought to vanquish those light conceiptes by settyng so light of that your rebellious Gentle woman as shee is vnworthie to be fauoured by so great a Lord as you be who deserueth a better personage than hirs is and a frendlier entertainemen than a farewell so foolishly 〈◊〉 Dom Diego althoughe that he tooke pleasure to heare those discourses of hys faithfull seruaunt yet he shewed so sowre a countenaunce vnto him as the other with thys litle worde helde his peace Sith then it is so syr that you be resolued in your missehappe it may please you to accept me to wait vpon you whither you are determined to go for I meane not to lyue at 〈◊〉 ease and suffer my master in payne and in griefe I will be partaker of that whiche Fortune shal prepare vntill the heauens doe mitigate theyr rage vppon you and your predestinate mishappe Dom Diego who 〈◊〉 no better companie imbraced hym very louingly thanking him for the good will that hée bare hym and sayde This present night about midnight wée wyll take our 〈◊〉 euen that way whether our lotte and also Fortune shall guide vs attending either the ende of my passiō or the whole ouerthrow of my selfe Their intent they did put in proofe For at midnight that Moone being cléere when all things were at rest and the crickets chirping through the creauises of the earth they toke their way vnséene of any And so soone as Aurora began to garnish hir mantle with the colors of red and white and the mornyng starre of the Goddesse of stealing loue appeared Dom Diego began to sigh saying Ah ye freshe and dewy mornings that my happe is far from the contentation of others who after they haue rested vpon the cogitation of theyr ease and ioy doe awake by the pleasaunt chirpyng of the birdes to perfourme by effect that whiche the shadowe and fantasie of theyr mynde dyd present by dreaming in the night where I am constrained to separate by greate distance excéeding vehement continuation of my tormentes to folowe wylde beasts wandring from thence where the greatest number of men do quietly slepe and take their rest Ah Venus whose starre now cōduceth me whose beames long agoe didde glowe and kyndle my louing heart howe 〈◊〉 it that I am not intreated according to the desert of my constant mind and mening most sincere Alas I loke not to expect any thing certē from thée sith thou hast
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 〈◊〉 handes with the bloode of hir that is the deathe of the chiefest of all my friendes Gineura hearing that resolute answere 〈◊〉 hir selfe to be nothing afraide nor declared any token of feare but rather 〈◊〉 to haue encouraged Roderico in braue and mannish sort farre diuers from the simplicitie of a yong and tender maidē 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 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 very bolde she made hym aunswere Ah thou knight which once gauest assault to cōmit a villanie treason thinkest thou now without remorse of conseience to cōtinue thy mischief I speake it to thée villain which 〈◊〉 shed the blood of an honester mā thā thou art fearest not nowe to make mée a companion of his death Which thing spare not hardily to 〈◊〉 to the intent that I liuing may not be such a one as thou falsly iudgest me to be for neuer man hitherto 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 vexation of honest maidēs not withstanding I humbly beséech almightie God to gyue 〈◊〉 so muche pleasure contentation and ioy in thy loue 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 inchāted with the venomous honie tirānical brauerie of the thief which murdered my husband and your master Ah vnhappie caytife maiden is it my chaunce to endure the 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 neuer hereafter to haue mind on mā to proue beginning of a pleasure which tasted and 〈◊〉 bringeth more displeasure than euer ioy engendred 〈◊〉 Alas I neuer knewe what was the frute of that which so straungely did attache me and thou O 〈◊〉 and thieuishe Loue haste ordeined a banket 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 to imbrace the death wherein I hope to finde my greatest reste for in thée I fynde noughte else but heapes of straynyng 〈◊〉 Auoyde from me all my myssehap 〈◊〉 from me ye furious ghostes and 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 in venomous drink soaked in the soppes of 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 of his desires nought else didde séeke but to soile his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 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 〈◊〉 water hée was reuiued 〈◊〉 stil the heauinesse of his Ladie and hir incresed disdain and choler against him vanished in diuers soundings which moued Roderico frō studie 〈◊〉 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